It’s now May 16th, and I leave Oroville on my way to Alaska. I’ve made this trip a couple of times and this time I’ve planned and timed a route that will take me to some different towns along the way. If it all comes out as planned, I should be in Fairbanks in 5 or 6 days. The first couple days of the trip will be over a new route and should afford an opportunity to see some new sites. The rig has been running well and I don’t have any worries about breakdowns, but it’s always something I need to think about, so I’ll stick to what passes as main roads. When you get about half way through Canada, you’re in really remote areas. There are places where I didn’t see any cars or trucks for an hour or more. And there are even fewer homes or business.
I took US97 up into Canada, through Osoyoos, and on the north end of town, was the border crossing. I handed them my sheet of excess alcohol, which I thought they’d need, but after a couple minutes they just handed it back and waved me through. Didn’t even come aboard the RV. That’s why I like crossing at small border crossing stations. Less hassles. The first leg of this part of the journey passes by lake Osoyoos.
Just outside of Oroville, Washington.
The weather was looking like it might rain, but it held off and later the sun came out.
Now in Osoyoos, Canada. That's Osoyoos Lake over there.
It's a very long lake.
Another 10 miles or so up the road.
There used to be several paddlewheel boats on this lake.
The above shot is of one of the several small communities that are built where the lake narrows.
It looks a little coolish off in the distance.
The day started off nice and sunny, but climbing up into the mountains, it started to rain. At least it wasn’t snowing.
Looking back south.
I think the above and next shots are of Skaha Lake. I stopped here for lunch at 1:34pm. There were a whole series of lakes along this portion of the trip. All left over from the Ice Age.
Steamboat Saga, but they don't name the lake.
This country is filled with large lakes.
The next two hours was more of the same scenery and around 3:15 I arrived in Clinton, BC. There were some signs along the highway advertising the RV park at $9.95 per night. And it is a Passport America campground so it’s a half price campground for me. When I got there I was quoted $15CAN (just checked my spreadsheet). When I asked about the signs the guy danced around the question without ever answering it. When I offered my Passport America 1/2 price card he says he’s already at half price. Apparently, at this RV park, gouging the tourists is the way to go. I’ve since found an internet ad by the park that gives their rate for large RV’s as $9.99 so I wonder about his business ethics.
The sun made an appearance as I got set up.
After I’d settled in, and set up my computer, I couldn’t get on WiFi. I’d paid $2 extra for it so went and talked to the guy. He was direct connected, hadn’t had any other campers say anything so blamed it on my equipment setup. He says he uses the same password but I’m sure the problem was the password he’d given me. I could see the WiFi but the password never got me in. It had been changed or something and he didn’t realize it, and I couldn’t convince him to check into it. Or the WiFi router needed to be power cycled. I was able to connect at the very next park I stopped at the following day so it wasn’t my equipment. I forgot to get a refund too. Don’t think I’ll stay at that park again. (But even then, $17 for a night with full hookups, right in town, isn’t that bad).
Where I stayed in Clinton, B.C.
This is the Gold Trail RV Park in Clinton, BC. I’d avoid it unless you must stop there. I don’t care for obviously dishonest and unhelpful park owners. I did roam around town on my bike a bit, not much there, lots of closed businesses on the main drag. Sleepy and small. Watched a little TV, had a nice dinner at home, and went to bed early to read. There is a pub across the street with food but I didn’t go there.
The only way to get Gold Trail rate at 9.95 is if you have a Passport America or Camp Club membership – half price. You should Bing or Google the park and post a review of it for others to read. I don’t think you’re the only one that griped.
There is a provincial park, Big Bar Lake, that’s $15 somewhere around Clinton, but minimal amenities. Also Clinton Pines RV Park ~$25 with internet access.
Thanks for warning us; will try to remember to stay clear of Gold Trail.
I showed him my Passport America card after he’d quoted me $15. He then said he was already offering half price. But he also had all those $9.99 signs up along the highway, which didn’t mention PA, but did mention RV camping, so I thought that to be the regular price, and expected the PA price to be lower.
I just checked the PA site, and they say the PA price is $9.75, but for tent camping. And $14.50 for RV’s. So, it could be partially a misunderstanding on my part, misleading signage, and the owners massaging the numbers when it suits them. I paid $15 plus $2 for non-working WiFi. My memory of the situation is coming back and I remember thinking at the time it wasn’t worth arguing about since I’d not noticed any other campgrounds on the way into town and thought that the parks placement would suit my needs since I like riding my bike around small towns. And we weren’t talking about a lot of money. Give a little, get a little.
My problem with the campground is that we campers should get straight talk, without the dishonesty about the regular rate, misleading signage, or artificially inflated rates shown on half price club internet sites. I don’t believe his regular price is $29 as shown on the PA site, as none of the reviews from non-PA travelers I read about the park mention that price, and the PA price should be half off his regular price if he wants to be in that program.
Here’s ad copy from RVToads.com that was written by them: “The cleanest and greenest RV park in the Cariboo. BBQ STEAKS, chicken every night on large outdoor patio. 30 amps, sewers, laundry, firepits, walking distance to everything. ONLY $9.99 CANADIAN PER x-LARGE PULL THROUGH SITE and BBQ DINNER ONLY $9.99 TOO.”
This was from a campground review site, not a half price club. Notice they show their regular price as $9.99.
