After the lushness of the West Kootenays, the desert climate and landscape of the Okanagan Valley was pretty unexpected. Originally an area of fruit producers, it’s now home to countless boutique vineyards. Naturally, we felt that it would be rude not to sample at least some of the produce!
There are many First Nation settlements in this area and we visited the Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos to learn more about the history and traditions of the indigenous population of Canada. This was something we were both keen to do as we had noticed how often the legacy and culture of the First Nations people is overlooked in the context of Canadian history.
From the Okanagan Valley we followed the Fraser River up through the Fraser Canyon and Hell’s Gate, a gorge 180m deep. On discovering it, early explorer Simon Fraser commented that it was “a place where no human being should venture, for surely we have entered the gates of hell”. It’s all a bit more civilised these days, but we did get our first sighting of a real life wild bear by the side of the highway, which was amazing! However, Phil is now completely paranoid about getting mauled by one in the night.
This area was also the setting for the first Rambo movie – here’s Phil doing his best Sly impression…
We continue to be surprised and humbled by Canadian hospitality. We have been helped out by many strangers along our way, and even the stoner kids in our campsite last night insisted on giving us bottled water when they realised we’d run out. We hope to take some of this attitude home with us when we return to the UK. Paradoxically though, the Canadians are also seriously impatient drivers. We are constantly getting overtaken by lorries, cars pulling trailers or boats, and old bangers driven by baseball cap wearing eighty year olds. It’s a bit bizarre!
Onwards now to Whistler for a couple of cheeky extra days snowboarding….
Lorra love
Susie and Phil xxx
