The Osoyoos '07 report

So here's the thing you need to know about Osoyoos. Your choices are dust with annoying little flies all over everything, or dust with incredible wind which gets rid of the flies but makes the dust fly and makes you cold.

Other than that, it's great.

Osoyoos Lake is Canada's warmest lake (but still cold enough that you don't get gross things like leeches. And there's not much slimy vegetation growing in it either.) It's surrounded by Canada's only desert. Thanks to the marvels of irrigation, it's also near numerous fruit orchards and wineries.

The weather wasn't as warm as last year, but we had a great camping spot (campsite #4 is a beaut!) and saw our campground buds from last year, Corky & Helen. Last year Corky told Roo about his daily habit of going to the US and grabbing a 6pack, and invited Roo to go with him one time. They got through the border both ways with no problems. On the way home (Roo was driving) Corky told him to pull over into an orchard and said they could pick all the apples off the ground they wanted.

Roo was a bit hesitant and asked Corky if he was sure about this. Corky said "Yeah, I know the guy and he told me I could. But if you hear gunfire, hit the ground." After that reassurance, Roo picked apples very very fast and stayed low. Just in case.

They returned home unscathed with beer & apples and then Corky had to leave & we got their spot. Roo tried going to the US again the following day (but not to the orchard) & got a huge hassle on the way back for not having the proper ID. So this year I recounted this story to Corky and told him that obviously only Corky had the right stuff for this border hopping business.

Roo brought his passport this year & did manage to go down to grab some beer. The highlight of his trip was that he got asked for ID at the liquor store. Since he's exactly 20 years over the legal drinking age, that gave him a thrill.

I figure he got ID'd because he acts like a goof of his youthful joie de vivre. Like here, demonstrating safe behaviour at a viewpoint. (a suggestion has been made that I was jealous when I wrote this. I deny it. Just because I haven't been ID'd in years. I'm not bitter. Not bitter at all that women start sagging and wrinkling while men become more disinguished. No. Not at all. And anyway, the word here was used as a term of endearment. Youthful endearment.)

The lake is very popular with boaters and water skiers. Hugo got quite enthused at the concept & we regaled the kids with tales of our waterskiing experiences (Roo is good. My tales involve inadvertent enemas. Waterskiing is not my thing though I'll gladly drive or spot.) Here's Hugo trying some dryland moves.


We had a terrible northerly which almost drove me home. (well not exactly, because I'd need to go West to go home but you know what I mean. ) Two nights and two days of relentless wind exposed my newly acquired superpower. I don't know why or how we got on to the subject of superpowers but at some point we discovered that I already have one - the power to be incredibly grumpy. I'm not sure about how useful this superpower is. I'd much rather be like Jeannie and be able to clean a room by crossing my arms and thrusting my chest out. But there you go. Apparently you don't get to choose superpowers and mine is extreme grumpiness which can make everyone tiptoe around me or escape to the US.

The only person who enjoyed the wind was this guy, and even he only ventured out for short bits.

Finally the wind eased up, and we enjoyed a calm sunrise.

The dogs loved it.


Marshmallows were roasted.

Fruit, American beer and Okanagan wine were bought. A nice holiday.

If you go, you absolutely MUST make reservations. Haynes Point is a small campground and immensely popular. Plan way ahead and make the reservations 3 months in advance at Discover Camping.And don't speed between Hope and Princeton. Well, don't speed anywhere but be esp. careful through Manning Park as it's just frothing with eager RCMP beavers.