We arrived in Vancouver safe and sound in the late afternoon of Monday, August 31st. Since arriving, we have been remiss in posting the last day of traveling, with apologies, and the good excuse that it's been crazy busy!
Our observation of Kamloops was it's not a wealthy town and not in a beautiful setting. The landscape around the town was dried out, brown grass, desert-like low shrubs, low lying hills, a smelly pulp/paper plant west of town.
As we pulled into our campsite, a couple were using the communal BBQ which was located next to our spot. We got chatting. Turns out, the guy was Kyle Unger, who was convicted of murder, spent 15 years in maximum security only to be acquitted in a re-trial. Besides hearing this tragic story, he is also told us that one of the good things that had come out of being in jail was learning how to carve. He proudly showed us one of his carvings which was skillfully done and beautiful.
After a noisy night of trains, trucks, RV generators, wind and rain, we woke to a grey sky and mild temperatures. The campsite showers were awesome!
The day before when we stopped for lunch at a rest area, a local couple suggested we take an alternate route to Vancouver as the Coquihalla highway (Hwy 5) (Kamloops to Hope) could get a bit boring. We followed one of their recommended alternatives and took the backroad (Hwy 5A) from Kamloops to Merritt. It was stunning and charming! While the land still appeared dry and desert-like, it was also lived in and farmed. The road wound around and through hills and lakes. We were thrilled to see that the countryside around Kamloops had beauty to offer after all.
We rejoined the Coquihalla at Merritt and drove the last three hours into Vancouver under sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-20s, passing at one point over a very cool bridge, with the traffic increasing in quantity and speed.
We arrived at our new temporary home: 2221 Dunbar St about 4:30pm to a warm flowery welcome from my brother, Charlie. It took a couple of hours to unpack the van and check out the Airbnb.
Arrived...
We're thrilled with the charm of the place and it's location: older home (built in 1912) with some original features (stained glass windows) and set in a quiet residential area of Kitsilano.
Charlie and Anne arrived with a delicious sushi supper for us all about 6:30pm. We appreciated the thoughtful generous gift, especially after an exhausting day. Thanks, you two! We sat on the new back porch together (socially isolating, except in this photo) and drinking in our new home.
Late morning, we made it down to Spanish Banks west beach — the off-leash dog beach, we had learned. It was low tide and magical. Sand (and mud) for a kilometre to the water. It was brilliant! And Zoe's first experience of salt-water and beach sniffles. She soon figured what to do with seagulls and adapted her Georgian Bay rock jumping to beach rocks. And enjoyed just sitting and watching, in her muddy "sleeves".
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