imagine it

RIVER & ADVENTURE CO.

The

seemp-kek-wee “river of the people”

General Delivery McLure BC V0E 2H0

Phone 250-819-2422Fax: 250-672-9262

www.riveradventuretours.com

. . . offers to families, small groups, companies, friends - a trip up the pristine North Thompson River or a helicopter/hike access to log cabins on fishing lakes.

imagine it

RIVER & ADVENTURE CO.

The

seemp-kek-wee “river of the people”

General Delivery McLure BC V0E 2H0

Phone 250-819-2422 Fax: 250-672-9262

www.riveradventuretours.com

. . . offers to families, small groups, companies, friends - a trip up the pristine North Thompson River or a helicopter/hike access to log cabins on fishing lakes.

RIVER & ADVENTURE CO.

The

I had promised to show our friends from the wet, West Coast what real devastation looked like. This was not the ordinary, orderly devastation made by companies of indigenous loggers. This was the burnt out mess made by real outdoors men using only a smoldering cigarette.

Best seen in its entirety from the North Thompson River, we picked up our ride and guide Jan Moore from the River & Adventure Company of McLure. We followed him out to the riverside docking facility and were introduced to the unique pontoon boat designed and constructed by Jan, himself. Having successfully accomplished the most dangerous part of the journey up river, we left the next two hours up to Jan. The river is wide here, with a myriad of islands, shoals and sandbars neatly set up to trap the unwary.

Having spent most of the past twenty-five years messing around in boats on this section of the North Thompson river, Jan gave us every reason to have confidence in his ability to look out for us in the fast-roiling waters falling away on the port side. The pontoon boat, Simpcwetkwe (Seemp-kek-wee) equipped with every electronic safety device in the catalogue, presented no danger to any of this senior’s party either falling overboard or even of stumbling on the carpeted decking. Like most catamarans, it presented a smooth, wide surface to walk upon.

After passing under the power lines and cables at McLure, Jan took us up the river past the Whispering Pines ranch and up to the swallow houses in the cliffs close to the river. After that we came to the site of the old Imada sawmills, which had, prior to the great Barriere and McLure fires, piles of cordwood waiting for the return of the old log-booming paddle wheelers. During the recent fire, many of these piles of ready cordwood went up in smoke. We declined to go ashore, despite the easy access afforded by the pontoon craft.

We eased into a back eddy, shut off the motor and enjoyed the complete silence that only a pristine waterway can offer.

The trucks we could see cruising by the cliffs opposite were completely silent, the sound absorbed by the barrier of trees along the rivers edge. During the fires that devastated the opposite shore, Jan and his partners worked round the clock on the McLure Ferry to keep one line of contact open to the Barriere side of the river.

Drifting along in the central current of the river, we wondered if the Overlanders had enjoyed this portion of their trip on rafts, Jan noting that there were rapids lower down at Hacienda Cabello that has less smooth water and a slightly greater fall than Fish Trap and were consequently a little rougher.

As we drifted under ferry cables on our way downstream, Jan started up the powerful motor and we headed back to dry land.

If you would like to make up a party to cruise the river phone Jan at 250-819-2422. The staging area is easily accessed at McLure, Amaranth Farm & Nursery, a beautiful homestead with gardens and a relaxing area, only thirty minutes from Kamloops, along the Yellowhead Highway or alternatively, take the Westsyde Road route to the ferry terminal and cross where the only access to the North Thompson where the fire began.

Rates are reasonable, starting at $25 (incl.gst). You will need to specify what kind of adventure you are looking for. For more information contact River & Adventure Co. (Simpcwetkwe; river of the people) at www.riveradventuretours.com or call 250-819-2422.

By Warren DamerPrinted by permission Senior Connector, September, 2004

Thompson River Adventure

RIVER & ADVENTURE CO.

The

I had promised to show our friends from the wet, West Coast what real devastation looked like. This was not the ordinary, orderly devastation made by companies of indigenous loggers. This was the burnt out mess made by real outdoors men using only a smoldering cigarette.

Best seen in its entirety from the North Thompson River, we picked up our ride and guide Jan Moore from the River & Adventure Company of McLure. We followed him out to the riverside docking facility and were introduced to the unique pontoon boat designed and constructed by Jan, himself. Having successfully accomplished the most dangerous part of the journey up river, we left the next two hours up to Jan. The river is wide here, with a myriad of islands, shoals and sandbars neatly set up to trap the unwary.

Having spent most of the past twenty-five years messing around in boats on this section of the North Thompson river, Jan gave us every reason to have confidence in his ability to look out for us in the fast-roiling waters falling away on the port side. The pontoon boat, Simpcwetkwe (Seemp-kek-wee) equipped with every electronic safety device in the catalogue, presented no danger to any of this senior’s party either falling overboard or even of stumbling on the carpeted decking. Like most catamarans, it presented a smooth, wide surface to walk upon.

After passing under the power lines and cables at McLure, Jan took us up the river past the Whispering Pines ranch and up to the swallow houses in the cliffs close to the river. After that we came to the site of the old Imada sawmills, which had, prior to the great Barriere and McLure fires, piles of cordwood waiting for the return of the old log-booming paddle wheelers. During the recent fire, many of these piles of ready cordwood went up in smoke. We declined to go ashore, despite the easy access afforded by the pontoon craft.

We eased into a back eddy, shut off the motor and enjoyed the complete silence that only a pristine waterway can offer.

The trucks we could see cruising by the cliffs opposite were completely silent, the sound absorbed by the barrier of trees along the rivers edge. During the fires that devastated the opposite shore, Jan and his partners worked round the clock on the McLure Ferry to keep one line of contact open to the Barriere side of the river.

Drifting along in the central current of the river, we wondered if the Overlanders had enjoyed this portion of their trip on rafts, Jan noting that there were rapids lower down at Hacienda Cabello that has less smooth water and a slightly greater fall than Fish Trap and were consequently a little rougher.

As we drifted under ferry cables on our way downstream, Jan started up the powerful motor and we headed back to dry land.

If you would like to make up a party to cruise the river phone Jan at 250-819-2422. The staging area is easily accessed at McLure, Amaranth Farm & Nursery, a beautiful homestead with gardens and a relaxing area, only thirty minutes from Kamloops, along the Yellowhead Highway or alternatively, take the Westsyde Road route to the ferry terminal and cross where the only access to the North Thompson where the fire began.

Rates are reasonable, starting at $25 (incl.gst). You will need to specify what kind of adventure you are looking for. For more information contact River & Adventure Co. (Simpcwetkwe; river of the people) at www.riveradventuretours.com or call 250-819-2422.

By Warren DamerPrinted by permission Senior Connector, September, 2004

Thompson River Adventure