August - Part One (Wine Tours).

If you haven't already, please go back to the previous posting for July 31st!!

I can almost hear you all. "Oh sure she's going to post right away"...Ha, fooled you!

Carrying on into August. Yes, you got it, more camping adventures. That's because that's pretty much what entertains us, keeps us having fun with family. We love it. As if you haven't figured that out yet.

Onward....

All the boys needed aprons for model building, painting etc. Holden wanted to model his. It was fun cracking out my sewing machine again.

We left the Lower Mainland to head back up to the Kootenays again. This time we decided to take a few extra days and stop at one of our favourite "RV" spots, Riverhaven Motel and RV in Hedley BC. 

Check them out!! https://riverhavenrv.com

We don't often take a full service site but this time since we were staying for the extra few days we decided to "spoil" ourselves. We are planning on a few days of wine tours in the Keremeos and Cawston area of BC. Can't wait!

Walkway down to the river. 

Smoky skies due to the wildfires

Park did almost fill up. 

There are about 20+ RV sites available.

Unfortunately there are a lot of wildfires this time of year in BC. It is becoming known as "wildfire season". Sad. Seems this is the way it will continue to be over the summer years. It's not a matter of "when or if it will occur" but rather "where next". You will notice in many of the pictures of our wine touring a lot of smoke in the area. Many people canceled their plans for this area at both Riverhaven (that is why it looked a little empty when I took the above picture) and throughout the wineries. Everyone was SO happy that we came. They all still rely on the "tourist dollars" and it has been an exceptionally hard year for them because of the fires. To be clear, the fires were never closer than 100 kms from us but the smoke drifts with the wind...

Just an example of what we drove through in

Manning Park to get to Hedley and Riverhaven.

Thurs Aug 6th - Let's get this party started!

Always have to start our day at The Ranch. 

Very old-school diner in Keremeos. 

After a hearty breakfast we walked through a bit of Keremeos. Such a cool little town.

Funny story. We needed a little doorstop for our bathroom door in the trailer but no one seemed to have the rubber ones. The kind folks at the local Home Hardware store said they would cut us one out of some scrap wood. No charge, of course! Felt just like being in Mexico. Same kindness!

We don't need to bore anyone with the art of "making wine". We all know how that goes. We were really just doing little tastings, here and there.

Off to our first winery. Robin's Ridge. Great story here is that the owners son, who is 11 years old, decided he would like to try and make some wine. The owner thought "What's the worse that can happen? It won't be drinkable" Joke was on him. Apparently the little guy had paid more attention than Dad thought. One of their best sellers. Flicker. A nice crisp rose. Just up my alley.

Next up was Corcelettes Estate Winery. Perched up on a hill. such a pretty view, despite the smoke.

View off the front patio

Even some "winework" here. Making notes

about what you thought of each sample

Then it was off to Clos du Soleil. Cute little spot with a charming vineyard and fun operations manager, Steve, whose accent was a combination of South African and Irish. Figure that one out. He was super entertaining.

Well, that was a very hectic day for sure! We stopped at a local cidery on the way back to the trailer, had lunch and, surprise, some cider. Lass Chance Cidery. Great spot for anyone traveling through the area. Right on the highway by many of the fruit stands.

Funny picture and even better story. We were having some people take our picture at our table (after I had taken theirs). Doug told the young dude to hurry up and take the shot because "I can't hold my gut in forever". He laughed so hard he spit his cider out all over his friend. The adventures of Doug & Nancy.

Lass Chance has their processing plant across the street for their fresh fruit but the damaged fruit is turned into their delicious cider.

Tucked back in at Riverhaven for the evening.

Hope you enjoyed day one!

Friday, Aug 7th - Hope you aren't too tired for day two!

Crowsnest Vineyards small little spot with a great looking patio in Cawston BC. We did buy one bottle from here (as we did with all the wineries). Surprisingly it was a Chardonnay which I don't normally like but it was quite nice. We were planning on an early lunch here but their patio was closed. Oh well.

Highway 3 is actually 

called the "Crowsnest Highway" in BC.

Last of our five wineries is Orofino Winery This one is also located in Cawston BC. This was one of our favourites. The area where you sit is at long tables. There is crushed, peach coloured rock so it really looks (and would seem to feel) like you are in an Italian winery. Not that we would actually know since we've never been to Italy.

Well ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our Similkameen Wine Tour. We loved it! It is so nice to see these small wineries. there are many larger, more well known ones in Kelowna, Oliver and the rest of the Naramata Bench area but these ones really stand out to us.

We are actually on our way back to the Kootenays but I will start a new blog on that portion. Stay tuned!!

Peace Out for now friends....

Thought for the Day: