Back to Kelowna

Okanagan Lake from Maud Roxby Wetlands Boardwalk

Back in Kelowna again.  Didn't we say we hated Kelowna after spending a week here in September for the Seniors' Games?  Suckers for punishment, we were back so Leo could run the Okanagan Half Marathon.

Turns out traffic's not nearly so bad when you're not crossing the bridge at rush hour with all the local workers and an additional 4000 senior athletes heading to their sport venues.  Plus we stayed right off Harvey Street and within walking distance restaurants, shopping and the race venue downtown so less driving was required.  And out we had some Airmiles so we stayed practically for free at the Kelowna Inn and Suites, a cut above our usual cheap mom and pop motel.

We've been to Kelowna many times before so we searched out some lesser known parks to visit on Saturday.

First off we headed to the Maude-Roxby Wetland in South Kelowna.  It was a challenge to find the entrance since Google Maps sent us to a locked gate on a private driveway.  But a little extra walking rewarded us with a little gem, supposedly the last remaining piece of wetland on Okanagan Lake in Kelowna.  (Actually there's another very nice reconstructed wetland located on the waterfront right downtown near the big Delta Hotel and the casino.)

There weren't a lot of birds around in late October, but in the spring I imagine it is full of ducks and warblers.

Next it was on to Father Pandosy Mission, the first non-native permanent settlement in the interior of BC.

It's a low-key heritage site with the original log cabins and a few more from the area moved on site.  We were the only people there.  You can go inside the buildings which have been furnished with period furniture.

As well, there's a fair-sized collection of horse buggies and farm machinery to check out.

We took the obligatory selfie: