ChuteLake in 2013

In the summer of 2002, Britta and I biked a small section of the Trans Canada Trail (the Kettle Valley Railroad section, from Chute Lake to McCulloch Lake). We started at Chute Lake just north of Naramata. There's a story about that start that'll have to wait for another blog entry. The following year, the entire region around Chute Lake, all the way to Kelowna, was caught in the midst of a terrible forest fire. 

I hadn't been back to Chute Lake since that bike trip until Marco and I took the opportunity, between rain showers in the "sunny" Okanagan, to drive up to the lake in August of 2013. The first thing I noticed about our 2013 trip was the condition of the road, While it had never really been a great road, this time it was decidedly worse than I'd ever seen it. Nonetheless, we crawled our way around huge potholes as I wanted to show Marco the lake, and see for myself what the burned out area would look like, 10 years after the fact.

 Sometimes I can't help myself. Shacks and boats 
MUST be photographed. (2013-08-27)

Compared to ten years earlier, Chute Lake is deserted (2013-08-27)

It really looks like it's been a long while since anyone rented these 
boats for a bit of fishing, What era are those life jackets from?! 
(2013-08-27)

Looking down to Chute Lake from the pub/restaurant. 
See the regrowth in the burned-out forest.(2013-08-27)

The Trans Canada Trail. This is the spot 
Britta and I left from on our bike trip. (2013-08-27)

A shack... CLICK! A photo! (2013-08-27)

 A rental fleet that's not getting much action these days. (2013-08-27)

The pub/restaurant is "must see BC"; out of another era. (2013-08-27)

The pub/restaurant is "must see BC"; out of another era. (2013-08-27)

 Some of the accommodation at the Chute lake resort. (2013-08-27)

An afternoon at Skaha Lake (Penticton)

 Why is it that whenever I visit the "sunny Okanagan", it rains?

It just does! On this day, Barb, Sean, Angela, Marco and I had planned to tube down the Okanagan River, joining Okanagan Lake with Skaha Lake. No such luck. Apparently, in late August, there wasn't enough water in the river to make this a viable operation.

Too bad. But, not to worry; the sun came out and we went swimming at Skaha Lake.

(2013-08-29) 

(2013-08-29) 

(2013-08-29) 

(2013-08-29) 

Lower Joffre Lake in August

As part of Marco and Angela's visit to Canada, we decided a trip to Saint Georg's winery in Naramata was in order. The only real question was how to get there. The Coquihalla highway? The Hope-Princeton highway? The Trans Canada (Highway #1), turning off at Spences Bridge? Or, the Duffey Lake Road then via either Kamloops, or Ashcroft, or Spences Bridge? In the end, opting for scenic over practical, we drove up through Squamish, Whistler, and Lillooet, by way of the Duffey Lake Road (Highway 99).

I don't know how many times I've driven this road, and I don't know how many times I've had vehicles turn off the highway in front of me, at the Joffre Lakes parking lot. Until this year, I've never bothered to ask what the attraction was. In June, in anticipation of a visit from Paul and Beate, I Googled the location. Clearly, by all internet accounts, a place worthy of a "look see".

Our short visit with Marco and Angela was well worth the parking hassle on the day we stopped in.

 Lower Joffre Lake (2013-08-24)

Joffre Peak and the emerald lake below (2013-08-24)

Joffre Peak rising above Lower Joffre Lake (2013-08-24)

A bit of a "zoom in" on Joffre Peak (2013-08-24)

Seton Lake on a Cloudy Day

My June trip up the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and then the Duffey Lake Road, called for a "Kodak Moment" stop at Seton Lake. The weather had not cooperated on this trip. While not exactly miserable,  there were plenty of clouds occasionally obscuring what would otherwise have been gorgeous mountain vistas. Nonetheless, even clouds can give pictures a degree of drama. Notwithstanding the fact that the skies over Lillooet are almost "always" blue, on this day things were a tad darker than usual.

The viewpoint just outside of Lillooet; 
Seton Lake (2013-05-23)

Try as we might, we could not 
spot (nor hear) the mountain 
goats that occasionally 
scramble about on these 
slopes (2013-05-23)

The beach at Seton Lake is awesome 
to swim in during summer months (2013-05-23)

(2013-05-23)

Howe Sound: the View from Porteau Cove

Our mid-July trip into the interior of British Columbia took us along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. En route to Squamish, Whistler, Lillooet, and points beyond, we stopped at Porteau Cove to stretch our legs and to catch a glimpse of Howe Sound. Follow our pictoral visit below.

