Gourmet Coffee in the Boonies
I’ve been really hoping to spot a moose. I looked all day during the 4.5 hour drive yesterday, but no moose. I did see deer and a lot of loose cows. I didn’t realize there were still free roaming cows in North America, but there you have it. Cows, walking along the highway, cows on the hillside, no fences to be found. The rain finally started just as we were set to leave Kelowna. We headed toward New Denver on a recommendation. It was quite a drive up through a mountain pass. We hit the snow there. And more cows in the snow. Luckily it wasn’t sticking to the road.
The highway literally ends at the water where you drive onto a ferry that takes you across the lake. The ferry is free, part of the Canadian highway system. It only takes about 20 minutes to cross, and there is nothing on either side of the water.
There was only one open motel in New Denver. Jason had to go and find the manager to get a room. It was definitely off-season, and we were the only ones there. The town’s only restaurant was attached to the motel, and they had no customers and Canadian prices (high). So, thinking we had a microwave, Jason went out to gather a dinner of sorts from the van.
Oops. No microwave. Jason headed out for a walk thinking we could find a store or something open… nope, after 6 pm the entire town was shut down except for the red blinking light. Not to worry. Although I was a little skeptical, Jason proved a master of coffee pot cooking. Bode got a hot dog, I got ramen, and he made a lovely red beans and rice dish. Unbelievable.
The tip we got for New Denver was that it’s location made it an awe-inspiring place to just hang out and look up at the mountains. Camping spots right next to the water. With all the rain and cloud cover we missed it. Next time, we’ll come back in the summer.
These are very good tips. A lot of us travelers will watch your continued adventures with coffee pot cooking! Maybe you can do a cookbook at the end of your trip. Or start a whole new web page! Just like the sleepinginairports.com website which is one of my favourites and we have used it at least 3x. Happy trails Bode and Company!
coffee pot cooking COOKING SHOW! yes!!!
If I may make a suggestion, when you get back to civilization somewhere, pick up one of these:
Toastmaster 750W Hotplate
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11746133
We always take one with us wnerever we go, whether we are camping or staying in motels.
Here is another one:
Continental 750W
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8467167
They are small, flat, and do not take up much space.
–Mark in Fremont, CA
Go Jason, leave it to him. Yay ramen! I am finally caught up on your website, so exciting. Great pics!
I have heard of some of the awesome things you can cook in a coffee pot and if there’s not a book on it yet, there should be!
But, hmm, camping with lakefront and mountain views! I’d give some random right appendage for that right now!
well if you were actually real hippies you would not have eaten soy yoguart for one and most hippies used their vans to get here then retired tem next time come look at it a different way you may find it surprises you