Museums Embalming Fluid and Beer

I am back! Did you miss me? Well here goes...

Yours truly is still fascinated by the names RV manufacturers dub the big road beasts. Some of this year's examples: Trail Rider-seriously, the only trail that puppy will ride is an interstate,Titaneum-OK but next time please use spell check, Citation-as in cite your sources a real favorite for the genealogists, Solitude -looks like a rolling city and will never fit in any campground that is really-you know- in some out of the way place that may provide a bit of solitude, Land Yacht- okie dokie this one needs no snarky commentary. And for those retirees channeling their inner Hells Angel cue Easy Rider music: OUTLAW and THUNDERBOLT. Hey kids here comes granny and gramps around the bend with the OUTLAW.


More musings...

The nice thing about Good Sam Campgrounds is their convenience to the highway. The bad thing is the noise of the highway as some are located just off an exit ramp or next to railroad tracks with trains going by all night, or on a major road through a small town -which was the case in Cranbrook BC. It is not camping. After the quiet of our Kootenay Lake spot, this location assaulted the senses. But tonight's site is down right delux for a Good Sam Camp Ground, although it is at the Fairmont Hotsprings Resort and as I always say why stay in an actual resort hotel -next door- when you can camp at the 9 star rated RV Park.

Back to the trip...

What it tarnation have we been up to?  A walking tour of Nelson and a trip to the historical museum- finally a decent small town museum- nearly filled one day. The breweries did not offer tours or tastes. Ah nuts!  But there was one more item - a lovely drive to Kaslo where the old paddle wheeler Moyie is on exhibit. The Moyie plied the waters of Kootenay Lake with passengers and cargo from 1898 to 1957. Restoration is an ongoing and expensive process and done with love and care.

Moyie

We bid a fond farewell to Kootenay Lake and crossed it via the ferry Osprey.  The lake is long and narrow -fjord like- and reminded me of Desolation Sound.

Channel Marker Kootenay Lake-a bit blurry

There were stops along the way -of course- another whimsical what-not conglomeration of stuff. This one in Creston. Any museum that has a tire recap machine is a must see for Moose and Mosquito Tours. How often does one get such an opportunity.

Tire Recap Machine

 And a hand made suit of armor is a real draw for your two intrepid travelers. Truly a highlight of the tour. The Big Fella has a nose for these things.

YES!

But the Columbia Brewery- Kokanee- which is now owned by Anhauser Busch was in close proximity to the above museum and seemed the right antidote. Of course we took the tour and at the end enjoyed a free taste. Actually, we were both offered a pint but chose to split it.  One of the oddest road side attractions is the Glass House. The castle like home is made of empty 16 ounce embalming fluid bottles and was built by a funeral director. Uh huh, we skipped the tour but stopped long enough to snap a couple of photos.

Glass House

This brings me to Cranbrook and the noisy Good Sam C.G.-in fact there was a reason to be there. It would not be a Moose and Mosquito adventure without a railroad museum and it was found in Cranbrook -The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. It is a collection of vintage, authentic restored Canadian Pacific R.R. passenger trains. The interiors were elegant mahogany walls with inlaid designs. After the rail museum was Fort Steele- an outpost of the NW Mounted Police in fact it was the first one West of the Rockies. I kept busy snapping a few interesting shots.

Remains of the Blacksmith building in Fort Steele

Three hours later we were on the road in search of some hot springs. Fairmont Hotsprings would be the place and shortly after doing the laundry we indulged. The Canadian leg of the journey is about to end. We head for Montana tomorrow.

Except for issues with the refrigerator which are complicated and boring, the trip is going well. The Selkirk loop is but a memory but beautiful and now the Rocky Mountains tower near the camp ground. The Fall colors are outstanding and the Miller Times always refreshing!