I had an exhausting ride a few days ago with my son. I loved it, all three or so hours of bike riding in July heat.
So many trails here but I chose to ride a trail I haven’t ridden much for years, the KVR.
The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) is on both sides of the Okanagan lake. Penticton (where I live) is the converging point which the train passed through before continuing either east or west.
The east side of the lake is easier to ride as the trail is much better maintained and the one I have ridden mainly for the last decade. A few days ago I rode the west side where the deserted trail winds up north towards Summerland before heading to the coast.
I hope you have 120 seconds time to read my previous post which highlights the little tunnel on the west side of the lake. LINK HERE The view is amazing, it’s like being in a plane and so pretty – a long long ride but worth it.
On the west side of the Okanagan lake the trail is also very pretty but sandy and hard to ride with my skinny bike tires.
Fewer cyclists on the west side lead to my being surprised by the stripe of a chipmunk tail and he scampered along the trail ahead of us, tail held high! ♥ And then another♥
Also were many quail, they are prolific near my home but it always squeezes my heart to see the first born. They seem to have them by dozen and they aren’t much bigger than puffballs.
My destination on my recent ride was Summerland,via crossing the highest trestle bridge on the KVR. Then just a hop skip and a jump (very near ride) to Summerland Sweets (fruit treats of all kinds and pancake syrups) for an ice cream cone before turning around and riding home.
Our timing must have been perfect as we arrived just in time to see the steam train, hear the whistle blow and we hustled across before we got stuck on the wrong side which meant no ice cream. 🙂
I slept well that night and we drank all the water we had!
If you come to Penticton – enjoy the train and trout creek trestle whether you ride there like we did or not. Plus if you love pancakes – visit the nearby Summerland Sweets – explore the store and rest your feet in the shade with your choice of ice cream flavours. Yesterday Dave had mocha chocolate fudge and I had root beer float !
Thanks for dropping by! 😉 hugs – David
PS – here you can view the trestle from the air – Youtube link
Life and Random Thinking 
What a glorious day for a glorious adventure, David. Thank you for sharing your beautiful part of the world with your readers.
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Thank you Jane, it was a glorious adventure, and the perfect coincidence of the train whistle announcing our arrival was the whipping cream on top for our arrival there. We ride the train annually for my son’s birthday in August, and last year we did the Christmas train. Next week we will attend a train robbery bbq on the train – there will be a sheriff on board and saloon girls – the garnet gang will arrive on horseback !
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Oh my gosh, David, the train robbery BBQ sounds like piles of fun. What a hoot!!!
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I am looking forward to it Jane and my grandson (11 months old) will be wide eyed at all the action. I hope the noises don’t startle him. ♥
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Awww, nothing better! 💕
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What a great day out in such a beautiful part of the world.
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Thank you Darlene, it is a lovely spot with lakes and forests. Many fires in Canada right now and sometimes we have heavy smoke in the valley but today the skies are blue and we continue to look for rain which is the best “cure”.
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Even here in Spain, we are hearing about the forest fires. Stay safe.
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David, I’m so happy to read and SEE the adventures shared with your son! And….everything is better with ice cream! I absolutely love trains! Such wonderful memories! The title says it all—but your smiles wrap it up nicely! God bless you, David. I’m glad to “see” you (email and I are very behind). Thank you for inspiring us!
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Hugs Karla, I am warmed inside to see your comment. This train doesn’t travel far but it is a steam train and it has a sweet charm to it which I know would embrace you. These moments to me are the most important. I celebrated my grandson’s 11 month anniversary – he has big blue eyes and he smiles happily when he sees his pop pop.♥
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Aww! I’m sending you hugs back, David! Such a precious little sweetie you described! I’m so happy to bhere today and I’d definitely embrace the sweet charm of the train. I love them! Many hugs and blessings!!
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Hope you enjoyed your ice cream! What a fun way to spend the day.
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Thank you Pooja – I felt like it was earned. We sat on picnic tables outside and enjoyed it in the shade. We managed to resist the other treats inside♥
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Definitely a well earned treat. Sounds lovely 🙂
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💗
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Thanks LA, you probably would enjoyed the trail – all in the shade and looking way down at the blue lake. Very quiet and relaxing.
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What beautiful views you were able to enjoy. I must try the pancakes next time I’m in Summerland. 🙂
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I think you will like the spot Debra – we always take guests to Summerland Sweets ♥
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To perfect timing and ice cream!
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Thanks Crystal – a toast I can relate to! ♥
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What a ride! And the perfect title to go with it. Thanks for taking us along!!
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The tiny quail are the cutest – thanks for joining us!
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The ride sounds exhausting, but worth it from several perspectives. BTW, in the mountains of northern New Mexico, I have seen many more chipmunks this year than usual.
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I do like chipmunks also, for the first time in 30 years I saw one in my neighborhood. Also worth mentioning were the two spotted baby deer just down the street this morning and my son also spotted a grey heron – it wheeled ahead of us today and landed in a closeby oxbow. Thanks Linda for commenting, I really appreciate it.
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Hi David,
I don’t get tired of looking at the picture of your amazing piece of world.
I plan on one day visiting it. Michael and I were watching a show about restaurants the other day, and it mentioned the Okanagan Lake, and I immediately said: that has to be near where my friend lives.
The Netflix show is called Restaurants on the Edge and this episode was about a restaurant called The Outboard Waterfront Pub.
Stay happy and keep enjoying nature!
Blessings!
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TGIF – Toes Go In First (and the other one also!) Thank you for your comment, I always have a big smile on my face reading your comments. ♥ I looked up the restaurant you mentioned as I had never heard of it. My city sits between two lakes and is about 7 km long. The north lake is the Okanagan lake. My recent post about Summerland was my road trip along that lake. The Okanagan lake stretches from Penticton to Vernon which is about one hour and 45 minutes drive away and that is where the Outboard Waterfront Pub is. No wonder I haven’t been there but it must be nice! Hugs and take care! I hope you visit with Michael.
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I will definitely be visiting 🙂 A road trip along the lake seems wonderful!
The series was done in 2019 and 2020.
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They closed for the winter in September 2021 and then made it for good. I am planning a trip up the valley to the Shuswap area – my son and I later this month, only for three nights but it will be fun.
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BTW that pub is now closed, the owners had two other businesses so they are concentrating on those instead. I wonder what year that Netflix was done?
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That sounds awesome, and 3 nights is probably enough to recharge – post pictures!! I will be going to Iceland for a few days next week – I cannot wait. I hope to remember to take pictures – yours are always so great!
Have a great time!
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Iceland will be fun. My daughter and son in law went and then on to Paris! I hope you have a smooth trip and enjoy!
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