A Report From the Road: Okanagan II

Avid Traveller | Lindsay | Jun 12, 2012

Hi Everyone!

One more quick update before we head home tomorrow. (Wow – that sounds depressing!)

Friday night – We were visited by Maurice Williams who is an Associate Professor of History at UBC Okanagan. He stopped by to give us a wonderful presentation about Myra Cannon which we were planning to hike the next day. It was a 11km walk over 18 impressive trestles on a trail built for the Kettle Valley Railway between 1912 – 1914. He has written a book called, “Myra’s Men” which focuses on the workers who built the railway. Although most people think the Chinese built the railway, it was mostly immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italy.

It was an impressive route, but I have no pictures to show for it….probably because it is even more impressive when it’s not pouring rain the whole time! The rain was disappointing at first, but the fog added an extra romance to the canyon. We did hike the whole 11km in 3 hours and came home as proud little drowned rats.

Sunday – The sun came out to greet us and we enjoyed a perfect day of wine tasting at the wineries Dirty Laundry and Great Ranch. In the afternoon, we boarded a train at the Prairie Valley Station and enjoyed a ride into the past – complete with Saloon girls, banjo players and a hold up! Our train was “robbed” (for charity) by the Garnett Gang. After a BBQ at the station, we took off for our next destination = Penticton!

Monday – Another beautiful day of perfect weather. We had a morning 8 km hike on a different portion of the KVR trail, on the Naramata Bench, followed by a fantastic time at a winery called Therapy (my fave wine name was “Freudian Sip”). Lunch was at Lake Breeze winery and it was delicious. Two more

winery stops (La Frenz and Poplar Grove) and then chill out time. Some of us swam in the heated pool at the hotel.

Tuesday – Today was a free day, so some of the group came with me on a morning hike on a section of the Trans Canada Trail. We had a lovely view of Penticton from the hilltops. We are resting our feet now and getting ready for a pre-dinner gathering, followed by dinner here at the hotel

It has been a FANTASTIC time, despite a couple rainy days, and none of us are looking forward to heading home. Thanks Okanagan Valley for being such wonderful hosts! Special shout outs to Ramada Penticton and Royal Anne Hotel in Kelowna. Check out more pics below!