I have tried to start a routine of beginning my day with a bike ride for about 45 minutes. The evenings cool off and the mornings are the perfect temperature with the added bonus of peace and quiet.
Okanagan lake, north end of Penticton
I am not getting up with the sun, I just head out for a ride somewhere between 6:30 to 7:00. It’s surprising how few people are active, and how wide open the streets are. Fortunately I ride mostly side streets and along paths which are car free zones.
Okanagan Lake winter scene, statues of children playing
It’s the wild and crazy life of retirement, living in a small town. As I sit here typing in my back yard, there is a male and female deer standing 20 feet away under my cherry tree. They are actually washing each other which I haven’t observed before. They are fairly relaxed. Soon they will jump a fence and mosey on, but I know they will return. The male has young fuzzy antlers about 18 inches long, and big ears that swivel. Cute, but I hope they snack on raspberries and leave my tomatoes alone.
The last few days have had lots of moments like this, watching quail from this spot and their dozen or so of tiny cheeping offspring. The feet of them are a just a blur as they run along.
My little city of Penticton is small but it has everything, and being able to ride to two lakes (one at either end of town) is pretty cool. The closest lake, Skaha lake is just a few minutes away, less than two kilometres. The farthest lake, Okanagan lake, is about 7 kilometres and I can cycle there in about 20 minutes without working too hard. Click here to see a website about my little city.
My exercise benefit this morning was erased completely as when I returned home, I made blueberry pancakes for everyone. Everyone loved them, but I guess I made a few too many, so when everyone else stopped eating there were a few left.
I stepped forward, in true Superhero style, to save the day, and finished off those blueberry pancakes, after all breakfast is the most important meal of the day !
At this point my son with his usual humor cracked “not all heroes wear capes!”
That wit sparked my smile and this post.
Thanks for reading, comments welcome. Big thanks to the readers who follow me regularly, I appreciate it.
Life and Random Thinking 
Sounds like a great day. Hope your tomatoes stay unmolested by deer.
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Thanks Peggy, we complain a bit about the deer and then we miss them if we don’t see them for a week. They aren’t so bad but I do hope they will leave the cherry tomatoes alone because I enjoy them so much. The deer even stand up on their hind haunches so they can grab low hanging plums. I figure if they are going to eat plums they should learn to mow my lawn, they are already fertilizing it. 🙂
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Just an update Peggy, I have been observing one particular deer really enjoying a neighbor’s apricots that fall from the tree, the juice squirts out from the sides of the deer’s mouth but he loves it!
Yesterday my son observed a mature raccoon (mother?) and four smaller ones in our back yard up the plum tree. He got a video and they were cute, especially the small ones. They left by walking along the top of my backyard fence single file.
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i had a look around the town site. It looks like a great place to retire and enjoy life.
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I moved here to lead a quiet life and raise my family 27 years ago. It added years of health to my life.
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Hi. A bike ride to start the day is a good idea. But watch out for those pancakes. Too many too often —. Not a good idea!
Neil Scheinin
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It is important to support the pancake syrup industry, and I am a true humanitarian in that respect.
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Way to go hero man! I love to ride my bike in the morning, although for me, it usually means a 5:30 rise to get in a bike ride before work. I don’t do it often but when I do, I am always so filled with gratitude as I take in the quiet of a beautiful sunrise & nature awakening to a brand new day.
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I love the quiet of early and after dark rides . Thank you!
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Were the blueberries homegrown?!
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They were from Richmond just south of Vancouver
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When I buy blueberries in the grocery store I always try to get the BC ones, rather than the states. Support Canadian.
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I totally get that. In our own country we have certain fruits and vegetables that are grown in Canada, say peaches, blueberries, potatoes etc. I would prefer to buy Canadian apples when I can since I feel I am supporting a Canadian.
However I have no qualms about purchasing some fruits, bananas are a good example, that we just don’t grow. I personally am amazed how we can buy central American pineapples for a few dollars after they have travelled half a continent!
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The photos are gorgeous. I was visiting friends and doing some wine tasting on the Naramata Bench last week. Love my vacations in Penticton.
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It truly is a lovely city and moving here in 1992 I am sure added ten years to my life.
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That was a heroic sacrifice🤩
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I like the way you think 🤔
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I assume first run maple syrup? Sounds like a excellent breakfast for riding many miles David!
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We do have maple syrup, but we also buy pancake syrups from Summerland Sweets. They make tons of fruit syrups like pear, cherry, peach, blueberry and even saskatoon berry!
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Oh they do sound very tasty! We Canadians have maple syrup in our blood!…..and anti-freeze!
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I recognise those lakes! 🙂
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You made me smile! The Lakes are perfect for swimming now.
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Yes, they are. We have been a few times. 🙂
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Wildlife is beautiful!
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I am grateful to live in a small city, a momma racoon and four young ones were in my back yard plum tree. My son took photos, and they exited in a row walking on top of my fence. So cute when stuff like that happens. Thanks for visiting and your comment
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That is cute!
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