August 23, 2007

Drove into Kaslo today. It’s about 17 km from the RV park we’re staying in. While there we visited the SS Moyie (pictured here), Kaslo’s Pride!! is the world’s oldest intact passenger sternwheeler of it’s kind. And it was the last operating sternwheeler in western North America. It is completely refurbished - the sights and sounds have been recreated to replicate the feeling you would have had traveling on Kootenay Lake over 100 years ago. Her permanent home is now Kaslo. Not only is it a tourist attraction, they rent the ship for weddings and other celebrations.

Before we left Kaslo, we walked around the 3 block Main Street, and toured the different stores, stopping at the Bakery for tea and danish. Then we walked along the North River Trail. It’s a nice 1.4 km hike with 8 points of interest. The trail is well taken care of with many benches for resting sponsored by the townfolk. There is also a South River Trail (which we did not walk today) and the newest project is a suspension bridge to connect the two trails over the Kaslo River. The concrete is poured on each side of the river, and a staining party was held this morning to stain the boards for the bridge. Everything is done by fund raising, and this is no exception - $200 will get your name on one of the boards!

August 22, 2007

The town of Ainsworth has a population of around 100 permanent residents, but back in the 1880’s, at the peak of the mining activity, approximately 3000 people lived in the town.

Ainsworth Hot Springs is a MUST SEE! The resort was developed around the original, natural hot springs and there is a large outside hot pool to relax in and enjoy the scenery.


What makes Ainsworth Hot Springs so unique are the caves. They are horse-shoe shaped and this is where the darkness, the mineral deposits and the humidity all combine for the most exhilarating experience! Hot steamy water falls from the cave’s roof providing an odorless shower of mineral water…. (not the place to be if you don’t want to get your hair wet!!) The pool inside the cave is about waist deep and the temperature is around 40 degrees C. The Cody Caves is the natural water source for the hot springs.

August 21, 2007

We visited Cody Caves Provincial Park today. They are located in the Selkirk Mountains just outside of Ainsworth, BC, where we will be situated until Monday, August 27th. When you get to the park there is a 10 minute hike up to the caves.

We arrived early and hiked up the hill with one of the tour guides (Michael pictured here).

Here is a picture of the cave entrance.

Another guide (Fraser) took us on a 1 hour tour and commentary of the caves. We had a ‘personal’ tour as we were the only two up there. But it gets busy as the day goes on. They tour around 80 people a day on average in the summer. Some groups are small (like ours) and others are large (up to 14).

It was quite amazing. The stream that runs through Cody Caves is underground and flows for 800 metres through limestone and calcite formations.

Some of these formations are very fragile. Here is a picture of a limestone formation that they call “leopard spots” for obvious reasons.

Another formation called “soda straws” once again for obvious reasons.

August 18, 2007

We had a visit today from Donna and Ray Kusch here at Christina Lake. It was very nice to see them, to visit and catch up on the news. Everything is much the same at Fort Greenwood - everyone is doing well.

August 16, 2007

We took a short trip to Kamloops this week. We went to visit Michel's cousin Les. He sunk his speed boat in the river the previous night, so we lucked into helping him to try to retreive it from the bottom of the river. Approximately 30 feet deep. Well we didn't really do very much, I took pictures, but mostly we sat around. He hired a scuba diver to do the underwater work and here Michel is holding the guide rope for the diver.
He took a huge inner tube and pushed it into the bow of the boat, then tied another larger tube to the stern. Then inflated both tubes in hopes of floating the sunken boat.



It worked - sort of. The front of the boat lifted out of the water, but the back inner tube couldn't float the back of the boat, so the guys pulled it up close to the shore to try to re-position the tube. They worked at it until it got too dark for safety.

We went back the next day for a couple of hours, but Michel and I weren't there when they actually pulled it out and trailered it. But he did get it out, and he's working on getting the water all out of it. He says it will be fine and on the river in no time!!!

August 11, 2007

Well here's a bit of news for you - we sold our two lots in Fort Greenwood! It all happened quite quickly with not a lot of time to think about it. In a matter of days, we had our $$ and the deal closed. We are very sad to be leaving our good friends in the park, but we've promised to stay in touch.

We decided we'd try out our other lot - the one in the 'trailer' park at the north end of Greenwood. We're not really suppose to be parking our motorhome here, but it's only for a few days. We'll be heading out on Monday - first reservation Christina Pines at Christine Lake.

August 6, 2007

Can you see any gold in the pan???

Believe it or not there are 3 tiny tiny specks. We didn't get rich today - too bad - Deb and Len will not be quitting their day jobs just yet!!








After a hard day of panning for gold we ended up in Rock Creek at the Prospector Pub, which is over 100 years old. It was a hustling, bustling little bar back in the days of the gold rush.


Pictured here from left to right: Len and Deb Wald, and myself.

August 6, 2007

Gold panning anyone??
We had a great visit with Deb and Len (Wald) this week. They "stopped in" for a couple of days on their way from St. Albert to Vancouver. We laughed a lot, drank a little and ate too much - even tried a little gold panning in the Boundary Creek. They say there's gold in them thar waters!!!

Top picture is Deb swishing the water around while Len takes a break.

Next picture is Michel and Len both hard at it!!