Heading North to Kamloops

We've decided to take the Sea to Sky Highway back to the coast, not right away mind you, this is just too much fun to end too quickly. But what this means is we once again head north.  Back to Keremeos, over to Hedley, up through Princeton, on to Allison Lake, then through Aspen Grove.  We sort of by-pass Merritt because we suddenly have a hankering to see Kamloops. 

Our brief stop in Hedley gave us some fantastic photo ops. This store was a feast for the eyes in a sort of colorless background.

I really tried hard to get a telephoto of the minesite in the side hill.  I tend to take blurry photos with that much magnification (note to self... bring tripod). This one wasn't so bad.

Fascinating little store here in Hedley.  I think these are pumps?  Not sure, but loved them lined up in a row like painted ladies.

A lovely little garden beside the tourist information site welcomes everyone to Hedley.

On the road again.... this is somewhere on Highway 3 North.  Pretty!

We went off road (not really) for a quick stop at Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park.  Beautiful lake with the most interesting rocks....

This little guy sort of skittered away when I approached the waters edge.

LOVE those aspen trees. I just can't seem to stop taking pictures of them.  This has been the longest day of driving yet!  I am tired!

day trip ~ from Oliver to Kelowna

On our way to Kelowna we stopped in Penticton  to take a quick dip in the lake ( I dipped, Sweetie baked).  It was amazing and everything I remembered from family vacations so long ago!  The strange orange chunky sand brought back so many memories (and it was stuck everywhere for the rest of the day!)

My lovely pedicure... Sigh

Another quick stop in Peachland this time.  What a lovely little community this is.  There are people from every age group represented at this beach. 

We finally got to Kelowna, not the city that I remembered.  It has grown substantially, and it is beautiful.

The walkway on the waterfront here is amazing.

A series of little lagoons, even a loch connect these lovely circular waterways.

The trees really help to control the heat.  Is it ever Hot here!

These sculptures are wonderful.

Parasailing anyone?  just call 250-300-sail  :)

The yacht club no less.

On our way back to Oliver the river running alongside highway 97 heading south to Penticton was full of people. They were hanging out on inner tubes, rafts, you name it, if it floated it was here. What a great way to beat the heat.

Keremeos here we come

As we zip along highway 3 through Cawston on our way to Keremeos we pass this rugged little building.  I wonder just what is keeping it together?
And if we didn't have enough fruit to satisfy our needs in Oliver, what we find in Keremeos is even more.

Just starting to ripen, the apricots look so good.

Local blueberries, yummy.

And maybe because they are around for so short a time, cherries are my all time favorite.

I admired the jalopies parked in the orchard beside the Parson's fruit stand.  My Dad just loves this place.

This one I am calling "One man's treasures".  This is what my family inheritance looks like!

If it wasn't 5 million degrees in the shade today we would have had a picnic here!

And another gate I loved.

See ya Later Ranch

Holly hocks growing outside the beautifully restored 1900 hand split stone building that houses the tasting room and wine shop for  See Ya Later Ranch.   Just 5 kilometers off the highway at Okanagan Falls, this is definitely my favorite winery of the area.  

Sweetie fell in love there too, with this gorgeous little car.

These people are growing on some of the most rugged land we have seen yet.  Much of the growing site is farmed by hand as machinery just isn't feasible.

This beautiful old building was across the road from the ranch driveway. We had to go back so I could take a few pictures of it.

One of the lovely ladies in the tasting room told us to venture just a few more miles past the winery and promised we would be awed by the two stunning little "salt" lakes ahead.  She was right!

Sweetie was a little anxious when I got out to take pictures, he says this is the perfect place for a rattle snake to be sunning itself. YIKES.

Tinhorn Creek Winery

The first winery we stopped at was Tinhorn Creek.  What a magnificent place.  This really set the bar high for what was to follow.

The driveway was a good indicator of the beauty that was to follow.

And this is the parking lot.

Acres and acres of grapes.

A self guided tour through the property displays samples of all grapes they grow, with wonderful information plaques and the edge of their amazing amphitheater that hosts musical events.

Up close the tour garden is beautiful and informative.

This is what it's all about.

The one photo that proves I was here!

Wow.  And yes, a few bottles of their wonderful wine are coming home with me.

on to Oliver, BC

As we head into Oliver we see field after field of grapes, cherry and peach trees .... and every few miles there is yet another delightful little family run fruit stand.  This is certainly a fruit plentiful area.

These mature peach trees looked like soldiers lined up in row after row.  We are too early to take advantage of their bounty. How sad!

I love gates of any kind....

And stone walls... this is what I imagine Ireland looks like, only much greener.  One day soon I hope to see for myself.

An entire planting of peach trees in a gully of sorts... interesting.  I wonder if it has to do with irrigation?

Oliver, BC - in and around Oliver, a photo story.