Offering the gift of nature, they fed my soul!
There are three provincial parks within 75 kilometres of each other that, together, provide a destination to a treasure trove of diversity.
Steelhead Provincial Park just off of Hwy 1, at Savona, on Kamloops Lake and the headwater of the Thompson River, in itself, gives the fisherman a reason to cast his line.
A mom had a child’s raft tethered to one of the many giant logs strewn about. Keeping to the right on the beach, the lake water is calm and easy for children to swim in. My little maltipoo fur baby was able to bring back as many sticks as my arms were willing to throw.
Nineteen kilometres to the west and still on Hwy 1 is Juniper Beach.
It is a welcoming oasis, beautifully landscaped and nestled in between two rail lines. One of the rails, across the Thompson (which our 32 sites butted up against) is an uphill climb.
The other line parallels the access road into the park. It is a comfort to see the splendour of tourism and the bustle of commerce as the Rocky Mountain tourist train, CN and CP share the tracks and run in both directions.
The noise from the trains isn’t a deterrent to our enthusiasm to see what’s coming next. Their soft bells warn of their coming, and have our heads turning to see yet another engine pull into view.
My little gal, bouncing on four paws, was able to coax me into throwing sticks into the gentle back eddies of the Thompson. While on an extended leash she managed to catch her sticks before they joined the current that would carry them down into the Fraser River and beyond.
A 40-minute drive to the west, inclusive of a jog north onto Hwy 97 at Cache Creek, brings us onto Hwy 99 and into the astounding Marble Canyon.
The canyon wall of limestone is a calling beacon for rock climbers while the tiny lakes, in an ecosystem of their own, draw scuba divers and scientists from across the globe.
The beach is shallow with lots of pebbly areas for small children but alluring enough for paddle boarders.
These three parks, with their proximity to each other, and their intriguing diversity have turned my small road trip to BC’s interior into memories that feed my heart.
Check with Provincial Parks' Visitor’s Guide, Go Camping, before you go so you can plan your trip for: cell service, electricity, showers and sani-dumps. Cache Creek and most tourist info centres will have fresh water and sani-dumps.
If you have tips for this column please email sonja.lester.b.c@gmai.com or call 250-847-4414.
