Westward Ho

We left Lake Louise late morning headed west. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day. But still, the majestic mountains, crashing waterfalls and wildness of the scenery were awesome. We stopped for lunch in Revelstoke, a former mining town. There were three Chinese restaurants in two blocks. Only the third was open for business (it was a Sunday). When we walked in we saw that the place was packed -- and every single person was Chinese. This town must have a sizeable Chinese population and this must be the best place to eat. It is definitely a good sign, we thought. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of crispy fried tofu and vegetables. Only later did we realize that the clientele were passengers on a tour bus that had stopped for lunch. No matter, lunch was very good. We turned south just before the intruigingly named town of Kamloops and headed for Kelowna, leaving the Rockies for the gentle farm land, vineyards and orchards of the Okanogan Valley. This area produces Canada's best wines and we can attest to the fact that they are very good indeed. Kelowna is one of the biggest towns in the area. The surroundings are magnificent. Unfortunately, as in the States, there is endless urban sprawl. The march of ugly strip malls goes on forever. The center of the town was very nice and we enjoyed a walk along the lakeside and a fine dinner there. There are several ways to get to Vancouver. It doesn't matter which one you take because, as Canadians say, they are all beautiful. We took a smaller road in the direction of Princeton, a pleasant little town. Once again guided by good fortune, we found a superb café that served home baked goods and fabulous teas. We ascended into the Cascade Range, crossing a mountain pass, and ended up in Hope, British Columbia. Somehow I thought that the town, being near to Vancouver, would be an urban sprawl nightmare, but it is nothing of the sort. It is a charming small town entirely surrounded by mountains, lush and green from the opulent rainfall. The local gardens are exploding with spring growth. We found a lovely bistro and enjoyed another superb meal washed down by local wine. We are counting our many blessings.