Seattle

Sunday, June 18^th 2017

Each time we leave a campground and hook the car up, there are quite a few procedures to follow. With no exceptions.  We attach the car to the hitch, the heavy-duty safety chains are connected as are multiple cables.  Norm and I add a rock shield to protect the car as well.

When all is connected, and I have run the transmission through its own very particular procedures, we test to make sure that the motorhome’s break and signal lights are transmitted properly to the tow car.

Well, it has gone really well until today.  Fortunately, as Norm was re-examining all the connections, he noticed smoke pouring out of the plug connected to the RV!  Had he not, who knows what would have caught fire or at least melted it and the receiver to a black indistinguishable glob equaling big expense and inconvenience.  



Norm hooking up car to motor home.  Safety chains, break-away wire, rock screen to protect paint and windshield on car.  Then there is the cable so when the brakes are applied in RV, the car brakes as well ( and brake lights come on ) Then a cable that links the other lights as well.  With practice only takes a few minutes.
Today one of the cables started to catch on fire. Norm fortunately saw it !



It would be totally irresponsible to tow the car without signal lights, not to say illegal, so I had to drive it myself, following behind the RV.  It took several hours, and the rest stops were few and far between. Our two-way radio died this morning, ( yes, I charged it ) so I couldn’t ask Norm to stop so I could stretch, have lunch and pee.  To make matters worse, the GPS took us to the wrong place so the trip was killing me to the point where I just had to go find a bathroom and to meet Norm at the campground, and hoped he wouldn’t try parking by himself.

Finding campgrounds in and around big cities is tough.  Seattle is no different. In fact, we have friends with RV’s that wanted to see Seattle but even back in February the few were filled.  Having started making reservations even sooner than they, we were able to insure our seeing Seattle’s sights. None of the campgrounds’ reviews were anything but horrible, but we chose the one that sounded best, and frankly, the only one to answer the darn phone!  I was a little nervous about this one.

Tall Chief RV Park was certainly different from the recent campgrounds we have been staying at.  Deep in the woods it felt more like a state park as we drove in.  The young men at the entrance seemed very nice as they gave us instructions to “go find a site”.  Those four words instill terror to someone with a very large RV.  All campers want a nice, level site. The bigger the better. Even those with tiny tents or people camping out of the Volkswagen bug will take the best they have to offer.  Who can blame them?  But we made these reservations nearly 6 months ago to insure that we had one of the few spots we would fit in! 

Norm and I drove around a couple of times looking for an acceptable spot.   We were going to be there 4 nights and were already brain-fried and hungry, so we hoped for a relatively easy set-up. In a perfect world, we try to avoid being near large groups because they tend to party through the night. Or those with dogs. If they have an outdoor dog pen, that usually guarantees said dog will bark at everything that walks by. Multiple childs’ bikes or worse yet – basketballs beside the road that will be sure to bounce off your rig, are indications that peace and quiet will be hard to come by. It appeared that people are living here for the duration of the summer, or perhaps their lives, by the look of it.  State Parks have restrictions on how long you can stay, typically a little less than a couple of weeks.

 Jostling over the ruts and bumps, we saw RV’s that looked like they had been sitting there since their invention.  Dirt and moss-covered campers ceremoniously draped with filthy blue tarps gave us some pause, as did the “junk yard” appearance around their rigs.  Oh, boy, this is different!

Finally finding a site that would be “good-enough” we managed to back it in and set up with surprisingly little fuss.  Since we were out in the middle of no-where about 45 minutes west of Seattle, we spent the rest of the day figuring out where we could get the cord fixed or replaced, and hoped there was not a short in the wiring of either the RV or car; we then made a nice dinner.

Monday, June 19^th 2017

First thing in the morning we tried calling several RV repair facilities to ask if they had what we needed and the time to help us that day.  It was vital that we get this fixed, and since a part might have to be ordered, doing it today was important.  After several calls and a lot of time on hold, we found a company south of Seattle, that seemed to think they had what we needed. 

