Mountains over Coldstream

It’s been a few years since we’ve driven through the mountains of BC.  I’d forgotten how beautifully majestic they are.

We flew into Kelowna and spent the night with friends in nearby Coldstream, before picking up our rental car the next morning for our drive to Kaslo. By the time we had arranged insurance, coordinated the GPS and bought a map for safe measure, it was time for lunch. We finally got on our way around 12:30 pm.

The air was crisp, but the sun was bright and it followed us most of the way. As usual, my finger was continuously clicking the camera button,  as I tried to capture every “great shot” that I saw. We took Hwy 97 north, from Kelowna back to Coldstream, and then turned east onto Hwy 6.

Hwy 97 winding around Kalamalka Lake

The road hugged the mountains and curved along the shore of Lake Kalamalka.

Hwy 97, one of many great motorcycle roads in BC

Both of these highways provide many turns that made us wish we on our motorcycle.

One of several logging trucks we met on Hwy 6

Deer weren’t the only animals we had to watch out for!

At Needles we waited for the free cable ferry to take us across Lower Arrow Lake to Fauquier, a journey of only one kilometer. This ferry has been running since 1913. It runs every fifteen minutes, so our wait was short.

Needles Ferry coming in

Needles Ferry, approaching Fauquier

Hwy 6 turns north from Fauquier and follows Arrow Lake to Nakusp, where it becomes Hwy 23, but at Nakusp we took Hwy 47 south-east to the fascinating old town of New Denver, the town we had visited for the Garlic Festival while on our motor home trip in 2010, but we had not seen the downtown. The few businesses on the main street are all colourful clapboard, reminiscent of the mining days.

New Denver Restaurant

A simpler life

Home Hardware

Dome B&B worth taking a closer look at, perhaps on our way back.

By the time we had an ice-cream and were on our way again, taking Hwy 31A to Kaslo, the clouds were floating low over the mountain peaks like smoke billowing from a non-existing forest fire.

Low clouds

More twisty roads on Hwy 31A

We arrived in Kaslo and into the arms of family just as the rain caught up with us.