2018 On the Road Again #15

I have stayed in Golden a number of times and generally speaking I have enjoyed my time. Once one gets of the Trans-Canada it is quite charming. I have stayed at a hostel a 15 minute or so walk off of the highway a number of times and it was my intention to do the same this time. But, partially because I got a bit confused as to which direction to go (there always seems to be a newly developed/ paved road every time I pass through the town) I decided to check out a few of the motels at the east of end of town. I thought about sleeping out - but it looked like rain and I did not want to get wet.

I walked towards a motel that looked just a little bit run down hoping that something would be available and that it would be almost affordable. It was tourist season in the Rockies and I was not optimistic about the affordable part. As I got closer to the door, I saw the sign that said no vacancy and turned away. Just as I was about to leave the parking lot, a gentleman opened the door and waved me over. I told him that I was looking for a room but that I knew he was full. He then, with some hesitation said he had one room left - but that it had a small problem. The shower was not working or at least there was no hot water. I thought that a room with no hot shower was a lot better than no room at all. We talked for a bit- negotiating in a gentle way and eventually I got the room for less significantly less than I had paid for the motel room in Portage. It was a great deal.

I got to the room, it was great with two double beds, a nice clean bathroom and far enough away from the highway that it would be quiet. While I could figure out how to wash without hot water, I was more concern that there was no alarm clock in the room. I did not want to miss my ride the next morning.

Golden, like so many cities and towns in Canada is not made for pedestrians. If one is on the south side of the Trans-Canada, one needs to walk to one end of town before there is a cross walk and lights that let one cross the service roads and the highway to get to the north side. I just wanted something at the Husky restaurant, I could see it, almost across the street from me but I had to walk 15-20 minutes to get to it.

I frequently eat at a Husky restaurant when I am travelling not because the food is exceptionally good but because it is consistent, reasonable cheap and a fast. The restaurant was almost empty and in fact it was about to close in 15 minutes. However the waitress was pleasant and assured me that the kitchen was still open. I ordered my usual two eggs with toast, and took some time to relax and slow down. I was in Golden - I had a ride to Kelowna the next day. I was pretty sure that within 36 hours I would be sleeping in my own bed. It felt good to have a place to sleep and a ride the next morning.

As I was drinking my tea, a gentleman at the next table, the waitress and I had a brief conversation about travelling and Greyhound buses (see my blog of 7/10/18 - No More Greyhound Buses). I then walked back to my room, got ready for bed and fairly quickly fell asleep.

The next morning I was up in plenty of time, had sort of a quick shower - there really was no hot water - and walked down to the west end of town. I was early and I could have hung out at the Subway restaurant waiting for my ride.....but I didn't. I thought what the heck - I might even get a better ride. So I stuck out my thumb and within five minutes it felt as if the Gods of hitchhiking were punishing me...it started to rain - hard. Within seconds there were large puddles on the side of the road and I was in danger of getting soaking wet every time a car went by. Fortunately there were not that many cars.


However three cars did stop within 15-20 minutes. One was going to Kelowna - I said thanks but no thanks, one was going to Salmon Arms - again a great ride but I said no and the third was going to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Vancouver. I said yes and got into the truck - putting my slightly wet pack in the back of the truck.

I felt a twinge of regret for not hanging around to complete my ride with yesterday's driver and her son, but a ride to Vancouver was just too good to miss. I suspected that both of them would have liked me to travel with them and I am sorry I couldn't. Kelowna is a terrible town to hitchhike out of and I had not been looking forward to it. This ride would get me all the way to ocean, perhaps a day earlier than I had planned.