Tag: Ladygoingplaces

June 2023

There are two ways to drive from Salmon Arm to Vancouver. If not in a hurry, don’t go on highway 1. Take route 97 from Cache Creek and continue on the 99. You will not regret it!

After Kamloops, we enter an empty country. Finally, we pass the old miner’s town Cache Creek and drive into Marble Canyon Provincial Park. The mountains change from colour and shape constantly, and the road is extremely quiet.

At some point, the climbing route joins the Fraser River. Immediately, we stop the car to admire the gorge and the wild flowing waters.

Finally, we continue on highway 99, until we reach our destination; Lillooet (pronounce it as ‘little wet’).

This is the unceded ancestral lands of three Nations, Líl̓wat Nation, the St’at’imc Nation, and the Tŝilhqot’in Nation.

Tsuwalhkálh ti tmícwa (the land is ours).

It is rugged and incredible beautiful!

“ Where there’s nothing to come between you and the remembering, that you too are made up of wind and fire, earth and water. ”

We booked a small but lovely accommodation for one night. It is called Comfort Zone B & B. Our landlady is also Dutch and very helpful and welcoming. She gives us some great suggestions; hiking to the old bridge and visiting the winery.

End of the afternoon we explore the main street, and it feels like a reflection of a Western movie.

In 1860 Lillooet was a very large city, and part of the route to the Cariboo gold fields.

Nowadays, it is a small town, but still significant. In particular, for its agricultural abundance, the fishing for trout, salmon and sturgeon, the indigenous art and the cultural heritage.

Lillooet is also called Jade town. In the past and even today, jade can be discovered on the shores of the rivers and in the surrounding mountains.

There are cute stores, a wonderful artisan bakery and a variety of restaurants. The former Anglican church, St. Mary’s the Virgin, is transformed into a museum. Definitely worth a visit, as the building has old machinery, indigenous artefacts, gold mining relics and an old newspaper office.

The next morning, after our breakfast, we walk to the old suspension bridge. It seems that the osprey (fish eagle) is having a nest on the steel construction of the bridge. Even a webcam is present to follow the activity!

Although my phone takes great pictures, I never could have captured the birds, without my 60 times zoom camera.

Besides the bird’s nest, we admire the construction of the bridge and the outstanding views over the Fraser River.

After, we slowly stroll back into town, visit some stores, the museum, and witness a get-together of indigenous people and other locals. They all sing and dance together in front of the museum.

On our way out of town, we decide to visit the winery (owned by a Dutch couple), and have a small bite and a glass of wine on the terrace. The views from here over the vineyard, river, and mountains are impressive.

A deer is grazing in the garden and even the mountain bluebird is flying around!

It is nearly time to continue our trip towards Squamish, where we booked a room for one night.

Lillooet stole our heart. On another occasion, we do hope to return to this beautiful spot on the banks of the Fraser River.

” In this lash and spill of water, in the slow grinding of rock and cliff, in the perpetual slide of mountain and forest, in the erosion of mountain and gumbo rangeland, in the impact of whirlpool and winter ice, the river is forever mad, ravenous and lonely ”       

Bruce Hutchinson    ‘ The Fraser ‘