May-Aug 2011, British Columbia and WA, part 1

Fernie and Nelson

We arrived in Fernie BC on June 10 for a three week stay at our chalet there. The weather was cool and wet for most of the time, but it was a good time to work on US and Canadian taxes, plus catch up on my To Do list. We still managed to get a few road trips in. We drove a couple hours to reach Elk Lakes Provincial Park. It’s not a very accessible park, but it is every bit as beautiful as Lake Louise plus no tour buses, no hotels, no traffic and no tourists. It was just us, the park rangers and lots of bears and moose.

When it was time to leave Fernie, we headed for Vancouver Island, with a stopover at a campground near Nelson, BC. We did two rail trail trips here and took a soak at the Ainsworth Hot Springs. Part of the hot spring is in a cave, which was a different experience. We enjoyed fireworks on Canada Day (July 1) and arrived in Oroville, WA in time for 4^th of July fireworks.

May-Aug 2011, British Columbia and WA, part 2

May-Aug 2011, British Columbia and WA, part3

June-Aug 2011, British Columbia and WA, part 4

Vancouver Island, Washington and Fernie

While on Vancouver Island, we took the Alberni Pacific Railway, pulled by a completely restored 1929 Baldwin ex-logging steam locomotive, to McLean Mill. This mill is the only steam-operated sawmill in Canada. The mill operated from 1926 until 1965 and is a typical remote coastal lumber camp and sawmill. We were fortunate to see the mill in action as they cut a log into usable lumber. During the train ride, a lady greets each train by waving Canadian Flags as we pass her back yard, which is filled with flags from several countries.

On our way to the west coast, we stopped to tour the Mars Bombers. These planes served the US Navy from 1945 to 1958 in the Pacific. Originally conceived as long range ocean patrol flying boats, they were finally designed as long range transports. In 1959 the remaining planes were sold to British Columbia forest companies and converted to water bombers. It can scoop up 30 tons of water and wet down a 4 acre site. Only two of the original six planes are still operational.

In addition to hiking and biking on the island, we had to (according to Pat) see Butchart Gardens with 55 acres of gardens. It is the most popular tourist attraction on the island. We took a very quick tour of Ft Rodd and Fisgard Lighthouse Historical Site. The lighthouse was built by the British in 1860. Ft Rodd is a coastal artillery fort built in the late 1890’s to defend Victoria.

The Royal BC Museum had more interesting exhibits than we could cover in one day. At the entrance was John Lennon’s psychedelic six ton yellow Rolls Royce. In 1985 the car was sold for $2.3 Million. Outside we were entertained by street performers.

We took the ferry over to Washington State and spend several days visiting our friends, Cornelia and Tom. We relaxed, caught up on chores, and enjoyed their hospitality. We attended the Renton River Festival and visited the Woodland Zoo on Cornelia’s birthday.

We returned to Fernie and shared our first week with our friends, Lois and Eldon. The weather was considerably warmer and dryer than what we experienced there in June. By mid August it was time to start the long drive back to Maryland/Pennsylvania.