Alas, we are approaching our fifth month of residence in the Okanagan Valley and we are still in disbelief. Do we really live here? The valley is amazing and the outdoor lifestyle is endless! The micro climate and the topography are the very reasons this place is so highly desirable. Hot summers, mild winters and wildlife all year around. The locals refer to it as "Italy or California in Canada, sans all the crowds." Seems appropriate.
After months of looking, we have chosen a house large enough for a rental apartment and for family near downtown and at the base of Knox Mountain. Trails can be hit from our doorstep and Eric's job is less than 10 minutes away. Gavin will reside at his present school, electing to remain and take the city bus to and from. The house has great bones but needs updating so we are embarking on a very large renovation project as of 1 April. A total kitchen gut, floor gut and addition of a full legal suite will get us a tad closer to our needs and desires. Living in the house during this time promises to be entertaining at the very least! I suspect our spring will be busy with our version of B.C. Fixer upper, but have no fear, we have plans to play on the lake, in a big way.
After much consideration and research, Eric found us the perfect pontoon boat for lounging with friends and family. This beauty is 21', seats 11 butts and has a 70 horse power motor for dragging Gavin and his cousins around. We plan to moor it on the water for quick summer access. Since it is daylight from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. during the season, we will have plenty of daylight to boat on weekdays and weekends alike. We are so excited!
In other news, Gavin is rocking at school and Scouts and recently took first place in the annual Truck Race for his age group. Pictured is the truck he carved and raced.
Our winter has been filled with skiing, skating and hockey, most recently at Silver Star where we rented a ski chalet for a few days of spring break. The weather was so warm we skied in t-shirts! And, the visibility was ridiculous, unveiling mountain ranges over 100 miles away! Having so many ski areas around us, this one was particularly family friendly with many activities by day and night. Gavin is a natural at everything, so he rarely face-plants but I enjoyed eating a bit of snow for the both of us. Nordic is so cathartic as it is very quiet and a considerable workout. Reminds me of trail running for these reasons.
I scampered off for a whirlwind Girls Trip to Vancouver to hook up with my dear friend Amber. She was in Vancouver for a class and we were determined to hit the big city and Victoria hard for 3 days. The metro reminded me of San Francisco, filled with the hustle, bustle and culture of people. People were very cordial, polite and eager to visit. I would call it Canadian-metro. People helped us at every turn and were interested to hear all about the trials of the current United States and our thoughts about her future.
A cafeteria, an arcade, several lounges and reading nooks abound. Once in Victoria we relished Tea at the Empress and the historic venue and energy inside. Even if you are not "tea" people, the bar is a must visit due to the art and architecture.
Huge wood beams and ornate carvings could be found in every aspect. The hotel is over 100 years old and filled with the spirits who have visited, including the Queen. I found it profound to see the enormity of each painting, depicting her life in chapters, floor to ceiling. Stunning. I highly recommend Hibiki, a Japanese whiskey you can sip on by the fire. Smooth.
We will plan to travel to Victoria and the other islands again and this time allow a great deal more time. My time with Amber went so quickly, as time with friends does, and before I knew it, we were putting her back onto her plane via a red-eye to New Mexico.
The quiet of our hotel room was more than I could bare so I headed on the train, then the bus to Stanley Island for the quintessential Vancouver bike ride. Surrounded by the peace of the water I was reminded of how important it is to invest time with friends.Au revoir,
Ness
