Fabulous Fall

Our summer lasted from late June to mid September this year, with very few days that were rainy or even cloudy. Many days were hot and dry with temperatures above 30 degrees but the evenings consistently cooled to about 15. It was a typical Okanagan summer.
Then, as if a switch was turned, it cooled  Showers washed away the haze of summer and brought a hint of green back to the parched hillsides. The sun has returned but the air has the feel of crispness to it. Summer is definitely over.
It is a great time of the year for bike riding.  The hills seem to need less effort in the cooler weather and the summer traffic has disappeared.  Last week we cycled out to Lavington, first going through Polson Park , where the still-colourful  floral clock was alone except for some moms and tots in the playground and a flock of gulls watched over an empty Kal Beach.

Crossing Highway 6, we climbed up to Buchanan Road enjoying  views of green pastures and watching machinery munch up the last of the standing corn.   The road drops down into Lavington and it was cool in the shade of the valley.  We warmed up at Susie's Blue Nose Deli with home made mushroom soupand warm cheese scones.

Returning along Learmouth Road and back onto Buchanan Road, we could see Sparkling Hill Resort, gleaming in the mid day sun on top of the Commonage, and Highway 97, a scratch along the hill above Kalalmalka Lake.  Except for an occasional tree dotted with crimson apples, the orchards were bare of their fruit.  A few maple trees were orange and red against the blue sky but other trees still held their green foliage.

Yesterday we rode around Swan Lake.  The lake was smooth with hints of yellow and bronze reflected along its edges; a more fall-like scene than the previous week.

Swan Lake Nursery was bursting with the fall harvest;  bins of multi-coloured peppers and apples, golden pears and purple plums.  Large rounded bright yellow and mauve chrysanthemums sat waiting to be purchased to decorate homes for Thanksgiving

As we returned along Old Kamloops Road we paused to look over the green fields along the lake.  Above we could see Silver Star Mountain, its top shining white in the sun, evidence of the first 23 cms of snow on the ski trails.

Although our garden is still alive with roses, asters and the intense red of a flaming bush, we will park our bikes for the season. We are leaving on a vacation and when we return in mid November we will happily get out our skis.  Winter and ski season will have arrived.