What a dramatic change! From the lushness and greenery of the Fraser Valley, to the arid (but equally as verdant) Lower Okanagan Valley. Here irrigation rules the day. Without it the land is a step above desert.
The change in vegetation was dramatic. Leaving the large cedars and firs of the coastal area, you climb out of the Fraser Valley at Hope via Allison Pass (1342 meters), where the forest changes to mountain firs and sitka spruce. The forest is also not in full bloom yet, it’s as if we were travelling back in time from early summer to early spring. You crest another pass, Sunday Pass (1468 meters), where the forest has changed yet again to Ponderosa pine and sage brush, before descending into Princeton. From there to Osoyoos is a steadily increasing change to sage and small scrub pines. However, if you have water you can have orchards. And they are all over the place! In fact, our campsite was in the middle of one. I wonder how the owners stop the camp patrons from eating all the cherries!
Are quite surprised by the number of chucker partridge or bobwhite quails, I’m not sure which but they too are all over the place.
We were told Osoyoos was not a lot to write home about. However we find the place quite clean and tidy. It is only mid May though and maybe we would be singing a different tune when +40 arrives! Anyway, on to Nelson tomorrow to visit with some friends before heading into Alberta.
