Okanagan Getaway

Bridal Falls

This past Victoria Day weekend, we passed on the ferry and border line ups and headed up to the Okanagan. We took the slow way with stops in Bridal Falls (a short hike up to the falls), Manning Park Lodge for a quick break and a snack, shopping in Hedley, gas in Keremeos, lunch in Penticton, and finally our B&B. The Eagles Nest is located in Carrs Landing, about 20 minutes north of Kelowna. The B & B was wonderful, with a fantastic view down the hill to Lake Okanagan.  We settled in and tested out the hot tub, which was great after the 6 hour drive. Our hosts had recommended many restaurants in the area, and we settled for the local pub which was right on Wood Lake. The food was ok, but it was a great location, and close to our B&B. 

The next morning, after a big breakfast of eggs benedict, we headed up to the top of a hill. From the view point, we could see Lake Okanagan, Wood Lake and Elison Lake. It was well worth the effort. We were lucky as we misread a trail sign and were about to head back, but along came another hiker, who pointed out our mistake. 

The afternoon took us to 3 wineries: 50th Parallel, Gray Monk and Intrigue. Our lunch was at the small OK Patio Cafe. It is part of the Lake Country Museum. The lakeside location made for a great lunch before we tackled the Gray Monk winery. 

View of Lake Country

At all three wineries, we were met by very accommodating staff who showed off their wines and further educated us. We discovered Pinot Grigio, as well as Gamy Noir as well as an expensive bottle of Pinot Noir, which we are saving for a special occasion.

After our winery tours, we stopped in to buy some cheese and crackers, and headed back to the B&B to enjoy the first bottle of our cache. Our dinner later that evening was in a Greek restaurant and then a stroll along Wood Lake.

Enjoying our wine

Sunday took us into Kelowna for a wander through the Mission District and then on to downtown. The waterfront was alive with weekenders and the weather was perfect. We picked up Subway sandwiches for a roadside picnice, but there were no pull offs along the Okanagan Connector, so we found our own just outside of Merrit. From there it was downhill home after a great weekend away.

  

Dinner Club in Whistler

Dinner in Whistler

This past weekend, our dinner club ventured up to Whistler for Karl's turn to host the dinner. We lucked into a great weather weekend which made the drive up the Sea to Ski Highway a ooh and ah affair. No matter how many times we have seen the views, they are still stunning and make us grateful that we live here. The plan was to drive up, check in and then meet up with the group at Karl's condo for appies and drinks before dinner. We stayed at the Tatulus Lodge in a 2 bedroom room. The hotel is located at the south end of the village, but there is only a 10 minute walk separating the hotel from the Village Square. Lunch was in Citta Pub on the patio in the Village Square. Good food and some cold beer on a hot Saturday afternoon got the weekend off in grand style.

Later that same day, we enjoyed the company of our dinner group at Karl's condo to savour pre-dinner snacks and drinks. We were informed that dinner would be at Le Gros, a French Alsace restaurant that where Karl knows the chef. They had planned a 3 course meal to tempt our taste buds. The schnitzel was to die for as it melted in our mouths. The dinner ended with a game of petanque (boules) outside in the garden.

The evening ended with a nightcap back at Karl's and the back to the hotel for a well deserved good night sleep. The eating continued for breakfast on Sunday morning with Karl's famous scrambled eggs with barbeque salmon. In the history of our dinner club, never has there been a feast that has continued so long and was so tastey too.

Our adventure continued as we headed back to the city. We took a detour up to the Olympic Park which hosted the ski jumping and cross-country events. Here we saw the ski jumps and the shooting arena for the biathlon. Kevin and Evie took their turn at shooting with both of them getting all four targets. This saved them from doing the penalty laps if they had missed. The trip up to the park also gave us two sightings of bears, both greedily eating grass by the side of the road.

To top off the weekend, we got off the highway to take a side trip through Brackendale, the home of the eagles. While it is not the season to view the eagles, we stopped to wander along the dikes by the river. Here we discovered a restaurant that had been recommended to us by the rest of our dinner group, the Watershed Grill. We had lunch on the deck taking in the sun and the mountain views. The food took a little long to arrive, but on eating, we realized that it was worth waiting for. The final meal set us up for the final leg of the drive back to the city.

This quick dinner getaway will put the pressure on the next host of our dinner club.

