Vernon - lying in a verdant, irrigated valley

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It is an enjoyable but reasonably long drive from Lake Louise to Vernon, taking about 5.5 hrs plus breaks. Passing through several national parks, including the Yoko and Glacier NPs, time passes very quickly. Golden was a pleasant spot for lunch, then late afternoon we sought out ice cream. Setting for a manufactured variety at a 7-eleven in Revelstoke, we were then dissappointed to pass by many ice cream shops in the following two hours drive to Vernon! Darren's colleague Max, and her parents Sonia and Al made us very welcome at their home in the Okanagan Valley, where the weather resembled a southern Australian summer more than anywhere else on the trip. The valley is semi-arid and relies on irrigation from the Fraser River (BC's largest) and its lakes. Next day we drove about 6 hrs to reach Vancouver.

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