Crossing British Columbia – Day Two

Starting the Day on the Fraser River

I drove less than 300 miles (close to 400 kilometers when you are in Canada). It is not the miles you cover, but the scenery along the way.
Before I ever started the van, I checked out the campground and talked with fellow travelers.

Only One at a Time

Then I rode my bike around the town of Hope.
Hope was a thriving town on the Fraser during the gold rush days and on through the timber era.
The main industry now seems to be tourism.

Tourists from All Over the World Stop Here

Not Sure Why

Maybe to Attend a Conference

Or Go to the Movie

Probably for the Wood Carvings

In the Line of Duty

Clouds on the Mountaintop

While on a walking tour in Vancouver, a lady from Missouri asked the guide where all the churches were in Vancouver. He seemed a little puzzled and later pointed out an historic church. I chatted with her and said that I had also noted there were not dozens of churches in every town as found in the USA. Here in Hope I saw only three: a storefront Pentecostal, a Catholic, and this historic Anglican Church of England

Historic Christ Church in Hope

It was the first one built in British Columbia in 1861 during the gold rush. Built in the high English style, it was meant as a message to the Americans that this was an English settlement. They still hold services there, but I wanted to be on the road before it began.

Just outside of Hope the mountainside shows the results of the great landslide of 1965. Because it is outside of town only three people lost their lives when they were caught on the road. The quake-caused slide completely filled a large lake at the base of the mountain.

Landslide of 1965

This Was a Lake

You cross an unnamed pass and suddenly the world changes. My heart rushed. It looked like western Colorado.
Suddenly, you see ranches, cattle, and then orchards become prolific.

Starts to Look Like Colorado

I stopped in Princeton to visit the museum.

From Fossils and First Nations

to Settlers

to the Typewriter

Don't Get the Mac 'n Cheese

Also learned that mining for copper was still an industry here. Gold and coal had also been big mining industries. Coal mining stopped when the railroad no longer needed it to power their locomotives.

I stopped for gas in Kenemos and debated over which direction to take:
- South to Osoyoos on the dessert border with the USA
- North to Kelowna on the lakes
I liked the name of both. Checking online, I found that both were big tourist areas and all campgrounds appeared to be full. I decided it might be more pleasant heading north and there were also several boutique hotels and B and Bs.
After driving about 60 miles through fantastic orchards and vineyards, Skaha Lake appears. Between Lakes Okanagan and Skaha is an easy flowing inlet – a natural easy river! You can rent a tube at the top at Okanagan and float down to Skaha. It looked like such fun – one of the few times I regretted traveling alone as this seemed it would be more fun with a companion.
I found a rest stop with a swimming beach.

Hanging Out on Lake Okanagan

What a perfect place to spend the night. The campgrounds were probably full, so I decided not to budge.

Cottonwood Trees

Whitecaps and White Cliffs

Rays through the Storm Clouds

A handful of others had the same idea, so there was the opportunity for a bit of interaction. As usual, one of my fellow campers needed to talk about Drumpf. I queried him about why none of the Canucks ever talked about local politics and he said “we are not as exciting.” I am beginning to wish we were a bit duller.