I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars. -Walt Whitman, poet (31 May 1819-1892)
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The European fire ant collecting sugars from a peony. |
http://faculty.tru.ca/rhiggins/myrmica_rubra_index.htm
Contact:
Dr. Robert J. Higgins, Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 0C8, 250.828.5452 (office) rhiggins@tru.ca
Hi Patrizzia and The Grumpiest of Grumpy Winemakers! Trust all goes well with you two, family and winery! Sorry I've not been in touch sooner. No excuses but plenty of reasons, as I've so often rationalized! Celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary on the weekend of May 14th. Drove into Vancouver and had a wonderful, wonderful anniversary weekend. Party was on the roof patio at Chloë's loft and weather was perfect, unlike the husband, according to some reports! Fondestos from Lady Dar, still abed. When are you planning to visit? As mentioned, you are always welcome, any time. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Ragin'! Thanks for forwarding messagio! Much appreciated. Had a fab hike yesterday. (See below), and am off with Colonel Klink and her Babes to ride the bike path along the Okanagan River, just north of Oliver, to Osoyoos. We'll drive south to park near Tuc-El-Nuit Drive where there is a large lot to leave our cars.
This evening, hosting two tables of bridge. Have managed to find enough players, between hiking and cycling groups, so when you visit you'll have a chance to meet many of them. Not even having Jugos Dom Pedro, (or Molly Mop Waldron!), as he and Lynne are in Iceland, en route to a Baltic cruise, for next two or three weeks. Must away as I've a few things to do before I leave for this morning's ride. Cheers, Il Conduttore!
Hi Synchromesh Woman! Glad email address was straightened out! Fondestos from Lady Dar, still abed! Cheers, Patrizzio Pics: Tom Sawyer and her xeriscape garden!
Hi Perpetual Motion Woman! Glad you enjoyed snapolas. Trust colonoscopy went as well as can be expected. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Red Bench People! Thanks for the newsy message and great snaps! Glad the birthday celebration plans are going so well and that you had a congenial visit with the Woods. Sports injuries indeed! Bon Voyage on your boat trip! Sounds idyllic. Do hope we'll see you this fall. Chloë is driving up on Friday to house-sit while we are away, (Leaving on June 8th), in Winnipeg for The Durston's 71st wedding anniversary. Ayn will be flying up from LA but Chloë can't go to Falcon until late June. Travel safely. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Sunshine Valley People! Thanks for 1st anniversary of move message! We are still shaking our heads that a year has already sped by! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Luigi! Terrific to hear you are on the mend! I'll say hello to everyone for you and tell them you'll be back soon! Take care of yourself, Lou! Cheers, Patrizzio
Hello Artisanal Bike Riders of Black Sage Road! Just a quick note to thank Colonel Klink for arranging such a terrific outing and and offer an apology to Jos and everyone else, inconvenienced, by my premature departure from the Tucelnuit lot. Rationalization to be found below! Cheers, Patrizzio!
KVR, Tucelenuit to Road 22 and beyond, Field Report, May 31st, 2016!
Left for the Pooch Exercise Yard, (regular meeting spot), at just before 9:00 am, my Brodie on the bike rack, as I was going to ride the KVR, between Oliver and Osoyoos, with Colonel Klink and her Amazons. Josinta was already there, when I drove up, reading her bridge cheat seat, I was pleased to note. I suggested we put her bike on my rack and that she drive to Oliver with me. Did just that and we set off, following Eastside and ORR, to return to 97 just out of OK Falls. to rendezvous with the gang at the parking lot just a bit north of the start of the KVR trail
There were nine of us altogether and I was heartened to meet, Dave, Barb's husband, as one needs as much support as possible when dealing with The Sisterhood, as many of my regular readers will certainly know and understand! Josinta and I were the last to arrive so once we unloaded the bikes I snapped a group shot and we were off.Not having ridden this section of the KVR before I was delighted to be introduced to it. At this point it is paved and runs parallel to the Okanagan River, rushing along, the current quite strong and full. The day was glorious, sunny and warm, and one rides, often in shade of the trees lining the path, through half tunnels, catching glimpses of well-tended market gardens and vineyards to the west of the trail, the closer one rides towards Oliver.
The slight downhill grade makes it easy to whiz along and enjoy the lovely surroundings. Not long and we were in Oliver and after those of the weak bladder had availed themselves of the public facilities there, we left the KVR to make for Black Sage Road, to return via the KVR as the latter offers a far easier up-hill grade. I am very familiar with BSR, so understood the logic of the choice. At any rate, once we'd climbed the reasonably steep hill, just past the hospital, (Dave called it Hospital Hill!), which crests a bit southeast of Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery, the going is either downhill or rollingly flat.
