Aylmer Express "MoHo" Extravaganza 2006

The Okanagan Valley was waiting for us so we set off reluctantly from Revelstoke. I would have loved to have stayed a little longer to do more biking and hiking around this beautiful area. Our drive out was filled with even more picture-perfect mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers. One thing I wanted to do on our way out for sure was to stop by to visit the place where the “Last Spike” was driven into the railway that finally connected Canada from ocean to ocean. It still seems unbelievable to me today to think that this could have been possible in 1885. I am sure the last spike is long gone by now but there is a nice monument erected that commemorates the place where it happened. Apparently this place was not chosen ahead of time as the ceremonial place for driving the last spike, rather, it just happened to be the location where the railway crew from the west coast ran out of materials. So, not surprisingly, it is right beside a train track. And we were there as the special passenger train for seeing the Rockies, the Rocky Mountaineer, passed by slowly giving all aboard a chance to take a photo. Someday I hope to be able to take the trip through the Rockies by train. It is something I know my mother would have loved to do but did not get the chance to. And it would certainly be much less stressful that driving a 50-foot vehicle train of my own up and down the hills while also trying to take in the gorgeous scenery.


After that it was on to the Okanagan Valley. This has got to be one of Canada’s best kept secrets. As the Rockies trail off to foothills (but pretty good sized foothills!) they surround some of the most lovely lakes. The highway winds its way around it all with wonderful views all the way along. As the long weekend had come to an end we thought we would have no trouble getting a campsite. That was not quite the case. However, we did find a suitable location that was situated in a picturesque fruit farm area which was quiet yet also very close to the city. We arrived in Kelowna in early afternoon so we decided to jump in the car and head downtown where we heard there was a nice boardwalk along the water. It was definitely a nice hot day but I was not prepared to see the prima facie evidence of a “38” staring me in the face from the dashboard thermometer on the Matrix. That is nearly 100 F! Holy hotness! I didn’t even know the thermometer in the car would go that high! When we got downtown we did find a beautiful waterfront and we biked our way all along. We had some stops at the public water play area for kids … and adults. We also popped in to the regular park to try out the hang & glide thingee (see photo for a better description). Lots of fun and just enough danger to keep you on your toes. We capped it off with dinner on a lovely patio over looking Okanagan Lake. It is a beautiful area and Kelowna certainly seems like a very nice city. I am looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Today’s word:

prima facie \PRY-muh-FAY-shee; -shuh\, adverb:
1. At first view; on the first appearance.
2. True, valid, or adequate at first sight; as it seems at first sight; ostensible.
3. Self-evident; obvious.4. (Law) Sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved.