The Okanagan, British Columbia.

[Deleted]

Southern Okanagan always feels like home to me and every time I return it's like going back home. No other place has that feeling for me. I know it so well, I spent many years living there on and off and it's always been really hard to stay away. It was also the first place I lived in Canada for any length of time when I first moved here. My memories attached to the area could write a book. My son was born in Penticton, and I remember coming out of the hospital in early February and the snow had nearly all melted away already. I don't know any other area in Canada where the winters are so short.

My kids spent many happy days swimming in the beautiful beaches and maybe that's why they are all such excellent swimmers. I met so many interesting people there, especially in the summer months when tourists would come from all over the country to spend a week or two in the area. I've also observed many parties during my time there, it can be a very fun place to be.

I remember the first time I ever saw it, the majestic mountains took my breath away. I've lived in only two of the most Southern towns there, that being Oliver and Osoyoos. Penticton was the place to go shopping. But it's probably best known for it's wineries, where you can take a wine tasting tour if you wish, it's Orchards with many types of fruit and vineyards. The beaches and festivals also draw the tourists in each year. Here are some pictures of places that I know.

Osoyoos lake, we spent countless hours on this lake. I used to love going there in June, because it was hot enough and yet the tourists had not yet arrived:




Haynes Provincial park, Osoyoos: This park is full to capacity in the summer months. Sometimes the kids and I (being locals) would join in the activities that were arranged there. One year I won the 'Simon says' contest and was presented with a T.shirt!



Moon over Tuc-El-Nuit Lake, Oliver BC. Not only good for swimming and relaxing, but also fishing and finding other water creatures:



Osoyoos:



I'll add some more to this at a later date.

[Deleted]

That looks like a fantastic place! (As long as it isn't Canadian winter!)

[imec]

Just booked my flight to Kelowna for a conference next month! I agree, the Okanagan is truly magical. Some quite good wine being produced these days too.

K, not much of a winter there.

[Deleted]

Kerouac, it's still Canada, but it looks beautiful in the winter too.

imec, I envy you, Kelowna is a lovely city, and it's true the winters are nothing compared to other places in Canada.

[Deleted]

I've camped at Lake Okanagan at various times. One year we found a party of people who were also camping there. They were some kind of music group, and we had singing concerts that night! Perhaps best known to be home to the ogopogo. Must say, we never spotted him although we looked far and wide

www.tourcanada.com/ogopogo.htm

[bixaorellana]

Ohhhhh, Deyana ~~ what a wonderful area! I can certainly see why it captured your heart. I love the lake going right up to the steep hills. The first two pictures with their rustic charm are in such contrast to the refined beauty of the Tuc-El-Nuit photo you show. And then to see those picture-perfect orchards and vineyards! What amazing variety in one area.

This is fantastic. Can't wait to hear more about this richly endowed region.

[Deleted]

Thanks Bixa. I will post some more about it soon.

[Deleted]

The spotted lake, which can be seen as you drive past on Highway 3, always used fascinate me, I always wondered why it was spotted.





(Nine kilometres west of Osoyoos on Highway 3 is Klikuk, the Spotted Lake, containing one of the world's highest concentrations of minerals, including epsom salts, calcium, magnesium and many other trace minerals. The healing mud and waters were used to alleviate aches and pains. In the summer the water evaporates and crystallizes, making the white-ringed spots visible. The lake is on private land, and is therefore not accessible, but you can get a good view from the highway)'




The Okhanagan Observatory was always a favorite place to visit for my kids. There was so much to discover about Space. And if you went to see at just the right time, and they weren't too busy, the Astronomers would take us inside to view the stars and planets through some of the strongest telescopes in the world.

www.okanaganobservatory.ca/location.html

[Deleted]

So the spots are chemical/mineral concentrations or some such?

[Deleted]

Yes, it seems that way K. I used to think it was just a polluted pond, I never knew it had so many uses.

The Peach Festival is held each year in Penticton. People come from all over for this event. There's live music on the bandstand, and various acts appear. Really good family entertainment and fun. Don't bother trying to get a motel room during this season though, you probably won't find one. The only way would be to book way in advance and the prices will be high.

More about it on here:

www.peachfest.com/

[bixaorellana]

I hope you don't think I'm being flippant about your justifiably loved Okanagan region, Deyana, but I couldn't help being reminded of Duckburg. I was always a Donald Duck fan, but as an adult it occurred to me that Duckburg had everything -- ocean, river, swamps, desert, country, city, etc. etc. Perhaps Carl Barks vacationed in your the magical Okanagan & was inspired by it.

