Spring & Summer 2023
Recreation is the key to RVing
Cycling club wants you
Yes, go chasing waterfalls
Take these tips on the next road trip
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With spring weather having arrived and the ice coming off of area lakes, more and more people are looking to get back out in the great outdoors— and RVing is the perfect way to do it.
Mike Poole at Jubilee RV said choosing a recreational vehicle that fits your immediate needs is the best way to start if you are a first-time buyer.
Deciding on the type of camping you want to do is also necessary when choosing what type and size of recreational vehicle is best for you.
And, when choosing a travel trailer to haul, knowing the towing capacity of your tow vehicle is important.
Needs change over the years, children grow up, destinations differ, which is why you can
always trade up into a different style of RV.
Features in recreational vehicles vary and buyers need to think about what they really want or need for their style of camping. For example, gas generators and power inverters can provide a good source of power for off-grid camping.
Poole said travel trailers seem to be the RV of choice right now.
“It seems to be the number one-selling RV right now,” he said. “People don’t like to lose their box with the fifth-wheel hitch. It’s something easy to back in, hook up, away you go for the weekend.”
And the pricey housing market is having an impact on the RV sector.
“We’re seeing a lot more people are starting to live in RVs, because that’s what they can afford,” Poole said.
Poole said Jubilee RV has park models that are zoned both for park model lots and residential lots, which provides another option for homebuyers.
During the height of the pandemic, supply chain interruptions saw a shortage of models for sale on local lots. As well, manufacturing costs soared, sending RV prices higher.
Costs have since levelled out, but have not dropped dramatically.
“The supply is back to normal since the pandemic, but we still see the demand. People are looking at the world differently,” Poole said. “Older people are a little more cautious with their health, so they stay a little closer to their home. A lot of people are looking to disconnect, get away from all the bad news. It’s a good way to disconnect.”
Poole noted one of the company’s mottos during the pandemic was, “Jubilee RV — get away from it all.”
Everyone’s road to adventure differs, but RVing your way to that adventure is a timeless journey.
As welcoming as the interior of an RV can be, it’s also easy for first-time RV drivers to feel a little intimidated. RVs are the largest vehicles many people will ever operate and even long-time drivers will likely need some time to adjust. That adjustment period can go smoothly if drivers take steps to grow more comfortable behind the wheel before embarking on their trips.
• Recognize that practice makes perfect. A cross-country RV trip is a dream vacation for many people, but drivers must learn to crawl before they can walk. RVs are much bigger and heavier than cars and trucks and practice runs can help drivers grow acclimated to that size. Don’t begin a practice run without first noting the class and height of the vehicle. The online camper resource Camper Report notes that Class C RVs average 10 feet in height, while Class A RVs are typically between 13 and 14 feet tall. Measure the height of your RV prior to your first practice run so you can be sure you can make it beneath all overpasses on your route.
• Take a companion along. Those behind the wheel of a car or truck may not give a second thought to driving in reverse or navigating their way around parking lots. But such situations require some forethought, and even a little help,
when driving an RV for the first time. A traveling companion can direct drivers into and out of parking spots until they grow more acclimated to operating an RV.
• Utilize leveling blocks. RV leveling blocks help the vehicles stay level when parked on sloped surfaces. RVs need to be level in order for equipment to work properly. That’s problematic if you park at a campsite with uneven ground. Even if equipment is functional when parked on marginally sloped surfaces, navigating your way
through an RV parked on such ground is inconvenient if not annoying. Leveling blocks also can keep jacks from sinking into soft ground, making them an inexpensive ,yet useful accessory.
• Practice dumping your tanks. Drivers should practice this in advance of their first trip so they are well versed when the time comes to do it on the road. Tutorials on YouTube can teach drivers how to dump their tanks. Drivers also can invest in a highly rated thick sewer hose to avoid being sprayed with waste while out on the road.
Apush is underway to modernize the Interior Grasslands Cycling Club and the hunt is on for new members, young and old — but especially young.
”There’s more than just old guys who want to ride bikes now,” club president Mike Moonie said.
“There’s women and young people we want to get involved. The club has always been tailored to racing over the years, until about six or seven years ago.”
The club’s focus is on road racing, social rides and cyclocross — a mix of road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.
Moonie said the group is hoping to build its membership for social rides, which it holds on Saturdays and every other Thursday. Races are also planned, with a schedule available on the group’s website at interiorgrasslandscycling.com.
The club originated in the
1970s and its current iteration was founded in 2005. In the 1970s, it was known as the Kamloops Bicycle Club, founded by several Westsyde high school teachers and later joined by Peter Bartel and John Tilley, who are still involved in
the Kamloops cycling scene.
