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Back in Saskatoon but I'll write about the last two days later, probably tomorrow night. G'night. 

We didn't go to Chase

We went as far as Hope last night. Stayed at the Skagit Motel in the centre of town. Kate loved Hope. Have to admit it looked pretty good. We changed our mind about the Coquihalla and instead went back down the Crowsnest through Manning Park to Princeton. Took the Old Hedley Road to Keremeos for the complete circle and then on to Osoyoos. Booked in at the Avalon for the night. Nice room.

Old Hedley Road. 

Kate thinks I look like one of the Hansen brothers from the movie Slapstick. As if. 

QB and the ferry

We had a rabbit for breakfast!

Yum yum. 

But today is return day. Can't go any further west. Must return to source. Us and pretty much every other summer traveller. 

Visited briefly with Don & Ev Shadbolt. They're doing fine.

Not enough time for a decent visit, but as Don suggested: coulda' brought more time with us.

We're in the line-up for the 5:20 ferry. Aimed for the 3:10 and missed by a mile. Not bad though, as the rush hour should be pretty much done in Vancouver and the valley by the time we arrive.

More later, when we get to Chase. 

Water Baby

Pre dinner swim.

Post swim perp walk.

I'm sitting in the shade drinking beer so wuddoo I care? I just had my best day ever. For a long time. Until the next one, which is probably tomorrow.

Going to fetch a towel now.

My water baby.

Best day EVER!

On an eighteen and a half foot Hobie Island Tandem trimaran between Protection and Gabriola Islands. 

Nanaimo

Lovely day. Mild sweet sea air.

Calm. 

Took our coffee on the terrace. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Pie and Timmy's.

Just a tree picture. 

Had supper at the Iron Wok on Stewart Ave. Gourmet Chinese food. The best I've ever had. 

Downtown Nanaimo. 

That is all. 

Day 6

We had meant to spend a day in Vernon then take the Monashee highway to Bobby's place on Slocan Lake. But. Something came over us next morning and we decided to drive to the island instead. Oddly enough Bob called while we were turning around to get the exit we missed, the one to Kamloops, to tell us his daughter Kira was coming home for a visit first time in a year and, well, would it be all right if, seeing as ... etc. So it worked out ok all 'round. 

Cowboy country around Falkland. 

The outlook above Kamloops Lake has got to be one of the best anywhere. See Kate there?

How 'bout now?

Kate found a spot she had camped at with her family 40 years ago.

Naturally we turned in.

What was most memorable about it was the swimmin' hole.

Dug right out of the shore of the Thompson River, it was "exactly like it was 40 years ago!"

Took lot's photos of Kate swimming but they're all on Kate's camera and we haven't figured out how to get them to upload through my phone.

Here's a look back at Juniper Beach from the highway:

An oasis in Kate's happy memories.

Next stop Cache Creek, then up to Hat Creek for phase two.

Marble Canyon:

Kate's a water-baby and loves polliwogs. 

Kate, Kate, Kate... man, this guy must be in love. 

Yup! Looking up the Fraser Canyon from just upstream of Lillooet.

And on up through the Coast Mountains on the Duffey Lake Road.

Duffey Lake. 

Looking the other way. 

There was heavy traffic on the Sea to Sky highway from Whistler on down, and a traffic jam just north of Brittania Beach had us crawling for an hour, but we managed to just miss the 7:30 ferry to Nanaimo. Caught the 9:30. Photos on Kate's camera.