West Kootneys B.C. Loop
Aug. 29th- Sept. 9th 2016
Golden,NakuspNew DenverSummit LakeKasloKokanee CreekNakuspGolden
August 31, 2016 Summit Lake BC
Gotta try something new..
The reflections in the water looked like a painting with a ripple.....loved it....
You gotta take the time to pause and look......
We found a gem.....just because of a lunch break.......We had lots of time as we decided to make this a leisurely trip through the West Kootneys.....We camped at New Denver the night before and were headed to Kaslo a distance of only 60 K......mind you a slow road for Willow....hilly, narrow old road with lots of twists and turns....and finally not a lot of turn-offs to let others by! but worth the drive....
I had driven by Summit Lake numerous times before, I think the first time was with Dennis and Jeanne, we never stopped! Ruth and I thought it might be nice for a picnic lunch..
and this is what we walked through the trees for......
You can't get any better.....welll maybe but this certainly will do
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| Summit Lake BC
And then another surprise.
What a great name "Toadlets"
and there were a million of them.
At first a little unnerving! you had to watch every step....No way did I want to feel the squish....
They were crawling out of the water across the beach to a little bridge over the creek.....I have not idea where they migrated to.....
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Enlarged photo of course.....Hard to tell they are about the size of your thumbnail!
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Maybe a little better perspective......thousands in the grass and beach, as interesting as they are I was happy to see they didn't come up on the dry gravel in the campsites.....
Just look at their beginnings.....they first are tadpoles, then they eventually grow legs and quickly the tail is gone by the time they are out of the water!!!!
The advantage of camping right at the site rather than driving by and grabbing a few photos is that your there right at the right time for eg. 9:02 pm.
We pulled our lawnchairs out to the beach and had a few hours to do just what we do.....
Ruth found a little inlet and we did our best to get some ripples in the reflections...
Campsite was perfect....just the right amount of shade and just open enough to have a view...
We had decided on the spur of the moment to stay two days (just because we can) but the second day the weather turned so we decided to go on to Kaslo promising to return.....
No showers, facilities...but just beautiful.....reservations accepted on some sites....We drove in this day but only about 4 sites left....
Look at this.....!! I did no cropping on this photo....just luck this dragonfly posed for my photo, right centre framed.......I am one with the dragonflys......and they eat my mosquitos!
Now as usual back to the beginning! We love travelling to the West Kootneys....It is a laid back slow paced roads and actually the lifestyle to.....
I remember previous trips, we didn't take as many stops, choosing to stay longer in each place. This year we seemed to just wing it....We did make some reservations in places we had never stayed not knowing how busy a spot it was....I think I liked this much better, I felt I wasn't rushed driving on these slow twisty roads, I took my time and it was much more pleasurable.
Aug 29th Golden BC.
Golden appears to be a stop over spot as we are heading out.....It is a quiet campground right on the Kicking Horse River and right in Golden. Campground is clean, great showers, dump station and WIFI. (funny how that is now so important) power...we even watched the news during brekkie....
No photos taken by both of us....must have taken them before?
Although clouds are always a draw, never the same twice...
Aug 30th Route to Nakusp Hot Spring BC
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| On the way back we noticed the stone chukka along the shore. photos to follow |
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| Arrow Lakes Ferry
Notice how close I am to the guide bar......Tense driving on and off ferries...Close quarters!
Beautiful sunny days in the Kootney's
I don't remember to many wet cold days.
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| Nakusp Hot Springs Campground on a Tuesday! |
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| Nakusp Hot Springs Pool |
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| View from the bridge down canyon (and it's my shot!) |
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| Nakusp Bridge selfie! |
Today was Ruth's day....Beautiful
The community gardens at Nakusp are beautiful.....overlooking downtown and the lake....After touring the shops (especially our rock shop) it's nice to sit on the benches , feel the lake breeze on a warm day and relax. The smell of the flowers is overpowering...
I have mentioned these before in a blog because they must be a crocus but they are blooming in Sept.!
Nakusp Gardens overlooking the lake.....
but very unusual and after all we all can't be beauties and still worthy....;-)))))
Beautiful, beautiful spot...
with soft breezes blowing off the water on a hot day....
Window view of our little favorite store in downtown Nakusp..Can't remember the name but it's the rock store....We have both bought prisms for Willow, Maggie, Meg and Pearl.
From Nakusp Hot Springs we headed down the road, seems like less than an hour and decided to stop for a picnic lunch and as mentioned earlier, we found a gem....Just a few more photos because we have them!
Obviously he was used to visitors..... came up to say Hello, stretched and wandered away when we didn't have any snacks.....
