Skaha Bluffs Heritage Hills Blues: Monday, May 16th!

I want people to talk to one another no matter what their difference of opinion might be. -Studs Terkel, author and broadcaster (16 May 1912-2008)

Up at 6:30 am as I'd had a wonderful sleep! Not that the beds, where we'd slept, over the weekend, (Inn at the Quay, Sarge's B&B), had been at all uncomfortable, but it is always terrific to be back in one's own bed! 

Hello Bluffsters! Thanks again for today's fab, fab outing! Especially to Frederick the Great and Sergeant Spumoni for their peerless leadership. Field report below, if keen to know what didn't really transpire! Cheers to one and all, Patrizzio! Field Report: Skaha Bluffs towards Heritage Hills.

Left home at roughly 8:45 am to rendezvous with my fellow Pentictonites at HH. Sergeant Spumoni was there when I arrived and Colonel Klink shortly thereafter. Spamela had been demoted as Chuckerini was to be co-leader today, and he, as the uppity Summerlandian he so well embodies, insisted on a higher rank and so became, in the twinkling of an eye, Frederick The Great! I was more than concerned that bloody internecine warfare might break out but both the current and former leaders took their advancement or demotion with good grace, neither crowing nor grizzling about the hand that Fate had dealt them! 

On the dot of 9:00 am, we repaired to our respective vehicles, (I with Guillermo and St Kilian, squashed, literally mashed painfully together, in the back seat of Sergeant Spumoni's Volks while Klinkenheimer lolled in the front seat, pulling rank on the canon fodder behind, almost certainly engendering a deep-seated desire for reprisals, of one sort or another, in the not too, too distant future! However, Gas Pedal Pamela had us to the lower parking lot of Skaha Bluffs, off Lakeside Road, at the top of Smythe Drive, before we could concoct our revenge. Once we'd extricated our Houdini contorted bodies from the car, we gathered our gear and were delighted to find that Jack Rabbit Gilliana was there, along with her daughter's lovely, adorable pooch, Nala. 

The goal, of the day's hike, was the trail atop the ridge which runs between Skaha Bluffs and Heritage Hills. It wasn't certain, at the outset, how far we would proceed, once as high as we were to climb, but we had complete faith in The Great Frederick so we set off, out hearts filled with hope, our heads held high, as we left the confines of the parking lot and made our way towards the start of the upward trail. Quite quickly we came to a small, easily forded stream, one in which Nala decided she'd rather bathe than cross. Quite contentedly she lazed and stretched and lapped in the shallow water waiting until everyone had passed and then she, and her mistress vaulted to the front of the column and set quite a punishing pace. Fortunately, we were on a well-worn trail, often level for lengthy stretches and only presenting a moderate grade when we climbed. As well, we were in a green tunnel, the pines protecting us from the direct heat of the sun so it was lovely and cool, almost perfect hiking conditions. Other than the fact that another hiker, across from us, on another trail paralleling the stream we'd crossed earlier, alerted us to the fact that she had seen a bear, apparently coming down the trail towards us. Aarturo, where are you and your incessant chatter when we really need you?

Fortunately, we didn't bump into the bruin other than in the many jokes that were bandied about, singling out those who were either in front or at the back of the line. For my part, I must admit, Dear Reader, that I felt quite pleased about the pace I had been able to maintain from the very outset. My legs and hips felt fine and my breathing was never really taxed. Whether it was the fact that the terrain was not as challenging, for most of the hike, certainly not on the climbs, such as they were, as on many earlier outings or that I'm starting to become a more efficient hiker is open to question. I now seem to be able to lengthen my stride, particularly on the not overly steep, downhill stretches and this allows me to stay in the centre of the pack, for much of the time, anyway, protected from a charging bear by those unfortunates, I dearly prayed, ahead or behind.
 
At any rate, I had been to this part of Skaha Bluffs on a hike here last summer so I was somewhat familiar with some of the terrain we crossed. Nonetheless, my breath was still taken away when we reached the top of an intermediate ridge and we were able to take in snatches of the glistening, mirrored surface of Skaha. Stopping here, for a few minutes to allow Nala to lap water from the small bowl Mistress Quickly had brought along and filled, for just this purpose, we then clambered up a few reasonably steep, but easily negotiated hillsides, passing, a gorgeous  wild rose, its blossoms a shocking pink, tinged with purple. The going was made to order, often on the excellent, comfortable trail but sometimes across and up forgiving terrain, whether rocky or covered with low scrub and spongy, tough grass-covered soil. 

Once atop the last ridge we came to a fairly large, more or less level, exposed area, backed by a rocky, heavily, spectacualrly treed bluff, edged to the west by a frighteningly steep cliff. Standing well back from the latter, rest assured, Dear Acrophobes, I could spy our Dinky Toy cars in the parking lot below, Mediterranean bluest of blue Skaha beyond, and then Mighty Apex and its snow-capped cousins, the manicured vineyards of Painted  Rock one of the few indications that humankind had insisted its puny self on this magnificent, mesmerizing landscape. Charitable Chuck called a tea break here and as we sipped from a thermos or slurped from a camel pack we further drank in the remarkable views. One, in particular, caught my eye, the ever-so delicate wind-blown patterns, seeming copper-plate etchings, on the otherwise almost completely smooth surface of quicksilver Skaha. 

After managing the first official group shot, studiously, maddeningly ignored by Guillermo, for all three takes, Sergeant Spumoni ordered us to pack up our dusty kit bags, (Many of the trails were surfaced with a thin layer of fine soil so puffs were raised with every step, the clodhoppers ahead raising, at times, a virtual sandstorm!), and we followed, Frederick the Great, further south along the trail until we reached another extended, exposed rocky ridge, this time the western edge leading to a cliff face, not quite as precipitous, for much of its length, as the earlier one had been, to the east. A rocky ledge ran across part of the clearing, comfortably back from the dizzying drop, and here many of us sat to enjoy our lunches. What a day! Sky was almost cloudless. What vistas! Penticton, Trout Creek and Naramatia cradling Okanagan Lake to the north, Blasted Church and McLean Creek Road to the south. Some of us sat in the sun, some, (Nala for one), in the shade but everyone charmed by the tranquility of the spot. Not even a breeze to rustle the leaves so the peace and quiet was unbroken, other than by the buzz of the odd skeeter or the flutter of the wings of the large butterflies which were so large that I thought that they were, in fact, swooping swallows, dive-bombing for gnats and such.

Paradise indeed, that is until Sarge decided it was time to put our feet to the test again. Before we set off, initially retracing part of our earlier route, I managed to cajole the troop into posing for another group portrait, Guillermo by now, forcefully brow-beaten into looking directly into the lens. History thus digitally recorded, Bad Boy took the lead and we were soon making pretty good progress, stepping lightly along the many well-worn trails which criss-cross this well used terrain. At one point, about four or five of us were ahead of the rest and we were whistled to a stop. Chuckerini, I believe, and perhaps someone else as well, Dorothea perchance, perhaps, had seen a bear crashing through the underbrush, making off in the general direction of the trail we were following. Proceeding with caution and making as much noise as we could we forged ahead. Again, no bear attacks and we were soon back at the upper parking lot, just one last short decent to the lower lot where we'd parked.

As chance would have it, Kelsey, the Robson's Iron Woman daughter, was just about to drive away when Jack Rabbit and pooch came down the trail leading to the car-park. It was a delight to see how excited Nala was when she realized her Mom was there to greet her! Thanking one and all, particularly Sargeant Spumoni and Fast Frederick for another truly enjoyable, mightily invigorating without being debilitating, hike, I snapped a few last minute shots and made my goodbyes. Many of the thirsty trekkers were off to the Kettle Valley Station Pub to soak their tonsils and tired soles in craft beer while I, for one, had field reports to write and fence painting to supervise. Skaha Bluffs, thank you for allowing us to enjoy your wondrous, wondrous offerings!  Map and Stats for hike:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1171546678#.Vzo-b6O7EfE.email

