We visited a favourite winery for lunch.
It has fantastic views of Okanagan Lake from its perch high above on the western side …
… and an excellent restaurant with, of course, excellent wine.
It was so good in fact that we had to do some walking afterwards – with lots of extra water – to make sure we were safe to drive home!
Happy Thursday.
We took a drive on a rough back road high above Okanagan Lake …
… and the more and more we climbed …
… the more we enjoyed the views as we went …
… until we began to reach the top of the mountain range …
… and through the heat haze could see the shape of this lengthy body of water …
… along with the seemingly narrow line of a distant bridge across the lake.
Happy Monday.
This good old saying always reminds us to pay attention, to notice and appreciate what’s around us and to slow down a bit so that we can. So here’s what I saw recently while slowing down to just … notice and appreciate.
Happy weekend and don’t forget to stop and smell the coffee (or tea).
A recent hike above the lake shows some spring green.
Happy Sunday.
A night approach to Runway 26R at CYVR Vancouver.
A morning flight from CYZF Yellowknife with coffee.
Happy Thursday. ✈️
Overflying Edmonton …
… on a cool December evening.
Happy Saturday.
We had sun! A very lovely, crisp day.
I was quick to get out and enjoy it since we are about to get yet another wet system coming through.
It’s being referred to as a “cyclone bomb” (really? who comes up with these names?), which is a low pressure system with a very tight pattern. This means that the pressure towards the centre of it is much lower than at its outer edges.
Essentially, it’s a sort of hurricane (Pacific hurricanes are called cyclones), but because it’s occurring at a cooler time of year, it’s a slow, lumbering storm that’s more prone to dissipation and of course, it’s much less dangerous than the tropical versions. Nevertheless, it will bring very strong winds and buckets of rain to coastal British Columbia; Vancouver and Vancouver Island are about to get another soaking.
Here in the interior we are expected to get some of it in the form of more overcast and rain; we won’t experience the brunt of it.
It was important to get out and enjoy a bit of sun before more overcast arrives, but even clouds have their beauties and I can always dress for the watery deliveries they make!
Happy Tuesday.
Osoyoos is a community at the southern end of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, and is directly next to the border with the United States. It’s only 60 km (37 miles) south of us from Penticton. We recently visited and took some photos of it from Anarchist Mountain, which at 1491 metres (4892 ft) above sea level provides some excellent views.
Osoyoos is at the northernmost tip of the Sonoran Desert and can be extremely hot during the summer; it’s quite arid year-round. It’s known for its fruit orchards and the dry conditions also produce some stellar red wines. It’s a great place for outdoorsy summer holidays with lots of boating, swimming, camping and hiking and is definitely worth a visit if you like those activities – with maybe a nice glass of wine in the evenings!
Happy Sunday.
Launched in 1914 just before World War I, the sternwheeler SS Sicamous was a passenger and cargo ship that used to ply the waters of Okanagan Lake.
During its heyday, it was a luxurious and elegant mode of transportation; it’s now preserved as a heritage museum and events centre. At night, the old ship is beautifully lit by hundreds of lights and has become a Penticton landmark.
This bridge over the creek just across the street from home is always a pretty night sight. It’s lit by the softer light of the old-style street lamps that convey a sense of tranquility and peace.
Happy Thursday.
We stopped to brave the cold, rain and extremely windy conditions of Dyrhólaey bird sanctuary and viewpoint on Iceland’s south coast. This sanctuary is on a high cliff overlooking the beaches far below.
This is the North Atlantic ocean and there is nothing between Iceland and the Horn of Africa – more precisely, the Horn’s interference is minor, so there’s not much between Iceland and Antarctica – stopping that wind, so it really gets up to incredible speeds.
M and I had a hard time keeping our feet, as did others; the wind literally almost sent me flying since it was about 65 kph (40 mph). There were few birds about; most were sheltering in the cliff crevices.
The beach is comprised of black volcanic sand, and we would have loved to take a walk along the trail to the beach, but the wind was just too strong. We opted to get back in the car – literally without breaking the door hinges – to admire the view in dry comfort as we ate our lunch. But what an incredibly picturesque view, even if the weather was terrible!
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 