We woke to a gorgeous day...the forecast is for a record breaking high of 28C/82F! I don't think that it actually made it quite that high, but it was a beautiful, sunny, warm day!
Rather than just walk around the campground today, we thought we would go to Haynes Point Provincial Park...Steve had done a little research and found that there was a Wetlands Trail that might be interesting. We took a couple of pictures of the blossoms on the fruit trees as we left the park and made our way back to the highway...
Rattlesnake Canyon Amusement Park...closed right now but I'm sure it's a busy place during the summer months!
After an expensive stop at a BC Liquor Store, we continued on to Haynes Point. The road to the park goes past a vineyard and through a residential area...that's the lake in the distance....
We parked at the trailhead to Haynes Point Wetland Trail and after reading the information about the trail (and the area) at the kiosk, we started down the trail.
The natural marsh is rich in birdlife such as canyon wrens, marsh wrens, white-throated swifts and red-winged blackbirds. A gravel trail leaves from the information kiosk and enters the marsh. The gravel trail crosses a footbridge that spans a beaver dam isolating the marsh from the lake. It continues through level grassland rimmed by marsh vegetation with interpretive signs along the way explaining the value of marsh ecosystems.
The trail leads to a two-tiered viewing platform that is roughly ten feet tall and provides a commanding view of the marsh. It is a wonderful spot for viewing the variety of red and blue listed species that are a feature of the park as well as other birds in the area.
The trail continues on to 80m of boardwalk and two more ground level viewing platforms with more educational signs.
The wetland trail is just past the entrance to the park, so after our short walk through there, we decided to walk through the campground. As you can see, the campground is on the end of a long spit that goes out into Osoyoos Lake...
The lake is so flat today...not a breath of wind! Looking south towards the U.S. border...
Looking towards Osoyoos...
Jutting out into the lake so far it can get pretty windy here...
There are a few sites that would probably fit us...mind you, maneuvering into them might be a bit of a challenge...
The start of the loop...
Spring has definitely sprung...
There is a long narrow spit that continues out into the lake...
Could this be Donald and Daisy from the campground? They sure were friendly...
We walked out to the very end...don't think we'd be able to do that if the lake hadn't been so calm. The sand fleas and flies were so bad here it was all we could do to stand still long enough for this picture...
The park contains an important archaeological and cultural heritage site...Apparently BC Parks was digging for new pit toilets when they discovered human bones that led to the local Indian Band now running the park...
When we got home, we found that the RV park had turned on the sprinklers around our site...and we were totally flooded out...
Steve managed to turn off the sprinklers and after stopping at the office to let them know, we headed off on another long walk...to a local pub. We walked to the south end of the campground, through a gate and down to the dog walking area...that connects to a dead-end residential street. We just took that street that leads along the waterfront (past a very nice townhouse complex). This is a small lagoon...
A nice lakefront park...
And the Sage Pub...
Too bad the pub isn't right on the lakefront...but still a nice view across the parking lot and road...
We sat outside on the patio...unfortunately, it was also the smoking section. We shared a lunchtime pizza special and a couple of beer ...
When we got up to leave, I could hardly walk...my left knee had totally given out on me! It had been a little sore by the time we got to the pub but that's nothing unusual...so I wasn't expecting that it would be so bad. We had a very slow walk back to the RV park...sheesh!
This is the beach across the street from the pub...
Some people actually in the water!
Needless to say, once we got home, I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening, for the most part, with an ice pack on my knee. Good thing I have an appointment to see my orthopedic surgeon in Victoria at the end of the month...now he has both knees to take care of!
Rather than just walk around the campground today, we thought we would go to Haynes Point Provincial Park...Steve had done a little research and found that there was a Wetlands Trail that might be interesting. We took a couple of pictures of the blossoms on the fruit trees as we left the park and made our way back to the highway...
The natural marsh is rich in birdlife such as canyon wrens, marsh wrens, white-throated swifts and red-winged blackbirds. A gravel trail leaves from the information kiosk and enters the marsh. The gravel trail crosses a footbridge that spans a beaver dam isolating the marsh from the lake. It continues through level grassland rimmed by marsh vegetation with interpretive signs along the way explaining the value of marsh ecosystems.
The trail leads to a two-tiered viewing platform that is roughly ten feet tall and provides a commanding view of the marsh. It is a wonderful spot for viewing the variety of red and blue listed species that are a feature of the park as well as other birds in the area.
The wetland trail is just past the entrance to the park, so after our short walk through there, we decided to walk through the campground. As you can see, the campground is on the end of a long spit that goes out into Osoyoos Lake...
Bummer about the knee!! This whole exercise thing is overrated!! Nice to have a pub within walking distance though!!
ReplyDeleteTake care of that knee, you are going to have to walk into a few pubs when we get there!
ReplyDelete