Monday, June 14 to Thursday, June 17, 2021 (Tunkwa Provincial Park, Logan Lake, BC)

Monday (June 14) morning was, again, too windy for fishing. So Steve decided to clean the barbecue…a chore crossed off his to-do list! I puttered around inside. At 10:30 we powered up the TV to watch the announcement of Part 2 of BC’s re-opening. With over 75% of adults vaccinated with their first dose, and case counts and hospitalizations both down, BC is on track to move into the next phase. Which means larger gatherings, high-intensity workouts (i.e. spin classes), longer hours at the bars to serve alcohol…to name a few…are now allowed. But, more importantly, travel restrictions within the province are now lifted. Folks are now allowed to travel for recreation…and are actually encouraged to travel within the province to support local tourism. Outside of province travel is discouraged…that, I believe comes in Part 3, effective July 1.

Late morning, we packed up the laptop and headed back into town. This time we went to the Pick and Shovel Pub...our "other office” LOL!
I finished up our blog update, Steve did his editing…we both re-read it…then I published it! Yay, up to date again!

A picture of "downtown" Logan Lake...
Logan Lake in the the distance. There is a campground and golf course at the far end...
We were (again) hoping to have a campfire tonight but, nope, it was just too windy…we even had some rain.

Tuesday (June 15) started out fairly sunny and calm but by the time I dropped Steve off at the boat to go fishing, the wind had picked up. He decided to go out anyway…while I did a hike around Leighton Lake.

About an hour later, I was back home…and Steve wasn’t far behind me. No fish and the wind made it difficult and unpleasant.

Steve was planning on changing the oil in the generator but ended up not having enough oil…so we’ll have to pick up more while in Kamloops tomorrow.

The wind really picked up again, forcing us inside….Steve read...gosh, I think he’s on his third book! I sewed together a slipper I had just finished knitting…and then got started on another one.

Wednesday (June 16) morning we had this guy posing on a rock outside our window...
We left just before 9:00…on our way to Kamloops. Our wine was ready to be “bagged” (instead of putting it bottles) at Wine Kitz.  They did not have the machine that fills the bags, like Wine Kitz in Sidney, so we had to fill the bottles and then the fellow poured it into the bags...
All done...the bags we used are "stand up" bags. Nothing like a little wine tasting at 10:30 in the morning!
After that, we ran a few errands and then went out for lunch. The restaurant we have been wanting to try has the only riverfront patio, but does not open until 1:00. So we were at the Sandbar Grill...waiting when they opened.
They are apparently Kamloops' only licenced waterfront patio...
We started to sit by the railing but with no umbrellas, it was super hot when the sun came out, so we moved up a level into the shade...
We were back home around 3:30 and were very happy to find that the wind was fairly calm at the lake. We immediately got changed into our “lake” clothes and Steve went out to chop kindling for a campfire.

We sat out enjoying our bevies and watched a steady stream of RV’s arrive. With the travel restrictions lifted effective Tuesday, folks are anxious to get out camping! Tunkwa is a rare provincial park that does not take reservations…strictly first come, first serve. So with reservations hard to get at other parks, it seems that everyone is heading here. It’s going to be a busy summer!

Thursday (June 17) morning we had our riding gear on, lunch packed and helmets in the truck and were off just after 8:30 to meet members of the Logan Lake ATV Club at the "Big Shovel" in Logan Lake. They are taking us on a ride...a tour of some very cool areas that we have never been to before. We have a convoy!...on our way to a spot just above the viewpoint for the Highland Valley Copper Mine, to off-load.
I will hand this over to Steve now....

As we ride to our first stop we pass by what appears to be a tailing pond...
Our first stop was at the old Trojan Copper Mine. No condoms were found but plenty of green rocks indicating copper scattered the area...LOL!



A neighbour of a couple in our group was up here camping...


Arriving at Forge Mountain...

Highland Valley Copper Mine in the distance and the tailing pond we passed by. Dianne and Jane found a geocache nearby...
On to our next stop...

We stopped for lunch then explored what was left of the 106 year old log cabins built in 1915 in Glossie City. Started by Joseph Burr, relative of the more famous Burr,  actor Raymond Burr of the TV series Perry Mason and Ironside. As a side note my Uncle Don went to school with Raymond Burr :)


After walking thru a "hillside bog"  that must have been fed by an underground spring we found a our second geocache...

Jane
Chris...


As we hiked to the next group of cabins we got another view of the Highland Valley Copper Mine  tailing pond...

Bruce and Chris...
Checking out the interior floral arrangement...


BC had a pine beetle outbreak that started in the 80's so it was a tough go getting to any of the cabins with all the downed trees...



Chris and Cindy checking out the mine tailings...
Dianne coming down the tailings...

Here we take turns leap frogging. Whenever we come to a side road the rider behind the leader stops to direct the others then they fall in behind. Jane taking her turn...

Arriving at the fossil beds
Dianne's first find...

These are all plant fossils...
View of Leighton and Tunkwa Lakes... 
On to our next stop. A little snow still around



A small dam used for an old mine...

Arriving at the mine near the dam...

Chris searching for the motherload! Hard to see but there was a green seam running thru the rock...
No idea how deep this mine was...
I would be afraid that something in there might pull me in but not Dennis...LOL!
Time to go...
Our final stop of the day was another old mine...
If you look at the bottom of the mine entrance you will see snow. I just missed getting a shot of Dennis throwing snowballs!
My turn again to direct traffic...

Almost back to our starting point to load up.
Thank you Chris and Jane for another fabulous day exploring your beautiful area. We're looking forward to sharing more dust soon!

Later that evening we noticed smoke in the direction we had been riding. There was an out of control human caused forest fire burning near Lytton...

4 comments:

  1. Terrible fire. Hopefully none in your direction this summer. It seems it might be a hot dry summer. Hot as heck at Pedder Bay too.

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    1. Thankfully the smoke has cleared but now we’re in the heat wave. We have lots of firewood and a fire ban is probably going into effect any day now.

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  2. Don't you just love exploring those old log cabins wondering what life must have been like to those residents? Glad to hear things are loosening up up there and you are able to get out and about more. Love the wine store!

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    1. It’s fascinating learning about the pioneers and miners…a very hard life. All we need now is for the borders to open up so we can head south again in the fall.

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