Oliver, with a Twist

Way back in April, we went on a camping trip to the south Okanagan.  We spent one night in Keremeos, and then the next four nights in Oliver.  They have a community campsite there, right next to the Okanagan River and the Hike and Bike trail.  This photo is taken from the trail, which is paved in this area.  

Last Fall  we weren't able to stay at this campsite, as it had already closed for the season, so we ended a few miles north, in Okanagan Falls.

We had a wonderful time in Oliver.  It is a small town, just under 5000 residents, and about 8000 total in the surrounding area.    

We had taken our bikes, and did a lot of riding around.  The weather was great. 

The main industry is growing fruit or grapes.

You could be in a constant state of happiness, visiting all those wineries.

There's even one called Oliver Twist.

See that dotted line along the river on the map.  That's the trail.  One morning we rode from the campsite which is about 1/3 of the way down the trail, just below that little circle and arrow that says Visitor info.  We rode north to the end at the McIntyre Bridge where Highway 97 crosses the river.  We had taken Jake and Luna with us.  Jake and Luna both rode in the trailer until we were out of the city boundary, a mile or so along, and then they could run off leash.  Luna ran most of it, and Jake rode some of the time.   This is at the north end. 

In the afternoon, we left the dogs in the travel trailer. We crossed the river from the campsite, rode along Black Sage Rd all the way to Rd. 22, where we could see the end of Osoyoos Lake, and then back up the trail to the campsite.  All in all, I figured we biked about 45 km that day.

Road 22 bridge, looking north

These quail were everywhere.

We road past wineries

Tried to dodge a shower of rain

Rode past orchards

We were on our bikes a lot those four days, riding around the town.

This is from the east side of the river, looking southwest over Oliver

This is from the west side of the town, in the evening, from the water tower.  We were part way up that rocky hillside on the very right in the picture above.

Oliver has a small spring fed lake, but it was a bit too early in the season for swimming.  Just across the river from the campsite is an off leash baseball diamond in the park for the dogs. We went there two or three times to play soccer and fetch, and only once did we see anyone else in there.  Apparently the whole park is off leash from  6am to 9am.  The trails either side of the dyke are off leash once you get out of the city boundary.

But, we eventually had to pack up and head home.

Part Two yet to come.