MORE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WHILE GEOCACHING

We headed off on another geocaching exploration drive yesterday morning.  Our target was Norwegian Creek Road, just east of Midway, B.C. about one and a half hours drive from Penticton.  We wandered up the road gathering geocaches as we went and stopping for wildflower photos along the way.  There was very little traffic so we had a close to nature experience for much of the time.

There are a few remote ranches along the road, some of them occupied and some abandoned.  The abandoned ones are often interesting with old equipment lying about.  Another thing that made the trip fun was that the road intersected with another road so were able to make it a loop drive.   We picked up 41 geocaches but there are still 162 hidden along those roads.

Since we were so close, we took a drive to Greenwood which is an interesting old town that hardly seems to change over the years.  Since it was time to head homewards, we pointed our noses westward.  As it was 29C down in the valley, we headed up into the higher country for cooler temperatures and took a side road off into the forest to have our supper alongside the road.  While sitting by the car in our chairs, just one car drove by.  We went for a walk along the road after eating and no cars passed us the whole time.  Another did go by just as we were ready to drive home.

We are still working on projects for our friend Karen, making sure we are paying our way for her generosity in letting us park in her driveway and use the facilities.  The other day Aileen and I spread five yards of mulch.  When we got home yesterday, another five yards of mulch had magically appeared so we’re not out of work yet.  With nearly ¾ of an acre, there’s lots of room to do things.

Canada Violet

Mule Deer

Scarlet Gilia

Columbine

Yucca

A creature crossing the sky.  Is it a dog or something else?

Brown-eyed Susan

Columbine

Penstemon

Scarlet Gilia

GREAT WILDFLOWERS COURTESY OF GEOCACHING

While geocaching in the hills above West Kelowna, we drove by some awesome displays of wildflowers in their natural environment.  The climax came when the walk to a cache took us through a wildflower meadow with many different flowers in peak bloom.  With just having my walk around Canon SX60 with us the first day, we went back another day with my Canon 6D full frame camera with a dedicated macro lens and tripod.  However, my iPhone 11 camera gave me some pretty good shots both days.

We continue to have a wet spring here in the Okanagan valley.  On the dry days we either work in the yard or go geocaching.  We have been able to help Karen fulfill some of her dreams regarding her yard and gardens so that makes us feel better about parking in her yard for so long.

One of the regular visitors here

This cow Moose crossed in front of us the other day up in the hills above West Kelowna.  She didn't want to stay and pose for a portrait though.

Indian Paintbrush and Larkspur

Indian Paintbrush

Arrow-leafed Groundsel

Fairy Slipper

Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars

Balsamroot, Larkspur, Indian Paintbrush and more

Lupines, Indian Paintbrush and a solitary Arnica

Indian Paintbrush

Balsamroot

Spotted Coralroot

Mountain Ladyslipper

Chocolate Lilies

Chocolate Lilies

Shooting Stars

One-flowered Cancer-root

Larkspur

Larkspur

Lupine and Indian Paintbrush

Wild Strawberry flowers

An Avens called Old Man's Whiskers

Shooting Stars taken with the iPhone 11

Balsamroot and Paintbrush taken by the iPhone

iPhone again

Another shot with the iPhone11 with Shooting Stars.  If you zoom in and look in the center distance, you can actually see the bottom of Okanagan Lake, the narrow strip that is Penticton and then Skaha Lake beyond.  It is about 43 kms to Penticton.  That's about 27 miles for those who are metric challenged.

Aileen spotted these Lupines while we were having lunch along an old logging road.  iPhone 11

WILDLIFE AND WILDFLOWERS ENJOYED

We drove up to Salmon Arm last Sunday and had a short visit with our daughter Bev.  First time we’ve seen her since last October.  She was headed back to northern Alberta Monday morning to go back to work.   It was nice to actually visit in person although we kept our distance.

On Wednesday, we took lunch and supper and finished the big cache trail we were working on up in the high country, gathering up 80 caches for the day.  We were pretty pooped when we got home after our 228 km loop, much of it on rough logging roads.

We are keeping busy here doing many little projects and some not so little.  The days are just whizzing by so I guess we aren’t too bored.   We walk up Penticton Creek most evenings and once a week or so drive just out of town and walk along the Kettle Valley Railway trail.  We seldom meet anyone but the highway noise is quite intrusive even though the highway is well below us.  Last night on our 8 km walk, we saw one regular bicycle and three electric ones.  No other walkers.

This semi wild stallion (I thnk they are owned by members of the local reservation) came charging down the trail toward us one evening.  He had been whinnying loudly in the distance and then after stopping here for a brief time went racing back up the trail.  A bit further he drove a mare and two foals across the trail behind us, charging downhill full speed.  It was quite exciting to watch!

A Western Tanager

As we were driving home from Salmon Arm the other day, we spotted this Phlox near Armstrong.

Mountain Goat

These six Mountain goats were right along the main highway about twenty minutes north of Penticton.  It is a busy four lane section of highway with no pull offs so I went back a ways and along a frontage road.  Then I scrambled up the steep bank and took my photos from directly across the highway from them.

They are pretty scruffy right now peeling off their winter coat

As we were leaving the goats, this Marmot was one of three sunnning themselves on the cement railing.

Whitetail doe spotted while geocaching

This Chipmunk was also spotted while geocaching.  One of the nice benefits of geocaching is the opportunity for photography.

The Golden Waterfall.  Penticton Creek flowing over the dam which is our turnaround spot when we walk up the creek.  The colour is from the tannin in the water with the sun shining on it.

Cedar Waxwing

Karen's yllow rose after the rain

Prickly Pear Cactus blooming in a yard we walk by

Wild Strawberry and Indian Paintbrush up in the high country while geocaching

Long-leaf Fleabane

Scarlet Gilia

Brown-eyed Susan

Brown-eyed Susan

Wild Peavine

Three young Squirrels rough horsing on our walk up the creek