Best Western Cranbrook Hotel

We didn't travel far today, just down the road to a lovely provincial park set in the mountains. The road into it was dirt and in most places single lane. We were hoping that we wouldn't meet anyone, as it would be many kilometers to back up. The lake is a popular fishing location and was really beautiful. after setting up the RV, we drove down this four wheel drive track to Quartz lake, where I went fishing and Jo sat in her camp chair high up on a cliff knitting socks!!! 

... two of its rear wheels about 2 hours from its final destination! although the greyhound bus is the cheapest way to get around here in Canada it's not the best. We finally get to Fort Steele and Patricia is there waiting for me (the host).<br>Again like all hosts and there homes you never quite know what to expect but all i can say about this part of B.C is wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When we finally get to farm i am ...

Crossed the Rockies, left Jasper National Park behind as we travel through the Kootenay region, past Fort Steele and stop at Cranbrook. Hope the truck is ready as promised tomorrow, we will drive to Kalispell once more and re-visit Eureka MT on the way. What gorgeous weather we have been granted!<br>

Am Morgen haben wir einen Abstecher nach Nelson gemacht. Es hiess in unserem Reiseführer, dass dies ein lohnenswerter Stopp sei, da zahlreiche Gebäude vom Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts noch in bestem Zustand sind.<br><br>Unsere Überfahrt von Balfur nach Kootenay Bay erfolgte mit der längsten Gratisfähre (35 Min.) in Nordamerika.<br><br>Über Creston, dort ist die Kokanee Brauerei zu Hause, sind wir in Fort Steele angekommen.

... a Mountie who was based here to resolve issues between the local aboriginal tribe and settlers back in the 19th Century.  It is beside the river that the miners had to cross during the gold rush time and started to build on this geograhic position.  However it was initially favoured as a stopping point for the railway network but this did not come off and the residents dwindled away and  the Fort had become a ghost town.  interesting enough my parents visited Fort Steele ...

... question he asks me is said in a quiet voice while he looks at his computer screen, away from me. Those of you who know me, know I have a hearing loss. Whenever I ask him to repeat the question he never turns his head to speak in my direction, he never raises his voice, he simply continues to repeat the question at the same volume and continues to talk to his computer instead of talking to me. I end up leaning my head through ...

... dinner. We went through Jasper National Forest and Banf National Forest and they were both beautiful. Breath taking sites kept coming turn after turn. Lots of traffic and tourists though. There was also alot of construction too. We're not sure if we're going to make it to Oregon. We might just stop in Montana.

... in Aberdeen and holidayed in Orkney (small world). Her name is Linda Kerr and her dad is a friend of Alistair and Dorothy Clark. They were in Orkney for Jennifer's wedding. On arriving in Cranbrook, just 400m from the Hostel, Eoin's bike got a broken spoke. Like a good Scout, Eoin was prepared with a spare and got it fixed. We've been to the bike shop today to get a couple more, just incase. The road surface here in town are the ...

... promised "breathtaking views", but our mighty Dodge Caravan ran out of breath and traction about 2/3rds of the way up, and we, trying to complete the trip on foot, ran out of gas and resolve about a mile from the summit. On the way back to the highway, however, we lucked out when we spotted a small sign that announced "Rock Store". The proprietor of the "Rock Store" was a genuine character, replete with grungy overalls, battered fedora and ...