The observatory link is most interesting, especially in the work being done on light pollution.

When was the last time you were able to go back to that area? Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[Deleted]

That's a great picture Bix, I like it. ;D

The Observatory is really interesting, especially if you enjoy learning about Space.

The last time I was there was in 2004. Too long really. We lived in the most picturesque little house in an Orchard in Oliver at that time. There were cherry trees in our front garden, and the Orchard had different fruits like peaches, pears, apples, grapes (used for Ice-wine), plums, Nectarines to name just some. I also used to grow pumpkins each years (just for fun for the kids), and the strawberries and Rhubarb grew regardless.

One year a bird laid all her eggs in the truck of a big tree at the bottom of the garden. We watched over the eggs to make sure no predators would get them. Eventually they started hatching and almost straight after walked off with their bird mom. We'd often see the group walking around around the Orchard. I just can't remember the name of the bird now, I thought if was a cardinal, but I'm not sure. It was quite a biggish bird.

Birds' nests with freshly laid bird eggs were abundant in the Orchard. We kept an eye on the ones that were around, just to see how the baby birds fared. Then we'd watch the baby birds as they grew and eventually fly away. A couple of times I had to hand feed orphaned birds, it wasn't an easy thing to do.

[Deleted]

Just thought I'd put a map of the Okanagan:

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As you can see Osoyoos is on the US/Canada border. We used to go over to the States every week to do some shopping.

Kelowna is the biggest city in the area, with a population of over 100,000. Followed closely by Kamloops. I've been to all the towns and cities on the map at one time or another. The Northern part of the Okanagan doesn't hold my interest in the same way as the Southern part. It's also not as hot in the North, which means that the fruit is harvested at a slightly later time.

[bixaorellana]

Aaahhh, Deyana ~~ viewing the map made the little lightbulb go on over my head! It's the proximity to the Pacific & all those barrier islands that create the benevolent climate in the Okanagan, correct?

I looked up another map to verify my guess: (red is Okanagan)

[Deleted]

Yes, I think so Bixa. The mountains act as a shield, that's why if you are driving from Vancouver, you will experience a significant change in the weather once you have crossed over Manning Park, and so are into the Okanagan area.

If it's O.K. I will print the story I once wrote about my road trip from Vancouver to the Okanagan.

[Deleted]

I live in the East now, but I spent some years living on the West Coast (of Canada). This story is about a journey I took, in order to move from the Vancouver area to the Okanagan.

I decided that the city life wasn't for me after all and decided to move back to the Okanagan. Not only that but it was a much better place for my kids, now aged 5 and 1. I knew the area well, and had always loved it. It's the warmest place in Canada, with Osoyoos having the only pocket desert in this country. Not to mention the beautiful mountains, lakes and orchards that this area is so well known for.

The West coast is very rainy, and this particular year it had been raining more than usual. It was nearing the end of November and I had given in my notice to leave at the townhouse complex that I was living in. I hated living there, although it had all the amenities that most people could want, there were so many negative things about the neighbourhood and area in general.

I had only recently given up my trusty little Honda car for a larger Pontiac. The reason being that once I had decided to make this journey, I knew that my little Standard car may not make it over the sometimes treacherous and snowy mountains that I would have to drive through. The weather channels gave out all the warnings about not traveling in the rain storms, and especially not attempting to cross the mountains in such bad weather. But I'm too stubborn for my own good and knew that I would go anyway, the only thing that would stop me would be if they actually closed the roads down, and so far they were still open.

So I left that morning, packed up my car, and my two little kids and hoped for the best. I had done this route before quite a few times, so I knew the roads well. The rain kept on falling, it was bad, it wasn't letting up, and I knew that as much as it rained on the West side of the mountains the more it would snow on the mountains themselves. It was too late to turn back now, so I kept on going.

I noticed that the road was not only very slippery, but large puddles of water lay in some dips and areas which sprayed the car every time we went through them. We were in the mountains now, but not at such a high altitude that that there was any snow at the moment, just the continuous rain. This is a drive that in the summer can be very pleasant and fun to do, but now it looked anything but. To make things worse it looked like everyone seemed to have followed the warnings and stayed put, we were one of a very few vehicles that were actually passing through this area. The others were truckers with huge semi's that thundered past trying to get to their destination before they closed the roads down left and right. The road was getting very difficult to drive on and the visibility was very poor as well, I wondered how I managed to get myself into this, but knew I only had myself to blame.

