Kettle Valley Rail Trail Mini-vacation

Summers are just too beautiful here on the Sunshine Coast to go away! Fall and winter, a different matter.

As the fall rains start, getting away for at least a few days can be refreshing. Strapping the bikes on the back of the car and heading into the Penticton BC area to sample the famous Kettle Valley Rail Trail is a simple, fun holiday.

We warmed up the first day riding the length of Skaha lake, both directions, and exploring Penticton. 60 kilometres was hardly a strain (I do have an e-bike, but my wife was on her heavy regular Liv bike), as the terrain around the lake was quite flat.

We then had a day of hiking, follow by moving to our very comfortable Naramata Airbnb. The next morning we went to a more wilderness section of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, and, in fact, we only saw a three other people during then entire 50 kilometre trip. The trail was excellent: spectacular views, cool tunnels, fresh air, no vehicles, a gentle grade: perfect!

We had  been mildly concerned about going in mid-November, but this proved, at least this year, to be perfect timing. No snow, no ice, no crowds, and very fresh air to keep you peddling hard to warm up! It was a little too fresh coming back down, but nothing a Baileys coffee at the local pub couldn't put right, followed by a sampler of spirits at a local distillery (Legends, highly recommend for the spirits and the food!).

Below, a few pics from the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.

A Gentle Incline, Kettle Valley Rail Trail near Naramata, BC
(my 2020 Turbo Vado 3.0)

Tunnel on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Giant Ponderosa Pine, Kettle Valley Rail Trail

View From the Kettle Valley Rail Trail

View on the Return, Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Warming Up, Legend Distilling, Naramata, BC

Skookumchuck Narrows, Sunshine Coast BC Mini-holiday

We took a mini-holiday, basically a staycation, as we did not leave the Sunshine Coast, but drove an hour up the coast to the West Coast Wilderness Lodge. That's a fantastic place for a little R & R, with one of the most beautiful dining areas I've ever seen out on their patio. We had some bicycle trail adventures before checking into the lodge, then relaxed and dined.

The next day we had thought of exploring further on our bikes, but there was some drizzle coming down, and so we decided to revisit the world famous Skookumchuck Narrows. This is a place where the land narrows, and the tides rush through like a crazy river. We happened to hit it at one of the more fantastic viewing times (there are published times for viewing at its best). Although I've visited perhaps half a dozen times over the years, it never, ever fails to impress.

The Tide Ripping Through the Skookumchuck

It's an easy, mostly level, 40 minute stroll into the furthest viewing point. Just before arriving back at the car, there is a very good bakery nestled in the woods where we got delicious treats and drinks. Then the drizzle had ceased, so we got a bit of biking after all. The only just slightly disappointing part of the whole mini-vacation is that the so called Suncoaster bike trail is not at all what it is written up to be. After approximately 6 kilometres, one section was completely closed, and going back on another section was so rough, and steep, we had to walk a lot of it. Trying the start of the trail the next day, the first few hundred metres were great, and then back to extremely rough, and steep. Nope, not a bike trail unless you perhaps are into extreme mountain biking.

My Type of Summer Holiday: Sunshine Coast, BC

Not Exactly Crowded
Beach Sunday, Sunshine Coast, BC

Being Fortunate enough to live in a very beautiful area, the summer attracts a lot of tourists. Going to downtown Gibsons or Sechelt any day of the summer, but especially on weekends, you would think it would be impossible to get away from the crowd. Not so!

Yes, if you just park your vehicle and expect seclusion, you will likely be a little disappointed. But pretty much take a five minute walk along the shoreline in any direction, and more than likely you will be away from it all. The entire shoreline is public property, so don't fret that you may be trespassing, because you are not.

Yesterday, Sunday, possibly the warmest, most beautiful afternoon yet of the summer, I zipped down to the closest bike rack near the beach, locked up, walked past the dozen or so people who did not want to walk for five minutes (or who don't mind a bit of a crowd) and around the corner found this lovely stretch of sand and pebble beach with not a soul in sight. I spent two hours reading, dreaming, swimming, sunning, and no one even walked past. So peaceful, so enjoyable.

