I had spent the night in downtown Osoyoos. I began hitchhiking from there, but I wound up walking uphill out of the core. It was the hottest day so far. My whiteboard sign read West because I was trying to get to Maple Ridge and (like Walters Falls at home) there are many ways to get there.
I had a false start when a fellow heading north to Penticton stopped to give me a ride. He suggested that I keep walking west past the Huskys Truck stop. I followed instructions and headed to the spot. The road west has less traffic, but I still saw a fair amount of vehicles in the three hours that I had started in downtown.
I realized that I should give Emily’s Dad a call and tell him that I probably wouldn’t make his class given that I expected that my final trip would involve a few rides and I was still waiting for my first. I didn’t call. I still had hope.
The next car stopped. Ashley is a herbalist and entrepreneur in her early 30s. With a background in international affairs and years of travel and work in other countries, she was now studying to be a master herbalist. She was on vacation from Ontario. She had borrowed her brother’s car and come south from Vancouver to go camping and searching for plants. She was on her way back to Vancouver. Various petals and a few plant parts were strategically placed around the car. Near my feet were wild rose petals that I was careful to not disturb.
The time with nature, plus some positives in her relationships had left Ashley very in tune with the moment. When she pulled over, her intuition had told her I was a safe passenger. She was ready to help others.
Before long, we saw two young girls hitchhiking. Annals and Sarah were heading back to Keremeos where they had a campsite. We rearranged everything in the car to fit two more passengers. The plant parts were wrapped in cloth or placed in a bag. We loaded my backpack in the trunk.
As we drove to Keremeos, we learned that the Sarah and Annais were from Quebec. They had started this trip five days ago and were heading to a spirit festival on Vancouver Island before heading down through the states to South America. Since it wouldn’t take long for them to pack up theircamp, Ashley offered to take them to Vancouver.
The picture is taken from the camping grounds in Keremeos. It is an underground community site on crown land. Scattered about are small campsites. The community ebbs and flows through the produce seasons. It was a beautiful spot. Within a few minutes, we were back on the road with the car packed with the four of us and four backpacks and lots of camping gear.
Sarah has been helping to build an intentional community for women in Australia. Previously, she was at school for social work. Over the past few years she has traveled extensively. The conversation in the car traveling to Vancouver was fascinating.
We made great time and stopped in Hope for lunch. It was a great ride towards Vancouver and then the roads became congested. Using the GPS, we realized that we were at Burnaby and above New Westminster, my final destination. If I hopped the sky train at the ferry station, it would take me farther out of my way and the traffic was very slow. Ashley, kindly drove off the freeway at the next off ramp and we dug out my backpack while stopped at a service station. I thanked Ashley for her wonderful kindness, wished everyone the very best and they headed to the ferry.
It was starting to rain. I learned at the gas station that it was a few kilometres to the nearest sky train station. I asked the attendant if he could call me a cab. Fifteen minutes later I was at the station. Approximately eight stops later I was at New Westminster. Douglas College is a block further up a steep hill. I ran through the rain with my backpack. I was wet and out of breath when I arrived at Bob’s office. My trip from Ontario to BC was complete. My quest a success. My ironic reward – a university philosophy lecture on nihilism.
Travels with TimNH 