Life in Osoyoos and condo ownership — Fall 2026

After several months of travelling through the Yukon and Alaska, our big adventure had finally come to an end. But that didn’t mean the travelling was over. We were now settling into the next adventure of living in the motorhome, staying for a while in Osoyoos, spending time with friends and family, working on projects, riding our bikes, hiking, and slowly preparing for the next leg of our journey.

We arrived back in Osoyoos at the end of September and quickly slipped into a comfortable routine. Leslie and Steve had just returned home, although unfortunately both had tested positive for COVID, so our planned get-together would have to wait. June had a down day while I took advantage of the beautiful weather and cycled up Anarchist. The 10 km climb took me 52 minutes, followed by a much quicker 15-minute descent. We did some grocery shopping for Steve and Leslie and then drove up to see Steve and Asha’s property on Mule Deer Drive.

The next morning, October 1st, we were on our bikes by 10:30, trying to beat the heat. We rode along the lake and out Black Sage Road before turning around and making our way home, avoiding downtown by staying along the lake. It was a 39.5 km ride with 270 metres of climbing. Afterward, we tried to find somewhere to work out. Since our condo’s fitness room was still not handed over to the owners we had to make other plans for working out. The Spirit Ridge Resort’s fitness centre was, to put it kindly, pretty pathetic. The fitness room at the park wasn’t much better, although it did have one cable machine, so I managed to get a workout in there while June exercised back at the motorhome.

There were always little jobs to keep me busy. I took the planter up to the condo for the front door, sold our chest freezer for $150 to someone down the street and fixed the turn-signal lens on the Jeep.

Cycling quickly became a regular part of our days. On October 2nd we rode up Anarchist again, climbing 12.5 km and 670 metres before turning around. The climb took an hour, while the descent took only 12 minutes. We worked out afterward, chatted with our Ontario neighbours and read for a while. That evening I drove out to the cattle grate on Black Sage Road hoping to photograph the Milky Way. The smoky, hazy conditions weren’t cooperating, and there was no aurora either, but that didn’t stop me from trying.

The following day I drove to Penticton to have the bumper hitch installed on the Jeep at Dr. Hook while June went out for her own 50 km bike ride around the orchard hills and Black Sage Road. By now our days were developing their own rhythm: bikes, errands, projects, exercise, reading, and catching up with friends and family.

On October 4th we tried heading into the Similkameen Valley on our bikes, but we didn’t get started until after 11 and the heat quickly became too much. We turned around about 17 km into the ride and came home through Haynes Point, salvaging a pleasant 40 km ride with 470 metres of elevation gain. We stopped at Buy Low and the post office afterward to mail June’s Maui Jim sunglasses away for repair. Back at the motorhome I washed the windows while June did some beading, and then we settled down to read and enjoy happy hour.

The next day we tried the Similkameen ride again. This time we made it to the 25 km mark before turning around. On the way back into town, an insect managed to fly directly into my foot at about 60 km/h and sting me. Then, just to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire before we made it home. Still, it turned into a 50 km ride with 800 metres of climbing.

On October 6th we rode to Oliver and back, taking Highway 97 out and returning on Black Sage Road. Another 58 km and 380 metres of elevation gain. We stopped at the condo to say hello to Leslie and Steve and pick up our Amazon packages, although the COVID situation wasn’t improving—Steve had now tested positive. Back home we worked out, removed the bra from the Jeep and spent some time reading in the sunshine.

The following day we drove up Mount Kobau. The road was long and bumpy, but the conditions at the top were considerably better than the previous year. There was no snow, temperatures were over 20°C and the wind was light. We walked out to both lookouts and back, about 5 km in total. On the way home we stopped at Sage Pub and split their Friday fish-and-chip special before June headed to Spirit Ridge for a spa wrap and I went grocery shopping.

October 8th I got on my bike and rode up Anarchist, then continued over to the pickleball courts and Buy Low before heading home. It was a 38 km ride with 757 metres of climbing. June went for a walk downtown, while that afternoon I photographed sunspots and later the full moon rising over the mountains.

We headed out again, this time riding up to Steve and Asha’s property on Mule Deer Drive. From our front door it was 17.5 km away and 855 metres higher, resulting in 883 metres of total climbing. Steve and Leslie were still sick, so we kept our distance and spent the afternoon reading in the sunshine.

By October 10th the weather was overcast and cooler, and I rode around the hill and out Black Sage Road for 38 km and 340 metres of climbing while June walked. Almost as soon as I got home, it started to rain. We spent the afternoon relaxing and reading before having our Thanksgiving dinner of crockpot dressing and chicken.

