The closing years of life are like the end of a masquerade party, when
the masks are dropped. -Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher (22 Feb
1788-1860)
Good Morning, Patrizzio: Hope you & your lovely wife enjoyed a nice weekend. I was busy celebrating hubby's birthday with friends.
Thanks for the hot water & tea visit with Corinne. Hope her dental appt. went well. Thanks for the pics of us enjoying a morning chat & visit. I didn't get Pam's v/m until after I got home. She had called at 8:00 am but Paul was on the phone when I left and didn't get the message. It worked out fine because Gill & Phil just got back from Sedona and she stopped by at 10:30 am and we went for a 1.5 hr. powerwalk on the trail in between the rain showers. Then volunteers at Haven Hill in the afternoon.
Sorry to miss the hike today. I'm just getting ready to go to Soupeteria for my volunteer work. Wish I could be at 2 places at once. I may stop by on my way home from a run and say 'Hi' to Corinne. Happy Hiking ..................... see U next week!! Mary Lee :-)
Hello Proprietors of Carter B & B! Very pleased to hear all goes so well with your eyes, Mick! Unfortunately, now you won't have a ready made excuse if your golf game doesn't improve!
Just a bit of an update on Sevens weekend. On Saturday, the 12th, Elaine and Ted have very graciously agreed to host a pot-luck bridge evening! I thought it best to choose that night as Sunday evening, with the Sevens finals, probably won't be over until 9:00 pm or later and Lady Dar will be at last sessions of Cuffed. As I think I mentioned earlier, Friday we are at the evening session of Cuffed. Cora Lee is coming to Vancouver this Sunday, for her Book Club, so I'll ask her to call, at some point, and you can plan, along with Elaine, menu, etc.
Given chock-a-block schedule, we are now planning to drive into Vancouver on Thursday afternoon. We subscribe to a series put on by Kitchen Stove Film, run by the Art Gallery, which has an arrangement with TIFF to screen ten films shown at the festival. Our tickets are for the 4:00 pm showing but Mme Coriandre will change them for the 1:00 pm screening. This being the case, we were hoping you'd accept the Penticton Freeloaders to come a day earlier! Anyway, let me know what you think and we'll plan accordingly.
Have had some terrific rides over the last few days so very pleased about being able to get out, weather now permitting. Must away as I'm off to go hiking. Sky is sunny and blue here. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Bridge on Saturday night! Getting ready for Bridge Camp in Vancouver in March. As another warm-up, I'll be playing in a fund raiser for Grandmothers for Africa on March 4th.
Sounds good for us. Looking forward to seeing you Are you around for dinner Thursday? Realize we are out on that Thursday! A golf dinner. Will be back about 10.
Hello Hikesters! Once more, words fail me! Thanks to Titan Tinka for another, almost unbelievable hike. I know I probably sound like Patrizzio Pollyanna but I have to pinch myself when I think back to yesterday's glorious outing. Thanks, as well, to all my companionable companions. Cheers, Patrizzio! Musings, if interested:
Given that we were hiking above McIntyre Bluff, I wanted to drive from the HH lot. I had an appointment with the dottore at 2:30 pm and didn't want to be late for that, obviously. Guillermo wanted to be back around the same time so he and I followed convoy south on 97, through OK Falls. Just past turn-off to Tucelnuit, over bridge, we made a right onto Seacrest Hill Road to turn into Covert Farms Family Estate, (www.covertfarms.ca), I'd ridden by the place last summer but had never visited. I was quite taken back by the sheer size of the operation as I assumed it was but a small family winery. At any rate, quite a complex. We were able to peruse some of the grounds following the Creative Blunderers around until lead car finally made for the designated parking area near the front of the property.
I was to learn that Covert Farms also sells high quality fruit and vegetables from their on site store called Pancho's Market. The market has a coffee shop but nothing was open at this time of year. Once everyone was suited up, backpacks on, hiking poles at the ready, we set off, towards the most commonly used trail. Another approach involves starting at McAlpine Bridge on the Okanagan River. It climbs 300 meters to the top of McIntyre Bluff. There are several short steep sections but it is mostly a moderate grade. For another time, perhaps!
