We have finished the first leg of our holiday - at Golden. It was great at the Bear Paw Lodge, a perfect place for a family holiday. It was a fair ways out of town so was quiet and private, surrounded by mountains. Lots of room for us all and a big yard to play bocce and badminton. We went on a little hike to a waterfall and yesterday some of us went rafting and some went up the gondola at the Kicking Horse Resort. The rafting was great. We only lost one person on the river and she was quickly rescued and delivered back to our raft. And of course it was good times visiting and laughing together. Uncle Fred, Ramona and Leyla were camping in Golden for the week so came over Friday night and all day Saturday. They say we should have our family holiday in Medicine Hat next year. Most of the group is staying at Golden tonight but Geoff, Grace and I and Richard all had to leave this afternoon. Richard has to work tomorrow. We wanted to get as far as Kamloops so the drive tomorrow to Barkerville won't be so long. We are staying at the Plaza Heritage Hotel downtown in Kamloops, an old but nice hotel. Sitting the bar right now. Grace had to show ID.
We walked over to the riverfront park and sat on a bench with ice creams listening to a jazzy band playing and watching people play in the river. It is hot here, was 31 when we arrived.