Terrace, B.C.

Saturday, June 12 -- Today was not a very good day.  It was raining when we got up.  The battery on my car was dead.  Joe hooked up the charger and we got it started, but he decided I should drive the Explorer to the next town (Terrace), so it would charge.  He was afraid the towing parts might not work right if the battery was dead.  We checked the GPS and found a Ford dealer in Terrace, so I followed him the 87 miles to that town, in the rain, couldn't take pictures while I was driving.  We drove beside the Skeena River for miles and miles, and it was pretty -- really running hard.  It is a muddy river, different from the glacial rivers we had seen in the parks.  We all pulled into the Walmart parking lot in Terrace and I picked up Joe and we went to the Ford dealer, which was only about 1/2 mile on up the road.  They checked the battery and said it was ok, but the alternator was not putting out the right amperage, so he thought that was the problem.  That dealership didn't have the part, but he called around and found one, so we got a ride back to Walmart and told them we would come back in 2 hours.  In the meantime, Marilyn had found out there was a fish (halibut) and chips drive-in place in town, so she and Mazie went and picked up lunch for all of us.  Then we went to a Canadian Tire store and Joe bought a pair of rubber boots (just in case we ever get to go fishing or panning for gold).  Marilyn dropped us off at the Ford dealer, but the car wasn't ready.  The part didn't fit, but when he put our old alternator back on, it worked, and he said it apparently had a bad connection.  So they put it back together, changed the oil for us, and we got out of there (for $114, not as bad as it could have been).  Marilyn and Mazie had suggested staying overnight here at lunch, but Joe thought we should forge ahead to Prince Rupert, even though it was raining and windy.  But by the time we got the car back (1:30), we thought it probably made more sense to just stay here, so we are in a municipal campground just on the edge of town.  I decided to drive back into town (short distance) to see if I could get a haircut, so the girls went with me, but by the time I found the hair salon, they were just closing (5:00 p.m.)  I took no pictures today, saw no animals.  Terrace is the home of the Spirit Bear, a white bear unique to this area.  It would be great to see one, but I think sightings are pretty rare.  We played cards (31) with our group tonight, and now it is off to bed. I did get in a nap this afternoon, a rare treat.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.