We jumped in the car, fought the traffic and arrived in about an hour.  It was advised we replace the whole cable and ends and in about 45 minutes we were all set.  Our wallet was painfully lighter (for some reason this cable cost 2 ½ times the original ) but, if there are no wiring issues in the vehicles, we will be good as new! 

Snoqualimie Falls, in Snoqualimie, Washington

After eating our picnic lunch in a park in a bad part of town, we decided to check out Snoqualmie Falls, located in the City of Snoqualmie which was close to our campground. When we got there we were greeted with hoards of people, and parking lots filled to capacity.  Norm and I enjoy waterfalls, even much smaller, if we discover them on a quiet hike surrounded by singing birds and darting chipmunks.  Honking horns, people shouting, and car stereos thumping just takes the enjoyment away. Hey, call us weird.  But the weather was gorgeous and the falls quite spectacular so it was hard not to enjoy.

Tuesday, June 20^th 2017

We were hoping, when planning this trip, that we would spend a couple of days in and around Seattle while here in Falls City. What we heard from many people was how horrible the traffic was these days, and it would be a nightmare getting into the city.

So, with this in mind, and the off and on drizzle combined with a rainy forecast, we decided to just lay low for the day and be lazy.  There wasn’t anything nearby we knew of that was worth doing in the rain.  Later in the day, when I was going to scream from boredom and the proximity of my husband for the last 66 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes, I thought it be best for both of us if I went and got groceries on my own. 

I spent more than a glorious hour meandering up and down each isle of this gigantic Fred Meyer store. Who would have guessed this shopping gem was in what I assumed the middle of nowhere? I longed for the organic and grass-fed meats I have never seen before, beautifully displayed in cases like diamonds set on black velvet.  Unfortunately, I had to once again consider what could be brought into Canada so I resisted the urge to buy any of these unusual delicacies (for now).

 Wednesday, June 21^st 2017

Today we were to face the traffic and head into Seattle – no matter what.  Luck was either with us, or everyone we spoke with never drove in Boston! With me behind the wheel, even I had nary a white-knuckle. Norman is however, a fabulous co-pilot, and great at figuring out the GPS. Do you notice that, particularly in cities, the GPS will say street names when signs read numbers and vice versa? Very confusing on your own. 

We had reservations for the Underground Tour at 11AM, but got into town earlier in hopes to catch an earlier tour since our “to do” list and walking distances were long.

Lady Luck continued to be with us as we found a great ( and relatively cheap ) parking garage, and we were able to join the 10AM tour!

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour was 75 minutes of enjoyment.  Their tour guides were a cross between actors and stand-up comics who delightfully entertained while describing the history of Seattle’s underground city. 

 

Bill Speidel's Underground tour was fantastic!  So much fun and informative!

As we walked through the subterranean streets we saw storefronts and sidewalks long ago buried after they were forced to raise the level of the streets by 10 feet because of constant flooding.  The multiple blunders of the government were related tongue-in-cheek as we learned of the disastrous “modern” sewer system, built on a mud flat that was below sea level at high tides. ( and what happened daily as a result ) Why toilets were named “crappers”, and the history of the extremely prosperous prostitution business of the time were enthusiastically told.  This tour, if you are visiting Seattle, should not be missed! 

This was a wooded sewer pipe used underground in Seattle. They tend to rot, was one of their many shortcomings. ( at least there was not lead in them )

 From there we walked to Pike’s Market on the waterfront.  We have been there before, but it is always fun to browse around.  Usually. By the time we got there and perhaps because cruise ships were in port, it was so unbelievably crowded that we had lunch and soon left. 

The famous Pike's Market public market in Seattle.

 

Check out the famous "tossing of the fish" at Pike's Market

 

You always hear of the constant rain in Seattle.  Well, good ole’ Lady Luck gave us a day that could not possibly have been better!  Blue skies and temperatures in the 60’s made for perfect walking of which we did miles.

Part of the exhibit at Chihuly Gardens and Glass was an atrium. The beautiful blue sky and the Space Needle can be see through the art.  Neat!

