From Vernon to Williams Lake

  

Saturday, September 10, 2022

 

After much discussion, we decided to take the day off. We were both travel-weary and needed a break from the car. We spent the day in our room, catching up on photos, correspondence and this blog. We even ordered dinner from a local restaurant and watched yet another Michigan football game. And, yes, they handily defeated the team from Hawaii.

To top off a relaxing day, we headed for the hottub and joined a group of 14 year old boys who were in town for a soccer tournament. They were all lovely and engaged in a pleasant conversation. We had to laugh a bit when they recommended a particular winery we should visit in Vernon. We decided not to ask how they knew so much about the winery scene.

 

Sunday, September 11, 2022

 

Much relaxed from yesterday, we set off with new energy this morning. We first explored Revelstoke, a lovely and busy mountain village deep in the Rockies. Cafes, restaurants, murals, and sculptures festooned the town. Two beautiful grizzly bear statues flanked the gate to the main street of the town (remember, we have not yet seen any real wildlife so we have to rely on statues and murals).

The town was quiet, it being Sunday morning, but many of the outdoor cafes were busy with customers.

 

What caught our attention the most was in Revelstoke was the enormous train yard. It was not a place where containers were stored awaiting shipping. It was instead a place where all manner of equipment was stored awaiting winter. Massive snow plows, snow blowers, brushes and push shovels were sitting idle on the tracks. The size of some of these pieces of equipment was overwhelming. Having not seen any ‘private property’ signs, we entered the yard and leisurely drove around taking a good look at each piece of equipment. We have a much better idea now how trains can continue to travel on their tracks through blizzards and heavy snowfall. Quite amazing!

 

Leaving Revelstoke, we embarked on a beautiful mountain drive en route to Vernon. We passed by pristeen lakes, high cliffs, traversed mountain passes and winding roads. What a spectacular part of our country.

 

Of course, in BC as well as other parts of Canada, there really are only two seasons – winter and construction. It was the case here as well. Google maps suggested that we turn off the main highway and travel along Highway 97A; that would save us from about 30 minutes of delay along the main road.

 

We followed that suggestion and 2 hours later we were still puttering along the secondary highway. It was not due to construction or traffic delays. It was singularly due to our curiosity. The byway was far more interesting than the main highway. We were passing through agricultural land rather than cliffs and mountains. We followed the signs to a blueberry farm where there was a booth based on the honour system where we could purchase freshly picked and lusciously large blueberries as well as jam and juice. The honour system here had a traditional locked cashbox but, lest you did not have the right change, there was also an email transfer system in place. We used it to by berries and jam and carried on our way.

 

Not far down the road, we found a sign that said ‘pears and plums – free’. Free?? Of course, we stopped. A lady approached our car with her arms full of newly picked pears. She offered us some and we chose 4. She said we needed to take more. She grabbed a small box and filled it with pears and then added a layer of plums on top. I protested we had enough, that there were only two of us, but she insisted saying it was a shame that they might go to waste and her family could not possibly eat all that were on the trees. So, off we went with pears and plums for a crowd.

 

We had heard that there was a llama sanctuary in the area … yes, I said llama. Being curious and having good problem solving skills, we managed to find the llama sanctuary although there were no signs nor did we have a name. At the locked gate, we were advised to dial a phone number and a lovely person answered and agreed to give us a tour of the sanctuary the next day.

 

We also saw a sign for haskap berries but we there was no one home where the berries were available. Oh well …

 

We carried on along the secondary road until we were very close to Vernon. We were going to be staying with friends from Waterloo who had moved to an area called Predator Ridge, just outside the town. We had agreed to meet at Gray Monk winery for a tasting. Jeff worked there and was quite happy to introduce us to a range of very tasty wines. Of course, we bought several bottles, a couple of which we drank with Jeff and Ruth that evening.

 

We followed Jeff from the winery to their lovely home high on Predator Ridge, overlooking the mountains and Okanagan Lake. On a clear day, it would have been a spectacular view. Sadly, a forest fire near Hope was generating smoke that travelled for miles and looked like mist or fog in the air. Of course, it blocked the view of the beauty of the area. We had a delightful evening over great food and wine renewing our friendship. It has been 2 ½ years since we have seen them.