The club’s goal now is to expand its membership to include younger people and more women.
“I’d like us to be a third men, a third women and a third kids, with everyone showing up in good num-
bers and everybody having fun,”
Moonie said, adding he is confident the club will once again have more than 20 people showing up to its social rides.
Anyone with a road bike or cyclocross bike is welcome, even children.
Interior Grasslands Cycling Club members on a ride to Mount Lolo just northwest of Kamloops. The club’s focus is on road racing, social rides and cyclocross — a mix of road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase. More information is online at interiorgrasslandscycling. com.
Moonie said ages eight to 10 are great times for kids to start riding.
Moonie said social rides are a great way to start with the club, since members will adapt to the skill levels of newer attendees.
“Cycling isn’t just about commuting for work. You can have fun on your bikes, too,” he said.
The club’s website has a host of information about the club, including its 2023 schedule and a list of recommended riding routes. This year’s cyclocross race will take place on McArthur Island in September or October.
Camping is an opportunity for people of all ages to venture into the great outdoors. Camping can be an immersive outdoor activity that includes hiking, cooking and sightseeing, all in a single, memorable trip.
According to KOA’s 2021 North American Report, more than 70 percent of North American campers changed their camping habits in 2020. First-time campers increased fivefold between 2019 and 2020 and experts note the pandemic likely had a great deal to do with that spike.
Even though camping seems like a relatively easy activity, first-time or novice campers should familiarize themselves with some of the basics of camping before embarking on their trips.
Camping beginners can consider these tips to make the most of their time in the great outdoors.
• Practice in your backyard. If you have a backyard, practice setting up a tent and other camping equipment in the yard first so this becomes second nature by the time you reach the campsite. Sleep outside in the yard and learn
the sounds of nature to get a feel for camping, including spending time in a sleeping bag. It’s a lot easier to make initial adjustments in the backyard as opposed to at the campsite.
• Camp in warm weather. Novices may want to camp in warm weather first. This way, you will not have to purchase a lot of gear just to keep warm. In addition, you’ll have more daylight to set up your tent and enjoy long evenings outside.
• Rent or borrow gear at first. Try out gear before you purchase anything to figure out what you need. If your budget allows, go bigger on the tent to give occupants a little more wiggle room, such as a six-person tent for a family of four. Experiment with sleeping bags with different temperature ratings so you’ll be able to gauge just how hot or cold you’ll be inside of them.
• Check out other camp setups. Visit a campsite by tagging along with an avid camper to see what others use. You’ll need to bring all of your supplies, so find out how people pack light and how they differentiate between necessities and luxuries. You’ll likely want foldable camp chairs, lanterns, camp cooking utensils, a cooler and a camp stove. If you camp at an established campsite, there may be grills or designated areas for campfires.
• Visit an outdoors store in Kamloops and speak to staff there to get some valuable camping tips.
Kamloops fly fishers Ken Woodward and Drew Alway share a passion for teaching others better casting methods.
Both Woodward and Alway are Fly Fishers International certified casting instructors.
Together, they operate Always Fly Casting, teaching casting to local fly fishing clubs, youth organizations and fish and game associations. They mostly provide twostudent personalized lessons.
“A lot of people, they’ll spend $500 to $1,000 for a guided day, but then they can’t cast,” Alway said. “Or they learn from their friends and they learn poor muscle memory — and that affects their casting their whole lives.”
Alway said when people come to them for instruction, it makes a huge difference in their enjoyment and efficiency in casting.
Alway said beginners should plan to spend between $300 and $500 for a decent starter rod and reel combo.
To improve the odds of success when fishing, Alway recommends planning ahead by taking a twoperson casting lesson.
“Spending $140 — split by two, 70 bucks a person — can make it so much more enjoyable,” he said.
“It may be the make-or-break reason why you do enjoy fly fishing or don’t because you can actually safely cast the fly away from you and not hook yourself or your partner in the boat with a sharp pointy hook. It’s so enjoyable. If you’re
not catching fish, you can always improve your casting.”
Alway said Kamloops has a rich fly fishing history and culture, noting the area will host the 2023 Masters and Ladies World Fly Fishing Championships from Sept. 24 to Sept. 30 at Edith, Leighton, Roche, Tunkwa and Corbett lakes and at the Similkameen and Clearwater rivers.
In 2022, the Kamloops area hosted the Canadian Ladies National Fly Fishing Championships. In 1993, the World Fky Fishing Championships were held at area lakes.
For those seeking to take the first step to such prestigious places, Alway recommends a five or six weight fly rod for fishing Kamloops area lakes.
