Day 69 Okamino and Beyond
Knox Extended
Such warm weather associated with this Pineapple Express!  As you can see, the snow is only patchy.  In continuation of my "Humans of Knox", this is Blake who says he grew up around Clifton and spent his childhood riding the trails on this mountain. Now he lives up Selkirk, so he rides down Dilworth and back up Knox and does it all again in reverse. Wheuff, I'm tired just talking about it. He has an awesome bike with suspension he can switch off for the ride up.

 Meet Steve and his border collie Kaitlyn (that's the Scottish spelling, he said). They are daily regulars on Knox and we've met them many times over the years. Kaitlyn is a very well behaved dog, but couldn't quite understand why they weren't on the move yet. Hadn't noticed until I got home and looked at the photos that she's got the longest tongue I've ever witnessed on a dog.

Spent a very enjoyable evening with my friend Suzanne, artiste extraordinaire, visiting from Blind River and her daughter Christianne who is now living in West Kelowna. Suzanne is an extraordinarily sensitive and empathetic woman with the courage of her convictions, a Skookum combination in a person. Christianne will be joining us on further hikes.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Skookum is a Chinook Jargon word that has come into occasional use in the Pacific Northwest.^[1]

The word skookum has three main meanings:

1. (in regional English) an adjective with a variety of positive connotations;
2. a monster; similar to the sasquatch.
3. a souvenir doll once common in the United States in tourist areas.

Principal meaning[edit]

It has a range of positive meanings. The word can mean 'good,' 'strong,'^[2] 'best,' 'powerful,' 'ultimate,' or 'brave.' Something can be skookum meaning 'really good' or 'right on! 'excellent!', or it can be skookum meaning 'tough' or 'durable.' A skookum burger is either a big^[3] or a really tasty hamburger, or both. Homecooked food described as skookum, is delicious and hearty. A person described as skookum, has a purpose and is on solid ground, and in good health and spirits. When used in reference to another person, e.g. "he's skookum," it conveys connotations of trustworthiness, reliability and honesty as well as (possibly but not necessarily) strength and size.

Being called skookum may also mean that someone can be counted on as reliable and hard-working, or is big and strong. Skookum house means jail or prison, cf. the English euphemism "the big house" but here meaning "strong house." Skookum tumtum, lit. "strong heart," is generally translated as "brave" or possibly "good-hearted." In the Chinook language, skookum is a verb auxiliary, used similar to "can" or "to be able." Another compound, though fallen out of use in modern British Columbia English, is skookum lacasset,' or strongbox.

Day 68 Okamino and Beyond
This is starting to feel like "Humans of Knox". I guess that might not be a bad thing. I kept being passed by this woman seriously intent on her hike, head down, in concentration of the effort, not that it is such a big one for her. I finally got the chance to stop and talk a while about walking up Knox which she says she does at least 5 days a week. Judith is also carrying 3 pound weights in each hand. Way to go Judith.

Day 67 Okamino and Beyond
WRT hike this morning. A little snow fell for the skiers from another Pineapple Express. Early in the morning, it is quite wet and dark, but by afternoon the skies open up and we see sunshine. The temperature rises to 9 degrees in my back yard making quick work of all that snow.

Lacy looking shrubs by the first, what used to be wetland.

Day 66 Okamino and Beyond
Like yesterday'smelting snowman, the hikes are falling into a rut of sorts, WRT one day, Knox the other. As a friend just mentioned, maybe the "Beyond" should be explored. Maybe McDougall Rim this weekend?

A handy reference for the geology of the Okanagan at the top of Knox. Glaciers, subduction and volcanoes figure prominently in this poster.

 Now this really ads to the ambiance of my walk; someone has a point though.

The "Beyond" today was a tour of the Kelowna Art Gallery's show, A Terrible Beauty: Edward Burtynsky in Dialogue with Emily Carr.  Twisted together, these two make an interesting study of the altered world. Burtynsky's large photos are simply amazing with my favourite being the terraced fields in China. 

Day 65 Okamino and Beyond
At heArt Fit this morning, Steve is demonstrating a wooden box that he's decorated with pencils with exquisite and whimsical detail of flowers and his cat with its tail stuck out of the lid.  Such patience! 

 Some brand new drop-ins to heArt Fit dive in with gusto as Karen (I hope that's your name) did today.

 At the top of Knox, quickly melting snowmen.

Day 65 Okamino and Beyond
We've been "Do it Yourselfers" for a very long time. Indeed, we even built a house when we lived in Newfoundland a lifetime ago. Making a frame for a canvass was child's play for Don. The tricky part was figuring how to fold the canvass around that frame. Youtube to the rescue! and ta da and we've got a professional finish. Youtube would probably have helped with the house, there being some unconventional building practices in it.

 We figured the cost of making one of these 24 by 30 inches to be reasonably less, but the savings will be when we get to larger sizes.

 Knox from another perspective. 

Day 63 Okamino and Beyond
Strange to wake up to a whiter world after yesterday. We hiked over the mountain to downtown and caught the bus back home in thick melting snowflakes and fog. For anyone trying to fly, this was a no viz day.

After yesterday's treatise on weight vests came cute little Kay getting a ride up Knox with Dad. Dads don't need to buy weight vests. (ha ha ) 

 Cool and funky coffee machine at the Curious Artistry and Alchemy Cafe on Ellis Street, the next new restaurant we're going to try.

Mallard looking like it came out from shoe shopping with nice orange pumps. The ducks in Kelowna are weird. Many people have seen them waiting at the cross walks for the light to turn green before venturing across the street. I kid you not!