June 31st-July 4th Canada Day in Christian Valley

 Farley loaded for a Thursday afternoon Canada Long Weekend getaway.  Off to explore the Christian Valley!

 HWY 6 to start at the north end of Christian Valley, having spied the route from last year’s travels to and around the North West Kootenays. With memories of that trip’s first night’s allergic hive reaction (head to toe and thank goodness for a reactine), we promised to purchase some antihistamines enroute.  However, in the excitement to get exploring, we bypassed all stores...much to The Mermaid’s ultimate demise.  Spoiler Alert!

The Renaissance Man had printed and marked a series of maps from the BRMB with potential camp spots.  The deer were many as we headed down Christian Valley FSR.  First up was a spot that was marked as an old FSR with a removed bridge – and indeed the Renaissance Man nailed it – a beautiful little spot on the river with firepit.  However, it was very high water so the spot was muddy and very buggy.  We decided to push on and check out the two rec sites a bit further up.  The little one person one on the creek (Bruer Creek) was already occupied by a car camper.  The next one had a number of RVs to we back tracked between them as we had spotted a little road with an old cabin – no private property signs and all crown land according to initial pre-trip surveys.  We parked Farley and walked in.  Little one room cabin and what....three outhouses?!? This was an old campground!  We checked out each outhouse and decided to camp here!  The mermaid was starting to have a familiar feeling of itch...omg..what did she walk through??? Without reactine and left to her own devices, the hives started on cheekbones, chest and legs.  Luckily between a cider and deep pressure leg massage by the ever willing Renaissance Man, the allergic reaction started to diminish within a few hours.  Between the hives and rainy buggy evening, we decided to “have a night in”....in Farley that is!  Relaxed and planned for the next day. 

Full pants on the next day to avoid a repeat and special Classic overpours in hand, we explored the area and chatted with car camper fellow. Selfies at Bruer Creek.

Hit the road with Canada Day tattoos applied (thanks to the fore thought and supplies of Anti-Jay!). 

We wanted to check out the Winnifred Creek Falls and when we got there, discovered the one person rec site was not only beautiful but unoccupied!  And, of course, we had to check out not only the falls (spectacular, scary and loud!) but the outhouse (surprisingly clean and well stocked with 2 ply t.p!)

Stayed 2 nights...sun, rain and lightening/thunder off and on throughout the time...including a very loud rolling earth shaking thunder in the middle of the second night.  Wood that wouldn’t burn, the occasional sound of rocks falling in the distance?, a long book, guitar music, deep and less deep conversations, and little strolls, including one to the bottom of Winnifred Creek where it joined with Kettle River – a potentially beautiful spot for a swim, fishing or panning (once water levels dropped).  A Canada Day patio that couldn’t be beat!  Bear traps the second night are always a bonding and creative experience! (basically how can we use what is at hand to stall and hear the bear before it climbs in the open doors and eats us in our sleep!)

Sunday morning The Renaissance Man made our yummy classic overpour in 99% humidity and we packed up wet chairs and tarps for an explore along the road in search of sunshine and dryer rec sites for a last night.  Bear and deer spotted, we checked out some beautiful spots – including consistently clean and stocked outhouses (of course we checked!), flooded beach areas and mysteries – face of tree and key on bathroom door?  Renaissance Man was our very own Arthur – freeing not a full sword from stone, but an axe blade from wood chunk!

We found some wood for the evening’s fire at Damfino Creek Rec Site and explored camping possibilities along the Kettle River at two more rec sites – some freestyling sites we nicknamed Gilligan’s Island were so perfect - but ultimately decided on Kettle Canyon.  Made and quickly consumed Starbutts original recipe of steak, havarti and hummus sandwiches with cold bevies.

Decided that the rain and thunder was not going to let up and hot showers and dinner in bed with a movie sounded mighty fine.  Put out the fire the jeep guys had left for us and checked out the powerful kettle falls a hiker had told us about and headed on our way.  The homesteads of the actual town of Christian Valley were very interesting, and we later wondered about the history and local cemetery.  The kilometres counted down until we hit familiar roads at Westbridge.  Then homeward bound through torrential rains, glad of our decision.

June 24-26 Adventure to Paradise

 Started out a few hours early, eager, no..itching..even yearning for that thing of weekend pleasure...free-styling it in our faithful Farley.

Lumberjack sandwiches after the hairpin curve, a scan of the field for the lonely white horse and high fives as we headed down the KVR to Paradise Cove. But this paradise wasn't to be and our celebration of our adaptability was called to action as we encountered a mess of huge trees downed across the tracks. A low opening high and wide enough for the quaders had been cut with the chainsaw and the debris of that swarmed with mosquitoes. But Farley is a lumbering beast both tall and wide so our continuance was not to be. A 4 point turn and we headed out, determined for Paradise 2 or even the Monkey Paw clearing.

Success was to be ours as Paradise 2 was empty and clean. A fire, a cold bevy and a relax under the warm but buggy air. The new mattress served again to propel us to a comfy dreamland. NIGHTTIME PEE BREAKS CELEBRATED THE VAST STARRY SKY. The chipmunks shredded and took away nighttime papers to line their nests.

Morning was warm and the water level on the west kettle had dropped again, brown and swirling but less ominous than our trip here two weeks ago. The air was scented of wild roses and danced with butterflies. The classic overpour awakened us to the heat of the day. Second cup was in our chairs as magazine and book and guitar and then the new birthday prezzie hammock were brought out to individual enjoyment and conversation.

Hours flew by but we tried to take no notice. Yellow bottom bees and butterflies landed on us and the few yellow flowers. Eventually we donned our hikers and some bear precautions and went to explore a little forest road we had spotted last time we were here. An interesting chain bound board contraption baffled us. We eventually came to the clear cut above Taurus station and turned around. Renaissance Man spotted a brown exploded puff ball and shared about puff ball fights with siblings. He found a few signs on the ground and we explored both up and down turn offs. But the mosquitos were getting the better of us so we returned to check out the beach area and grab some logs for the evening fire, promising to come back tomorrow morning for at least one pan for gold.

Happy hour of cold drinks, crackers, cheeses, snap peas and hummus. Then we built a fire and enjoyed wine, steaks and marinated zucchini. Saturday night at 2am a lone biker whizzed by like a ghost and a car went by at 2:30 from the other direction ..Scarily slowing as it went by the van.

Sunday is already hotter, plans to blog, pan and head to check out the massive beaver log at the falls. Perhaps Trapping Creak pullout on way home.

OMG Friday the 13th??

 Some people consider this day to be unlucky..... but not us! Friday is never unlucky when we get to have TGIFF happy hour in the Four Points Lounge to end the week and plan our next great adventure....

Up go the flames and clink go the goblets of wine... start the weekend!

AAhhh the open road!

 Fired up Farley our adventure wagon and headed out on the open road to Okanagan Lake!