The next few days brought more riding and more company. We cycled to Oliver and back along Black Sage Road, a 55 km ride with 380 metres of elevation gain, while Craig, Donna and Sami arrived. On Thanksgiving Day I made raspberry-jam shortbread squares before we headed out on another ride to Steve and Asha’s property, gaining an impressive 885 metres over 35 km. June worked out when we got back while I made pflaumenkuchen.

At 4:30 we headed up to Leslie and Steve’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Wes, Heather and Oliver joined us, making for a full house and a wonderful evening. We didn’t get home until 10:30.

After the late dinner, October 13th was a quieter day. We went for a short 22 km ride around town, taking in Haynes Point, the canal trail, Home Hardware and downtown. We also met one of our new neighbours, Suzzy, a Norwegian Elkhound at Site 22. Bob and Teresa were the humans attached to her. June worked out while I put a new chain on her bike and cleaned it up a little.

Meanwhile, life around the condo was becoming almost as busy as life in the motorhome. Steve and I worked on television and sound-system projects. June and Leslie were sorting closets and making trips to the laundry and thrift store. There always seemed to be something to fix, organize, move or improve.

On October 15th, after replacing the rear rubber and chain on my bike, we headed back toward the Similkameen Valley for another big ride. This time we covered 50 km with 795 metres of climbing. Later I took telephones, sheets and pillows from the condo to the Recycling Depot and Diabetes Donation Bin. I also stopped at Prohibition Tattoo and made an appointment for November 19th.

That appointment would turn out to be a little more memorable than I realized at the time.

The following day we took Leslie and Steve up Mount Kobau. We drove to the parking lot and walked out to the peak. The skies were smoky, but it was still warm and beautiful up there.

Our days continued to alternate between appointments, cycling, projects and simple pleasures. Later I went up to the condo and helped Steve pull optical cable through the wall and hang the television in their bedroom. After a wonderful hamburger dinner we went for a drive because several horses had escaped from their pen. We only found one, but watching four of the escapees run up the road toward Spirit Ridge while the horses still in the pen ran around in circles was entertaining enough.

Then came a trip over to White Rock to pick up our items that we were storing at Bryan and Alexis’s place. Since space was limited in the Jeep I want alone. I stopped at Peter and Darlene’s for a visit, and Wayne and Grace came for supper. We had sushi, then Helen took Bryan and me for a drive around town. Later the three of us played Catan Dice before watching Eurovision. Madoc was at a friend’s house and eventually came home around 9:00. June had a quieter day, going for a walk, working out, getting her flu shot and making chutney with Leslie.

The next day was mostly about storage, hockey and family. I sorted our things in storage, watched Madoc play hockey and later helped him work on his slapshot. Wayne, Grace and Chris came over for a barbecue supper while June and Leslie went for a drive in the Mercedes.

Madoc’s next hockey game was in Port Coquitlam, and they won 4–2. Danielle joined us for part of the game, which was great. I headed home afterward with a very full Jeep while June spent much of the day on Skype with Peter and Dianne and then Toni. That evening we went up to the condo, unloaded the Jeep and had pizza with Leslie and Steve.

Back in Osoyoos, the little projects continued. June got a fingernail fixed, worked out and finished her Choi glass-fusion wind chimes. I installed lights above our couch. Steve and I hung the TV in their bedroom and adjusted the living-room TV. There was always something happening.

On October 25th we packed up the motorhome early and headed to Skaha Ford to have the low-speed sensor fixed and get an oil and lube service. I got the windshield chip repaired and did some running around trying to find June some new running shoes. Just regular little tasks.

By late October we were well into the routine of motorhome life. We put some of our new and old pictures up in Juergen, walked the canal and picked up garbage along the way. Later I dropped June off for a float and went to the condo for more pictures.

On October 28th June got her nails fixed while I got my flu shot. We picked up the Jardins and headed north through Black Sage and the back roads toward Penticton. June went for a massage while I took the Jeep to Parkers for its final repair—the horn.

While we waited, Leslie took the Mercedes on the lot for a test drive. Eventually we headed to Bad Tattoo, now driving a Jeep that actually had a working horn. June met us there and then walked over to the Beadz shop.

We continued on to the lookout at North Naramata along the Naramata Bench and stopped at Abandon Rail Brewery, where Kyla works. We came home via the high road past the Radio Telescope. Later that evening I went up to Steve and Asha’s property to photograph the setting moon and hopefully the Milky Way.

