The Great BC Road Trip 2010
Trip Start
Sep 26, 2009
1
22
Trip End
Ongoing
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Day 2: This day had been in the works for quite a while. After hearing that Rich has never witnessed a live baseball game, my granddad organized tickets for us to attend a Victoria Seals game. So we (along with my brother and Kim) headed to the ball park, where Rich could be formally introduced to the Boys of Summer. Thankfully we had a baseball expert with us (my gdad), ensuring that I did not have to make up answers to Rich’s baseball rule questions. The weather was great, the music was fab, and the crowd was entertaining, so we had a lovely time (plus they won in extra innings). That night we had a massive BBQ dinner with all the family and enjoyed another sleep on our favourite pillow top mattress.
Day 3: Ranger Wendy had something special in store for us…ziplining. As its all about Rich, she booked as all a ziplining adventure to celebrate Rich receiving his wings. So we set out to Sooke and spent the next two hours soaring amongst the tree tops. After a few runs, we each tailored our own style (Duncans “wohoo”, Wendy’s Nadia’s peace pose …) and became professional zipliners (even hanging upsidedown and using our arms to change direction…wohoo!). Such a blast, and we headed to the pub to share stories.
Day 4: On the move again! After a short but sweet visit with my Uncle Steve @ Satbucks, we decided to head to Saltspring Island to have lunch with Rich’s counsin from Montreal who had just moved west. So we hopped on the ferry and had a hippie dippy Saltspring lunch and checked out the local shops. From there we headed back to Vic and then onward to Vancouver, where we had a lovely meal at the float home with my Dad and Heli.
Day 5: As Rich had yet to see Stanley Park, we headed into the city and cruised the seawall. From there I introduced him to proper sushi (most sushi in the UK is questionable) at my favourite sushi haunt on Davie st. After another amazing $11 all you can eat feast we walked English Bay and then checked into our hotel (a little shopping along the way of course). Trouble in the form of birthday girl Nadia and Niki then came into town, and Rich was exposed to three girls getting primped for a night out. A short amount of time later (?) we were hustled to the Commodore, where our concert was being held. Now the tickets said doors open at 8:00 and we thought we were arriving fashionably late at 8:30…only to find we were the only people in the entire place… not cool. But we made the most of it and ordered food and drinks and prepared for the amazing Chromeo show that followed. After the show we were on to the infamous Roxy and danced the night away…
Day 6: Feeling a tad worse for wear, we bid adieu to the Nanaimo ladies and headed to meet my friend Kait for lunch at a delicious Cuban place on Commercials. Rich was in heaven with his sky high burger, and we had a nice catch up. Getting back to the car, and turning the ignition sadly resulted in…nothing….the Civic was dead. Soon enough we had a Brit in an MG (go figure) boosting us back to life and we bid adieu to Kait and hit the highway to Kelown….that was until we stopped for cheap gas (dang cheap gas always gets ya in the end!) and the car was realllllly dead. Nothing would work…boosting, pushing, yelling, crying…nothing. We were to spend the rest of our days at a Petro Can in Abbotsford (which wasn’t so bad according to Rich as there was unlimited slurpies and Tim Hortons….). A few hours later, and lots of random new friends made, we were in a tow truck to a Honda garage. With our fingers crossed we were told that all it needed was a new battery, which would only take a half hour! So before you knew it we were back on the road (yes Life is a Highway was on the radio….seriously)and headed for the interior! First stop…Merritt….ya. Second stop Kelowna, to be reunited with the Robinson Williams clan, and enjoy a much needed shower and sleep!
Day 7: Another first for Rich and I..playing a round of golf together. And we both sucked. Oh well we drowned our sorrows on the beaches of Lake Okanagan and later enjoyed a lovely meal out with the entire crew. Can’t beat summers in the Okanagan!
Day 8: The next lag of our great BC road trip commences! We packed up the CRV and hit the road, with our first stop in Revelstoke to have lunch with Rich’s other cousin. We then made an obligatory stop at Rogers Pass and played with some Columbia ground squirrels. Then it was on to the Rockies and into Albertaland! We found a nice campsite near Lake Lousie and set about showing Rich the tricks of the Canadian camping trade.