 

We then walked to Chihuly Gardens and Glass next to the Space Needle at Seattle Center.  Dale Chihuly is one of the most prolific blown-glass artists in the world, and here we had an opportunity to see some of his best in a beautiful setting.  There is an audio tour app available for your smart phone and the kind girl at the ticket counter gave us the last two headphones since we didn’t have ours with us.  Lucky again!

Dale Chihuly's exhibit called Persian Ceiling. He mounts larger pieces to a wall, then suspends it overhead, rests it on flat glass then lights it from above.  As you enter the room you feel surrounded by shapes and colors.  So cool.

The blown glass art pieces were utterly amazing, but not our taste.  It was more about the day than the art for us here.  When we were done we took the monorail to get closer to our car, found a little place along the way for dinner then drove back to Fall City.



There could not have been a more perfect day!

 

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

Anacortes, Washington

Tuesday, June 13th 2017

Our travels heading west from June 1st to 18th

 

Today we cross back into the U.S. Great. Another border crossing.  Armed with the knowledge of our inventory on board, we waited and waited in line for our turn to speak with the Customs Agent.  The agent helping us was obviously being trained, so I figured this is why the line was so backed up, which could also mean he is being trained very thoroughly.  That would be a really good thing, but inside I also feared he might have gone to the same school as the agent in Canada we had last week! Maybe took the same class on how to beat up the senior citizens with large RV’s about liquor imports.  But wait! Who in the right mind would buy alcohol in Canada for three times as much, to then smuggle it into the United States?

 What actually happened was that we went through so fast, I am not sure he asked anything at all!  So much for proper training.  Too bad (sort of)! 

I was particularly excited about our coming stay in Anacortes, Washington; a few hours north of Seattle at the edge of the San Juan Islands, which I read were breathtaking.  I really miss the water, having spent most of my life in Gloucester, Massachusetts where it surrounded us.

We enjoyed an incredible site on the water overlooking the San Juan Islands at Fidelgo Bay Resort in Anacortes, Washington

Fidalgo Bay Resort was a beautiful RV Park, and because I booked it nearly 6 months ago, we got what was considered the best site in the park! Situated10 feet from the water’s edge, we enjoyed the views of Fildalgo Bay and oddly enough, of the power plant in the distance. 

 

We were surprised how they lite up the power plant at night and actually made it quite attractive ( in our opinion )

I was hoping to perhaps do some sea kayaking amongst the San Juan Islands, hike, golf and do some biking, and go to the Boeing Factory (the largest factory in the world) tour.  Lofty goals, considering we only have 4 days to “play”. It seemed more than enough time last winter when we were planning this trip, but now I think a week would have been more realistic. 

 

After we checked into Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, located on Indian grounds, we headed off toward Washington State Park to take advantage of the day.  We hiked around the rocky cliffs that loomed above the cove, enjoying the cool breezes and fresh air.  We lingered longer than planned, so instead of heading down the coast, we called it a day since the sun was getting low in the sky.

 

 

This car is a magnet for dirt while being towed.  It was so good to get it clean!

 

Wednesday, June 14th 2017

Once again it was time to restock a bit and since there was a Camping World nearby we decided to get a few needed parts, and a trip to Costco provided us with meals for the next several weeks.  After lunch and a quick nap we had enough energy to head off to check out Deception Pass State Park which is reportedly very beautiful.

When we arrived at the State Park we took some pictures of the bridge, and decided to hike all the way down to the beach to get some shots from another angle. I wasn't feeling too ambitious since we had already done a lot of walking around just doing the morning errands. I also had "tweaked" my knee ( is that a medical term?) the day before and it was still bothering me, so I didn't want to over-do it so I  sat while Norm walked further down the beach. 

We hiked back up the steep grade, huffing and puffing the whole way.  We saw a trail across the street and thought it might be nice to stroll a little way down the path to get a glimpse of the bay on the other side of the island. How hard could that be?