Sitting by the lake as the evg. deepens can show a whole different view....The shadows lengthen and colors deepen and become quite true....
Ruth walked around the corner and found a little inlet that created such a blue pattern in the water...
How peaceful....
Summit Lake Prov. Park.
We left Summit Lake with a promise to return someday...
Our road led next to New Denver, (our original destination prior to Summit Lake distracting us......
We stopped at the town campground for an overnight stay on our way to Kaslo.
The campground was not ideal, site good right up against the lake, but not well maintained. Showers were fine but sites were small and dirty....It just so happened the weather did not co-operate either, the winds were blowing hard off lake. Our site was on shore so we got the brunt of the wind...No wind break....We watched neighbors trying to find a bush to put up a tent, weighing it down with rocks....They may have slept in car?
We thanked out lucky stars again for Willow....the perfect companion....
So visit resulted in few photos.....as usual the colours in the dark clouds and water was spectacular......
Following morning things were a little calmer.....Hope for Kaslo....
The road along this stretch is very hilly, twistie with not a lot of pull-offs to let traffic pass. (Willow is slow) So at times especially if there is a reservation deadline or you feel like your in a rush, the road can be stressful....or I make it so....This trip was stressless.......calm, slow, relaxing......stop and see the view.....
Kaslo put on their best behavior for us, the sun came out for the most part. the campground was clean, crowded but passable...showers really good.....wifi, all was right in the world.....near the water and just a few short blocks to downtown sights....shopping....
Kootenay Lake BC
Ruth and I are thinking these might be Chestnuts....
Big guess? haven't looked that up either.....
Nice walks into town along the water, benches to sit and dream...
How nice it is to remember your on holidays and you don't have to rush through lunch, take all the time you need and then casually walk home back down main street and relax.....
Our walks always take note of local gardens public or private....Nothing is private.......
Down around the loop takes us to Kokanee Creek Campground on the way past Balfour Ferry towards Nelson.....
Kokanee Creek is one of our favorite campgrounds since the beginning of our trips....Large treed sites full of hugh cedar trees...Shady spot to disappear on those hot hot days.....This year it was still rainy....Turns out these giant trees also protect you from wind and the fury of the rain.....Loved it.....
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Best photo of the trip, I do believe........Reflections as usual......
It was raining and windy when we arrived at Kokanee Creek outside of Nelson...
but a warm rain perfect for walking down to the Kokanee Salmon fish channels...
Took our umbrellas for a great saunter....
Kokanee creek site # 1 , been there before!
Tucked away nice and tidy
One of the nicer features of Kokanee are the spawning channels built for the Kokanee Salmon...landlocked due to the dams in the area....Because the salmon are there the wildlife supported by these fish are all there in abundance....birds, bears.....They had trails and bridges roped off due to a few bears coming to the buffet....It was interesting watching them fish, doesn't appear to be as easy as it looks.......!
Our first visitor on this rainy afternoon...
Of course there were lots of people and photographers around so I'm not sure he was successful in getting any lunch this day......
Lunch!
Abundance of birds also feeding off the eggs laid within the stones....We were assurred there would be lots left to keep up the population....
This fellow was the cutest, he was one with the stream....
His little bum wiggling and legs agoing........how cute......
We met the nicest park volunteer, very knowledgeable, she was there all the time ensuring people treated the bears with the respect needed....In our long conversations with her (she had a beautiful smile) we found out she was a former school teacher which was the appropriate career for her....She loved sharing her experience in the area and the bears...She knew them all by name.She retired in the area in her own little nest....In other times and places she would be a very good friend...I admired her independence, courage, and strength...Ruth got a great photo of the two of them, I will add later.
Yet another thing we love to do is to meet the locals and exchange info....
Can't get enough of these reflections......the light and the dark clouds and not to much of a breeze.....
Morning walks on the beach with my coffee and camera gave hints as to the other wildlife roaming around when things were quieter......
Our trips to Kokanee also include shopping trips into Nelson. a very unique town with a great tourist strip to find treasures and lunch.
The rain persisted and we felt cold under the trees, because the sun did peek out at times we moved (campground is quite empty in Sept.)
to a sunnier open spot for the last couple of days...Closer to the beach and a bit more of a view....This area would be very busy at the height of summer...Grassy area is full of tents and extra people at the beach...but for today it's perfect.
Another morning walk with the long shadows......leaves turning yellow in Sept.!
Downtown Nelson.....
Homeward bound, another good trip under our belt.....more memories.....
I am grateful for Willow, Ruth, my health . good times
Chukkas at the Ferry terminal Arrow Lakes on the way back to Revelstoke...
A good year......
