Monday July 29th

Had a peaceful night parked in Barb and Chris' driveway. They went off to work, and I spent some time cleaning up my house and then decided to head to the beach. It was warm and sunny. I'd always liked White Rock and Crescent Beach. I used to go there on my motorcycle and walk the expanse of beach. They also had great fish and chip shops on the beach, so I was anticipating a treat.

I knew that the Lower Mainland had changed, but the degree of change was made apparent as I drove south. As I had seen in the Fraser Valley, the farmland is being covered by monster homes and freeways. When I got to Crescent Beach, the town and the beach were packed with people. I managed to find a parking spot, and went for a walk along the waterfront.

The pictures don't show the multitude of people. Even at that, it would have been a pleasant walk, but I couldn't seem to work out the kinks in my leg and gave up the effort in frustration. I did capture a shot of one of the infamous 'monkey puzzle' trees. This is a particularly nice specimen. I've never really liked them - I don't think they look like the belong here - but most people think they're very cool.

On the way home I thought I'd stop at White Spot for a hamburger. The original White Spot drive in was the 'go to' spot when I was in high school - with car service involving a narrow tray which went all the way across the seat from window to window. Bench seats of course. And the burgers were fabulous.

Well, the memory doesn't hold - so true of so many things!

Stopped at a Superstore to pick up a few provisions for the trailer. I particularly wanted some hot smoked salmon and after a long search, did find some - but it was Atlantic salmon!!! Couldn't believe my eyes. How does that make any sense? Hope I have better luck later in the week.

Thoroughly depressed, I drove back to Barb and Chris' for a relaxing evening. I knew I didn't want to move back to the coast before I came on this trip - and that feeling has been confirmed. The roadways are clogged and the drivers are rude. There are too many people everywhere, and the ostentation makes you choke! The houses in White Rock must be multimillion dollar places. I would not want to live anywhere near them. Of course there are regular neighbourhoods in Greater Vancouver, but like Toronto, the gridlock and the crowds make even reasonable neighbourhoods seem unwelcoming. Give me a backwoods campground any day!

Sunday July 28

While planning my day’s adventures I realize how very close I am to Vancouver, and to my sister’s home! Somehow I hadn’t yet ‘arrived’ in my head – I had been planning to spend tonight at a wild berry winery and tomorrow at a cheeserie, but call my sister who tells me to come and park in her driveway – so that’s where I am. I’m treated to time in their lovely home with garden,

a swim in the pool, 

snacks on the deck 

and of course, lots of chatting and sharing of vacation experiences. I’ll stay here until Tuesday morning when I move to the campground near Buntzen Lake and visit my North Vancouver people.

Saturday July 27th

 Rain last night. Misty clouds still cloak the peaks. 

Did a check of the tires on the trailer – all good. Headed out down the river. Drove through Lytton – there is a café for sale called ‘View Café’. It is a rundown building which would be a bit scary to step into were it on solid ground, but it’s perched on the edge of the canyon cliff. Hundreds of feet down is the river. I doubt it’ll sell.

Every time I stopped at a pull out the trees were too tall for pictures, so this is the best I can do, but the trip certainly brought back memories.

 I had forgotten about the tunnels through the Fraser Canyon with their familiar names – Hellsgate Tunnel, Sailor Bar Tunnel. I remember going through them on my motorcycle and dropping down a gear in the middle just for the fun of it! Brat! Now I have to say I don’t much like them if you can’t see out the other end. The curving ones are a wee bit scary. But the canyon and the river are as beautiful as ever.

Now in Hope for lunch and trying to post, but the connect is poor. It’ll have to wait. Here I see evidence of the huge coastal trees, and I get a sense of the increase in the population.

I travel down the north side of the Fraser River, avoiding the main highway, and watch the valley widen to include farm fields. What I’ve always loved about this valley is the suddenness of the mountains at the edge. There are no foothills here – just flat river bottom, then mountain.  I follow my GPS through a very convoluted series of turns as the river valley becomes large farm fields – many berry farms – mostly blueberries.

