Big White or Bust...

With nothing but the best intentions Tim, Michelle, Chantelle and I left Vancouver on a mission to deliver me to Big White. Tim and I had both read about some natural hot springs north of Whistler that sounded like fun and were keen to check them out on the way. Michelle and Chantelle were along for the ride and a long weekend road trip began...

We drove the sea to sky highway between Vancouver and Whistler which is a magical piece of road akin to the Great Ocean Road back home. Howe Sound on one side of the car and mountains that disappear into the clouds on the other...when the 2010 Olympics are held here if the athletes are not nervous enough the drive to Whistler will test their mettle.

After lunching at Whistler and getting a feel for a ski resort which is quite like nothing I had imagined we headed north to Pemberton and the Meagher Creek Hot Springs. The trip went a little like this..

Horses and a stray llama in a field...

Rustic farm houses...

Forestry roads in BC are a hidden gem...

Unfortunately sometimes driving them can loosen more than it should

Not really helping...?

Finally we made it

We spent the afternoon in the hot springs relaxing in the incredibly warm water with a near freezing white water river rushing past. It was quite surreal. We were accompanied by some interesting characters. A 30 something yoga addict that did not have an ounce of fat one him and had more abdominal muscles than I cared to take notice of...oh and he had a thing about wearing clothes...just didn't do it. And his mate...a 50 something Jack Nicholson look-a-like who like to lie on the hot rocks in his birthday suit. A relaxing time was had by all and as the sun set we headed back to Whistler to spend the night at a house owned by a friend of Tim's.

We arrived in Whistler well into the evening and after a counter meal retired to a house lost in a time warp. An old family home, the original owner had lost his life in an unfortunate accident and the house resembled all that was him...it was the most beautiful family home with character in every room and a feel that can only come from a generation of children unwrapping Christmas presents.

We woke late the next morning and after an rushed but enjoyable cooked breakfast bid Chantelle goodbye and turned the Hilux towards Big White...of course we had to turn it down a hill as by now we could not start the car using the ignition...the trip went a little like this:

Everyone likes a log jam...my only advise...the little logs...not so strong - my legs dried surprisingly quickly under the car heater. These birds just land on your hand.

But often take off before the camera is ready.

Ham. cheese and tomato sandwiches for dinner on the side of the road listening to Fat Freddy's Drop cranked on the stereo with a few hours of driving still ahead of us...
Home Sweet Home...my pad at Big White...more on this later.

It was an awesome road trip...thanks for driving Tim and i'll see you at Big White for a ski holiday later this season in return...