Again, the superb, virtually cloudless day and the endless shamrock green of the vineyards, stretching out of sight, on both sides of the road, and the darker seaweed green of the pines, on the surrounding hillsides, combined to riddle us with delight whichever way we turned. While most of the party waited for the hill stragglers, I took off, trying to chase down Rapid-Fire Renée who was but a white dot on the horizon ahead. Aided by the fairly steep hill, just past
Montakarn Estate Winery, (A new place, for me, and one I'd dearly like to visit.), I managed to almost catch-up to her just before the first cattle-guard on encounters on this stretch.
Not for long, as Locomotion Martin sped away and I had to work like the devil to close the distance between us, doing so around Black Hills Estate Winery, where I pulled into the lot there, and circled to wait the rest of the group. Indomitable
Davies was the first to arrive and we both continued on until near Platinum Bench, Estate Winery & Artisan Bread Co., (Colonel Klink had mentioned, earlier, that the gang might stop there for a bite of lunch.), and since there was no sign of the peloton, Rogue Renée turned back in search of the lost. Compassionate Katarina did the same but I took the opportunity to explore one of the side roads, leading north, up towards the hills, between vineyards, sprinklers swishing over the rows to the southeast. Only went about a km as the pavement stopped near a large winery workshed, the dirt trail beyond leading into the vineyards themselves.
Once back on BSR I headed north but it was not long before the other riders appeared. Apparently Bat-out-of-Hell Hanneke's chain had come off and the party had been delayed until it was reattached. By the time I was able to turn around and follow everyone was gathered in front of the Artisan Bakery. I was more interested in exploring the rest of the KVR so waved goodbye and set off for Road 22 as I knew I would have access to the trail there. Found it without any difficulty and followed it for the short distance remaining. I terminates, after a km or two, at the edge of a narrow lagoon, a finger pointing north from Osoyoos Lake. Not having pontoons, I turned around and followed the fairly uneven surface, (a mixture of light sand, pebbles and small rocks), to return to Road 22.
Instead of continuing on the KVR I turned right and rode up the slight, short hill to the intersection of BSR and its continuation, to the southeast, Radio Tower Road. A large sign there announced a relatively new housing development, The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake, about 3 km on, so I wanted to take a look, given that the road was well-paved. Bit of a roller-coaster until I reached the development, still an active construction site, where I turned around. A number of large, threatening signs tell one: "No Trespassing. Private Indian Land", that the roads beyond were off limits, at least for me. Too bad as I was hoping to find a route all the way to Spirit Ridge. It probably exists but I'll need to ask at the office there to see what might be possible, passable, if at all.
At any rate, I retraced my earlier route and made it back to the KVR, heading north towards Oliver. The trail surface is quite rough, much like that beyond the Little Tunnel, on the KVR above Naramatia, easy enough with the reasonably wide mountain bike tires I had but still fairly slow going, not only because the grade is now slightly uphill but also because one spends much of one's time weaving back and forth, trying to find the best path, dodging the larger stones and trying to avoid the numerous sandy patches. Still, it is more than pleasant, in more tree tunnels, the river channel quite placid given the gentler gradient, closer to the lake, I suppose. By this time about thirty or forty minutes had elapsed since I left the Artisanal Bread Devourers and when I crossed Road 18, up from Platinum Bench on BSG, I assumed I might connect with Colleen's Colleens if they had chosen this route to return to the KVR, finally sated on horrendously expensive sourdough bread and local cheese sandwiches, not to mention bottles of their 2013 Sparkling Gamay Noir!
No sign of The Sisterhood, just many of the quirky, lovable, California Quail, couples, in the main, zipping, weaving and bobbing, in fits and starts, across the trail, to disappear, with a chirp or two, into the underbrush, from time to time, well ahead of me. Closer to Oliver, the trail is very nicely paved so it really is a more than wonderful ride from this point on, particularly for those recreational riders wanting a gentle, picturesque cycle. I know Lady Dar would enjoy the section between Tucelnuit and two or three km south of Oliver so plan to suggest we give it a try, once we are back from Manitoba.
Shortly after I started north on the KVR I began snapping pictures, on the fly, and as I left Oliver behind, I continued to do so, enjoying the gorgeous, surrounding hills and bluffs, and the river itself, whenever a break in the foliage allowed such n opportunity. By this time I was crossong the bridge to the parking lot I assumed Colonel Klink and her troop were already long gone. While there were a number of cars in the parking lot I thought they belonged to other people, here to ride the KVR themselves. This being the case, I loaded my bike and headed for home. Took 97 all the way to Penticton and was home, close to 2:00 pm, I think, no sign of Lady Dar. Had just zapped a mug of java when the doorbell rand and a much fussed and fuming Josinta presented her grim visage to me!
