This Is Now…

We made it to Kelowna! We abandoned plans of driving and instead caught a flight this past weekend. A bit more expensive, but way more convenient and less scary than being stranded on “car killer” highway.

A short weekend getaway to visit Sean’s mom and dad. It was my first time to Kelowna and although I probably wouldn’t live there, it’s was a nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of Vancouver.

I also found out that Kelowna is home to locusts, hornets and horseflies! Locusts as I heard them for the very first time, flying around the trees, down by the beach. At first listen, it sounded quite strange and jarring but after a few minutes, I was no longer bothered by their “clicking” sounds.

Hornets because one flew into my lap. Or rather, one flew in the window while we were driving and hit me on my arm. It then landed on my lap, between my legs. When I couldn’t make out what this big yellow insect was on my lap and Sean told me not to move or sit on it as it was a hornet, I proceeded to lost my sh*t.

We pulled over quickly but safely and I scampered across the seats and got out on Aean’s side. The little ‘effer must’ve been dazed when he slammed right into us cuz he wasn’t moving much on my now abandoned seat. Thankfully, Sean saved the day and smooshed the sucker before tossing it out on the road.

*Shiver*

And then Sean told me to watch if a black fly lands on me because it would most likely be a horsefly, that would then bite a chunk of my skin off with its pinchers. And I would be left with a gaping and bloody wound.

Oh, and rattle snakes. But don’t worry, you’ll hear them so you can do your best to avoid them.

WTF Kelowna?!

Bugs and insects aside, there are some lovely aspects to Kelowna. Like vineyards. Kelowna is filled with them. Not quite like Napa but lovely all the same. Sean took me to the biggest vineyard, Mission Hill Family Estates. I can’t drink but I do like to look at grapes on vines and take in the green, green space.

We saw families of quails toddling about (skittish birds, quails are) and blue jays. But the biggest visual thing that stood out for me? Kelowna is the home to RVs! Everyone, but everyone had a monstrous RV parked in the driveway of their house. You can find them on every block, that is, when you’re not coming up on them at the dozen or so used RV truck lots. The Okanagan likes their roadtrips.

Here are some pics:

The rest of our weekend alternated between visits with Sean’s dad and mom and Sean taking me around to his old haunts. All the childhood and wild adolescent stories he’s told me, I now know what these places actually look like.

I got a better sense of where Sean came from, geographically and through spending time with his family, what made him into the person he’s become today. I’m so very happy to have been able to spend time with Sean’s dad and mom. They made me feel like I’m a part of the family.

View more photos of our getaway on my Flickr album.