Kamloops to Golden

 Our drive from Mission to Kamloops was better then we thought it would be.  After much thought and discussion we decided to leave home at 11:15 planning on taking Highway 3 to Princeton and then 5A to Merritt and 5 to Kamloops.  According to Facebook it seemed to be the best route for us to take.  I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed with "Drive BC" as their site had not been updated since the day before.  Even Global and CTV news was not up to date.  Why keep reporting the same conditions if they are a day old?  People posting on the Facebook Coquihalla Highway group had up to date posts and which seemed to be very accurate.  So off we headed.  We were in, by no means, a rush, so we were prepared for any changes to take the safest routes.  As Ray drove I kept checking the Coquihalla Group.  About 10 minutes before we arrived in Hope, there were a couple of posts that the Coquihalla was opening up at noon.  So we stopped at Starbucks to grab a coffee, and decided that if the Coquihalla really was not open, then the traffic would definitely be routed through to Princeton.  But it was open, so away we went.  The drive was very smokey for sure, with both of us wearing N95 masks.  Between the Britton Rest area and Larson Hill, you could definitely see where the fire had jumped the road burning trees on both sides.  There were many small fires still smouldering but no flames could be seen.  I have never seen a fire truck on the Coquihalla, but this drive I saw three of them.  Just patrolling and watching for any of these smouldering piles to flame up and start burning.  We felt very safe,,,,other then the terrible smoke which could be even tasted inside the truck.  I thought about taking photos but there have been so many already on the news and social media, I didn't want to seem repetitive so early in my blog! lol

     Arriving in Kamloops around 2:30 we made our way to the Silver Sage RV park.  It is not the prettiest campsite, but is on the Thompson River and only about 10 minutes from Tanya's.  The was literally no smoke in Kamloops.  Beautiful sunny skies but as luck would have it, Tanya wasn't feeling very well so we decided to wait and see how she felt in the morning to make a decision if we spent another night.  If she was still unwell, then we would just head east.  Wednesday morning we woke to smokey skies once again.  Tanya was much better so we decided to go with our original plan and spend the extra day, but spend it doing something indoors.  Ray chose to do some manly stuff.  Like going to Rona and getting some towel racks for the trailer and installing same items.  Boooooring!!!  Doing indoor things during Covid times, doesn't leave a lot of options.  We decided on bowling,,,,even though Keaton told me he had " gone bowling 3 times already".  I did tell him that it had been along time since I had been bowling and he might have to teach me, because I am old and may have forgotten how to bowl.  We did go and had a blast!  He did give me some pointers, like how to through the bowling ball because he thought I didn't throw it the right way!

"This way Nana"

Keaton and Mama

Then of course there was some video shooting

We had a great day and then had dinner with the Clooten's (including smudge and Cooper).  Smudge was not being very cooperative when it came time for a family photo.  I think he is camera shy!!

Golden BC

    We left the Clooten's behind in Kamloops and headed east in the morning (Thursday) bound for Golden.  The traffic was excellent even though there was quite a bit of road work being done.  It took us about 4 hours to get into Golden.  We have been to Golden many times, but usually after a 7 or 8 hour drive.  But this trip Ray has said that he doesn't want to do the long drives that he has always done in the past!  Yay, I say!  My hips can't take sitting in the truck for that long anymore either.  Not that they ever could!  But I am a senior now and have to take care of this old rickety body as it is the only one I get.  We have previously stayed in the Municipal Campground in downtown Golden.  It is clean and within walking distance to a number of pubs, grocery stores and whatever else you need for a one night stay.  So we stayed there again.  There are many things to do in Golden like skiing, biking, hiking, river rafting, heli tours up to the Bugaboos and surrounding glaciers   As we had a time share in Radium many years ago we have already done a glacier heli tour and have driven up to the Bugaboos.  We have also done a couple of white water raft trips.  One on the Kooteny River (which was a lazy trip with #2 - 3 rapids),  The other one was the Kicking Horse River trip (which was a hellish #3-4 rapids).  And that particular trip finished me for ever wanting to do another white water rafter trip.  Janet Chalmers, you remember those rapids!!  I thought my life was over!

    One thing of interest about Golden (there are many, but this is just one).  They have the longest freestanding timber frame pedestrian bridge in Canada. It is 150 feet long and has a 210,000 lb arch structure over the bridge.  We didn't walk to it this trip, but we waked across it a few years back.  Here is a photo of it that I found on the internet.

Kicking Horse Bridge

     What we did do was go for a walk around town and then had a bite to eat at what we thought was a pub.  It looked like a pub both inside and outside.  It had a great looking bar were they were serving up drinks.  It was called the Wolf Den.  There were little kids all over the place!   Thought we were in McDonald's!  Not that we oppose kids, it was just a bit weird!  Anyway....you had to wear a face mask to enter the "pub", but once inside there was no masks, no social distancing.  Tables crammed about a foot apart.  Except the one we sat at.  It was relatively by itself!  It felt very odd to see so many people inside and so close together.  We did have a decent dinner at the non-pub and then walked back to the campground.  Ray kicked my butt in two games of crib before we hit the sack.

The "non-pub"

Check out the sign above Ray

    Stay turned for tomorrow's trip to the beautiful Lake Louise and points east.  Goodbye BC, until we see you again!

Lori and Ray