Happily Home!

Waiting in the Nanaimo Queue

Early Morning View from Ferry Line Up

The 6:20 am ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo made for one of our earliest starts yet, arriving at 5:20, and taking our place in the sleepy line up. 

Once on board, I stayed with the pooch on the passenger car deck and the brief crossing was quite pleasant - plenty of light and fresh air. H was only mildly freaked out and at times it was hard to tell that we were moving at all. Smooth crossing.

Only mildly freaked out on board

Leaving Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver

H in Wardroppers Leash-free Dog Park,
Nanaimo

Arriving in Departure Bay, Nanaimo 

Immediately upon our triumphant arrival in Nanaimo we headed for the local leash-free dog park (Wardroppers Park) and H had a chance to stretch her legs.

Our early arrival allowed for a leisurely, meandering drive up-island. (Note correct use of local terminology. No one ever travels up the island, only up-island. Critical to get these nuances right so as not to give away one's foreign status).

We stopped for a brief walk at Neck Point, also in Nanaimo, and carried on along the wonderful Oceanside Route (Highway 19A) to take in the amazing views along the way. 

Neck Point Walk

Views from the Oceanside route, like so much of this cross-country extravaganza, defy description. What a country we live in!

Although a longer drive than the Inland Highway (Highway 19), on a day like this it makes sense to stop and smell the salty sea air. 

View from Oceanside Route - Hwy 19A

View from Oceanside Route

   

View from Oceanside Route

Triumphant arrival in Courtenay

Arrival in the Comox Valley, which encompasses Courtenay and Comox as well as Cumberland (described by locals as the wild west), felt like the satisfying end to a long, happy journey. To celebrate, we headed to Seal Bay Park and enjoyed a stroll through the beautiful rainforest. 

H in Seal Bay Park - her first rainforest

First official stick in the Comox Valley

How happy does H look on this
Comox Valley Trail?  

Unpacking the car felt great, as did the chance to do laundry (lots and lots of laundry). SO lucky to have the generous hospitality of Bruce and Carol and Cider, and occasionally William and Nicholas, their all-grown-up-into-lovely-young-men sons, until the condo closes on August 1.

Cider showing H the ropes at at the boat launch near Bruce and Carol's home
H not yet sure about salt water

For the annals of odyssey history, here is everything I had in the mighty 'Ru, including camping gear that had been stowed in the rooftop cargo carrier:

Contents of 'Ru and Cargo Carrier

Final Kilometres, Orillia to Comox: 5070.
Next up: Relaxing with Bruce and Carol and getting ready to move into the condo! 

Heartfelt Thank You to everyone who read these posts and made encouraging comments here and via e-mail and Facebook. 

Your good company made a great trip even more memorable.

Until we meet again, happy trails to one and all. 

Squeamish on the Sea to Sky to Squamish

On Saturday, taking excellent advice from Craig and Sharlene, I drove a circuitous route down to Vancouver and back up to Squamish on the Sea to Ski Highway. 

Thompson River

Thompson River

Travelling from Kamloops we passed through Merritt, Spences Bridge, Lytton, Boston Bar, Spuzzum (yup, it's a place) Yale, Hope and Chilliwack then across Vancouver to the Second Narrows Bridge and on up through North and West Vancouver.

A stop at Skihist provincial park afforded beautiful views and some interesting (and illegible in photo below) history. 

View en route to Spences Bridge

Thompson Canyon History

This route was highly evocative, since the old Highway 1 was the main route to visit grandparents in Merritt. Winding roads, views of the Thompson then Fraser Canyons and generally great driving conditions marked the trip to Vancouver. 

Then, well, Vancouver. 

Even mid-afternoon on a Saturday, the highways were gridlocked. We didn't make any attempt to head into the city and just as well. It appeared that everyone and her dog wanted to get to Squamish and beyond that to Whistler. The trip from Langley to North Vancouver took about 1.5 hours, and traffic was mostly at a standstill. Thank you podcasts and audio books. Thank you AC. Thank you peaceful sleeping pooch. 

Sea to Sky Highway
Photo taken by talented photographer who wasn't me

Heading out of West Van, the stunningly beautiful Sea to Sky highway is much improved over my last visit to Whistler in the early nineties, and still daunting. Even driving the speed limit felt at times too fast on the twisty turny mountain road. I was acutely aware that I was, with my Ontario plates, the object of scorn, derision and frustration. Lily-livered Ontario Drivers...

The Chief - famous rock climbing destination

Squamish, home of the famous Chief, a rock climbing destination for decades, is built up, bustling and still beautiful. Proximity to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal made it a great place to stay.

Our last night before the Comox Valley! We reserved, out of abundant caution, an early sailing to Nanaimo and had our last night's sleep in a hotel - this time the pet-friendly Sandman. 


Squamish km: 4873. 
Tomorrow's Destination: Home!

Kamloops Sojourn

Spoiler Alert: It's Monday morning and I am safe and sound and very happy with wonderful friends in Comox... and just now catching up on these blog posts.

 Thanks to lovely friends who checked in with me (Hello Dana :-) about BC Wildfires

Salmon Arm to Kamloops was easy and beautiful, starting with an early Thursday morning pooch hike in Little Mountain Park. 

Always tantalising new smells

Stick selection in Little Mountain Park
The Arm

Amazing how easy it is to find off leash dog parks pretty much anywhere, complete with reviews from local dog nation.  We have sampled them in every province. 

After an excellent hike, complete with local stick selection, we were on our way west along the Shuswap and Thompson River. 

View from Craig and Sharlene's beautiful home
in Aberdeen Hills/Kamloops

Very easy to find Craig and Sharlene and Darby's home in Aberdeen Hills, which is absolutely lovely, including amazing views of Kamloops. We spent an excellent two nights there - a welcome respite from driving and campsites and far exceeding even the mighty Comfort Inn. 