 

Monday, September 12, 2022

 

Monday morning, Ruth left early to teach a fitness class at a gym, one of Predator Ridge’s many amenities. We had breakfast with Jeff and then headed off to the Vernon Farmers’ Market. It is an outdoor market with many stalls under canopies. Fresh fruits and vegetables were on display at many stalls but there were also artisan tables, cheese displays, baked goods and bric-a-brac available.

 

We needed to get some carrots, apples and brussel sprouts to take with us to the llama sanctuary. Carrots and apples were readily available but we fell short on the sprouts. Nonetheless, we retraced the route to the sanctuary for our appointment at 11 am.

 

We arrived at the locked gate and our instructions were to phone Lynne, the caregiver of the llamas when we arrived. Lynne was waiting for our call and pedalled her bike down the long driveway to welcome us into the sanctuary. Security is very important so she locked the gate behind us, led us to a second secure gate and directed us where to park.

 

She explained that the llamas she was caring for had all come to her because of physical issues, abandonment, death of their owner, or abuse. There were over 30 llamas in total as well as 4 or 5 alpacas. She knew every one of them by name; many responded to her call. She shared the history of the ones we met, up close and personal. One had been born blind; another was severely arthritic and needed special care; another had been saved from euthanasia when the owner no longer wanted him; and several had been handed over to Lynne and her husband as the owners aged and could no longer provide the care that was required. Two of the llamas were surprise births right at the sanctuary. No one had known the females were pregnant.

 

We met several llamas individually or in pairs and were able to feed them carrots and apples that Lynne had chopped prior to our arrival. The slow initiation was for our benefit, not the animals. They were clearly familiar and comfortable with people. It was we who were somewhat more disconcerted by their size and our lack of familiarity with llamas in general.

 

It was fun feeding them, one carrot piece at a time. Llamas only have bottom teeth and a very long and narrow mouth. They would take what we offered from our hands and slowly chomp it back into their mouths. Apparently they have very strong molars at the back ot their mouths and chew the food thoroughly before swallowing. Happily we did not become acquainted with those molars. Some llamas did not like apples and turned their noses up at the mere offer.

 

Once they felt trust with us, perhaps predicated on our sense of trust with them, we were able to touch them. Lynne knew them all well and told us what they liked – ears petted, neck scratched, back patted, chin tickled. We followed her direction and thoroughly enjoyed our interaction with these gentle creatures.

 

After a while, Lynne took us to a larger area and called all the llamas to come. All 30 plus llamas arrived to the pen and we were surrounded. We fed them all, at times having to push a particularly greedy one out of the way so that others could also have a treat of carrot or apple. One of the baby llamas took a liking to me and sat down beside me and remained there for a very long time. Another was especially attracted to Jim because he (the llama) liked to nuzzle beards. Yes, Jim and the llama had a great time together, nuzzling each other’s face.

 

All too soon, it was time to go. Happily, in the tiny gift shop, there were mugs with llama photos. I found one with Manon, my baby llama, on it and Jim found one with Paul, the beard lover. Of course, we are bringing them home with us.

 

What a unique experience this was, well worth all the effort to track down the owner (Lynne) and the location. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

 

We returned to Vernon and had lunch at Don Cherry’s where Jim was able to order a highly recommended beer from Crannog Brewery. It was described as a stout that was better than Guinness. Jim agreed with this assessment.

 

Our quest for haskap berries continued from yesterday. We were able to contact the woman who was selling them and were quite willing to drive back out to her farm … until she told us that she did not have fresh berries; they were all frozen. Apparently haskap berry season is in July. Disappointed, we purchased blueberry and haskap jam from another vendor. The real berries will have to wait for another time.

 

We travelled to the shore of Lake Okanagan, the lake that was not visible from Pedator Ridge due to the smoke. It is a beautiful lake, surrounded by majestic mountains and rolling hills. Small communities of lake lovers have built homes along some of the shoreline. There are also several condo developments under construction. The population and the culture around the lake is clearly undergoing change.

 

Now, deep in the Okanagan Valley, we passed by orchards of apples, all heavily laden and awaiting picking. There were also orchards of peach, plum and pear trees, most already picked. We also came upon the Pacific Regeneration Facility. Fascinating, the fields were filled with raised platforms with tiny trees growing. We learned that it is the largest regeneration company in Canada and grows many species of trees for planting throughout Western Canada and the US. We now realize that we have seen several locations where trees are being nurtured for replanting. We just did not previously know what we were seeing.