Initially, we walked along a nicely tended, gravel path, past Pancho's Market, growing fields, of some sort, to our left and a very large expanse of vineyards, to our left, dotted with two-bladed wind turbines, there, I assume to protect the vines from frost, rather than to generate electricity. A fairly wide utility road, at the end of the gravel path, well marked by BC Parks signs, as well as signs to the U-pick berry patch, (Someone, [I cannot recall, for the life of me, who[m],{Please help, grammarians!}, it was!], mentioned they'd picked blueberries here this summer, takes one to the trail head itself. Luxuriating in the glorious sunshine, we continued on this dirt road until it branched to the left, noting the cluster of bee hives nestled against the deer fence.
Once
you have checked in at Covert, continue on the dirt road and follow the
signs to the U-pick berry patch. The road for the berry patch branches
off to the left; keep right and the sign for McIntyre Bluff trail is
within 100 yards. - See more at:
http://exploreoliverbc.com/blog/hiking-mcintyre-bluff#sthash.A2YogpxF.dpuf
Once
you have checked in at Covert, continue on the dirt road and follow the
signs to the U-pick berry patch. The road for the berry patch branches
off to the left; keep right and the sign for McIntyre Bluff trail is
within 100 yards. - See more at:
http://exploreoliverbc.com/blog/hiking-mcintyre-bluff#sthash.A2YogpxF.dpuf
Once
you have checked in at Covert, continue on the dirt road and follow the
signs to the U-pick berry patch. The road for the berry patch branches
off to the left; keep right and the sign for McIntyre Bluff trail is
within 100 yards. - See more at:
http://exploreoliverbc.com/blog/hiking-mcintyre-bluff#sthash.A2YogpxF.dpuf
At the end of the last row of vines a sign pointed us towards McIntyre Bluff. About 100 metres beyond we came to a gate in the fence, which numerous signs, affixed to a lower strand, warned was of the electric persuasion. This being the case, those not having hiked here before, were warned to stay well away. Taking the narrow trail, to the right, heading east, "carefully" following alongside the electric fence, we walked through sun dappled, light scrub pine. A relatively short distance on, the trail swings north and starts to climb. Quite muddy in places as the southern exposure receives the full force of the sun and its unobstructed rays had obviously melted the frosty, frozen ground.
As we trekked along, I mused, to Anthea, I believe, just how amazed I continue to be by the wonderment of these "hidden" landscapes. I've driven and ridden past McIntyre Bluff many, many times, but, once again, had had no idea, literally, not even an inkling of an idea, of what serene, majestic beauty lay above and behind 97. Simply put, another stunning world, just a spit or a stone's throw away for those fortunate enough to be in the know or to know someone in the know. Local knowledge, generous friends. What a heady mix!
Coming to an expansive, gentle slope at the top of the first, easy grade, our search for wildflowers, wild buttercups, in particular, began in earnest. We were rewarded by finding many of these early harbingers of Spring, the flora interested, reveling in the striking splashes of yellow, the cynics, such as Aarturo the Grump, harrumphing and grizzling about the fact that this was supposed to be a Boot Hike not a Botanical Society Outing! I, for one, relished these hardy gems, mirroring the sun above. Too tiny and fragile to pluck, (Not that I wished to do so anyway.), I was reminded of how my close friend, Alice Heuck, and I, on the hills outside my home in Mavrovouni, Cyprus, in the spring, would hold up larger versions of these beauties to our necks, to turn our throats into gold.
Once we'd had our fill of flowers, we continued uphill, making for Rattlesnake Lake. Soon there we stopped for a number of group shots and then the group bifurcated itself. Adventurous Al took some of us, clockwise, following a pine needle cushioned path, around the frozen lake, its edges being nibbled by the strong sun. The others, took the trail, on the east side of Rattlesnake Lake, leading, eventually to McIntyre Bluff itself. After we'd circumnavigated the small hockey rink, the group fragmented, yet again. Adventures Al wished to head for the approach to Keogan. Those who didn't agreed to meet back at the lake at 12:15 pm.
