Canada : Saturday 4th August 2007 - Okanagan Lake

The plan today was to drive to Okanagan Lake, a popular holiday destination amongst Canadians, and camp in one of several provincial parks. We knew that this was a public holiday weekend however and that finding somewhere to camp might be hard so we wanted to try to get there as early as possible and consequently got up at 5am.

We hit the road and soon were on Highway 1 heading east from Vancouver. There was a surprisingly large amount of traffic, presumably due to the holiday. But the road was good and soon we were away from the city limits and driving across a rural landscape with mountains in the distance. Eventually we started to climb into the mountains and at around 08:00 we made a stop for breakfast at"pleasant mountain ringed town" Hope, 158km east of Vancouver. Martin, Jack and Marina had the most awesome blueberry pancakes (in fact Martin ate half of Marina's!).

From Hope, we continued through the mountains, making one photo stop at a spectularly tourqoise lake in which Martin saw a large turtle swimming (no-one else did though and so his story his the subject of general doubt and cynicism!). We also stopped for refreshments at the small town of Keremeos before swinging North on highway 97 up to Lake Okanagan, which is 100km long. We stopped at a couple of lakeside camp sites, and as feared/expected, found them to be full. Eventually, we drove quite a way North along the lake, to Fintry Provincial Park, which had been highlighted by our guidebook as one of the nicest campsites, and found a space there in their overflow area.

After pitching our three tents (three this year since Bekky and Jack no longer want to share!), we headed down to the lake, a hundred metres from our camp. Martin and Jack swam in the lake and threw a tennis ball around with increasing levels of violence ;-) Marina and Bekky chilled out on the beach.

After we'd had enough of the lake, we decided to got for a walk. There was an hour long trail that we had details of, that took you up to some local waterfalls, and we thought this would make a nice way of building up an appetite for dinner. So we headed off, with Marina leading the way, rough map in hand.

The route started by taking us around part of the lake edge but soon veered away and across an alfalfa field. The map clearly showed the path going right across the middle of the field, so despite being unable to find a convincing path, we stuck out across the field. The alfalfa was deep and thick and difficult to move in, grabbing at your ankles and threatening to tie you down. It was so deep that in fact we almost stumbled across a pair of beautiful deer that were grazing there. Eventually, after a struggle and not a little moaning from certain quarters, we reached the opposite side of the large field. And what did we find as we walked along the fence to the style? A very, very obvious and well maintained path!!! Doh!

The ordeal of the alfalfa field, coupled by the massive indignation that they'd been forced to suffer this ordeal *unnecessarily* was almost too much for Bekky and Jack. They suffered a look at the waterfalls but that was enough so we headed back to the park and our camp. After an evening meal it was now dark and we headed into our tents to get some sleep.

Tomorrow, it's destination Yoho National Park and the Rockies :-)

Our first encounter with an amazingly coloured Canadian mountain lake. Quite breath taking!

Camping in Fintry Provincial Park by Lake Okanagan.

Canadian style sea-side. The waters of Lake Okanagan were warm enough (just) for swimming.

Jack, braving the waters.

And he's still smiling so it can't be that bad....

In which case, maybe Bekky should take a dip?

And Martin too.... notice how Bekky is no longer in the water though!

Fun!

Embarking on our walk, Jack is ready with his bear spray.

He's *still* ready!

:-)

Marina was our chief navigator. "Which way up does this map go?"

What a lot of pine cones....

.... and ants.

Boat

Lighthouse

Lake

The infamous alfalfa field. "This way everyone, follow me! This is the path, I'm 100% certain!"

Not alfalfa.

We stumbled across these deer in the thick alfalfa at the last minute and had no idea they were there until they revealed themselves.

The "team" getting cross in the face of the jungle-like alfalfa!

"Hey Marina, do you think that *this* might be the path we should have followed?"

The farm near the end of the trail