We could and did.. after going over the connector between Peachland and Merrit we came across the two lane road through the Nicola Valley from Merritt out to Spences Bridge on Hwy#1. Then down along the Thompson through the Fraser Canyon. That stretch of the Thompson has a booming business of Rafting. On a warm summer day there were lots out on the river. It was over 30 C in the Canyons as we travelled through.
Some changes we noticed. There is no Gas available now in Spences Bridge..the place is almost empty but there is a plus $400,000 native Memorial Centre near there. Most of the old Tourtista places through the Fraser Canyon are closed. But the small communities are showing signs of population increases and or new houses. And a few new restaurants have opened.but mostly every thing was closed.
Hwy#1 is in good shape with lots of passing lanes and we only faced a few miles in lines of slow moving vehicles. Nothing there has changed much..people that are concerned about the curves and tunnels or do not know the road at all still pass up most opportunities to use pull offs to let the long line behind them get on with the posted speed. Somethings will never change.
When we hit the Freeway at Rosedale after using Hwy #7 down the north side of the Fraser from just North of Hope we found the freeway FULL. Slower for no apparent reasons sometimes to only 60 K. Glad we took the side trip.