The route selected was the Slocan Valley Rail Trail that runs from Slocan City to South Slocan. Our plan was to do one part we hadn't done before, that from Slocan City south about 20 km to Winlaw.
The weather for the past few days had been very hot and bright, almost too much to tolerate being outside. We camped for the night in the cool of Springer Creek CG in the village of Slocan City and started on our ride early in the morning.
It was very pleasant riding along a flat trail, usually passing near the Slocan River, currently in spring flood conditions, enjoying the shade and the views. It was a quick ride and we were back in Slocan City by 10 am, just in time to beat the heat of the day.
This trail used to be part of the CP Rail system which brought people and rail cars up to the south end of Slocan Lake where they were put on barges and hauled up to New Denver. A road was finally constructed around and through the cliffs at the south-east end of the Lake and the old ways of travel passed into history. Now it is a pleasant ride or hike down a pleasant valley with views of the Valhallas to the west.
On our return to Slocan City, we drove to New Denver for a short stroll through the Kohan Meditation Garden. This garden memorializes the Japanese-Canadians who were interned in the area during WWII, one Canada's less-proud moments in the treatment of people who didn't happen to be white and European.
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