Well, we walked and walked some more, never thinking this trail was half as long as it was.  Thank goodness Norm suggested we bring our backpacks for water, because this trail kept going.  At one point we made the decision to ignore the trail sign to the summit - that would be much too strenuous this late in the day and I was afraid my knee would really act up climbing that steep hill.  I also was pretty hungry, so we just took the perimeter trail instead.

The views were great up here, but we intended to only hike around the BOTTOM of this mountain (even if it was a small one) not hike to the summit! 

After several miles we ran into a local man and he told us the fastest route back was to take the trail a little further, then branch off and go up and over the summit back to the other side.  What? Was he kidding?  We didn't feel up to the summit hike miles ago! Ugh! But I must say, it is amazing what one can do if you have to. (Sort of like child birth.)  The climb was really tough for me, and the exertion was making me feel like I was going to vomit.  Needless to say it cured my hunger as I limped the last mile.

The car was a welcome sight, that was for sure! We were never "lost" but this little stroll turned out to be more than we bargained for. We arrived home about 8PM.  It was a long, productive day with a lot of exercise thrown in.

 

 

The highly photographed bridge at Deception Pass State Park

 

Norm and I definitely wanted to take the Boeing Factory Tour near Everett, a little over an hour away both from here and the next stop.  We agonized when to go, but finally decided to go this week since the weather was iffy. 

 Boeing, the biggest factory by volume in the world, covering a whopping 98.7 acres. They give a wonderful 1 ½ tour, and go to great lengths to protect their secrets.   Any food and cameras (including cell phones) or bags of any type were absolutely forbidden. We were instructed to either put them back in our cars, or in a cabinet that was provided. 

The guides spoke of Boeing’s history, and of their aircraft and impressed us all by the magnitude of this facility.  Inside there were 7 ( if I remember correctly ) restaurants, medical facilities, and a day care of course.  We were taken by bus to a couple of different buildings and shown their operation.  What seemed really odd is that we saw only a dozen or so people working.  Where was everyone? 

Thursday, June 15^th 2017

The next day was cold and rainy, so we hunkered down inside and took advantage of the great internet service to plan, work on the blog, and go through two months of mail ( minus the junk mail that got destroyed ) that we had sent to us. 

How do we handle our mail being gone so long?  There are several companies now that provide this service for people who either travel a lot for their jobs, take long vacations, and definitely for full-time RV’ers.  They receive your mail ( after filling out several official documents before-hand ) then this company scans the front of the envelope for you to look at in your private on-line portal.  You then can select either to 1) shred it  2) hold it  3) open it and scan the contents in a PDF file for a small additional charge.   They go through and get rid of the mountains of junk mail that you don’t ever see. ( How great is that?)  At any time you can go online and request for them to gather it all up, put in a single box, and ship it anywhere you want!  We have a wonderful neighbor who has picked up our mail in the past, and would again, but we couldn’t ask that of her.  It was also nice to see Norm got a notice for Jury duty, that was important to respond to right away.  For a mere $25.00 a month it is a great service for us.  We are using Dakota Post in Sioux City, South Dakota. They have many other services available to suit most anyone's needs.    

Today was our 15^th anniversary, so we went to the nicest restaurant we could find in Anacortes.  We had a lovely dinner by the window overlooking the water at Anthony’s.  We are almost always traveling on our anniversary each year, and this was one of the few times we could enjoy some fine dining. Too bad it was so darn cold and raw out that we didn’t dress up like I would have liked. (Norm did, but all my nice clothes were for summer.)

Friday, June 16th 2017

 

 

 

This is a tiny portion of the Boeing Plant. These doors are big enough to get a wide body jet through!  Amazing!

Norm and I definitely wanted to take the Boeing Factory Tour near Everett, a little over an hour away both from here and the next stop.  We agonized when to go, but finally decided to go this week since the weather was predicted to be iffy. 

