That is what it says on the car licence plates and I guess they have that right. Since we left Calgary and entered the Rockies we have had glorious scenery the whole way. From soaring snow-capped mountains, to cascading waterfalls, to clear blue glistening lakes, BC has it all. I guess Alberta has all that as well (Banff, Canmore, Jasper, the Columbia Icefield are not exactly shabby!), but BC is basically covered in it! It seems the whole of BC is one great outdoor playground, and we haven't even got to the coast yet for the whales, the orca, the otters, the seals... Need I go on? (no! - I can hear you).
And as well as being treated to some of the best scenery on earth, I have also been following the National Hockey League play offs in the evening in the bars we almost invariably find. You don't get to visit my family in Canada without some of the obsession rubbing off. With some cousins supporting the Edmonton Oilers and some the Calgary Flames it is with delight in can report (I know you have all been waiting), that both have qualified for the next round after nail biting 4-3 victories in the first round.
And yes, the Battle of Alberta is on! Oilers vs Flames starts on Wednesday. Best of 7 for the right to contest the Western Conference Title with St Louis Blues or Colorado Avalanche. I will be glued to the screen. And I have skin in both camps, although don't tell my cousin Josh, that secretly I am Flames! After all, if I can do jury service in Calgary, I can support the hockey team! Go Flames Go!
Right, enough of that nonsense. Back to the journey. After leaving the rather marvellous Radium Hot Springs, we mostly followed the Trans-Canada Highway No 1 (to us Brits a frankly mind boggling 7,476km road from St John's Newfoundland to Victoria on Vancouver Island - quite a road) to Revelstoke, yet another mountain resort with fabulous views, and as it turns out a rather brilliant hotel and bar in the town centre.
Having occupied ourselves in the late afternoon checking out the railway history of the town we plotted a longish walk in the morning along the Columbia River (the same one that eventually finds its way to the ocean at Portland Oregon). It was simply breathtaking, not just for the scenery, but also the solitude so close to a town and the clear fresh mountain air. Come the winter this is one of many skiing paradises in BC and I think it is about time I returned to ski in the Rockies with my cousin Gordon, my original ski teacher - yes, it is his fault! This is me, tackling a bit of off piste after being dropped off at the top by helicopter - yeah, right, I wish!
But this is me admiring the view, over the Columbia River to Mount McPherson.
And I think lumber might feature in the local economy of Revelstoke.
From Revelstoke to Vernon in the Okanagan Valley, where it is warm, sunny and full of apples and wine.
Well the apples and grapes are there but the sun decided to take holiday for our first day in the valley. Vernon was at least dry in the morning and we managed a great walk overlooking the Okanagan Lake.
The afternoon was bit of a write off, but in the space of nearly 7 weeks it is just about the only one we have had, so no complaints. It gave us a chance to catch up with emails and locate the excellent Match Bar for supper/drinks/hockey. And meeting the charming Vivek, who treated us wonderfully well and chatted with us for ages. As in virtually every place we have been, we were made to feel very welcome.
And the bartender Zack made Nareesa a rose from a napkin!
Today we will head on down the Okanagan Valley to Kelowna and then at some point find the Fraser River and head back into Vancouver, with this part of our journey about to end. On Friday we return our car (with more depreciation on it than it cost to rent), and head to the ship terminal on Burrard Inlet for our boat trip to Alaska - I still refuse to call it a cruise! Before that, a stack of washing to do and a load of friends to catch up with in Van. Hopefully there will be an update at least in the middle of the week and then, assuming a good enough connection from the boat, there will be more as we head north up the coast at the weekend. The heavy duty down jackets are at the ready. Last few pics for now, mostly of the Columbia River outside Revelstoke.
Looking south down river towards Washington and eventually Oregon.
The railway passing over the Columbia River.
Yours truly walking the Grey Canal Trail in the Okanagan Valley (no sign of a canal though). Does he possess a pair of trousers?
Kommentare