Rivers, Dams & Mines Super Side Trip

This was our vintage motel 

Breakfast was at Golden Flour Bakery where the waitress was rude but the food was good. Everything omelette. 

We scored a great parking place in front of the bakery and that put us in walking distance to the produce market. 

The produce was beautiful and very reasonably priced. 

We also beat the crowds. 

Kody, this sign is for you 😁

Pedestrian crossing sign

Wow, I can't even put into words how amazing this gluten-free, dairy-free almond croissant was! I've never tasted a croissant as good as this one, not even in Paris. I'm not sure how they managed to create such a buttery and flaky treat using a blend of coconut oil, almond flour, and rice flour, but I truly wish I knew the secret because it was an absolute delight!

Gluten free dairy free triple ginger cookie

Unusual? Curious? One of a kind? Take your pick - made from over half a million embalming fluid bottles, the Class House is an ode to these jars.

The cloverleaf structure weighs over 250 tons, is 48 feet in length, 24 feet wide, and features 1,200 sq ft of floor space. Hundreds of flowers decorate pathways around the house and down to a lookout with spectacular views of Kootenay Lake, while a mountain stream brings to life an enchanted garden.

We didn’t get to spend any time here since we wanted to get to the ferry. They only have the small ferry running and cars start lining up very early. 

We arrived at the ferry dock an hour early but there were already 2 full lanes of cars. While waiting, we enjoyed the view. 

We walked down to the water and picked up a few pebbles. 

The ferry is coming in. 

Bumper guards 

And we’re off! We were sweating it for a minute. There were only 3 vehicles that got on after us, with 2 1/2 more lanes of cars lined up that didn’t get on. 

We had planned to drive this loop tomorrow but found out when we arrived in Nelson that nothing would be open on Sunday. We decided to go ahead to Castlegar and visit Doukhobor (duke-ho-bore) Village today. There wasn’t anything else on this super side trip we wanted to see. 

Throughout the latter 1800s, thousands of members of the Russian pacifist religious sect known as the Doukhobors migrated to the Kootenay region. There, they took up farming and communal living.

Replica structures showed us what a typical home, kitchen, or common house might look like. We found insight into family, baking bread in ovens that could hold 75 loaves, and carving wood into beautiful implements. Painted and photographic portraits lined the walls in one building, including a wide panorama print from 1928—and which contained about 1,200 people. 

In 1653 Reforms to the Russian Orthodox Church introduced in 1653 by Patriarch Nikon caused a major schism (or raskol) among Russian Orthodox believers. The group whose members clung to the old, traditional ways was known as the Raskolniki (Old Believers). Among these were two groups: the Popovstsi (with priests) maintained that religious services were to be led by an anointed priest, while the Bezpopovtsi (without priests) disposed of the need to have priests leading the services. Some members of the Bezpopovtsi also rejected the use of church icons in worship, arguing that God exists within all living beings, and that every human being is a living church. This general movement eventually gave rise to the Doukhobor philosophy and beliefs.

Bread, salt and water replaced traditional church icons. A loaf of bread, a bowl of salt and a jug of water have been used at Doukhobors prayer meetings ever since, as symbols to represent basic human needs, as well as the virtues of hospitality.

They lived communally with several families in one building. 

Worship center 

Unusual peony

This historic bridge commemorates an achievement of the Doukhobors of Canada in establishing communal settlements in the Kootenay Boundary region of British Columbia during the early 20th century. Built in 1913 by community labour, the bridge connected Doukhobor settlements on both sides of the Kootenay River, and served as a vital transportation link in the area for over fifty years. Today, this structure, also known as the Brilliant Suspension Bridge, stands as an enduring symbol of the collective toil of these Christian pacifist pioneers, and their contribution to Canada's development.

The West Arm of Kootenay Lake turns south and converges with Lower Arrow Lake and joins the Columbia River all at Castlegar.

Strolling across the suspension bridge

Brilliant Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Kootenay River near Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada. It was built during the Second World War, mostly by Doukhobour men exempt from military service, and its 129 MW twin turbines first came into operation in June, 1944.

After learning about the Russian Doukhobors, I was in the mood for borscht. There is a coffee shop in Castlegar where borscht is made locally so Cathie and Connie obliged me.

They shared a turkey sandwich. 

After lunch we drove back to Nelson to walk the historical buildings of Nelson tour. 

Burns building - 1899

P. Burns and Co. (cattle king)

Note the decorative cow head over the main entrance. 

K.W.C. Building - 1900

The last of the original turrets. 

Named for grocery merchants Kirkpatrick and Wilson and hotelier Clements. 

Lawrence Hardware Store Building - 1898

This was Baker Street’s first 3 story building. 

Hudson’s Bay Company - 1900

The company played a major role in colonizing Canada. 

Bealy Block - 1894

The oldest confirmed commercial structure onBaker Street. 

Reid Block - 1912

It was at one time a hotel with two entrances designated “male” and “female with escort”

Bank of Montreal - 1899

A stone building of this size and elegance reflected a growing confidence in Nelson’s future as a regional center. 

Hamilton Powdered Company - 1905

One of Canada’s main manufacturers of explosives. 

Eagles Hall - 1909

The Fraternal Order of Eagles. Members were required to be male, white and not communist. 

Wood Vallance Hardware Building - 1896

Nelson’s first all brick building, although it doesn’t look like it. The exterior facade was remodeled to its current Mission Revival style in 1929. 

Aberdeen Block - 1898

A men’s clothing store owned and operated by three generations from 1898 to the early 2000’s. 

Mara Barnard Building - 1897

In 1900 the building housed the offices of the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

CPR Rail Station - 1901

The first trains pulled into the station on January 1, 1901. 

Not one of the historical buildings but the only church we’ve seen. 

We also followed the mural walk. The following photos are of some of the 40+ murals painted on various buildings in Nelson. I’ve got nothing to say about any of them except 😳. 

Time to check into our hotel for tonight. We’re staying at the Prestige Inn, Nelson, British Columbia. 

We have a patio and a view of the river. Nice!

As I walked through the Russian Doukhobor village today and thought about their “religion”, I asked myself the question: what is true religion? 

In our society, the definition of religion is very broad. Almost any belief system qualifies. But to God, any religion that doesn't produce holiness and sacrificial love is not true religion. That narrows the field considerably because anyone who isn't saved through faith in Jesus Christ remains in bondage to sin and has no capacity to live a holy and selfless life.

James says it like this: 

"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" James 1:27.

That’s a pretty tall order. True religion produces holiness and sacrificial love. In other words, don’t just say you’re religious, demonstrate sacrificial love. Don’t just claim to love God, live a pure life.