more from Okanagan Falls

We did enjoy our stay at Okanagan Falls, although I don't expect we will camp here again. We just can't get used to being 'shoe-horned' into a campsite. It was too close for comfort. The neighbours sewage drain is basically right beside your picnic table. ugh..No thank you!

cozy camping

The Salmon Chief

The weather was great, our view of Skaha Lake was awesome and the campgrounds managers are so helpful and friendly, that one would be tempted to come back just to visit with them again. Manager, Bob, did apologize profusely about our neighbour being closer than he needed to be. I can't even imagine this place midsummer when every spot is filled.

oh so pretty

Anyway, we had a couple of great bike rides along the KVR Trail to Kaleden and back. A few years ago we rode the full 24 km round trip between here and Penticton, but opted for the 1/2 trip this time.

Okanagan Falls Trestle

biking selfie

We didn't hear the explosion last night, but this apparently happened. Just a 1/2 block behind us. The camp managers were awoken and said there was a big bang and lots of flames.

exploding van beside old garage below

On our final day, we did a driving tour along the east side of the lake to Penticton and also along a winding road through the hills west of Skaha. We stumbled across the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory. It is an internationally known facility for science and technology research related to radio astronomy. It operates three telescopes on its radio-quiet site - (no cell phones, laptops or GPS allowed!). There are labs and equipment for the development of all aspects of radio-frequency instrumentation. You can google it!

The stuffie hang-out near our campground.

And tomorrow it's on to Kelowna . . .

Okanagan Falls - Sun & Sand

Sun & Sand

Site #35 - $40 p/w/s

Shaw Open Internet

Temp 24C

It was tough to pack up and leave Osoyoos when the weather was perfect. 24C and no wind.

                                Last fire at Osoyoos calls for wine

So we didn't go far... Like about 40 km. to Okanagan Falls and the Sun & Sand RV Resort. We've stayed here before, but it's been cleaned up since our last visit. The campsites are much closer than we like, but the view and the location right on Skaha Lake makes up for it.



We decided we will spend three nights. Looking forward to biking on the Kettle Valley Railway trail tomorrow!

checking out the local Flea Market

Windy Wednesday

We haven't been quite so lucky with our weather this stay at Osoyoos. So. Much. Wind. BLAH!
Today was the worst yet. Laundry Day. And my annual trip to the town's best shopping --> Home Hardware. (And thus ends my complaints re weather... We just saw the snow pics from SK.)

Nk'Mip View

We've been pretty low key since everyone left on Sunday. Drive abouts, bike rides, a lot of reading.
The cacti are pretty. 

 

Ron saw a rattle snake on one of the walking paths. But no photo.
He's had many a conversation with fellow campers. Seniors from near and far. Young people from Quebec here to work the orchards. The travelling Europeans. Some interesting stories have been shared.

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ 

And then it was Friday. The 13th. The weather? Absolutely perfect. It's what keeps us coming back every year.

We are booked until Sunday. Not exactly sure where the old dodge will take us for the following 3 nights, but we will be in Kelowna for Wed/Thursday and then on to Vernon for the long weekend.

Nk'Mip Corner where I do Internet stuff

And now back to relax mode. Happy Friday!

The Week Ends

Happy Mother's Day! It's been a busy weekend with no computer time for me.




Doug, Dave and Sabrina arrived on Friday. Sabrina had her first experience in a tent. Yesterday was perfect weather-wise, but the wind on Friday and again today was not so nice. It led to an earlier departure than they originally planned. (Had planned to stay until tomorrow.)



Anyway, it was great to have them here. Lots of visiting, walks, a swim, evening fires and some shopping at the local town market.

And then there were two . . .

Our week with Richard and Janice has also come to an end. They are headed home after a stop in Kelowna. Ron and I will spend another week before heading up Kelowna and Vernon way.

Osoyoos Days

Thursday was a windy and rainy morning.  Not what we ordered.  The rain left by lunch, but the cloud and much wind remained.  It started Wed evening and we had the first of our indoor dinners here.  A few units have moved up from the beach area.  That scenic front row isn't ideal in windy conditions.  It's a lesson we learned on our first stay.  It was perfect card playing weather and that occupied most of our morning and a few hours after lunch.

Janice had a spin on her 'new' bike.  And the pedal immediately fell off.  Back to Richard & Ron's repair shop and it's now as good as new.  A second bike ride attempt resulted in Ron having tire issues.  He must have picked up cone needles at the previous stop. Two flats. A quick beer at the local pub, a few more shots of air and he 'limped' home.  That two bike find was a god send as it provided spare parts. He required a tire change and two tubes.

Did I mention it's fish fly season here.  They usually hang at the beach, but with the wind they have migrated up to our space. We've had to explain to many first time visitors that "no, they are not mosquitoes and no, they won't bite. Just very annoying.

ugh.... fish flies

Nk' Mip Campground, Osoyoos

Nk' Mip RV Resort
Site #C7 - $224. (pay 6, 7 free) p/w/s/TV
Internet cost

Day 4 in Osoyoos. Time flies, having fun! Richard and Janice arrived shortly after us and we've been busy since.

The Homestead 

We have enjoyed propane fires, soaks in the pool and hot tub, lots of chatter, refreshments and some 'fine dining'. At home. We take turns with the cooking.

Cheers!