I’m staying tonight at Campbell’s Meadery https://campbellsgold.com/?fbclid=IwAR18o4w7daWONLm-DncVvOrPKZrECIpcuWuCMvcWjrRR0gKzEQhQJJAeDAw

Through the Harvest Host plan.

When I arrive I find they are having a midsummer party this evening, so I buy a ticket. I’m parked by in a field with my door opening out to a view of bee hives and sunflowers. 

Once I’m settled, I try to have a shower only to run out of water before I get rinsed. Yikes! No need for product on my hair tonight! I find enough to sort of rinse, but on my ‘town’ duds and head out for the party. We sample mead, eat gourmet snacks, and listen to a guitarist – a very lovely way to spend a warm summer evening. 

The gardens are beautiful!

I meet some interesting folks from the area and retire to my little house around 9. The mead was delicious – I sampled 3 dry and one off-dry version and liked them all. Such an interesting place.

Friday, July 26th

 Had morning coffee with Bill and Bobbie, then hitched my trailer and took my leave. What a special visit – we seldom get to spend extended time with our sibs as we age – busy lives, many miles apart. I feel so lucky to have had to opportunity to stay with them for a while – to share some travel adventures, some peaceful kayaking, and lots of good food. Not to mention happy hours!

I drove to 100 Mile House and emptied my tanks with my new sewer hoses. You might not realize that these things matter. I didn’t have to balance with my foot on the end of the hose and reach the lever with my hand, praying that the hose didn’t pop out of the hole spraying sewage everywhere. It never happened, but it was a constant anxiety. All good now. No – there will be no pictures.

I then drove into town looking for a cuppa from a really good coffee shop and discovered that there was a farmer’s market underway. So I strolled through and picked up a few veges and some more Okanagan fruit. I can’t have too much of that! Then I picked up my coffee and was on my way.

I didn’t stop to take pictures – I know, I know. I was intent on getting to the campsite. I needn’t have worried – there is tons of space. The geography changed, getting dryer and with more sparse trees. A bush that looks like gorse appeared and the valley closed in a bit. And then there was the Thompson River in all its glory! So beautiful. But I had to pay attention to my driving since the road twisted and turned, up and down, and all at a speed far faster than I would have liked to go. But I think most people are used to the road.

I did manage to see railway tunnels and fortifications, rapids, and as I got farther south a cloudy day gave way to sunshine. Then, coming in to Spences Bridge, right after a sign warning of big horn sheep – where big horn sheep on the side of the road. Had they read the sign? There were 8 to 10 of them just lingering on the side of the road creating chaos. People stopping cars and getting out to take photos. I stopped, then drove by slowly, thinking about what those horns could do to the side of my beautiful truck. Fortunately, none of them took offense and I was able to continue on.

And then Skihist Provincial Park. It’s on the opposite side of the highway from the river and rises steeply up the mountain. I backed into one site, and then changed my mind and backed into a site across the road which was on the edge of the cliff, had better shade, and a breeze coming up from the riverbed below.

I spent the afternoon reading, doodling with my art supplies 



and just watching the play of light on the mountains. Every hour presented a new wonder. 



Right now, with the sun getting low in the sky, long shadows are being cast by every tree, making the mountains seem striped.

It was very hot – 32 degrees – but very dry – 13% humidity – and so the afternoon was comfortable and I’m looking forward to the night with fresh pine laden air. Lucky me.

PS. The night, while largely uneventful, did have a moment. Just after I fell asleep I was awakened by my roof vent rattling hard and then all the windows started to rattle! There was a HUGE gust of wind that lasted probably a minute - but in that minute I thought my little camper was going to take off and fly! No damage, thankfully, and I closed the roof vent in case of a recurrence. That meant stuffy sleeping, but at least I won't lose my vent cover.

I have a few more pics, but can't seem to download in this cafe.