Juniper Beach

The leaning tree at Juniper Beach

Juniper Beach

On our way from Sun Peaks to Whistler, we pulled over whenever we came across any scenery which struck us as something worth seeing.

We saw this one long and winding side path which branched out from the main highway and just ended abruptly at the far end so we took the detour and that brought us to this small beach of a river which is named the Juniper beach and the vicinity is called the Juniper Beach provincial park.

Wild scrubs at the beach

Cactus

Downstream from the beach

Kamloops Lake

Kamloops Lake

When we arrived at Vancouver for the Canadian Rockies tour, we were transferred by coach on roads in inner British Columbia. We went past towns like Langley, Valemont, Kamloops and Banff. At the end of the tour we headed back to Vancouver by a different route, also in inner British Columbia, through Vernon, Kelowna and many more smaller towns.

Then we boarded the cruise ship at Vancouver. The cruise ship took us to Alaska and back.

We extended our stay for another week and during this week we drove from Vancouver to Sun Peaks which is near to Kamloops where we had visited, taking almost the same route as two weeks ago. We stayed in Sun Peaks for two nights and then headed to Whistler by the coastal road. It was a totally different scenery along the way though there are still mountains and lakes every where.

We passed the Kamloops Lake near Kamloops and we stopped to admire this magnificent and beautiful lake which is comparable to any of the lakes we visited in our earlier tour. The difference was that this place was not as crowded ( in fact there were only two other cars at the time we were there ). It is probably due to the fact that this lake is far out of the normal tourist itinerary.

Shady rest place for motorists
who stop to have a good
look at the Kamloops Lake

Two isolated farm houses
near Kamloops Lake

Haffley Lake

Haffley Lake

Wild plants near the lake

Canada is such a beautiful country with its rich and well preserved natural beauty. The land is vast with ranges of mountains stretching across. Lakes, rivers and forests form a major part of the land and Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world.

When we were traveling with the tour group, we visited a number of beautiful mountain ranges and lakes most visited by tourists. Along the way from one destination to another we passed by many more beautiful lakes which could not be included in the itinerary due to the time factor and there was hardly enough time for us to stop at every scenic spot which we passed.

Then when we stayed back after the tour for another week to move around on our own, we did not need to have much guides to plan out our daily itinerary. We did not need to travel far before we came across beautiful streams, mountain ranges and lakes.

When we took a day tour to Kamloops from Sun Peaks which was a 45-minute drive, we stopped at this Haffley Lake. A quiet area with a few retired senior people camping at the lake side, fishing in the lake in the day and relaxing at the lake side in the night. This senior couple we bumped into told us that they would be there most of the summer, immersing themselves in the natural beauty and enjoying their retirement life.

Cool and calm

On the opposite side of the lake
there are some houses along
the bank

The senior couple whom we met
preparing their boat to get
ready for their routine
daily fishing adventure

One of the three dogs owned
by the senior couple

This is the backyard of a house
at the side of the river ---
every house has its own
boat docking space

Sun Peaks Resort

Sun Peaks Resort ---
a beautiful
skiing destination

Sun peaks Resort is a village town north-east of Kamloops, Bristish Columbia, Canada.

It is a ski resort. Skiing is the main activity in winter and in summer tourist and locals indulge in hiking and biking.

There are hundred over ski runs at the ski summit with 12 lifts for rides up the hill.

It lags behind Whistler in popularity as a winter holiday resort because of the poorer condition of access road to this place and its further distance from big cities.

One of the many hotels in
this small resort town

The town is deserted at
siesta time

Flowers at roadside

Top covered bridge across
a mountain stream

Flower bed at the vicinity of the golf course

Resort lodge for hire

Tourists were scarce in summer time

Recycled innovation

Pomegranate

The Pinnacle lodge office block

Where we stayed --- The Pinnacle Lodge

Restaurant

All shops are closed early
in the evening

' Window ' shopping

Gulliver's travel

Soft stuffed toys