Wednesday, July 11, 2007

I can’t mention enough times how damn hot it is here. 35 degrees is the norm this week. Today was about 36. Tomorrow 38. 40 by Friday. Can you believe that?

With this heat, I could think of no better place to go than into Canada’s only desert. Hey, it’s only 36. If I wait it’s just gonna get hotter, right?

I decided that my destination would be Oliver, which is about 19km north of Osoyoos and the home to many fine wineries, a few of which I detailed on Day 5’s Notes. I got a late start at about 1:30 and headed south. When I got to Penticton, I left the major highway and took a side road called Green Mountain Rd. This was a significant departure but riding is so much better on smaller, secluded, meandering roads than major highways that are bumper to bumper with traffic.

My diversion paid off as the ride was spectacular. I rode out of the Okanagan valley into a forested area towards the Apex Mountain Ski Area, and eventually onto Hwy 3A that goes to Keremeos. I headed back toward the Okanagan on 3A, and veered off on another tiny road called White Lake Rd, which would take me right through the desert into Oliver.

What a beautiful scene. First of all I should mention that I was sweating like a pig and drinking a lot of water on this trip. It was really, really hot. There’s a reason it’s a desert. This road was nearly completely deserted and the landscape was very barren, I haven’t felt this free for days. Reminded me of the Saskatchewan prairie a bit. Flat land, road, more flat land. The exception is that there were mountains in the distance. I stopped frequently to take in water and each time I would have to make sure there were no rattlesnakes nearby. They are a hazard here.

By the time I got to Oliver the awesome ride through the desert completely overshadowed my desire to visit wineries, and I had even arrived after most of them were closed. I did get to visit Hester Creek and Tinhorn Creek Wineries though. Both were simply ok, not out of this world. At Hester Creek I was more impressed with the service of the hostess, and was angered at the couple barking orders at her like she was some slave servant. That really pisses me off. Fucking manners please.

Anyway, I bought a bottle of Trebbiano from Hester Creek- a wine that was imported from Italy 30 years ago and is unique to this winery. Very light, would be good with spicy asain food. At Tinhorn Creek I took a bottle of their Gewürztraminer. It was the best of what I tasted.

The ride home was long, as by this point the heat had gotten to me and I was pretty worn out already from the ride down. I was so impressed with the side roads on the way down that I took them on the way back. By the time I got back to Kelowna it was nearly 8 o’clock and I crashed on my bed. Two hours later I needed to get up to eat dinner, and it was wing night at the Creekside Pub…