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Back from the Okanagan
June 13th, 2011

We're back, and had a wonderful time on our vacation. Travel went without a hitch, B&B's were both excellent, we spent large swaths of our days exploring and nature-watching, and my triplist is, well, epic.

I have many photos to sort through. Eventually I'll be posting a full pictorial account of our adventures. But for now,

My 10 favorite things in the south Okanagan:
  1. Driving up snow-capped mountains. Driving up all the way to the snow on Mount Kobau, where the landscape is dominated by immensely tall firs and spruces, and the haunting song of the Hermit Thrush filters down from the treetops.

  2. Watching the courtship shenanigans of Ruddy Ducks.

  3. The way the Mule Deer bound across the slopes, so light-footed, you'd think someone had filled them with helium.

  4. The western corvids (crow relatives). Seeing my first magpie, my first Clark's Nutcracker, my first Steller's Jay. Above all the magpies, the gorgeous, intelligent, dragonfly-shaped magpies.

  5. Eating centimeter-thick bacon and a cheese-laden frittata big enough to fill a casserole dish at the splendiferous Elm Tree Farm B&B.

  6. The breathtaking vista of lush orchards, vineyards, mountains and lake from Brin de Soleil B&B.

  7. A nearly 2-foot-tall Northern Harrier looking as small as a sparrow--because he was perched beside a Bald Eagle! The fight that ensued between David and Goliath.

  8. The oh-my-god-cute California Quail. Stalking one through the farmyard at ETF. Catching it by surprise.

  9. Watching and listening to the courtship of Common Nighthawks whirling high above us in the mountains. I had read that courting nighthawks do aerial dives, creating a whooshing sound with their wings. I didn't realize that the sound is like a tiny sports car zooming down a tiny highway two inches away from your ear.

  10. The warm, trusting and generous locals.



Vacation ho ←→ Okanagan Vacation 1 - Arrival

Comments

queenie_writes
June 13th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Sounds like a lovely time. :)

dagibbs
June 13th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Glad you had what sounds like a wonderful vacation, and welcome home.

Suzanne
June 13th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
By the way, you totally need to go climbing in the Okanagan if you haven't already. Lots of fun-looking cliffs.

dagibbs
June 13th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I've not climbed in western Canada at all, but Skaha, in the Okanagan valley, is one of the top 2 climbing areas in B.C. (the other being Squamish), and possibly in Canada.

And, yes, I totally need to go climbing there. When it will happen, that I don't know.

gabriel_le
June 13th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Stellar's Jays!! I'm feeling quite nostalgic now. =)

Glad your trip was such a success.

frenchzie
June 13th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Wow! It looks like you had a glimpse of paradise! :)

I'm glad that you've enjoyed...!