Th Cold Plunge: The Cabin by the Lake

On the Friday before the Victoria Day long weekend, Janine, Maddie, Kenzie and I packed up the car and made the four-hour drive from Penticton to 100 Mile House, in the South Cariboo region of central British Columbia.

We stopped halfway, at the Kamloops Lake Viewpoint, in the small lakeside village of Savona just outside the city of Kamloops. Getting the girls in and out of the car for five minutes simply wasn’t practical, so Janine stayed with them in the car while I jumped out to take in the scenery and snap some pictures.

Just as it had on our previous road trip to Banff, the Okanagan Valley transformed into alpine country. The temperature dropped, and the lush green hills and lakes gave way to snow-covered cedar forests and icy roads frequented by logging trucks.

We reached 100 Mile House in the late afternoon. I squeezed in some trip planning before we headed out of phone range. I emailed the Univeristy of Victoria on Vancouver Island about booking student accommodation for my upcoming week. Like other universities throughout the country, UVic had opened their student accommodation to casual bookings during the summer months. For around the same price as a bunk in a backpacker’s dorm, you got your own room, and in some cases, your own bathroom. I was sold.

We were welcomed to the cabin by Janine’s parents, who live in the township of 100 Mile House a half- hour drive away. Janine’s mum had cooked roast beef and vegetables for dinner, and baked a rhubarb cake for dessert.

The next morning I woke at 4am before everyone else. I finished reading my book, True Spirit by Australian solo sailer Jessica Watson. Through the preparation for my own solo adventure, I found her story to be so inspirational.

I moved out to the couch in the living room and sat there watching the fog hanging over the lake as the sunlight began to break. I ventured outside and took some photos before scurrying back into the warmth.

There was no phone reception or wifi at the cabin. I couldn’t do any planning for the next leg of my trip- I just had to trust there would be somewhere for me to stay when I got where I was going. This weekend would be the pause I desperately needed.

We spent Saturday at the cabin. Janine’s sister and brother-in-law dropped by to work on the property in preparation for summer, and Maddie and Kenzie tagged along as little helpers, giving Janine a chance to have a nap while I caught up on some writing.

In the afternoon, Janine’s parents came over again and made chocolate brownies with the girls. I went for a walk down the road to look at the other houses in the area. It was nice to get some fresh air, and to get out of the cabin on my own.

When I returned, I set myself up on the deck to work on the outline and opening scenes of Parasomnia, a supernatural short story set in Newfoundland, another destination on my epic Canadian adventure.

That evening we had cabbage rolls, dumplings and salad for dinner, and brownies and ice cream for dessert. Afterwards, Janine and I took the girls for a walk, wearing them out as they played on the flying fox behind the cabin.

Once the girls had gone to bed, Janine and I sat down for a drink. She showed me pictures of the fires that had broken out around the lake in previous years. We giggled at pictures and videos of the girls and Harlow, their golden retriever.

On Sunday we went into town, where we spent most of the day with Janine’s parents at her childhood home. I used the opportunity while in phone range to finalise my accommodation at the Univeristy of Victoria the following week. My efforts were hindered for three hours, as my mobile banking facility was down due to scheduled maintenance ( it was the early hours of the morning in Australia at the time). But I had it sorted by the time we drove back out to the cabin in the afternoon.

The weather had been temperamental so far, with spells of rain blowing through and keeping us mostly confined to the cabin, much to Maddie and Kenzie’s displeasure (and Janine’s and my sanity). There was a swingset to be swung on, after all.

A hailstorm swept through the lake that afternoon, leaving small icy pebbles on the grass and the deck. I was determined to squeeze some more writing time, so after dinner, I sat down and worked on an outline for Parasomnia. As the evening set in, the fog returned, and I took a break from writing to take some more pictures.

As these things seem to go, the weather cleared up the day we were due to head home, and we left behind sunshine and clear blue skies. Nevertheless, I felt so fortunate to have had this truly Canadian experience at the cabin on the lake. To meet and spend time with Janine’s family, and eat delicious home-cooked meals. It was a quintessential Canadian experience which I am so grateful to have had.

Thank-you for reading this post. If you are enjoying my blog and would like to help me along on my travels, there is an option to make a donation below. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.