September 14, 2019
Nelson, BC

A rest day! The Blue Horned Pothole Magnet stayed at the campground while I explored on foot, retracing some familiar paths from a family trip 20ish years ago. It’s funny what I remembered – this set of benches under a yellow awning where we had ice cream, that steep curve of walkway up to the campground…

I’m sure there are many ways to explore, but this I can recommend:

1. Work up an appetite climbing the steep hills (for the gorgeous view) at Gyro park.
2. All the better to devour eggs benny with at Vienna Cafe, OR (or in my case AND) pick up tasty treats, sodas and veggies at the local farmer’s market. Get extra in case you’re hungry again in 20 minutes. (Yep!)
3. Savour piping hot locally roasted coffee from Orso Negro Cafe.
4. Deek into shops to avoid the rain and find interesting, local products for sale. Avoid buying things that won’t fit in the already full panniers.
5. Discuss bike routes at the bar of Backroad Brewing. (Their ESB is particularly good, as is the news that the rail trail from Castlegar to Christina Lake is viable.)
6. Ride Streetcar 23 to Lakeside park. Don’t get off because it’s the last returning trip of the day and you saw another brewery at the other end of the line.
7. Find some fellow nerds playing games at Torchlight Brewing. Multitask sampling beer, carb loading house-made Mac and Cheese, and vying for dominion of Catan until karaoke night takes over the bar.
8. Stagger back to your campsite well after quiet time to avoid the option of doing laundry tonight.

In a nutshell, Nelson is rad, and I’m considering moving.

Alice