Okanagan Valley

Wednesday, 29.06.2022

With Jasper, we reached the northern location on our journey through western Canada. We start in the morning heading west on the Yellowhead Highway 16 and after 28 km we reach the pass of the same name with a small lake. The highway and the pass were named after fur trader and explorer Pierre Bostonais. He had yellow streaks in his hair and was therefore nicknamed Téte Jaune (Yellowhead). The Yellowhead Pass forms the border between Alberta and British Columbia, and between Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park. Mount Robson, at 3,954 m, is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Unfortunately, it doesn't want to show itself to us, it's raining and it's cloudy.

We continue driving and shortly after turn onto Yellowhead Highway 5 heading south. The highway follows the North Thompson River. Next to it, a gas pipeline is being built, a large construction site that extends for several hundred kilometers. There are 164 individual construction sites in operation on our route alone.

Arriving in Blue River, we occupy our rented log cabin, unfortunately not even half as nice as in West Glacier. The center of the town is a small lake, the Eleonor Lake. Otherwise, the town has seen better days. Due to a full closure of the highway, a approximately 20 km long traffic jam quickly forms in the late afternoon. The town experiences temporary overpopulation, the Grizzly Shark Food snack bar had to temporarily close because the ingredients ran out.

Thursday, 30.06.2022

We continue driving south until Clearwater. There we have breakfast at the Hungry Hiker Cafe, where we also get the tip to visit the Helmcken and Dawson Falls. Although we have already seen some waterfalls, we are willing to take the 'small' detour of 80 km and it was really worth it. The Helmcken Falls are the fourth highest falls in Canada at 141 m. The Dawson Falls are only 18 m high, but much wider. Due to the heavy rain, the Murtle River is currently carrying a lot of water. We reach our accommodation in Kelowna at Okanagan Lake at 6:20 pm, Elisabeth (a German who emigrated to Canada 40 years ago for love) greets us very nicely. We are totally impressed by her Hilltop Escape B&B. The Okanagan Valley is the most famous wine region in western Canada.

Friday, 01.07.2022

During the excellent breakfast served to us, we learn that today is Canadian Day, a national holiday with a downtown street festival. However, before that, we want to visit two wineries to try the regional wine. The first winery is Cedar Creek Winery. We try 5 varieties of wine, a Pinot Noir Rose, a Pinot Gris, a Haynes Creek Viognier, a Pinot Noir, and Haynes Creek Syrah. Along with a small snack. Then the second wine tasting is canceled, we postpone it until tomorrow.

Because we still want to go to the festival in the city. That's what others want to do too, chaos in the city, it feels like it took us an hour to find a parking space. We succeed a bit off, enter the location on Google so that we can find the car again. We discover a shady path through a park to the waterfront. The temperature today is 28 degrees. Everyone who passes us wishes us a Happy Canada Day, we wish back. Many small tents are set up on the lakefront, every club and organization offers something. Three stages are set up where live music is played. And many play areas for children. Not all shops are open, but all restaurants and bars are. We enjoy the day.

Saturday, 02.07.2022

At 10:00 am we take part in a guided tour of the cultural district of Kelowna. The tour is 2 km long and takes us through the city center past various cultural landmarks, museums, and old buildings of the fruit industry. It is very interesting and the elderly lady, our guide, could tell us many exciting stories.

The tour ends just before 12:00 pm and we still want to visit the Farmers and Crafters Market, which closes at 1:00 pm. At the market, we buy Haskap jam, a fruit similar to a blueberry but with an oval shape and a different taste, freshly picked cherries, and bread for the journey.

Then ordinary life catches up with us, our suitcases are empty, we have to do laundry. So we look for a laundromat, deal with the machines, get detergent and coins, and off we go. We are confused by the time our laundry spends in the machines, 26 minutes in the washing machine and 30 minutes in the dryer. There is hardly any time to have a coffee in the neighboring shopping center. The result of our efforts is quite decent, the laundry is clean.

Now it's time for the second wine tasting we postponed yesterday, we choose Kitsch Winery, which is located a bit higher and offers a beautiful view of the valley. We try four varieties, of which one is somewhat to our liking, the others fall under the motto sour makes fun.

Conclusion: It's so beautiful here and there is so much more to see, time is simply too short, but we have to move on tomorrow. But tonight we treat ourselves to a glass of wine and a long bath in the hot tub.