Kelowna – Todd and Cindy's Travel Blog

Day 22 Western Adventure

Day 22

After another (and sadly, our last) amazing breakfast before we packed up for the drive to Jasper. The breakfast was once again a true masterpiece Lynn is an artist in the kitchen (and Tom is a great supervisor).

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We began with a baked apple surrounded with a drizzle of cherry sauce and served with a choice of maple syrup or apple pie syrup. Next up was a warm bran muffin.

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The finale was an omelet loaded with ham, mushrooms, onions, sundried tomatoes, and cheese..so deliciousso filling (neither Todd or I could finish it).

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About an hour into our drive, we received a call from Nicole she was totally freaked out! She went to fill Reddys food container from the cat food bag in the pantryand found a dead mouse inside the bag!!! Apparently he enjoyed the quinoa and chocolate bars before going to the cat food..lots of mouse droppings. Nicole had a chore ahead of her (sorry about missing your run, Cole.) …throwing out the mouse (#1 priority), throwing out all food he came into contact with, then cleaning up the deposits he left behind.. Todd was like. why is she so freaked out; its a mouse and it is dead….I was like Cole I totally understand !

The drive to Jasper was beautiful the closer we got to the BC-AB border, the more the Rockies, as we expected to see, came into view. I started snapping pics every 10 minutes after Kamloops so we could document the changes along the way. We stopped for multiple pictures at Mount Robson quite a sight the highest point in the Canadian Rockies.

As we came to the Alberta border, Todd was instructing me to take a pic of the sign….I dont work well under pressure. The seatbelt got me stuck….I couldnt focus the camera….I missed the sign

When we hit Jasper National Park, we were following some trucks that just went through the gate, so that was what we thought…nope…got flagged down. We had no idea it cost so much per day to stay in the National Park (6 nights..adds up..). The trucks get to just go through the gates because it is assumed they are just passing through; with all other vehicles, on the other hand, it is assumed they are spending some time in the area.

We lost an hour (time change) on the drive, so by the time we checked into the Best Western it was after 7:30 PM. Tired, but needing a walk and some food, we headed to the main street. We stopped at a pub just off the main street for salad and wings..not overly healthy, but satisfying.

Day 21 Western Adventure

Day 21

We cannot believe this is our last full day in the Okanogan Valley.. We have had an amazing time at our B&B with Tom and Lynn, taking in the views, and touring the numerous wineries…

This morning Lynn (cooked) and Tom (served) baked pear with cinnamon, blueberries and honey yogurt to start. That was followed by fresh baked citrus and fruit muffins; then we were served a waffle loaded with mixed fresh fruit and a side of sausage. I forgot my camera (again), so tomorrow, on our last day, I have vowed to remember.

While, we won’t list all the wineries we visited today (don’t want people to think we have a problem…), we will talk about some of the highlights. Today, we headed to the Naramata area of the region. We began at Therapy Vineyards (like the name). We purchased the Freudian Slip and the Pink Freud – love the names and labels.

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Neighbours to Therapy, is Serendipity (names and labels a “play” on Sir Isaac Newton) – a small winery owned by a former Toronto lawyer who changed professions and relocated. She offered us an extra taste of the Cab Franc (Todd’s favourite), but it didn’t compare to NOTL Cab Francs. We opted for the Sauvignon Blanc, the Pinot Noir, and the 2008 Serenata (a Bordeaux Blend to cellar).
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We shared a light lunch at Red Rooster Winery before sampling their wines. We enjoyed a mixed green salad with a balsamic dressing and a plate of couscous, marinated chicken skewers, flatbread and hummus – very Middle Eastern (memories of Egypt..).

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Across the road was Ruby Blues – very 60s / funky. The wines were okay, but the draw was the old van they have parked at their entrance.

Although Mission Hill is within walking distance of the B&B, we stopped with the truck because carrying wine back to the B&B would have been too much. (That’s a huge difference in the terrain here compared to NOTL – very hilly). The architecture of the winery is impressive.