Hello Bridge Fiends! Lady Darjeeling and I are delighted to invite each and every one of you to play bridge, anytime after 6:30 pm, tomorrow evening. If we have enough players we can have two tables. If not, some of us can sip malt and offer informed bidding advice! At any rate, please let me know, as soon as you possibly can, if you are free and interested and we'll plan accordingly. You are on your own as far as din dins goes but nibblage will be served for them what might be a tad peckish after the adrenaline rush of bidding slams! Cheers, Three No Trump Patrizzio! PS: Nala is more than welcome so please bring her along if she is otherwise not engaged! 

Hi Patrick! Nice invitation. Count me in! Pam Thanks Patrick, Phil and I will be there after 6.30 tomorrow. Anything you want us to bring? See you all Gill 
Hi Spumoni, Jack Rabbit and Gap-Tooth! With you three we are guaranteed at least one table so we are ready to deal! Lady Dar is happy to read and wait on the needs of each and every player!  See everyone, (at least those who have replied as of this scribing), after 6:30 pm! Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! PS: Gilliana, you can bring Nala!

Tummler and Corinne, great party Saturday afternoon. Thanks. Fun to connect with all those people from your past. I trust the rest of your weekend and the return journey went well. Hope to see you in July if not before. Fond regards, W & J  

Hi Whirlygig and Calamity, et al! Great to see you, Giggster, and sorry you were not able to join us, Calamity. Pencil us in for the 50th! Had a wonderful, wonderful weekend, right from Thursday to Sunday, so feel very fortunate indeed, to be surrounded by such dear, generous friends. Thanks, of course, to Chloë, for hosting such a lovely, fun-filled afternoon and evening. Will be in touch, over the next little while, but unless you two plan to head back up to the Okanagan I don't think our paths will cross until Folk Fest weekend, mid-July. Until then, take care of each other. Fondestos from Lady Dar, just in from painting three more panels on the patio fence. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Dear Patrick, Corinne and Chloe Thank you for a lovely time at your anniversary!  Great to celebrate with you.  It was a wonderful time and
the venue, people and food was great.  Please thank Chloe for us as her work on this event was really evident. Safe travels to Penticton. As always Jo-Anne and Colin  

Hi Jo-Anne and Colin! Terrific to see you both at the bash! So pleased you were able to join us and thanks for wine, as well! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Patrizzio, Thank you for your email. Glad that Nele could join and have a good time with you all. Hope to join the hike one day again. Cheers Tanja

Hi Tanja! Do hope we'll see you back in Penticton, hiking or riding with us. Had a wonderful outing with Colleen and company today. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Hi Pat & Corinne - thanks for asking us to the party - it was good fun and good to catch up with folks. We have booked 2 nights at Tinhorn Creek - Thurs/Fri July 21 & 22nd. I've emailed my sister to see if we can hang with her on the following weekend the 23rd/24th. Would we be able to camp out at your place on the Monday/Tuesday the 25th/26th? If my sister is a no go on the weekend would this be possible for you guys? See you at the Folk Fest....P & JHi Paul, either two days are fine. Just let us know what works. It was great that you could both be at the party, See you soon! Best Corinne Great - I'll confirm after I hear back from my sister. Cheers....Paul 

Hello gang of bridge, Just got back, and feel I have to skip bridge tomorrow night. Knowing there is a new bridge line-up at Burnstreet, success is already guaranteed,and I will be bait for next round. Will see some of you tomorrow morning for our bike ride. Cheers, Jos, with the wrong readers. PS Corrine can you please check if you found my readers, with the full brown frame.The ones Patrick gave me are not mine, black frame with brown legs,and probably yours☺
I'm starting at Hillside winery and go back along KVR to meet you guys
see you Gill I'll have the spoons Hanneka!! Thanks Gill! See you tomorrow!
Hanneke