USA Small Town Hospitality

Day 8. 8/26/24.

Nelson BC to Metaline WA

Stats: 54 mi. AIS: 5:16. 10.3 mph. 2598 elevation gain.

Boy did we have a good day today! Start to finish was a pleasant experience. Here’s the rundown…

Off to a good early-ish start…about 7:20am. Of course the climbing was immediate and pretty quickly I was in my smallest spinning gear for the next hour… about 5 miles to the top of Apex Pass.

We were on Highway 6 in Canada… it’s a main east-west connector across Canada. It was busy but the shoulder was one of the best ever! It’s one I like to call a “everybody’s happy” highway! Cars, semis, logging trucks (galore), double dump trucks… nobody has to slow down for bicycles on the nice wide beautiful shoulder and we don’t have to flinch when the heavy beasts pass us.

We cruised pretty much downhill the next 20 miles into the town of Salmo, BC. We made a snack stop at the Dragonfly Cafe. This place was buzzing with people. Motorcycles, locals, construction workers and travelers like us. All kinds and types of people enjoying their delicious breakfasts and/or pastries. We chose a spinach-feta pastry and small cappuccino. So good!

Also in Salmo was an interesting bus selling fish and seafood. They had signs for a few miles. What’s candied salmon??

Back on the highway headed south to the US border at Nelway BC. We followed the Salmo River until it veered west to join the Pend Orielle River. We had another slower steep climb for about 2 miles to the US border.

Just about 1km from the border we noticed the coolest little campground for Bikes (motor and pedal). The border crossing hours are pretty limited so it could be a “didn’t quite make it” place to stay. We stopped to check it out. What a thoughtful place

Back in the USA… Washington state!! We were cruising along on a general downhill ride to the town of Metaline (Meta-leen). The highway was fine but a little rougher (chip seal) and a smaller shoulder. However, most of the busy Canadian traffic took the highway heading east as we expected, so we had it mostly to ourselves. Much lighter traffic headed south through the border.

About 7 more miles to go dropping down to the Pend Orielle River and Metaline Falls and Metaline. Small Washington town with a nice RV Campground in the heart of it

Here’s where the small town hospitality and pride kicks in. We checked into our campsite with the owners… Bruce and Tori. Turns out their daughter lives in Billings MT (like us) and is a nurse at the Billings Clinic. She got married this summer to a local man… last name Carroll… as in Shipton’s Big R! I don’t know this young man but am acquainted with his parents Jay and Robin and also his aunt and uncle Kim and Jeff Carroll. Our kids went to the same grade school and I was involved in high school volleyball as an official and have known Jeff and Kim for years. Small world stuff!

We told them we were going to eat at the bar across the street and they suggested we join them at the local American Legion Monday night dinner in Metaline Falls. (Uphill about 1.5 miles). Tonight was Tri tip steak night. $15 a plate donation. They offered to give us a ride too! That was a “hell yeah”!! Met them at 5pm to head to dinner.

It was filled with many local people and of course, they all know one another. Tori is treasurer for the Legion. Every Monday they have dinner. Usually it’s $10… but tonight was TriTip. Locals volunteer to cook the meal in the big industrial kitchen. It really is a community gathering. There’s a bar for cocktails and beverages.

Needless to say the community is proud of their Legion Building and success. We met Ken. He served 20 years in the Army starting with Vietnam. He’s seen a lot of the world he said.

Tori and Bruce have lived here for 34 years. He was a school math teacher, high school basketball coach and ski club activities leader. Ski Club took the kids to Red Mountain across the border in Canada. They raised 2 kids here while they also owned and operated this RV campground. Super friendly and welcoming people. Confirms our belief that most people are good and nice.

That ended another very nice day on the Selkirk Loop. Tomorrow is LARGE.. again. Headed to Priest River area…63 miles or so. We have a couple campground options. Weather forecast is a little rain in the morning. Temps in the mid 60’s… but could be windy