I long ago lost count of how many times I have passed
through Revelstoke. At one time it was my favourite town in the Rockies and I have
slept somewhere in town on a number of occasions. But I have never walked
across the bridge at the west end of town. It always surprises me (although by
now one would think that I would have had it engraved onto my brain) how
unfriendly towns and cities are to pedestrians.
It was a bit of challenge to cross the street from where I had been left
off to the other side where there was a bit of a sidewalk. It was not a route
that someone in a wheelchair could have taken. As well, perhaps because most of
the drivers had just driven from Calgary or even some point further east at
great speed, slowing down to let a pedestrian cross was just not part of their
thinking process. I sometimes wonder if the drivers can see me or if they just
assume that I can sprint across the last bit of highway in spite of the obvious
facts that I may be a bit old and that I have a relatively large pack on my
back. They never slow down for me to ask
them. However, what surprised me the most was the noise the bridge made every
time a heavy vehicle crossed. It popped and groaned in an alarming fashion. I
can't have been the only person to notice it and therefore I assume that it is
normal noise. Still if I was regularly crossing that bridge with a large vehicle
- I might think about getting it checked out.
There was a lovely spot to stand a hundred or so metres up
the road. After my previous challenging ride, I was quite content to stand
there for a while and enjoy the relative peace and quiet. After a twenty or so
minute wait, a small sedan with couple driving stopped, I threw pack in the
back seat and squeezed inside beside. There were visitors to this country from
Germany. They had been on a bit of a tour through the Rockies and now were off
to Kelowna before catching a flight home from Vancouver . As I do with almost
everyone I met, I encouraged them to come back and see the other parts of
Canada - from the canola and flax fields of the Prairies, to that sunflower
farm on the east side of Winnipeg where one can see the flowers turn -
following the sun, to the magnificence of the shores of Lake Superior, to the
colour in the fall on the hills near Huntsville or the Gatineau Valley right,
the charm of the Eastern Townships, to the somewhat harsh amazingly beautiful
coast line of Newfoundland. I have made that speech a hundred times. I can only
hope that at least some of my drivers listen.
It was a good ride. There was lots to talk about including
how incredibly lush the forest looked. I do not think, in all of my trips
through that part of Canada, I have ever seen the forest look more vibrant,
more healthy. There was water flowing down the mountain sides, the hills were
covered in a multitude of shades of green and everything look fresh and clean.
While I am always a proud Canadian and love to brag about the geography of my
country, I was especially delighted to be showing off such beauty to tourist
from another continent. We also of
course, talked about politics and education and health care. While I never in
any one car ride learn all that I need to know about a particular country, the
accumulated knowledge I have gain makes me feel, if not a world traveller, at
least someone who is more aware than the average Canadian of the differences
between Canada and some other countries.
My drivers would have been happy to drive me all the way to
Kelowna - but I did not want to go there. While it might be the fastest direct
route into Vancouver - if one is hitchhiking, it can be very difficult to get
out of Kelowna. I did not want to get stuck there. It can be very hot, the
traffic is terrible and I just don't like it. So I got out at the turn to Kelowna
and headed towards Salmon Arm and Kamloops. In my hasty decision to get out of
the car when I did, I forgot that I have just as often gotten stuck somewhere
between Salmon Arms and Vancouver.
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