An old farmhouse in Lower Nicola sits decaying.
I took a driving trip on the Labour Day weekend to the lovely Nicola Valley near Merritt, B.C. and continued on through the Thompson and Fraser River valleys to Lillooet and beyond. The journey got more and more rugged until I found myself on a narrow, rough mountain road in very wild country.
Unfortunately I bumped a rock on the road which broke my car’s oil pan. I had to shut off my engine and coast with no power steering or power brakes down the mountain on a twisty dirt road to an Indian reserve where I was able to call a tow truck. My CAA Plus membership has now paid for itself many times over!
The adventure isn’t over because I now have my car waiting to be repaired in Squamish and I have to get back to work in Osoyoos for production day on Tuesday. I was, however, able to get a couple nice photos of a rainbow, which hopefully will bring some luck. (Richard McGuire Photo)
Scw’Exmx Parish Church in Lower Nicola is a wooden church in the style of many old First Nations churches build in the late 19th century and early 20th. It looks like it has seen better days.
Hay dries in the Nicola Valley of British Colimbia.
The Nicola River flows through lusher valleys before crossing into an arid area and emptying into the Thompson River at Spences Bridge.
There are many cattle ranches in the Nicola Valley, like this one that displayed a cow’s skull over its gate.
The Nicola River flows through lusher valleys before crossing into an arid area and emptying into the Thompson River at Spences Bridge.
The Nicola River flows through lusher valleys before crossing into an arid area and emptying into the Thompson River at Spences Bridge.
In many of the First Nations communities especially, livestock wanders on the highway, Horses have the right of way.
The Nicola River enters drier terrain as it approaches the arid area where it empties into the Thompson River at Spences Bridge.
A bighorn ewe munches on salad at the side of the highway in the Nicola Valley of British Columbia.
Hoodoos and earth formations rise above the highway in the lower Nicola Valley. In this dry land, water and wind erode the sides of the valley.
Hoodoos and earth formations rise above the highway in the lower Nicola Valley. In this dry land, water and wind erode the sides of the valley.
Lillooet, on the upper Fraser River of British Columbia, bills itself as guaranteed rugged. Those looking to enjoy the wilderness won’t be disappointed.
Sunflowers grow by an old wooden church in Lillooet, B.C.
The Fraser River flows through a narrow valley near Lillooet before descending down a steep canyon further downriver.
These old log houses are northwest of Lillooet in the Bridge River Valley.
This mountain road was very good by the standards of roads yet to come. Nonetheless, the lack of guard rails, and the steep valley was a reminder to drive carefully, especially where slides had dropped rocks on the road. At lower right is the shell of a car that looked like it went over the edge long ago.
Carpenter Lake Road made a series of hairpin turns on its descent to Mission Mountain Road.
Bridge River flows through rocky terrain below a large dam at Carpenter Lake. This is the wild country west of Lillooet.
As you descend Shalaith Road from a steep mountain pass, you see spectacular views of Seton Lake to the west of Lillooet, B,C.
At Seton Portage, as I approached Anderson Lake, the clouds darkened and winds surged while sunlight tried to shine through the clouds and rain. It was a dramatic scene.
At Seton Portage, as I approached Anderson Lake, the clouds darkened and winds surged while sunlight tried to shine through the clouds and rain. It was a dramatic scene.
As I looked back at where a sudden storm had blown through, I saw a double rainbow over the mountains. It seemed like magic.
As I looked back at where a sudden storm had blown through, I saw a double rainbow over the mountains. It seemed like magic.
On a very rough and narrow mountain road, my car’s oil pan was shattered by a rock. My only blessing was that it was all downhill to the N’Quatqua Band Indian Reserve. I turned off my engine, put the car in neutral and rolled down the mountain, working hard to steer and brake without power steering or brakes. I made it to this village where an old church stood opposite the convenience store and I called a tow truck.