May 17, Hand Over Your Apples!

We entered the gates at the Canadian border in Osayoos.  Passports checked and questions asked.  THEY TOOK OUR APPLES I JUST BOUGHT!  I guess if that’s the only problem we had crossing the border, that’s okay.  It is fruit country and wine country in that area of British Columbia.  Guess they are afraid that our apples are going to be a bad influence on their apples. 

 Osoyoos is Canada's only true desert and the location of the country's warmest lake.  With it's mild valley climate, fruits and vegetables grow in abundance.  This part of the country is known for its award-winning wines.  After going through some of those mountain passes, I could have used a glass or two or maybe even a bottle!

Some pretty high mountains in British Columbia.  A steep grade on United States interstates is usually around 6%.  We came down grades of 11% today! That’s why I could have used that wine.  There were lots of places for truckers to check their brakes so they don’t have to use those runaway lanes.

Would this stop a runaway, 80,000 pound semi truck that’s barreling down the highway, minus its brakes? The sand and gravel, along with the ascending grade is suppose to stop the truck with little damage.  I hope the weeds growing in the sand is a good indicator that the runaway lane is rarely use.   

 Kind of a nice form of graffiti on the side of a mountain.  All the graduating classes of the town, as far back as the 70’s.

Came across a copper mine on Highway 97.  It is the largest open-pit mine in Canada and one of the largest in the world! It seemed to stretched on for over 25 miles!  

Here are some photos…

 Love taking pictures of these old buildings of the past.  Makes you wonder who lived there and the hard life they must have had trying to survive in the wilderness.  Don’t think they had green, metal roofs back then; but it nice to think that there are people today that want to preserve those little bits of history to remind us where we came from.  Here are a few more reminders…

Staying at the Gold Trail RV Park in Clinton, British Columbia.  This my ideal campground with flowers all over.  It’s hard to believe that it is warmer here than in Wisconsin at this time of the year.  The flowers are all in bloom, the trees are already budded out, the grass is really green and it’s NOT SNOWING! We heard that there were flurries in northern Illinois this morning and it is May 17^th.  The campground we’re at is comfortable; but again the Wi-Fi isn’t working here either!  I’m starting to think that they advertise that they have Wi-Fi to get you in and then tell you it is down. Another day late on my blog.  For those who follow…we are still alive and well.