Slocan Trail: Slocan, BC 24kms, 18C, sun and cloud

I know...this is my walking blog, but today a small shift as we didn't get to the meadows, but instead rented bikes and went riding. You all know how I feel about riders on walking trails, but this trail was pretty empty today...no walkers passed. I'll further support my decision to put this entry in the walking blog because I intend to return to walk the 30-45kms next visit to Nelson. It is a beautiful walk, and if one can avoid the numerous bears it looks like it could be a winner. So I'll return again, but in the mean time a few photos to help me to remember to do so. This is a historic train route to service the forestry and mining areas and was heavily traveled in the late 1800's. A very sad part of Canadian history was also played out along this route with the WWII Popoff Japanese internment camp located right on the route. There is an excellent presentation on the trail at the site of the camp where 1,000 Japanese were interned and put into forced labour. Of course things would have looked different at the time, and it is easy to criticize past decisions, but clearly a sad moment for many.

Any way, back to the present and a few of the sights from this gorgeous Slocan Valley...home of the world famous BC bud!!

We found an apple tree along side the trail with a single limb full of beautiful apples. Lots of fresh bear spore around the area, but no matter what they have tried the top most apples remained untouched. Of course our species has learned to use tools to assist, so we were able to use a long branch to knock down 4 beautiful, unblemished apples for a mid trip munch! We left the rest for the bears to figure out:-)

Then it was onwards through excellent scenery to the lake head and down a very old lake side trail that has recently been cut off by a rock fall in front of one of the tunnels...we wisely decided to retrace our route at this point.

A few shots of the Valhalla Mountains...some amazing hiking in the Kootenays and we will wait to walk the high meadows next visit.

Ken, this route was amazing and we could easily meet here and walk the last 30kms of the 45kms, or split it into two days of walking. Fairly easy as the trail is a former rail bed...but scenery to die for...and look at the trail. Neil, if you can get here you are welcome too!

Hope can you accept this entry from two walkers who also like to ride...if you can't...oh well...just stop reading!

The Blewett Walk, Nelson, BC, 20kms, 11C, mixed skies

This is the third walk I have enjoyed on this trip, the first Myra Canyon, the second Mission Creek greenway in Kelowna (very nice, but not documented) and this morning a walk located just outside Nelson, BC. Annemarie was raised in the hamlet of Blewett on the side of a mountain after her parents emigrated from the Netherlands some years after WWII. They eventually settled in the Kootenay River Valley, a beautiful, if somewhat remote location in the SE corner of BC. It has always been a favorite place to visit family, first when I was dating Annemarie and later when we were raising our kids. Essentially empty nesters now, we have again returned to visit and find the same warm welcome always accorded us on previous visits. We like it here so much that we once considered buying a property here, but didn't because it's 10-11 hours by car from Victoria. We now wish we had because lake front properties have sky rocketed in price since those earlier days and are now commonly in the $800k - 1.2M range. Ouch!! I think in future years we will return to rent for a month in the fall because it's better value, still decent weather and many of the tourists have left...plus NO maintenance! 

While here we have been treated to some amazing sailing...how nice it is to sail on a boat without the maintenance! A photo or two from that experience...

Today I was unusually slow to rise...my back has been misbehaving a bit since I built the fence last week...and I was convinced by Annemarie that a walk would be a good thing and that she would meet me after the first 9kms at the dam and water diversion system on the upper Kootenay River...Kootenay Power. So after a very nice breakfast...our hosts make sure that they all are great...I took Annemarie's sticks and headed off down the road. I took the poles because I had been warned about a couple of less than friendly dogs, and learned on the Plata that poles were helpful in this regard. Turned out they were, but the dogs here don't hold a candle to the Spanish dogs for size, ferocity and perseverance:-) Quickly dealt with and I walked on.

It was a bit cool as I headed off, but a brisk pace soon warmed me and the views across the valley also helped to cheer me up. The sun also made some appearances which was great.

Annemarie's family homestead...

As you can see the scenery is great and quickly reminded me of the first day on the Frances as we walked to Valcarlos...I mean, just look at the scenes...add Spanish cows, a bit more pasture land and dogs and you're there!

I even found some flowers which made my day...

Annemarie passed me in the car as I neared the end and then we walked out through the water retention channels build to support down streamflow for the many hydro dams. The unusual thing was that the main one was completely empty...something I had never seen in 38 years and Annemarie also claimed she had never seen. Very cool.

It was pretty strange. I finished my walking day with a hill climb with Gil (the one on the bike) and the dogs...have to make sure the lungs are still functioning!

Now back with a beer and ready for another meal, but felt this was worthy of a blog post. We have plans for some walking tomorrow in an area I have never before visited and we are keenly looking forward to that. If there is enought to blog about I'll post again.

Myra. Canyon, near Kelowna BC, 18kms, 11C, drizzle

Today we had the opportunity to walk the. Myra Canyon, something we have wanted to do for many years, although we originally planned to ride it. It's part of the trail system which includes the Trans Canada Trail and the Kettle Valley Trail...in this area due to distances, typically cycled, but also walked in parts. 

In 2003, a number of the trestles were destroyed in a major fire which also claimed many homes in the Kelowna area...quite a disaster which took days to bring under control. There was a feeling of great loss following the destruction of the trestles, but generous contributions from the Province and others allowed reconstruction to proceed. A couple of years ago the work was finally completed and the traIl reopened. 

