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Published: August 10th 2007
Rear-view
There's always someone trying to intimidate Shazze on the roads.Before leaving Vancouver, we had to stock up on essential supplies including all the camping gear and some tunes for the road. Since neither of us spoke it- we got a ‘learn to speak Spanish’ Audio CD to play on the long drive. Hopefully by the time we reach Mexico we can at least order a meal. So Shazza and I hit the road, bound for Kelowna in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley. We got used to each other and sailed along the highway smoothly. We were bound for an area with a reputation as Canada's only desert and the source from a lot of their wine and produce. The dry and hot valley has the power-boater's dream Okanagan Lake running through it and providing a refreshing spot to swim. The dry, brown countryside is broken up with a scattering of green orchards and vineyards. Here I had some of the best peaches and nectarines I've tasted, not to mention the sweet ice-wine they make from frozen grapes.
After a couple of days in some proper heat (mid 30's), we headed north to stay a night at Sun Peaks Mountain just outside of Kamloops, before hitting the campground at Wells Gray Provincial
Wine tasting
Luckily Shazza stayed sober to get us home safely Park. Here there were plenty of amazing waterfalls and even more mosquitoes.
Next was to head into the Rockies- first stop Jasper. Here there was plenty of wildlife on offer- most of it on the road stopping traffic. I think the animals just do it so they can see the photo frenzy it puts the tourists in. The get away from the crowds, I stayed a few nights at “rustic” hostels off the Icefields Parkway. These no power or showers huts were in amazing settings. One even had a wood-fired sauna out the back. The small, low-roofed hut had a cast-iron stove in the middle and several large rocks placed on top. When you got too hot, a dip in the glacier fed stream quickly had you refreshed. It was wise to not linger long though- the water is only 3c. I then battled my way through the crowds at the major hot-spots along the famous road between Jasper and Lake Louise- the Athabasca Glacier, which is part of the Columbia Ice fields- where the run-off feeds 3 oceans! as well as Peyto Lake and Lake Louise itself.
Today I went whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River.
Tunnels
These tunnels are to protect cars from being swept away from avalanches in winter The class 2-4 rapids were pretty fun and the same glacier-fed water was good incentive not to fall in. Unfortunately Shazza was slightly over the weight limit to come aboard too.
So far Shazza has been up to the task- she’s been solid on the highways and even overtaken a couple of trucks. Plus I’ve almost stopped walking to the passenger side to get in to drive.
Miles so far: 1,392
Knowledge of Spanish at this point: "uno cerveza por pavor" (one beer please)
Next up: continue the National Park section and head into the States.
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Tara
non-member comment
Espanol
"unA cerveza por favor", mi amigo :) Funny you got a Spanish CD, I was gonna send you one too! I still will, it's good to listen to a few different ones. Thanks for the blog, looks like you are having a great time. I'm jealous. Hi to Shazza, Tazza xx