Kelowna, BC

Our travel meter has logged another 500+ miles and some very beautiful

territory since my last post.

The map below shows our route:

From Lincoln Rock State Park in Wenatchee, Wa

North into Canada and Kelowna, Brittish Columbia

From Kelowna to Banff National Park, Alberta.

I spent 11 days at Lincoln Rock State Park on the shore of the Columbia river

while Kate flew to Chicago to visit her BFF Mary.

Lincoln rock is just outside of Wenatchee Wa at the eastern base of the Cascade Mtns.

My site had full Hookups and 50amp service.

Great Verizon service makes it an ideal place for me to hang out and work while

Kate is out of town.

After Kate returned we packed up, and headed north to visit our friends

Pat and Rob.   You may recall that we spend quite a bit of time with them

bouncing around the desert in the winter time.

Pat and Rob have a brand new Minature Australian Labradoodles named Olivia and

they were anxious to show her off as well as show us their home town.

We stayed at Bear Creek Provincial Park on the shores of Okanagan Lake just

across from Kelowna and only about 10 min from Pat & Robs house.

The campground has no services - so dry camping - but the flowers were in bloom

and we enjoyed the heady mixture of pine, roses, and campfires.

Pat and Rob brought their Montana over to the park and camped with us for 2 nights.

One morning headed to town we had a herd of Dall Sheep right outside the park.

We enjoyed lunch and 2 dinners at their lovely home and got a taste of BC hospitality.

Saturday afternoon we strolled along the wonderful waterfront park.

There was musicians playing, a beer festival going on, and everyone was out with thier dogs

enjoying the warm sunny weather.

At one point we had 5 doodles all rubbing noses.

We must have met a dozen doodles walking along the waterfront.

The town has a wonderful international feel to it.

Walking the park you see people from all over the world.

Inland from the waterfront for a few blocks is a vibrant entertainment district with

pubs and restaurants.

Kate and I both fell in love with this beautiful Canadian city.

We watched this guy getting lessons on this water powered hoverboad.

After numerous failed attempts he finally got into the air and hovered for about 20 seconds.

Next week he might be flying high!

Our first night was steaks on the Grill.

Our second night we had this wonderful ham cooked on the grill.

After dinner Rob & Pats Grandkids put on this wonderful show with songs

from the Sound of Music and Scottish Dancing. 

Dinner and a show.     How do you beat that!

Thanks so much R&P for your hospitality and friendship.

We both had a wonderful time and already are talking about when we can come back.

This morning (Sunday) we sadly said good bye and headed north then east thru

the Canadian Rockies to our next destination - Banff National Park.

The 300+ mile drive took us along lakes, rivers, streams, 4 National Parks, and

some incredibly beautiful scenery.

The weather was perfect for a drive thru the mountains.

Trans Canada Hwy 1 - 3 Valley Lake

Because we had 7+ hrs to drive today there was not much time for stopping to

smell the pines...   or clean the windshield - so sorry about the bug splattered

thru the windshield photography. 

TC 1   Glacier National Park BC

A few photos while riding thru Glacier National Park.

We also drove thru Mt Revelstoke NP

Yoho NP

and Banff NP 

TC 1  Glacier National Park BC

TC 1 Glacier National Park BC

TC 1  Banff National Park Ab

We are now in Banff National Park at the NP Campground.

Its a pretty campground, full hookups with 30amp at about 5,000' elevation.

We are starting to sense the longer days as we move further north.
Its currently 930 pm and bright as day out. That is
only going to continue until I'm saying the same thing about midnight.

We will stay here in Banff for 3 nights, then travel 180 miles up

the Icefield Parkway to Jasper NP.

After a couple of nights in Jasper we will head 200 more miles north to

Dawson Creek BC and mile Zero of the Alaska Highway.

It looks like we have a couple of clear days ahead of us so we should have 

some pretty shots of the beautiful scenery here in Banff next time.

Till then....

Walla Walla Wow

A week ago today we left Cambria, Ca and started our trek northward.

We stopped for a couple of days in Bend, Oregon but our destination was

Walla Walla Washington for our annual spring wine tasting.

The wine tasting is and excuse but for me the highlight of the long weekend is

renewing acquaintances with some of the finest people that we know along the road.

It was a busy weekend.

Arrive Thursday....   Have Happy Hour with the gang.

Friday wine tasting and pot luck dinner.

Saturday morning Farmers Market, Wine Tasting, and dinner at Tim & Genes new home.

Sunday - pot luck breakfast, wine tasting, Steak night at Merikays and Rons place.

Monday - motor onward.

Headed northward on I-5 in California you cross over Shasta Lake.

The past 4 years drought has drained the lake but the winters El Nino` has had a postive

effect on the lake level.

For those of you who have been wondering....

Here is what that crossing of the lake looks like now.

Lake Shasta I-5 Crossing

 Rain and cool weather on Friday night made it a bit difficult for a pot luck dinner

at the RV Park so we wall went to Merikays and Rons house.

Walla Walla is a farming area and it seems all the residents have green thumbs and

Merikay and Ron are no exception.

Their beautiful backyard has a very peaceful feel to it.

Saturday night we went to Tim & Genes new home on the outskirts of town.

They have done an amazing job turning it into a beautiful country retreat.

Here Kate poses with one of our hosts - Tim.

Perfect hosts - Tim & Gene set a long table out in the yard.

We ate dinner overlooking the vineyards, wheatfields, and Blue Mountains in the distance.

A perfect setting.   A perfect meal.  and Perfects Hosts.

Kate poses in the vineyard.

Another view of the yard and table.

This years Sangiovese grapes on the vine.

Sangiovese is the grape used in Chianti and other Tuscan Wines.

Sunday afternoon Jim took me on a tour of some of his childhood stomping grounds on

forest service roads in the Blue Mountains.

We climbed almost to the crest of the blues but at about 4,800' we ran into some snow on a north facing slope and I did not want to take the chance at getting stuck...

especially since we had no cell coverage.

So we retreated back down the mountain.

Umatilla Natl Forest - FS 65 Tiger Creek Road

 Heading back down the mountain.  

 If you click and enlarge the photo you can see the low

country, several thousand feet below us in the left background.

Sunday night we had steak night at Merikays house.

Here is a photo of the group for that dinner.

Our visit to Walla Walla is always a special part of our year, and what makes it so is the

warmth and hospitality of all that we have had the privilege to meet here.

Over the years that we have come here, so many have opened thier homes to us

and treated us like family.

Its a special place and a special bunch of people for sure.

Today we said good by to Walla Walla.

Its time to move on, head north, and get staged for our entry into Canada

and our eventual journey to the Yukon and beyond.

Kate will fly to Chicago to visit her friend for a week and while she does

I will spend the week at Lincoln Rock State Park in

Wenatchee, Wa.

We stayed here at Lincoln Rock 2 years ago before we went to Alaska

and this year is the same.

I am even in the same site...  #31

50amp and full hookups makes is a convenient jumping off base.

My trip today from Walla Walla to Wenatchee.

Our plans after Kate gets back is to head north.

I'd like to at least get to Dawson City in the Yukon again.

If we make it to Alaska fine..  if not no big deal.

Dawson City is only about 50miles from the Alaska border anyway.

This time around I want to take more time and drink in the places that we

quickly visited last time.

I'm looking forward to getting back in White Birch Country.