Boeing, the biggest factory by volume in the world, covering a whopping 98.7 acres. They give a wonderful 1 ½ tour, and go to great lengths to protect their secrets.   Any food and cameras (including cell phones) or bags of any type were absolutely forbidden. We were instructed to either put them back in our cars, or in a cabinet that was provided. 

The guides spoke of Boeing’s history, and of their aircraft and impressed us all by the magnitude of this facility.  Inside there were 7 ( if I remember correctly ) restaurants, medical facilities, and a day care of course.  We were taken by bus to a couple of different buildings and shown their operation.  What seemed really odd is that we saw only a dozen or so people working.  Where was everyone? 

 

They had a lovely museum that had interactive displays plus many educational exhibits.  There even was the actual module for the International Space station we could go into ( but was too crowded at the time ).

Saturday, June 17th 2017

One more day and there is so much we haven’t done!  I was dying to take advantage ofthe bike path that followed the water right beside our campground, and we just couldn’t make it over to San Juan Islands either because we learned it wouldn’t be worth doing in a single day. I am hoping we can manage it from Vancouver Island when we are there for 3 weeks soon.  I’d better look into it and make reservations. Sea kayaking, too!

You would think at some point, the hill climbing would get easier! We enjoyed the lovely ridge trail at Ebey's Landing.

 

We decided to enjoyed a several mile ridge hike in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.  Afterwards, we visited a tiny town with interesting old architecture called Coupeville that Norm wanted to see.  After a delicious  ice cream treat, we made a quick stop for local mussels in the grocery store which ended our exploration of the area.

We had grilled Rockfish and mussels back at "home".  What a great life!

Back in the RV we dined on local mussels

 

Hope, B.C. and the Othello Tunnels

We left Kelowna and Norm’s sister and brother-in-law and headed back toward the good ole United States. The town of Hope, B.C. was one more stop along the way.  There was yet another section of the Kettle Valley Railway that included the Othello Tunnels that we thought we might ride, and something called Hell’s Gate of which I knew nothing about ( but sounded up our alley ).



Beautiful mountain views at Wild Rose RV Park in Hope, B.C.



Norm and I both agree that British Colombia is as beautiful as Alaska, and much easier to get to by RV from the lower 48

The mountain passes are becoming less nerve-wracking for me, or perhaps today Norm took them a little slower, but regardless of the reason, the scenery was awesome.  Who needs Alaska when British Colombia is just as rugged?  And closer.  Certainly, if you are driving there.

As we drove up to Wild Rose RV Park, it appeared in the middle of two highways as well as two railroad lines!  Oh, No!  In a perfect world, we would try to look at Google Earth to see where each campsite is relative to highways and train tracks. But making reservations for 179 nights, we just didn’t take the time.

Upon check-in the lady assured us the train is quiet ( they all say that ) and it wouldn’t be a problem.  We were only staying two nights, and hey – getting any sleep is over-rated, isn’t it? 
 

Downtown Hope had these incredible wooden sculptures that were among the winners of the previous International Wood Carving competitions, which would be fascinating to see.

Well, we were pleasantly surprised that these trains, which you could see right from inside the RV were, indeed, almost silent!

After we set up camp and took our daily nap we were refreshed enough to go check out the Visitor’s Center.  I wanted to bike the trail the next day, but since we haven’t hiked much lately ( which is Norm’s favorite activity ) we thought we would pass on yet another rail-trail.  The person at the visitor’s center mentioned a beaver pond so we headed out to find a beaver for Norm’s bucket list. 

The weather was lovely as we explored the different short trails looking for the elusive beaver.  It wasn’t nearly “dusk” when they are more apt to be seen, so we headed out to take the approximately 2 mile walk to see the Othello Tunnels.  



The Othello tunnels were built between 1911 and 1916 to complete the Kettle Valley Railway.  Now it is a lovely place to enjoy with family

Seven tunnels pass through these solid granite mountains

The Othello Quintette Tunnels were built through solid granite between 1911 and 1916 over the wild Coquihalla River to complete the Kettle Valley Railway.  The building of these tunnels were another amazing feat considering the impossibly tough terrain, the remoteness of the location and the very basic equipment available over a hundred years ago.

