Friday ; Today was the first day of fall. And you would never know it by the warm temperature here. Summer was late to arrive, and obviously will be late to leave. Today was sunny and very warm. Giving Bo an opportunity to sit outside and ... uh-oh ...
UH-OH ... poor Bo-Bo ! He got stung by a wasp / hornet somewhere in or around his mouth ! ! ! The moral of that story, Bo, is ... don't snap at bugs flying around your face ! Unfortunately there really was nothing we could do to alleviate his discomfort !
Saturday ; Another hot day, temperature about 90 degrees. I love it ! I'm fairly certain this will be the last hot day of this year.
I have just returned to the trailer ( at 6 PM ), having stomped away from the potluck dinner at the clubhouse. I didn't tell Joanne I was leaving, so I'm probably going to be in trouble for that later. I'm livid at the lack of consideration exhibited by a neighbour, who knows that I am unable to digest pork, and doesn't tell me until it's being served that ... the entree at the "we supply the meat" potluck dinner is ... pork roast. As the organizer of the event, all she had to do was tell me a couple of hours beforehand and I would have happily brought some beef or chicken or something that I could eat ! ! ! My mood is so fouled by her inconsiderateness that I doubt that I could be a pleasant table mate, so ... I've come home !
This afternoon I helped Joanne with her gazebo staining project. We cleaned and reinstalled all the screens on the half of the gazebo that she has finished staining. And we removed and cleaned the screens on the half of the gazebo that is still to be stained.
DSK
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
September 11 to 17, 2011
Sunday ; Grand Forks to Penticton, BC
Another sunny, hot day. The hot weather is certainly lasting longer than usual.
I decided that it made sense, since we were out travelling with the trailer, to head for Penticton to get some minor maintenance service done on the trailer tomorrow morning, instead of heading for home today. Before preparing for departure from Grand Forks Municipal Campground I drove over to "The Bargain ! Shop" to buy some advertised specials. We prepared for departure, left the campground, and stopped at Extra Foods before leaving Grand Forks, once again to buy some advertised specials.
We headed west on Highway 3, stopping at a roadside rest area before Osoyoos to have lunch. We didn't want to arrive at Penticton too early, and just sit in the sweltering sunlight in Wal-Mart's parking lot, so I napped with Sully for awhile after lunch. In Osoyoos we stopped for awhile to allow Bo some time to romp around in his "picnic park".
Upon arrival in Penticton I decided to drive over to the "far" side of town and try to find a parking spot near the off leash dog beach on Okanagan Lake. I was successful. We had a great time on the dog beach, playing "fetch" with Bo's "beach doughnut", a fishing net float he found on a beach in Mexico a few years ago. HA HA HA ... Bo would not tolerate Miley the Rottweiler trying to get his beach doughnut. HA HA HA HA HA ... he would fight a Rottweiler to the death rather than let her get his beach doughnut. Way to go, Bo ! What a redneck terrier !
To get to the dog beach from where I had parked we had to cross the Penticton Japanese Gardens and the Penticton Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. What a lovely city Penticton is ! We drove to Wal-Mart where I replaced two burnt out bulbs on the truck while Joanne prepared supper. After supper she went shopping in Wal-Mart while I worked on the computer.
Monday ; Penticton to Keremeos, BC
This morning we left the Wal-Mart parking lot in Penticton and were at Leisureland RV at opening time. With the help of a special tool, removing the old water heater pressure relief valve and replacing it with a new one took only a couple of minutes. Thank you very much, Stu, for your generosity in providing the use of the special tool, and your labour for a few minutes, at no charge.
We were back home at Riverside RV Park Resort by 10:30 AM ! WHEW ... another hot day !
Thursday ; The hot weather ended yesterday, and today the temperature was a bit more "normal" for this time of year.
After about six months of time, much frustration, many removals, replacement of parts
( sent by the manufacturer, the pump is still under warranty ), and reinstallations ... I have ( hopefully ! ) successfully repaired the trailer's fresh water pump. Hallelujah !