Day 9: We (along with a gazillion other tourists) posed for pictures at Lake Louise and then planned out our day hike. Thankfully most tourists only make it to the hotel, so we spent the next 6 hours hiking the mountains surrounding the lake with little interruption. The views were epic and the weather was amazing! Very lucky to have the mountains in our country. Heading to town for dinner, Duncan asked some suspect locals where the best place to eat was. He got, “uhhh like the hostel man. Its like the most excellent dining experience”. We searched high and low for something other than a hippy hostel, but ended up in it anyways, and dude was it delicious! Like totally tubular…trust the locals. After a game of scrabble (your truly was the supreme winner), we tucked in for another chilly Rocky night.
Day 10: I should have mentioned that my thesis had yet to be completed, something I suddenly became aware of, so we headed into Baff, where I spent the day in the local library (quite entertaining on its own….librarian Nazi’s! ). Rich was finally able to rent a mountain bike and do some solo exploring (which he later realized was not the smartest thing as he had visions of coming across a grizzley bear…or American tourist…). We reconvened to check out the bustle of the town then headed ‘home’ to prepare a delicious dinner and settle in for a fabulous game of Hit the Deck (there is a reason it was on clearance at the Bay mom). Duncan threatened to through the cards in the fire, and that was the end of that.
Day 11: Up and attem and on the road again! We headed back into BC through the Kootenays and gawked at the pine beetle devastation along the way. Next stop was some history at Fort Steele where my granddad comes from. Lots of fun showing Rich a real wild west British colony. From there we headed to the Kokanee brewery to visit the Sasquatch and a very scenic ride along Kootenay Lake and made the ferry just in time. Sensing we all need a little R&R (code word for shower) we made our way to Ainsworth and spent the night enjoying the hot springs, and the lovely 1970’s décor of the hotel and restaurant.
Day 12: Mom and I made predictions of what a Nelson breakfast would consist of en route into town. Our predictions proved right when a local pointed us in the direction of an organic café and there was sprouts, and spelt, and free trade orange juice coming out the ying yang. We then checked out the local market (highlight was a tourist asking how you fit a candle inside a long ‘tube’), washed some clothes and headed to Castlegar, for one of Rich’s daily intakes of Dairy Queen. He also proceeded to make friends with a local checkout lady, and for fear of living in Castlegar forever, we tempted him away with sights of Christina Lake. We had enough time for a splendid swim in the stunning lake and relaxed the evening away.
Day 13: Beach. Reading. Eating. Drinking. Cards. Sleep. Bliss.
Day 14: Packed up once again, and headed for wine country. Wine tasted our way up the Okanagan Valley (personal fav was Blasted Church), and made it to Kelowna in time for me to work deep into the night putting finishing touches on my thesis.
Day 15: Spent most of the day delegating my ‘people’ to help me put my finishing touches on my thesis (why is it the little things, like printing, take the longest!?). But at long last….it was done! Thank you for all those that helped me along the way:) Only one final snag at the UPS depot when she almost sent it to New York instead of London…wouldn’t that have been funny…ha…ha. Rich and I then continued alone into the smokey abyss that was Kamloops. We headed straight to one of the many Starbucks where we met up with my oldest friend Brittany from Williams Lake. Had a short but sweet catch up with her, and then fulfilled another of Rich’s dreams by finally purchasing a DQ ice cream cake, which we presented to my Aunt Kelly and Uncle Bob at their house. My Dad and Heli were also there as well as my cousins, so we had a great night of stories and some cards.
