The amazing lightning storm over Kamloops last night.

Kamloops, B.C.!!! My hubby and I lived here from 2002 to 2004 and we have so many fond memories of this little city. Our first child was born here and we went most places on foot, so coming back brought a rush a memories of wearing my little guy all around town in my sling. 

Getting here took longer than it had to. Despite google maps telling us to go one way, I felt sure I had a better way picked out on the map. Never have I driven such curvy, loopy, S shaped roads. GORGEOUS scenery, but my goodness. Google knows it’s stuff. However, I am glad we went the way we did, because we enjoyed two ferry rides along the way and the campsite we ended up in last night was cool (Blanket Creek Provincial Park) and had some glorious falls which we hiked to this morning (pics below). I had to laugh at one point, because we had been inadvertently following the B.C. Hot Springs Loop and at one point I decided a certain road would be a “short cut”. As we were turning onto it, the signage announced we were taking the “super side route”. Understatement of the year. It was the super, super side route. But like the other roads I chose, it was stunning.

We made it to Kamloops today by lunch time and drove to see our old house first thing. Then we walked to the lookout over town that I used to walk past almost daily on my walk to downtown (pic below). Then we went to Riverside park and the kids were thrilled to have to choose between the beach on the river or the spray park under the huge shade trees. They chose BOTH and I ended up swimming too, because it was a scorcher today (in typical Kamloops fashion). The only place in Canada that I know of that can feel like Texas. After our swim we went out for frozen yogurt and then drove to Paul Lake to hike up a “little mountain” Gibralter Rock (picks below). The kids were a little tired and grumpy on the way up, but I entertained them with the story of how mommy and daddy met and fell in love, which they were fascinated by and I kept telling, all the way to the present time. Once we got to the top all of their energy seemed to return and they pranced around like mountain goats.

It was about 6:30 when we hiked back down and it was time to find out campsite out on the other side of town. We came out, set up camp, made dinner and then the sky started to glow and there was a terrific lightning storm. We drove out to a hill to watch it and I was suddenly very grateful that the camping place right in town that I had wanted to stay at was full. Kamloops got a heavy rain and lots of thunder and lightning (see pic above), but the storm steered around us. So grateful!

Tomorrow we head to Vancouver and possibly Victoria, if we make it that far. Goodnight one and all!

The four year old enjoying Sutherland falls and posing for daddy!

Sutherland Falls in all of it’s glory!

She insisted this driftwood was her “surfboard”. We played in the water for an hour waiting for one of our ferries.

Ferry view of Kootenay Lake. Even though our interior BC route took longer, it was so gorgeous.

Our Lookout over Kamloops, BC. I used to walk here all the time with this boy when he was just a baby.

I love that Kamloops gets as hot as Texas, but with the river running through town there is always somewhere to cool off.

The kids did an amazing job of hiking to the top of Gibralter Rock. So proud of them! Paul Lake in the background.

Thanks for following this Epic Road Trip – Kamloops and beyond! When I return to Texas, my usual posts with resume!

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