Nakusp to Vancouver Return Road Trip,Thanksgiving Weekend

Laura and I were sad to leave Bear Ridge Cabins in Nakusp. We’d so enjoyed our stay.  My cockapoo, Gilbert had surgery planned for Thursday morning so we decided to give two days to the trip home just in case of any unforeseen developments.  I loaded the truck while Laura cleaned out the refrigerator and checked the cabins one last time. Little blind Gilbert was not leaving from beside the truck always afraid he’ll be left. But 8 am we were all in the front seat and heading out towards Nelson and Castlegar.  We passed through Nakusp one last time liking the little town and hoping for more returns with more time.
The highway #6 south along Lower Arrow Lake was picturesque with fall colours. We liked the little town of New Denver on lovely Slocan Lake remembering it from previous visits.  The highways were not very busy at all. It was overcast with some sunshine and blue sky breaking through.  Generally a great drive. I was relieved when we reached highway #3a and weren’t at risk of taking the wrong turn away to Nelson.  Laura liked the town name, “Thrums”.
Castlegar was a classic old fashioned Canadian town built up along each side of the main street with newer malls added. I knew a trucker who got his license there and liked the town folk a lot. It had that homey feel.  I actually saw some wild turkeys  in the town. The Columbia River running through town was magnificent.  For me this was a real river with depth and breadth whereas a lot of the rivers we see are shallow fast and more like creeks than what I think of as rivers.
I wanted an elk tag for hunting but they were sold out at Canadian Tire but we got a Macdonalds breakfast to go and headed on.  I loved the countryside beyond Castlegar, rolling hills, logging roads off the highway. We took one in hope of finding a  grouse but came to snow covered roads and decided against going further with the truck.  The Honda Pioneer 500 would have done well but I wasn’t that invested in a long hunt to unload the machine. More exploration orientation. Certainly a place to return to for hunting and camping.
I passed the turn off to the skiing town of Rossland and the town of Trail where I’d worked at the hospital so enjoying the doctors and patients but finding the administration so unappealing.
The vistas along the highway, pines and spruce, open green fields, reds and golds and oranges of autumn,  were all a visual delight.  Syringa Provincial Park was so inviting. I fantasized of returning for future RV trips to this beautiful countryside.
Grand Forks was our favourite find. What a splendid town. Laura and I thought we’d move here in a second it was so inviting with everything a country person could want.  I am definitely coming back. We’d loved Kelowna for it’s city charm but Grand Forks had everything of country elegance and character a body could desire. The Kettle River is a great little river and the fields and forest about were a mixed bag of possibilities for hiking and hunting. Everyone we met was pleasant and there were some fine old houses that hearkened back to another earlier very prosperous time.  Lots of building going on now suggested it was into another upswing of prosperity.
The Crowsnest Highway #3 took us on through pretty little Greenwood to Midway where to our surprise there was a border crossing and custom station. Beyond that was Osooyoos with all its development, summer vacation spots, speed boats and flourishing wineries.  We stopped at MacDonads for burgers and Gilbert was delighted as always with their paddies.
 We passed again through Keremeos.  We stocked up on fruit and apple juice at Guppal’s Produce (Paul and Sarbjit - momandpopsfarmmarket@gmail.com).  The peaches melted in my mouth. Laura loved the apple juice. The Ambrosia apples were ambrosia.  With out venison to share from this hunting trip I bought a huge bag of apples to bring home, not returning empty handed.  Gilbert slept and cuddled on the seat beside us.
Near Princeton at 5 pm I took a logging road in the backwoods.  A grouse stood on the side of road waiting patiently while I turned off the new truck, this time making sure it didn’t alarm,  loaded the 20 gauge and stepped outside to take one shot. This was all mostly for blind Gilbert’s benefit. Once I’d fired and the grouse had flopped to the side, I lifted Gilbert down from the truck. He stumbled onto his face in his haste then ran off the side of the road falling into the brush while I called and ran the other way  towards the bird. He eventually got back to the road and came running to my voice and the smell of his favourite bird dog bird.  He pounced on the grouse  with delight a d  was licking the bloody head and poopy bottom. What dog heaven! I was so happy for Gilbert and he was so gleeful.  He’s been a bit morose with blindness and the headache of glaucoma so it was great to give him this joy.  Laura and I were screaming “Good dog Gilbert’ and he was trying to get at the grouse.  It was all very exciting.
Back in the truck and further along the logging road a mule deer ran across the road. I took the 30:06 rifle from Laura and ran to where it was still standing not 50 yards off the road looking back at me. A female. I didn’t see any other deer around it so crossed the road to check it’s back trail. Males commonly herding the females follow. I glimpsed a flash of movement but no more.  Back in the truck we found our way off the logging road at dusk and headed on to Princeton and through the town west.
It was dark and raining as I headed through Manning Park onto Hope.I cleaned the grouse at a rest stop with a bear proof garbage bin for the waste. . I also walked Gilbert who finally had a big poop after all the cheese he’d eaten and the tramadol pain meds.  I certainly was glad to be out of the widing roads and on the highway back to Vancouver. Unlike returning on weekends, traffic wasn’t bad at all.
Soon we were home and unloading the truck thankful that Eric from Starfleet RV Repairs had fixed the heating problem  I was exhausted. “You drove for 12 hours,” Laura said.  Thankfully the 2017 Ford F350 Lariat Edition truck is a joy to drive.
George, her cat was ecstatic to see her and crawled right into lap upsetting her boyfriend Gilbert no small amount. We ate Kraft Dinner and watched an episode of Blue Bloods with Tom Select to wind down.  After that I sure liked crawling in bed.
 What a great drive. I love circle drives and this Vancouver, Kamloops, Lumby, Nakusp, Castlegar, Grand Forks, Princeton Vancouver is truly one of my all time favourites.  My mind is alive after seeing so much of God’s Country BC. So good for the soul.  Thank you Lord.