Day 16: With a travel bowl of ice cream cake for Rich, we hit the road and followed my Dad up to my old stomping grounds of Williams Lake. We gave Rich the grand tour consisting of our old house (disappointing that they have not kept it up), the Fraser Inn, WLSS, Boitania Mall, Save on Foods, the Overlander liquor store, Surplus Herbys (still ‘the craziest store in town’!), and Cariboo Feed (where we bought Tazz). Phew what a tour! Just as an aside for those of you who were not in BC this summer, there was a raging fire west of Williams Lake going just before we got there. This did not scare us and we headed on our way out towards Tatla Lake. Driving through the devastation was quite the experience, but luckily it was over and the smoke had cleared. We were also very lucky to have the chance to stay with the King’s at their amazing lodge at Bluff Lake. I think Rich was in heaven, as we had the quintessential Canadian cabin located on a babbling brook, the mountains surrounding Waddington as our views, and about 10 helicopter pilots stationed at the lodge to keep him entertained! Our first night we were invited to dinner with them all, which was a laugh to hear all their stories. Rich even found an ex Royal Navy pilot who proceeded to sell him the idea of going rogue and moving to BC…
Day 17: Rich and my parents were up bright and early to see the helicopters take off, while I made the conscience decision to continue sleeping, figuring pictures were enough for me to get a sense of the experience…once they returned we trekked our way around the lake following our experienced guide Shadow (the Kings Belgium Sheppard). We saw lots of evidence of a bear, but still no sightings. That evening we pretty much did nothing (well a game of scrabble…but I don’t want to talk about it…although if anyone has a way of getting rid of a Q without a U, please enlighten me!).
Day 18: We mainly spent the day on or around Bluff Lake. Rich and I took some kayaks out and stalked some Loons around the lake. Hoodoo then showed us his fine swimming abilities (?) and competed in a Frisbee swimming race against Brit boy. Unfortunately this was the day that I learned that my grandmother had fallen ill back in Kelowna, so we packed up and made ourselves ready to leave the next morning.
Day 19: Back on the road (with a roadside stop at the Tatla Lake dump! Still no bears.) After a few more obligatory stops at Tim Hortons and dairy Queen, Rich and I were back in Kelowna. The whole Robinson/Steptoe clan was there in support, and as much as it was sad to be under those circumstances, it was nice to see the family pull together and get things done! Grandma was also happy to see us, although the nurse wasn’t…especially when I started playing with a giant stuffed bunny that sang…
Day 20: My cousin James and his wife Kinga came over with their daughter Abiagail, who I got to meet for the first time. She is absolutely adorable and is learning both English and Ukrainian. Her and my Grandma’s dog Rolly provided us with some great morning entertainment. After, Rich and I made a trip back to the hospital to wish my Gran well, as we had to head to Vancouver. She was in good hands, but still hard to leave! From Kelowna we made great time to my Dads’ house, and were taken out to an amazing French restaurant called La Belle Auberge. After 7 (!) course of deliciousness we headed back to the float home and had some celebratory champagne in honour of Rich getting his wings.
Day 21: Up and out bright and early…destination…the PNE! As I haven’t been since I was little, I was not only excited to introduce Rich to the BC pastime, but to revisit some childhood memories (i.e. Superdogs, the wooden coaster, mini donuts, and a giant cow or two). And boy did we do it all! We hit up the food stalls first, and had some yummy perogies (Rich’s first!). We then took in the wonders of the Superdogs, which have moved to a new venue in Pacific Coliseum. Lets just say I got much more entertainment out of the Superdogs doing there thing in there, than I ever did out of the Canucks back in the day! From there we made our way to the farm area, and saw lots of newborns and a giant cow, of course. Then we headed over to the rides (with some mini donuts en route) and hit up the wooden coaster. It was definitely just as good as I remembered, maybe even a bit more terrifying, knowing that it had aged 15 years since my last ride…. But that wasn’t the end of our day, as my dad had tickets to the Lions game taking place right next door. So we donned our orange and black and gave the team lots of enthusiasm…but to no avail (surprise surprise!). We then made our way back to Ladner, having had another excellent day at the PNE!
Day 22: Well we knew this day would soon be upon us. The end of Rich and Mel’s big BC road trip:( Rich was first to fly away, so we dropped him at good ol YVR, where he flew back to London, happy with the idea that he would not be forced to stand in the alien line on the other end, as I was at the start of the trip! I headed over to Nanaimo where I visited everyone I possibly could fit in between appointments. Then it was a few nice days of relaxing in Victoria, before flying back to Vancouver (amazing Harbour air flight), a quick stop for dinner in Abbotsford, and another flight back to England (yes it was raining), where my future is up in the air. Tis job hunting season! Goodbye summer, BC you are the love of my love xo
