Rob-n-Hild, oot and aboot eh? Sorry - 2022

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Revelstoke - Radium Hot Springs (265 km, 3 hrs 16 minutes, max elevation 1,324 metres)

Before we left Revelstoke we made the usual porridge breakfast, and then stopped by the Revelstoke hydroelectric dam. The visitor centre was closed so we couldn't get a good/closeup photo. The dam was completed in 2011 with an installed capacity of 2,480 MW. The dam itself is 175 metres tall. A father and his two daughters were using a drone to film the dam from all angles. They got some amazing footage with what was a very tiny USD 400 drone. The two girls were only about 4-6 years old and were flying the drone as easy a anything. Very impressive.

The weather was not so sunny and welcoming today, but the clouds were hanging on the mountainsides to give us something fun to look at. It was amazing how it could be quite windy - blowing Mary Jane this way and that - but the clouds just hang there apparently without moving!

All the tourist sites in Glacier National Park were closed because they are using dynamite to set off the last few snow avalances. Getting ready for the peak tourist season starting later in June. Such is life. We will find fun things elsewhere, no worries.

Our drive today took us over Rogers Pass at 1,330 metres. We felt that this would be sufficient to allow us to see the mountain goats, but no such luck. They even had special signs out tempting us with the possibility. We probably have to hike a bit into the mountains to see these beautiful animals.

We did get to drive through many tunnels protecting the road from avalanches. We could see clear evidence of earlier damage, and at one point the snow was still covering the tunnel/road from both sides!

As we descended down the other side of the mountain the fog crept in. While it wasn't the pea-soup that Rob is used to from the Pennines, it was pretty dense and made us slow down due to reduced visibility.

We stopped in Golden for a break and cup of tea/coffee at Tim Hortons. Mainly we stopped because we know Golden, Colorado, where Kristin and Alvaro used to live, and wanted to see if Golden, BC, is similar. The answer is no, but an entertaining stop all the same. Walking along Kicking Horse River we saw that they were preparing for floods, and it was working so far.

In 2001 they built a timber-framed bridge across Kicking Horse River. They had skilled workers come in from all over, housed by local people, and funded by many companies and organizations. It is beautiful and makes for a fun loop to walk.

The art installations nearby included a waterfall, a pond, lots of flowers/plants, and ceramic tiles made by local children.

We were quite taken by the fence at a sport shop. They had used lots of different kind of cross-country and down-hill skis to make a colourful fence. Fun!

After our break we kept driving south along the Columbia River. We had noticed that the map showed quite a meandering river surrounded by swamps and small lakes in a wonderful unorganized manner. It was fun to spot it whenever there was a gap in the trees. Sidenote: If anyone tells you that Canada needs to plant more trees, please tell them that this isn't where we need them!

Our target for today was the town of Radium Hot Springs. We'll stay here a couple of nights while we explore the surrounding area including Lake Louise and Kootenay National Park - as much as we can squeeze in. Still looking for those peculiar mountain goats.

In Radium Hot Springs were were greeted by a round-about with giant sheep horns in the middle. It was built last year. Because everything has changed recently in downtown, Google was leading us a bit astray. Restaurants were no-more, or moved. Gas stations have changed name, but at least the grocery store was still there. So we stocked up with food for the next few days, including a chocolate bar we had never seen before: Nestle's Mirage. It was like an Aero bar, so now we know. Lunch at Big Horn Cafe just down the road from our hotel provided us with yummy steak and mushroom pie, and Hungarian gulash pie. Energy for a big hiking-day tomorrow, plus a celebration that we reached Diamond status in Best Western's rewards program. Woohoo!

May/June 2022

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