2010 - Sunday, July 4 (Canada)

BC and Alberta, Canada
MEM-YVR, YEG-MEM
July 1 - 9

• HAPPY AMERICA DAY. Fuck yeah.
• We broke down camp at 9:45 AM and found a trail within Cathedral PP (Ewart Creek Trail). Hiked in for about an hour (mostly uphill) then turned around and came back. We guessed about 5 miles total - and in that time, saw lots of deer and great views of the hills and forest.
• We left Cathedral and drove through Keremeos, where we stopped and had a fairly poorly executed lunch at some mom n pop place. Waited about 40 minutes for a couple sandwiches that certainly weren't worth the 40 minute wait. We also stopped at a local fruit stand on the side of the highway and got some fruit (cherries were in season and very good).
  
• A couple more wineries presented themselves, so we stopped in at Caslo, tasted (so-so) and bought a bottle of pinot grigio. After that we visited two others, buying a nice rose at Seven Stones Winery. We talked to a very nice couple there that ran the place for a while, then got back on the road.
• We continued on via Highway 3 east through Rock Creek (pretty resort town), Greenwood (pop. 625), and Grand Forks. It was a beautiful drive going up and down the valleys - nice views, lots of local produce and farmland.
• Our destination for the day was Gladstone Provincial Park. We secured one of the three remaining spots at the campground (#27, for 21$/night). We didn't have a view of Christina Lake, but it was relatively quiet and scenic. We took a walk down to the "beach" and hung out there for a bit. The shoreline was really just rocky outcrops and giant stones made up the beachfront.
• For an entertaining story about the region, click here.
  
• Dinner was chicken, corn on the cob, and beans. While we were cooking, the campground hosts stopped by and chatted for a while. They were really friendly (and talkative) and had some great info on places to go in Alberta, including a couple national and provincial parks.
• Beer of the day: leftovers, and the bottle of wine from Seven Stones (which was decent). Mileage: 241 km today/720 total.