 

We returned to Jeff and Ruth’s late in the afternoon and had a short nap, wanting to be alive and alert for the evening activities. Predator Ridge is a community with many amenities and facilities – two beautiful golf courses, a large fitness facility, swimming pool, a tennis and pickleball tented dome and more.

 

There are as many activities available as you would ever want to be involved in. Tonight was bocci night – start time 5 pm. We got on board the golf cart, transportation of choice in the community and proceeded to the golf green that had been temporarily transformed into a bocci field with 12 (yes 12) games set up. Jeff and Ruth were playing at number 8.

 

Ruth parked the golf cart so that Jim and I could watch the proceedings. We were astounded by the number of people who were engaged in the game; twelve fields with 8 competitors at each one. By our estimation, there were almost 100 people playing bocci. Later, we were told that there were actually three sessions at each of the twelve locations – one at 4, one at 5 and one at 6. All up almost 300 people!!!

 

It was fun to watch, mostly because of the friendly interaction of the people involved. Predator Ridge is clearly a community of people who enjoy being involved and getting to know one another. Lots of smiles and laughter, and greetings and waves. What a wonderful atmosphere to live in.

 

After bocci, we returned to Jeff and Ruth’s for another delicious meal and the got out the cards. Euchre was the game – girls against guys. Wine was the libation with laughter and conversation our companions. It was a great evening.

 

All too soon, our visit came to an end. We were leaving in the morning to continue our journey through BC. We were blessed to have wonderful hosts and friends here. How lucky are we!!!

 

 

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

 

We enjoyed our breakfast with Jeff and Ruth and packed the car, ready to head off again. We expressed our appreciation of their hospitality and said farewell. We left Predator Ridge, heading back Vernon for one last look around. The day was quite dreary and the air was heavy laden with both fog and smoke from the Hope forest fire.

 

En route, to Vernon, we ran across the Allan Brooks Nature Centre. We did not know anything about it but we went in to see what they do. It turns out that they focus much attention on the local marmot population which has already settled into hibernation mode. So no marmots to see. They also set out multiple birdhouses in an effort to attract bluebirds. We saw the bird houses but one of the staff told us they had never actually seen a bluebird at this location. Oh well, nothing to see there.

 

We continued on our way to Vernon, stopped for a Tim Horton’s and spent a short time at Polson Park. What a gorgeous park that is, especially the very well cared for gardens. The flowers in bloom provided bright colours which lifted the tone of the day.

 

Heading out of Vernon, we turned our wheels in the direction of Silver Star Mountain Resort. Some of our family are considering going there this winter and we were close enough to it to go and check it out.  It is a very large resort with several hotels, restaurants, ski facilities, a tubing slide as well as cross country ski trails. It is compact in its design so everything was quite walkable. Our only negative comment is that it is about 20 kilometres off the main highway, almost straight up a very winding mountain road. In the winter, it could be quite treacherous.

 

We carried on the Kelowna, our nest stop, deep in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Not surprisingly, we saw several fruit stands along the way to Kelowna but we already had some fruit with us so we decided to wait until the next day when we planned to more fully explore the Valley.

 

We checked into our hotel early that day, ready to put our feet up and prepare for the next phase of this amazing adventure. We considered going to a movie but even that was beyond our energy level. Too bad because there was a large movie theatre quite close by with ten screens. Interestingly, there were only seven screens with English language movies. The other screens were showing movies in Punjabi (2), Hindi (1), Tamil (1), and Telugu – a language from East India (1). Clearly the population in Kelowna is quite diverse.

 

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

 

This morning began with a thunderstorm and some much needed rain. This delayed us a bit to begin today’s adventure so we used the time to map out the rest of our trip on a calendar. It is hard to believe that we have been in British Columbia for more than three weeks and we head home in 16 days. There is so much more to see and do!!

 

Today’s adventure was to explore the south end of the Okanagan Valley. That is where most of the fruit comes from and we were eager to see fruit on the vine as well as fruit in baskets at the farm stores along the road. We began with a fruit stand not far from our hotel and picked out 4 lovely peaches, a jar of haskap jam, and a packet of herbs to bring home.