Today we went to a local nursery and bought my birthday presents to myself. Two Douglas Fir trees and two Saskatoon bushes. The "wild" Douglas Fir trees and Saskatoon bushes we dug out of the forest and transplanted a month or so ago did not survive.
Friday ; Today we planted the two nursery raised Douglas Fir trees and the two Saskatoon bushes. It was a lot of hard work, and I'm sore. Digging in the compacted scree / talus / rock slide shale in our yard is like digging in concrete.
Saturday ; Today was Similkameen Sizzle, the annual pepper harvest festival in Keremeos. One of the "main events" is a chili "cook-off" competition. For the second year, Riverside RV Park Resort entered the chili competition. And this year ... we won ! Congratulations to our neighbour Darlene who prepared the winning entry. We spent much of the day at Memorial Park enjoying the festivities.
DSK
Another sunny, hot day. The hot weather is certainly lasting longer than usual.
I decided that it made sense, since we were out travelling with the trailer, to head for Penticton to get some minor maintenance service done on the trailer tomorrow morning, instead of heading for home today. Before preparing for departure from Grand Forks Municipal Campground I drove over to "The Bargain ! Shop" to buy some advertised specials. We prepared for departure, left the campground, and stopped at Extra Foods before leaving Grand Forks, once again to buy some advertised specials.
We headed west on Highway 3, stopping at a roadside rest area before Osoyoos to have lunch. We didn't want to arrive at Penticton too early, and just sit in the sweltering sunlight in Wal-Mart's parking lot, so I napped with Sully for awhile after lunch. In Osoyoos we stopped for awhile to allow Bo some time to romp around in his "picnic park".
Upon arrival in Penticton I decided to drive over to the "far" side of town and try to find a parking spot near the off leash dog beach on Okanagan Lake. I was successful. We had a great time on the dog beach, playing "fetch" with Bo's "beach doughnut", a fishing net float he found on a beach in Mexico a few years ago. HA HA HA ... Bo would not tolerate Miley the Rottweiler trying to get his beach doughnut. HA HA HA HA HA ... he would fight a Rottweiler to the death rather than let her get his beach doughnut. Way to go, Bo ! What a redneck terrier !
To get to the dog beach from where I had parked we had to cross the Penticton Japanese Gardens and the Penticton Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. What a lovely city Penticton is ! We drove to Wal-Mart where I replaced two burnt out bulbs on the truck while Joanne prepared supper. After supper she went shopping in Wal-Mart while I worked on the computer.
Monday ; Penticton to Keremeos, BC
This morning we left the Wal-Mart parking lot in Penticton and were at Leisureland RV at opening time. With the help of a special tool, removing the old water heater pressure relief valve and replacing it with a new one took only a couple of minutes. Thank you very much, Stu, for your generosity in providing the use of the special tool, and your labour for a few minutes, at no charge.
We were back home at Riverside RV Park Resort by 10:30 AM ! WHEW ... another hot day !
Thursday ; The hot weather ended yesterday, and today the temperature was a bit more "normal" for this time of year.
After about six months of time, much frustration, many removals, replacement of parts
( sent by the manufacturer, the pump is still under warranty ), and reinstallations ... I have ( hopefully ! ) successfully repaired the trailer's fresh water pump. Hallelujah !
Today we went to a local nursery and bought my birthday presents to myself. Two Douglas Fir trees and two Saskatoon bushes. The "wild" Douglas Fir trees and Saskatoon bushes we dug out of the forest and transplanted a month or so ago did not survive.
Friday ; Today we planted the two nursery raised Douglas Fir trees and the two Saskatoon bushes. It was a lot of hard work, and I'm sore. Digging in the compacted scree / talus / rock slide shale in our yard is like digging in concrete.
