British Columbia Road Trip - From the Heart of the Columbia Valley to the Sea To Sky Corridor

I can't believe it's been more than a month since my last blog post! So much has happened! Here's what I've been up to, with a lot of help on the home front from Mum:

- packed up our house in Invermere,

- resigned from the only job in the world (besides being a full time photographer, of course!) that is PERFECT for me,

- helped find my replacement at Eagle-Eye Tours,

- spent a week or so camping in our empty Castle Rock place while I finished up at work,

- again with a lot of help from Mum, cleaned the unit to within an inch of its life,

- while squeezing in three days to give basic training to my replacement,

- then spent two long days driving from the Columbia Valley through the Thompson-Nicola region to the north end of the Sea To Sky Corridor!

We (Mum and I, in two vehicles) tried to stop as much as we could along the way, but we were thwarted by aggressive tailgaters (Mainroads Highways vehicles on several occasions, especially in the Columbia Valley and between Golden and Kamloops!), and the fact that the speed limit was too high to allow a safe bail off the narrow and often shoulderless highway at a decent viewpoint!

Grab yourself a cuppa - here are some of my fav photos from the trip (as always, click to on the images enlarge view):

Second-Last Photo in the Columbia Valley - Taken from the Castle Rock garbage bins!

Last Photo from the Columbia Valley - a Rare Fellow Baja at Timmie's in Golden! (Mine on the Right)

On the Road through Glacier National Park

Also GNP - Mum's Car

The Mountains Tower above us - Snow Sheds & Vehicles give Perspective!

Frosty & Sunless Down Here, Too!

Roger's Pass - Magnificent - and Darned Cold!

A Blizzard of Ice Crystals!

Leaving Revelstoke

The "Wild West" at Three Valleys

And a Random Antique Fire Engine1

After a night at the Super 8 in Kamloops, we hit the road again ... ever-changing climate zones and landscapes ... reminiscent of the Karoo/Highveld, for those of who familiar with RSA!

At the Kamloops Lake Viewpoint

Yes, That's Steam Rising Off the Lake - It Was Cold!

I thought that was a large bird atop the tree, but it's not - still like the colours in this one!

Love this one, with the Train!

A Few Minutes At Marble Canyon

East of Lillooet

The Lillooet River

Quick Stop (Too Cold & Windy!) at Seton Lake to try to spot Mountain Goats (no luck!)

Then we Climbed the Duffey Lake Road

Stopped for Several Minutes' Rest at the gorgeous Duffey Lake

Stellar Jay - one of my fav birds!

Whiskey Jack - cheeky, and brazen, little squirt!

Rest Stop at the Joffre Lakes Trailhead

About half an hour after leaving Joffre Lakes, we were in Pemberton!

Today, we're comfortably ensconced in our new rental unit in Pemberton. 99% of the boxes are unpacked - the ones that are going to be unpacked, that is. It's a much smaller place, so a lot of non-essentials (eg: pictures) will remain stored in the garage and any other nook/cranny that isn't taken up by something more vital.

More about Pemberton coming soon ...

Dramatic Dawn, Fort Steele Clydesdales, Columbia Lake & A Bee?

Had to head to Cranbrook today, for an appointment (it's over an hour's drive each way). Happily, we were able to take our time and stop for photos! As always, click on the images to enlarge them.

It started with what looked like a snowstorm in the making ...

Full Colour Photo - From Our Front Deck

Happily, the sun prevailed!

At Fort Steele on the way back to Invermere, the Clydesdales were in the front paddock so, of course, we had to stop! There were about 10 horses grazing in the warm fall sunshine, but only a couple who were posing obligingly!

 

 

 

The colour of Columbia Lake was amazing today - a gorgeous, rich blue-green - so we stopped at the lookout and climbed the ridge to look at the entire length of the lake:

Looking Northeast

Looking Southeast

Closer View of Start Of Columbia Wetlands

On the way back to the car, my "macro" eye spotted these scenes:

Thought This Was A Bee, But Some Sort of Fly?

Ok, back to packing!

Please don't forget my photo greeting cards are 30% off until we move - click here to check them out and buy while the sale lasts! Thanks!

Kinsmen Beach Park at Lake Windermere

I had a few minutes today, to take a stroll around ... click on the image for a larger view of the last of the fall colours around Lake Dorothy and the northern edge of Lake Windermere.

 

Photo Day!

The keen photographers among you will have experienced this phenomenon: Some days, nothing inspires you. Other days, you can't put the camera down! Yesterday was such a day!

As always, click on the images to enlarge them.

It started first thing in the morning, with a very unusual sunrise!

A little later, in the kitchen while Paul and I were drinking our second cuppa of the day ... two Whiskey Jacks started flitting around the pines outside the window. I don't think I've ever seen them in the Columbia Valley, and definitely not at this lower elevation! The first two photos were taken through the double-glazed (and less-than-spotless!) window above the kitchen sink - we were 10-15 feet away from the birds, and the second two photos were taken from our deck, 20-30 feet away:

View higher quality images here.

Late morning, we had to vacate the house for at least an hour because the landlord had (another!) realtor bringing potential buyers to look at the place. We had to be out for about an hour. So I persuaded Paul and Mum that it might be a good time to head up the road to Panorama, to take photos of the Golden Larches, which are "on show" at this time of year:

Golden Larches are deciduous conifers, which means that their leaves "turn" in the autumn, and fall off, just like maples, oaks, aspens, etc!


View higher quality images here.

A few days ago I mentioned that we're moving. Well, you know what it's like when you live in a certain place for a while, you keep promising yourself "I've got plenty of time to shoot ___!" The Golden Larches grow well along the path of the Toby Creek, which I've been "meaning" to photograph for several years. So I took the opportunity yesterday, straining the patience of my fellow day-trippers, to git 'er done!

View higher quality images here.

There are still a few locations on my "to do" list before we leave the Columbia Valley. Only time will tell if I get to them in the next few weeks!

Moving Again!

I'm moving soon and need to reduce my stock!

MOVING SALE: 30% off all current photo greeting cards!

Sale will last until stock runs out or moving day arrives, whichever is first!

The sale will end without warning so don't delay - buy now!

More later, when I get a minute to catch my breath!

Please CLICK HERE to go to my Etsy shop.