Kelowna Adventure

Kelowna and back the first time I was ever excited to take someone home to meet my mother!

The road is long with many a winding turn

 Mission Creek Parkway, Kelowna, BC Canada

Its' a weeks holiday and my honey and me are on my way to Kelowna, BC,  I'm on my iphone and listing my way to Kelowna on Facebook. 

September 27, 2012 is the last day of my current job contract the next one doesn't start until October 22nd.  I have three full weeks but my highlander only has 11 days before he needs to hit the road again, a truckers life.

Friday September 28th we are off on the road by 8:30 A.M taking my blue beauty the Ford Focus because it's newer and good on gas.  I'm driving the first part to Regina where my honey will take over, music playing we chat, laugh and make our way down the highway.  The prairies are boring to most, and it's no different with my highlander, I sometimes like the way the wind blows through the fields of golds, greens and purples but this trip is late in the fall and all you see is dead dried fields everywhere.

Our first stop is Regina Saskatchewan were we fill up I still don't know the full capacity of my fuel tank and the kilometers it will allow me.  We grab a coffee at the Husky and we are on our way.  He stops at the Husky's and collects points so our coffee is free, we've also filled up with triple the points so he has enough for at least two showers when he's back work.

My highlander has taken over the driving and I sit back to manage the songs we will be listening to.  My vehicle has a ipod connection and one can not go anywhere without good music to whittle away the miles.  I even take the time to download songs on itune from his favorite group Westlife.  My highlander is such a romantic, he had me look up these songs while he was still in Spain and they tugged at my heart.

We've brought along some sandwiches that my honey made so we can capitalize on our driving time.  So at Moose Jaw, SK we stop to get another coffee, eat our lunch and stretch our legs.

Our next stop is dinner or tea time as he calls it in Red Cliff, Alberta, he decided he would drive the rest of the way with me taking over in the morning.

Medicine Hat and soon dinner at Red Cliff

Our target is Strathmore where we are both okay to just bunk down in the vehicle and have a shower in the Husky in the morning with a good hearty breakfast.  We have hotels booked in Golden and Three Valley Gap as well as Kelowna.  We reach our destination around 11:30 pm but it's only 10:30 as we gained an hour going west.

Lucie is eager for a view of the Rockies although she has been there before with the Highlander

Saturday morning there is a crispness in the air, sure signs that fall has set into Canada.  We have our shower together and a good hearty meal and we set off.  My honey decides he will continue to drive to Golden, with me doing the driving once we get to Kelowna.  I'm happy to view the gorgeous scenery of the great Canadian Rockies and take pictures.

Ominous clouds just out of Calgary

We've come into the majestic Canadian Rockies and I continue to look and take a few pictures of the beauty around us on our way to our first stop Banff.

We come up to Banff National Park and I have my honey swing in so we can get a park pass.  If you want to stop in a Canadian National Park you have to have a park pass.  I have a Pass that I need to show them courtesy of my current employer, so with paper attached to the windshield away we go to explore Banff National Park.

Our first stop is the town of Banff and a view of the Bow River which lies in view of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.  I have researched a few places I want to see while on this adventure and this is my first place.

Bow River - Banff, Alberta Canada

 After partaking of the beautiful view of the falls in Banff it's off to Johnston Canyon.  Johnston Canyon trail is the busiest hiking trail in the summer mainly because of it's journey to two amazing waterfalls and pools what they call the Ink Pots.

"The trail begins immediately behind Johnston Canyon Lodge. After a short climb through the forest, it descends and stays close to Johnston Creek all the way to Lower Falls. Along the way you pass over sturdy iron catwalks attached beneath overhanging canyon walls, where the turbulent waters of the creek flow beneath your feet"

Johnston Canyon

 One thing about the rivers, streams and lakes in this region is they are clear, emerald and cold, feed from the glaciers high atop the mountains.

A good hike uphill to the upper falls and downhill most of the way back, with the following kilometers hiked:

1.1 - Lower Falls.
2.7 - Upper Falls (1565 m)

We were on a schedule to get in as much as we could so the extra 3.1 kilometers to the 5.8 - Ink Pots (1645 m) will have to wait for another adventure.

With the hike over we continue on our way to Moraine Lake, one of the 41 places in the world to see before you die.  It's Number 12 on the list:

http://www.boredpanda.com/amazing-places-to-see-before-you-die/ 

Moraine Lake, Canada

Moraine Lake is a glacier fed lake and is famous for it's distinct blue color, although they say June is more impressive for the blue since it crest at that time. It also has the distinction of being on the back of the Canadian $20 bill.   My honey takes a picture of me for my bucket list completed.

 There are nice condo's around the lake as well as a hotel, I'm thinking it might be a nice place to come in June and have a romantic holiday. 








And I take a sneak picture of him as he looks around the lake lol. 

After a look around we say goodbye to Moraine Lake and are on our way to impressive Lake Louise

 

Lake Louise has such a breathtaking landscape, "it’s no surprise that this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been nominated time and again as a “must-see” destination for travelers around the world."

