7/27/17 They let us back in!
It was time to say good-bye to Canada and British Columbia, but we needed to squeeze out one last drop of pleasure before we left.
A warm welcome of a day shooed us out of a Merritt onto highway 97c. The ascent into the mountains surprised us with a dramatic drop in temperature. I tucked in behind Jules and shivered gladly in my sleeveless shirt, trying to collect all the cool, knowing that the next valley would snatch it away from me. Invigorated, we ate the curves for breakfast, and scaled the mountain with ease.
The Okanagan Valley stole our chill, but the lake gave us respite as we took our wine and cheese break under a willow tree. Lake Okanagan, 84 miles long, is surrounded by vacationers cooling off from the heat, fruit trees and vineyards. As happy swimmers, kayakers and jet skiers played around us, we relished our moment in the shade. Remembering our ascent into the hellish temperatures of the valley from last year, we savored every breeze from the lake.
Out into the oven, we followed the Lake through towns aptly named Peachland and Summerland. Vineyards and orchards stacked up against the road amazed me. How could anything grow in this heat that had me withering by the minute. The new Napa, Okanagan produces high quality wines that draw tasters from all over the world. Not willing to give up our wind, the only cooling factor in our ride, we passed the many tasting rooms grimacing at the read out of 100 degrees on the bike.
The border to the US arrived at Osoyoos, but we still lingered in the Duty Free Shop, sucking up their air conditioning. Passports in hand we entered customs, sizzled as we waited in line and then, breezed through. It's always been uplifting to cross over onto our native soil from Canada, but today we realized outside of the money and a few other quirks, it's all the same terrain, as we sweltered through more peaches and vineyards! After all, a border is a man made concept that does not override the geology of ages.
We put the brakes on in Winthrop, Washington. Cool showers in our own cabin, followed by an amazing gourmet dinner at The Arrowleaf Bistro welcomed us home. A fire on the mountain put on a fearsome show for us, as we sat on the deck and revisited our sojourn through the north.
We have ridden Canada well and she was an excellent guide. Fair weather and friendly encounters eased us across the continent. From the glorious coastline of Gaspésie, through the vast fertile plains, to the weathered glaciers of the Rockies, we traversed our northern neighbor. Welcoming and warm, she has given us more than expected and we will be ever greatful for her hospitality.
But the party isn't over! The good old USA has a few roads we haven't ridden and some we want to ride again. So tomorrow we will hitch up, head out together, looking for new adventures.
Out into the oven, we followed the Lake through towns aptly named Peachland and Summerland. Vineyards and orchards stacked up against the road amazed me. How could anything grow in this heat that had me withering by the minute. The new Napa, Okanagan produces high quality wines that draw tasters from all over the world. Not willing to give up our wind, the only cooling factor in our ride, we passed the many tasting rooms grimacing at the read out of 100 degrees on the bike.
The border to the US arrived at Osoyoos, but we still lingered in the Duty Free Shop, sucking up their air conditioning. Passports in hand we entered customs, sizzled as we waited in line and then, breezed through. It's always been uplifting to cross over onto our native soil from Canada, but today we realized outside of the money and a few other quirks, it's all the same terrain, as we sweltered through more peaches and vineyards! After all, a border is a man made concept that does not override the geology of ages.
We put the brakes on in Winthrop, Washington. Cool showers in our own cabin, followed by an amazing gourmet dinner at The Arrowleaf Bistro welcomed us home. A fire on the mountain put on a fearsome show for us, as we sat on the deck and revisited our sojourn through the north.
We have ridden Canada well and she was an excellent guide. Fair weather and friendly encounters eased us across the continent. From the glorious coastline of Gaspésie, through the vast fertile plains, to the weathered glaciers of the Rockies, we traversed our northern neighbor. Welcoming and warm, she has given us more than expected and we will be ever greatful for her hospitality.
But the party isn't over! The good old USA has a few roads we haven't ridden and some we want to ride again. So tomorrow we will hitch up, head out together, looking for new adventures.
Soaring into the chill
When your truck loses its brakes
Our first view of Okanagan
Lunch break
Cool under the willow
Back on the lake
The new Napa
Yikes!
Rainier cherries protected from the birds
Dry and dryer
Kickstand down
What a find!
Fire on the mountain
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