From Hope we ascended into E.C. Manning Provincial Park where we pulled off to take a look for future reference. Most of the Park was in mud season mode which made it both appealing and inaccessible. One campground seemed to be open but only with RVs. Perhaps too cold for tent. Perhaps tents not allowed.
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| Lightning Lake |
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| loons |
Lightning Lake was occupied by loons but a few like-minded visitors strolled the green picnic grounds. We convinced ourselves that, despite how inviting the crystal clear green water, we should not to jump in. We made hopeful plans for further backcountry excursions, drove to the end of the dirt road to snow-covered Strawberry Flat and headed East again.
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| Strawberry Flat |
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| imagining hot drinks while snowflakes fall in this cozy winter hut |
Pass the ridiculous, apocalyptic mountain-turned-copper mine and head down to meet the Similkameen River and Princeton, gateway to the peaceful, meandering river valley and a place where things grow. We drove past a multitude of recreation/camp/picnic spots along the river and wished we had stopped at all of them. And then drove past Hedley and wished we had stopped there, too. This area merits more time, more exploration.
Sanderson Farms Market was one of the only farm stands open for the early season. We found snap peas and asparagus bundles and munched crunchy, flavorful samosas at the tables by the parking lot. How can we become a farmer? Could we sustain? Probably not.
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| remnants of yummy samosas |
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| grow! |
In Osoyoos we charged in the too-small area of a busy parking lot at the grocery store. Should we stay in Osoyoos? Camp on the peninsula? Ride some of the trails? Very appealing but too early in the day to stop. Move on! Should we try the motel in Christina Lake or should we find something in Nelson? Is Kokanee Creek campground too far? Play it by ear.
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| always making plans while charging (Osoyoos) |
We wound along the river valleys and over mountains, stopping again for a break in Grand Forks, where we camped last year in the municipal campground with it’s impeccably clean bathroom. Let’s camp at Kokanee. We can make it before dark and then bike Nelson tomorrow.
Finally we passed Nelson (save that for tomorrow) and made our way along the immense Kootenay Lake to our perfect spot at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park campground. The campground is full of happy camping families. It's not quite hot enough for beaches but it's cozy and quiet and warm. We had just enough light to set up and explore the campground, shore and Nature Center on bike.
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| Our perfect spot (Sandspit #9) |
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| just beyond those budding birch = the beach and Kootenay Lake |
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| friend! |
Coffee
During our Vancouver days I exploded the Aeropress all over Kenedy's new kitchen and lost the bottom attachment (in the trash with the rest of the explosion and so many other nasty items). Along the way, while we charged at the Castlegar Canadian Tire and before camp at Kokanee Creek, we picked up a couple of pillows (forgotten) and a
new pour-over.
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| Not bad! |
This coffee maker is plastic, but so is our old Aeropress, and it functions better than our old, porcelain Melitta pour-over that we have at home. Specifically, the window through the base helps in making just the right amount. Our jet boil that pours terribly (see the spill above). I am ruined by gooseneck kettles and can't find a good, portable solution to take on trips.
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| hot water that spills when poured |
