Tuesday, June 22 to Sunday, June 27, 2021 (Tunkwa Provincial Park, Logan Lake, BC)

Tuesday (June 22) morning, Steve and I got out for a walk around Leighton lake…a beautiful morning but hot!

Tunkwa Lake...
After cooling down for a while in the shade, we headed into town with the laptop to work on a blog update. Our office this afternoon was the Pick and Shovel Pub. Steve had a couple of beer, I had a few glasses of ice water…and we had a not so good lunch (we prefer the food at our “other office”, the Black Bull Pub, but it’s only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday…for now).
Wednesday (June 23) after exercises and showers, I hit the road to Kamloops to do some shopping…leaving Steve to do his chores and work on picture editing.

It was around 3:30 when I got home…after a stop at Walmart, Save-On-Foods and Costco. Steve helped me unload the car and then I got to work on finding home for all of my purchases in the cupboards and fridge. Speaking of fridge, it seems to be struggling in the heat…it’s going to be a real challenge with the temperatures predicted to go into the 40’s C this weekend. That's into the low 100'sF...yikes! Last week Steve had "jumpered" the dual fans behind the fridge to keep them running full time but it still has been struggling.

We sat outside enjoying a bevie...this is my purchase from Dirty Laundry Winery last weekend...
Thursday (June 24) ended up being a cloudy, cooler day…with a few sprinkles of rain. It was actually quite nice…a little coolness before the “heat dome” arrives. We were actually sitting outside by a campfire shortly after 9:00 a.m.! We are expecting a campfire ban to come into effect soon, and with all of the wind we have had, we haven’t been able to have many campfires. So we’ll burn some of our firewood while we can!

It was a pretty lazy day…I had planned on a walk around the lake but decided not to. My right knee (the one that has not been replaced yet...aka my "bad" knee) gave me unbelievable pain last night. I found it very deflating because I’ve been so happy being able walk tons and want to be able to keep it up. But it was a warning that perhaps I had better be careful. I had been walking quite a bit in my Birkenstocks sandals the last week, and I think my knee was telling me I should be wearing my New Balance runners with my orthotics. Thank goodness it felt 99.9% better when I got up this morning!

After dinner, just before we were about to go in and watch a little TV, a truck pulling a trailer stopped at our site. A voice said, “Hi it’s Kevin”…when we still didn’t clue in, he said “Joinson, I didn’t think you would recognize me”. OMG, it was my nephew from Chilliwack that we weren’t expecting until tomorrow! Kevin is my oldest brother, Doug’s son. I really can’t remember the last time I saw Kevin…but it’s probably over 20 years! Crazy! We’re looking forward to having a visit with him while he is here…good luck fishing, Kevin and Myles (his son)!

Friday (June 25)…11 years ago today was our last day of work! We both remember that day so well…such a surreal feeling. It was like we were starting on vacation…we couldn’t grasp the idea that we would not be going back to work. So, that means 11 years ago tomorrow we embarked on our new full-time RV lifestyle! Wow, it’s been an incredible journey we have had and hope to continue as long as our health permits.

We woke to clear blue sky…and the start of a very hot day. By dinner time, the temperature outside was 29C/84F and 31C/88F inside. Luckily the wind was coming from the northwest…the other side of the trailer, so we were able to have our awning out with the sun screen up.

After a walk around the campground, stopping and chatting with Kevin for a bit, we spent the day in the shade reading…and watching RV’s pull in. With the school year coming to an end, it’s likely going to be pretty busy for the rest of the summer.

We celebrated the 11th anniversary of our retirement enjoying cocktails, grilled chicken satay for dinner and ate outside. It was way too hot inside…so we sat outside until around 9:00 and then headed in to watch TV in the bedroom. All windows were left open…Steve closed the door just after 10 when he decided to turn the TV off.

Saturday (June 26) morning was still warm…it had cooled down to 16C outside/18C inside. The forecast is for even higher temperatures…by 10:00 a.m. it was already 24C.

We did a little reminiscing this morning…11 years ago today we left Vancouver Island. Steve towing our home on wheels, driving Buster…a big change from driving a pickup and towing a 17-foot travel trailer! But with a lesson from a neighbour who drove semi’s…and passing the ICBC (Insurance Corporation of BC) road test, he was good to go! And so our travels began!

The lake was like glass this morning, so I dropped Steve off at the boat and he headed out fishing…it’s been over a week since he has been out. While he was gone, I did chores around the trailer. It didn’t take much exertion before I was sweating. And I had thought I’d walk around the lake…ha! Nope I’ll wait until it’s cooler! Either that, or get out as soon as I get up…but we know that’s not going to happen LOL!

Steve got skunked fishing for the first time in a long time. With the hotter weather the fishing may have slowed down. He counted 50 boats on the lake and only saw a couple nearby that landed a fish. On his return to shore somebody stole his parking spot on shore that he's had since April. He had deliberately been leaving his rope tied to a tree and visible at his spot. What a DICK! (Steve)

Around noon we headed into town to the Black Bull Pub for lunch…and to work on another blog update. I’m having a heck of a time uploading pictures up to Blogger…don’t know if it’s something they have changed, or operator error LOL! Consequently, it took a lot longer than expected and we really didn’t get everything done that I had planned.