 

We headed south on Highway 97 with the goal of reaching Osoyoos, where there is a border crossing into the US. (More about that later). As we travelled, the weather cleared and we were able to enjoy the views of the mountains on both sides of this broad valley. Fruit stands peppered the highway. We tried to use restraint and not visit each one but it was very difficult.  The fresh fruit was colourful, aromatic and freshly picked. Nectarines, cherries, grapes, apples, peaches and plums were all available. The displays were both colourful and, at times, cleverly artistic. We finally decided to buy some cherries which we promptly consumed. They were soooo good.

 

As we travelled along we were able to see vast orchards of apples, pears, and plums. Peach season was almost over and we did not see peaches on the trees. Plums and pears were being picked as we travelled along. Apples were hanging heavy and low on the trees, soon to be harvested. Grapes were also abundant and awaiting picking for eating but mainly for wine production. We lost track of how many wineries we passed as we travelled.

 

There were other things to see along the way as well. A town called Peachland was in the heart of peach country. As well as the peaches, its other claim to fame were bats. They have a bat museum and maintain an old school building where bats live in the attic, apparently thousands of bats. We did not encounter any bats as we passed through the town but we did read about all the bat education they are doing to increase awareness and respect for these animals.

 

Lake Okanagan was just east of the highway, flanked on the east by majestic mountains. It made a beautiful scene which was somewhat marred today because of the smoke from the forest fires near Hope. Not surprisingly, many communities have beaches and marinas. Cottages and permanent homes dot the shore and tourist accommodation and restaurants are plentiful throughout the valley.

 

At the southern tip of the Okanagan is the town of Osoyoos. On our first trip together, in 1972, Jim and I had visited Osoyoos. We were hitchhiking at the time and wanted to cross the border and make our way to Seattle. The border guards had other ideas. People were not allowed to walk across the border, nor were they allowed to hitchhike as a means of transportation. We asked why they had those rules and tried to explain that we did not intend to make trouble for anyone when we were in the USA. The guards took exception to our comments and gave us this choice … either remain in Osoyoos until there is a bus that we could take across the border, or, if we kept pressing the issue, they would refuse us entry into the USA altogether. We quickly backed down, remained in Osoyoos overnight and took a bus the next day all the way to Seattle.

 

Today, we drove down to the border crossing and recalled our story, laughing at how young and naïve we were at that time. We travelled up a short road that flanked the border. There was no fence but signs that made it clear where the border was and what the penalty would be for crossing without going through the Customs and Immigration process. We find borders fascinating. They are so arbitrary In terms of location, yet wield such power over the movement of people.

 

There was a house that sat on the American side of the border. The backyard was adjacent to the border. We could literally touch the house from Canadian soil. The house was for sale but the sales flyers were in a display on the Canadian side although the house was clearly located in the USA.

 

We continued our adventure by heading out of town in a westerly direction. Just a few kilometres along this highway was a very unique lake, called Spotted Lake. I quote from and internet source with the following information: Spotted Lake is a small lake rich in a variety of minerals, including calcium, sodium sulphates and magnesium sulphate. During the hot summer months, much of the water in the lake evaporates, leaving concentrations of these minerals that form the spots visible in the lake. Throughout the summer, the spots shift in size and colour as the minerals within each change with further evaporation. Colours ranging from blue to green to yellow appear, depending on the mineral makeup of each individual spot. Even on an overcast day, the spots were visible and ranged vastly in size and colour. It was fascinating to see. Quite visible from the highway.

 

We returned to Osoyoos to get some lunch, late I know. A large number of people from India have moved to this area. Many of them work in the agriculture industry; many hold other kinds of jobs; and many are entrepreneurs who operate businesses or run restaurants. We love Indian food so we sought out samosas and curry balls for lunch today and thoroughly enjoyed them.

 

We decided to return to Kelowna by driving back on the east side of Lake Okanagan. That meant that we would travel around the entire lake. We soon discovered that the landscape along the east side was substantially different than the west coast was.

 

First, we needed to climb and cross over a very high and steep mountain. We traversed the mountain using a pass that was a bit scary to drive. It was a long way up by the time we reached the summit and then we had to drive down again. Winding roads, steep slopes and runaway lanes for trucks were all part of the adventure. And we made it!!

 

Close to the top of the mountain was a very high end neighbourhood. Each of the streets bore the name of a native animal and there was large and beautiful sculpture at each intersection, displaying the animal for which the street was named. The statues were beautiful, if only slightly ostentatious.

