Friday 13th, 2007 – Penticton wineries

When we managed to find a campsite yesterday, we were told it would only be for one night; and they might have a spot for us on Friday, but we’d have to relocate. After yesterday’s travails finding a campsite in the land of Canadian water / sun / wine worshippers, we weren’t optimistic about being able to stay in the area much loner. But Friday 13th turned out well for us. Although we had to relocate to another site, we were given the new site for an additional three nights! It is a much larger and longer site, and sheltered in a grove of large weeping willow trees. So we’ll be able to see local attractions, i.e., wineries!

But what a challenge! Within a 1 hour drive of our campsite, there are 88 wineries listed. To paraphrase the famous quote: So many wineries; so little time. Fortunately, there are mitigating circumstances: a) when you’ve visited one winery tasting room, you have pretty much seen them all; b) you can only taste so much in one day without your taste buds being overwhelmed; c) we can only store / carry so many wine cases before the motor-home cries uncle; and d) how does one choose / buy carefully when faced with so many choices. To narrow the choices, we had asked the wine merchants in Canmore for their recommendations on which wineries to visit. And Tina the young lady serving us last night in the restaurant seemed knowledgeable and recommended three wineries. So we had a plan!

Onward to the slopes, or more correctly, the Naramata Bench. Many of the area’s wineries are located on the hills / slopes of the eastern side of Lake Okanagan. Although there are wineries on the western side, it seems that the better soil / climate is on the eastern side. That’s where the better wines seem to be made – according to our guides.

Yesterday’s weather – blue, cloudless skies – deserted us. Still relatively hot – upper 80’s – but cloudy and gray most of the day. As you can see from today’s photo’s, there were rain clouds on the western side of the lake – mostly in the mountains – but it never rained seriously, just sprinkles.

The biggest surprise in the Okanagan Valley area is the sense of humor of local merchants – and wineries. You’re going to think I’m making these up, but I’m not. There is a Chinese Laundry Restaurant; and a Bum Wrap selling swim-suits and beach cover-ups in Penticton.

There are some “normal” winery names – Lang, Nichols, and Hillside Estates Winery. But then you have: Elephant Island Orchard, Black Widow (which was closed), Red Rooster, Tinhorn Creek, Tantalus, Blasted Church, Wild Goose, Burrowing Owl, Crowsnest, Dirty Laundry, Little Straw, Gray Monk, Laughing Stock, Forbidden Fruit, Hollywood and Wine, Howling Bluff, Tangled Vine, Stone Boat, Silk Scarf, and Margaret’s favorite: Therapy with their selection of Pink Freud, Freudian Sip, and Freudian SuperEgo. Their posters and t-shirts are whimsical as well.

As we headed back after our exhausting visit to the five wineries, we drove past the Penticton beach front (south end of Okanagan Lake). Folks were on the beach and in the water having fun. It is strange to see a beach on a lake – with wavelets – and gaggles of geese swimming alongside the vacationers (Canadian geese or American geese on vacation?). Everyone is tanned, or working on it. One can swim, water ski, float about on big round “inner tubes,” sail or power boat, and finish the day with a beach fire and cookout.

In addition to the wineries and their grapes, the Okanagan Valley has a wild profusion of fruit trees growing along side the grapes. We saw (and could identify): apples, pears, apricot, plums, cherry, peaches, and nectarines. It is very similar to the Yakima Valley in Washington State. Both have similar climates and soil. Both are a similar distance from the Pacific Ocean. Both are surrounded by mountains / hills makes for lush conditions for the fruit growing.

In the local hills, there is a hiking trail named: Three Blind Mice Trail. Why would I want to set out to hike a trail named after blind rodents? It’s too hot to hike anyway. Oh, last winter it got down to minus 17 degrees Celsius (1.6 degrees F). Cold enough. The lady who staffs the office said it was always colder in Montana to the south where her relatives lived.

Other odds and end: saw a tanned, be-turbaned Sikh gentleman in Bermuda shorts pedaling his bicycle down the road.

Tomorrow: the farmers’ market and exploration south.