Off to Peachland in the Okanagan

Trans-Canada Highway 1 - east of Chilliwack, BC.

Jeanette and I had contacted our very good - former White Rock - friends who retired to Peachland a few years back.  We shared a lot of dinners together and our children grew up together.

Coquihalla Highway #5 - approaching Merritt, BC.

Garry and Aline moved into a beautiful home, several years ago, overlooking Lake Okanagan. They have been very busy, these past several years, with completing some renovations to the house and making major improvements to their property.

Weather was improving as we made our way into the Nicola Valley.

Signage on the Connector road from Merritt to Peachland and the Okanagan valley.

The Coquihalla highway was again true to form with clouds, very cool temperatures and rain, from time to time.  The highway climbs to very high elevations and there can be sudden weather changes.

It was our intention to motorcycle up there but after exchanging emails with Garry, it was clear that we would not be riding.  So, we drove up.

Our descent into the Okanagan Valley and only a few minutes from Peachland.

Lake Okanagan

Approaching Garry and Aline's home.

After three hours of continuous driving, we arrived @ Garry and Aline's home in time for lunch. Garry and Aline's daughter, Tamara, came over with her two children, Tahlia and Aidan.   Proud grandfather, Garry, is busy entertaining them both.

Tahlia (@ 2 years of age), Aidan (@ 2 months of age), Garry (@....well,...ah...we won't reveal his age!!!)

From a brand new deck above, we view the beautiful garden below and the build of a future greenhouse.

I walked down to the construction site for a proper inspection of the work.  Like these two really need another inspector!!!!  Jesse  (with the hat) is Garry and Aline's son.  He is spending the summer building and renovating and renewing things - as well as building his very own boat.  His uncle (Aline's brother, Marcel) chose to drive out from Calgary, Alberta, to help out with some of the work. Marcel was on his way to Vancouver and Vancouver Island for business reasons and thought to stop in to help out for a week.  How nice that is!

Inspector Garry is hidden behind me.   Jesse in the black muscle shirt and Marcel in the white t-shirt.

Aline is a green thumb - loves gardening - and will now have the opportunity to grow stuff all year long.

This side and the front of the greenhouse will be covered in clear plexiglass panels.  One inside rock wall - exposed to the majority of the sunshine - will release passive heat when the sun goes down.  This is a passive solar greenhouse.  Neat concept!

The garden has netting to prevent the local deer, bears and other wildlife from stealing the vegetables and fruits.

A view from their front deck looking east towards Lake Okanagan.

Although it may not look like it in this photo, the workers were making good progress and working hard.  Garry and I had to continually caucus and provide direction on the build.  Hey, every job site needs a supervisor (inspector) or two....or more, right?

 Seriously though, Jesse and Marcel were on top of this project and they made fast progress with the build.  Meanwhile, Jeanette was indoors and keeping busy with little Aidan while mom, Tamara, was busy with her mom, Aline, getting some dinner ready. This little fella hardly makes a sound - unless he is hungry - but is very content otherwise.

Aidan doesn't shy from anyone.  He's a happy little guy.  His father, John, was away on business in Kamloops during our visit.  John is a good friend of our son.

After a hard day (for some) we enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail.  Marcel is resting his weary bones after a day of work.  Garry is holding court!

Could not help myself!  What a cute little fella....and oh so good too!!!

Later in the evening - when the others had gone to bed, Aline, Jeanette and I stood out on the east forward deck to admire the beautiful reflection of the moon on Lake Okanagan.

Hmmm... is Aline giving Garry some lessons on the computer or is Garry showing her a web site with a special lift mechanism they need to raise a glass roof panel to release heat from the greenhouse?

The greenhouse is built to emulate the look of the house up the hill.  Very creative design!

A view of the second - and newest - deck that was just recently completed.  I sure like the spiral staircase.

Jesse, me and Marcel.

 Jeanette and I were leaving the next day so after saying our good byes to Garry and Aline, we stopped down below to do the same with Jesse and Marcel.

I think Jeanette was hoping that I would zoom in a little to make it appear as though she is as tall as Jesse....but hey, I could not tell a lie. 

Jesse and our son, Deni, grew up together, went to the same elementary and secondary schools together, and chummed around too. Our two families are just that - family to us and them.

Jeanette and I had a good three hour drive back home.  It was a quick, 27 hour visit but it was so nice to spend the time with them.  Our thanks for the awesome hospitality, the wonderful meals and the always engaging chats.

Thanks for dropping by.  Wishing you all a very nice weekend.

......where's our sun? .....where's our sun?....where's our sun?........Ho Hum.......will summer arrive soon?  Let's hope so!

The Sunshine Coast

Early morning - Leaving Quadra Island for Campbell River, then south towards Comox and the BC Ferries ride to Powell River on the Sunshine Coast.