Also had a chance to see Kira, Craig and Sharlene's younger daughter. It has been many years (she was in early high school last time) and she is a beautiful young woman. A treat to have dinner with everyone on a summery deck overlooking the valley. 

These cousins are great hosts, and come by it honestly. Craig's parents, my Aunt Esther and Uncle Hap, are also great hosts and I was well and truly feted with superb meals and more dog walks and swims than H could shake a, well, um, a stick at. 

Darby, a sweet young Wheaton Terrier,
a generous host for H

Darby, pictured in shadow here,
even shared her favourite toys with H

Most prominent in her memory and mine will be an afternoon at McConnell Lake - around which we hiked and she and Darby swam. 

Well, H swam and Darby, a young Wheaton Terrier pup, acted as enthusiastic cheerleader. 

H complementing her ensemble with dirt
from the shores of McConnell Lak

Darby encourages Hailey to come ashore

Try as she might, H could not coax Darby in above wading depth. 

Not a sign you see often - McConnell Lake

Darby the Adorable. 

Hap and Esther also have a great home in Aberdeen Hills, having left their ranch in Knutsford several years ago. Their lovely pooch, Skye, is a sweet host, and typical affectionate Golden Retriever.  Sorry that I didn't get a picture of her -- too busy eating (I was, not her) I think.

Leaving Kamloops feeling happy that it won't be long until I see these wonderful guys again. Soon. Soon is good.

Kilometres to Kamloops: 4331.
Next stop, Squamish.

Smoky, Hazy, Beautiful Salmon Arm

H waking up at Wapta Lodge

Left Wapta Lodge around 7:00 am and took our time through the magnificent Rockies - passing through Field, Golden, Revelstoke and Sicamous on our way to Salmon Arm. The drive brought us through the rest of Banff-Lake Louise, Yoho and Glacier National Parks. 

Describing the views is pretty much impossible, with superlatives quickly losing meaning. Hope the pictures give you a sense.

Our first stop was a small, lovely rest stop called Faeder Lake where Hailey chased away some Canada Geese (pretty sure I saw the same guys in Orillia this spring). The colour of the water is that spectacular green-blue that I have only ever seen in the Canadian Rockies. 

       

Views from Faeder Lake Rest Stop near Field,
complete with Canada Geese whose wakes (caused by menacing arrival of H) you can just make out

View from Faeder Lake

Wistful H wishing I would let her swim in the super-fast current 
of the Kicking Horse River. As if.

Our next stop was the Kicking Horse Rest Area, an obvious choice given my love for their Kick Ass dark roast beans.

I searched in vain for the coffee plantation and/or roastery.

      

Views from Kicking Horse Rest Stop

Along the way, there were ridiculously beautiful views around every bend in the road. The driving was fun and conditions great with only a few construction stops. 

Random crazy-beautiful view 
with haziness evident

Photos in this post give an idea of the haziness caused by the almost 200 forest fires burning in BC. CBC aired a special this morning on the awful fires, with heartwarming accounts of people stepping up to help in any way they can. Reminiscent of the heroic stories coming out of Fort MacMurray. Can't imagine what it feels like to have your home and personal safety threatened by fire. Words fail.



We also stopped at  the highest point of the iconic Rogers Pass with spectacular views in all directions. Worth noting, I believe, that the outhouse here was by far the cleanest and most charming on the adventure to date. Wish I had taken a shot of it. 

   

Highest point in Rogers Pass

Who're YOU looking' at?

This handsome fellow , a denizen of Rogers Pass, appeared to be the spokesperson for an entire family of these guys, and played to the many tourists who filmed his antics. 

Random Stunning View. Superlatives Fail.  

Other stops included Golden, to get gas (always always always stop for gas whenever there is less than 3/4 of a tank - it's never a sure bet that there will be another opportunity in time) and Revelstoke's Modern Bakeshop Cafe for a delicious panini and perfect latte.

Modern Bakeshop Cafe
Revelstoke

The day started at a bracing 10 degrees at Wapta Lodge and slowly climbed to 30+ in Salmon Arm. Haziness prevailed and the smell of smoke seemed most intense here in SA. (Or maybe the call it The Arm, like The Hat). The high temperatures, haziness, smokiness and CBC updates on BC Wildfires convinced us to stay at Pet-Friendly (you guessed it) Comfort Inn in Salmon Arm. 

Apparently I am a fair weather camper when it comes to car-camping, taking full advantage of welcome alternatives to a sweltering hot tent or miserably wet camping experience. Not so in the back country where my many bad-weather adventures are worn as a badge of honour. Perhaps the car-camping preferences are a sign of maturity. Or sanity. Or something.

H retrieving modest stick in the mighty Shuswap
Canoe Beach Dog Park

As usual, the CI people treated us very well, hurrying to have our room made up, proffering a treat for Hailey (I was passed over by the treat profferer since I haven't perfected those sad puppy-dog eyes and it's a good bet that I wouldn't enjoy a milk bone with the same gusto), and providing directions to the best pooch swimmin' in the area. In this case, Canoe Beach Dog Park on Shuswap Lake. 

Canoe Beach on the Shuswap - perfect for cooling down 
and showing off retrieving skills

Beautiful Shuswap Lake in Salmon Arm. 

It's a beautiful spot, and fitting end to a spectacular drive - even with the limited visibility. We'll be back in the Rockies sometime when it's clearer.

Kilometres to date: 4154

Tomorrow's Itinerary:  Excited to be visiting cousins, aunt and uncle in Kamloops who have offered their usual legendary western hospitality. Added bonus is Darby, the family pooch, who has not yet met (read: been exposed to) Hailey.