Chipmunks like this are seen on Giant’s Head mountain in Summerland

Welcome to Life and Random Thinking

– the blogs I write are borne out of things people say, things I see, as a result I have categories on my blog like “Thinking Out Loud“.

I may need a new category for my blog named- “songs I wake up singing“.

It doesn’t happen every day or even every week but I regularly, but not often, wake up singing.

Today I was singing “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon when I woke up.

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I was up late last night,  tempted by my son I went out for a late night ride about 10 p.m. – we zoomed around town silently with our lights on our bikes. It was delicious, warm wind and it was probably 25 degrees.

Yesterday I was up at 5 am but today I lollygagged in bed until 7:30ish and when I woke up for some reason I was singing these lyrics.

They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah

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My earliest recollection of the Kodachrome song

would be I think when I was in grade 9,  maybe 1973? (I should check when this song was released, hmmm?)

In 1973 I lived in East Vancouver, I was attending Vancouver Technical High School.

Vancouver Technical

My home was on the top of hill on 4th Avenue, and my best friends John and Blaine walked together with me to school.  One of the small moments in time that I look back at now very fondly.

Blaine was the best at knowing about music and he knew the words to the song Kodachrome and I had memorized them as well. It was beautiful sunny day and I still recall walking along the peak of the hill, along Nootka street and then west on 5th avenue as we headed to school.

You know you have a special friend when they sing with you, and Blaine sang songs with me in the car and he played softball also.

A great guy. and I have posted before about those moments and you can click to see the post.

When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

Kodachrome

They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away – Paul Simon

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Photography of course has changed,

from very few photos being taken in my grandfather’s day who was born in 1914 and those were black and white. My Dad who was born in 1938 took photos sparingly and those are all so appreciated by us today.  Now today with digital photographs and everyone has a camera it seems everyone is taking photos with abandon.

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Below are some photos I want to share from a recent walk in the Okanagan where I live. I know you will love to the view, I certainly did – pretend you are with us ♥ It’s hot, so bring water. 🙂

This walk was on the east side of the valley on the old KVR (Kettle Valley Railway) trail. The tracks are gone but traces remain including the tunnels and trestles that are north of where I was walking – 23 trestles of all sizes in Myra Canyon and you can walk or cycle them.

This walk was just under 10 km to the tunnel and back and you can see we are quite high up and have a plane viewpoint.

Kettle Valley Railway Trail 

Here is a Youtube link of riding the trestles.

Definitely cycling the Myra Canyon is one of the secrets of the Okanagan that many people don’t experience.  I have even met tourists from Europe there however and they were loving the experience.

I added some captions for you on the photos and some links in the post for anyone who is interested especially international visitors, – happy trails!

Thanks for visiting- David

near the beginning of the hike before we got higher

my heart stopped beating while they posed and even now days later

At the mouth of cave looking down the valley, at the far end of Okanagan lake is Penticton. Sheer drop here !

I’m covered up to protect from the sun due to the meds I take.

Our group of five were getting tired by the time we reached the tunnel which was our 5 km turnaround destination.

North end of the cave and dear family

It’s like being in a plane up here, and so beautiful.

Looking down from the tunnel – way down there at the far end is Penticton, this is from Naramata and opposite from Summerland. Downhill basically all the way home, wahoo