Details

On August 28, 2007, please join us for part deux of our wedding celebrations, a slightly more intimate and relaxed feast and party at the Ranch. We're being hosted by Bob & Kathleen Haywood-Farmer at their home on Indian Gardens Ranch. This is Caitlin's aunt and uncle, and it's the ranch where her mum, Sue, grew up. Please plan to arrive after lunch on the 28th. We are planning the feast to start at 5:30 or so, for the sake of the kids. But we want you to have time to set up your tent, and get to mingling with everyone else. After dinner, we are planning some dancing (please practise your Greek dancing at home so you can show off your mad skillz on the dance floor) and general revelry until late in the night.
We'll make breakfast the next day and then you can explore the beautiful Thompson Valley or other parts of the interior of BC. If you have any questions at any time, please just ask. Caitlin has a big family and most of them will be there, so on the day, just corner one of them if you want to know anything.

Directions

From Vancouver, take the Hwy #1 to Hope.
At Hope, head for the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy #5).
At Merritt, take the first exit for Merritt. Follow the road through town (this is Nicola Avenue). You'll pass a lumber yard, several gas stations (it's a good idea to gas up here) and the Double DD Motel (a personal favourite).
Follow signs for the 97C (north) towards Ashcroft via Logan Lake.
To get on it you will need to make a right hand turn 2-3 kms outside of Merritt. Be a little careful along this road, sometimes you can think it's all an easy drive and you'll be surprised by a sharp turn.
After driving along this road for 30 minutes, you'll come to a junction. Stop and then go straight through the junction (left takes you to Ashcroft, right takes you to Logan Lake).
Another 30 minutes and you're at the Ranch. The road after Logan Lake goes along a bare, grassy plateau for quite a long while, and then it will start to descend and go back into the trees. After you start descending, you'll pass one set of houses on the left. The next set of houses (about 5 kms later) is the ranch. It's on the right side of the road. There is a sign at the top of the lane that says Bob, Kathleen & Doris Haywood-Farmer, Indian Gardens Ranch. (If you get to a sign that says David & Bonnie Haywood-Farmer, you've gone too far.)
The whole trip takes about 4 to 4.5 hours.

If you want to take a different route, you can come up through the scenic Fraser Canyon. Just continue on the #1 at Hope.
At Cache Creek head towards Kamloops and you'll come to Savona (about a 30 min drive). Turn right on Tunkwa Lake Road just at the far end of Savona. Go up the steep hill about 15 mins, and you'll see the ranch on the left of the road.
This route is longer, but it's beautiful and there are no tolls on the highway. You may want to do one each way.
If you get lost or have problems en route, call the ranch at 250-373-2367 and we'll try to sort you out. nb. cell phones often don't work in this part of the province. It's too remote and there are too many hills.

RSVP

Please RSVP by June 1, either by

email: caitlinmacrae@gmail.com

telephone: 604 872 1804, or

Old-fashioned post:

Caitlin MacRae

7-1285 Harwood Street

Vancouver BC Canada V6E1S5

Please let us know about the following:

where will you be staying?

are you vegetarian?

do you have any allergies?

Sleep

There are many options for sleeping. The two houses will be full, but you can camp, sleep under the starts, sleep in the hayloft of the barn, or get a hotel or B&B in a nearby town. Just let us know what you're planning.
Camping:
Although the area right around the houses is quite hilly, there are a few places you can camp close to the action. Or you can head into the woods, where you can find a quiet spot. If you want to come a day early, may we suggest camping on the summer range around Tunkwa Lake up at the top of the plateau, or at the Ann Place. Just ask us for directions! Nights can be cool at this altitude, so bring a good sleeping bag.
Hayloft:
We're planning on spreading out some new hay in the hayloft of the barn. If you don't have allergies, this would be fun!
Hotels and B&Bs:
There aren't many hotels near the Ranch, unless you want to drive to Merritt or Kamloops. But they're about 1 hour away. We've found a few things a little closer.
The nearest town to the Ranch is Savona. It's about a 15 minute drive down the hill. There are two options there, the Lakeside Country Inn (insert website link) which is a lovely little hotel on the lake, a bit more upscale. Or the Bed & Breakfast run by Klaus and Regina Langner. You can call them at 250 373 2617.
If you want to stay a little longer in the area and don't mind a little rustic living, you can try the Tunkwa Lake Resort.
Or you can rent the Haywood-Farmer cabin on the summer range at Tunkwa Lake. We can put you in touch with the organizers of that - just ask.
You can also try Logan Lake, which is about 30 minutes drive up the hill. There are a few more options there, but I sourced out the Highland House resort which looks nice.

Food

We are putting together a Greek style wedding feast, which means lamb in all its glory.Vegetarians! don't despair. Greek wedding feasts also have loads of freshly cooked veggies, dips, and starches and we will make sure that all of them have no meat products in them. If you have any food allergies let us know and we will label any 'dangerous' items.

Odds and Ends

The ranch was featured in the film An unfinished life. The production built "Mitch's" cabin.

One main rule for ranch living: if you go through any gate that is closed, please close it behind you.

Please bring lawn chairs if you have them. And maybe also bring a sweater as it can get chilly at night.

There's great hiking around the Ranch (bring hiking boots, it's steep), and if you make a special request, we can arrange a horseback ride. Unfortunately for Panos, there are no donkeys at the ranch for donkey rides. There are Vietnamese pot bellied pigs, though! You can also swim at Kamloops lake, and there is great fishing in the area if that's your thing.