Monday, August 6 - Canada's Best Value Inn, 1501 Swift Creek Rd, Valemount, BC

As we leave Sun Peaks we surprise a deer about to cross the road!

Stop off at Tim Hortons for brunch, arrived at just the wrong time, a queue for the restroom and a queue for the food – so the place must be good.  However Kim’s English Muffin with Bacon and Hashbrown did not hit the absurdly high benchmark he allocates McDonalds, but he said the hot chocolate was worthy.

It was a pretty drive, the very high hills started off a bit bald at first but gradually increased to full coverage.  It would be stunning in the snow.  We drive alongside the North Thompson River for most of our journey along Hwy 5 North.  CoPilot says we will arrive at Valemount by 2.30pm but we obviously didn’t have the recommended number of stops as we arrive before 2pm.  Our room is not ready so we go across the road to the Visitors Centre to fill in time.  We buy a paper map at the Shell Service Station, retro huh!  I think I will be able to read the small print – hopefully!

Last night we did a test transfer of funds from US to NZ through Transferwise, usually the money gushes the other way!  It is a bit different doing it this way round and we chickened out and just transferred $10 but it looks like it is going through OK.  Just seen on the news the exchange rate is getting better for us to send money home too : )

Valemount is short for Valley in the Mountains and there are mountains and the Creekside River where salmon come to spawn – we are two weeks early but we go down to creek for a look anyway.  No bears yet either but there is a moose head in the lobby, I guess that counts as wildlife, it was wild once.

Imagine this little creek swarming with spawning salmon!

Our room is nowhere near as luxurious as last night but it is more than double the price (!) and that’s with our 10% discount.  What were we thinking??  All about getting to Edmonton in the shortest time possible for the driver, that’s what!  And if you come the scenic way there are only expensive hotels to choose from so we suck it up and make the most of it, filling the spa bath to the top, using all the towels and lots of WIFI - after we eventually got it to to work.  Kim's loud rant did not help!  Then all was almost forgiven as we see this lovely sunset out our window.

View from our window at Valemount, BC