A new Ram Pickup Truck for $46,000! Nelson is another pretty town, said to be very liberal, and, according to what we'd heard, home to a strong gay community. Our stay coincided with a contingent of firefighters from all over, each arriving on their motorcycle to enjoy the company of their peers over the next few days - a great bunch (like most Harley people)! We enjoyed a great dinner at the Regency Hotel, directly across the road from the Best Western, our home for the night - good food, reasonably good music from the DJ, and exceptional attention from the all girl staff, some quite butch, some quite delicate, but probably the best service we've seen all trip. Whilst out wandering around town this morning I took an interest in the pickup trucks at the Dodge Dealership, with a 5.7L Ram Hemi with all the fruit listed at a touch over $46,000 - sounds like a good deal to me, with a similar truck costing about 3 times that in New Zealand. Few of your namby pamby Prius Eco wagons out in the Rockies. An 8am departure saw us leave Nelson without too much fuss, the mufti cop in the very obvious black Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicle untroubled by our passing, first stop Silverton for coffee, and a late breakfast for those who prefer to eat a bit later. Wherever we stop people talk to us, curious, friendly and interested. A guy running a second hand shop in Silverton mentioned that he'd visited NZ as a young man whilst enlisted in the Canadian Navy, the tour to coincide with Capt Cooks discovery in 1778. The Canadians we've met have been quite knowledgeable about we Kiwis, many have or want to visit, but in fairness, and trying to put natural bias aside, The Canada we have seen is at least as beautiful as anywhere in NZ, and much more of it. Once out of the cities, you get the impression that the goodness and honesty of the people is obvious. More magnificent scenery, including a chance encounter with a couple of deer crossing the road, the first gently emerging from the scrub at roadside then trotting unconcerned to the other side, the second following shortly after. Unfortunately it is apparent that not all crossings are as uneventful, with the evidence of massive impacts plain to see as big black patches on the road, (congealed blood) sometimes 2 or 3 close together- not good in a car, but probably a game changer to both parties if a motorcycle is involved. Another ferry crossing, this time much shorter, our ferry cable driven, but again, a pleasant distraction. Lunch time saw us chance upon a family owned and operated Diner in the small town of Lumby (1600 people), run by husband and wife English immigrants and their delightful daughter Millie, after which the diner was named. A slick team, Mum & Dad churning meals out of the kitchen quickly and efficiently, while Millie ran front of house - I'd hire her tomorrow given the opportunity. Back on the road for the final 75km of riding, much of it around Okanagan Lake, beautiful on a sunny afternoon. We have arrived in Kelowna, a place I had never heard of previously, and at just under 200,000 people, apparently Canada's 22nd largest city. Don Malcolm +64 21 924 114 Millies Kitchen in Lumby BC - worth a visit
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Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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