Dips, curves and unparalleled scenery found along the Fishing Highway 24 makes this road a very popular route for recreational travel. The high volume of summer traffic passing by Lac des Roches consists of transport trucks, slow-moving RV caravans and lone motorcycle rockets. During the tourist season, it seems very few travellers are aware of the hazards associated with interchanges and pullouts common within highway communities. The variable speeds of vehicles slowing to turn off the highway or accelerating after entering the highway are not always recognized by drivers who may be preoccupied taking in a glimpse of the lake. Even the most experienced drivers recount tales of close-calls experienced within a few kilometres of their home. All of our front streets have a “blind” corner from at least one direction of Highway 24. Visitors to the lake, unfamiliar with the hazards in the area, may not be prepared for the common, poor driving habits that residents have come to expect. These include speeding, drifting over the centreline, passing on a double solid yellow line, inappropriate signalling and swerving to avoid small wildlife. Residents are reminded to caution their visitors about the dangers of entering and exiting the highway and to drive as defensively as possible, expecting the inevitable errors made by the other drivers.
Unwanted weeds
Thistles are showing their purple blooms among the maturing weeds and grasses. Spraying and pulling these invasive plants are the two effective ways to rid the fields of these annoying weeds. Residents are reminded there are several other invasive weeds, such as Oxeye Daisy, Burdock, Mullein, Orange Hawkweed and Goat’s Beard, which are growing throughout the area and are targets of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Invasive Plant Committee (CCCIPC). Pineapple weed and plantain grow in most of the lawns and driveways. Plantain is often used as a home remedy for skin irritations and relief from insect bites but can still choke out natural grasses from a pasture and is, therefore, considered invasive.
Bears and berries
It is berry season at Lac des Roches. Residents don’t have to travel further than their own neighbourhood to enjoy some rewarding finds of Saskatoon berries and thimbleberries (or salmon berries). A little further into the forest will reveal blueberries, huckleberries and cranberries. All of these edible delights will attract black bears, a recurring problem last year. Caution should be exercised during any berry picking excursion close to or far from home.
Nitty gritty
Thank you to Interior Roads personnel who responded quickly to residents’ complaints about dusty road conditions on the Cariboo Regional District’s portion of the community. Dust suppression chemicals applied in July have made a huge difference in the enjoyment of our public roads by pedestrians and cyclists.
Wonderful wildlife
Buck, doe and fawn sightings have been reported. No bear or moose encounters have been reported in the past few weeks. A family of five otters was swimming near the south shore. After months of “crazy busy” bird feeders, the early migration of hummingbirds is imminent. Large numbers of recreational boaters may have displaced some of the waterfowl, but the families seem to be getting comfortable again. Many baby birds are just coming out of the nest and may be seen in awkward places. Residents are reminded to leave all baby critters where they are found to allow the parents to care for them. For fending off those annoying black flies that have plagued the area for a few weeks, keep moving or apply bug repellent that contains Deet.