The wild Coquihalla River was raging below the bridges between the tunnels

Norm and I have seen quite a few tunnels recently, so we weren’t as awed as the many families there were.  The raging river below was pretty awesome though.

It was growing late, so we headed back to camp.

 Monday, June 12^th 2017

"Hey bear!"  The woods were lovely, but the bear scat found on the trail confirmed they were in the area.  A little scary.

Today was hike day, so after doing a little research we found a hike that promised the best views.  So that, of course, means “up”.  We packed lunches, bear spray and back packs and headed out.

After reaching the top of the "hill" I decided to be a little silly taking this selfie.

I had seen pictures of beautiful people doing yoga poses while hiking, so I thought I would give it a try.  Certainly not pretty, but my balance is top notch! Not bad for 62!

It was a nice little hike, but not our favorite since a lot of the trail was wide enough for a truck.  We like to feel more in the wilderness, although I am always on the lookout for bears.  I don’t enjoy how uneasy that makes me feel, particularly when we come across bear scat (poop) that confirms that they are indeed in the area.  I don’t think Norm gets too concerned. Perhaps after my reading him about the recent deadly bear maulings in the news, he will help me make more noise on the trail.  

With moss of different types were covering most trees, which gave the area a eerie feel.  I could not believe Norm noticed this shovel tucked in the notch of a tree.  So odd to find it so deep into the woods.

We ran into another couple from Germany with their infant baby while hiking and although they, too, saw the scat they didn’t think the bears were really there.  Huh? Where did they think it came from? I don’t get it- they seemed like intelligent people…..

I found this picture on the internet depicting just how big and damaging this landslide was. It took out the highway and an entire lake below.

From there we headed toward the Hope Slide which is where one of the largest recorded landslides occurred in Canadian history. Back in 1965, in the wee hours of the morning, the 16 year old route 3 was closed when a huge slab of rock broke free from the face of Johnson Peak resulting in the Hope Slide.  The slide forced so much debris it traveled 180 feet up the mountain on the opposite side of the highway!  The resultant debris was 2 miles wide and 260 feet deep.  It completely wiped out a lake and unfortunately killed four people.
 

Unfortunately, the clouds were low ( and we were so high in elevation ) that most of the mountain where the slide occurred could not be seen when we were there.  We waited for a while for the clouds to pass, but no such luck. Note the lines I drew guessing where the mountain is behind the clouds.
 

Unfortunately, there were low clouds that obstructed 75% of our view, and the light drizzle combined with cold temps chilled us to the bone as we peered up the mountainside.  We had our lunch in the car in hopes the clouds would move. We called it a day, and drove back to the campground.  

The area here is just breathtaking.  The rushing Frazier River and mountains with sheer cliffs rising up beside it.





 

 

Kelowna B.C. and family

June 6th-10th, 2017

We left Osoyoos for the 2-hour trip (north) through the Okanagan Valley to see Norm’s family in Kelowna, British Colombia.  The Okanagan Valley is the major wine producing area in Canada and extends south into Washington state.  We wonder what this next inner-city campground will be like.  If I remember, when I booked it there was some question if we would even fit. 

Norm and I have gotten pretty accomplished at parking this monster in some pretty tricky spots, so we weren’t too worried.  If he listens and trusts me as I stand outside and give him directions on the walkie-talkie, we should be alright. “Turn a little to the left, more, keep coming...” “Now come straight back. Stop.” (to avoid the many hazards he can’t see).  The leveling jacks that gave us problems last year seem to have straightened themselves out. I love when that happens!

The parking was pretty tight here at Hiawatha RV Park in Kelowna, B.C.  We were on the "extra wide" site that allowed us to squeeze the car in, but it was hard to open the doors of rig and car, and forget about a picnic area when we did.  Too close for comfort, but most sites were much worse.

 

Seeing people sandbagging was a common occurrence around the Okanagan  Lake.  The water levels have risen to a 200 year flood stage.  Unfortunately, the water quality has also suffered.  People had been advised to boil their water as a precaution.



