MY WORLD IN THE CARIBOO
by
Susie Ambrose

       Looking out the dining room window, I see the three bears in my rock garden - Mama, baby sister and baby brother. Mama is stretching up, drinking out of the rain barrel. Brother is up the tree, and sis is trying to grab his leg. Mama stops drinking, turns around and gives them what I used to call “the Mom look”. They quickly scamper over in front of her. She looks them over, and all three walk, single file, away and up into the brush.

       Walking with the dog, we amble up the long, winding driveway, onto the main dirt road, and up Rose hill. A few houses are spread apart, acreages mostly, and then, after you turn on to Cougar Road, there are thousands and thousands of crown land to explore, with many bends and turns from old skidder trails, and small, pristine lakes full of rainbow trout. Most are catch and release, and are a day trip, complete with outdoor picnic. Huge fir trees, almost a century old, line the route down to a meadow. Here, alpine flowers have started to turn brown, and we can feel winter’s breath; snow fell a week ago. A sudden Chinook came through last night, and melted it all.

       Travelling down the hill, we come to the Horsefly Highway. Turn left, it’s 27 k’s to the town of Horsefly; turn right, it’s just about the same distance to the city of Williams Lake. You need to be thrifty, practical and have forethought regarding supplies – it’s too far if you forgot to pick up milk, or some other necessary item. That’s what neighbours are for!

       Our little community on the hill get together once a month for breakfast. There are usually five or six couples who take turns, with one or two other “orphans” who get invited. After five years, we are just beginning to appreciate the place where we live.

       Wildlife, good neighbours, fresh air, exercise and community spirit are alive and well here.