Musings

Any travel from Pender begins with a cruise, a chance to slip into holiday mode.  We left home Wednesday, August 3rd, getting only as far as the mainland - a leisurely/lazy start to a cross-Canada trip.

Thursday we found ourselves in Manning Provincial Park - BC parks don't disappoint.  Besides privacy and a sturdy picnic table, our campsite came with a "pet" hare, almost as cute as the resident chipmunks. And there were other curious rodents around too.

The park visitor center staff recommended an alpine meadow walk.  We discovered a profusion of wildflowers normally at their peak in mid-July, delayed this year by the unusually wet and cool spring, now displaying their best against magnificent mountain vistas. 

We learned that these delightful 'bad-hair day' Western Anemonies began as bright yellow blossoms and morphed into what you see here.  Other meadow flowers included Fireweed, Columbine, Scarlet Paintbrush and more.

Friday we travelled through to the Okanagan, seeing and smelling smoke as we approached and drove through Keremeos.  Fortunately Oliver, our destination, wasn't badly affected though we heard rotor blades constantly as helicopters flew from the Keremeos Lake Fire to a small lake near Oliver where they dipped down to fill their buckets with lake water. 

The vineyards are - of course - green and lush and lovely.  Below is Burrowing Owl - just one example of the countless wineries in the valley; the vines below that belong to Jackson Triggs.

This morning we drove through picture-perfect Osoyoos, leaving the Okanagan for the Kootenays. 

We stopped for coffee at The Board Room in Grand Forks.  The interior walls on one side were lined with board games for sale, on the opposite wall were board games for rent, and outside was a "life size" Connect Four game.  Best of all, the coffee and treats were gourmet and the mural on the outside wall worth the visit itself.

Not sure just where I'll be writing from next.  The adventure continues...