Sadly and annoyingly our time in Canada is almost at an end. What a ride it’s been. Huge distances, freezing cold nights, crisp bright days and a constant backdrop of jaw-dropping scenery.
We spend our last 3 days hugging the American border on the drive west to our US crossing point at Abbotsford.
Firstly, after 8 hours behind the wheel we strike camping gold at perhaps the prettiest site we’ve stayed on in the entire ten week trip. I can’t tell you the exact location because it doesn’t seem to have one. The best I can do is: in a field close to the tiny hamlet of Hedley on Route 3.
It’s basic but blimey is it gorgeous, we’re on a lush valley floor beneath towering mountains, there’s a fast-flowing river keeping the bears out on one side and pine trees behind us muffling any noise from the highway. And yet again because it’s so early in the season we’re the only ones here.
The owner, Anita, is a real sweetheart and bonds with Wend immediately. Her husband raises cattle on the neighbouring land while the campsite is her little side project. It’s obviously a labour of love with colourful shrubs and flowers planted everywhere, loads of room between pitches and a portrait of Elvis in the toilet block (naturally).
There’s no electricity, no internet and nothing to do except sit on our backsides, read our books and build a fire. Bliss.
Then, for our last night we head to the little town of Hope. Yes folks, for 24 hours we are living in Hope both figuratively and metaphorically.
The movie Rambo was shot here in 1982. Which is noteworthy I guess (the tourist information centre certainly thinks so as there are countless images of Sylvester Stallone glaring at us as we enquire about somewhere to eat – fair puts us off our food it does).
A bigger draw (for us anyway) is the nearby network of train tunnels that snake their way through the surrounding granite hills. Built at great human cost at the turn of the 19thCentury they’re an incredible feat of engineering. A combination of volatile high explosives and pick-axe wielding navvies ensured the successful completion of what was then the most expensive stretch of railtrack ever laid.
A bigger draw (for us anyway) is the nearby network of train tunnels that snake their way through the surrounding granite hills. Built at great human cost at the turn of the 19thCentury they’re an incredible feat of engineering. A combination of volatile high explosives and pick-axe wielding navvies ensured the successful completion of what was then the most expensive stretch of railtrack ever laid.
As more freight moved to the roads the line was decommissioned in 1961 but survives today as a dark and dramatic hiking trail through the Coquihalla Canyon.
In the evening we get chatting to our campsite neighbours Michael and Anita (yes, another one!) a smashing couple from Arnhem who invite us to share the contents of their well-stocked booze fridge.
Michael also produces a bag of peanuts the size of a 50lb sack of potatoes. We slurp Heineken, scoff nuts and swap campfire travelling tales long into the night.
A memorable and fitting way to end our time in this most incredible country. The dog's not real by the way, he's a painting. But we like him.
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