Vancouver to Calgary

Tuesday July 12^th

Today we begin the long drive to Calgary. After an annoying start when we had to divert our route to avoid long delays in the George Massy Tunnel under the Fraser River. The Tunnel would have got us free from the City far earlier than the route we  had to take. Soon however we were bowling along Highway 5 at a good pace. 

Our first pitstop was at Tim Horton in Chilliwack Breakfast, coffee and a short walk for Jaine. She had her annual bath last night and is shedding her fine under fur at a unbelievable pace Nancy and I are fur covered when we disembark from our seats in the middle of the Minivan. Jaine had been laying, sitting and turning round in the floor space between our seats.  

We continued onwards past the Coast Mountains and on towards Kamloops where the second pitstop and lunch was scheduled. After Kamloops we transferred onto the Trans-Canada highway or Number 1 road. The scenery is impressive and changing but always through the mountains. Now we are going towards the Rockies. 

The high peaks in the distance have still a sketchy covering of snow. It’s been a long and cold spring here. Every so often a water fall crashes down the steep granite mountain sides. In the valleys farmsteads nestle in the shadows and protection of the steep sides. For miles we follow the shore line of the great Shuswap Lake. The Lake  has a 1000 kilometer of shore line and is shaped like an H. Every few miles tourist RV and caravan parks park between the majestic fir trees. The lake is a great attraction for visitors. After a tea break at another Tim Hortons, this time at Salmon Arm. 

We press onwards. From Kamloop through Salmon Arm, Sicamouse, Malikwa and  Revelstoke.  In a while we stop at Eagle Pass to look at the spot where the last spike was hammered into the East and West construction of the 3000 mile Canadian pacific railway.

The small site is well kept but for the vicious mosquitoes that hit on me with vengeance. I’ve never had so many bites in such a short space of time and I rapidly escape back to the safety of the Minivan. The Bite Gel is slavered on stinking the van out with strong ammonia smell. It doesn’t help. The bites are horrendously painful and they’re swelling

Rogers Pass

We travel onwards and upwards to the highest point, Rogers Pass. The last time we were here it was snowing, the first snow of the year (2007) 3 inches of snow lay on the road. The mountains rise steeply and darkly on each side of the road.

 

A few miles further on we come to the little town of Golden and after 11 hours of driving we gratefully stop at a guest house run by Nancy and John’s friends, Melissa and Mike.  The weather on the journey has been changeable, sun, rain and a clap of thunder. It was a sunny evening in Golden and John barbeques some steaks for our evening meal. Mellissa has prepared dips and snacks and salads for the steaks. After dinner I’m feeling pretty rough I think a reaction from the bites or the stuff I’ve applied to kill the pain. The whole house is moving and swaying so I swallow two Benydryl capsules and fall into bed.