Merritt, Nicola River Recreation Site, Thompson River, Fraser River & Home

July 19, 2014

After a very windy and cool night we’ve decided to push south once again.  Were going to head to Merritt and take Highway #8 across to Spences Bridge. After a brief stop in Merritt to look around, we got back on the road and located a forest recreation site not far out of Merritt – called N’Kwala Recreation Site (Nicola River Rec Site), which is right on the Nicola River.  If it works out perhaps we thought perhaps we could stay there a couple of days and do a bit of fishing.

N’Kwala Recreation Site (Nicola River Rec Site)

Bruce went in for a swim…water’s a bit chilly but the warm temperatures make it refreshing!

Bruce swimming in the Nicola River

It’s a pretty nice spot but not sure about the fishing.  The wind is high today so we’ll see what it’s like tomorrow and decide on a further plan of action.

Until then we’ll sit under the billowing awning and do a bit of reading etc.

July 20, 2014

Today dawned cool, cloudy and still very windy.  We’re getting anxious about all the forest fires in the area and have seen more and more smoke blowing in.  At this point we figure the best thing to do is head for home and call a reluctant ending to our wonderful adventure.

We headed off down Highway #8 for Spences Bridge, stopping there to buy some fruit at a local fruit stand.  From there we would head south along the Thompson River and onto the Fraser Canyon at Lytton.

Spences Bridge over the Thompson River

Fruit Stand in Spences Bridge

Bruce had to stop at some rapids on the Thompson River.  Nostalgia kicking in! This rapid is the start of a stretch of whitewater which runs all the way down to the junction of the Fraser River at Lytton.  Many years ago this was Bruce’s first introduction to big volume whitewater river paddling.

The mighty Thompson River – First drop of the run to the Fraser River at Lytton

Bruce on the first drop of the Thompson River run in 1984

The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful, just stopping here and there to have a look and grab some photos.

Windy Highway #1 along the Thompson River

Bruce enjoying some of the views along the Fraser Canyon

Ponderosa Pine in Fraser Canyon

We stopped at Hell’s Gate, but between the crowds of people clamoring to take the tram or walk the bridge and the exorbitant cost, we decided to pass and just grabbed a couple of pics from the parking lot.

Hells Gate on the Fraser Canyon

Later that day … back in Victoria after catching the 6:00 ferry.  It feels very strange to be in a house again (staying at Bruce’s parents till our 5th wheel is delivered to West Bay Marina where we ‘live’ – on August 1st).

Thanks for following our adventures … till next time ……….