We therefore timed our start so as to reach Cranbrook about 10 a.m. And B. after a brief interview with the banker, wired for funds, L. dispatching his wire at the same time. We then picked up and put on the repaired shoe, left the pump to be fixed, purchased viands and revivifier and leisurely went back to our campsite for lunch. The permit by virtue of which the above-mentioned tonic was procured, was already 'time-expired', a fact which the dispenser of joy and gladness was considerate enough to overlook. He did, however, impose a stern restraint on our demands, even at the eleventh hour when we believed that we had 'got-away' with all that we desired, or rather all for which we could pay - for, amongst the dwellers on the plains of the middle West there is for this priceless elixir of Jamaica a desire that knows no limit. The reply to B's wire was received at 3 o'clock, by which time we were again in town and ready for the road, so, as soon as this detail had been satisfactorily settled we pulled out and a short distance from town took the road to Fort Steele instead of the one by which we had come. Very soon after taking this route a stop was made to allow for the replacement of white shirts, donned in honour to the town, by the more serviceable khaki, and the beautiful prospect of trees and distant mountains seen from this spot was duly recorded. A short run brought us to Fort Steele, on the East bank of the Kootenay River. This town, now almost deserted, has a history which in interest is second to none of the inland towns of the province and was at one time the centre of great mining and lumbering ventures, besides being the outfitting post for prospectors and trappers and the principle station for the N.W.M.P., and still bears silent but eloquent record of these stirring times. From here the road follows pretty closely the course of the Kootenay until, crossing the Bull River, it rejoins the main road opposite Wardner, but passes through some very pleasing scenery, with the Western face of the Lizard Range in plain view on the left. As we neared Elko we ran onto wet roads and could see ahead of us skifts of rain from time to time, the clouds low and traveling fast in a North or North-easterly direction, but with a good break low down in the south-west and we hoped to avoid any actual rain. Maudie very pleased with herself that she had been able to interfere to some extent with our plans, was now much annoyed that we were in such good spirits and became so absent-minded in trying to think up something 'unusual d….mean' that she refused to stop when called upon and kept B. on the continual lookout for approaching cars. In Elko we made inquiry as to the possibility of having her attended to, but as the physician was not fully qualified, in fact merely a farrier, we drove on and, not to hurt his feeling, allowed him to believe that we had gone to look for a campsite. For all we know to the contrary, he is still sharpening his scalpel in the hopes that Maudie will be yet dragged back to undergo an operation at his hands. It was really our intention to camp almost at once, but the beautifully clear light - the rain having removed every trace of smoke, haze or dust from the air - with the raindrops sparkling on the trees in the sunlight which made rainbows of the low-lying, fleecy clouds traveling only a short distance ahead of us, and lit up the newly washed faces of the hills or by contrast deepened the shadows in the clefts, was more than we could resist and we drove slowly on, actually in sight of rain falling sharply on the road beyond us. We did investigate one place at a time when we too closely approached a shower of rain, but as it was a "public campsite" the investigation was more to find reasons why we should not stop there. These we found in plenty, though this spot was a model of cleanliness compared with Bothell, and so drove slowly on through the magnificent scenery which fortune had decreed that we should now see at its best - and what a sight it was. The trees and bushes in every shade of green, from the delicate pale green of the tamarack to the dark almost black, green of the older spruce and fir, here and there picked out with a touch of yellow or orange-red from some early changing leaves or dull, russet brown of bark or trunk, then, higher up, seen through the valley, catching and reflecting the light of the setting sun, shone like a huge gem of ruby and amethyst, garnet, sapphire and pearl, even the moss and lichen, like a filigree of gold or bronze, visible in the marvelously clear light which seemed to deepen the purple shadow in cleft or hollow. Presently, a fresh battalion of fleecy clouds fleeing before the wind would pour over the crest of the hills, like a flock of frightened sheep, some attempting to hide in the depths of a gorge or ravine, whilst others, harried and torn by every crag and peak, fled hurriedly up the valley.

As the light faded we again stopped to examine a possible campsite and a fine one was found on the top of a ridge, but water was some distance away and everything was very wet, so, having ourselves got nicely soaked while looking for a near supply of water, we decided to go on and eventually reached Fernie after dark, where for the sake of dryness we camped on a cinder dump, a high bank sheltering us from the wind and a rather inadequate supply of sage-weed for bedding. The half-day's run was 60 miles.