The BC Ferries ride from the Powell River Side to Earl's Cove - The Pender Harbour/Sechelt/Gibson's Landing side of the Sunshine Coast.  Many more motorcyclists were on board for this cruise.

The 10 minute Quadra Island ferry ride to Campbell River was quick.  We were soon on our  45 minute ride south towards Comox/Courtney on Vancouver Island.  We boarded the BC Ferries for the 1hr. 40 minute ride to Powell River.  After lunch we rode for 30-40 minutes to catch another ferries ride to Earl's Cove.

My personal favourite ferries ride - to Earl's Cove and Pender Harbour.

A beautiful coastal 'tug style' yacht in Garden Bay @ Pender Harbour.

The float plane is there every time we have come through here.

Near the boat launch @ Garden Bay.  Note the palm tree?

These hand crafted row boats looked so nice tied up to the dock.

Gibson's Landing - This restaurant was made famous during the many years when the CBC-TV series, 'The Beachcombers', was filmed here on the Sunshine Coast.

Brad and Jamie had not been to this area before so it seemed fitting to get a quick photo in front of Molly's Reach.  That done, and pressed for time, we headed right over to the ferries terminal for our last ride to the BC Lower Mainland.

Approaching the ferries terminal @ Langdale, Sunshine Coast.

From the deck of our ferries boat, The Boathouse Restaurant @ Horseshoe Bay.

The ferries boat that took us into Horseshoe Bay.

One of the new generation BC Ferries.

We were quite hungry but chose to forgo the BC Ferries restaurant food in favour of a meal at The Boathouse restaurant @ Horseshoe Bay.   After that we rode the final leg of our motorcycle ride back to our home in Langley.

Final thoughts about the motorcycle ride:
-  Weather:  OK...but not hot.  No rain...and very little sun.
-  Highways:  Great roads, other than the gravel prepped roads (for paving) on Cortez Island
-  BC Ferries:  No complaints.  On time service, reasonable food on board and a friendly staff.
-  Accommodations: Tsa Kwa Luten Lodge @ Cape Mudge on Quadra Island did not disappoint. Most accommodating staff, wonderful dining, great location.
-  Riding Partners:  Wonderful

Thanks for dropping in.

Day Two on the Discovery Islands!

Heriot Bay - Quadra Island

 On our second day of motorcycling, we rode to this bay for breakfast at an old inn before boarding our 3rd ferry in our journey.

Brad, Jamie and Jeanette

Restaurant deck @ the Heriot Bay inn

One of the numerous docks on Cortez Island.  Jamie and Jeanette seem ready to ride off.

Cortez Island proved to be a bit of a disappointment. Unknown to us - and the BC Ferries staff who issue passage fares - the island roads are covered in gravel. Two wheels and gravel are a poor mix.  We rode for a short time but quickly decided to take the next ferry back to Quadra.  The ferries captain approached us with apologies and said he would contact BC Ferries to let them know that motorcyclists should be advised, in advance of purchasing ferries tickets, that Cortez Island roads are graveled. A customer service representative has been advised of our desire to obtain a refund.  We'll see what the outcome will be in this regard.

The bay at the Cortez Island ferries terminal.

A nice west coast scene.

This is the BC Ferries that will return us to Quadra Island.

April Point Lodge, Quadra Island.

With Cortez Island a bust for riding, we returned to Quadra Island and made our way to April Point Lodge for a mid-day lunch.

Scene from the dock @ April Point Lodge. Campbell River can be seen across the way.

The SPA at April Point Lodge

Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island.

Lunch was followed with a short ride to Rebecca Spit.  The beaches are dotted with driftwood.  We spent a couple of hours enjoying the beach and the surroundings.  This is a 'must see' for anyone touring Quadra island.

Brad and I are navigating the large driftwood.

Jamie - enjoying the peace and serenity of the area.

Appears to be a deep conversation...or Jamie and Jeanette are checking something out.  Not quite sure!

A little pub on Quadra Island.  We had dinner here.

A view of the ferries dock from the pub.

A late evening scene.

Following dinner at a local pub, we returned to Tsa Kwa Luten Lodge for the night.  Quadra Island is one of the Discovery Islands of British Columbia and is located on the 'Inside Passage'.  It is a protected waterway between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.  Cruise ships navigate the 'Inside Passage' on their journeys north to Alaska and south to Vancouver, BC,  and Seattle, WA.  We saw a few ships cruise by our cottage but this was the only one Jeanette and I managed to catch a photo of.

Flowers at Twa Kwa Luten Lodge

One of the many pleasure craft that travel these waters.

International Flag pole @ April Point Lodge.

Long shot of a BC Ferries boat on its way to Cortez Island.

A sign we saw on the wall of the pub we had dinner at.

The next blog will feature our departure from Quadra Island, our journey through the Sunshine Coast and the return back home to Langley.

Thanks for dropping.