Leisurely cycling is the way to go
If you love outdoor activities, last Friday-Sunday was exactly what you picture June in the Okanagan should be. A leisurely solo bike ride. Paddling with friends. More cycling, this time with like-minded friends.
On Friday, Constant Companion Carmen and cycling buddies decided to check out what she said was the more challenging bike paths in Kelowna’s Quail Ridge while the Sheriff opted for his favourite leisurely route from North Glenmore to downtown Kelowna.
The route is along one of the city’s best-kept secrets: Brandt’s Creek Linear Park, which meanders through quiet residential streets from the area of North Glenmore Elementary School to Summit Drive-Valley Road.
From there, a wide paved/concrete sidewalk-pathway on Glenmore Drive takes you to the paved Rails to Trails paralleling Clement Avenue, and then the Cawston Avenue cycle path to the Waterfront Promenade.
It transitions from a quiet backwater to a busy rail trail to a crowded promenade made more interesting by a fiddle-playing busker at the City Park entrance. Solo leisurely biking means you get to look around and enjoy the ambiance rather than focus on speed and exercise.
Saturday’s outing was with other members of the Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club during a weekend campout at Fintry Provincial Park on Westside Road. It’s only 34 kilometres north of Kelowna, but it’s on a narrow and winding road that demands a driver’s constant attention. Passengers get to enjoy the incredible panoramas if they don’t focus on the steep dropoffs.
The park has two kilometres of waterfront, ideal for a family weekend at the beach, while the paddling north and south varies from million-dollar mansions to quiet hillsides. It was an opportunity to demonstrate self-rescues and assisted rescues. And when we got back, there was a club lunch barbecue and evening potluck, ideal for socializing.
Sunday, Father’s Day, was perfect for cycling the closed (at your own risk) Okanagan Rail Trail from Oyama to Coldstream, lunch at the Rail Trail Cafe and cycling back along with several hundred other cyclists and pedestrians. Erosion control work continues north of Kekuli Bay Provincial Park, but no one was working on Sunday. It was just a hint of how busy this trail will become when it is officially open. No word yet on a date.
As a longtime horseback rider, the Sheriff agrees with Lake Country’s decision to ban horses from the trail. Steel horseshoes should be kept off this ultrasmooth (eight-times-packed) surface. It is a vast improvement from the rougher Mission Creek Greenway, where horses are allowed and where they chew up the loose gravel.
***** It was unexpected ,but welcome news when the 2018 property tax notice arrived from the City of Kelowna.
In a City Views newsletter which accompanied the notice, the parks department (kelowna.ca/parks) announced the reopening of the popular Ogopogo Trail in Knox Mountain Park.
“Hikers will enjoy upgrades including new steps, trail realignment, signage and benches. The trail provides a steep uphill climb, veering off Paul’s Tomb Trail to the east and leading to Magic Estates neighbourhood and the Pavilion Trail,” says the newsletter.
***** Twenty-three of 25 spots have been confirmed for the Big White Invitational Slopestyle hosted by Tom van Steenbergen.
Riders are coming to the Okanagan on July 3-8 after Crankworx Innsbruck. The roster is stacked with some of the topranked Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) riders in the world.
FMB No. 2-ranked Brett Rheeder, who now calls the Okanagan home, will be battling with No. 1-ranked Nicholi Rogatkin for the top spot on Big White’s new slopestyle course. Both competed at Crankworx Innsbruck, along with Anthony Messere, Simon Pages, Lukas Knopf and Erik Fedko.
The Bronze Open event promises to have some talented up-andcomers and riders. They will compete for a chance to ride alongside the best in the world.
While the Bronze Open will run on a separate course, the top four finishers will earn a wild-card spot for the Gold Qualifiers on the pro course. You can view the event schedule at bit.ly/2y82sit
Bike Big White is seeking energetic volunteers for event support, access control, course marshals, parking attendants, and food and beverage support.
All volunteers will receive a Big White swag bag, custom slopestyle T-shirt, a summer bike or scenic chairlift ticket, entry into the volunteer after-party and a chance to win prizes. You can sign up as an individual or a group.
