Landslide: Camping in Kelowna

We set out on our annual road trip last week, heading to British Columbia to visit children. We had the nicest weather on the drive out that we've ever had, although there is still a lot of snow on lower ground through the mountains near Calgary. Our first night, in Kinbrook Park, we parked by the marsh end of the lake and saw red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, a huge owl and a magnificent pheasant the size of a peacock. (Auto-correct insists we saw a peasant the size of a pea, but I assure you, it was a large bird with a blazing red head, not a wee humble rural folk hiding in the brush.)

There were no bear sightings, but there are many deer and antelope about along with three young elk at the side of the road near Golden.  That's where the landslide was supposed to be. I was rather excited, but the highway was pristine, although there were signs of a recent slide. We think of mountains, rock and stone as fixed. Those who travel or live there know otherwise. When the mountains speak, we do well to listen.

This morning, we hiked up  to the first level of Knox Mountain, which is a good walk for prairie people, let alone a 7 year old prairie dog named Morris. We made it up and back, went for a last coffee with young Mr. DD before he headed back to Kamloops and work. Young Ms. DD and her father hit the bookstore before we dropped her home and drove back just ahead of the rain.

A long nap for all of us, some spinning for me, and we're ready to head out again.

Namaste.