Not-so-random thoughts on random topics: 5,150 kilometers and going strong, ayyy!

That's 3,200 miles for the non-metrics folks.

It seems that every time I update my blog, I announced yet another grande detour. This entry is no exception. It's called Blending with What Is...

After speaking with the park ranger at Glacier National Park – the one in Canada, not the one in Montana – Monsieur Park Ranger recommended that we ditch the hustle and bustle at Kelowna and head to the country to check out other more scenic routes and smaller communities. It amused me a little bit that Monsieur Park Ranger compared the traffic of Kelowna to that of mini-Los Angeles. Who am I to argue; he knows stuff.

New itinerary highlighted in yellow,
if you care...

A more detailed account of the last several days is probably worth the efforts. Afterall, we seemed to have visited more small towns in the last 48 hours than the last seven days.

Driving through Banff National Park
on Icefields Parkway

Another shot of the Canadian Rockies
Heading to Lake Louise

Glassy lake along the Icefields Parkway
Heading to Lake Louise, BC

We traveled through four national parks: Jasper, Banff, Yoho, and Glacier. The most famous ones being Jasper and Banff, of course, having world-class ski resorts in them. Tourists and tour buses were abundant, as were rip-off souvenir shops and bad coffee. Admittedly, I have a love-hate relationship with national parks. I love that the parks are made available to the masses and for all to admire. I hate that the parks are made available to the masses and for all to admire, sometimes to a point of commercialization that they might as well become theme parks. My eyes wanted to bleed when I saw a woman breaking out the makeup bag, dragging her buttocks to the washroom in high heels. It was completely out of place.

I couldn't get in the mood of shopping for shot glasses and paperweights, so we hurriedly left the visitor centers in search for a little solitude. Good luck!

Daisy making friend with Wiley Coyote
Lake Louise Visitor Center

Golden is a small hippie town
- before we arrive at
Glacier National Park

Crossing the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge
Downtown Golden, BC

Bean Bag Coffee
Downtown Golden, BC

Glacier National Park, BC

Fresh meat for tonight's one-pot-gourmet!!
Marmot @ Glacier National Park

Another famous ski resort - bring cash!
Revelstoke, BC

We made our way on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) to Revelstoke, another famous ski resort who claims to be “Close to Heaven. Down to Earth.”
The town was quiet on a late Friday afternoon, but I can feel the vibrancy on a cold winter day. We stumbled upon a spice shop called Crescendo. The proprietary blends of spices, exotic balsamic vinegars and oils mesmerized me, and I willingly and drunkenly doled out my Canadian currency. Everything seems free when you are on vacation.

It is time to look for a place to call it the night; Monsieur Park Ranger recommended the Blanket Creek Provincial Park so we gave it a try. We had to camp at the Overflow “camping” area, which turned out to be just a huge parking lot, as the campground was full. When the “facility operator” came to collect our hard-earned $21 for the night, it was too late to cry foul. Sure, collect something, but full price for a night in a parking lot? The annoyance somehow reminded me of flying on United Airlines...

Rip off! Please pay $21 to stay in this parking lot -
"overflow" camping area...

We could not get up early enough to leave the parking lot. Continued south and eventually reached Shelter Bay, where we would take a 20 minutes inland ferry ride to cross the Upper Arrow Lake to Galena Bay. Eric was having a great time chatting with the group of bikers while I did my part to check out the traffic operator and the ferry captain. The scenery was rather acceptable...

We were the first car in line

Taking the 10am ferry to Galena Bay

Ferry to cross Upper Arrow Lake
Shelter Bay, BC

Traffic operator

A cyclist group getting off the ferry

Eric chatting with bikers

The Harleys getting ready to disembark

Next stop along Highway 23: Nakusp.

Located along Lake Kootenay. A charming community that used to be a booming coal mining town until the Columbia River Treaty was signed. This must be another summer vacation/winter ski resort so be sure to bring your own money. The small, friendly, hippie town had a farmer’s market that day, so we filled our fridge with local vegetables.

Nakusp Farmer's Market

Charming town of
Naksup, BC

At the waterfront of Naksup

Waterfront walkway along
Lake Kootnenay in Naksup

Next Stop: New Denver

The road split at Nakusp and we would take Highway 6 South to New Denver, another “highly recommended” spot. It is an undiscovered gem, locals would say. New Denver is my favorite small town. I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but really. Bring your own million if you want to live here.

Welcome to New Denver

Backdrop of New Denver

Spent several hours chillaxing at Sanderella
Featuring handmade gifts and delicious crepes

Eric taking an afternoon swim at Slocan Lake in
New Denver, BC

A lazy Saturday afternoon is best spent being lazy. We did our share of serious relaxing.

We spent another night wild-camping somewhere between New Denver and Kaslo, off a protected forest service road. Eventually we would make our way to Nelson by tomorrow afternoon. But if we don’t, there is always Monday.