By the time we got home, the temperature had gone up to 36C (96.8F) outside, 38C (100.4F) inside the trailer, so at 6:00 p.m. Steve started the generator, we closed the door and all windows and turned on the air-conditioner. We had it on for the full generator hours…until 8:00 p.m. but it really didn’t accomplish much, bringing the temp down a couple of degrees. Yes, it sucks not having electricity during a heat wave!

Sunday (June 27) and another unbearably hot day. Absolutely crazy for June! Today we kept the windows and the blinds on the sunny side closed and when the inside temperature reached the outside temperature, Steve turned on the 2 ‘fantastic fans’ full blast. That managed to keep the inside and outside temperatures basically the same…by late afternoon, it was 38C/100.4F. These temps are not “official”, just what our sensors are reading.

Instead of doing my resistance exercises this morning, I decided to head out for a 5km/3 mile walk around Leighton Lake at 7:30 when Steve started his. By the time I got home about an hour later, I was drenched! Good thing it was shower day!

Needless to say, we had a quiet day reading and trying to stay cool…which was impossible. For a change, there was very little wind other than a slight breeze occasionally. We spent so many days wishing for the wind to die down and now when we’d like a bit of wind…nothing!

Sleeping was really tough…it was so hot up in the bedroom. We had closed the door and windows, leaving just the bedroom windows on either side of the bed open and with the fantastic fans on high, it created a nice “personal” fan of air coming in on us. But unfortunately, we couldn’t leave that going all night. So when Steve turned the TV off, he opened the door and windows, turned off the fans to save the battery power and it was cooking in there! Not pleasant sleeping conditions!

Nearby Lytton broke the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada since 1937 at 46.1C/115F !!! Apparently 54 records were broken in BC on Saturday and this heat dome may last all week! 

Nothing terribly exciting this last week, so not many pictures...but that brings us up to date!

Sunday and Monday, June 20 and 21, 2021 (A trip to West Kelowna, BC - PART 2)

Sunday (June 20)…Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful fathers out there! We started the day with a hearty breakfast…bacon, ham, eggs, hash-browns and toast! We also had a wonderful video chat with Chris, Angela and Isaac. We hope to talk to Rob and his family late tonight when they get home from a weekend away.

Then we were off into Kelowna for a day of sightseeing. A couple of pictures along the way...that is Mission Hill Winery up there...

Our first stop along the way was at The Hatch Winery to see if Karli’s (my niece) daughter, Taylor, was working. The Hatch has the same owners as Truck 59 Cider House and Crown and Thieves, that we visited Friday.

She was! We said a quick hello, got a picture and were on our way. Last time I saw Taylor, she was just a little girl.
Then we continued across Okanagan Lake into Kelowna, found a parking spot at Waterfront Park and started our walk along the lakefront.

Th Dolphins Fountain in Rhapsody Plaza...
Inland canal...

The boats exit this way to the lock to gain access to the lake...
One of many beaches along the waterfront walkway...

Okanagan Lake is 135 km/84 miles long and up to 5 km/3 miles wide. If you really enjoy your wines there are over 40 wineries in the Kelowna area!
A couple of parasailers...
A busy day on the water...

The lock from the canal to the lake...


The grey boat is an all electric tour boat...
Kelowna Sails...

Splash BC Water Parks (Kelowna Wibit)...lots of fun for the kids!
Beaches are busy on this beautiful Sunday...
That's the William R. Bennett floating bridge that we went over to get from West Kelowna to Kelowna...
The tunnel under the highway...

Dunkin looking very cool. You would not believe how many people commented and took pictures which extended our walking time considerably :)
On the other side of the tunnel, we turned around and headed back...
A couple of hours later, we were back at the car...and thirsty! So we went to the Train Station Pub, just a short distance away...
Since 1926 The Train Station has welcomed newcomers to Kelowna and seen friends and family reunited. Nothing’s changed, except that we now offer great food, craft beer on tap, and Okanagan wine.

They serve tasty water! LOL!
We had a driving tour of south Kelowna, going through some beautiful neighbourhoods, and along the lakefront before turning around and heading home....a fabulous day!

We relaxed with cocktails and then Dennis and Suzanne prepared a delicious dinner...steak and ribs, complete with fried mushrooms and onions!
Monday (June 21) came way too fast! We are heading home today…but we weren’t in any hurry. So when Dennis and Suzanne headed out for an appointment, we stuck around…Steve working on picture editing while I showered and puttered around packing.

It was around 11:00 when Dennis and Suzanne helped us carry all of our stuff down to the car. Suzanne was sending us home with all of our bags of dirty laundry now clean!…thanks for all your help! Also, thank you for sharing your white wine with me, Suzanne (and sending a bottle home with me)…so good! We said our goodbyes and were sadly on our way home. Thanks for all your hospitality, we were treated like royalty!