Waterloo/Toronto

Well it's hard to believe that it's already Thursday, and we end the first phase of our holiday tomorrow morning. We have had a great visit with Steve's mum, sister and cousins here in Waterloo. With a side trip up to Toronto on Tuesday, we have been having a great time visiting, eating and drinking, and before I forget, playing cards. Even with the garbage strike, Toronto was still worth a day visit. I saw the newly designed Art Gallery of Ontario. It has a good collection of European art, and a great collection of Canadian art. Well worth a visit. The new entrance and facade is magnificent. After a few hours and lunch in a pub across the street, the Village Idiot pub, I walked up to Bloor Street to see the new entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum. It is quite stunning. I didn't go in, but did pick up a new ruler to add to my collection. This was the rulers of the Egyptian World. From there, it was a stroll down Younge Street, and a quick beer in a pub near the bus station. It was only a quick visit, but I still like Toronto. Would have loved to spend more time and maybe caught a show, or headed out to the island. This morning we got up and went to the St. Jacobs Farmers Market. It is a must see for anyone visiting this area. We will have to make sure we support our local farmers market when we get home in hopes that they may grow into something like this. It is great opportunity to buy local produce, baking, crafts, food and socks. Also, it is still amazing to see the Mennonites in their horse and buggies, as they co-exist in the modern world. You still have to pull out to pass them and their buggies on the rural side roads. Tomorrow we board Via Rail for a trip to Quebec City. Got news today that my brother Ed will be joining us next week in New York. It will be great to show him the sites. Well off to Quebec City.

Don't forget to click on our link to our pictures.

The Summer Begins

Well you don't have to travel to exotic places to see beautiful scenery. On Canada Day, we went to Deep Cove, BC to kayak up Indian Arm.( ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: from Inuit qayaq so a very traditonal way to spend Canada Day). It was a beautiful day and the sea started out calm. We had the kayaks for 4 hours, so we planned to paddle up about 2 hours and then 2 hours back. Well it was a beautiful 2 hour trip up the west coast of Indian Arm seeing the scenery and the beautiful houses build along the shore. We stopped for a bit at a waterfront park and then it was time to head back to Deep Cove. Steve and I started out first, finding the wind and tide were against us. We put our heads down and paddled as hard as we could. Little did we know that Evie was having trouble with the wind and tide and eventually flipped her kayak. It was a good thing she was listening the safety lecture about tearing her apron away when you flip over so you can get out of the kayak. A boat came to the rescue and they were taken to shore, where a group of senior canoers were waiting out the wind and tide. They offered Kevin and Evie to stay with them for a while and kayak back down the coast when the tide was in, and not so much a challenge. By this time we were around the next point and just assumed all was well. When we had made it past the worst of the weather and sea, we rested and waited, and waited, and waited and still no Kevin or Evie. We decided to continue back to the cove, because we thought that if they were having trouble, there were lots of boats around to help. After settling down, Evie got back in her kayak and began to kayak home. They were about 1 hour behind us. So all's well that ends well. We have learnt our lesson about kayaking, "Always give yourself more time to kayak home."

Summer 2009

Itineray:

Leave Vancouver: Friday, July 3/09
Arrive Toronto/Waterloo: Saturday, July 4,/09 (Happy Birthday Tanya!)
Leave Waterloo: Friday, July 10/09 - Arrive Quebec City: Friday, July 10/09
Leave Quebec City: Tuesday, July 14, 09
Leave Montreal: Wednesday, July 15/09 - Arrive New York City: Wednesday, July 15/09
Leave New York: Sunday, July 19/09 (Steve only)
Leave New York: Thursday, July 23/09 (Vern only)

Wandering in Oxfordshire

Yesterday we settled into the Old Farm house here in Shillingford. Laundry, groceries, and a peaceful afternoon in the back garden. Today, we went wandering along the walking trails along the Thames River. We climbed up to the Castle Hill and Round Hill up the the Wittenham Clumps. After the long walk, we stopped in an old pub for lunch in a village called Dorcester. We arrived back in Shillingford after a 5 hour walk.

Tomorrow is a day trip into London. I hope everyone is well and you are welcome to comment on the blog, or email me to say you have read it.

Vern

vmainman@me.com

London.....

How quickly times flies. It is now Saturday morning and its raining in London. No big surprise for this summer. For all the rest of you who may read this before you depart, come prepared for rain, sun , showers, clouds etc.. At least it is not a heat wave like last trip. Temperatures will be in the low 20's for the next few days.

Yesterday was a travel day, with everything in delay. My flight was over an hour late leaving Dublin, the traffic was bad getting in from the airport, the coach ahead of us was in a small accident, so we had to stop and pick up the passengers. Later on my way to Royal Albert Hall for the Proms Concert, the circle tube line was very backed up and didn't have time for dinner before the show.

At the concert, I met a replacement Ethel ( not that you could ever really replace Ethel). We had a great time chatting before the concert and at intermission. It made for a great experience.

Said goodbye to the last of my travel buddies at the airport in Dublin. Katie and I met for a drink before her flight to Edinburgh. Earlier I had breakfast with Angus, and I saw a few others on a street corner in Dublin as my bus to the airport went by.

Today will be some shopping, cleaning up my pack and if the rain keeps up, maybe a gallery or two.

Tomorrow morning I will be up early and off to Gatwick to pick up Steve, Evie and Kevin, and then we are off for my part two of the trip in Shillingford. I hope there is a laundry near by....

Cheers from London
Vern