Biking Bliss

In my view, things that make a good cycling day include sunny warm weather, great scenery, interesting sites and outside eateries or picnic spots combined with reasonably  flat terrain.  The Greater Vernon area offers all of this except, to cover any significant distance, you have to tackle hills.  For novice riders like us that has presented a challenge, but one we have risen to this summer.  Not only are we in better shape, we have enjoyed dozens of fabulous days on the road.

In the early spring we joined a few regular Thursday rides with the Vernon Outdoor Club (VOC) through the gently rolling back roads of Lumby/ Lavington and Armstrong /Enderby. The quiet paved roads wind past lush fields of newly sprouting asparagus,  sweet hay and early market garden crops where the smell of rich black earth mingled with the fresh warmth of the spring sun.  Each week the trips seemed to be a bit more challenging and gradually we found our bike legs.

As much as we have enjoyed the VOC spring rides,our favourite cycling starts from our own driveway. Early in the season we started  with shorter trips, usually biking from home through Polson Park to  Friesens Country Tyme Gardens in Coldstream and eating a breakfast of farm fresh eggs and Mennonite sausage on the patio (round trip of 20 km).

Cherry Blossoms in May at the Japanese Garden, Polson Park

Or we headed down Pleasant Valley Road and around Swan Lake via old Kamloops Road (round trip of 25 km)   When we do this route on a Monday or Thursday morning we stop at the Vernon Farmer's market on our way home and fill our pannier bags with local produce after enjoying a coffee and listening to local buskers.

As the summer progresses and our legs get stronger, we  bike along Kalalmalka Road, then Buchanan and Learmouth roads to Lavington where we stop at the Blue Nose Deli for coffee, a fresh baked muffin or their exceptional veggie wrap (round trip 40 km).

Recently we  biked along the east side of Okanagan Lake out to Ellison Provincial Park, a wooded camp- ground with mountain-bike trails etched into the mountain side above the lake and two lovely little beaches with clear azure waters inviting you for a swim  (round trip 30 km with a couple significant hills).

Otter Bay at Ellison Provincial Park

South Bay Beach at Ellison Provincial Park

Turtle crossing along Commonage Road

And, last week, with the encouragement of a few  VOC bikers, we slowly wound ourselves up the Commonage Road past the eagles nest and turtle crossing near Rose's Pond and the  manicured, world-class Predator Ridge Golf Course up to the very highest point of land where Sparkling Hill Resort, the Swarovsky family's only resort and the largest spa in Canada perches, its millions of crystals gleaming in the sun.  This is where we had coffee and strudel overlooking Okanagan Lake before the exhilarating 17 km ride back down into Vernon.

Rose pond in the Commonage

These have been great rides but  the one we have enjoyed the most this summer has been  to Juniper and Jade Beaches in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. It has become a weekly ritual.

Lone boat and water skier on Kal Lake

We head down Okanagan Landing Road and swing though Polson Park, which is snuggled in behind the hospital hill along Highway 97.  Coldstream Creek rushes through the park, under little walking bridges and fills a pond where resident ducks paddle awaiting the crusts that little children toss to them.  Behind the blossoms of late summer, a karate group does its routine drill and children squeal with joy in the adjacent splash park.  It is truly a delightful shaded oasis and play area for locals and travelers.
We rumble over the board walk behind the park and then along Kalalmalka Road toward Kal Beach.  Here sun bathers lay on  the hot sand and swimmers and paddle boat riders drift out on the calm lake.
We turn to follow the east side of the lake, past the heritage Mackie Lake House and Sovereign Park, both named for families who previously owned the properties.

Orchards of apples line the road as we climb up  above the lake where a lone kayaker skims by and a water skier creates a rooter tail spray.  We are hot and sweaty when we reach the parking lot and guide our bikes down to the beaches.

Summers are hot in the Okanagan and we usually leave home about 8 o'clock.  The ride takes us a bit more than an hour, and when we arrive we have the beach to ourselves. I am generally not keen on open water swimming, preferring the predictability of pools. But the water is still and clear and it is a fabulous place to swim

Named after an Indian chief, Kalamalka Lake is re-known for its changing hues, from deep blue to aquamarine, as the sunlight is filtered through dissolving minerals.  The effect is stunning.
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park protects more than 4,200 hectares of grasslands and unique cliff and wetland habitats.  The area was part of the original Coldstream Ranch and during WW ll was used as a commando training area. The local residents had the foresight in the mid 1970's to lobby the provincial government to purchase the property for a park.  There are extensive hiking and biking trails as well as these quiet little beaches.

