September 16, 2016 - Penticton, BC

Stepping out of the Lil' Home we felt so grateful to be alive and be given another day to enjoy the beautiful scenery around us.  While stretching our arms our eyes feasted on the beautiful Skaha Lake.  There were few swimmers in the roped-off area.

On our way to visit a couple wineries we stopped by Skaha Lake Park to watch kiteboarding in action. There were few older men doing tricks. 

On our way to visit Narmath Bench Winery area there was a lone deer eating fallen apples on the ground.

  

First winery stop was at Ruby Vine. We went inside the store/tasting room. The decor was very interesting and had a lot of cow themed items.  There is a cool VW bug outside and there are few sculptures around.  We sampled two wines, did not buy any.

We went across the road to Red Rooster Winery to explore some more. Even though we visited it the other day Edith wanted to go back there to get more pictures of the old/rusty truck.

We drove up to the top of the Munson Mtn Scenic Lookout, then hiked some.  The view of Penticton and the lake was awesome and breathtaking.  There are benches you can sit to wind down while admiring the scenery.  Along the side of the lookout there is a "Penticton" sign, but it was hard getting a good picture of it.

That is the town sign that Edith could not get a picture of

Panoramic view of Penticton and Okanagan Lake

After leaving the lookout we went to Lakeview Cemetery off Lower Bench Road where we can get a better view of the "Penticton" sign.  

Wayne and Janice prepared BBQ pork chops and vegetables for supper.  We had a lovely day, spending time with Wayne and Janice.  We will miss them and their dog, Spots because tonight is our last night. We will be going back to the USA tomorrow.

September 15, 2016 - Penticton, BC

We had a lazy morning, but it was all good after three days of sightseeing and visiting wineries.  

The weather was, once again, another beautiful, gorgeous day.  Little warmer than it was yesterday, but still very pleasant according to softies, like us.

Around lunchtime Janice brought over leftover chicken pieces and tuna sandwiches. Edith fixed roasted dill flavored potatoes.  

After lunch Edith mentioned that she would like to visit Lakeview Cemetery. Janice wanted to join in, as she likes to visit cemeteries, as well. Edith was happy to know that there is someone else who is a cemetery afficianado like she is.

While the girls were away Wayne took a dip in the lake while Erwin read a book out on the beach.  

Lakeview Cemetery was an easy find.  The view of the mountains and the lake was beautiful.  There were many tombstones dating back to late 1800s.  Few steps away from Edith, Janice was videotaping some of the tombstones when Edith tried to get her attention after she took a picture of one tombstone.  She wanted Janice to take a look at it because it is her namesake.. LYONS.   Janice was completely surprised about it and was not sure if they were her relatives.  She texted her sister to find out.  There is a small burial site for the veterans.  

Veterans' Burial Site

After Edith and Janice got back to the campground, we four sat outside by the beach and relaxed for the afternoon.  We had Wayne and Janice over for supper.  We served chicken tenders over steamed spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce on top.

A quiet night and we four shared stories of the past.  

September 14, 2016 - Kelowna & Penticton, BC

The weather was just perfect for today's trip to Kelowna, BC.

Before leaving Penticton, BC we, along with Wayne and Janice, stopped at Blasted Church Vineyards in Okanagan Falls, BC.  Why the name?  Well, in 1929, a small crew from Okanagan Falls went to a desert mine 16 miles away to dismantle an old wooden church and bring it to Okanagan Falls. What they did to "dismantle" the church was to use controlled dynamite sticks inside the church. The purpose was to "loosen the nails". It was successful. They only lost the steeple when it fell over during the disassembly.

Blasted Church is a small vineyard overlooking Lake Skaha.  The tasting room is in a log cabin and is open 7 days a week May 1 and October 31.  Their bottle labels are very cartoony and outrageous; such as, The Big Bang Theory, OMG and Blastphemy.  After sampling complimentary wines we bought two bottles.

Double Magnum Merlot
Selling for $305!!!

The store/tasting room

Blasted Church

Door Stopper
Porcupine

Colorful Foliage

The Grapes

The Vineyard

One more stop before we head out of Penticton area was to visit Red Rooster Winery.  On way there we wet past the vineyard where there are nets over the grapes to protect them from eating by birds/animals.  Guess what we saw inside the vineyard? Two deer... Did they manage to get some grapes?

Red Rooster Winery is perched above Okanagan Lake,  There are few unusual sculptures in the garden,. The view of the vineyard and the lake was awesome. This is the place that Prince Charles of England ordered a bottle of wine when he visited Canada.

The Naked Man
What was Edith trying to do?Erwin, "I know, I know!!"

Erwin walking along the vineyard

Beautiful purple grapes

Wish we had bought the T-shirts

Gallery of Roosters from around the world

Erwin and Wayne sampling wine

Wayne sampling one of many!

Nice view of the vineyard and the lake from the window

Metal Mermaid Sculpture

On way to Kelowna via Highway 97 we pulled into Okanagan Lake Provincial Park for our lunch break.  The park is situated between Peachland and Summerland, BC.  it has two campgrounds, and sandy beach.  Wayne found an empty site with a picnic table.  Early this morning Janice prepared sandwiches to go, along with fruits and snacks for our lunch.  Of course, we had a bottle of wine!

"Spots, I already gave you a piece of my sandwich", Wayne signed

Janice enjoying her lunch

The traffic to Kelowna, BC was not too bad.  Kelowna is the biggest city on Highway 97 in Canada and USA and is the third largest city in British Columbia. The name derives from an Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear".  This city has wineries, golf courses, beaches, shopping malls and lots of outdoor activities. 

There was one winery that Wayne wanted to take us to visit: Mission Hills Family Estates.  Anthony Von Mandl was born to European parents, and after graduating from college he realized that wine was his passion. In 1981 he decided to buy 'Golden Valley winery in Kelowna and changed the name to Mission Hills.  His patience paid off when he entered some of his wines in the competition and the "World's Best Pinot Noir Trophy" award put Mission Hills, Kelowna and Okanagan Valley on the map.  Since then that winery business became a major industry of B.C, andCanada.

There is a rose garden in front of the visitor's parking lot.  There are sculptures scattered through the garden and the grounds around.  The estate has a sixty-seat restaurant called "Terrace" that opened in 2002.  It overlooks Lake Okanagan.  In 2008 it was named by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the best five winery restaurants in the world (wiki).

After walking about the grounds we went inside the store/tasting room.  The store was very well stocked and the service was friendly.

No idea what these guys were up to?

The Terrace (restaurant)

Gorgeous view of Kelowna from Mission Hills Winery

Unusual door handles

Sculpture in the main courtyard in front of the store

Wayne wanted to check out Canon cameras at a camera shop in downtown. He and Edith went in the store while Erwin and Janice waited in the van.  The store did not have one particular camera that Wayne was interested in.  While there Wayne bought a selfie stick for IPhones for Janice.  Of course, Janice was surprised and was anxious to start using it right away.

On way back to Penticton we went past Squally Point where there is a sculpture of Ogopogo, the legendary lake monster that looked like a snake, a horse or a goat.  In 1920's people claimed to have seen the monster in the lake.

Parachuting

Kelowna Skyline

Leaving Kelowna

Another Ogopogo

We arrived back to Penticton tired, but content.  The trip to Kelowna was wonderful with the good weather and great company.