Canadians Choosing Canada JE 3
Balfour, BC Ferry Meet
The Great Tuk Adventure
A future explorer in Yukon
Balfour Ferry Terminal, BC
Meet the Shawfoots (a fun surname blend). They are investing in the future of travel.
Jay and Christine and their ‘littles’ hail from this Kootenay BC Region. Traveling back from a soccer event, domestic travel is not foreign to them and they are inspiring the same wanderlust in their children with trips of lifetimes. I relate.
The Kootenays of British Columbia. Who knew?! Lake fronts, sandy beaches, windy roads through little lakeside communities, artists corridors, insanely charming mountain towns, little islands and ferry rides.
So instead of taking the more direct route to Fernie from Kelowna, I venture from Nelson to Balfour, BC – a local commuter ferry that goes to Crawford Bay, BC – 300’ish km to Fernie from there.
And this is where I meet the Shawfoots….
Me: Hi, can I ask you a question? Am I in the right lane for this ferry and where do I pay?
Jay: You are in the right place and this is the longest, free ferry ride in the country!
What!!? I would have never discovered this had I decided to drive south-east instead. Magic in the off-path once again.
Jay and Christine and their ‘littles’ (aka kids) are no strangers to adventure. When I shared where I was from and what I was up to, they immediately shared their adventure to Tuktoyaktuk, NWT on the new Tuk road during a summer adventure where they shared their Canada Day parade memories of Whitehorse, Gold Panning Championships of Dawson City and more.
They are travellers and they have taken their children along to experience new communities, people and landscapes. Their love of their province and affection for Canada is apparent having shared road trips to the north and the east coast and of adventures as well as memories of Newfoundland – of course we laughed about Dildo and Kimmel for Mayor. Their next adventure is cycling Europe, however, the north calls and next time will be in the winter season for endless nights and northern lights.
Travelling with ‘littles’ I imagine may change the prep time but equally expand the experience; witnessing ‘new’ through the eyes of babes – and future travelling Canadians.
#connectingcanada
#KtunaxaNation
#itsasmallworld