The minimum age to volunteer is 16. If you’re under 19, you are required to submit a waiver by a parent or guardian on check-in before your first shift. To volunteer, go to signup.com/go/LeLViOS.
***** An unseasonal amount of spring snow plus rain had an impact on construction of the new gondola at Silver Star Mountain Resort. Originally scheduled to open on July 7, it will now begin operations one week later, on July 14.
“Our recent 30-centimetre snowfall followed by rain pushed our construction back about a week behind schedule,” explained operations director Brad Baker. “To ensure a safe and timely completion, we have decided to delay the grand opening festivities.”
The Grand Opening Beach Party on July 14 will offer free gondola rides, a free barbecue and kids’ activities. Detailed information is posted on the website, skisilverstar.com.
The resort’s bike park opening date was not affected by the weather. The park will open as scheduled today.
***** At their June 20 meeting, directors of the Regional District of Central Okanagan approved entering into an 18-month agreement supporting the bikeshare pilot program. Regional parks staff will work with the City of Kelowna and Dropbike Inc. to create bike-sharing locations within several regional parks including Mission Creek Greenway and Mission Creek Regional Park.
The regional board has given support in principle for a pilot program for a preschool to operate in a regional park. The nonprofit Clubhouse Child Care Centre proposes to create the Treehouse Forest Preschool that would operate weekdays within Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park for a three-year period.
With the board support, the centre plans to apply to Interior Health for a licence to operate the proposed school.
The regional board has also given staff the green light to submit an application to the Union of BC Municipalities for a flood mitigation project at Killiney Beach Community Park.
The $180,000 request to the Provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund — Structural Flood Mitigation Grant Program would see repairs made to the park boat launch, dock, foreshore, parking area and access road that were damaged during the spring 2017 flood.
***** A reminder that The Trail of the Okanagans will hold its annual general meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sage Theatre, which is located on the second floor of the Summerland Seniors Centre, 1283 Atkinson Rd.
Randy Manuel, local historian and former curator of the Penticton Museum, will present Paths, Trails and Roads That Opened Up the South Okanagan. Tim Dickinson, an ultra distance runner, will talk about his recent 300-kilometre run around Okanagan Lake.
“Have you ever wondered if you could walk or bike from Peachland to Kelowna? Or how about Peachland to Summerland?” asks society member Dianne Hayley.
“Not on the highway but on trails, quiet side roads, stopping at local cafes or pubs, staying at a lakeshore inn or a fabulous B&B, experiencing the beauty and history of our incredible valley. Now think bigger: what about a trail that connects all the communities from Osoyoos to Sicamous,” she said.
“Well, it is in the works. The Trail of the Okanagans Society, based in Summerland, in liaison with Gellatly Bay Trail and Parks Society out of West Kelowna, and the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative out of Kelowna, and all the others further north and south, are working together to make this happen. Follow us on Facebook under OKTrail for up-to-date information and to join this exciting project.”
***** The 2018 Okanagan Trestles Tour is on July 1. The event is not only celebrating Canada Day, but what has become known as The Great Trail.
“There is a lot of media and interest about rail trails in the Okanagan right now from tourism associations, trail groups, new rail trail groups and the province. ‘Cycling is the new golf’ has been the mantra lately,” says ride organizer Glenn Bond.
“Abandoned railway corridors hold unparalleled opportunities for cycling as proven by many rail trails around the world. Ride the Okanagan Trestles Tour and experience one of the most scenic rail trails in the world.”
Everyone involved in this oneday cycling event for all ages and abilities will receive a souvenir white-and-red event shirt with maple leaves proudly showing Canadian spirit.
The sixth annual Okanagan Trestles Tour will attract 650-plus participants from across Western Canada and beyond to ride the historic Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
There are three distance to choose from: 80, 40 or 20 kilometres.
“The ride is flat and two-percent downhill with incredible views of the Okanagan Valley,” says Bond.
As cyclists arrive in Penticton, they’ll be greeted by live music, a barbecue, wine, Cannery Beer and Okanagan Cider.
More information is posted at: okanagantrestlestour.com.
J.P. Squire, a.k.a. the Hiking, Biking, Kayaking and Horseback Riding Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend reporter. Email: jp.squire@telus.net.