West continued

 

When we first were planning this trip, there was a week that wasn’t booked.  We could go home, but why?  Instead, we continued west.

After leaving Kinbasket Resort, parting ways with Bob and Donna, Dave and I went into Golden for fuel and to explore the town a bit. 

Coffee and books.  Can't get better than that!

We camped at Canyon Hot Springs for a couple of nights, enjoying the hot pools and just generally relaxing.  Because of the smoke, it didn’t have the ambience of being outside surrounded by mountains, but just a hot pool.

Campgrounds are either near a highway or a railway.  Guess what?  It was trains this time!!

We got lucky and were in Revelstoke on the right day for a farmer's market.  It was part of a relaxing and enjoyable day of wandering the town, enjoying lunch, tasting beer at the Mt.Begbie Brewing Co.  It was one of those days where you said:  "What time is it anyway?"

The next few days were spent with our friends at their cabin on Shuswap Lake.  Life at the lake.  It can't get better than that,

Mike wasn't so sure because the boat hadn't arrived yet.

The boat is here.  Yes, let's get this party started!

While the men motored back to the cabin from Sicamous dock, Gayle and I stopped at a greenhouse to buy some plants for the cabin.  She also added some fruit bushes.  Hopefully everything will take and it will be beautiful.

We spent an afternoon cruising around on the lake with our friends, enjoying a lunch on board and stopping to look at the pictographs on the rocks.  What a beautiful day. 

As much as we enjoyed life on the Shuswap, it was time to carry on.  We didn't go far, stopping at the Lake Front Campground on Swan Lake outside of Vernon for a couple of days. It was a time to relax and catch up with some long lost cousins too.

The weather had turned hot so the shade trees and the swimming pool at the campground were a wonderful treat.

The pattern continues.  Another farmer's market to stock up on fresh produce and admire the handcrafts.

What a beautiful view as we sat on the deck in the hot shade visiting with family, sampling the grape juice and dessert wine from Anthony's Vineyard, overlooking Kelowna.

One last stop at a fruit stand as we continued down the Okanagan valley.

One last look at the Okanagan Valley from above Osooyos.  

With the temperature in the mid-30s, the truck complained a bit about pulling the trailer up that road!

I don't know why it takes us all day just to get from Vernon to Castlegar, but then again, what's the hurry?  We stopped for rest breaks, fruit stands and ice cream, fuel for body and vehicle and before you know it the day was gone. 

We camped just on the edge of town at the Castlegar RV Park and Campground, for a couple of nights giving us time to explore the town a bit.  The downtown had a lovely little farmer's market, coffee shop and many interesting sculptures.  

Zuckerberg Island had an interesting vibe.  First of all, it was a poorly marked alley entrance to the parking.  Then, the swinging bridge was closed but the causeway nearby was walkable.  But now where?  The trails went off in all directions, some looking more or less travelled.  We picked one which wasn’t the best for skirt and flipflops!  We stumbled upon the house that Alexander Zuckerberg had built.  It was a very eccentric looking place and then the woman who came up the path to invite us in looked like someone from the 1960s.  It felt like a Hansel and Gretel moment and we fled to the river instead.  This island was on the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. We made our way back to the truck and headed to camp to relax for the rest of the day.