Riding the Rails!

For the long weekend, we took Audrey out on her first bike trip.  Deciding to avoid the traffic on the roads, we took an old railgrade from Castlegar to Christina Lake, called the Columbia and Western (C&W).  Built at the end of the 1800's, it was still an active rail line until only 20 years ago but all the former rail stations and tiny towns along the route have long since turned back to dust.  There are lots of trestles and tunnels along the way, views of the lakes, and picnic and camping spots to make it interesting and enjoyable.

Starting out with a happy baby and fingers crossed...

Rest stop overlooking Arrow Lake

Getting water at the start of the Bulldog tunnel

It's almost a kilometre long and has a curve in it, so there's no light at the end of this tunnel!

Campsite at the (former) Tunnel Station

Our route (the black tracks along the west side of Arrow Lake)

Fun in the tent at the former Paulson Station.  There used to be a hotel, store and stables here but no sign of them now!

After dinner walk with Papa

A detour over a washout

Approaching the Paulson Bridge

I've driven over this bridge dozens of times and looked down at this trail, wishing I was on it.

Riding by an old water tower

Osprey nest at the end of the route

Ahoy mateys! The Lil' Stinker Sails

The weekend before the long weekend, we went on our first family camping trip.  Along with two other families with sailboats, we headed for Garland Bay, across Kootenay Lake from Kaslo, where we had some grand adventures!  A bottle with a treasure map washed up onto shore while we were swimming one day, and Raleigh and Ana had fun finding the buried loot, along with pirate hats and eye patches.  They made sure that Audrey got to dress up, too.  The Lil' Stinker also donned her sailing gear a few times and headed out onto the lake in the Lil' Stinker.

Audrey at 5 months!

This blog update could also be titled 'The Many Hairstyles of Audrey Arminda' or 'How to Do a Two Week Trip to the Coast and Visit Dozens of Friends and Do Lots of Things and Come Home With Only Photos of Your Baby and Husband'.

Seriously, how do I not have a single photo of anyone else, or the places we were?  My travel blog has officially become my baby blog!  Anyhow, after a lovely early summer here in Nelson, we headed to Vancouver, the Island, the Sunshine Coast and Squamish and Whistler for Nelson's 7-day BC Bike Race, and to visit lots of wonderful friends and their kids, as well as to meet some new little ones. 

Audrey had some firsts - her first time camping, riding in a bike trailer, and being in a bathing suit (at a water park).  We had a lot of fun! 

First time sleeping in a tent!

Father's Day