Friday September 3, Tonasket, WA


  
185 Miles

Tonight we are back in USA after crossing the border at Nighthawk, a very small border crossing. No problems except they confiscated the nice vine ripened tomatoes I had just bought at a road side stall…evidently Canada has a bug in tomatoes that USA don’t want, realised a bit later on that I still a several in the fridge that I had bought a few days ago!!! They also took the oranges…and they were probably Californian!
The weather today has been amazing, blue skies with a nice breeze and the temperature tonight is over 30, but it is very comfortable as there is little humidity.
Seems strange to be in more built up areas and frequently stumbling across small towns. With Labour day weekend starting the roads have been really busy, every one loaded up heading for a holiday destination.
The drive south from Merritt to Princeton was particularly scenic, with numerous small lakes that were a vivid turquoise. We stopped at Allison Lake, I wanted to have a paddle! Surprised to find that what I thought was white sand was in fact a fine white ground material that formed a solid “mud”, and was very slippery!!
Princeton was a really pleasant surprise, a great small town that was celebrating 150 years and they have built new gardens and features in the downtown area to commemorate it. We stopped in a small “tea house” for lunch, they made their own organic bread and we enjoyed a selection of cheeses, salamis and olive oil with balsamic. Delightful.
From there the traffic got heavier and we entered the Okanagan fruit growing area. We were just getting back into the van after buying tree ripened peaches and the tomatoes when someone mentioned there was a young bear helping himself to some fruit off a roadside tree. Really surprised to see it, obviously a good area for bears to enjoy the summer fruits.
Had thought about going to Osoyoos which is a really popular lakeside town beside the  border, but knew that the traffic would have been pretty bad, so opted on the quieter crossing and headed south into Washington
This is very dry country but the valleys are well irrigated and full of apple orchards as well as lucerne pasture that is being made into hay. 
Tonight we are parked in a very pleasant municipal campground in the small town of Tonasket, sitting outside under the shade of a tree enjoying a cold beer.

Comments

Kiwi Gran said…
Stunning bear photos!! I am so jealous............
Kelly Woods said…
Meg and Ian, I have been so busy repairing the house I haven't had time to read your blog in some time. I am amazed, excited, and missing traveling around Canada and Alaska. The weather here has finally cooled in the last week. Today was a spectacular day, our morning temperature was 59, almost no humidity through the day and a slight breeze. The highest I saw the guage read 85F. BEAUTIFUL! Dana has been at work for the last month and a half, he just came home in the last days. He will be leaving again on the 9th, returning the last week of September for our yearly Corvette show in Eureka Springs Arkansas. We hadn't even heard of the fires in the Yukon here, they must have been exciting and scarey all at the same time. The pictures are beautiful. As I write to you I have been made aware of the terrible earthquakes in your homeland. I pray all is well with your family, friends, and home! Safe travels, Kelly
Vicki Bright said…
Hi Travellors, great stories and adventures to follow. There has been a significant earthquake in and around Christchurch,lots of damage and today advised all people to stay at home from work until Wednesday. Unsafe buildings, damaged water and waste water reticulation.To date one person died as a result of heart attack and two hurt by falling chimneys. Rebecca and Mike are fine, rest of Christchurch whanau are OK, damage to Mikes parents house. Keep safe, Love Ed