RV Lifestyle Story and photos by Rex Vogel water – up and down Okanagan Lake, which runs from Vernon in the north to Penticton at its southern tip. Much of this water travel was aboard the S.S. Sicamous. Although not the first, the S.S. Sicamous was the most famous stern-wheeler to grace Okanagan Lake and was known as the Queen of the Lake. Many of the servicemen heading for WWI began their journey aboard the S.S. Sicamous. Demoted to carrying freight in 1935, the Sicamous was then retired two fruit seasons later. Penticton purchased her from Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1949 for $1. If you are interested in outdoor activities, the Okanagan is the place to be, from swimming or boating in one of the lakes to skiing on Apex Mountain. You can bike along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail or float lazily down the Channel. If that is not your speed, the city’s large outdoor community market is the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. After that, you can take in the view while enjoying a glass of wine on the patio of one of the numerous wineries. A short trip south fromPenticton brings us to See Ya Later Ranch near the small town of Okanagan Falls, a small but important footnote in the area’s geography and history. The wines of See Ya Later Ranch celebrate the lively legacy of Major Hugh Fraser, a colourful character who purchased Hawthorne Ranch high above the Okanagan Valley in 1919. Here, he planted vines and seeded a legend. The ranch was his home for more than 45 years, each year adding to a rich mix of truth and fiction involving elaborate gatherings and plenty of dogs. The Major was a prolific letter-writer, and the story is that he signed his correspondence with the lighthearted note, “See Ya Later.” These days, visitors love See Ya Later Ranch for its well-crafted VQAwines served in an unbeatable setting overlooking the valley. The tasting room and wine CSANews | SUMMER 2018 | 27
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