Highway 20 is a road with many memories. I travelled it for the first time on my way to my first position as a teacher in Anahim Lake in 1993. I was to live in a teacherage in a trailer park. My city expectations of a trailer park was more of the white picket fence and hanging flower baskets in a delightful community of teachers. I saw Anahim Peak as I drove past the 2 mile reserve is was a jagged iconic shape that guided where I was in this small community. The trailer court was dusty, dry, old and surrounded by very tiny pine trees which the locals called ‘pecker poles’.
This was where I would meet my now ex-husband and raise our two children. My son lives there and I went for one of my now bi-annual visits. The fall is the best time because of the colours and lack of bugs and cold. I once re-wrote the words to a familiar tune by John Denver. It always comes back to me as I drive the high plains of the Chilcotin plateau.
Take Me Home Highway 20 ( credit to the John Denver tune)
Almost heaven, Anahim Lake
Itcha Mountains, Dean River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Nothin'll change our lifestyle
waitin' for that freeze
Take me home, Highway 20
to the place, I belong
Anahim Peak, Ulgatchuz Mountains
Take me home Highway 20
All our memories, around a campfire
Ranchers riding no stranger to harsh weather
Dark and Muddy, but colours light the sky
The buzzin of mosquitoes
Black flies bite my eye
Take me home, Highway 20
to the place, I belong
Kappan Mountain Anahim Lake
Take me home Highway 20
I hear the coyotes in the morning hours they call me
The howling reminds me of my home far away
Rambling down the road I get a feeling
that we should have plowed it yesterday, yesterday
Take me home, Highway 20
to the place, I belong
Rainbow Mountains, Anahim Lake
Take me home Highway 20
This trip was particularly special as my son is now living at Saddle Mountain Ranch at the base of Anahim Peak. Its a good 50 minutes down river from the town. I remember taking that road when I went on a horseback ride with a group of high school students. We camped at the base and did a day ride/hike to the lower peak. Myles’s home is at the backside of the peak and the shape changes from the one I know well. After finding my old photos it seems we went right through his spot! The rainbow mountains show to its left in some of the pictures and the Ulgatchuz Mountains ( With Saddle Back Mountain) overlook the meadows in front of the house. I spent some of my days painting pictures when he was out. We shared humour over tv shows and the antics of his dog Weiser. I processed salmon from his Bella Coola Catch and managed to take one home.
The last evening we went to his grandparents new home for a gathering and visit with some of my old friends and family. We had a great catch-up and lots of memories to share. Laughter is a mainstay in this house and it was great to share a giggle watching the cell tower light change colour over the meadow and hoping for a moose to come by. There is a chilled relaxed way up there with an ease that I miss. I got to eat Wanda’s buns again but alas there was no Jerky ready. The drive was spectacular with so many fall colours. I amazed myself by leaving at 10am and managing to catch the Tsawwassen Ferry as the last car on the 9pm boat. Below are some images and paintings. I’ll be doing a big acrylic of Anahim Peak today in the glorious fall sunshine, while the turkeys come for a visit. I am thankful for all the places I have lived.
Leave a Reply