It takes lots of meal planning and getting the trailer ready, and I moan and groan a little but it always comes together. When we get in the truck, say a prayer for God's safety, put on sun glasses, and we are off for the adventures. Early June we spent 5 days at Herald Provincial Park on Shuswap Lake where we did not need sunglasses, but used umbrellas and shivered in the very cool weather. Camping with friends was fun as we spent evenings playing card games in the shelter of our travel units.
Our favourite campsite where we have made many memories over the years. We watch and hear the trains across Shuswap lake and always enjoy hiking more than once to Margaret Falls.
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Kettle River Provincial Park has been another favourite place for many years. It was cold and rainy most of Father's Day weekend but we had a good time around the campfire with Ray, Melody, Kyla, Azuki, Joline, Mark, and two dogs, Tucker and Arlo. Wally took Ray and the 3 girls kayaking up the mountain to Conkle Lake.
Sunset over Shuswap River from the KVR trestle.
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Celebrating a Milestone
RSS Prom Walk
End of June was high School graduation for our grandson Ian. Proud of his achievement and wish him well with future plans.
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We traded in our Scarlet Ember Rogue for a new 2024 Scarlet Ember Rogue.
Mid July we drove east to Revelstoke and then south to Blanket Creek Provincial Park for five wonderful days camping alongside Upper Arrow Lake which is part of the Columbia river system.
The scenery was magnificent with calm, glassy, painterly water reflecting the mountains.
We kayaked a three hour return trip across the lake to a hidden water fall which plunges and cascades 480 feet into an alcove of the lake. We could only see the lower part of the falls and hear the thundering water and feel the current and the mist. We have paddled here once several years back, but for me this was a very special occasion as I concluded my paddling day s after 53 years.
Akolkolex Falls, a hidden Gem as seen from Upper Arrow Lake
Paddling away from the waterfall we rested in this mirror where we had our own moments alone with God in this stunning setting of His creation.
As the sun was setting we loaded the kayaks onto the truck, and the next day Wally also said he was ready to hang up his paddle. Within 2 weeks they were sold to a lovely couple who will have their own adventures.
Driving home on a blazing hot day we stopped at Dutchman Dairy in Sicamous where the lineups are always long, for a delicious, creamy treat.
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Our last camping of this summer was at Shuswap Provincial Park and Mabel Lake Provincial Park.
Shuswap was a favourite when our family was young. Many great memories. The weather was warm over our 3 days, and the lake a perfect temperature for floating and gazing at the expansive sky.
Mabel lake was good sharing time with some of our family and their friends. The circle around the evening propane fire was filled with laughter and storytelling. This park was different from the rest as it was filled with a mossy carpet under the canopy of coniferous trees.
A special treat was the visit from Wally's sister Maggie from Victoria together with her daughter and granddaughter. A beach day together with Shelley and her girls was a fun time with a feast of lunch nibbles. We enjoyed supper outside in our backyard adding more family to meet the guests.
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We took a lovely drive over the Coquihalla to the coast at the end of August. We have driven past Mt Zopkios over the years and stopped there in a rest area, but this was the first time I saw a golden heart in it. Stopping in the Fraser Valley overnight gave us an opportunity to visit friends and family.
Then a 2 hour cruise across the Salish Sea to spend two nights in Chemanius with sisters Elvera and Catherine with their husbands John and Dan. Lots of time to visit with storytelling, sharing a picnic in Catherine's hotel room, and much laughter.
Enjoyed a lovely walk parallel to an old railroad tracks and were surprised with wild blackberries to pick and savour.
Chemanius is known for it's live theatre and we took in the show 'Nine to Five' which did not disappoint.
I just couldn't leave this post without memories of summer's flowers which always draw me in close to be absorbed in the details. God's creativity is overwhelming and splendiferous. Beauty abounds all about us.
Insects are so difficult to capture on a camera.
We visited the Summerland Ornamental gardens at the end of summer with views of the KVR trestle and Okanagan lake beyond flower beds. A very old sundial caught my attention, and it was right on time.
The gardens had a diversity of trees but these two were full of imagination.
Looking high up a mossy trunk of a Weeping Willow and intrigued by this warty tree trunk that took my mind to the stories by Tolkien and C S Lewis.
Autumn is in the air and the vistas will change, but I will always be full of awe
by the ever circling seasons which bring me JOY.
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