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You pass through the main gate, then the arched entrance into the courtyard. Straight ahead is the bell tower and terrace. To the right is the open-air restaurant, to the left, the tasting room, and other areas of the winery (education centre, amphitheatre, and barrel cellars). The vista – breathtaking – high on a hill, overlooking the lake and mountains beyond…

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We sampled 5 of their premier wines and decided on 3 Syrah to take home and 3 of the Rosé for the journey home. The Quatrain was very nice, but it is available in Ontario, so we didn’t pick any up. I also bought something (Betsy has been questioning my lack of purchases) – a wine bottle holder…it’s a bear lying on his back, with his arms and legs positioned to hold a bottle to his mouth…

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Quails here are like robins back home – there are a lot. They are so adorable as they scurry across the lawns and streets – Todd and I call them the “chipmunk” birds..irresistible to watch. Mamma is always looking after her babies, leading them here and there, and Papa isn’t too far off keeping an eye on all of them.

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Dinner was at Mission Hill (we walked). The view is specular as you sit above the vineyards looking down into the valley with Lake Okanogan and the mountains beyond. We paired our food with suggested wine pairings on the menu. I started with the beet appetizer – beets done five different ways including a purée and foam. Todd started with a beef tartare that was accompanied with tomato brioche.

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Both were very good. For our mains, Todd chose the Elk dish that came with tortellini – tasty – he could have had a few more… I chose the Duck plate – great choice…two nice sized pieces of honey glazed duck with mascarpone polenta.

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For dessert we split our favourite – Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée with blueberry preserve and a ginger biscuit…a perfect ending to the meal…

Tomorrow…we are in for a long drive as we head to Jasper (about 7 1/2 hours of driving…).

Day 20 Western Adventure, Kelowna

Day 20

This morning, Todd and I enjoyed another phenomenal breakfast from Lynn and Tom, papaya filled with mixed berries and a honey yogurt drizzle, warm blueberry scones with whipped strawberry butter, and a crepe stuffed with egg, mushroom, onion, and sundried tomatoes with a cheddar sauce.

We drove south again today to visit some more wineries (I know…shocking.). I dont know if people here truly appreciate the beauty of the landscape..it honestly makes me catch my breath…we are in awe all the time !

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We visited some very interesting wineries. Our first stop was See Ya Later Ranch Winery an interesting story. Colonel Hugh Fraser purchased the property in 1919 and sent for his wife, who was in London England, to join him. Unlike her husband, she did not appreciate the rustic beauty of the country and the isolated location, so she returned to England and left him a 3 word letter on her pillow ”See Ya Later”.

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We purchased two bottles of Nelly (Gamay Rosé) and a bottle of Ping (a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc). The wines are named after dogs of the Major and the dogs are buried on the property in the dog cemetery.

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Our next winery was Noble Ridge where a very animated host took us through the tastings..you really had to be there. He made you smile with his gregarious, passionate descriptions of each wine. We purchased a white blend called Mingle, an award-winning 2008 Pinot Noir, and an award-winning 2008 Meritage (a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Next stop Dirty Laundry..such a fun place. The story – In the 1800s when the CP railroad was being built by over 15,000 Chinese workers, working conditions were horrible and many fled. One man who fled came to the Summerland area and thought it was paradise. He opened a Chinese Laundry, but the labourers living in the area didnt find much use for the laundry. As an expansion to the laundry business, this Chinese launderer built a gambling facility and brothel above his laundry. His laundry business flourished as did the hush, hush business overhead.

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The winery shop sells various winery items that play off the brothel theme and various undergarments can be found lying around. The wines are named using the idea of the Dirty Laundry and the labels are quite unique one bottle has quotes from famous people (e.g. Zsa Zsa Gabor “when you ask how many husbands I have been with, do you mean only the ones I was married to”); another bottle has a label that looks like a maze, but when you look at it through a magnifying glass, various sex positions appear). We purchased a couple of the Hush (rosé) with the famous quotes and a bottle of the Bordello – we got a free magnifying glass with the purchase ;-)

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Between Lake Okanogan and Lake Skaha, a lazy river flows. What a sight! People of all ages are out on the river on all sorts of floating devices, lazily, restfully, floating down the river. It looks like so much fun a great way to enjoy the warm weather..

Later in the afternoon a haze, fell over the Okanogan Valley. It turns out it is due to wildfires from Siberia (seriously!!). Apparently, over a month ago wildfires were in Siberia. The smoke got caught in the jet stream and once it hit Canadian shores, it did an inversion and got trapped in the valley.

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It is heading east towards Alberta. Thunderstorms are forecasted for tomorrow night, so the haze is expected to dissipate.

Tomorrow last full day in the Okanogan Valley..more wineries