I used to always think of Canada as a frozen, relatively-unpopulated nation north of the U.S. where everyone says “eh?” I was surprised, then, to see that there are parts (well, south-central British Columbia) that are much like California, with wineries, beaches, and lots of sun. The low population (less than California) of a country with more land mass than the U.S. means that much of the land is still unravaged by man. And the country has a history of being far less belligerent than its neighbor to the south.
“In addition to staying in a hut,” I emailed Lisa at one point before our Canada road trip, “we can stay in a teepee.”
In contrast to other folks who, I imagine, focus their vacation planning time on what museums and historical landmarks to visit, our discussions degenerated and revolved around the most bizarre or interesting structures we could sleep in. Continue reading »
“Are you bonking?” I jokingly asked Lisa, finally breaking the silence.
“I am bonking,” she glumly replied, forehead flat on the table. Never mind that this was not during an arduous athletic event such as the Ironman, but rather, while waiting for food. Continue reading »
Much of what I wrote about Penticton applies to Kelowna — just 40 miles north — with a few differences.
Whereas Penticton is a small, cute town, Kelowna is a much larger city. It has about 130,000 people in the city proper, and it’s the third largest city in British Columbia and 22nd largest in Canada.
Considering its dry, temperate climate, lake access, and numerous wineries, it may not be a surprise that it is also the second most expensive housing market in the country after Vancouver. It’s also one of the fastest growing cities in North America. Continue reading »
Penticton, British Columbia, was a real surprise.
Now, I was aware that this town was home to a number of world-class events — including Ironman Canada that Lisa swam 2.4 miles in — but other than that I knew nothing about this town. So just looking around after arriving here was an eye-opening experience. For one thing, the stereotype of Canada being one cold, unpopulated piece of tundra did not apply here. Continue reading »
“It’s a little out of the way,” I told Lisa not long after we crossed the U.S.-Canadian border, “but it’s such a beautiful place to stay. Plus, it’s a great place to run!”
We therefore traveled along Highway 99, over the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, and along the rugged coastline of British Columbia to the self-proclaimed “Recreation Capital of Canada.” The drive along this winding strip of pavement was just as gorgeous as I had remembered, with ocean bluffs to the left and mountains taller than clouds not far ahead. It did seem more dangerous, however! One reason for this was that this time I was in a front-wheel-drive hybrid sedan instead of nimble Italian sports car, and that there was road construction all over the place in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Continue reading »
