A.The Boston Bar Tunnel south of Lytton BC. One of 7 tunnels on this road
1. Wooden carvings (One of many) seen throughout the town of Hope B.C. Long time project there.
2. The Simikameen River we followed out of Hope for 50 miles.
3. One of many rapids on the Fraser River .
4. These are California Mountain Sheep (ice age creature introduced into the area)
Tuesday Aug 16th, 2011---One thing I can say for the ride through these areas in Southern B.C.is that the scenery , and the climate really changes. From Cache Creek to Hope and a bit past that , there were many mountains close to the road, and the road mostly follows the edge of the mountains. Then when we left the Simikameen River south of Hope the climate changed abruptly. Instead of the lush , tall ,green evergreens especially the cedar, there begins a sparse ponderosa forest, and then desert sage all the way to Omak, WA.
But let’s take a trip down the Thompson/ Fraser rivers where the famous Hell’s Gate has spilled many a raft in the rapids there. The Thompson R. is on the east side of the road (BC#1) going south and picks up the NICOLA River (no kidding!) Then after we crossed to the east side, the Thompson joins the Fraser and the two great rivers are one magnificent waterway. There are many rafting spots along the way and one entrepreneurial person has placed a tramway that takes you down to the river some 2,000 feet. Ruth wasn’t interested. (!). The mountains reach up 5-7000 feet. The ubiquitous logging trucks fly by sometimes and I even passed one on an up hill as the road winds around the mountains for some 50 miles all the way to Lytton. After Lytton there are 7 tunnels (see pic) that go through the mountains for the vehicles and many for the trains on the track that parallels the road, (The train historically came first) (** That is a great trip from Vancouver to Cache Creek by train along this route). The trains (we saw 6 of them go by in less than an hour) carry mostly container boxes, coal, fuel (tankers) and some cartage. The trains are long , with well over 100-150 cars each. One train had a diesel engine at front in the middle and and the back end. I haven’t figured that one out yet.
Hope is a beautiful town set in the middle of the mountains, with a very good civic pride. The town has a park the likes of which I have never seen with huge 150 foot Red cedars that tower above the town. For a long while there have been wood carving on many of the street corners and they add new ones each year. (see pic), This was our night to dine out and we found a place called “Joe’s Restaurant”. Didn't sound like much but what’s in a name? Excellent decor, a patio, both booths and chairs (Ruth likes the softer booths), and a menu that had a wide selection. I tried a local “Berry” beer, and Ruth ordered the spare ribs (fall of the bone they did). It had a sauce that we found out had 10 ingredients in t. We narrowed down the apples, cinnamon, and the subtle tomato, but others were elusive. Not a salty Bar B Que sauce that we are used to (and accept). On Fri. and Sat. they serve Prime Rib cut to taste, with local mushrooms and all the trimmings. (Would that it were Friday!) The dessert we chose was a creme’ broule that was delicious. I told my friend Ian, my Australian friend who called that night, about that and he indicated that it was his favorite dessert. (He was visiting his daughter and two grandchildren in CA and called me for a pleasant surprise.)
Then on Wed August 17th 2011, we moved from Hope to Omak, Wa. and on the way experienced a tremendous change in scenery. We moved gradually down the Simikameen River and it’s great twists and turns (we were also doing the same thing) , until we found Princeton where the Okanagon River and Valley begins. This is an area of great irrigation and is filled with fruit from orchards and trees of all kinds.Right now the peaches, apricots and some apples are coming in. Here also is what is advertised as the ONLY Native owned vineyard in North America. Hmmm. Great idea. We did not stop to buy although we were tempted as the border crossing was just down the road and all fresh fruits and veggies would be confiscated. Now the terrain is rolling and dry, filled with sage, and dried grass where there is some. We saw again (2nd time) the sign that said “BADGER CROSSING”. I kid you not! Only in Canada. We never saw a Badger, but did see a tightly knit group of Mountain Sheep, probably members of the Okanagon heritage. (I will look that up when can.) The road didn’t twist as much nor did it have the ups and downs as before, but it was severely dry. The town of Osoyoos is almost on the border and that led to the BORDER CROSSING.It uneventful except for the giving up of a few tomatoes (she left the lettuce!). Then it was a short distance to Omak and that is where at 2:15PM we made a choice. Pick up a Pizza at Pizza Hut (first since Anchorage) or..what’s this? a Laundromat right next door. So we decided to do the laundry as we had lots of time to get to the campground. Carried it in, got it going and when the dryers got started I went over and ordered the Pizza to “Go”. It was a good plan and we got the laundry finished for another 10 days or so, (let’s see we last did it in Hyder (a small load some 7 days ago.) That laundry (Omak) is up for sale. Any takers?
We found the campground in a municipal park called the “Stampede Grounds” where they hold the rodeos and such. Very fine facilities . Honor system and full hook ups (WSE) under some trees .Trees were helpful as the temperature by 4:30 had reached 90 F .That was severe change for us as in Hope it was 77F and we though that was hot! So we had our pizza, rested, and watched the sun go down along with the temperature. By 8:20 PM it had cooled to 75 F and I believe by morning it will be well into the low 50’s in this desert country.The smell is singular as all the desert smells hit the nostrils. I remember my first impression of the desert in Bisbee AZ, in 1955 when at 2:00 AM I got off the train to await a truck to take me to the military post at Fort. Huachuca. It is still a vivid memory. Such sweet smells in the middle of a darknight. Tomorrow we head down the Okanagon Valley a ways and cross the Columbia River at least two times on the way to Richland,WA for a two nighter. Catch you then.
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