Lake Louise, Alberta Canada

And even at the end of September there are lots of tourist and tour buses that converge on this place to take photo's.

Banff Natiional Park completed it's time to head on to Golden and perhaps a stop along the way.  While we are driving we see a sign for Crazy Creek Falls and bookmark that to check out along with some others.

There were a few more places we decided we would stop at on our way back, it had been a long day of seeing the wonders of nature and dinner and a nice relaxing evening in our hotel in Golden, BC was waiting.
In Golden we choose a Greek restaurant not far from our hotel it's quite quaint and with dinner over we head back to hour hotel for a little bit of R & R.

Sunday September 30, 2012
Mount Revelstoke National Park is another stop on our way to get a park pass to tape to our window as we plan on stopping.  We pull into the Discovery centre at Rogers Pass and spend about an hour viewing the artifacts and video's about the area.

Built in an avalanche shelter

The famous arch at Rogers Pass

 There was an interesting video on how avalanches and how they fire cannons towards the top of the snow covered mountains to disperse snow that would otherwise fall unsuspectingly on travelers that make their way through the mountains on the Transcanada Highway # 1 and the Coquihalla highway Highway # 5.  When I think of the Coquihalla it reminds me of the show Highway thru Hell television series a docureality series about the work crews that patrol B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway in midwinter.  When I saw that show I told my honey that he would not be driving to BC in the winter in a semi, I want him around for the rest of my life.

Many years ago he went trucking through the middle east and has many interesting stories somehow I love to listen to them and they don't bother me as he did make it through that part of his life.


As we are driving we come across a place called Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail and pull in to check it out.

A winding boardwalk through a forrest of cedar trees.

 

It was a lovely walk through the trees with my honey, my frisky highlander was ready to take me there in the mist of the forest if it hadn't been for the other tourists that stopped to meander through the greenery.

On our way again to Three Valley Gap where we have booked into Three Valley Lake Chateau.

The view is stunning from our balcony, almost makes us want to give up the Ghost Town tour but we settle into our room and head out to visit the Ghost Town.

The ghost town bringing you back to the pioneer days of a typical 1800’s British Columbia western town.  there are more than 25 rescued and restored historic buildings, an Antique Auto Museum* featuring automobiles dating from 1902, and our Railway Roundhouse*, complete with turntable, locomotives and rail cars.

McLaughlin Buggy

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Train

Interior of a train car

Cheeky Face driving a Electric Trolley Bus

 I actually had the privilege of riding in one of these when they were still in use in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada with my mother, just can't remember how old I was.

 They even have a haunted train in keeping with the spirit of the ghost town and upcoming Halloween.

The faceless man lol

There were many things to see in this ghost town and I would recommend it to anyone to stop by this Diamond amongst the Canadian Rockies and spend more than a day or two.

The Chateau offers kayaks and canoes for rent and it was the last day for the Glacier helicopter tours, I was tempted but we were only there for the evening because we were leaving for Kelowna in the morning.  We were of same mind wishing we would have booked the weekend at this gem in the mountains, but there is always next year and a bucket list item and my dream of white water rafting down the Kicking Horse river.

Limestone Cliffs of Steep Rock, MB Canada

Paddling the Limestone Cliffs

  Steep Rock, Manitoba

The pictures of this place make the cliffs looking bigger than they really are, but one of the best things about Lake Manitoba at Steep Rock is it makes the lake water look clear bluegreen and after Grand Beach and Lac Du Bonnet with all the green algae it was a pure joy to swim in this lake.

It's the September long weekend and Keith and I are away on the Thursday before, it's a sunny but windy day as we drive up north along Hwy 6.  We stop along the way to see the sites and decide to stop at Lundar Beach to have lunch that we brought along.  There is nobody on the beach, you can see the whitecaps on the lake, it was like wandering a whole beach by ourselves.  It made me think of how I would love to spend a week or two on a secluded beach like we were shipwrecked.  Playing in the sun, sand and surf all day and making love all night long.

Fantasies put away for another time, we head up and finally reach the motel in Ashern where we are staying the night.  We decided against camping in the campground at Steep Rock only because they stated there were only two camp spots left and decided we didn't want to take our chances on what two spots were left.  A nice dinner, a walk about town reveals there is a rodeo in town this weekend and the reason why we couldn't get the same motel for Thursday to Saturday night.

A good movie on the satellite, and lot of bedroom aerobics and a good night sleep ends our first day of our weekend adventure.

Up in the morning, showered and a good hearty breakfast, it's Friday and we are heading up the short distance to Steep Rock to rent a canoe/kayak and enjoy the serenity of the water.  There is something that we both love about water and sun, this morning the sun is out to greet us.

When we arrive at Steep Rock we find that the place that rents the canoe/kayaks does not open till one in the afternoon.  So we decide to head up the trail along the limestone cliffs.