JIM IF YOU WERE NOT SUCH A JERK YOU WOULD OF READ MY SIGNS WHICH HAVE BEEN UP THERE FOR 11 YEARS. $9.99 AND UP BEING A CHEAP JERK THAT YOU ARE I SUPPOSE THAT FULL HOOK-UP ARE INCLUDED PLUS WIFI TOO EH. AND I SUPPOSE YOU WANTED DINNER THROWN IN TOO. I DONT BEAT AROUND EVER WITH MY CUSTOMERS. I TELL IT LIKE IT IS AND I HAVE THE BEST RATES OF ANY CAMPGROUND IN BC INCLUDING PROVINCIAL PARKS. FOR , WOW , $15.00 , WOW YOU GET FULL HOOK-UPS INCLUDING SHOWERS, ANS IF YOU WERE A PASSPORT AMERICA MEMBER THAT IS HALF PRICE. PLEASE PASS BY MY PLACE INSTEAD OF COMING BACK LIKE YOU DID. CHEAP CAMPERS LIKE YOU WE DO NOT NEED. REGARDS MICHEAL
Thanks for the kind words, Micheal. I’ll be sure to miss you next time I’m in town. As I inferred in my post, the price is great, and I have no complaints about the price. However, when you advertise like this:
On-line ad
And I quote: “Description – The cleanest and greenest RV park in the Cariboo. BBQ STEAKS, chicken every night on large outdoor patio. 30 amps, sewers, laundry, firepits, walking distance to everything. ONLY $9.99 CANADIAN PER x-LARGE PULL THROUGH SITE and BBQ DINNER ONLY $9.99 TOO.” (Caps are yours).
You couldn’t put in a disclaimer on the $9.99, like that it’s for dry camping?
My question is this, have you ever charged anyone $29? Or is that an inflated Passport America price so you can then offer it at $15 (actually, you show $14.50 in the PPA ad)? That’s the only problem I have with your park, well that and not getting WiFi. When I walked in and asked the price, you quoted $15 before I mentioned I had a PPA card. That makes it your regular rate…and as good as that is, it’s deceptive to advertise on PPA your rate is $29 if you never charge anyone that amount.
When I read the reviews, on-line reviews, I find that all three reviewers paid $15. And that is shown there as your latest rate as of June 2010. NOT $29! So, I’ve seen 4 rates on 3 different web sites. $9.99, $14.50, $15, & $29, the lowest rate is not qualified as a ‘dry camping’ or similar. Just pick one price, or qualify them, and stick with it, don’t try to hustle people. As a full time RV’er, I seldom run into this kind of deception, it’s only happened twice in 6 years.
That makes you the jerk in my book…since you can’t be honest about your rate and just be proud of one of the best rates in Canada, why be deceptive by telling PPA customers your $15 rate is half price, when that’s your regular charge? Is it because PPA wouldn’t allow you to join if they discovered you don’t give the 50% discount? So no free advertising on their site?
A few minutes on-line would straighten all this out, and if you do that, I’ll be happy to tone down my blog review.
Regards, Jim
WELL BUDDY BOY IF YOU ”READ” MY SIGNS IT SAYS $9.99 AND UP AND BBQ BUFFET $9.99 AND UP. MY REGULAR PRICE IS $29.50 PER SITE WITH FULL OR PARTIAL HOOK-UPS. BUT I HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SPECIAL [ CHECK THE MILE POST] $15.00 FOR ANY MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 2009, 2010, 2011 TO PROMOTE MY PARK AND THAT IS WHY I SAID $15.00 WHEN YOU ARRIVED AS I DID NOT NEED TO KNOW IF YOU WERE A MEMBER OR NOT OF PASS PORT AMERICA OR CLUB USA OR SAMS, OR ESCAPEES ETC. THEY ALL GET THE DISCOUNT. AND THE $15.00 ALSO INCLUDED THE TAX AT THAT TIME TOO SO IT SAVED YOU SOME MONEY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. NEXT YEAR AS YOU CAN SEE ITS GOING TO BE $15.OO SPECIAL FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS AGAIN TRYING TO GIVE EVERYONE A GREAT PLACE TO STAY , REASONABLE PRICE AND THE BEST BBQ BUFFET ON THE HWY. TO ALASKA. BUT BEING THE CHEAP BUM THAT YOU ARE YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE SPENT $9.99 TO FIND OUT LOL.
Can I assume you’re talking about the BBQ again? It seems like you’re very proud of it since you mention it every post. Just so you know, not everyone likes BBQ. I’m one of them, I don’t care for meat slathered with a sweet, sticky, gooey sauce so it’s not a draw for me in the least.
As far as the rest of the post goes, your derisive name calling is a little uncalled for but I’m a grown up and can handle that. You’ve never answered my simple question: Have you ever charged anyone $29 per night? Just wondering.
Wow, Michael. Way to lose potential business. Ever hear of “the customer is always right”? You could have explained your side of things without the derogatory name calling. A simple explanation of the situation, regarding your special price deal, especially at the time of sale, would not only have avoided all of this, it wouldn’t have lost you customers – both a repeat visit from Jim and those among his blog readers that plan on traveling through the area.
I hope that taking the low road as a response here, twice, was worth the dollar loss. A non-combative picture of your side of things and a simple apology for the misunderstanding would have sufficed, and been a lot less costly.
This is a filthy place–I am going to report to BC Health
Hmm. I remember the bathrooms to be nice and clean. As were the grounds. Of course the last time I stayed there was what? Two years ago? The dinning room was of little interest to me as I don’t care for BBQ so I didn’t eat there. Seemed BBQ was about the only thing on the menu.
But, between you and me, if you’re going to criticize the place, please be a little more specific about what you found. Constructive criticism would help the owner identify problem areas you might have found. And if praise is due, please add that as well. Thanks!