Saturday ; Today was Similkameen Sizzle, the annual pepper harvest festival in Keremeos. One of the "main events" is a chili "cook-off" competition. For the second year, Riverside RV Park Resort entered the chili competition. And this year ... we won ! Congratulations to our neighbour Darlene who prepared the winning entry. We spent much of the day at Memorial Park enjoying the festivities.
DSK
Monday, September 12, 2011
September 4 to 10, 2011
Sunday ; HEY ... great display of Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights tonight !
Monday ; Labour Day ; Riverside RV Park Resort to Boundary Creek Provincial Park
Today was sunny and hot. We were going to do some departure preparations this afternoon in anticipation of leaving tomorrow morning to head to the Escapee Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally at Christina Lake. But ... late this afternoon we decided to get an early start and leave today. So we finished our departure preparations and left Riverside RV Park Resort around 4:30 PM.
We have come to realize that Bo recognizes certain favourite places by their smell. The village of Keremeos is one of those places. And so is the town of Osoyoos. Not only does he wake up from "drivey nappy" as we approach Osoyoos, and begin to sniff the air conditioning vent, with tail wagging, but he becomes even more excited as we approach the lakefront park in Osoyoos where we often have our picnic lunch on trailer delivery work days. For whatever reason, he thinks this "picnic park" is an absolutely GREAT place ! So today, as we drove by the park, and he became REALLY excited ... we stopped, just to take a short rest break and walk around the park for a few minutes. And allow Bo to pee on every object within his field of vision to mark the park ; "MINE !"
We drove through Osoyoos and continued eastbound on Hwy. 3 to Boundary Creek Provincial Park between Midway and Greenwood. That seemed like a good place to stop for the night, about two thirds of the way to Christina Lake. WOW ... it's dark by 8 PM already !
Tuesday ; Boundary Creek Provincial Park to Christina Lake
This morning we left Boundary Creek Provincial Park and continued east on Hwy. 3 heading for Christina Lake. In Grand Forks we stopped to buy some groceries at Overwaitea, and we browsed the farmers' market in the park across the street from the grocery store. At Christina Lake we found our way to Christina Pines RV Park, the location for the Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33 fall rally. We checked into the RV park, got set up in our site, registered for the rally, then spent most of the rest of the day socializing. Supper was a late afternoon "heavy appetizers happy hour". The evening entertainment was a performance by the chapter 33 musicians.
The grocery store in Grand Forks had a sale on fresh whole salmon. We bought one. Late in the afternoon while I was cleaning and filleting it at the picnic table in our site, a wasp / hornet stung me in the armpit. OW OW OW OW OW OW ! ! !
Wednesday ; Today started with a potluck breakfast. At 8 AM ! WAAAAAY too early for a big breakfast for me ! After breakfast there were a variety of different outings planned. Some people went to play golf. Some went to a museum. We went on a hike to Cascade Falls. We "car pooled" in our truck with a couple who are new members of our chapter. Along with their very well behaved Doberman Pinscher named Tika. Bo liked having a new friend, especially a new "hiking buddy". After hiking to Cascade Falls and back we went exploring the Christina Lake area by truck.
This rally is less ... uhhhh ... structured than most of our Escapee rallies. So there was nothing more planned for the day until a communal dinner meal. The afternoon was spent informally socializing ... and napping. After dinner, around the "campfire in a can" ... this area is under a fire ban ... I performed a magic trick ... an illusion. My favourite one !
I was asked to do a magic show. I said no, I would do a magic "trick" ... one ! The rest of the evening was spent socializing around the "campfire".
A surprising number of people in our group have been stung by wasps / hornets in the last two days, including me. The local stinging bugs seem to have "hair triggers". Tonight at dinner the woman sitting across the picnic table from me and Joanne got stung on her lip as a wasp flew into and out of her mouth as she was eating ! ! ! OUCH ! ! !
