Thursday, 6/9

This morning we are up early and busy with packing everything. We had bought milk and bananas at the grocery, so have to finish off the milk before we go. Found out too late that there were Laundry facilities here at the hotel. Definitely should have made use of those! We have really enjoyed the luxury of this hotel which has more of a condominium feel than of a hotel room. Very comfortable place to stay.

We had the standard Canadian breakfast buffet with plenty of choices, including yogurt with granola cereal, which has become my personal favorite. We’ve seen Eggs Benedict at most places, several breakfast meats, scrambled eggs, and a standard tray of cold salmon, lunch meats and cheeses that seems to be about the same everywhere. Breakfast danish, muffins, breads are also available.

After breakfast, we head to the coach. Today we will have a variety of landscapes and climates. We are starting out in the mountains, but eventually will cross the valley and head north. Amy says to expect to be warmer today. We start out north, again along the Sea to Sky highway, and pass through Pemberton. Soon we are stopping at Joffre Lakes for a washroom (Canadian for bathroom) break. Amy warns that these are essentially outhouses. Also, there is snow on the ground and everywhere around. I don’t think I need to check this out, so I’ll stay in the coach! Apparently some ventured down to the lake (the lowest of three Joffre Lakes). I’m happy to be warm and comfortable.

Later we stop in Lilloet, BC a small town with a Visitor’s Center (BC Passport site) and small museum. Across the street is an interesting Jade store, but we didn’t get anything. Many of the people here appear to have Native American heritage. Several were sitting outside the museum and some of our group started talking to them. As Renee Bryant walked past, one of the men told John Franklin that she was “One fine woman!”

We noticed when we got off here that it was warm - not at all like a couple hours ago when we were at Joffre Lakes. Dan explained that the mountains protect the valley from the colder air of the ocean, so it is warmer. We continued on to Hat Creek Ranch for lunch. This was served buffet style on the side porch. There were several other groups that were coming through at the same time, but we had a hot buffet lunch ordered for us. Others were buying sandwich lunches from inside. The lunch was good: roast beef, red potatoes, asparagus, sauteed peppers, salad, roll. The dessert was apple crisp and was not up to the standard of the rest of the food. Really was something we could skip! We have desired that asparagus must be the national vegetable of Canada. I have learned to love this in the past few years, but we have had it nearly every day. Still it is better than over cooked salmon as an item I can continue to eat.

After lunch, we walked back to the historic site of the old roadhouse. This ranch is situated on the actual path of the old road through this area and the original roadhouse is still there, with the original floor boards, electrical wiring, etc. It is getting rather worn and rundown, but we were given a tour through the buildings, which was very interesting. We also got to take a stagecoach ride with the 2 work horses named Daisy and Dolly. We sat on the outside behind the driver. Joyce sat with the driver. That was fun.

We got back on the coach and headed to Kamloops, where we actually had to stop for gas! Think this may be the only time we drive so far in one day that we have to get gas! We all went into the gas station and used the washrooms, looked at souvenirs and some bought snacks. Not sure how any of us can eat snacks with all the food we are getting at meals.

We were stopped on the interstate for a while, due to an accident ahead of us. While we were scanning for animals, someone noticed what looked like a cat on the guardrail. After debating if it was really a cat sitting there calmly, Dan finally told us it was the hoary marmot (whistle pig) that Whistler was renamed for. We had seen pictures of the little guy in Whistler, but this was the first we had seen up close. The little animal didn’t sit there much longer once we figured out what it was, so it jumped down and disappeared in the surrounding grass. Interestingly, just before this, some had spotted a Walmart in a shopping center. We knew we couldn’t go long without seeing one, but Amy wouldn’t let us climb down the hill to visit. At this point, we were seemingly headed due east. Eventually we got out of the traffic jam, but in the process, we had seen a road way over on the other side of the valley that was headed back in west, then north. As we continued to drive, it turned out that we were headed in a big circle around the city and it turned out that we were going to go north on that very road. Another interesting fact about Kamloops is that Dr. Horton’s brother, Mahlon Horton, is the Pastor Emeritus of the Berean Baptist Church here. I had a chance to Google him on the Internet and he looks very much like Dr. Horton. He apparently just retired in May and wasn’t supposed to be in town when we came through. He had pastored here for 18 years and had been a pastor for 45 years.

As we came around Kamloops and headed north, we joined up to the Thompson River again (?) or maybe for the first time. Jim and Marie were impressed with their river. We will be following it throughout tomorrow as well. We went 15 to 20 miles north of Kamloops then got off the main highway and headed up a mountain to the Sun Peaks resort area. We traveled around a half hour to the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, which was nice, although it was pretty much closed up for the night. Amy likened it to a Whistler wannabe, and you could see why. It has the Village Stroll area full of shops, but it runs for about 1/4 of the length of the Whistler townplace.

After we arrived at the hotel and Amy retrieved our key cards and other information, we made our way up to our room. There was a convention going on in part of the resort, so there was a lot of people. They had the longest hallways on the guest floors - we seemed to be assigned a room at the opposite end from the elevator. Here we had dinner in small groups again, and we were with the Bryants and Johnsons. We got freshened up in our room, although it was supposed to be resort dress, we were running late, but I had time to change. Dinner was on the “basement” floor, otherwise known as the lower lobby. We kind of got lost getting there! Dinner was wonderful; we had our choice of several appetizers. I had the greens w/happy days goat cheese and okanagan cider vinaigrette. This was my second exposure to goat cheese on this trip (first time was at the Edgewater in Seattle). I’m not growing fonder of it and think this will be my last time to try it. However, the rest of the salad was great. Bob had the caesar salad which he enjoyed. Greg and Renee had the soup and really enjoyed that. For entrees: NY Striploin, pork tenderloin , Thompson River wild sockeye salmon, and Fraser valley chicken. Bob and I both had the salmon. This was so delicious and much improved over the Space Needle restaurant. However, I am running out of enthusiasm for fish. I think I’ve had it 5 times in 6 days. Fred had the Striploin and we shamed him into eating it without A-1 sauce. I think he enjoyed it anyway. For dessert we were offered Lavender scented vanilla torte, a selection of cheeses and preserves, and a lemon tarte. Greg, Fred and I chose the cheeses as a diversion from all the sweet desserts. Bob and Michelle had the vanilla torte, not sure what Renee had for dessert, but everyone said they enjoyed it. As we were sitting there enjoying the fellowship and conversation, I noticed a pitcher of light brown beverage on the next table by Mrs. Oaks. After a few minutes, everyone at our table was looking at it, then we got Amy’s attention, and she looked at it. It really looked like beer and everyone from our group at the surrounding tables had noticed it and were laughing before Mrs. Oaks had the waitress carry it away. It was actually very light/weak tea. This will become a standing joke about Mrs. Oaks during the trip.

Bob and I walked after dinner down through the village area and out to a trail by the golf course. We were seeing some mosquitoes, but they didn’t seem to be biting. We walked along the golf course (not on it - not allowed for pedestrians who aren’t golfing!!) as it trailed down the hill. After 1/2 mile or so, the trail came out to the main drive, and we hiked back up that way past all the unused ski lifts and carpets. As we walked through the small village, nothing was open. The posted hours in many of the stores were noon to 3pm or 5pm. Apparently not a lot of business right now. We arrived after 5pm and will be gone by 9am in the morning. We didn’t see any animals, except birds during our walk. Back to the room and repacking for tomorrow. We will be traveling all day to get to Jasper Park Lodge tomorrow evening.