The trail follows a rail bed dating back to the early 1900's and there are 18 trestles over it's 12 km length. We decided to walk 9kms out and 9 kms back, due to the weather and as Annemarie hasn't been walking distance of late...so in reality we actually crossed 36 trestles:-) Walking there and back gave us some unique views and stayed fresh the whole way because of course the return walk looks completely different than the outbound leg.

There are also two rather long, dark tunnels to go through...quite amazing!

The rain came along when we were half way through our journey, but no fear, we had wet gear with us and of course I had my Camino hat on too...so all worked out well. 

I must say that the trestles were very high and because they were situated on the side of a canyon the height was accentuated. Unlike our walk over the high bridge leading into Portomorin on the Camino Frances, I had my head in the right place today and found that the heights didn't bother me at all. A great relief as the views were stunning! I found myself hanging over the side taking photos of the trestles and the valley colors...

If you look to the right and below the trestle, the burned, fire destroyed wood from the 2003 fire are clearly visible.

As we walked back, the clouds descended and enveloped us...it was a beautiful moment and brought back Camino memories for both of us from O'Cebreiro...clouds all around us as we decended from the high pass, and then suddenly the clouds parted and the day was stunning. Today the skies didn't open for us, but it nonetheless it was stunning at 1,300 meters elevation.

A great start to our vacation...more walking ahead:-)

Paris: Hot and Sunny...27C

Last Evening:

No matter where I travel, a visit to Paris with it's wide boulevards and busy cafés is always a special experience. Nothing quite matches up and I think back to my first visit in 1975 when I walked the Champs Elyesee for the very first time. To this day I remember the feel of the heat, the flowers as I approached the Louvre and the deep blue French sky. My old friend followed from Spain, so I have company!

Sitting here on the grassy verge along side the approach to the Louvre I have the pleasure of watching families enjoy an evening picnic on the grass, wine included! It's one of the special places and evening occurrences that makes this city what it is.

Tomorrow I've reserved the pleasure of an early morning walk along this famous way, where conquering armies have paraded and where the Tour de France has concluded the last 101 years. I'll be home in time for the excitement of the start of that annual race! It will feel all the more real this year, having just returned from here. 

This evening I left my dark little hovel and ventured out to find the World Cup, a glass of good French wine and some dinner. I found all three. The Orange from the Netherlands were brilliant in their win over Chile and Spain finally won as well (sorry my Aussie friends!). Ariel and Puck...wasn't that a great game?! I'll be home for the round of 16, and looking forward to it. Although it will mean that I have again departed these shores. Next year will come soon enough and time to think about what that will look like. Will it be cycling or walking...or maybe even both? One is only young enough to do these things for so long, so I intend to make the most of it while I can...ready Amnemarie?

A never ending stream of people parade by...it's amazing. I've been out walking and seen almost no one for weeks. Now I understand...they were all here!

Still on a Pilgrimage...Of Sorts:

This morning with a plan in mind I put my Camino Boots back on.  I had a walk to do...a pilgrimage of sorts. Something I have thought of doing for many years. Now on my own in Paris for the first time, I have the time and the opportunity. For the past 2 hours I have walked from the Louvre to the Defence Arc...the length of the three arches down the Champs Eleysee. 

Along the way I've seen many things...most of what stands out is the different people...some have more, most have less. In the background, or depending on your perspective, perhaps in the foreground is the stuff. Stores and stores of it...brand name stuff. Stuff I wonder if we really need, but it's the way it is. Mostly just regular folk out to see and walk a famous land mark. Quite a few street people tucked into the landscape as well...something a bit newer, or perhaps more visible than last time I was here...maybe I'm just more observant now. It was great, and frightening at the same time. Having come from a journey of simple walking, it is an intensive experience. 

I found myself passing through a number of zones as I proceeded. The tourist zone, then that mixed with the Armani zone which then transitioned into an area of the expensively dressed and the tres chic. A fellow walker...

From there it was back into the tourist zone as I approached the Arc de Triumph...the Asians are pretty funny with the photos they line up in the middle of the road in front of the Arc to take of each other. I haven't seen that one before:-)

Then it was into a no mans type of land scape. No wealthy, no tourists, just local people going about their business. A tremendous amount of traffic, noise and pollution from the traffic.

At this point with some kilometres to go I pulled out my iPod and put on some soothing music, turned it up and turned inward. Amazing, I was back on Camino. My stride lengthened, my vision cleared and I was looking far ahead. I was back into my walking pace and in the zone.

When I arrived the whole area was pretty futuristic...cool but not my favorite. The Arch is very cool!

I walked the Seine back to the Louvre spending as much time on the lower embankment as I could...the usual sights plus a few...

I had a bit of fun with a woman who tried to play a scam on me...must be my hat? An oldie but goodie...she appears to pick up a nice heavy gold ring off the walk way and then insists that because it's much too big for her finger that I take it. We shake hands (I check...all fingers attached), I say good bye and walk off at my usual brisk pace. I hear her call me from behind...she is running by now to try and catch up. I turn and smile then leave the ring on the guard rail and walk on. I've seen it before in Egypt. It's the I give you a gift...you give me a gift game. It was more fun the way I played it:)

Annemarie...our fountain! Where were you?

A major Camino route begins in Paris as well. Walk on...