Wildwild West

Friday the 20th May we rent an RV in Langdale close to Vancouver. What we do not know to catch the RV we have to take a Ferry in Horeshoebay towards Langdale. It's not easy to travel with two kiteboardbags and three North Face Duffel bags in total 120 kg of handluggage but we survived.

The campervan is based on a Ford E450 with some good 305hp. The van has got an overall length of 24 feet or 7.32 meter. Is fully equiped with toilett, shower, oven, microwave and a fridge. The fridge in our appartment in Zurich is half the size of the one in the van.

After the handover of the RV we take the next Ferry back since we plan to visit Pemberton close to Whistler Mountain. Pemberton is well known for it's good flying conditions in Canada.

We stop in Squamish to buy some food in the local grocery store. When we leave the store we reckon that we are a bit late and decide to find a free campground in the area to stay overnight. Luckily we have the book "Camp free in B.C." which is an excellent source for free camping in British Columbia.
The book recommends Ashlu Flats 20 km away from Squamish. A couple of hundred meter before the campground a conservation officer stops us and asks if we carry firearms with us. Right behind the officer is a sign with the text "Fuck Fest" pointing to the campground. We are a bit confused and ask the conservation officer if there is a party (according to the book it's supposed to be a quite campground). His answer: "There are lot's of parties you can pass!"

There is not a lot of space left but the Canadians are friendly and we share a space with Ted & Jessy and her friends. The guys spend a relaxed weekend check out Ted's blue Ford it's a the machine for real man. Would you feel unsafe with these guys in the wood knowing that a bear could showoff anytime? - We wouldn't. After a cool night and inspiring discussions around the fire with some beer and tasty hamburgers offered by Ted we leave the young crowd heading north towards Pemberton.

As we reach Pemberton it starts to rain....arghhh no flying today. We check for a free place to stay overnight and decide to try it out at Owl Creek campground. The place is under attendance of the First Nations. Unfortunately the place is almost fully booked. But i see a hangglider on a roofrack of a car and start to talk with the owner. Lawrence and Kaori are from Kamloops and spend the weekend in Pemberton. After a short chat they invite us to park our RV at their place and invite us for dinner. Hergé our neighbour shows up. Together with is dog he lives eight months a year in his RV at Owl Creek. A smart guy that likes his freedom and the good snowboarding in Whistler.

Three rainy days and hundreds of liters of beer and good discoussions with Lawrence, Kaori and Hergé later we decide to leave Canada towards the US.
To our surprise we catch a friendly customs officer at the US boarder. Despite that we have to say goodbye to most of our vegetables and let them to the officer. An hour and some stupid questions fingerprints and whatsoever later we are on the way to Seattle.

Tuesday we get in touch with the local paraglider pilots at Tiger Mountain and enjoy our first deluxolicous flying in the US. The sceenery is AWESOME!!! On one side you see the skyline of Seattle on the opposite you will find the manorial Mount Rainier. We meet the whole friendly crazy paragliding and hanggliding crew around Seattle. Thank you Rich, Jared, Steve and Drew for helping and supporting us!