After we swim and float for a half hour or so we partially dry ourselves in the hot mid- morning sun, but the deep coolness of the lake stays with us as we pedal back towards Vernon with the sun on our backs.
We cycle home via 30 Ave, originally known as Barnard Ave and stop at the Bean Scene, a local coffee bar that is the epicenter for all that is or will be happening in Vernon.  We sip on  an americano  on the  shaded back balcony and then slowly pedal home feeling satisfied and refreshed.

Note:  Kalmalka Lake has been nominated as one of the "best places in Canada" by the Canadian Institute of Planners. 
 You can vote until September 23 at: http://www.cip-icu.ca/greatplaces/en/place.asp?id=6198

Day Tripping in the North Okanagan

Like most Albertans that move to the Okanagan Valley  we get quite a bit of company, mostly other Albertans!  They come for the beaches and the wineries, the fresh fruit, the golf courses, the hiking and fishing, the biking and boating, and, of course, to visit us.  

If it is their first visit, we usually walk with them down the road to Davison Orchard for pie and to Planet Bee to see how bees make honey and to taste honey mead.  If they stay a second day, we often go to Friesens Countrytyme Gardens, to enjoy breakfast in an orchard, and to Kalalmalka Lake Provincial Park for a swim at Jade or Juniper beach, or a hike to Rattlesnake Point.  Then we might take them up to Allan Brook Nature Centre where they can see the whole vista of the North Okanagan: Swan Lake, Kalalmalka Lake and Okanagan Lake while marmots eye them curiously.

If they return for future visits there are dozens more places to discover.  Sometimes we will take them off to explore and sometimes we'll just give them the maps and let them loose.  And, judging from the volume of return guests, they seem pleased with their little tours and happy for more suggestions.

This last week my sister-in-law, who loves to snoop around quaint little towns, funky art galleries and along country roads, returned for a visit. So she and I headed east  along highway 6, passing the apple orchards of Coldstream and the pastures and corn fields surrounding the Village of Lumby.  I had always thought of Lumby as an old dusty sawmill town but there is far less sawdust these days.The main street is lined with lush hanging baskets and banners and it seems like every second building has a historical mural  painted on it.

Vernon Street Lumby

Spawning salmon mural

   
Westopped at the Visitors Center, housed in a small log building, not big enough to swing a cat in, but full of information about guest ranches, luxury b&b's, rustic cabins and wilderness campgrounds all tucked away along streams and lakes in the surrounding  forests and mountains.  There were brochures on activities ranging from horseback riding and fly fishing  to hang gliding and mountain climbing.

But we were interested in exploring the village, so, with a map in hand, started along the salmon trails, wooded pathways that wind along two creeks through the village.  These creeks are the most easterly spawning grounds for Coho and Chinook Salmon.  We joined  other walkers and bikers along the trails which are dotted with interpretive signs and fitness stations..Walking back along Vernon Street we passed Ida's Bakery and the Krazy Llama Cafe where diners had filled outside tables for lunch.  We crossed over to The Village Gallery, an artist run gallery featuring works by local artists  The art is impressive and very reasonably priced.

Having lunch at ida's Bakery

We then drove just east of town and turned south onto Creighton Valley Road. The pavement changed to gravel as the green pastures lead into a forested valley.  We stopped to visit Cozy Cabins Nature Resort and walked down to its small lake.  Kids were playing on the small sandy beach and sunning on the swimming float, while a group of adults gathered around a picnic table.  The 7 cabins on this 40 acre property are discretely placed, some overlooking the lake and others around the meadow.

Garden at Cozy Cabin

 A very short distance farther along Creighton Valley Road we drove along the  emerald-coloured Echo Lake and stopped again to check out the Echo Lake Fishing Resort.  Here wooden cabins perch precariously over the motionless lake.  A couple docks stretch out into the lake with small fishing boats attached and a lone kayak was mirrored in the middle of the lake.

Echo Lake

The road changed back to pavement as it wound itself out of the treed hills and back into green fields.  Here it joined  onto highway 6 and we  headed back into Cherryville.  Originally a gold rush town, named after the wild chokecherries that grew along a creek, Cherryville has one of the most charming little galleries anywhere.  In a whimsically painted former hunting cabin, among aromas of scented soaps and candles we were delighted by colourful glass beads, dishes and murals that surrounded other art.

Cherryville Artisans Shop

On our way home we stopped at Caffe Mazzega in Lumby.  We sipped on our lattes and nibbled on a gelato n' berries crespelle (crepe).  The soft hot crepe melted in our mouths and the tart warm berry juice mingled with the vanilla ice-cream.  It was better than delicious.

  A  half hour later, with a glass of Pinot Gris in hand,  we were sitting on our back deck in Vernon describing our delightful tour to the others. Just another fabulous day in the North Okanagan.