During the next Mitac-inspired road trip, our team of four became five, and the Toyota RAV was packed to the brim, ready for a new adventure. The weather was scorching hot as we set out from Kamloops, eager to share with newcomers from Ukraine the beauty of BC Interior.
After visiting a few WOW spots along the way, our stomachs began to rumble, reminding us of the need for lunch. Mama’s suggestion to find a picnic place very soon set us on a quest. Our first attempt led us to a tourist information office, but it was bustling with people, not quite the serene setting we had in mind.
Undeterred, we tried our luck near a waterfall, only to discover it was reserved for customers of a local shop. We were not ones to give up easily, so we decided to take a chance on an unknown turn. Our spontaneity was rewarded when we stumbled upon a hidden gem – a picnic spot with a breathtaking view of the valley.
As we settled in, the aroma of cedar trees and the fresh mountain air made us forget about the sweltering 35-degree heat we’d left behind in Kamloops. One by one, we unpacked our cherry-inspired delicacies, each dish a testament to our different backgrounds and shared love for this tart-sweet fruit that we picked during our first road trip.
Katya’s contribution was the star of the show – cherry varenyky that would make her mama in Kherson burst with pride. The dumplings were perfectly crafted, the dough tender and the filling a perfect balance of sweet and tart. As we savored each bite, we couldn’t help but marvel at how a taste of Ukraine had found its way to this beautiful corner of British Columbia.
Sasha’s homemade cherry compote was the ideal accompaniment, its refreshing sweetness quenching our thirst and beautifully complementing the varenyky. Juliana, embracing her role as our Canadian guide, brought a selection of local BC sweet cherries and demonstrated the traditional way of eating them—a technique that had us all in fits of laughter as we imagined trying to master it.
As we feasted, stories flowed as freely as the compote. We shared memories of past picnics, of cherry stories from Lviv, Kherson, and Odesa, and of the new experiences we were creating together in BC. The laughter that echoed through our little valley was a melody of cultures harmonizing, a testament to the unifying power of good food and great company.
The picnic stretched on, none of us in a hurry to leave our newfound paradise. The cool shade of the cedar trees, the magical view of the valley and the gentle breeze made us forget about the heat that awaited us back in Kamloops. As the afternoon waned, we packed up our leftovers, leaving no trace of our visit except for the echoes of our joy.
Reluctant to end our picnic but excited for what lay ahead, we piled back into the RAV. The cherry picnic had been so wonderful, so filled with flavours both familiar and new, that we felt reinvigorated. As we pulled away from our hidden gem, a shared glance confirmed what we all were thinking – we were ready to continue our adventure and explore Wells Gray Country.
The day had reminded us of the simple pleasures – good food, great people, and the beauty of spontaneous discoveries. As we drove on, the taste of cherries still lingering, we knew this picnic would join the ranks of our cherished memories, a sweet-tart adventure to be recounted for years to come.
PS: During the picnic no photos were taken to preserve the unique joy of the cherry- eating food experiences.
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