Pete Hahn is once again organizing this drive over some great Miata roads in the beautiful West Kootenays to Nakusp for a dip in one of BC's best hot springs. You then have the option of returning home the same day or spending the night in Nakusp and taking part in the Sunday activities; a visit to the Hills Garlic Festival in New Denver and a side trip to the ghost (mining) town of Sandon. If you are coming please e-mail Pete at ------------------ so that we know how many to expect for Saturday breakfast and who we should be looking to meet for the run.

Saturday, September 6:
8:30 - Breakfast at The Jammery. For those who are not interested in breakfast, please be there by 9:30 for the start of the run up to Vernon.
9:30 - Start of run.
10:00 - Meet Vernon area people at the OUC Vernon roadside (north) parking area.
We'll make a stop at the BC Hydro rest area just before Cherryville.
The next stop will be at the Needles ferry. There is usually a short wait for the ferry, so this is a good opportunity for a bite to eat if you bring your own lunch. There is a picnic area and washroom at either end of the ferry.
Continue zooming through Nakusp and up to the Nakusp Hot Springs for a dip.
Option 1 - Return home Saturday.
Option 2 - Stay in Nakusp overnight (see accommodation info below).

Sunday September 7:
10:00 - Leave Nakusp and drive to New Denver and take in the Hills Garlic Festival on the shore of Slocan Lake. It's all about all kinds of garlic, garlic in foods (even ice cream), plus craft stalls and some musical entertainment. After that there is an optional run up to Sandon for any history buffs. Around the turn of the century Sandon was a thriving mining town of about 5000, but due to fires, flood and neglect there is little remaining today. There are a few original buildings however, the original (and still working!) water turbine powerhouse, and a museum. Sandon's website is a great source of history and information.
Option 3 - Return home via Castlegar and Rock Creek.
Option 4 - Take the New Denver, Kaslo, Nelson loop home.
Option 5 - Stay out in the West Kootenays another day.

Accommodations in Nakusp:
Here are a few options for places to stay in Nakusp. For other area accommodations please see the free British Columbia Approved Accommodation Guide.
Nakusp Hot Springs Cedar Chalets - Next door to the hot springs, but on weekends they require a minimum two night stay and there is no restaurant there.
Kuskanax Lodge - Hotel with restaurant in downtown Nakusp.
Selkirk Inn - Hotel in downtown Nakusp, no restaurant.
Canyon Court Motel - A "budget" motel a few minutes north of downtown Nakusp.
Bear Ridge Cabins - Part way up the Hot Springs Road, 5 minute drive to downtown.
Hotsprings Guesthouse - 1 bedroom cabin and 2 bedroom suite on the lake, just a few minutes north of downtown Nakusp.
Murphy's Landing - Cabins on the lake, a few minutes north of downtown Nakusp.

Thanks to Lori and Kelly Barnes who did some research and came up with the following:
"We just called the hotels in Nakusp and gathered a little info that we thought you might want to share with the others who are considering this trip. The Selkirk Inn has rooms with one King Size bed and air conditioning for $75. The Kuskanax Lodge has similar rooms for $99, and some with queen beds and without air conditioning for $79. The Kuskanax Lodge does have a restaurant, but the rate does NOT include breakfast. We have stayed at the Selkirk Inn and it is decent enough. From the pictures posted on their websites, the two places seem quite comparable. Our recommendation is the Selkirk. A little cheaper for comparable rooms, and the town is small enough that it is a very short walk to any of the restaurants in town anyways."

More thoughts from Pete:
"I do not want to legislate where people will stay. There are no planned events between the pool swim and the Sunday activities so let your personal preference be your guide. Betty and I are staying at the hot springs because we like it up there. If there several people who expect to stay at one place it might make sense to reserve the rooms as a block."

August 29, 2008

Mazda will display a redesigned MX-5 Miata at the 2008 Paris International Motor Show, October 2 through 19, 2008.

The facelift is limited to the front of the car but the overall appearance is significantly changed. The traditional oval grill has been completely reshaped, the air intake / fog light openings are much larger, and the headlights appear sleeker.

Also on display at the show will be a Mazda6 with an new 2.2 litre turbo diesel, a Mazda2 powered by a 1.6-liter diesel and the new Mazda Kiyora concept car.

The Sea to Sky club is holding their annual "Triangle Tour" on August 24 and the OVMC has once again been invited to join the fun.

The Sea to Sky members will leave Hope at 10:30 am and expect to arrive in Princeton between 12:30 and 1:00 pm.

OVMC members will meet at the Wendy's in Westbank at 9:30 am and will depart for Princeton shortly thereafter. Anyone from the Penticton area can meet the group in the Kettle Valley Station Pun parking lot (click here for a map) at 10:30 am. The suggested route would be Kelowna to Penticton to Keremeos (via Green Mountain Road) to Hedley and on to Princeton.

After lunch we'll follow their group down some great back roads through the old mining towns of Coalmont and Tulameen, then head north up Highway 5A until we hit the Okanagan Connector (97C) at Aspen Grove. We’ll then wave goodbye as the Sea to Sky folks head toward Merritt and the OVMC heads for home via the Connector. The total round trip is about 400 km from Kelowna.