For a beginning fly fisher, weight-forward floating lines are great lines to start with.
“People can go into the shop to talk about what kind of fishing they want to do — whether it’s river fishing or lake fishing or if they’re going on a trip somewhere, and then get the tailored fly rod, fly weight, fly lines, flies to match with what they are actually going to do,” Always said of the beauty of Kamloops having a local fly shop.
Always said catch-and-release techniques for wild trout, salmon, steelhead populations is extremely important to maintain genetics.
In stocked lakes with hatchery fish, catch-and-release is often not as important, as biologists that manage the lakes target a certain
amount of retention by anglers. Alway noted some area lakes have been reported to have experienced winterkill (the loss of fish in winter caused by a lack of oxygen in a water body).
Typically, management strategies for maintaining fisheries in those affected lakes include stocking fish in the spring and sometimes in the fall.
Kamloops and surrounding area offers plenty of accessible fly fishing lakes, with some, such as Edith Lake just south of the city off Highway 5A, accessible from dock or shore.
For more information about fly fishing, local lakes and techniques or to hire a fishing guide, go online to, flyguys.net, gofishbc. com or alwaysflycasting.com.
There is something about waterfalls that calms the spirit.
If you need some peace of mind, spend the day in Wells Gray Provincial Park, which is next to Clearwater — a 90-minute drive north of Kamloops on Highway 5.
Nicknamed Canada’s Waterfalls Park, Wells Gray has 39 waterfalls within its boundaries and many more if you count the numerous creeks that cascade down the mountainsides.
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It was named after Minister of Lands Arthur Wellesley Gray, who recognized the growing need to preserve special places in British Columbia. In 1939, a forest ranger near Clearwater, Bill Noble, recommended the area be turned into a park and, on Nov. 28, 1939, Gray passed an order-in-council creating a huge park around most of the drainage basin of the Clearwater River.
After a quick stop at the tourist centre to pick up a free map, make your way to Spahats Creek Falls, a 197-foot-tall waterfall on Spahats Creek that drops into the Granite Canyon of the Clearwater River.
Spahats is the First Nations term for bear and the creek was called Bear Creek in the 1950s, but due to the large number of Bear Creeks in B.C., the name Spahats was adopted in the late 1960s.
From there, drive a little farther up the road until you reach the trail head for Moul Falls.
A one-hour hike will take you to the thirdhighest waterfall in the park and the only one people can stand behind. It was named after Charlie Moul, one of the areas earliest settlers (he left Clearwater Valley in 1914 to serve in the First World War and never returned).
People can walk behind the falls to view them from inside a large cave.
Although the experience will leave you soaked, it is well worth it.
The next major stop is Dawson Falls, where a 10-minute walk will get you to the main viewpoint and another couple minutes will get you to the top of the waterfall.
At Dawson Falls, the Murtle River drops over lava flows dating back about 20,000 years.
Next, stop for a picnic lunch at Helmcken Falls. This 141-metre (463-foot) waterfall on the Murtle River is the fourth-tallest in Canada and one of the reasons for the creation of Wells Gray Park.
This name honours John Sebastian Helmcken, a physician with the Hudson’s Bay Company who arrived in Victoria in 1850. He helped bring British Columbia into Confederation in 1871.
Helmcken died in 1920 at the age of 95, but never saw the falls that bear his name.
The road ends at Clearwater Lake — one of six large lakes in the park.
It got its name from the Overlanders rafting expedition to the Cariboo goldfields in 1862.
When they arrived at the mouth of the Clearwater River, they noted its distinct clarity compared to the muddy North Thompson and named it Clear Water. The river’s name was later extended to the lake.
— with information from local Wells Gray expert Roland Neave, whose book, Exploring Wells Gray Park, is a must-have for those wishing to learn more about the majestic place.
The iconic Helmcken Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park are a must-visit destination
You’ve got your tunes, you’ve packed snacks and you made sure to program the GPS.
You might be road-trip ready, but after battling the winter weather, is your vehicle?
During the warmer months, we tend to spend more time in our cars. According to Statistics Canada, drivers average 86.7-billion kilometres between July and September, the busiest quarter of the year. So, it’s not difficult to see that getting your car ready for summer conditions is crucial for accident prevention and optimal fuel economy.
Here are some tips before hitting the open road:
• Check your tires: Use all-season tires and maintain your tire pressure, as both will improve your vehicle’s fuel economy in warmer weather.
• Get rain ready: Replace your windshield wipers, which may be cracked or torn from ice, snow, salt and extreme temperatures.
• Check air conditioning: There’s nothing worse than losing your air conditioning on a hot sunny day. You could have an issue if it can’t produce or preserve temperatures that are 10 C below the outside air.
