Hello everyone, long time no talk! It has been quite awhile since I’ve written. Make sure you check out my last blog post about the BLM movement and ways you can contribute and self-reflect!

Lately, I have been busy working and adjusting to living in the Okanagan. Since COVID has hit, as some of you may know, I have been having a hard time coping with quarantine and lock down. I know I am not alone in this. It did get to the point where I felt it was better for me to not be in Vancouver at the time, and come back to the Okanagan to be with family for a little while. I have been in the Okanagan for the past couple of months and am looking forward to spending the rest of the summer here.

Here are some of the highlights of my time in the Okanagan thus far. Primarily I have spent time exploring the incredible views in the valley, getting some wine tasting in once the wineries opened up, and spending time with family.

There are lots of trails nearby that I have been exploring. I have also been out kayaking a couple of times, which has been really nice. Enjoying the views of the valley itself are also spectacular. The sky is pretty majestic during these summer nights. I even got caught in a rain storm and danced in the rain with a rainbow above, which was pretty surreal.

I’ve explored a bit further afield up above Osoyoos towards Spotted Lake. Spotted Lake is a mineral lake that naturally forms spots on it, an Indigenous sacred site for the Syilx peoples. You cannot go down to the lake as it is blocked off to protect it, but you can see it from the road. Unfortunately, it was not actually spotted this time when I went to visit (this only happens at certain times of the year), but it was still really cool to check it out.

Penticton and Naramata are other destinations I have explored quite a bit, including spending time at the beach and going to the farmer’s market – all while distancing. I have also braved the world enough to go out to a couple of restaurants and enjoy some delicious food as well. And you can’t forget the wineries! Once they opened up, I’ve had the chance to check out quite a few. It is really neat to see what some wineries have been doing to encourage distancing. Of course, it’s nice to get the chance to taste some wine too! 😉

I have been spending lots of time with family. It usually involves a lot of food and some wine, which is always a plus. On one occasion we went up to a campsite, and spent some time hiking and quading. It has been really nice to be able to soak up this family time while I am in the valley.

I am thankful to be able to spend so much time here, and have the rest of the summer to explore more. Before settling in to spend the rest of the summer here, though, I am taking off on a bit of an adventure elsewhere in BC. Since non-essential travel has opened up, though still trying to stay fairly local, I have decided to explore some parts of BC that I haven’t visited before (or in a very long time). The trip will start next week, and I am very excited to be on the move exploring again! Everything will be as distanced as possible while still getting the chance to enjoy our beautiful province. Make sure to follow my Instagram where I will be sharing the latest updates of this journey 🙂 much love to you all, stay safe!