Beautiful British Columbia
Back on the road and bound for British Columbia we soon hit some areas on the highway that are sporting a pretty decent coating of snow. It’s at about this time that we feel some fairly savage jolting happening behind us and Dave is forced to jump out and have words with Dola, who is desperately trying to jump off her trailer and go for a roll in her powdery-passion. She needs further convincing, and the whole team ends up having to jump out and make sure she fully understands the ramifications of removing herself from the trailer. When we finally do, a pouting Dola is until we hit Revelstoke.
Revelstoke is where we choose to stop for lunch. Wanting to check out the Great White North, a sweet dining spot on the highway that is owned by some ex-Whistlerites, we’re disappointed to find out that it doesn’t open until 4pm. Nonetheless, it offers chance to shoot Dola next to Smokey the Bear, and as I bolt to capture that money shot, it’s soon evident who it was that my team is really wanted to leave behind… As they scoot off, leaving me stranded, I start dialing the number of one of my friends who lives in town. However, I guess guilt gets the better of Dave, and he grudgingly returns to get me. But we can’t blame Dave – there are no prizes in guessing who REALLY instigated the ditching.
As we neared Kelowna, we realized the hotel we were booked into was a substantial distance from where we were holding our PEAK 2 PEAK Party hosted by Kokanee Beer that evening. Immediately Mich is on the phone, working her magic, and securing us media-rate rooms at the far more convenient and spectacular Delta Grand Okanagan! Nice job, Mich… Nice job…
The Kokanee party that evening kicks off with a bang, with a huge attendance of the Doppelmayr family coming out to celebrate, along with some old Whistler friends. Dola is invited to the event, as the kind manager, Nick, managed to save her a spot directly in front of the bar. And Dola is now officially a huge Hairfarmers fan. She wanted to tattoo their names onto her side, but we told her that maybe when she got a little older we could consider it.
When you’re on a roll, why – at this stage in the game – change?… Toaster-time that morning means that once again the monkey doesn’t make breakfast hour, so following the rest of us enjoying a lovely buffet, we grab him something from the deli and pile into Gus – bound for Quails Gate winery. And what a spot they have! With extensive views of Lake Okanagan, and fields of lush, green vines, Cat is wondering why it wasn’t here that the team had opted to ditch her, as this is a spot where she could quite comfortably stay… But alas – they decide to keep me, and as we make our way back on to the highway, the thought of our next stop comes as a bittersweet realization…. Vancouver, here we come!