This is my primary way of taking my summer vacation. No driving for hours, no hotels, no tents, just a relaxing few hours each sunny afternoon. I get up very early and work for around six hours, take my break, and then perhaps work for another hour or two. Rinse and repeat. As I said, most enjoyable.

Time Off, Fireweed Jelly

Fireweed Blossom Picking
Sunshine Coast BC

My job is a pleasure. But I do enjoy some time off. All year long, I make a point of going for a walk or hike during the day, just an hour or so, which is refreshing, especially in the winter rains! But really I am waiting for summer, with blue skies, warm ocean. My holiday time is a couple of hours each nice afternoon, walking or biking down to one of my favourite beaches, sprawling out with a good book in the shade, taking dips. Lovely.

Some good, long hikes are also always a preferred summer time-out. Lately we made several trips up to a large fireweed patch we had our eyes on. The first couple of trips, the flowers were not quite open. The last time was perfect for picking, and we got our ten cups for fireweed jelly (see below).

I first stumbled across fireweed jelly somewhere on the internet-- perhaps Instagram or Pinterest, and it immediately caught my eye. This was several years ago, and it has been on the to-do list ever since. I am so pleased to have finally accomplished the making of this treat, as it is absolutely gorgeous. The color is so intense, it almost looks artificial. However, nothing could be more natural.

While trying to steel a couple of hours a day for my 'break,' I feel the pressure of attempting to keep my stock of wind chimes and suncatchers up, and, indeed, increasing stock for the fast approaching Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. That's all going okay, but I need to keep working really hard to get to where I wish to be. It will happen. Even with my daily mini-vacations.

Fireweed Jelly

Kaleidoscope Wind Chime
at Coast Chimes

Snowy Beautiful BC Holiday, Back at Work Now

Backcountry, Beautiful Snowy British Columbia
Near Apex Mountain

British Columbia truly is beautiful, and a short holiday in the snow made this crystal clear once again. We spent 5 nights at Apex Mountain, with some of the group X-country skiing, others downhill skiing, others snowshoeing, and still others simply hiking without any special equipment. Everyone enjoyed everyday.

I personally was thrilled to discover numerous trails that had been packed by snowshoers where I could walk quite easily without sinking too deeply, and without marring the trail for future skiers and snowshoers. One day we went on a nearly 4 hour hike, and we never saw another soul.

It was really cold (minus 17 C, or 1 F), and sometimes snowing, but hiking was an easy way to warm up, and infact get warm enough to remove gloves, unzip jackets. Absolutely awesome!

Now back home, and the work begins. I need to put my whole workshop back together (it has been stored away since the big art crawl back in mid-October). My stock of wind chimes and suncatchers is seriously depleted after the art crawl, and the Christmas rush. Oh, I will  have busy days ahead! But I am looking forward to making new, beautiful works.

There is still a good selection on my website, if you feel like adding something beautiful to your life, or a friends life: Coast Chimes. Happy 2018!

Wild British Columbia, Tenting Near Gold Bridge

Carpenter Lake, British Columbia, Canada

A road less traveled in British Columbia is the Lillooet Pioneer Road, or Carpenter Lake Road, heading east from Lillooet. It is maintained, but can be pretty rugged. However, during the summer 2 wheel drive is okay. It passes through some awesome scenery.

We just returned from 2 nights of camping at Tyax Wilderness Resort, on Tyaughton Lake, just off the Carpenter Lake Road. The whole area abounds with camping opportunities, including some decent free sites.

This entire area feels very remote, even though it is just a day's drive from Vancouver. The main town, Goldbridge, has a population under 50. There are a lot of rivers, lakes, and some grizzly bears. A mother bear with 3 cubs was frequenting the area where we camped in our small tent: a bit of a sleepless night. It's funny how acute your night hearing becomes, when you know a bear is in the area. All those leaves rustling, twigs cracking. We never saw the bear.

Fun trip.