Thursday ; Another < ahem > relatively "unstructured" day of our Escapee chapter's fall rally. The weather during the rally has been superb. After a lazy start to the day Joanne and I decided to drive to Grand Forks to have a perogy lunch at Cecil's. WOW ... what great Ukrainian food ! After lunch I bought some of their perogies and dill cream sauce to freeze.
We went to the Visitor Information Centre to get some information on Grand Forks' Fall Fair this weekend. We decided to attend, so after the rally ends tomorrow morning we'll relocate from Christina Lake to the municipal campground in Grand Forks and spend Saturday at the fair.
Back at Christina Pines and the Escapees fall rally we spent the afternoon playing beanbag baseball, followed by a corn shucking contest, a corn roast supper, and an evening of informal socializing.
Friday ; Another sunny, hot day. This morning ... early ( again ! ) ... was the Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally hitch up breakfast. HURRY HURRY HURRY ... eat your doughnuts, drink your coffee ... ZOOOOOM ! ! ! And despite that, there were still some who had to have their rigs prepared for departure and ready to go even before the 8 AM breakfast < sigh > !
We left Christina Lake around 10 AM. The rest of our group were long gone by then ! We drove a short distance to Grand Forks and set up in the municipal campground there, in anticipation of attending the Grand Forks Fall Fair tomorrow. One of our Escapee friends, Murray from Oliver, was also at the Grand Forks Municipal Campground intending to attend the Fall Fair tomorrow as well.
After lunch I napped briefly with Sully. Joanne took Bo for a walk around the municipal park. He romped in the Kettle River. Later in the afternoon we gave him a bath. Joanne walked over to the grocery store and farmers' market to buy some groceries and produce. I repaired a broken folding chair. We invited Murray over for supper. I barbecued salmon.
There are deer walking through the park / campground frequently. Bo thinks that's AWESOME !
Saturday ; This morning we walked about a block from the Grand Forks Municipal Campground to the Grand Forks Fall Fair parade route and watched the parade go by.
I like small town parades. After the parade we drove over to the fairgrounds on the edge of town. It was a sunny and very hot day for this time of year, temperature in the high 90's. Much hotter than ideal for a fall fair. We wandered around the outdoor vendors, then over to see the classic car show. WHEW ... too hot ! We went into the curling club to see the inside displays. Typical small town fair displays ; vegetable competitions, baking competitions, knitting and weaving displays, food displays, photography and art displays, that sort of stuff. One of the most interesting displays was the solar powered little cars made by the grade seven students of the two local schools. WOW ... little wooden cars with little solar panels powering a teensy little motor which drives the wheels via a rubber band. Late in the afternoon we returned to watch the racing competitions to determine the fastest little solar powered car from each of the two schools. HA HA HA ... what a great competition ! And there certainly was enough sunlight !
Mid-afternoon we watched the miniature horse chuckwagon races. Just like regular chuckwagon races, except ... miniature horses and small chuckwagons. Very interesting except ... too hot for both the audience and the horses. We watched the first of four bands perform, returned home to the trailer for supper during the second band's performance, then returned for the third band.
DSK
Monday ; Labour Day ; Riverside RV Park Resort to Boundary Creek Provincial Park
Today was sunny and hot. We were going to do some departure preparations this afternoon in anticipation of leaving tomorrow morning to head to the Escapee Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally at Christina Lake. But ... late this afternoon we decided to get an early start and leave today. So we finished our departure preparations and left Riverside RV Park Resort around 4:30 PM.
We have come to realize that Bo recognizes certain favourite places by their smell. The village of Keremeos is one of those places. And so is the town of Osoyoos. Not only does he wake up from "drivey nappy" as we approach Osoyoos, and begin to sniff the air conditioning vent, with tail wagging, but he becomes even more excited as we approach the lakefront park in Osoyoos where we often have our picnic lunch on trailer delivery work days. For whatever reason, he thinks this "picnic park" is an absolutely GREAT place ! So today, as we drove by the park, and he became REALLY excited ... we stopped, just to take a short rest break and walk around the park for a few minutes. And allow Bo to pee on every object within his field of vision to mark the park ; "MINE !"
