Big White and Kelowna

We take off on January 30 and head to Calgary. We fit in a couple of days of visiting family and do our NEXUS interview. We are approved.

On February 1st, we take off through the Rockies heading for the Okanagan. Roads are terrible. In fact, there are closures at Golden due to avalanche control and there are semis lined up along the road everywhere. We wait for about an hour and maneuver our way to as close to the front of the queue as possible. And then we are on our way. There are no passing lanes as the road is snow covered. We make it to Sicamous and stay the night.

February 2nd, we continue on for Armstrong to stop at my Mom and Dad’s graves. Must have been a bad storm because there are broken branches everywhere. We of course stop in town to purchase some Armstrong cheese curds and then on to Kelowna to grab a few groceries and head up to Big White. Staying at the Tamarack but walk down to the village area to check things out. We stop at The Woods to catch the Superbowl and are pleasantly surprised that this place has nice wine and decent glasses. Yay! We have priorities, you know!

The next few days we enjoy the snow and the skiing. We fit in yoga before skiing and enjoy lunches with wine. It is very relaxing, and we are on no one’s schedule but our own. Neil’s knee is hurting though. Ice, ice baby!!!!

Feb 5 We leave Big White and head into Kelowna to meet up with Joe and Shelley at the Royal Kelowna. We spend the next 5 days enjoying Kelowna, checking out restaurants (La Bessola, Oak and Cru, Raudz, Eldorado), wineries (Cedar Creek, Quails Gate) and checking out real estate. There are a few interesting properties but reality is we are not quite ready to take the leap. Joe tries to get us a discount in Oak and Cru by showing his SAXX underwear because the wine (Kitsch Winery) we are considering is owned by the former owner of SAXX , Trent Kitsch! WTH! Neil and I meet up with Grade 1 friend, Marsha which was fun. Lots of memories to discuss and catch up on our lives. Our last night is spent in our suite watching the Oscars.

Feb 10 Neil and I leave to drive back through the Rockies to Calgary. Joe and Shelley fly home. Number 1 highway much better third time. We stop at Lake Louise for a quick look. So beautiful and then on to Banff. We spend the night.

Feb 11 Today, it is on to Paul and Brenda’s on the west side of Calgary. There may have been a sabre lesson……… We have an awesome dinner with a few Opimian friends and a spectacular vertical tasting of Nota Bene from Black Hills winery in the Okanagan.