Norm’s sister and brother-in-law came over that afternoon for happy hour and appetizers and mentioned off-handedly about the “boil water” notice issued due to the flooding of the lake and it’s resulting turbidity ( cloudiness ).  What?  OMG! The office never mentioned it!  The people that had to be cautious were children and elderly ( over 65 ) or those with weakened immune system.  Well, that covered all of us, and 75% of the campground!

It was so great to be with family again!

 

 

Due to the boil water advisory, I needed to get out my super-duper water filtration set up.  The water was filtered to .01 microns ( which filters all dangerous things except for viruses that don't exist in North America anyway ) and I boiled water for washing the dishes.  I came prepared for everything! After all, we are "camping"!

One thing Norm and I really wanted to do  while here was to ride the Kettle Valley rail-trail again so we did it the next day while the weather was good.

To get to the trailhead we had to drive an extremely rutted mountainous road for about 40 minutes which was a bit  grueling on both the car and ourselves, but it was worth it!

It didn’t have the tunnels of the Hiawatha Trail, but we both felt the scenery was so much better!  The trestles were wooden, the trail a bit narrower, and the views across the canyons much more dramatic.  It seems even more miraculous if you know the history of this beautiful valley.

Back in August of 2003 ( when Norm and I were newly married ) while visiting, there was a huge Okanagan Mountain fire.  It burned nearly 64,000 acres ( 25,900 hectares) and forced the evacuation of 33,000 terrified people. This beautifully green mountainside was an inferno; destroying 238 homes; most burnt right to the foundation. Needless to say, our plans to bicycle the rail trail over the gorgeous trestles did not happen on that trip. 

The Okanagan Mountain fires in Kelowna were devastating back in 2003 burning 64,000 acres and destroying 238 homes.  33,000 people were forced to evacuate.  Norm and I were visiting at the time and witnessed Nature's fury.

It was so hard to believe that these trestles, built in the early 1900's by hand and very recently lovingly restored by volunteers burnt down in the fire.

 It was heart-wrenching to not only witness people’s homes being consumed but also watching 12 of the 18 trestles in Myra Canyon, which were built by hand in the turn of the last century, be destroyed.  This unfortunately happened to be the most scenic section of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) and rated as one of the top 50 bike rides in the world.   I can’t imagine how awful it must have been for the people who not only donated funds, but dedicated countless hours of back braking labor to restore these trestles to make them safer for the public during the 10 years prior. Just months before the fire this section of the Trans-Canada Trail was designated a National Historic Site!

These new trestles so closely resemble the old ones, and the scenery is still  beautiful. It's hard to believe, but we found this trail even more grand than the "crown jewel" ( Hiawatha trail in Idaho ) of the U.S.!

This S shaped trestle bridge was an engineering challenge as the curves were needed so the tracks would meet at both ends. 

 

 

These trestles were reconstructed again with wood.  Amazing. It was a combined effort of volunteers, private donations and the government that decided to invest the millions of dollars so everyone can once again enjoy this historical

This multi-model trail was such a beautiful place for locals to walk, bike or hike. The fast flowing river ( perhaps it normally is a brook ) added to its charm.  Norm and I found it a little boring after the others we have ridden, but was so conveniently located right next to our campground.

 

I found this sign hilarious!  They are very vigilant about keeping dog poop off the trail.  Awesome!



Yes, and it will still stink up our Motorhome!

This was the second time for us to ride 15 miles of this marvel, ( 7.5 miles in each direction ) and it was great to see the re-growth of the trees and shrubs, although the evidence of nature’s cruelty was still quite noticeable. Regardless, it was gorgeous!

During our 5 days there, we did another 8 mile bike ride along a river near our campground, Norm went to the driving range while I had the misfortune of going to one of the busiest Costco’s in Canada.  We had dinner with his family each night and spent a couple of evenings playing cards  together. 

We had a great visit in a beautiful place!