Stories and pictures from our trip west across Canada and home through the US on our Yamaha Venture



Saturday, 3 September 2011

Day 18 Horseshoe Bay, BC ......breathless drive today

6518 km travelled

We started our driving day after E changed the oil on the bike in the hotel parking lot and what a day it was! I had no idea that the landscape of Kamloops  would be very rugged, arrid, almost desert like. The farmers must irrigate to grow crops for their animals and irrigate they do. We stopped at one ranch which has become a tourist attraction, where rain only amounted to 8 inches a year.
We would see emerald green pastures surrounded by light brown dry hills with darker brown mountains in the distance.
The drive from Lillooet to Pemberton took my breath away. We drove on winding twisting roads hugging the mountain side while the edge of the other side of the road was a very steep drop. We had steep inclines and declines up to 13% grade. I didn't dare pull out my camera to take a picture or move in my seat or distract my trusty driver. I almost held my breath.
Much of our trip has followed the train tracks of western Canada and many of these train tracks hug the mountain side. I continue to be amazed at the ability of our forebears to  pick out the path for these tracks and for the highway and for the workers built the rail line and the highways.
Today, our thoughts were with Jim and his family as the funeral service was being held for Ute in Yellowknife.
We're in Horseshoe Bay tonight planning to catch a morning ferry to Nanaimo in the morning.
Regards to all,
Anne

Changing oil in the parking lot


Lakes and mountains everywhere


Getting a better view


Dry land


Green with irrigation


Scenic view afte scenic view


Holywood north (in the west)


Bridge to Lilliooet


Grapes here?


Yes, anther picnic lunch....setting sponsored by BC Hydro


--- and more beautiful vistas


Talk about twisty roads!


Plus a stop at Whistler - a hive of tourist activity


First sighting of the Pacific at Horseshoe Bay













1 comment:

  1. Hi. I tried to post a comment earlier but it must have disappeared into the ether! Your trip sounds wonderful. I have been on Vancouver Island a few times & seeing it on a motorcycle would allow you to be much closer to all that beautiful scenery. Many years ago a friend took me to see Mr Sawchuck's??Art pieces in a forest near Fanny's Bay. He was a logger who started to make unusual assemblages and place them in a forest near his property.
    I love your photos. You really capture the sweep of the landscape.

    ReplyDelete