A diary of the projects, hurdles, rewards and family life at we recorded at Wise Acres, our former homestead in Horsefly, BC. (Careers and teenagers have forced us back into the city, at least for a little while.)

Friday, August 8, 2008

Horsefly...top vacation destination!


This week we have been on vacation with some good friends from Oakville, Ontario and we have had a blast! Our friends arrived last Friday with their two children who are about the same age as V. and M. It is amazing how kids who haven't seen each other for a few years can just pick up where they left off. They rented an RV in Vancouver and spent two days working their way up the Fraser Canyon and into the Cariboo.

We really lucked out with the weather, with most days reaching mid twenties with a few clouds in the bright blue sky. We spent the first few days just hanging out in Horsefly, getting them acquainted with the place and the people. We had lots of trips to Darlene's for ice cream and hikes along the river and some great campfires at night (with scotch and cigars for those who were inclined).



On one trip, the boys went over to Big Bear Ranch, our neighbours, to pick up some organic pork ribs to make Rodney's famous ribs. As they arrived Gigi and Rainer were weighing cows and treating some who had pink eye and the guys got to jump in and help out. Talk about knowing where your food comes from!

Photo courtesy of Big Bear Ranch

On Monday, we rented some canoes from Cariboo-Chilcotin Canoe Rentals and headed over to Horsefly Lake Provincial Park for a few days of camping. This was the first time our family had been in a canoe and we all loved it! I was pleasantly surprised at how calm all the kids were and how well G. did at paddling the canoe. We saw a few loons, a beautiful bonaparte gull and several deer at the water's edge. It was so peaceful just paddling along...I can definitely see a canoe in our future.

Photo courtesy of Chris Campbell.

Our week ended up with a visit from our neighbour Wally, who came by to offer the kids rides on his ATV.

We were quite sad to see our friends leave on Saturday but they did promise to come back next summer and reported that this had been their best family vacation ever!

2 comments:

  1. Oooh, sounds lovely. We have been looking at a few campgrounds up your way trying to decide between Cariboo or Kootenays for our next holiday. Good canoeing spots are always a draw. I just found out this past week that I love kayaking even more than canoeing and am now a convert. E loves it too and I wonder if G would. It is nice and easy to steer and so nice to have your own boat to paddle. We used to all go in our one canoe but I think now the boys and I will use kayaks and leave S to paddle the canoe filled with all the gear. (but don't tell him I said that) ;-)

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  2. I love kayaking too...haven't done much river kayaking tho. Apparently the Horsefly River is a really good kayaking river...so add that to your list!

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