We drove through Osoyoos and continued eastbound on Hwy. 3 to Boundary Creek Provincial Park between Midway and Greenwood. That seemed like a good place to stop for the night, about two thirds of the way to Christina Lake. WOW ... it's dark by 8 PM already !
Tuesday ; Boundary Creek Provincial Park to Christina Lake
This morning we left Boundary Creek Provincial Park and continued east on Hwy. 3 heading for Christina Lake. In Grand Forks we stopped to buy some groceries at Overwaitea, and we browsed the farmers' market in the park across the street from the grocery store. At Christina Lake we found our way to Christina Pines RV Park, the location for the Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33 fall rally. We checked into the RV park, got set up in our site, registered for the rally, then spent most of the rest of the day socializing. Supper was a late afternoon "heavy appetizers happy hour". The evening entertainment was a performance by the chapter 33 musicians.
The grocery store in Grand Forks had a sale on fresh whole salmon. We bought one. Late in the afternoon while I was cleaning and filleting it at the picnic table in our site, a wasp / hornet stung me in the armpit. OW OW OW OW OW OW ! ! !
Wednesday ; Today started with a potluck breakfast. At 8 AM ! WAAAAAY too early for a big breakfast for me ! After breakfast there were a variety of different outings planned. Some people went to play golf. Some went to a museum. We went on a hike to Cascade Falls. We "car pooled" in our truck with a couple who are new members of our chapter. Along with their very well behaved Doberman Pinscher named Tika. Bo liked having a new friend, especially a new "hiking buddy". After hiking to Cascade Falls and back we went exploring the Christina Lake area by truck.
This rally is less ... uhhhh ... structured than most of our Escapee rallies. So there was nothing more planned for the day until a communal dinner meal. The afternoon was spent informally socializing ... and napping. After dinner, around the "campfire in a can" ... this area is under a fire ban ... I performed a magic trick ... an illusion. My favourite one !
I was asked to do a magic show. I said no, I would do a magic "trick" ... one ! The rest of the evening was spent socializing around the "campfire".
A surprising number of people in our group have been stung by wasps / hornets in the last two days, including me. The local stinging bugs seem to have "hair triggers". Tonight at dinner the woman sitting across the picnic table from me and Joanne got stung on her lip as a wasp flew into and out of her mouth as she was eating ! ! ! OUCH ! ! !
We went to the Visitor Information Centre to get some information on Grand Forks' Fall Fair this weekend. We decided to attend, so after the rally ends tomorrow morning we'll relocate from Christina Lake to the municipal campground in Grand Forks and spend Saturday at the fair.
Back at Christina Pines and the Escapees fall rally we spent the afternoon playing beanbag baseball, followed by a corn shucking contest, a corn roast supper, and an evening of informal socializing.
Friday ; Another sunny, hot day. This morning ... early ( again ! ) ... was the Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally hitch up breakfast. HURRY HURRY HURRY ... eat your doughnuts, drink your coffee ... ZOOOOOM ! ! ! And despite that, there were still some who had to have their rigs prepared for departure and ready to go even before the 8 AM breakfast < sigh > !
We left Christina Lake around 10 AM. The rest of our group were long gone by then ! We drove a short distance to Grand Forks and set up in the municipal campground there, in anticipation of attending the Grand Forks Fall Fair tomorrow. One of our Escapee friends, Murray from Oliver, was also at the Grand Forks Municipal Campground intending to attend the Fall Fair tomorrow as well.
After lunch I napped briefly with Sully. Joanne took Bo for a walk around the municipal park. He romped in the Kettle River. Later in the afternoon we gave him a bath. Joanne walked over to the grocery store and farmers' market to buy some groceries and produce. I repaired a broken folding chair. We invited Murray over for supper. I barbecued salmon.