Waving goodbye, six of us, The Elite Splinter Group, (Gazelle Girl, Josinta, Maid Marian, Guillermo and Fast Freddy), continued to climb, across some fairly rocky slopes, through more small pines, across a teeny, tiny, burbling stream to achieve a series of fairly flat, slightly sloping, smooth surfaced, unbroken, for the most part, moss covered outcroppings. Wonderful, almost dazzling iridescent greens against the mottled black of the lichen encrusted boulders. More short, easy climbs to reach a small plateau where we ordered a quick lunch! Views afforded, in each and every direction were nothing short of magical. We could see where we'd parked our vehicles, Covert Farms spread below us; note the sun bouncing off the cliffs above Gallagher Lake; Tucelnuit an emerald, glowing to the southeast; Rattlesnake Lake to the north, back-dropped by freshly snow-covered hills. What a place to eat a simple sandwich.
Refreshed in body and spirit, we retraced some of our steps, making a fairly steep descent, at times, cross-country, for the lake below. Close to level ground, we intersected with the actual trail itself and came upon a fairly large, impressive stone marker, erected, a few years ago, I think, by Josinta, Aarturo, Big Al and others, I gather. Here we chortled and chortled and chortled as Jos gave us a brief history of its erection! Double entendres, (mainly involving Aarturo, as you might suspect, Dear Reader!) filled the bracing mountain air until it was blue! Holding our sides, as they were aching, wiping the tears from our streaming eyes, we stumbled the short distance to the shore of the pond to await our fellow hikers.
Was right on the dot of 12:15 pm but so sign of the rest. This being the case, Guillermo and I decided we'd make our way back so we bade fond farewells to our companions and headed downhill. Chatting all the while, we enjoyed the return leg, the remarkable landscape, the vistas, the phenomenal weather. at a certain point we decided to embark on a bit of creative blundering ourselves and left the marked trail, believing we could save ourselves some time and distance by following a ravine that we assumed would eventually take us back down the hill face to the electric fence guarding Covert Farms. In fact, this turned out to be just the case, although we had to do a bit of scrambling when part of the ravine was too choked with dead-fall and brush to make the going easy.
I thought we could skirt a rocky outcropping and led the way. A good choice, although not for the reason I had expected. Rounding a slight corner I came across a magnificent ram, the most stunning specimen of Ovis canadensis, the largest Bighorn mountain sheep that either I or Guillermo had ever seen, or been as close to, probably 50 metres from where we stood, transfixed. I half expected the majestic creature to bolt but he simply eyed us and then continued to munch his way, ever so slowly, up the slope, paying us little, if any, attention. Thanking our lucky stars for this gift, we soon found ourselves a bit north of the gate. However, after a bit of clambering, it didn't take us long to find the point of egress, passing the earlier mentioned bee-hives. This close to them the air was filled with a delightful, sonorous buzzing and few inquisitive insects flew by my head. I might be mistaken but I think that the funk of my perspiration soaked togs put them off!
Once
you have checked in at Covert, continue on the dirt road and follow the
signs to the U-pick berry patch. The road for the berry patch branches
off to the left; keep right and the sign for McIntyre Bluff trail is
within 100 yards. - See more at:
http://exploreoliverbc.com/blog/hiking-mcintyre-bluff#sthash.A2YogpxF.dpufStats for hike:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1060242989#.Vsu2aujDpqA.email
Hope all is well with you folks. Corinne, you are probably thinking about planning a SLAIS reunion? Jocelyn
How was Grandpa today after the tests? love to all
How was Grandpa today after the tests? love to all
Hi Jos; Thanks for the invitation! What a nice idea. Mar. 6 sounds good
except I will need to leave by 7pm because I am going to the ballet that
evening.... Pam
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