Nelson, BC

It rained hard last night, and when we woke it was almost cold. Then it rained hard again. We had fortunately decided that we were not going to go very far this day, and that seemed even wiser as the rain fell in sheets, and the lightning began. so we had no choice but to go to a nice coffee place for cappuccino and muffins. Our friends from Ottawa had felt they would take on the Kootenay Pass today (a trip of some 120 km to Creston), and even they were hesitating. But the rain slowed, they took off, and we went back to organize our stuff for the trip to Nelson (about 45 km).

I had forgotten that Castlegar is on the Columbia river. This is a big river, even there. We went up from our hotel over the overpass (that was twice in two days), past the airport, and on to Nelson along the Kootenay River. We passes several hydro dams along the way, and learned that there were actually about five of them along this part of the Kootenay. The first had been built in the late 19th Century, for the mines in Rossland. And one of the recent ones had been built during the war for the secret heavy water plant in Nelson. I took some pictures, although I am not sure how well they turned out.

Weather by now was warm and sunny, and we took our time getting to the quite 

pretty and historic town of Nelson. We are in the Alpine Motel (one of, I'm sure, thousands of "Alpine" motels in this province), overlooking the city. As I type this, it is raining and thundering again, quite suddenly and quite hard. Barry and Nancy went for a drive, but I decided to stay home, read and write, and shower. It's been a nice afternoon for me.

I am adding this later at night, after we have spent a pleasant evening in the downtown of Nelson. I have to say that Nelson is a town unlike the others we have so far seen in BC. This town has a history, and a sense of some money being spent on it. Barry tells me that it is a major part of the marijuana industry here in BC. Whatever it is, there is a sense of downtown Vancouver about the place. Very chi-chi. Lots of little friendly stores selling Indian stiff or aboriginal music or natural foods, or organic coffees. And bookstores, and a computer store that sells Macs. And two bike stores. And a  number of young people walking about (the girls have short hair, the boys have long hair). So you know that there is something happening here (even if you don't know it, Mr. Jones). And don't even ask about real estate, where a house which is quite ordinary in the area is selling for $400,000.

We had a very nice meal at the Red Fish Grill. Lots of things on the menu that were vegan, but I got the Sockeye Salmon special and it was terrific. Along with a vegetable tapas that had a balsamic vinegar dressing to die for. And a chocolate brownie with ice cream for desert.

Then walked down to the Hume Hotel where there has been a great restoration of the bar called the Library, with fabric ceilings, and comfortable chairs. We had some drinks there before coming back to the motel.

So off to bed, and tomorrow to the ferry across the Kootenay lake.