Jewel Creek Farm

Over the weekend we finally made the long drive over to Eastern Washington, then north to Canada to visit a farm we'd learned about before fishing. After eight hours of driving, leaving the house a 5pm after work, we found ourselves on an old logging road without cell service somewhere in British Columbia. After another hour of heavy off roading with are stoutly steed, Marcy the Mercedes, we found our way back to the gravel road we'd been on and went another mile, I mean kilometer down the road to be welcomed by a lovely sign pointing to Jewel Creek Farm and a comparatively excellent old logging road to the 'big house' on the property where we were met by our host, another visitor, and two friendly dogs at 2am.

 

After getting some much desired sleep, I woke early in the morning to take Tilly and our two new pack members for a long walk around the 160 acre homestead and surrounding "crown land" then came in to share our eggs and veggies with our hosts for breakfast.

We spent time harvesting hops, digging potatoes, swimming in the nearby lake, and staying up late around the campfire visiting with new friends.

Oliver, our host, is working on building a commercial brewery on part of the property, as well as hoping to set up an "eco village" of like-minded folks. Tim particularly enjoyed seeing all the brewing equipment, log mill, and the enormous shop.

We hope to get back again this fall for another visit with our new friends.

On our way home, we passed the fire camps of hard working fire fighters combating the raging wildfires of Eastern Washington and we saw blackened earth and trees along the road with a few plumes of smoke in the distance. The remains of the smoke from the peak of the fire still lingered over the towns we drove through and filled our car. 

At the top of the Cascade Highway pass, we stopped to get out for a run and stretch our legs down the Pacific Crest Trail. We passed a through-hiker just finishing his journey from Mexico to Canada. Some day I hope to hike the Washington portion of the trail.