Signs of Autumn ~ North Thompson ~ Kamloops, BC

An afternoon drive to enjoy the sunshine and the last colors of Fall.  The weather has taken a quick cold turn and many of the leaves have fallen but on such a lovely day, there are still so many sights to enjoy.

Autumn colors

We began on the west side of the North Thompson River and followed the Westsyde Road.  As we travel north, we see homes, ranches, animal and tree farms and also vineyards which now includes a craft beer business.  There are horses, cattle, goats and sheep and the occasional deer family enjoying the serene countryside.

Jamieson Creek

We stopped at Jamieson Creek to have a look.  There is something about a creek that I find special.  I’m not sure if it is not just the running water bubbling over the rocks that create the special aspect or if it somehow brings back some childhood memories for me, either way, it is enjoyable.

Picnic scene

There are signs that the picnic table has had visitors but those days are likely over until next Spring time.  There were also signs of salmon that were coming back up the creek to spawn and didn’t make it all the way. 

Reflections

The North Thompson was calm and quiet today.  Due to the recent rain we’ve had higher waters than what might be normal for this time of year.  As we approached the McLure Ferry, the river was reflecting the colors in the trees that lined the shores on the east side.

McClure Ferry

We’ve taken this ferry ride before and will again on our return home.  It is a reaction ferry which means it is propelled by the current of the river.  It is held by cables as it crosses and takes five minutes to get to the other side of the river.  It is free and carries 12 passengers and two vehicles.  It is available on demand so will come over to pick you up if it is sitting across the river but it does not operate during high waters or winter freeze.

 North Thompson River

We follow the road on the west side of the river and once we come to the top of the hill across from McLure, we are offered this great view of the river and valley.  The sandbars that are scattered all down the river will not be seen during spring high water and summer months.  They do create hazards for summer boating on this river as they’re not flagged.  As much as we'd love to boat up this river, it just won't happen due to the sandbars.

Country Roads

Country roads…… we are now on dirt and gravel roads and that isn’t the best idea after a car wash but we will take the ‘high’ road, which this is.  A much higher altitude than the valley road we just left.  Not many views for this part of the drive other than lots of trees and the occasional small herds of cattle until we get into the old remains of the fire that swept through this area a few years ago.

Forest fire remains

It has been a few years so new growth is gradually happening but the charred trees left are a reminder of the devastation that fires can create.

North Thompson River

We’ve now crossed the river at Barriere and are on the east side of the North Thompson River.  There is a stop of interest just south of there and offers a nice view of the river. This view is looking north which is the route many Eastern Canadians used during the Gold Rush days.

Southern view

This view is looking south from the same viewpoint as the North Thompson River flows down with the Yellowhead highway in sight.  Once the Overlanders of 1862 got across the Rockies, they managed to get through the rapids and make their way to Kamloops.  They are part of the history that helped create Kamloops to be the wonderful city it is today.

Westsyde ~ McLure Ferry ~ Kamloops, BC

I like to think that we have sunshine in Kamloops most of the time. We are a semi-arid climate so we do get over 2000 hours of sunshine a year. We also get very little rainfall, the yearly average is 174.8mm (6.8 in.). So why is it that we seem to be getting rain when I am out taking pictures of our beautiful part of the world? I wish I had the answer, but all I can say is that this isn’t normal, really !

We planned to spend the day at the North Thompson Fall Fair which is held in Barriere, BC, which is 66 km (39 mi) north of Kamloops and we chose to make a circle tour of the trip there and back.

 

Westsyde Road scenery

We left Kamloops heading north through Westsyde and followed Westsyde Road for about 40 km. We passed the small communities of Noble Creek and Black Pines following the country road leading us through the Whispering Pines Indian Reserve, which then leads us to the McLure Ferry landing.

The McLure Ferry

The McLure Ferry has been in operation for a very long time and offers the only crossing of the N. Thompson River between Kamloops and Barriere. There is enough room for two vehicles but the crossing only takes a few minutes so the wait will not be very long should there be more than 2 vehicles.  Watch the ferry crossing the river by clicking on this.

McLure Ferry Captain

The McLure ferry is a reaction ferry, a cable ferry that uses the reaction of the current of the river against a fixed tether to propel the vessel across the river. The tether can be seen on the left in the photo.  The ferry doesn’t follow a time schedule but is available on demand for most hours on any day, other than high water and winter season. There are very few cable ferries left but we have one right up the river from Kamloops and it even gives you a free ride !  Check here for more details on the schedule and take the scenic drive to the free ferry.

 

View of the N. Thompson River on crossing

Once you land on the McLure side of the river, you will drive through a residential neighborhood of country homes and small farms, where we saw some sheep watching the ferry traffic pass by, and then out to the Yellowhead Highway.
The one thing that stands out in my memory about McLure is Mr. Len Sadler-Brown.  He was a tall man with a big mustache and the occasional twinkle in his eye.  Mr. Brown was the very tolerant, although strict school bus driver of many years ago. He lived there and drove the bus from McLure picking all kids up to deliver to school in Kamloops and then brought us back home safely, no matter what the weather was.

N. Thompson River at Heffley Creek, BC

We then followed the Yellowhead Highway south, which follows the North Thompson River on its’ way to meet the South Thompson River in Kamloops, BC. We pass lots of farms and ranches in this fertile area, thanks to the river, where we see horses, sheep, cattle and also vegetable productions.

N. Thompson River, Heffley Creek, BC

We drove through the communities of Vinsulla and Heffley Creek, which is 26 km (17 mi) north of Kamloops. This is where you will find a lot of history with the River playing a large part of early exploration and fur trading, dating back to the early 19th century.

This circle tour would take less than two hours but I think you should allow more time as you will want to stop and enjoy the area.  Our day took us to Barriere where we enjoyed the North Thompson Fall Fair, which I shall tell you about soon.  Even on this rainy afternoon, we know there is just no place like home.