I had been the only vehicle on this road for a long time, so was surprised to see a big semi-truck directly behind me. He was coming up way too fast, and worse he kept on driving at that speed, it seemed he was but inches from my tail. I started to drive faster, trying hopelessly to get away from him. 'What is he playing at?' I asked myself, this is all I need, a crazed out trucker on my back. He didn't let up and kept close enough to me that I knew if I slowed down at all, he would have no chance of slowing down to avoid me and would crash into me. I thought about my kids and wondered how I could have been stupid enough to put myself in this situation is the first place.

I decided to make a move, I drove on to the muddy hard shoulder, hoping he would be able to just drive past me, but first I made sure that I wasn't going to simply fall off the mountain, luckily the fall didn't look too bad, worst case scenario I would only fall around 10 feet down. Unfortunately I was going at too high a speed to safely stop on the muddy, socked hard shoulder, and did fall into the 10 foot drop. Thankfully none of us were hurt, but I was in a bad situation. I was on a isolated road, in a deep ditch that was quickly filling with more and more water.

The trucker stopped too. Oh no, I thought, what does the he want? Surely not to help? But he did help me out and so did a couple of other vehicles that stopped while I was in the ditch. They put a rope on the car and I drove it backwards up on to the road again. I thanked them and went back to the driving. On the way I still had to pass the snowy mountain roads, luckily my car was able to manoeuvre over them with not too much difficulty. After which, we drove through Manning park, A large natural park, miles of beautiful forest that in good weather would be a pleasant drive, but today it just looked dangerous and grey.

Eventually I came to a town called Princeton. And there I found out that all roads were now closed, the ones I had just driven over and the ones where I was heading towards. Not only that but a local town had been flooded out and so the motels were almost full to capacity. I did eventually manage to get a room for us. Once booked in, we went to the Cafe to eat, and there was the trucker, he waved and smiled and I did the same. A certain understanding between us, although I couldn’t quite fathom what that was. They all seemed to know each other, the truckers have probably done this route many, many times before I thought.

We went back to our room and tried to get some sleep I had to wait and see if they would open up the roads tomorrow, as I was eager to be on my way.

The next day, they did open up the roads going East, and so I was on my way again, I made it to my destination without too much more trouble.

[Deleted]

Manning park:



www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/vancouver/parks/manning.htm

[bixaorellana]

Great, harrowing story, Deyana! Boy, do I know that kind of trip, too -- trying to make time, trying to keep a kid from getting too bored, near-brushes with disaster.

What a gorgeous mountain range in that picture. Is that the area you were driving through in your story?

[Deleted]

Thanks Bixa. Yes, that was part of the drive. I was glad when I finally got to Manning Park, because I knew it was more of a downhill drive off the mountains after that.

Manning Park is a lovely area, that goes on for miles, Unfortunately it also has it's share of wild fires, one year I drove thorough the area when some major ones were burning, it was a bit worrying but we got through it O.K.

[Deleted]

I drove over similar mountains too early in the season in Montana once, allowing me to fully appreciate the feeling of "I am a stupid idiot for being alone on this road and not even knowing where I'm going."

That is a great story, deyana. It is such a great feeling to pack up and leave in a car, not knowing what awaits you.

[Deleted]

Oh yes Keoruac, it really is a good feeling. I enjoy long driving trips, it's the whole sense of freedom and adventure and movement. Although the one I printed up above was one I shouldn't really have done at the time I did. But life is full of experiences, each one teaches us something...

[imec]

Just arrived in Kelowna. It's overcast but still beautiful.




Just pictures I found on the web - forgot me camera - and me Blackberry (Aaarrgh!!!). Was almost late for me plane.

[Deleted]

Imec, lucky you. Looking at those pics makes me feel homesick!

Glad you didn't miss your plane, are you going to be there for very long?

[spindrift]

Lucky for me I have found this story. It's been very gripping and I'm highly impressed with the scenery. You're such a plucky lady, Deyana.... I can see why you love Canada.

[imec]

Leaving Tuesday afternoon. Forgot how beautiful it is here - will have to come back with the family when we can.

[Deleted]

Gee, imec, you mean you haven't gone out to buy us a camera yet?

[bixaorellana]

Aren't there disposable digitals yet?

[imec]

Stuck inside a conference room anyway (http://www.rebootconference.com/health2009/). Just stepped ot for a conference call - no one showed up - going back in now.

[Deleted]

writeon, yep, I do love Canada. If you are ever this way, perhaps I could take you for a drive to the Okanagan? It would be a good excuse for me to visit the place I love so much.

imec. funny that, I'm on the road on Tuesday too, my drive will only be around 10 hours or so though. Seeing as I'll probably have to make various stops along the way for the kids...