Cyclists itching to roll on Rail Trail
Errol Redman and Ernie Obst can hardly wait to again hit the Okanagan Rail Trail. The two Kelowna cycling buddies went the distance last year and thoroughly enjoyed the former 49-kilometre rail line between Kelowna and Vernon, which was purchased for $22 million by local governments in 2016.
Redman, 71, and Obst, who recently turned 84, started their biking marathon at Spall Road in Kelowna and followed the abandoned CN Rail line to Kalamalka Beach in Vernon in early October. The future recreation path runs beside Duck Lake north of Kelowna Airport, then next along Wood Lake to Oyama and finally alongside Kalamalka Lake to Coldstream.
“The steel rails and ties have been removed, however, no other restoration or trail development has occurred yet,” said Redman. “The trail surface is compact gravel with some stretches of compact 1 1/2-inch ballast. The trail is compact and relatively easy to cycle because the semi-trucks used to transport the steel rails and ties from the road bed provided the compaction — two wheel paths.”
Their cycling time was three hours and 42 minutes; their total time was five hours — including photo ops and lunch. The weather was sunny with cloudy periods, temperatures 6C to 18C.
“The trail conveniently ends on Kalamalka Lake Beach, handy to Alexander’s Pub, sufficient time to have a beer before Noreen (his wife) picked us up for the ride home,” said Redman.
“(Obst) is anxious to get going again,” he added, especially before the construction of three test sections this year and before everyone else arrives.
“It’s a very good trail, so good that I think it will be crowded. So we want to get as many rides as possible now. We went mid-week so there were not that many pedestrians or bike traffic. I think it’s going to be quite, quite busy. They really need signs that say no matter what you are doing — walking, biking, running or horseback riding, stay to the right and pass on the left.”
Tentative plans are for a fourmetre-wide gravel path similar to the Mission Creek Greenway, but Redman says pedestrians and dog walkers often don’t stay to one side of the Greenway so cyclists can safely pass.
The two seniors began cycling together in 2013, with one of their first outings biking from the South Slopes of Kelowna to Penticton on the former Kettle Valley Railway, now part of the Trans Canada Trail.
Although Obst is 13 years older, he has been an athlete for his entire life — hiking, biking and swimming.
“He’s a very fit fellow; he goes too fast for me,” said Redman with a laugh.
To donate to the Okanagan Rail Trail, go to okanaganrailtrail.ca. Controlled burns continued this week in a portion of Black Mountain / sntskëilínt?n Regional Park (sinch-KEEL-entin) on the slopes east of Kelowna. Fire hazard debris was collected as part of a five-hectare fuel modification project, part of the ongoing effort to prepare it for future access. The park is still closed to the public.
For more, go to the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s parks services webpage at regionaldistrict.com/parks, email parks@cord.bc.ca or call 250-469-6232.
The BC Interior Sportsman Show is coming back to Kelowna, April 7-9 at the CNC on Gordon Drive.
The show promises the latest and greatest in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation gear with guest speakers, door prizes, exhibitors and activities for the whole family.
The hours are 5-8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. More information will be released as the weekend approaches. Planning is still underway for the proposed mountain festival to be held in Kelowna but, in the meantime, organizer Dean Urness is planning another edition of the best films from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival next fall.
Details will be released on The Best of the Fest as they are finalized. Urness would like to have a full day of activities such as displays and workshops in a Saturday mountain festival with a festival banquet and special guest speaker on a Friday night. You can join regional parks staff during March and April for free activities at Families in Parks events. Activities take place between 10 and 11:30 a.m., and require pre-registration.
On March 26, you can enjoy Spring Break for Families at Bertram Creek Regional Park at the south end of Lakeshore Road in Kelowna. It’s an introduction to outdoors activities, special places and historical journeys — Canada 150-style.
On April 23, learn about the world of Reptiles and Amphibians at Mission Creek Regional Park, setting off from the area around the Hall Road fishing pond.
To register your family for Families in Parks events, drop in to the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin roads in Kelowna, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or phone 250-469-6139. Bring your imagination to Eco-Art at the EECO and see what you can create using recycled and natural materials.
It’s fun for the whole family at 11 a.m. each Saturday. There’s no need to pre-register for this free program, just drop into the EECO a few minutes early. All ages are welcome.
Children aged three to five and their caregivers all love Story Time at the EECO.
The free weekly one-hour drop-in program features naturethemed stories and songs followed by an art or craft project. The program is an excellent way for younger children to interact with others while learning more about the natural world. Story Time will run at 10 a.m. each Tuesday from April 4 to June 27. Students of all ages are welcome to join EECO After School, a perfect activity for students to have fun after classes are done for the day. The next two sessions for free, hands-on learning activities that explore the “wild” in local parks are April 11 and 27.
The one-hour program begins at 3 p.m. in the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan. Parents of school-aged children can enjoy a child-free hour in the park by dropping of their child, but registration is required for drop-off.
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is an Okanagan Sunday reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. His column appears every weekend. Contact him at jp.squire@telus.net.