I knew she had placed her car keys and phone in the glove compartment when we left the Dog Pound but I assumed she had taken them with her when we started the ride! Unbeknowst to me, Marcia had suffered a fall, on the KVR, after lunch, a bit too, too tipsy from all the wine-tasting, and the delay caused by this kerfuffle contributed to the fact that I must have passed them, somewhere around Oliver, I can only speculate, while they might have been stitching and suturing the patient, and not seen the paramediscs, feverishly at work, stemming the flow of blood and picking gravel out of the road rash! Since I really haven't paid any attention the cars The Sisterhood drive when arriving at the usual rendezvous point, for earlier outings, I didn't recognize any of the vehicles in the Tucelnuit lot.
In the twinkling of an eye, I was transformed from being her favourite bridge partner into persona non grata, in the extreme, in Spades, so to speak, as she immediately demanded her possessions, storming off, in a royal huff, once they were clasped in her hands, like long lost children, to be chauffeured back to her locked vehicle, by equally Distressed Davies. Whow! Riding with The Babes has its challenges and dangers but well worth every minute of terror, dread an abuse, Dear Reader! So thanks, yet again, to Colonel Klink and her Comely Cohorts for the marvellous outing, although it ended in near catastrophe for some, Mangled Marcia and Jangled Jos. Cheers, Patrizzio, "Not often, but sometimes leaning towards repentence, yet trying strongly to resist the misguided urge to do so!" Map and Stats for ride:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1192935259#.V04WWPuQSUc.email
Hey Patrizo - thanks for reminding me about the tuesday bike ride. I had a doctor's appt but otherwise would have wanted to go. Oh well, next time! Guillermo
HI Patrick, I don't have a phone number for you! Jos is on her way to the dog park with Kathy. and you have her car keys and phone. Couls you please meet her at the dog park with stuff? thanks . It is now 1:50 and she should be there shortly! cheers, it was a great ride this morning! Hanneke
Hello. Would it make any difference if I came Tuesday instead of Monday for a visit? I was going to go to Vernon today to visit my sister and family and mother but there's been a death in the family (brother-in- law side) and everyone is in Winnipeg until Sunday evening. So, I thought I would make my visit with you guys on my way up to Vernon instead of the way back. In addition, I have to sign papers with the Notary Public on Monday afternoon re: sale/purhase of house(s). So I would then leave the following day; Tuesday. I hope this might work for you. Cheers!
hi Patrick, could you send me the link to your photo album from yesterday's hike as well to Tim. Here is his address. thanks, Norbert
Hi St Norbert and St Timothy! Great that we have so many saints in the hiking group! Here is what I sent out yesterday. Hope to see you both over the next few hikes. Cheers, Patrizzio!
great pictures; great afternoon; say hi to Clara and Dusty. see you soon; take care.
Good Morning Pat, Thanks for your newsy letter and pictures. Sounds like you are making the most of the wonders of the Okanagan valley. We're both feeling pretty good in spite of some recent setbacks. David needs minor surgery as a result of his operation several years ago. Just a night at UBC Hospital in June.
As both of us have some medical issues this year we decided to cancel our trip to the Baltic. No sympathy required as after much fussing about my heart and a change of medication they have managed to get me to a happier state. My energy level is up, balance is being restored, and I have access to the best cardiologist in Vancouver! I've been trying to get to him for years and actually feel quite relieved not having to plan a trip, let alone contemplate a 13 hour flight. I'm sure we will travel again and soon, but perhaps not as far. Cancellation insurance is sticky and has been a problem as I age. Don't think it will be a problem for you two though as there will be many seniors in your age group in a few years who will demand policy changes.
Our patio is beautiful and we will be using it as always. Have already when Pam visited for a few days. I am envious of your Mandevilla vine. (It loves heat like me.) Feel so lucky to have this environment. We're contemplating putting an electric fireplace in our family room. It would have to be a built in as our space there is limited. Cosier for the fall and winter. As you know I love a project just as you and Corinne do. Your home is lovely as is and I'm sure you will continue with upgrading this and that and the next thing for the future.
Have a fine time in Winnipeg with family. We would love to come for a visit with you again, but feel as of now a hotel would be the best for me. You have a great one just a few blocks away where we could indulge ourselves while still having a visit with you. Till July then. Nancy
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