The next day we drove to Tinhorn and hiked the Golden Mile Trail. It was only about 5 km but nearly 500 metres of elevation gain, making it a steep climb followed by a zigzagging descent. June worked out afterward, and I dropped Harley off at the condo for Leslie to use. We also measured a frame for the star-trail picture and looked at the couch recliner.

October 30th brought another walk from the motorhome. We headed out to the highway, looped through the orchards and past the horses, then came back down toward Lakeshore Drive. From there we walked downtown to Gyro Park, where a Halloween festival was underway, and then followed the lake back home. It was 10.5 km but only 86 metres of elevation gain—a welcome change from our usual mountain climbing.

After working out and picking up some groceries, we went up to the condo. I helped Steve with his bike and trainer while June helped Leslie make applesauce and apple butter.

Halloween itself was quieter. I wasn’t feeling well, so I skipped the RSR garden volunteering and went with June to Oliver instead. June tried to have her tooth guard remade, but unfortunately the dentist couldn’t do it. We came home and I had a nap while June went for a walk.

In the afternoon Steve helped me replace the right slide-awning topper on the motorhome. That evening we made ribs and garlic-roasted potatoes and took them up to the condo. Leslie and Steve made beans, squash and apple crisp, and we had a really nice dinner together.

November began with another trip to Kelowna. We stopped at Bike Barn in Penticton to deal with the clicking noise on June’s bike and at Beadz to pick up her phone, which she’d left there. I tried once again to see the puppy at Coopers Brewing, only to discover that Tuesdays weren’t puppy days.

We went for a 7.5 km walk along the Oxbow Canal, starting at Road 22 and walking north to Road 19 before crossing over and returning. As usual, we picked up garbage along the way. I dropped June off at the spa for a float and went up to the condo, where I washed sheets and changed the picture of the chief statue to the star-trail photograph.

The following day we took a collection of artwork to Desert Rose Framing: four Sintra watercolours, a Cabo de Roca oil painting, a Suzy painting, an elephant painting and an elephant veneer. After some shopping at Home Hardware and Red Apple, we headed home.

That evening we had fish and chips from Sage at the condo and then spent another three and a half hours showing Leslie and Steve our travels—this time our summer of 2022 pictures. At this point we were becoming very good at slideshow evenings.

On November 5th we went for a 10.35 km walk with 180 metres of elevation gain, heading over Orchard Hill to the lake and back around toward the park and condo. We Zoomed with Wanda for an hour, then Steve and I went to the junior hockey game.

The next day started with another three-brothers Skype call. We chatted for about 45 minutes before starting our summer slideshow. We made it all the way to Valdez before Robert had to leave after about two hours. Peter and Dianne then joined us for another two hours.

Later we went up to the condo, where Leslie and June made apple-pie filling while Steve and I watched the Leafs game. We also did some laundry.

And then winter really announced itself.

It snowed for most of November 6th. There wasn’t much accumulation, but the snow kept falling for most of the day.

November 7th was even more of a winter day—snow, wind and cold. We didn’t do much. We got our holiday-card prints ordered, watched the Holiday Baking Championships, June had her nails done and I made a trip to Home Hardware. With the temperatures dropping, we disconnected the water lines and put a heater in the water-pump compartment.

Living in a motorhome means paying attention to things you never have to think about in a regular house.

We headed back toward Penticton and stopped at London Drugs for the holiday prints. We grabbed a coffee and sat along the beach at the north end of Penticton before heading to the Dream Café for dinner and a show by Irish Mythen.

It was fabulous.

We didn’t get home until about 11:30.

The following day was a little slower. We slept in and had a light breakfast. It was sunny but cold, and the mountains looked amazing. June went for a walk while I worked out, and I took care of some miscellaneous jobs around the motorhome.

Our main propane tank was down to the half-full mark, so I hooked up a 20-pound, 17-litre auxiliary propane tank. We also dropped the Jeep off at the condo for Steve and Leslie to use.

November 10th was holiday-card day. June organized the cards using pictures from the summer while we also did some running around with Harley and the Jardins. I had a float at 1:00, followed by June’s at 3:00.

The next morning we finished getting the holiday cards ready and our Hawaii blog was posted. We went for a walk along the canal, although the icy conditions forced us to cut it short.

That evening we went up to the condo for a wonderful chili dinner. Steve and I installed the motor in the couch recliner, but it still wouldn’t work, so we ordered a new switch.

Later we showed everyone our Croatia pictures from 2013.

