This week I hit the wall. Buoyed by my success on last week’s bike ride, I joined the main group on Thursday. We drove to Summerland and biked part of the dirt track that used to be the Kettle Valley Railway from there to about 10 km. south of Penticton, some 55km. return. Not a long distance, but as I enjoyed the view and the easy pedaling out, I remembered the expression that I had learned biking last year, ‘ faux plat’. This was that, which reminds me, ‘This is That’ is my favorite CBC radio program at the moment. Anyway, I knew the return ride would not be so much fun. We stopped for lunch at a beach on Skaha Lake, wonderful, and then rode back, not so great. I immediately noted that the wind had increased and was not at our backs. All went well, however, until the last 10 km. The ‘faux plat’ was now not in our favor. Because it was a railway bed, I know the grade was probably no more than 3 degrees, but that’s all it took to almost break me. The bed was loose gravel and sand, and my thigh muscles felt as if they were crystallizing. Half my water had spilled at the lunch spot and my mouth was dry. Fortunately, Colette, the sweep, who could have gone faster and Peggy who was happy to go at my speed stayed with me and I made it to the end. As the others ate ice cream cones, I gulped down a Gatorade and rested my legs, which felt fine after about five minutes. I’ve fallen in with a tough group. The hike last Sunday to the top of Enderby Cliffs was quite long and uphill, but the views were worth it and the temperature was not too hot, especially at the top where a cool draft blew up the cliffs from the valley.
Terry Keough was in Vernon this week for a family birthday gathering. He and his niece came for tea and strawberry short biscuits and thus became my first visitors of the summer season. Unfortunately, Kate and William will not be able to stop by this visit. More important, Jay and May won’t be coming in July. Although I’m sorry, I think their decision is for the best and look forward to seeing them in Korea this fall or more likely next spring. Terry took me, his sister Mary and another niece to lunch at White Spot, so I finally made it to the restaurant where Jo said the hamburgers are the best, but I didn’t have a hamburger. The roasted vegetable flatbread was too tempting. Now I look forward to seeing the Smiths in early August.
I spent the rest of the week watching Wimbledon, finishing up tax and health card ‘issues’, I hope, seeing what Vernon does on Canada Day and walking around my neighbourhood.
More of the roses in the garden. They are getting close to the end of their first blooming. I'm dead heading them in hopes of a second one.
If you click on this picture, you'll get a better view of the artistic pattern made by the farmer as he mowed the hay. There were a few such fields in the valley, but my camera has limited zoom capacity.
The view from the top of Enderby Cliffs with a wild flower called penstamin, I think, in the foreground.
Collette took this picture of me on her cell phone as we reached the end of the ride. It's not a clear photo, but I wasn't feeling too clear at the time either.
One of the most popular parts of the Vernon Canada Day festivities at Polson Park was this stand in the Mediaeval Village where kids could take 3 shots at 3 knights for 1 dollar.
A gallery near my house. It was not open when I walked by, but I took a picture of the sign because it reminded me of our www sculpture.
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