After a stop for lunch at the A and W restaurant in Merritt, we were home at about 2:00. We unpacked our suitcases, put away all of the laundry…and then it was time to relax. Such a great weekend…but it’s always nice to be back home!

Friday and Saturday, June 18 and 19, 2021 (A trip to West Kelowna, BC - Part 1)

Friday (June 18) we had the car packed and we were on our way at 10:00…we’re going on a road trip to Kelowna to spend the weekend with my brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Suzanne. It has been over 2 years since we have seen them in person…so looking forward to this trip!

Approaching West Kelowna...on beautiful Okanagan Lake...


It was noon when we pulled into the parking lot of their condo in West Kelowna…they were both waiting for us and greeted us with big hugs! Seemed so strange to hug anyone else other than Steve but, oh, it felt so good! All of us are fully vaccinated and are cautiously enjoying more contact with loved ones.

After carrying our things up to their condo, we had a light lunch and then drove to a local park to walk Dunkin, their Yorkie…he’s a 14 year old boy that is going blind but the sunglasses really help him see when outside.

We parked at Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park.....Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park is a 4-hectare park located on the shores of Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna. The park has a heritage nut farm as well as a playground, short walking trails and a small beach.
...and took Dunkin on his favourite walk...
Homes along the lakefront have some very nice docks!


The Cove Beach Resort....very nice!

Before going back to the condo, we did a little sightseeing...

After our walk, we left Dunkin at home and walked down the street to Truck 59 Cider House
Established in 2017, the Truck 59 Ciderhouse quickly established itself as a local favourite in West Kelowna and Okanagan Wine Country at large. The quality of the cider and incredible lake views cemented Truck 59 as a go-to hangout spot almost immediately. For couples with young families the luscious patch of green grass provided the perfect opportunity to allow their kids to run free, while simultaneously taking some time to socialize with friends. The young, hip, and family friendly Truck 59 vibe was born!

We had a look around, learned about the ciders…
...but decided to carry on to the Crown and Thieves Winery, just down the hill first for tasting there before tasting cider. 

Crown and Thieves...same owner as Truck 59...

Inside...
This is the ceiling...
We went downstairs to check out "The Broken Hearts Club Speakeasy"...very cool...

But we chose upstairs on the patio for our wine tasting...

Amazing view!!
Well, after all the wine tasting, we decided to pass on the cider as we walked home. Besides cocktails and dinner await! Nothing like having a cidery and a winery within walking distance from home!
 
A beautiful start to the day Saturday (June 19) and a fabulous view from the deck, as we had our morning coffee...
We started with one of Suzanne’s delicious muffins for breakfast and then headed out for a walk that Dennis and Suzanne do regularly. We parked at the lakefront and headed off...

We passed these beauties...
This section of Gellatly Nut Farm has some heritage buildings. There is a self-guided tour...





We had a great walk...just shy of 5 kms/3miles...time to head home for showers and get ready for the rest of the day! But first, a drive to more scenic views....
Once we were all cleaned up, we headed out on a tour of Summerland and Peachland...south of West Kelowna...along Okanagan Lake.

Our first stop was at Dirty Laundry Vineyard...
We weren't doing any wine tasting today...Suzanne and Dennis just wanted to show us a very cool and unique spot...


...with a great gift shop...
A popular spot for lunch...


Clean laundry...LOL!



We decided to stop for a bite to eat at Peacock's Perch Pub in Summerland...

And then we carried onto Peachland. That little speck in the middle of this photo is Rattlesnake Island...it has quite a unique history. Read a very interesting story about The History of Rattlesnake Island and Peachland Castle.
Peachland...
We parked and started our tour of Peachland on foot. First stop was the Peachland Museum...

They had a very extensive train display...

Frank Richter was a friend of Steve's parents...
This train display follows along the walls with stops at various BC locations...


The museum was small but crammed with lots of interesting local history...
Tools of the pioneers...
Peachland is a very pretty little community! Ray Kandola Heritage Pier...


Lots of cool looking dining spots...

European dining here...

Suzanne thought it would be a good photo-op if she looked like she was just climbing out of the water...LOL!
After our tour, we stopped for a visit with my niece, Karli. She and Colin have a cool little spot that they are remodeling. Karli is my brother, Don's daughter. They run a vacation rental by owner on site...
Suzanne and Dennis on the left, Karli in the middle, Colin...and Tasha visiting from Vancouver Island. Natasha is Karli's cousin (her mom's sister's daughter). So good to see them all!
Nothing like a St. Bernard that thinks he's a lap-dog!
Fun watching the dogs play...one St. Bernard and 2 Bloodhounds...wow!


And family pictures before we leave...Steve, me, Suzanne, Karli and Dennis...
Steve, me, Tasha, Karli, Colin and Dennis...
What an awesome visit with them!....and an awesome day!

Stay tuned for the rest of our fabulous weekend!