Day 8 – Thursday 1st June - Riverside RV Resort Whistler to Hat Creek Ranch Cache Creek

There is some misunderstanding about the distance of travel today, but the drive itself is pretty spectacular and there is much to enjoy in the scenery as we climb once more into the mountains.  Our first stop is at the stunning Nairn Falls.  Several others have opted to make a stop here and we all enjoy watching and marveling at the power of the water as it hurtles over the edge and plunges into the gorge below.

It is during the drive today that the first truly wild bears are spotted.  These are black bears, confusingly called because they can be any brown/black shade from quite a light ginger brown to really dark coal black.  It is however their generally smaller size which marks them out and the lack of the tell-tale back “hump” of the larger brown bear or grizzly.  Avoiding a “bear jam” and risky stop on a narrow twisty road ours is just a momentary glimpse.

On arrival at Hat Creek ranch we are parked in a wagon train circle around a large fire pit which becomes the focal point of the evening’s meeting, cheese and wine gathering and songs around the campfire.  Simon has brought along his ukulele and a song book (Si’s Canadian Songbook) is passed around.

The Irish family, Padraig and Seamus, break out the Jamesons and Sheila and Ann likewise with the Baileys.  A great night was enjoyed by all and it was a shame to break up the party as we reached curfew hour.





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