The day begins with a shout-out to Brittany, our unofficially adopted daughter. Today’s her birthday.

Sarah and I think she’s almost 40, but have never asked for ID!

Happy Birthday, Britt!

What’s your number?

***

We begin our journey south toward the US-Canada border by following the waters on the western shore of the Columbia River. We’re riding on British Columbia Highway 23.

The river, which has the greatest flow of any North American river entering the Pacific Ocean, begins its 1,243-mile journey in British Columbia before coursing through Oregon and Washington on its way to the Pacific.

South of Revelstoke, the Columbia widens and becomes the Arrow Lakes. There are two Arrow Lakes – Upper and Lower. Clever names.

Upper Arrow Lake is a popular destination in the summer for boating, swimming, camping and fishing.

Thirty miles from Revelstoke, Highway 23 crosses the lake. And so do we. On a ferry.

We arrive at Shelter Bay where we board the Upper Arrow Lake ferry, which is considered a continuation of Highway 23. 

The ferry is part of the BC ferry system, the largest passenger ferry line in North America. It operates a fleet of 36 vessels, serving 47 locations on the British Columbia Coast.

But we’re 300 miles inland.

The inland ferries operate under private contract with the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. All 14 inland ferries are free of charge to users, as they provide essential transportation links to local communities. These routes cross interior lakes and rivers throughout the province.

Altogether, the BC Ferries freshwater fleet consists of five powered cable ferries, five “reaction” ferries (attached to cables and pulled across by the river’s flow) and five free-running ferries (no cables required).

So, we roll on to the MV Columbia, which can transport 80 vehicles and 250 passengers. It was built at a shipyard in Nakusp, on the eastern shore of Upper Arrow Lake, about 30 miles south of here.

Our ride across Upper Arrow Lake takes 20 minutes.

We arrive at the Galena Bay Ferry Terminal, and continue our ride south, this time along the east shore of Upper Arrow Lake.

In Nakusp, where the MV Columbia was built by WestBridge Steel at a cost of $26.5 million, we turn southeast on Highway 6. The road soon follows the east shore of Slocan Lake. Slocan is an Okanagan word meaning “pierce or strike on the head,” referring to the salmon-fishing practice of the Okanagan.

We follow the Slocan River through the Slocan Valley until it widens and becomes the Kootenay River, which takes us to Castlegar. Castlegar, home to Selkirk College, sits at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers.

Castlegar is the most civilized place we seen since leaving Revelstoke. Seems like a good opportunity to gas up, get a drink, and prepare for the day’s final segment – 74 miles to Creston, British Columbia, tonight’s destination.

***

From Castlegar, we head east on British Columbia Highway 3, which takes us the entire 74 miles to Creston.

The place was formerly known as Fred Little’s ranch. Eventually it was named Creston, a name selected by Fred Little. He liked the name Creston, since he had worked in Creston, Iowa, for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Thanks, Fred.

Creston is about seven miles north of the US-Canada border crossing.

This is our final night in Canada, eh.

One last serving of poutine, anyone?

***

To view today’s route in Google Maps, click here.

My number today: 39 (Brittany’s age today)

What’s your number?

***
OK. Another late-breaking news flash: Like yesterday, we were drenched by record-setting rainfall. Again. Ugh 😢

So we got a bucket-full of lemons, and made sweet lemonade.

The above post is the work of a delusional old fart (me) wanting to describe the ride we would have taken. If only we weren’t in the middle of 100-year floods caused by rain that shut down, for example, all the entrances to Yellowstone National Park.

in the interest of safety, we called yet another audible and sheltered in place. Dave calls it “smart risk management.”

Tomorrow, with any luck at all (we may need some) we’ll finally be back in the USA. Love ya, Canada, but it’s time to come home 🙏