 

We did encounter something that we would never have predicted today. It was raining intermittently as we travelled up and over the mountain but when we reached the top, the road and the shoulders were covered in white. It took a moment to realize that at this altitude the rain had actually fallen as snow. September 14!! And we were driving through snow!! We now understand the requirement to have winter tires and/or chains beginning on October 1 each year.

 

We joined Rock Creek part way down the mountain and followed it for a long way. It was very pretty but also low on water due to summer evaporation. The creek was certainly appropriately named since the bottom of the creek as well as all the visible dry creek bed was covered in fist-size rocks. We finally crossed Rock Creek near the bottom of our descent. We had enjoyed having it as a companion on this drive.

 

It was approaching 6 o’clock when we arrived back in Kelowna. We had made plans to have dinner at the RauDZ Regional Table. This restaurant had been recommended by both Iain and Elaine (son and daughter-in-law) who have been to Kelowna many times. They were absolutely correct in their recommendation. The food was delicious; the service without flaw. And even on a Wednesday night it was crowded. Jim ordered a crab cappuccino (crab soup served in a mug with a froth on top – no coffee at all) and arctic char as a main. I had a lovely beet salad and pork tenderloin and scallops with roasted vegetables. Both meals were scrumptious and elegantly presented. We had a cocktail to start and shared a delicious dessert to finish the meal. It was fun to have dinner in an elegant and gourmet restaurant. It sure beat a Subway sandwich!!

 

And then we returned to our very comfortable room. Jim is planning our day tomorrow and I am writing this blog. It is a good way to finish off a lovely day.

 

 

Thursday, September 15, 2022

 

Today was the day that we reluctantly left Kelowna. It actually took us a long time to go. We toured the uptown are of the city one last time and, as always, we found things we had not yet seen.

 

One of the most touching discoveries was a beautiful bronze statue at a fire station. The statue depicted two firefighters, one high on a ladder and the other waiting below as the firefighter on the ladder carried a small child, a little girl, to safety on the ground. What a touching tribute to the work that firefighters do.

 

We also photographed sculptures outside the Art Gallery and a gorgeous sculpture of dolphins near the waterfront. We saw more interesting shops and restaurants, parks and bike paths. We fully understand how people (including our own son and daughter-in-law) could easily fall in love with Kelowna.

 

On our way out of town we visited four wineries. We did not partake in the tasting since I was driving and we still had many miles ahead of us. The other attribute of wineries in this area is the exquisite beauty of their settings.

 

We stopped in at Vibrant Vine. It is widely known for its success in wine competitions and, one year, actually won the prize for Best Wine in the World. That award is proudly displayed on an exterior wall. It also featured beautiful gardens and some interesting art including a brightly painted old truck. We were impressed with the accommodation for the workers,  brand new living quarters that were under construction. 

 

Summerhill Pyramid Winery was a place of peace and beauty. It is situated high on a hill with an amazing vista over vineyards, Lake Okanagan and distant mountains. The winery not only produces quality products but also demonstrates its values throughout the property. There is a  peace pole featuring eight languages that sits in the dedicated peace garden. A nearby globe reflects environmental concerns; and the gigantic pyramid speaks to the need for balance in life. There is also a Robert Bateman garden on this property as well as a collection of his art displayed inside the winery. They also produce a series of wines that features Bateman art on the bottles.

 

Next, we stopped at Indigenous World Winery, owned and operated by indigenous people. The totem pole and wigwam that were outside the main building spoke to the heritage of the owners.

 

Mission Hill winery was highly recommended by many. It provided beautiful views over vineyards and the lake. It was  built to replicate a California Mission with high walls and brick construction. Oak trees with acorns, statues of people in meditation, and peaceful gardens set a tone at this winery.

 

Quail’s Gate offered a more open concept style of architecture and an exquisite view of Lake Okanagan and the abundant hillside vineyards. There are also baskets and gardens filed with brilliant and abundant flowers. The sun was shining and the setting was beautiful.