 Welcome sign: Porteau Cove 
Provincial Marine Park (2013-07-15)

Looking along Howe Sound in the 
direction of Squamish (2013-07-15)

 An ersatz ferry dock makes for a great 
pier at Porteau Cove (2013-07-15)

Looking across the pier, along Howe Sound, in the 
direction of Horseshoe Bay (2013-07-15)

Ruckle's Farm on Saltspring Island

While on a visit to the fall fair on Saltspring Island, in September of 2012, we also drove by the farm at Ruckle Provincial Park. We weren't the only ones there, admiring the late summer yellowish browns. As I was walking about looking for good postcard shots, I noticed a group of water colour artists also trying their hand at capturing these unique colours.

The classic Gulf Island late summer palette (12-09-15)

Ruckle Farm on Saltspring Island: I've never
liked the word "bucolic", but this is it (12-09-15)

Ruckle Farm on Saltspring Island:
Country Road (12-09-15)

 A collection of buildings at Ruckle Farm (12-09-15)

Ruckle Farm on Saltspring Island (12-09-15)

120915

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition

On the 3rd of August, what with the day being overcast, we took a drive to Parksville to have a look at the Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition.

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

In years gone by, we've somehow never made it. We either forgot or, having driven to Parksville, found the crowds too much for us, and parking to be horrendous. On this day, everything was perfect. For a nominal donation ($2.50 per person), we were delighted to see some really creative sand art. This post represents my impressions of the sand sculpting exhibition. I may have noted who won, and what prizes were awarded, but really, in my mind, every creation was a winner.

Let the reader guess which fairy tales are depicted...

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

Clever: Rub-a-dub-dub... Three men from the pub

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition
in Parksville: Hanne was
convinced that crack was real... Now THAT'S GOOD

I love this detail

Parksville: Sand Sculpting Competition
 & Exhibition

Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition in Parksville

Troll. Billy goats

My personal favourite: a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen

My personal favourite: a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen

Texada Island: Swimming the Limestone Quarry

DANGER, the sign says. High cliffs and subsurface ledges it continues. But a steady stream of cars find their way to the side of the road where a dusty trail leads hot summer visitors to the fresh waters of an abandoned limestone quarry. Young and old, schlepping beach chairs, blankets, towels, coolers, and sundry floating devices, make their way to the few spots available at the edge of the turquoise waters.

DANGER (2011-08-23)

The limestone quarry in question is to found on Texada Island, that rather large, but seemingly forgotten island in the Salish Sea.


After a day or two of swimming in the salt water surrounding the island, the waters of the quarry offer welcome relief from the brine. NOTE: the shower hours at the Shelter Point Regional Park campground are limited, so washing off the brine is a hit or miss proposition for Texada campers.

Turquoise waters of the Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

A few "bays" in the turquoise waters of the
Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

A few "bays" in the turquoise waters of the
Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

Take your favourite floatation device and explore the
Texada Island limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

If you're lucky, you find a spot right by the waters of
Texada Island's limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

DANGER
Texada Island's limestone quarry (2011-08-23)

Antique Clinton

OK, OK, so this isn't a post about "antique Clinton", but rather about some interesting antiques in Clinton. However, there is a wild west, cowboy sort of antique feel to the village of Clinton.

Cariboo Lodge; 
our Clinton home for the night (2013-04-30)

I've felt that way since I first saw the town back in 1958 (or was it 1959?) when I was a little lad. At that time  I fell in love with how it looked just like the towns in all the Hollywood Westerns. Not much has changed; the history remains fascinating. On our last visit, April 2013, we spent some time poking around the numerous antique shops in the area. Poke around these shops, and you'll get a flavour of the Western movie.

Palace Hotel building in Clinton;
right out of the Wild West (2013-04-30)

Clinton Museum (2013-04-30)

"MANY GOOD THINGS";
antique shop sign in Clinton (2013-04-30)

"Antique" wagon wheels tell of Clinton's past  (2013-04-30)

Greatest collection of antiques in Clinton (2013-04-30)

Antiques. Greyhound terminal. SEARS outlet.
All in one. That's Clinton (2013-04-30)

Residential Clinton, BC (2013-04-30)