How Slocan you go?

Through the Slocan Valley from New Denver to Rossland

Thanks for your responses on the last post. It’s fun to read your messages. (FYI when you reply to this blog in your inbox, the message gets sent to me).

Just when I decided to pick up the pace, I ran through a region where time moves slow, the Slocan Valley. “Relax you’re on River time,” read one sign.

THURSDAY

The day started in New Denver with my Warmshowers hosts Helen and Daniel.

Daniel and Helen lived on a homestead where they grew their own food for 35 years. They left the homestead but still like to garden and make their own food. In fact, one reason they purchased their house is that they knew the soil underneath was good. Daniel cooked eggs and rice with homemade whole wheat toast for breakfast. My kinda food 😎

Afterwards, Daniel took me to the local independent newspaper, the Valley Voice, for an interview. (Does anyone know what portion of small newspapers are still independent?) During the interview, I mentioned this adventure has allowed me to do three of my favorite things: run, ski, and eat chocolate. When Daniel heard that he said, “we have to see Linny.” Linny is the town chocolatier. Yep that’s right— New Denver population 473 has its very own chocolatier. Linny wasn’t home so we talked to her husband Steve. Steve told me “Slo-Can Do!” And postured “how Slocan you go?” He said that in the Slocan valley, if you want to do work on your house, call a professional, learn how to do the work, do it, and by the time you finish, the professional can get back to you to let you know you did it right.”

Steve and Linny’s house is a museum. Steve is currently doing an addition, and he showed us all the rooms he’s added on. One is filled with vintage hats. I asked, “is the goal to just keep adding rooms to the house forever?” He said as long as Linny keeps collecting things, I need to keep adding on rooms.

The house and mannequins are both over 100 years old. Before leaving Steve told me if there’s anything he can do for me, call, no matter how far I am. He showed me a light and said, no matter how bad things get, the light will always be there.

I’ve had 2 of the 10 truffles I got . So far, Lindors doesn’t hold a candle to Linny. I ended up meeting Linny just before leaving, and she donated $10 for the GiveDirectly fundraiser.

Beautiful run along Slocan lake

“Slocan do” indeed. My morning extended so long that I didn’t start my run until 3 pm, practically a day off. When I finally kicked off, I had a nice run down Slocan lake and talked to Lukas on the phone until losing service.

I arrived in Slocan at 8pm and set up camp in the town campground which was closed.

Slocan campground

Slocan gave me nostalgia for the Olympic peninsula. It rained through the night. Back in New Denver, Daniel pointed out to me that the Pacific Northwest would be the Pacific Southwest in Canada…. Of course

FRIDAY

Harold Street Cafe

The next morning I walked into town and got a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie from the Harold Street Cafe. The owner, Antonia, asked if I was training for a marathon. She told me about her son who lives in New Jersey and works for Merck as a chemist and likes to run marathons. You can’t outrun NJ.

Slocan Valley rail trail

Rail trails have officially won me over. I can run harder on the forgiving dirt and avoid traffic. 🔥🔥🔥

Fomi’s bakery

I popped out to the road for a brief stint and passed the sign for Fomi’s Bakery in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes I run through towns that have been abandoned, and other times things are closed because it’s off-season, but against all odds, this bakery was open! I went inside and got an apple turnover and chocolate almond brittle 😋

It got hot! Luckily the rail trail traveled along the river. I hopped in for a dip.

I found these four snakes intertwined with each other. After a quick Internet search, it looks like two snakes will wrap around each other as part of a mating ritual/dance type thing. It seems like four snakes is more rare, could be three males and one female?

The trail got painfully delightful as sunset neared. I felt like Huckleberry Finn. I wouldn’t mind floating back to Seattle on the river.

At the end of the day I found myself running through idyllic farm country on Pass Creek Road. When I saw this big open clearing, I thought that’d be a nice place to camp. I knocked on the door of the house there, introduced myself, and asked if I could tent camp. The owner (Michael) said, “Yeah sure. Do you know about a website called Warmshowers.org?”

What a crazy coincidence! I randomly knocked on the door of the only Warmshowers host in the whole area. Michael and his fiancé Hanna invited me in to cook and shower. They moved out to the country from Nelson and have both traveled around the world. We hit it off.

With a full kitchen to use I was able to make a proper pasta dinner with olive bread from Fomi’s bakery.

SATURDAY

The next day (yesterday) I picked a big objective, Rossland.

I said goodbye to Hanna and Mike after a perfectly wonderful stay. The night had been so nice that I “cowboy camped” (no tent) and fell asleep looking at the stars.

I finished running through Pass Creek Road and emerged at the mighty Columbia River.

Crumbs bakery

Before saying goodbye to Michael and Hanna, they tipped me off about Crumb’s Bakery in Castlegar. I got two marzipan crème filled cookies rolled in hemp seeds.

The day got really hot. I forgot how much water you need in weather like this and got really thirsty. Luckily, there were many creeks along the road.

Looking at the Columbia, I swelled with pride knowing the now-gone powder has melted from the mountains and joined together in the Columbia River as it flows back out to sea until next season.

“Large trucks may be in your lane. Deal with it.” Not sure why this sign is posted, but i appreciated the advice.

one last treat before climbing 500m from Trail to Rossland. A gas station muffin. Admittedly, not as good as Fomi’s or Crumbs but hunger is the best spice.

The climb to Rossland rivaled any of the hardest baby stroller uphill pushes I’ve done (also harder after running 50km). Very satisfying when I finally made it.

I now plan to run on the scenic Old Cascade Highway to Christina Lake to investigate a couple mountain passes. I will likely be out of service the next two nights, possibly longer.

❤️✌️