Days 8 & 9, July 10 & 11

 The motorhome gremlins struck again. We were all set to leave the campground and were doing our last minute pre-travel checks. We found that we had no signals. The hazards worked and the brake lights worked, but no signal lights. The panel on the dash did not light with the signals either. Out came the manuals to figure out where the fuse might be. We located the fuse panel and there was no problem with the fuse. After an hour of trying a number of different solutions, we decided that we would proceed with the trip and drive cautiously and use the hazard lights when necessary. We were out in the middle of nowhere with no RV technicians around. We headed out of the park and at the road Lawrie out of habit tuned on the signal and it worked! We have no idea what happened or why they started working again, but were thankful they did.

Our journey was a short one, less than 4 hours. We crossed the border at Rykerts. The CBSA agent was most concerned about what we had purchased in the States and if we had any repairs done on the motorhome or Jeep. Apparently, the ArriveCan app accepted our proof of vaccination but didn't like the format!? Same pdf file that I have used for the last 2 times we have filed an ArriveCan. Maybe she just needed to find fault with something. 

Our accommodation for the 2 nights that we are in Creston, 12 km north of the border crossing, is Arrowhead RV Park located behind the Ramada Inn. It has 24 spaces for big rigs with plenty of room to manoeuver and good spacing between sites. We contacted our friends and they came and visited in the motorhome and then we went to see the home they are building in Creston and then on to their current home in Lister, a short distance outside of Creston, for dinner.

The next morning we went on a tour with Anne, Doug and their grandson Lane. We headed north past Duck Lake and along the shore of Kootenay Lake. We stopped at the Gray Creek Store which has to be the most well stocked store that I have ever seen. The store dates back to 1913 and has been owned by generations of the same family. The merchandise is current, abundant, well organized and diverse. It has tools and hardware, groceries, health and beauty products, woodstoves, lumber, fishing gear, plumbing and electrical and a huge selection of books.

Farther up the highway is the community of Crawford Bay. We visited five artisans in the community. The North Woven Broom became famous when its brooms were used as props at book launches for the Harry Potter books. At the Barefoot Handweaving Studio they explained the art of weaving. They were not working at the Kootenay Forge and Fireworks Copper Enamel as we were there just as they were opening. Lane was intrigued by all the different stones in the Stones and Weave shop and came away with a piece of lapis and a piece of quartz. I like to collect Christmas ornaments when we travel and found one at the Dog Patch Pottery. 

We had to wait about 45 minutes to catch the ferry across Kootenay Lake to continue on the Nelson. This is a free ferry ride that takes around 35 minutes. There were quite a few vehicles waiting when we pulled into the lineup with more arriving all the time. When the ferry arrived, it didn't take long to get all the vehicles onboard. We were on quickly and watched from an upper deck as the remaining vehicles were boarded. It was like putting a puzzle together to get all the pieces to fit. 

We stopped in Nelson for lunch at the Cantina del Centro. Nelson was founded during the late 19th century when silver exploration was at its height. Illegal marijuana production was once a problem in Nelson. There is a very laid back vibe about the community.

We continued our circuit back to Creston crossing the Kootenay Pass, the highest elevation pass in BC. We descended over a long distance so it will be interesting tomorrow when we head west going up that same highway.