Day 3
Today we cross into Canada. Passports in hand, check. No fresh produce, check. Drank up the wine, close enough. We are ready. Questions at the border seem to go just fine. The agent takes our passports and says he’ll be right back. No problem…we think. He returns, “we will need to look inside” he says. Kent and I pile out. I say nothing, that seems the most prudent action in situations like this, but I must look perplexed. “You didn’t do anything wrong”, the agent says as he climbs into the cab. We hang out for maybe ten minutes as they look around inside and in outside compartments then send us on our way. Seems it was just luck of the draw.
Our drive hugs river banks; first the Columbia, then the Slocan, then the Columbia again. Sometimes we share narrow twisting valleys alongside white water and others we follow the shores of broad slow moving “lakes” created by hydro dams all along these rivers. Thanks again, Kent, for the stress-filled driving. The views are beautiful. We see lots of wild turkeys; many with little ones. This is bear country but none makes an appearance today. We plan to overnight at the Municipal Campground in Nakusp, BC. Not happening, it is closed for a rally, Horizons Unlimited. No cell service makes finding an alternative spot a little dicey but we settle in at a commercial camp, KBR, and all is well. We are here two nights to allow for a little exploring.
Day 2
We climb up out of the Snake River Valley at Lewiston then US 195 takes us back into farm country. It is on an even bigger scale here as cropland stretches out as far as the eye can see. It isn’t exactly natural but it is impressive and beautiful in its own way. Makes me think what the great plains must have looked like for the early settlers. The scale is mind boggling. Small towns hug the highway including Uniontown, the home of (among other things I am sure) Jacobs Bakery. This is scone country and both the blueberry and lemon poppyseed are fantastic. We drive on. Smooth rolling plains give way to steeper slopes and increasing stands of pine. Hills transition to mountains as we head further into Washington to Kettle Falls, our last overnight stop in the US as we head to the spectacular Canadian National Parks. The local natural foods market had a nice selection of Pacific Northwest wines. Rascal Pinot Gris from The Great Oregon Wine Company paired nicely with our dinner salad (we had to finish off all those fresh vegetables).
Day 1
US95 cuts through seemingly endless fields of onions before finding its way to the twists and turns through the narrow, lush valley of the Little Salmon River. Cabins and fish camps dot the riverbank. There is no cell service out here and its 50 miles to groceries but I can see the appeal.
We emerge from the river valley onto vast rolling hills draped with a colorful patchwork of contour plowed, rotated crops. Varieties of wheat range from a pale green-grey to deep forest green. Brilliant yellow mustard blossoms seem to glow in the sun and a sweet smell fills the cab. Austrian peas bloom white and lacy tops of canola move in the breeze. They grow mint too. There is no mistaking that fragrance as we pass by. No, despite years of observing as we travel, I can’t recognize what is in the fields. There are roadside signs that identify the crops for passing inquiring minds.
We call it a day just short of Lewiston and overnight at a Clearwater River Casino. Ok for a quick stay over. It gave us a chance to check out the Nez Perce National Historic Park visitor center…. the movie was pretty good but otherwise not too impressive.