Shuswap Family Camping

Jocelyn Timmermans
Aug 14, 2021
3 min read

August 8-11, 2021 - Shuswap Lake Provincial Park was established in 1956. I've been camping there since 1967. In the last 54 years, I've gone annually to the Scotch Creek campsite with my family. What started with my parents and 6 children, now has blossomed to a family of 76 (30 grandchildren + 30 great-grandchilren). Three have passed away: my son, my mother and my brother-in-law. Of those 73, two of my siblings were there this year + my father and 6 of his grandchildren (+ spouses & kids).

Returning to Shuswap Lake every summer makes my memories return as well.

I remember my dad built a wood box to fit between the 2 front seats for my baby sister, Angela. Three of us sat in the middle seat and two in the back (that's 7-year-old me to the right).

About 20 minutes drive west of Merrit, the fire was very close to Hwy. 5.

Our campsite was just a hop and a skip from our daughter, Renee's. It's so much more fun camping with our grandchildren.

Zoe putting on her goofy face.

A good effective way to keep Zoe contained: put her in her Mickey Mouse chair.

She sees here siblings "reading" so she does too.

In the evening we treated the kids to icecreams. Everyone knows when Roger has his sugar-fix, you do not disturb him!

There was a lively band playing by the store at the entrance to the campsite. Kids were dancing to the music (and Oma too). Too bad we got there just minutes before they quit.

Zoe is feeding Opa -- and trying to grab his dentures out of his mouth.

We arrived on the first smoke-free sky day in a while and it stayed that way throughout the week. Just this first morning it was a bit hazy but that soon cleared.

The amphitheatre now no longer has rangers giving evening informative talks. Rev. VanEgmond used to preach here Sunday mornings.

A historic site along the road close to the campsite.

2) Common Chicory 3) Salsify

This whole barn was leaning to the side.

Watching a silly dutch cartoon on Opa's phone.

Uncle Jon bought presents for the kids (he's my nephew).

An ancient Shuswap Indian dwelling. The walls are mostly missing. They'd climb down that notched pole into the T-Pee.

Last summer we painted a T-shirt for Amy. This summer all three of us did again.

Proud of her work. Sleeping mid afternoon.

Late afternoon Case & I went to visit the Celista Estate Winery to stalk up on wine. Their wine is organic and does not upset my tender tummy.

This is Canada's most northern grape winery.

We met the owner briefly last year and promised to make another effort this year. An hour flew by with him. Now 78, he still works daily in his vineyards. He has a colourful past, having immegrated with his family from Holland when he was 7 and then spending about 2 decades living in Alaska as a journalist.

Three playing Bridge. Jon kept winning.

Renee making French Bread for breakfast.

These paper lanterns are solar-powered.

Amy & Roger found much to play with in the bush, in the dirt and especially in the water.

This time I took Case along on my morning bike ride, having discovered this historic site the day before. If you click into: "North Shuswap Historical Society" it'll give you more info on it. It's open from Thursday - Saturday. So we were not able to see inside.

A horse-drawn manure-spreader.

The first grader in North Shuswap.

Case was mostly interested in eating the fruit off of the trees. This one had miniature plums.

At the end of this road along the lake, was the oldest farm in this area.

Back on the main road we biked to this farm. As a child I remember there used to be a ranch here. We'd get horse rides leading us up onto the moutain.

Ho hum -- Roger's falling asleep at dinner time again. Apparently his father was famous for doing that too. We let him sleep for about 20 minutes and then woke him up again. Telling him it was time for the marshmellow roast got him going. We babysat the kids this afternoon and took them to the beach and made dinner so Nick & Renee could visit the winery and have some time alone together.