Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada

18th June 2012 - Leaving Kamloops for Revelstoke

We left Kamloops at 0825, on a grey morning with low clouds hanging down the mountains.

Our route took us along the South Thompson River but we lost sight of this huge river as we went east towards Salmon Arm.

We've been told that this has been a very wet spring, coupled with the seasonal snow melting, there has been flooding in some areas. Canada certainly has no shortage of water.

Our approach into picturesque Revelstoke at around 11.30am. Population approx. 7,500. Elevation: 1490 feet above sea level.

What a glorious day Revelstoke put on for us-the sun was shinning.

We stayed at the Lamplighter Camping Ground, a fairly small RV Park. It is run by a lovely couple from Switzerland.  Amenities are quite basic; 2 washing machines, 2 dryers but we have Wi Fi and Cable TV but the view more than makes up for it.

Mount Boulder frames the Lamplighter Office.

View of the mountains taken from inside Al

(short for Alpenlite which is the make of our 5th wheeler).

Another shot of this spectacular view from Al - I couldn't help myself, it was such a gorgeous day. Check out the tubular looking caravan - its called an Airstream made from polished aluminum.

Our truck and Al. Unfortunately the tail lights on Al were still giving problems.

Went for a walk at around 7.30pm, sun still shining.

Mount MacPherson.

The mighty Columbia River starts in the Canadian Rockies and runs all the way down to Oregon, USA. The total river basin of the Columbia is the size of France.

Word was out - the Revelstoke Dam Spillages were open!

We took a self conducted hour tour of the BC Hydro.

What a magnificent sight! The Revelstoke Dam is built on 3 of the First Nationals lands - the Okanagans, the Shuswap and the Ktunaxa tribes.

Due to the unusual high rainfalls, the Revelstoke Reservoir was near to full,hence the release of the excess back into the Columbia.  This Reservoir is about 81 kms long.

As the Columbia crosses into America, the USA, Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed a River Treaty in 1964. The Treaty coordinates flood control and electrical energy production in the Columbia River Basin.

An impressive sculpture to welcome visitors to Revelstoke.

Above 2 pics of downtown Revelstoke.

City Hall, Revelstoke

Houses line the banks of the Columbia.- with Mt MacPherson in view.

Couldn't work out what the dome shaped building was.

The Canadian Pacific Railway - we counted 123 carriages on one of them. This one is crossing the Columbia.

This single lane bridge was only a stone's throw from our RV park.

Another view of the Columbia as it thunders its way to Oregon. It is a very fast flowing river!

We noticed that a lot of the houses have very steep roofs, probably to help stop snow collecting on the roofs in winter.

The 3 Valley Lake Chateau - 13 miles before Revelstoke. Check out the waterfalls on the back of the Chateau.

Three Valley Lake is fed from the glaciers, so its a freshwater lake.

The Chateau is situated at eastern end of the lake. We were there today and we could see the lake water lapping on the footpath-we were told it is receding.

Cute sculpture outside the Chateau depicting the Prospector and Burro during the early gold pioneering days.

The Chateau offers a charming restaurant and quite a large Gift Shop (not that I had time to peruse it!)

Tom looking like a Cheshire Cat!

Me in my "fat girl" clothes.

The Railway plays an important part in this area of Canada, there a substantial Railway Museum in Revelstoke.

Spotted these unusual flowers at the Chateau.

A pretty lilac and white combo.