British Columbia Canada

Coquitlam Canyon and Antlers Hut

Before getting on the road it was Steamin’ Dutch pancakes for breakfast for the boys and l…pricey but nicey!

Soon after we began our long drive East towards the Rockie Mountains ⛰ … It’ll take us about a week to get there as we’ve chopped down the journey into manageable chunks. 😊

Leaving the city behind…

Today’s destination is just outside of the optimistically named town of Hope, in the equally positive Sunshine Valley! I chose this stop point purely because I liked the name…which is like choosing your next car based only on the colour! 😂 So it was always going to be a bit of punt!

As tonight’s Airbnb wasn’t going to be ready until 3pm I’d planned a stopover at Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park… the film location of Rambo, First Blood and home to spectacular Othello Tunnels! What a place!

Trail head

My great grandfather moved to Canada in the early 1900’s to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway… so the chance to see this incredible feat of engineering- pre machinery – was too good to miss!

A short, rocky scramble (just off track) takes you down to the edge of the rushing Coquitlam River. Crystal clear, a perfect glacial green …

But the power of the water is not to be underestimated!

Warning ⚠️
Vantage point on the rocks

In the early 1900s, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided a route was needed to link the Kootenay Region with the BC coast by rail. The mind blowing railway was built over THREE mountain ranges no less! In the Coquihalla Gorge – the river had cut a 300 foot deep channel of solid granite. A straight line of tunnels were built through it which are known now as the Othello Tunnels. They really are a well kept secret but so, so worth a visit!

The granite feels impenetrable and, as water drips down on you in the blackness of the tunnel, you can only begin to imagine the toil, blood, sweat and efforts that made this feat possible…

Incredible!

Soon it was on to Antler’s Hut, our AirBnB…20 minutes further east. When we pulled into the little settlement at the bottom of Cascade Mountain I could here the murmurings of concern from the back of the car…The first signage told us that Sunshine Valley, formerly Tashme, is now an unincorporated settlement but was previously a Japanese Canadian internment camp! Oh dear…

There is a real ‘hillbilly vibe’ in sunshine valley.. in the best possible sense of the word! I like ‘different’ and this little community scores highly on that front! The former prefab prison is now the community centre and Cal very quickly made friends with a local dog and was smitten! The boys soon made themselves at home in the outdoor pool 🏊‍♂️ and were practically locals when it was time to check ourselves in to Antler’s Hut… It took a bit of finding … but was perfect! Rustic, dreamy and a more than amazing home for the night! Viva AirBnB! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🍁🍁

To finish the day Jack and I went for an evening walk along a river.. perfect and a lot of fun xx

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Sacha Brakenbury

As mum to three sons (and auntie to ten!) Sacha is kept busy trying to keep the kids alive, safe, fed and watered. Having specialised in Child Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Reading, Sacha went on to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Education before taking up her first teaching post as Head of Boys Sport and Year 6 teacher. After 6 years, Sacha was fortunate enough to awarded a travelling fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, enabling her to undertake an extensive research project overseas. Sacha has worked with some of the world's top professional sports and educational institutions across Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand - researching ways of engaging young people through the medium of sport and in particular how this can help to reduce drug use and gang membership. After returning to the UK Sacha became Education Director at Ipswich Town Football Club, leading in the government's 'Playing for Success' scheme. She went on to establish three highly respected Study Centres back in the East of England, each of which used sport as a means of motivating children and young people. After successfully completing her National Professional Qualification for Headship in Cambridge, Sacha went on to study for her Masters Degree in Education. With the arrival of her three sons, Sacha decided it was time to 'go it alone.' She set up her own business consultancy, supporting a range of charities and organisations across the UK. Securing funds in excess of £2 million pounds, Sacha was able to 'give wings' to a wide range of charitable causes close to her heart. She continues this today with work specifically for Child First Trust. It was her own kids that were the inspiration behind her establishing Learning Academies (www.learningacademies.co.uk) - a tutoring company that has the simple mission to motivate and encourage its students to become confident and assertive learners who are not afraid to 'take risks' and challenge themselves. As a passionate photographer, Sacha is never more at home than when she's travelling, camera in hand, boys in tow. As a qualified medic with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, she is able to combine her love the outdoors with her passion for wild animals.

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