Days 237, 238, and 239 Kimberley to Cranbrook to Creston, B.C.

Day 237, after two nights at the Trickle Creek Lodge, it's time to move out!

A final glimpse of Kimberley in my side-view mirror.

I'm driving shuttle number 2 today, with Jake once again, our meeting point and our home for two nights is in Cranbrook, (population about 20,000) a short hop from Kimberley

McDonalds in Cranbrook is ready for the arrival of the relay.

I saw a lot of these posters around town.

Our meeting point was actually in the restaurant in the hotel (all the meeting rooms were booked) In our medal bearer  group today was Ray, who was Marilyn's (one of our bike escorts) difference maker. (and her father)  Everyone on the relay is allowed to nominate one person. (in the pic is Marilyn, her son, Ray, and her mother, who live in the area)

Another relay first (at least for me) the restaurant was still open for business as we held our briefing.

The last 13 medal bearers of day 237 are all smiles and ready to roll.

out on the road you always see a lot of friend and family support.

This is the first time I have seen an Olympic Torch Relay and 25th anniversary Rick Hansen relay sticker on the same pole!

I can in the mirror see medal bearer #22, Gary, is in good hands with our bike escorts, Kenn and Andrew.

time to get going, the relay convoy is catching up.

The end of day celebration at Spirit Square in Cranbrook was very spirited indeed, Gordon, the end of day medal bearer was led in by a marching band!

Okay, let's play where's Ronald again!

The Cranbrook Bugle Band, these young people are very talented, I remember them coming to the annual                  Penticton Peach |Festival parade on many occasions.

Our emcee Jordan chats with Gordon. I do not have his story, but here is a local newspaper clipping about him.

A proud moment.

Jim, our executive director does an interview with the local media. All in all, a very successful end of day celebration in Cranbrook.

Day 238 was an non-relay event day. That means events at the local schools, doing presentations on Rick Hansen and the 25th anniversary relay. Those of us that were not scheduled for those events were rostered to populate the Global Accessibility map (re-named Planat). We spent the day checking the accessability of businesses in the Cranbrook area.

We needed a coffee first, and the Kootenay Roasting Company was recommended to us by the locals.

They had quite a selection,

and they roast all the beans themselves.

After visiting the Cranbrook downtown core we headed out to St. Mary's , an area between Cranbrook and Kimberley. This church is on the St. Mary's first nation reserve.

behind the church was this farm field, with the mountains in the background. This pic doesn't show the numerous deer that were out grazing.

I zoomed in on 3 of them.

Across the road was the St. Eugene mission. This mission was called the sacred heart industrial school and ran between 1912 and 1970

Makes you think when you find a building so grand built out in a very rural area.

and this say it all

the outbuildings

we stopped at the first nations cemetary, there was something about being there that was very thought provoking.

spring time, a whistle and a hello from a praire dog!

totally checking us out!

crossing the St. Mary's heading back to Cranbrook.

and then it's back to reality, the "superstore"

Day 239, back on shuttle 2 with Jake, leaving Cranbrook towards Creston. Beside our hotel was the old CP water tower, used for filling the steam locomotives.

Behind the shuttle was an old train yard and museum.

and there's the old trains

down the road to Creston, population about 5,300.

A shot of Moyie Lake on the way to Jake and mine's medal bearer meeting point in beautiful downtown......

Yahk! population ( so they say) about 400

This town, which used to be a CP rail lumber town many moons ago, has seen many better days!

Our medal bearer meeting point was at the community hall, I love the small town community halls!

they had a picture on the wall from when Rick Hanen came through 25 years ago on his original around the world man in motion tour. Hard to see but the caption reads "730 miles to go!"

Jake and I were fortunate to spend a small amount of time with these amazing Yahk difference makers, Dan, Thai, and Dave. Dan is 93 years young, and he and his wife have been married 69 years! She told me they have 7 children, 42 grandchildren, over 90 great-grandchildren, and 10 great great-grandchildren!!!!

The relay made a school stop at Thai's school. This school has an enrollment of about 16 students!

But their enthusiasm was huge!

I was the only one to catch this. Behind the community hall was this field, and when I got closer, I saw the sign, "use rink at your own risk", hockey is alive in Yahk!

The three medal bearers decided to walk together, so I drove back to the community hall to await their arrival. I hope you can tell by the pic the amount of community support.

Jake and Dave share the moment. Jake went with the medal bearers on the their segments.

Joey, our endurance athlete, is stylin his hand cycle

Kayla (usally one of the medal bearer hosts)  emcees the school stop in Yakh.

The community of Yahk came together to provide the relay staff and the medal bearers and their families lunch.

Our bike escort Kenn, hanging with the local youth.

Outside a farm in Yahk, a unique collection.

Heading into the Creston Valley

Creston, population about 5,300.

A rare sight in the mountains of British Columbia, grain elevators! these were built in 1935 and 1936 and are not in use anymore.

downtown core

Our end of day celebration for day 239 was inside the Creston and District Community Complex, anothe beautiful new facility. I was so impressed, I had to try out the gym, which had brand new equipment, and I missed the event.

There was a display on the sturgeon in the Kootenay River and the upcoming sturgeon release.                                          This was put on by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.

The upcoming release was today, and blessed once again, the relay team was invited to be part of it!

a traditional frist nations blessing. of a species that had been around for 175 million years!

the relay crew were mesmerized, wow!

this is one of the releasees?

they invited the local residents, what a great life experience , especially for the children.

As a tradition, the first nations people in Creston came by in canoes.

These 3 first nations people came in and received the first of  the sturgeon for release today.

and there they go!

more ceremonial canoes showed up to participate

an

in the tanks, these little guys are ready to go!

and then it is my turn to release a sturgeon, wow, these guys have been around for millions of years, who am I?

go buddy!

Steph gettin ready!

Kelly has a different approach!

This lady from the fisheries was a wealth of information.

after a lot of prodding, Lisa and Heather decide to give it a go!

Yah Heather, you are a difference maker!

wow, the Creston Valley, what a place to hang your hat!

it/s gonna take me a bit of time to digest the days events. In the meantime, a mandatory team meeting at the hotel in Creston, gettlng us all on the same page for our final push into Vancouver on May 22nd!