It’s a rainy morning in Oliver. B.C. We’re in a little R.V. park on Tec-El-Nuit Lake. 
If you’re thinking of visiting B.C., or maybe anywhere in Canada, it’s good to know about the long weekend.  That’s the first weekend in August, i.e. now, and it seems everybody goes camping.  We were lucky to find this spot, and glad we had already planned to leave B.C. today. 
Oliver is in the Okanagan Valley, the premiere wine-growing region in B.C.  As luck would have it, Apple Beach R.V. park is on the road that climbs a bench and leads to many wineries.  We celebrated the 5th anniversary of our California marriage by staying put for a day, doing laundry, taking showers, and visiting four wineries.  We had lunch at Burrowing Owl.  Fabulous food and view, and the Cab Franc paired well with our Duck Leg Confitte. This was our view.  In general the landscape here reminds as of the Sonoita/Elgin area in southeastern Arizona, but with lakes.

Back to the last week. After leaving the Silvery Slocan, we headed north on highway 6 towards Revelstoke.  Enjoyed the low key town of Nakusp, then took a free ferry across Upper Arrow Lake. There are several of these in the Kootenay’s and they are amazingly efficient operations.  In Revelstoke we purchased a 4-day National Parks pass ($7.80/person/day). We made good use of it, visiting Glacier, Yoho, Banff, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks. 
Once we crossed the continental divide into day trip range from Calgary, things got much more crowded and busy.  And it’s easy to see why.  The Canadian Rockies are truly spectacular, and the area between Lake Louise and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway, is breathtaking. In Glacier we hiked to what used to be the edge of the Great Glacier, not far from that big waterfall, and learned a lot about 19th century Canadian rail tourism, and about glacier retreat.

On to Yoho National Park, where we learned there were no campsites available within 100 miles.  Uh oh!  The ranger suggested overflow camping in a parking lot of Trans-Canada 1, just south of Lake Louise.  Turned out to be a fine spot.  Same ranger suggested we get up early, drive to Lake Moraine and take a hike.  We did.  Because of bears, there’s a rule of four in effect.  We hooked up with a couple from Canmore and hiked to a lake at the base of Sentinel Pass. Incredible! First photo is Lake Moraine. Second is from the Sentinel Pass are.

We camped in Kootenay National Park, and planned to head south towards Radium Hot Springs, Cranbrook and Creston.  Over breakfast we decided to head north instead, and after consulting with our ranger, headed up the Icefields Parkway towards Jasper.  Hiked Parker Ridge to a heart-stopping  view of the Saskatchewan Glacier,  then camped just outside Jasper, on the banks of the Athabascan River. Spent most of Monday exploring the Maligne Valley, left the park just as our pass expired, and drove to Mount Robson, highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. 
Nice campground, and the next day, the mountain was “out.”   Mount Robson Provincial Park is as far north as we got. After hiking to Kinney Lake, we finally started south. 
Stopped for an oil change (5000 miles!) in Kamloops. Although we are glad to have sampled some B.C. wines, the Okanagan Valley feels way too busy for us.  Driving through Kelowna felt like a suburban Phoenix rush hour.  We’re looking forward to a quiet week traversing eastern Washington, the Idaho panhandle and Montana on our way to Bozeman and Red Lodge. 
Love, Toni and Mary

The last two nights we have been at Rosebery Provincial Park, on Slocan Lake,several miles north of New Denver.  Because of the silver strikes around Sandon, New Denver was expected to rival Denver CO in size, hence the name.  Sweet little town, although we are enamoured with Kaslo, thirty miles away on Kootenay Lake.  This whole area reminds me of the fjord country in Norway.  Our campsite is on the side of Wilson Creek, a rushing stream that makes for delicious sleep.
I’m trying this blog format, in hopes I can write to you in camp, then post when I find WiFi.  It’s an experiment.
Yesterday we followed the old railroad bed along Slocan Lake from Rosebery to New Denver.  Seemed like a good idea until the day turned into a scorcher (high 90’s!).  On the walk back, we stopped for a quick dip in the lake.  This shot is looking up the lake towards Rosebery.  Today we will head north on highway 6, at least to Nakusp on Upper Arrow Lake.  Then it’s decision time. Take the free ferry at Galena and continue north. To Revelstoke? to Golden? to Lake Louise? to Jasper?  Or loop back to lovely Kaslo via Trout Lake?  

We have grown accustomed to this vagabond lifestyle, the routines of making and breaking camp so familiar, it’s easier than putting the kayaks on the roof of the Subaru.  I would love to go on and on.  If only summer wasn’t in limited supply.
Working backwards, between Kaslo and New Denver, we detoured to the silver mining ghost town of Sandon, then up what was advertised as an “exciting” mountain road to the Idaho Peak Trail. The steep narrow road was a bit much for us and the van.  The trail, along a ridge through meadows filled with wildflowers, was exhilarating.   That’s New Denver as seen from the top of Idaho Peak.
 
Before B.C. we were in the North Cascades. We loved it there, and would gladly return to Mazana and Winthrop in the Methow Valley. The photos are of Blue Lake and the Washington Pass area.

From B.C. we’ll eventually drop into Idaho or Montana, then on to Bozeman, Red Lodge, Dinosaur, etc.  Your route suggestions and travel tips are always appreciated.
Toni
A few photos from further back in time
Mount Saint Helens

Nora and Rusty at the helm in Olympia

Toby at Ranger Hole on the Duckabush

Toby at Rialto Beach

Elk crossing the Hoh by site 19