 

Then it was time for our next adventure. We travelled the Coquihalla Connector Highway, a well built multilane controlled access highway ascending to a very high altitude and overlooking a deep valley with sheer sides. At its highest point it reaches 1244 metres (4081 feet), a place known as the Coquihalla Pass. Truck bays are provided periodically along the way to check brakes  and there are a couple of ‘run away’ lanes just in case. Happily it was clear and dry as we travelled the distance, except for the smoke that was wafting through the air. The Hope fire was not far away.

 

We arrived in Merritt just before dinnertime. Once again, we have proven that a 2 hour drive can take the entire day to complete. We checked into our hotel, looked up the menu of a well known BC restaurant chain, Home Restaurant, and ordered dinner to take out. We were happily settled in for the night.

Hopefully, we will be well rested in the morning when we head up the highway to Williams Lake, a 4 hour drive (time will tell).

 

Friday, September 16, 2022

 

Our day started early this morning in Merritt. Early because this is going to be a substantial driving day … all the way to Williams Lake. And we all know how we travel … bit by bit, stop by stop.

 

We began today’s drive with a tour of Merritt, the town we had stayed in. It is a lot like a small town in an old time western movie. Frame buildings, two stories tall; wide roadways; corner hotels; historic, cultural and country music murals on the walls … quite a lovely place but a long way from everywhere.

We stopped at the indigenous owned Kekuli Café to buy some bannock. Their motto is  “Don’t panic; we’ve got bannock”. We also stopped to have a look at the Coldwater Hotel, built in 1901. Not much has changed since then. It is still the original frame building occupying a prestigious corner in the community. I would also like to highlight the murals around the town, often featuring some well known Country Music personalities. Merritt is known as the Country Music Capital of the World and has a Country Music Hall of Fame to support that claim. Not being country music fans, we did not go into the museum.

 

We headed north on Highway 97C. I was a bit anxious about the quality of the road but my fears were soon dispelled. It is a wide road with broad shoulders with well-maintained pavement, plenty of rest stops and double lanes going uphill on the mountains. There were many warnings about inclines and descents of up to 9% and several places for larger trucks to pull off and check their brakes before heading downhill. There were also a few runaway lanes for trucks should they get out of control.

 

For most of the morning, the traffic was extremely light. We passed through Logan Lake where the road changed direction and we left southern BC behind. The landscape became more rugged and the mountains larger. There were fewer trees and more grassland. The landscape was primarily yellow as autumn grass stretched across the slopes. We crossed many streams, most were reduced to trickles of water after the evaporation of summer. The ice melt in the spring will rejuvenate them and provide the water necessary for agricultural irrigation again.

 

Visible from the highway was the Highland Valley Copper Mine, one of the largest open pit mining operations in the world. It was truly awesome. It extended along the roadway for several miles and the pit itself was so deep that it was not possible to see the bottom from the side of the road. Although the mine has certainly altered the natural landscape of the area, there was a strange beauty to it. The rock was multicoloured – pink, grey, yellow and brown and stretched broadly before our eyes. There were areas that had been rehabilitated but the grass was yellow due to the dryness of the climate. Trains and trucks and massive mining equipment looked like miniatures as we gazed at them from the road. There must be a lot of copper in that mine. Wow!!

 

We have seen very little wild life so far in B.C. but today was a bit different. First we encountered two mule deer crossing the highway; then we saw a wild horse off in a field; then we saw white pelicans. White pelicans are quite rare and on the endangered species list. We felt very fortunate to see them, even from a distance as they were floating on a pond off the highway. 

Soon, we arrived in Ashcroft, a quaint village through which two train lines run.  It is here that the road crosses the Thompson River. The village has many restored buildings, especially train related structures, reflecting the history of the town and its importance in the trans Canada transportation system. There are murals on many walls and beautiful glass mosaics, created by an artist who lives there. All very quaint and picturesque. There is also a Chinese cemetery developed by the CPR in the late 1800’s. Men of Chinese descent who worked on the railroad were buried there until early 1940s. After that Chinese people were buried in the regular community cemetery.

 

Next came Cache Creek, a thriving community where sunflowers are a major crop. By this time, it was raining hard and the driving was getting quite unpleasant. There seemed to be more traffic on the road now, especially large trucks going in both directions. So much for enjoying the landscape and taking photos.

 

We decided we would take a break and relax in a restaurant for a while. We soon drove into Clinton (yes, Clinton BC) and spotted a Chinese restaurant. It was great to get out of the car. The dishes we ordered was tasty with very generous portions. There was enough food left over for dinner. The rain was still bucketing down; visibility was minimal but we were sufficiently refreshed and able to join the rest of the traffic on the highway.

