84 F/ 28 C

Our last day to spend
with friends and paint - we must
return next year too!

~carliewired

We checked out of our motel room about 8 o'clock to head down the highway in search of morning coffee. To my dismay, the Tim Horton's restaurant was not open this morning so we drove down the hill to Ashcroft and our favourite bakery. I got my first photo of the day looking across the river to the town of Ashcroft. 

We checked in at the church to chat with a few painters, then we drove on to the cemetery on the edge of town. The fence around it was constructed by my husband's great grandfather before WW1. I sketched a view across the cemetery to the river. I am always so impressed with the beautiful trees.

We drove on to the Desert Hills Garden Centre on the north side of Ashcroft. It is a going concern with plants, produce and a petting zoo. I was surprised to see such a tall petunia 'mountain' on display. I watched children feed the goats. They paid for food pellets which they poured into a container that could be pulled up to the goats on the overhead ramp. For $189 you could buy a beautiful hibiscus flowering in a pot as a small tree. 

We had lunch with the plein air painters in the church. It was our last chance for a visit and to view the works done this weekend. A wet paint sale is always a highlight at the end of the weekend. 

All weekend we had heard of the cactus blooming on the hillsides but had not found any. As we headed out of town to get back on the highway, there was a hill with so many yellow blooms! We texted our friends the directions and I managed a few shots. Success!

Our last stop was the lookout to Kamloops Lake. There was a couple there using a small drone. I had an interesting chat with them. Then I got my panorama of the lake. We live near the far end of it. 

We've arrived home feeling tired and content. My capable girl has emptied the car for me and I'm in with my feet up.