Nakusp, Arrow Lakes, and Environs

Laura, Gilbert the Blind Dog, and I stayed Thanksgiving weekend at Bear Ridge Cabins.  In the morning Laura and Gilbert lived the life of elegance and leisure.  She read. He napped.  They walked.  Meanwhile I drove the 2017 Ford F350 truck with the Honda Pioneer 500 ATV on the back out into the wilderness around Nakusp.  The first night I hiked a trail off Hot Springs Road.  The next morning I took the Pioneer 500 ATV along the river beyond the Hot Springs right up into the snow.  There was a light sprinkle at first then the sun came out.  I loved the day. All I shot was one grouse. I never saw any deer, or moose or bear. Some moosey spots for sure but no animals.  Without Gilbert I missed another couple of grouse. He flushes them when they run and hide.  I missed the little guy just for his companionship but knew he was best adapting to blindness with Laura rather than on the rocking reeling ATV. I did my share of hairy driving.  Normally the poor little guy has to hold on for dear life, sitting upright and staring straight forward looking for grouse.  I did take him out at night in the truck when I did the night hunt. I missed a couple of grouse because the truck alarmed when I got out.  That was too much for the grouse. Lights flashing and horn honking. I didn’t get the chance to shoulder my 20 gauge. Gilbert enjoyed the excitement.  We drove home in the dark. In the morning I was out on River Road unloading the Pioneer 500.  It was a beautiful day.  I drove Halcyon Ridge Road right up into the snow.  I hiked some but mostly rode. Despite getting into the Nakusp Hotsprings the day before I was aching all over from the hard hiking and hard ATV driving.  6 grouse sited but all got away because I didn’t have my bird dog along.  I did enjoy taking pictures. The views high up were amazing.  Arrow Lakes are so lovely.  Mount Burnham and Mount Odin and Mount Thor were splendid in the early morning sun.  I loved being up high. I saw a snowshoe hare coming down the trail towards me before it turned and hopped into the bushes. I came across a red fox too and actually chased it for a minute down the logging road.  I was going at 45 km hour with the fox finally leaving the road ahead of my crazy wild dash.  No deer.  Just a lovely day.  Back at Bear Ridge Cabins I barbecued the steaks which we knew Gilbert would want before traditional turkey. It was his weekend.  He loved the treats.  Now we’re planning to get home earlier to be sure to be in town for his eye surgery.  Even though we had 2 less days than planned it’s been a terrific TG vacation and a special time with Gilbert learning to adapt to blindness.

Thanksgiving Long Weekend - Driving to Nakusp and Bear Ridge Cabins

Laura and I love Nakusp. We’ve come here a couple of times before, for the drive and scenery, and for the Nakusp Hotsprings and for the fall hunting.  Halcyon Hotsprings is probably more famous but it’s become more the tour bus destination.  I prefer Nakusp Hotspring which is more down home and local. I shot a black bear here too.  I left Laura with a ruckus in town and she drove all over, loving the friendliness of Nakusp.  I love the scenery.  The Arrow Lakes are pristine. The mountains about are majestic.
We’d booked the time off months back but Gilbert’s remaining eye, with the hereditary glaucoma, flared up last weekend, causing blindness and pain. I was in with him to Western Canada Veterinary Opthalmologists and Dr. King booked surgery to remove that eye next week.  We thought about cancelling the trip but decided against that.  Gilbert has had a couple of great camping weekends with his sight this fall and now blind can continue to enjoy being with us in the outdoors.  Dr. King gave him tramadol for pain to complement the eye drops which were keeping the pressure down. It’s like a headache for the little guy and he’s not his perky self. When the last eye was removed he went from irritable depressed dog to his old happy go lucky little guy self.  We’re hoping for that. He can’t see as it is so having the eye out will only improve things.
We left Friday afternoon beating the traffic because I’d loaded up the Pioneer 500 the night before.  The clinic didn’t run late either. Laura had come over in her little red Smart Car and joined Gilbert who I’d left home with George, Laura’s cat.  There’s still so many things to think of with these hunting expeditions, licenses, rifles, ammunition.  We didn’t plan to camp so that made for a lot less ’stuff’. Listening to 730 Radio we heard that there’d been crashes on Hwy 1 behind us. We were going on #3 and there was a major crash on Coquihalla. We missed all that.
At Princeton, it was evening and I decided I didn’t want to drive at night so we stayed in our favourite Ponderosa Motel. A great Korean gentleman runs the place. Always safe and clean and friendly.  We’ve stayed there a dozen times over the years. Last year Laura and I were there when I shot a buck in the backwoods.  We normally go to the restaurants in Princeton, all of which are great but this time we got DQ and stayed home with Gilbert.  Not surprisingly he's anxious without his sight. He startles easily and barks.  We were up at 7 am and on the road shortly after stopping at A&W for our bacon and egger breakfast for the road.  They open at 6 am.
At Keremeos, a town Laura and I love, we bought the most delicious fresh plums and cherries.