 

From this point on, the towns and villages were all named according to where they were located along the road. 70 Mile House, 93 Mile House, 100 Mile House etc. 100 Mile House was quite a large community. Best news there was that the rain finally stopped. We carried on to Lac La Hache where we stopped for a short rest, relieved that we were almost to our destination and the driving was much more pleasant now.

 

At 150 Mile House, we had an errand to run. We dropped off a parcel for a niece of Jim’s sister. It was great to get off the highway for a while. We were amazed at the number of homes we passed as we followed the instructions to Tait’s home. It was like a very large subdivision in which each lot was enormous and the homes were mostly hidden from view by the trees and bushes on the properties. We wondered who would ever want to live in this remote community.

 

Just a short while later, we arrived in Williams Lake, so named because of the large lake that welcomed travellers into the town. We found the beautiful and very helpful visitor centre where Jim fortified himself with information to guide our activities for the next couple of days. We are now installed in a comfortable hotel; we have eaten our leftovers and will enjoy a quiet but productive evening.

 

Saturday, September 17, 2022

 

It’s Saturday morning and there is a Michigan football game on television. Of course, we ate breakfast and watched the game in our room. I also worked on the blog and the photo books I am making about our adventures. All in all, it was a pleasant and productive morning. Michigan won another game (59 – 0) and I got caught up on my writing and photos. And the laundry got done as well. (Some mundane chores carry on whether you are at home or away!)

 

This afternoon, we took a drive out of William’s Lake where we are currently staying. The sun was shining and the sky was blue, a much more pleasant day than yesterday was. It was a joy to be on a road not yet explored. The name … Likely Road … and it took us to Horsefly. We knew from the outset that we would likely make it. Forty kilometres later we had arrived.

 

En route, we travelled through some wonderful forested land but we also traversed wide expanses of land that had been cleared for agriculture. Large herds of cattle grazed in many of the fields. Bales of hay were cut and rolled, ready for winter feeding. There were also several horse farms along the way. We were surprised at how much agriculture there was. The rolling countryside was perfect for grazing animals.

 

We also passed by several sawmills, some creating lumber from the trees that had been cut; others were preparing the full trunks of the trees for use in log construction. Both houses and places of business have been built from logs in this area.

 

We finally arrived in Horsefly, a tiny hamlet with one store, one museum (closed), one community centre where breakfast would be served net Saturday, and horseshoe pits. There was a small park along the river, accessed by driving across a wooden bridge. We watched a pickup truck go across before we ventured onto the structure. It seemed quite stable and we made it across twice.

 

The reason for our visit to Horsefly is that it is salmon spawning season and the fish were here in the river. We have tried to find fish on several other occasions but this was by far our greatest success. We watched these amazing creatures for a very long time. It is so difficult to understand that they travel all the way from the ocean to this small river which was there place of birth. And when they arrive they search for the best and most protected place to lay their eggs and then they die. We watched hundreds of fish fight the current in the water as they searched for just the right spot. There were times that two fish wanted the same spot and a fight broke out. I have never thought of fish in conflict but there they were, flapping their tails, splashing the water, butting heads, until one of them gave in and moved on to another spot in the river. It was both entertaining and amazing.

 

As we drove back to Williams Lake, we once again enjoyed the scenery and occasionally stopped to take a photo of a place we had seen earlier on our way to the river. Back in Williams Lake, itself, we took a short tour of the town. The housing was interesting, much of it prefabricated, and often high on a hilltop overlooking the lake. The houses up high were not necessarily high priced places. There was clearly a well established middle class population here. We can only surmise that many of them work in lumber or agriculture-related jobs. The business district was quite spread out, featuring the chain stores you might expect in most communities. There were very few independent shops or restaurants.

 

We had skipped lunch so we decided that we would go to Denny’s for an early dinner. We were not disappointed with the food we received. In our experience Denny’s is a very reliable and predictable place to eat. This is the last Denny’s that we will encounter on this trip so we are glad that we ate there.

 

We are now back in our room, researching, writing, corresponding with others and relaxing. Soon the tv will go on and we will watch a show or two before we settle in for the night. Tomorrow will be a day of driving again – destination Tatla Lake.