West Side
Okanagan Lake

July 2004

I feel like an explorer.

There is nothing I like more than getting into the car,
or onto my bike, and wandering around an area for
hours. I stop often to take photos, but not as often
I should.

Here are a few photos of the West Side, running
from Vernon, all the way to Kelowna. It was an
overcast and windy day, but full of beauty just the
same.

 

A little store at the campsite entry.

I left Vernon, headed north, then west towards
Kamloops for ten minutes or so, then I turned left
on Westside Road. On the right I passed the Band
office, welcoming me onto Native territory.

First stop at the north end of the lake, was a camp-
ing ground, full of families and children, making life long
memories and learning about the outdoor life. This
brought back summer memories for me. Kids running
full tilt in wet bathing trunks, and parents making hot
dogs on their bar-b-ques.

 

Inside the little hut on the waterfront, this gal was
selling slushies, and collecting camp fees.

 

Ten minutes further up the road and still on Indian
land, we find a Chinese restaurant.Only in Canada.

 

Another few miles up the shore, we find Parker's
Cove. This is a gated community with some nice
middle class homes, and a quiet beach for the
residents. A little too sterile for me, but handy and
convenient all the same for the right people.

 

This is the beach in Parker's Cove. It is isolated,
peaceful, and secure.

 

Looking right across the lake, we can see very expensive homes that are
just a few miles out of Kelowna.

 

The road begins to rise, and we leave the Indian land behind us.
The view becomes spectacular, and the price of real estate soars.
(Who's that good looking devil with the cheesy straw hat?) Just
another tourist that can't afford to buy anything!

 

I have trouble focusing on the road, because the views are so
stunning; not a good idea when there are logging trucks racing
as fast as they can to earn their bread.

 

Several times I drove down the hills to the shore to check out the
communities. I think this place was called Fintry... home of the Fintry
Queen paddle boat?

 

This is what I call a 'BC truck'. Because they have never used salt
on their highways here, many old vehicles have survived. Back in the
80's, you saw a lot more old cars and trucks, but they have been
snatched up out of the fields and barns, and been sold on E-bay I
suppose! This one is a beauty... saw it in Fintry.

 

Now we are so high up, it feels like we are taking
aerial photos. We are a few miles from the Okanagan
Resort.

 

First we come across a terraced point that is created to park
motor homes. It is called La Casa, and the view is amazing.

 

It's all new. They are watering the new grass, but they do have a
few residents for the summer, probably from Vancouver and Calgary.

 

Here is the main restaurant.

The Lake Okanagan Resort is built on a very steep shore. They
have a golf course that would get me into shape.

 

They also have this house boat parked at the dock below

 

As we approach Kelowna, I spotted the last ferry still running the lake
for tourists, I think this is called the Fintry Queen, if memory serves
me right, and it may not be!

 

After passing Bear Creek Provincial Park,
we see a log boom on the lake.

 

The town of Westside is growing fast, but the bridge has remained the
same, despite politicians promises over the past decade. I get lucky tho,
the traffic is light heading over into Kelowna.

 

This is just north of Oyama, heading back to Vernon to complete the
circle. The sun has emerged from the clouds, painting the landscape
with brilliant colours. It is difficult to keep your eyes on the road in the
Okanagan.

 

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