There are deer walking through the park / campground frequently. Bo thinks that's AWESOME !
Saturday ; This morning we walked about a block from the Grand Forks Municipal Campground to the Grand Forks Fall Fair parade route and watched the parade go by.
I like small town parades. After the parade we drove over to the fairgrounds on the edge of town. It was a sunny and very hot day for this time of year, temperature in the high 90's. Much hotter than ideal for a fall fair. We wandered around the outdoor vendors, then over to see the classic car show. WHEW ... too hot ! We went into the curling club to see the inside displays. Typical small town fair displays ; vegetable competitions, baking competitions, knitting and weaving displays, food displays, photography and art displays, that sort of stuff. One of the most interesting displays was the solar powered little cars made by the grade seven students of the two local schools. WOW ... little wooden cars with little solar panels powering a teensy little motor which drives the wheels via a rubber band. Late in the afternoon we returned to watch the racing competitions to determine the fastest little solar powered car from each of the two schools. HA HA HA ... what a great competition ! And there certainly was enough sunlight !
Mid-afternoon we watched the miniature horse chuckwagon races. Just like regular chuckwagon races, except ... miniature horses and small chuckwagons. Very interesting except ... too hot for both the audience and the horses. We watched the first of four bands perform, returned home to the trailer for supper during the second band's performance, then returned for the third band.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
August 28 to September 3, 2011
Sunday ; Today was very hot, triple digit temperatures. Waaaay too hot for the Penticton Ironman Triathlon which was today. And the forecast is for one more hot day of summer, then much cooler temperatures as we move into September.
This morning we attended a potluck breakfast here at Riverside RV Park Resort. It was ... < ahem > ... well, moving right along ... ! Afterwards I helped a neighbour diagnose an electrical converter problem in his relatively new RV. And in the afternoon, I completed the installation of a check valve on the outlet side of our trailer's freshwater pump. I won't know for a day or two if that solves the problem that I'm trying to solve, but ... it appears as if the installation of that check valve has created a whole new other problem. < SIGH >
Wednesday ; The weather has cooled a lot. We spent the day exploring Nickel Plate Mountain and Apex Mountain with our neighbours Robbie and Christine. My objective was to find Nickel Plate Lake.
Joanne and Christine prepared picnic lunches and this morning we headed out for a day of back roads exploring. Robbie and Christine had never driven up Nickel Plate Mine Road to the top of Nickel Plate Mountain, so that was what we did first, with a few stops on the way to take photos. Past the Mascot Mine, past the Nickel Plate Mine, and past the Nickel Plate Nordic Cross Country Ski Centre, we began to search for the turn off to Nickel Plate Lake. I had a vague idea where it was. We found it. The 3 km. "road" to Nickel Plate Lake was ... a snowmobile and cross country ski trail ! But Lanoire in 6WD is unstoppable ! I hope !
As we began to see Nickel Plate Lake through the thick forest off to one side of the trail, suddenly there was ... HUH ? ... a teepee in the forest in front of us. An honest to goodness Indian teepee ! We stopped to take a look. We could see Nickel Plate Lake some distance away through the forest. Downhill through the forest ! We entered the teepee and decided ... what a great place to have our picnic lunch ! Inside the teepee were ... a large carpet covering half the floor area, a firepit, a few pieces of triangular shaped wood furniture to fit around the inside perimeter of the teepee, a few sections of raised floor made out of wood, and a wooden bed. On one of the tables was a sacred “smudge stick” bundle of sage and sweetgrass. We don't know who the teepee belongs to, or why it's there, but what a privilege it was to find it and have our picnic lunch there.
While Robbie and I were standing outside the teepee eating sandwiches, and considering hiking downhill to the distant lake, Robbie raised his arm to point towards the lake. He was holding a sandwich. SWOOOOP ! ! ! A Gray Jay dived down and snatched at Robbie's sandwich. He and I both just about jumped out of our skin ! HA HA HA ! What a bold little bird !
After lunch I hiked down to Nickel Plate Lake. Nobody wanted to join me. It was a steep, difficult, downhill hike. BUT ... the uphill return hike was BRUTAL ! We were at a high altitude, with thin air, and my lungs were SCREAMING ! We drove back to Nickel Plate Mine Road and continued on to Apex Mountain and Apex Ski Village, then took the “civilized” route from Apex Village down to Green Mountain Road and Hwy. 3A leading home to Keremeos.
Saturday ; September weather has arrived. Sunny, warm days, and cool evenings. We've always liked September weather. In our younger days it was usually the month that we would take our "summer vacation" time. Our neighbours Bob and Christine ( not to be confused with our neighbours Robbie and Christine ) invited us for dinner tonight, as appreciation for the help I gave Bob a few weeks ago with making a difficult hitch king pin adjustment on their new fifth wheel trailer. We had a lovely dinner, and a very pleasant evening of chatting on their patio.
DSK
This morning we attended a potluck breakfast here at Riverside RV Park Resort. It was ... < ahem > ... well, moving right along ... ! Afterwards I helped a neighbour diagnose an electrical converter problem in his relatively new RV. And in the afternoon, I completed the installation of a check valve on the outlet side of our trailer's freshwater pump. I won't know for a day or two if that solves the problem that I'm trying to solve, but ... it appears as if the installation of that check valve has created a whole new other problem. < SIGH >
Wednesday ; The weather has cooled a lot. We spent the day exploring Nickel Plate Mountain and Apex Mountain with our neighbours Robbie and Christine. My objective was to find Nickel Plate Lake.
Joanne and Christine prepared picnic lunches and this morning we headed out for a day of back roads exploring. Robbie and Christine had never driven up Nickel Plate Mine Road to the top of Nickel Plate Mountain, so that was what we did first, with a few stops on the way to take photos. Past the Mascot Mine, past the Nickel Plate Mine, and past the Nickel Plate Nordic Cross Country Ski Centre, we began to search for the turn off to Nickel Plate Lake. I had a vague idea where it was. We found it. The 3 km. "road" to Nickel Plate Lake was ... a snowmobile and cross country ski trail ! But Lanoire in 6WD is unstoppable ! I hope !
As we began to see Nickel Plate Lake through the thick forest off to one side of the trail, suddenly there was ... HUH ? ... a teepee in the forest in front of us. An honest to goodness Indian teepee ! We stopped to take a look. We could see Nickel Plate Lake some distance away through the forest. Downhill through the forest ! We entered the teepee and decided ... what a great place to have our picnic lunch ! Inside the teepee were ... a large carpet covering half the floor area, a firepit, a few pieces of triangular shaped wood furniture to fit around the inside perimeter of the teepee, a few sections of raised floor made out of wood, and a wooden bed. On one of the tables was a sacred “smudge stick” bundle of sage and sweetgrass. We don't know who the teepee belongs to, or why it's there, but what a privilege it was to find it and have our picnic lunch there.
While Robbie and I were standing outside the teepee eating sandwiches, and considering hiking downhill to the distant lake, Robbie raised his arm to point towards the lake. He was holding a sandwich. SWOOOOP ! ! ! A Gray Jay dived down and snatched at Robbie's sandwich. He and I both just about jumped out of our skin ! HA HA HA ! What a bold little bird !
After lunch I hiked down to Nickel Plate Lake. Nobody wanted to join me. It was a steep, difficult, downhill hike. BUT ... the uphill return hike was BRUTAL ! We were at a high altitude, with thin air, and my lungs were SCREAMING ! We drove back to Nickel Plate Mine Road and continued on to Apex Mountain and Apex Ski Village, then took the “civilized” route from Apex Village down to Green Mountain Road and Hwy. 3A leading home to Keremeos.
DSK
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)