We enjoyed the tumbleweeds of Summerland reminiscing about the provincial park on the lake we'd stayed at in an earlier RV on the way to Sturges North in Salmon Arm. I had the Honda 250 motorcycle then.
We liked Kelowna. It’s a thriving city and each visit I like it more.  Laura was impressed with the great bridge and beautiful lake. I stopped at MEC looking for a backwoods gps chip for the garmin. While they didn’t have that they were kind enough to give the the numbers of the other 2 outdoor stores which I phoned from there. No one had what I wanted but I did get Laura a purple wool jacket which she loved.  She’s been wearing it all weekend as I’ve been wearing the fleece jacket that my sister in law Adell got me.  Just the weather for these light jackets. Beautiful sunny days and great tourist views.
We drove through Vernon and onto Lumby which is a wonderful old fashioned town.  The Highway 6 trip from Vernon to Fauquier is truly a favourite. My friend Dr. George and I would wax poetic about the beauty of this drive. Farms and forests, winding roads. Paint horses. The colours of autumn were spectacular, scarlets and oranges.  We came on the Cherryville Cheese Farm and felt we were in heaven.  Triple Island Cheese Farm, with dairy farm and these cheese makers.  I felt like I was in Holland again.  Edams and gourda.  This is Gilbert’s favourite cheese. We all enjoyed it with Laura cutting slices we shared on the drive to the Fauguier Ferry.  A ferry ride. What a treat. I’d forgotten that.  Crossing Upper Arrow Lake by ferry in the sunshine surrounded by snow capped mountains.  Wonderful.
A short distance on we arrived at Nakusp which each year gets more funky with more tourist stores and hotels.  Not knowing Gilbert’s condition we’d only enquired about accommodation but the Thanksgiving weekend was busy so we were so thankful when Martin at Bear Ridge Cabins had a place for us for the three nights.  We’d stayed previously at dog friendly Canyon Court Motel but they were booked as was K2 Rotor Lodge.  They’re both in town and we’d planned to just eat at the restaurants.  I’d seen Bear Ridge Cabins on line and wanted to stay there but thought they were way out of town. As it turned out they were beside Huckleberry Inn, both of which are at the near end of the Hotspring Road, almost in town. Nakusp Hotsprings with it’s great chalets and campground are about 15 km out.  I told Martin we’d not planned to cook. He was just so helpful telling us Nick’s Restaurant was the best take out and pizza place and 5 minutes away.  Sold!  What a fabulous place too. While Laura introduced Gilbert to the luxurious cabin with electric heat and wood burning stove,  I made a quick trip into town buying food for the weekend and stopping at Nick’s for Pizza.
While waiting for the pizza I talked with Nick’s owner about small businesses,  the risks, long hours and rewards of serving and knowing community.  She was amazing. Her husband’s family had opened the restaurant in 1997, keeping it open by working long hours and hardly making a profit. The father in law had made all his own pastry. She and her husband had taken it over making their own bread and pizza dough. They held banquets and catered to the local and tourist needs. It was the right kind of place, uniquely original.
I couldn’t help comparing the reality of small businesses with the fantasy life of Justin Trudeau in Ottawa disparaging all of us who actually work hard and long hours for a living.
Laura and Gilbert were delighted when I returned with hot pizza and frozen Hagen Daz Ice Cream bars. We feasted and watched NCIS on cable.  Before bed I walked my little bling dog about the field in front enjoying his increasing courage as he stepped out into the darkness depending on sound and scent for navigation.  The moon was nearly full and stars were abundant. In bed with Laura it was fabulous to hear the quiet of the outdoors.
The alarm went off at 6 am. I made coffee, filled the thermos, showered and dressed and loaded the truck.  Leaving Laura and Gilbert in the comfortable luxurious cabin, I braved the cold morning to head out to the mountains to hunt.