Chance Encounters in Paradise

Perhaps a little redemption for Jon's absence, i found my stay in Nelson suddenly extended as i bumped into an old friend Kristi. Things work out in funny ways. Kristi was my exchange partner at the Emily Carr art school when i first visited Vancouver, so it was to catch up on the last four years!

I'd already spent two fun packed days at Nola and Darrens' house, with their young daughters and loveable hounds, eating, planning and enjoying being off the bike. This chance meeting with Kristi just put the cherry on top.







Nelson is certainly the most characterful of all the mountain towns i'd been through so far. It's communal atmosphere and liberal reputation certainly obvious through the strong promotion of local produce, varied vegan menus and the prevalence of well established community co-op stores. It's certainly a place to 'live', the mountains attracting outdoors aficionados, city escapees and hippies alike. A fine base for 'Freeride' a mountainbike film company which Alex, Kristi's man, films for and provided me with hours of crazy death defying stunt footage viewing... sweet!




Things got even better as Kristi invited me to a family get-together near Kalso. She drove my luggage ahead and i had a glorious cycle along the lakeshore to the cabin, flyling up climbs unimpeded by heavy bags. Sounds of the Kaslo jazz festival floated up from the beach as i got stuck into the last climb to the cabin... pleasure and pain.








Riding a Shimano bike... well i had to use the Shimano fishing rod really!



I spent the whole long weekend relaxing in the paradise of Sonja and Norm's cabin; Swimming in the glacial lake, learning how to fish, cooking our caught fish for dinner, eating fruits from back gardens, feeding chickens, lying on the hot pebbly beach, surrounded by mountains, watching eagles, doing nothing whatsoever, eating more cherry pie... Thankyou to all of you for making the weekend so easy!