At this point, it was becoming obvious that we had created a new tradition: whenever we visited the condo, there was a pretty good chance someone was going to be subjected to several hours of our old travel pictures.

November 12th brought more planning for the future. We talked with Danielle about Hawaii, which she was going to confirm later in the week, and booked several Harvest Hosts for our trip south.

June and Leslie went to the Elks Craft Fair while I walked downtown to Pharmasave to print more pictures and Home Hardware to pick up a new garbage picker. I worked on the blog when I got home while June went for a walk.

That evening Steve and I went to the junior hockey game while June and Leslie stayed at the condo.

The following morning began with another two-hour Skype call with Peter and Dianne. We then went for a 6 km walk along the lake before I headed to the gym and June walked up the hill.

The furnace was becoming a recurring theme. On November 14th we looked at the front furnace again and finally decided it was time to call a service person. While waiting for a response, we went for a walk at Haynes Point and then grocery shopping. June walked home from Buy Low while I drilled holes in the wooden tree for her beading project. She later had a wrap up at Spirit Ridge.

The following day I walked downtown, made a hair appointment, bought stamps and picked up June’s bracelet. Then we headed up to the condo for an afternoon of cookie making.

By now Christmas was definitely getting closer.

On November 16th we headed up to Oliver. June got her COVID booster and had her teeth cleaned, then I had mine cleaned after her. That took up most of the day.

The next day I put the star on June’s tree-beading project while June went for a walk. I also fixed the water-compartment latch.

Apex RV happened to be at our neighbours again, so I chatted with him about the furnace. We took another look and blew out the back with a wand. The sail switch was still the likely culprit, but at least the furnace was working for now.

More importantly, the shelves arrived.

The next several days were dominated by the shelving project at the condo. On November 18th Steve and I started installing the two shelves on the side wall of the garage. June and Leslie went to Penticton while June had a massage.

Steve and I got the shelves installed and then fixed his bike tires and the switch on the recliner. After all that work, we rewarded ourselves with Indian food from Flame on Main.

On November 19th we went back up to start the next layout for the shelving. But that day also brought something quite different.

At noon I went to Prohibition Tattoo, where Chelsey was the artist. I finally got the eagle-and-mountain tattoo I’d been planning, on my right upper shoulder.

June came in at 1:00 and got her back logo and ankle logo done.

Afterward I went grocery shopping and returned to the condo, then picked June up at 5:20 and we headed home.

The shelves continued to consume our attention. On November 20th we were back at the condo at 10:00. June and Leslie worked on Christmas decorations while Steve and I continued with the shelving.

That evening, though, we took a break from projects and went to the Dream Café for dinner and a show. Shari Ulrich was the headliner, and it was another great evening out.

On November 21st Steve and I finally finished the shelves.

Now came the hard part.

The shelves were installed, but June and Leslie still had to organize everything and actually get it onto them.

June had a down day and watched the Holiday Baking Championships. I joined her in the middle of the afternoon.

On November 23rd Marylin came down from Kelowna with her friends Jen and Jerri. They joined us around noon for coffee and sweets. After they left, I went to bed for the rest of the day.

By November 24th we were shifting gears again. Most of the day was spent getting ready to leave. We picked up our pictures from the framer—one wasn’t finished and another needed to be fixed, although the others looked good.

That evening we went up to the condo for a farewell dinner.

After nearly two months of cycling, hiking, appointments, hockey games, dinners, shows, repairs, shelving projects, Christmas preparations, picture sorting and countless hours spent with friends and family, it was time to move on.

On November 25th we pulled out of our site at 9:00.

Before leaving the area we stopped to fill the propane at Nk’Mip and were back on the road by 9:30. We made a couple of important breakfast stops—Tim Hortons for apple fritters for Bob and McDonald’s for us—before reaching the border at 10:00.

The crossing was quick and easy.

Our next bit of excitement came shortly afterward when we were pulled over for speeding as we came into Oroville.

Fortunately, the officer let us off.

Whew!

From there it was a six-hour drive toward Oregon. The weather was mostly foggy with a little drizzle, making for a fairly dull drive, but as we approached the Washington-Oregon border and the Columbia River, the clouds began to clear and we were treated to a beautiful sunset.

We arrived at the alpaca farm around dusk.

Darcy met us and gave us a tour of the property. There were cows, alpacas, goats and chickens, and then there was Marshmellow, the miniature horse.

It was a wonderful way to end the day—and a fitting way to begin the next chapter.

Our North of 60 summer tour was now firmly behind us.

And the next adventure ahead of us!