Dish duty 

Unfortunately Janice's bike slipped on the bike rack on the drive here and had a rough trip dragging on the highway... End result, a ruined tire.

So yesterday we hit a couple of bike shops looking for a replacement. No luck. Off to the dump we went. And damn, we were a day late. They had just finished doing their medal crushing, so there was no bicycle heap for us to "shop" at. The lady at the gate told us if we'd been a day earlier, we probably would have found something. She was most apologetic.

                   Bike shop employee sleeping on job 

We drove up to Oliver. No bike luck, but Janice found a 'new dress' at the thrift shop, so not all was lost.
The weather has been awesome. No electric heater and the heavy quilt is off the bed. Love it!

                                 Resident Peeler

                             Boys and phones... 

Today? Another bike hunt, another thrift store. And, the thrift store queen was rewarded once again!

Also, Janice had found a used bike advertised for sale back in Oliver so we hit the highway once again. On the way, we side-tripped through an old trailer park and former campground and we noticed a couple bikes thrown up on a pile of garbage. Richard knocked on a door but the garbage and bikes belonged to a different neighbour. However, as luck would have it, this lady had a couple bikes in her carport that she didn't want. How lucky was that?? So Janice has her new bike! Let the bike riding begin!!




We will likely hang here for 2 weeks, Richard and Janice for a week. Son Dave/Sabrina and Doug/Rina are arriving with their tents this weekend.

Midway, BC on the Kettle River

Riverfront Campground

Site #7 - $22 p only (#5 best)

Shaw Internet

Temp 14C

The rain followed us until just out of Midway. But things are looking up! Sunny and warmer today! This is our third stay at the Riverfront Park in Midway. It is such a neat little community and we like our little spot on the Kettle River. However, all but one of the power sites are occupied this weekend. It is not quite as peaceful or as enjoyable as when we have the place to ourselves!

Flowering trees and a great River view

We had a short fire after we set up camp yesterday, but we ended up cooking and eating indoors when the wind came up.

Today we did our bike tour around town and along the River. Not much changes over the years, but there is some new native artwork in one of the parks. We had trouble finding information on this. Anyway.. with a little help from Google: The "Gateway project" was a vision of aboriginal artist David Seven Deers. This "talking circle" is to be used as an outdoor learning centre for young people. The 'arch' or gateway consists of three pieces of Andesite, each weighing more than three tons.

Each rock in the 'talking circle' has a different native symbol engraved on it. Very cool! As is the raven within the circle which is sculpted from andesite and highly polished to black.

Also in the park is the "Entwined Trees". Midway is right on the US border. When the International Boundary Line was being surveyed in 1857-61, a major portion of the large Indian Band in the area moved to the Washington side. At that time, one of the First Nation's people entwined two sapling pines saying "Though divided we are united still, we are one".

We spoke to a fellow as we were leaving the park. He said his wife grew up in this town and remembers running between the entwined trees as a young child. Our history lesson for the day.

Back at the RV we enjoyed reading in the sun. This may or may not have included a margarita. And then more of that 'same old stuff'.... drinks, dinner on the barbecue and evening campfire.

We look forward to meeting up with Richard and Janice in Osoyoos tomorrow.

Yakity Yahk, BC

Hay U Ranch RV Resort

Site #16 - $30 p/w/s

Internet poor

Temp 13C

We are still waiting for warmer temps! Only 4C when we left Little Bow.

Ron realized when he washed his hair with 'no suds' last night that I had brought along conditioner instead of shampoo, so we stopped at Fort Macleod. He ran in for shampoo and I had took advantage of wifi time.

Night 2 was spent at Yahk. Another new campground for us. The setting was nice along the river. But once again, river campgrounds in BC come with the inevitable railway track.

However, we enjoyed a fire and the free wood supply. A moose wandered by across the river which was rather cool.

The two trains that followed? Not so cool! There were two trains overnight, but they were well timed with our pee break, so not too disruptive!

oh look.....  a train....... 

We left Yahk in the rain this morning and another 4C temp. Thankfully it wasn't snowing in the passes.

Oh, and that shampoo Ron bought?? Turned out it, too, was conditioner! Gah... another shop stop in Creston and hopefully we'll have squeaky clean hair tomorrow!

2016 First Campout - Little Bow PP

Site #32 - $33 p only

no cell, water still off

Temp 8C

The snow is gone. And so are we! We travelled a new road to a park we've talked about but never visited before. Little Bow Prov Pk located near Champion, AB - about 200 km from the Hat. It was 6C when we left home.

Little Bow is a nice little park, but like many we have visited, it was perfect because it's 'off season' and quiet. There were only two of us on Wed. night. We would probably avoid the place during 'high season'. Sites are close together and not very private. We were told it is already busy on weekends and is fully booked through the summer. Crazy! There is a nice little marina and beach, but mostly people come to fish the river.

  

We rode our bikes and had our first wood fire of 2016. Just us, the deer and the Meadowlarks. No cell service. No internet. Perfect! Ron did his usual "treasure hunt" after dinner. I choose the electric heater and my book.

Spring Camping 2016??

We've had a warmer than normal winter with very little snow. It has been an amazing spring.  Many days have been spent on the deck. We have made good use of our umbrella. Because, wow.. HOT HOT sun!

And so, on April 24, we bring the 5th wheel home and start packing.  Time to get camping!!

Except Mother Nature had other plans.  Crap! What happened to spring showers??