Crowsnest Highway and Okanagan Road Trip
Okanagan Lake north of Penticton in British Columbia, Canada
Crowsnest Highway - The Okanagan - Carl’s 50th - Visiting Friends in Vernon
It is all Carl’s fault as he turned 50 last month. Carl and I have known each other since 2008 when we met at the Women’s World Cup Curling Championships in Vernon. We are not curlers but both strutted our camera gear at this event.
Since then we have shared many photography adventures, namely covering triathlon and marathon running events in the Okanagan and in Seattle.
The mountains along Crowsnest Highway near Hope.
Nikon F3 HP, Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs
Ilford Delta 100
Crowsnest Highway
A visit to see Carl and Alana in Penticton was overdue and I was excited to hit the road. I picked the Crowsnest Highway as we rarely travel this route. Rain unfortunately put a dampener on things for the majority of this stretch.
I did pull over at an old gas station and found two or three old cars to photograph. No one was around until a lady crossed the road with a dog asking me what I was doing? I held up my cameras and she nodded, smiled, and moved on.
I could have spent more time in the small town of Hedley as it looked like there would be plenty to photograph but left it at one or two captures at the old wooden church along the highway. I was on a timeline.
Keremeos
As I approached Keremeos the clouds broke and the most beautiful spring sunshine painted the town and I took quite a few shots. Countless fruit stands line the main road in this quaint old town with surrounding hills as a dramatic backdrop.
Right along the highway, I spotted an old car in its final resting place, rust showing everywhere. The gorgeous light made for a perfect scene and the Elks Motel just begged to be photographed.
The Okanagan Valley
Known for its warm and dry summers and rolling hills it is always a pleasure when we enter the Okanagan. We have lived in Vernon in the North Okanagan for more than twenty years and as soon as you get close, even while driving, you begin to sense the smell of pine. Wonderful.
I stopped along the side of the road and took a few shots in the Marron Valley, Kaleden, and finally Penticton while I realized I was an hour late for Carl’s birthday. Too many photographic distractions along the road and I lost the track of time.
Birthday and Drones
Alana had prepped quite a spread for Carl’s 50th and it was good times for sure. I got to meet many of their friends and it was especially rewarding to meet Carl’s parents from Montreal.
Alain, Carl’s dad, and I share a passion for photography and I have a story in my Fujifilm X-Pro1 review about Carl’s dad when he had my X-Pro1. When he learned I was interested in getting it back he never hesitated.
Carl’s new passion is all flying drones and on the morning after the birthday party, we flew two drones at a nearby park.
Friends in Vernon
It would not be a real trip to the Okanagan without a visit with our good friends Dagny and Philippe in Vernon. I spent three days with them catching up, and doing a bit of work on the blog at the same time.
The Okanagan was already warmer than Vancouver this time of year, so I enjoyed slipping on a pair of shorts and putting on my shades. We had drinks in the sun in the backyard and it was good to catch up with Lionel and Ragna (Mormor) at the same time.
Being spoiled while at Dagny and Philippe’s in Vernon
Nikon F3 HP, Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs
Ilford Pan F Plus
Cycling, Vernon to Armstrong
One of my favorite road cycling loops takes you along country roads from Vernon to Armstrong where you stop for an obligatory coffee before heading back to Vernon again. It is about a 26-kilometer loop (16 miles) which is not too bad face a relentless headwind heading back :)
Phillipe and I did the loop and it was just magical to be out there after the persistingly cold spring we have had in Vancouver.
Morten and Phillipe, cycling selfie
After feeling slightly cooped up over the winter and spring seasons it was so good to change scenery and always wonderful to hang out with your friends. Here’s to more travel.
The photos in this post are made using the following photography gear.
Links to my reviews:
Fujifilm X-Pro3
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR
Nikon F3 HP
Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SL IIs
