It will be August 27th for most of you reading this, but here in Pacific time it is only 9:03 p.m. on the 26th. We had another wonderful day in Revelstoke, BC, although it is our last. We say farewell to this magnificent town, and Canada, tomorrow morning as we make our way back to the States.
I wanted one more crack at fishing this morning, so we headed to Lake Revelstoke early in hopes the fish would be biting. We got a nice spot in a calm cove near a boat launch (quiet, as it was a Tuesday morning). Temps were still cool and the sun low enough in the sky to shade much of the water. The conditions seemed perfect for a good haul.
I think my bait was working against me. I came up empty-handed yet again. Not even a nibble today. I could try to cast blame all around when, in fact, I am just not a good fisherman. But if enjoyment counted for anything, I’d be pro because I did have a great time! Still, a fish or two wouldn’t hurt.
Lake Revelstoke is actually a man-made reservoir, formed by the building of the Revelstoke Dam in the early 1980’s, which runs for nearly 38 miles. The dam sits at the southern end of the reservoir and stands over 500 feet tall. It is quite an imposing site to see as you drive into the canyon from the town. We decided to stop at the visitor’s center after fishing and we are so glad we did.
The visitor’s center sits on the outlet side of the dam, about 1/3 of the way up from river to crest. After entering the gates, a road winds along one side of the gorge to the level of the center. The sight of the full dam coming into view, that close up, was startling. The thought of billions of pounds of water putting pressure on that concrete, with us hundreds of feet below the top, was almost too much. Pulling into the parking lot under shadow of the imposing wall made us feel so small.
The visitor’s center allowed a self-guided tour through exhibits related to the construction and operation of the dam and integrated power generation facility. After the exhibits, we followed the signs out of the enclosed space and onto an outdoor walkway leading directly into the heart of the dam. Needless to say, standing 300+ feet below the top, alongside the steeply sloped outer wall, we were both a bit hesitant to continue. But we did!
Entering the structure itself, we were guided along two hallways leading us deeper into the dam. The air was cold, very cold in fact, and heavy with dampness. It smelled damp. Not moldy, just wet. That really did nothing to make us feel more comfortable. The hallways were not small, but I still felt pangs of anxiety from claustrophobia trying to settle in my mind. The thought of the crushing water nearly surrounding us was unsettling. Karen admitted she was having similar feelings.
We came to an elevator which took us over 300 feet up to an observation platform at the dam’s crest. The view downstream, into the opening valley and the town of Revelstoke, was breathtaking. But to turn around and see the lake on the upstream side, nearly at our level, was super strange. All this power laying calmly to one side and an open canyon, 500 feel lower, on the other. I am a super wimp with heights, so I stayed back a meter or so from the wall at the end of the viewing platform (see how Canadian I have become, using “meter”?) Karen is much braver so she got right to the edge. The whole experience was truly superb and we were both glad we stopped.
The hot temps that have been building each day turned up another notch today, so we spent most of the afternoon inside. We got some laundry done and did another housecleaning inside Livvy. Between the heat and mosquitoes this was the best way to spend the afternoon.
For our last dinner in town we headed back to the Big Eddy Pub, just a short walk from the campground. Like the last two times, the food, drinks, and bartender were excellent. What a great find that place has been, and it is highly recommended by us for anyone visiting Revelstoke. As it is our last night in Canada, I had to have a couple Bloody Caesars and, for good measure, poutine.
We have been in Canada for 11 days now. We have stopped at or drove through 4 Canadian national parks. The beauty of this place is beyond words. As Karen mentioned, there is SO much to see just by driving Route 1. The people we’ve encountered have been welcoming and friendly and laid back. I am so glad we took this time to visit the Great White North and look forward to returning some day.
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