• Cool your car: Sitting in traffic on a hot day is tough on your car’s cooling system. Ask your mechanic to check your coolant levels at the start of the season.
• Fight salt damage: Replacing a salt-clogged air filter gets you more kilometres per litre.
Pets are an important part of the family and many people include their furry companions in road trip plans, so here are a few tips to ensure your pet-inclusive vacation is a success for everyone:
• Plan ahead: Map out your stops and call ahead to ensure that your lodging, whether it’s a hotel or a campground, is animal -friendly.
• Ease your pet into traveling: Give the little one a chance to get comfortable in a carrier, crate or animal seatbelt before your trip to reduce crying or discomfort when it comes time for a long journey. If motion sickness or anxiety is an issue, ask your veterinarian for recommendations about your pet’s particular condition.
• Identify your pet in multiple way: This can be done through collar and tag, tattoo and microchip in the unfortunate event they get lost. Microchip databases are international and make tracking down your lost animal easier across provinces and borders.
• Think about insurance: Animal insurance providers like Petsecure offer medical coverage, which protects your furry friend against accidents and illness across Canada and the continental U.S.
Millions of motorists traverse the country’s roadways when the weather allows. An increasing number of those people are seeing the sights while riding motorcycles.
Riding a motorcycle can be an aweinspiring experience much different from riding inside a car or truck.
Even though motorcycle accidents have declined in recent years, motorcycle fatalities occur 28 times more frequently than fatalities involving passenger vehicles. Alcohol and drug impairment, distraction and an aging motorcycle population have contributed to the elevated accident risk among motorcycle riders.
However, inexperience also plays a role. By adhering to certain safety measures, novice riders can avoid various risks and stay safe as they get more acclimated to their motorcycles.
Here are some tips:
• Take lessons and get your licence.
• Enrol in a safety course, which can teach riders various strategies, including emergency evasive maneuvers.
• Remember that helmets on motorcycle drivers and passengers is mandatory in
Canada, unlike in some American states.
• Wear protective clothing. In addition to helmets, jackets and other protective gear can reduce the risk of injury for riders involved in crashes. A 2011 study published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention determined there was a significantly reduced risk of injury to the upper body when riders wore fitted body armour.
• Practise in a closed environment. It is essential that motorcycle riders grow accustomed to riding the bike they will be taking out on the road. Doing so in a parking lot or a closed course enables riders to get a better feel for the throttle grip and brakes and steering. Riders can gradually increase their time on the motorcycle and skip longdistance trips until they feel comfortable on their bikes.
In addition to these tips, novice riders are urged to be as visible as possible while on the road. Bright or reflective items can make motorcycle riders stand out. With these safety measures in place, novice motorcycle riders can reduce their risk for accidents and injuries while on the road.
Boating is a rewarding hobby that can be great for people from all walks of life.
Many people buy a boat because they already have a passion for fishing and want their own vessel to take out on the water. Others may buy a boat because they yearn to get away from it all and relax in the middle of Kamloops Lake on a hot summer day.
The fun of boating compels many people to buy their own boats.
For first-timers, buying a boat can be both exciting and confusing. Prospective buyers must decide on everything from the type of vessel they want to the size of the boat to where to store it when they’re not out on the water.
Such decisions can make the process of buying a boat somewhat intimidating.
However, the following tips can help:
• Assess your skills: An honest assessment of your skills will help you determine if the time is right to buy a boat. There’s no shame in waiting to buy a boat until you become more comfortable navigating it. Boating schools can be great resources for novices, teaching them the ins and outs of boating.
• Ask around: Boaters tend to be passionate about boating and many are willing to offer advice to novices about boats that may suit their needs. Local marinas can be great resources for first-time boat buyers — and the Kamloops area has many from which to choose, including Bruker Marina at Tobiano. Visit a local marina and seek advice from current boat owners. Some may share their own travails and triumphs from their first boat-buying experience and those stories can serve as a guide as you begin your own journey to boat ownership.
• Be patient: Boats are significant investments, so it serves prospective owners well to be patient and exercise due diligence before making a purchase. Do your homework on the type of boat that best suits your needs, skill level and budget.
• Do your homework in regard to fees: The cost of owning a boat is more than just the sticker price and the cost of fuel. Much like you would before buying an automobile, get a quote on boating insurance before making a purchase, being as specific as possible in regard to the boat’s make, model and age when asking for an estimate. In addition, get quotes on docking and mooring fees. When buying a boat, people envision taking their boats out as much as possible. That’s only possible for boat owners who fully grasp the full cost of boat ownership and how to finance all of the ancillary expenses of owning a boat.
