We left the Okanagan early, but stopped off in Oliver at one of the wineries to buy a case of local wine.
We also stopped in Keremeos to get fresh peaches and cherries.
Then we started the trek through the Coastal Mountains and the Fraser Valley.
I have never been quite so happy to see the Port Mann Bridge.
Then to my sister’s for a yummy dinner and bed.
Now you might think that we’d be done, but not quite yet…
Some stats:
Waking up unexpectedly in Cranbrook was much better than I could have predicted.
I got one of those cheesy tourist guidebooks for Canada. This was mostly to be sure to have some « sure thing » restaurant choices along the way.
My guide book describes Cranbrook as an « uninspiring » service town. But our breakfast at the Best Western was delicious! The blackout curtains did just that. And we set off bright and early to complete our winding mountain road journey.
Most scary moment: passing the hull of a burnt out car on a hairpin turn.
We made it through the West Kootneys and into the South Okanagan Valley in time for dinner.
It was 36 degrees, dry, and sunny. We spent most of the rest of the daylight hours (and then some) in my cousin’s pool in Osoyoos.
And even though I could only see them from the wrong side, I could definitely tell that those were « my » mountains on the horizon.
It was the perfect antidote to an extra day in the car.
Some stats:
all the stars in the sky 