Keith surveying the site turns and poses for my camera.  My sexy highlander makes my libido rise!!

Throughout the trail there are numerous park benches that one can stop to have a rest and look out on the beauty of Lake Manitoba.  There are also lots of garter snakes, I stopped to take a picture on one that had a frogs leg in its mouth but as Keith got closer it dropped the frogs leg and scurried off, they sure are fast. Along the shore we would see birds, Keith stated that could swim long distances under water, you never knew where they would pop up, as we watched one in particular, he was correct in that you watched it go under and then wondered where it where only to find it popped up just up or down shore.

 

Lake Manitoba is home to the famous Manipogo.

"Sightings of this serpent-like sea monster have been going on since roughly 1908. The creature was dubbed Manipogo in 1957, the name echoing British Columbia's Ogopogo. There is also a Lake Winnipegosis sea monster called Winnepogo, thought possibly to be the same creature as the lakes are connected. Some have speculated that the monster sightings may be attributed to sightings of an unusually large lake sturgeon, or a relict population of prehistoric plesiosaurs. Although many experts believe the correct name is Winnipego, as confirmed by local residents."

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipogo

We didn't see any sightings of this legendary creatures but we did site an island a short paddle away that we thought we would visit during our time on the lake.

Mystery Island as we dubbed it

We we wandered back after our visit to the cliffs we found the young guy who owns the rental shop was opening up for business. We decided on renting for half the day since it was already just after noon.  The rental includes paddles and life jackets and we chose a canoe which width was like a kayak, it was almost like a canoe/kayak crossover, with seat backs and of course the double paddle.  We both prefer the movement of the double paddle, I feel it balances my strokes on both arms and I don't get as tired as paddling on one side with one arm.

We set out at a fast pace pushing into the wind along the shoreline of cliffs.  Keith pointed to a distance marker and we made our way along the lake to that point.  He was in the British Navy Reserves and really knows his way around the water.  It is amazing how far out the snakes in the area go in the water as we passed a few of them slithering along the top of the water. I find being around water so peaceful, it truly is my stress reliever.

I was glad I was paddling with Keith he really knows what to do out there with the current and the wind, it made our paddling effortless.  When we reached our marker we turned around and started out to the island where we would have lunch.  The owner of the rental shop stated he had put a picnic table, firepit and left a goat out on the island to eat the poison ivy that is abundant. He said if we got a picture of the goat he would give us a five dollar discount.

As we came closer to the island my sailor remarking on the currents and ensuring our boat ended up where it was suppose to so we could go ashore.

 

The trail up to the center where the picnic table is

 with a view of the other side of the island, not a very wide island.

The island also had an old futon by the firepit and a chair to sit and watch the day go by

Jane

Tarzan

 We had a nice lunch then went for a swim on the other side of the island.

This side of the island was protected from the shore and I soon took my bikini top up to help bring my fast fading overall tan back to life.  The water was cool when you first got in but warmed up after you had been in for a long time.  It felt so good to be spirited and free my bikini bottoms soon followed and there we were frolicking in the water like two sea nymphs.  Back out of the water to dry off our thoughts soon turned to wild abandon and made love on the futon.  Satisfied we walked back into the water to cleanse the heated remnants of our union, that is when Keith sited the goat.  I ran back to the picnic table to grab my camera, and tried to get a distance shot from the water, but the goat must have seen us and a little spooked ran back to the end of the island.

Keith decided he was going to go around the other side of the island and force the goat to come past me while I hid between a tree.  Just like he planned me hidden the goat made his way past me, I was so excited that I didn't realize I had video on instead of picture, but nevertheless I did get a picture of the goat.

Our adventure out on the lake and Mystery Island was sadly coming to an end and soon we were back in the canoe paddling toward shore.

 View of the cliffs as we paddled back

We stopped and chatted with the young man and his mother about how he came into business.  He use to work at the Campsite and wanted to start renting canoes there but the owners didn't want him to do it so he quit and approached the tow of Steep Rock to allow him to rent the canoes from the boat launch in town.  He made a deal that he would keep the peaceful, serene and non-commercialized atmosphere of the area intact. This meant no power boats or seadoo's tainting the natural wonders of the lake.  He told us he was thinking of taking up sailing and I told him that renting sailboats would be in keeping with keeping the area free and natural.  We also found out a little too late that he also had two cabins that he rents out for $75 and $80 a night along with a free canoe.  That would have been perfect for us, but the rest of the weekend didn't cooperate weather wise.

It was time to check into our next motel in Moosehorn, shower, have dinner and relax for another adventure Saturday.  We had decided we would go to the rodeo, Keith had never been to one, while I have been once to the Calgary Stampede.

The weather Saturday was a little windy and cooler as we made our way to the Rodeo which was just a short drive out of town.  Admission paid we found a spot to park whereby we could just pull out and no one would be in our way.  The Rodeo was small and we found a spot on the grandstand where we could sit and wait for the day's events.