2025 Santa Claus Parade, Penticton BC

 Music, lights, laughter, and candy!

Isla Mujeres Mysteries

Or

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

Sipping our way through the Naramata Bench Winterfest!

Naramata Bench Winterfest 

The Naramata Bench Winterfest webpage urged us to: “Join us for exclusive winery, cidery, distillery and brewery tastings set against a backdrop of dazzling Christmas lights and decorations. Enjoy special events and unique holiday shopping. Warm up by the fire pits, savour seasonal cuisine, and create unforgettable memories in one of British Columbia’s most scenic wine regions.”

I invited two friends, Stacey and Kyla Daman-Willems, to join me. I had intended to be the sober designated driver, but Kyla said she didn’t feel like sampling and would be the DD.

First stop, Deep Roots

We picked a handful of choices from the impressive list of 32 participants: Bench 1775, Blackwood, Chain Reaction, D’Angelo, DiSilva, Daydreamer, Deep Roots, Elephant Island, Evolve, Four Shadows, Foxtrot, Hillside, Howling Bluff, Joie, LaFrenz, Lake Breeze, Laughing Stock, Mocojo, Modesta, Moraine, Origin, Red Rooster, Ruby Blues, Therapy, Three Sisters, Tightrope, Township, Upper Bench, Van Westin, Wesbert, Abandoned Rail Brewing, and Creek & Gully Cider.

The aim was to visit places that we hadn’t experienced before. With so many choices, we decided to limit our tastings to red wine and only 6 or 7 wineries. Otherwise, our taste buds would be overwhelmed, and we’d be inebriated.

Sasha, Deep Roots

Our first stop was Deep Roots on Tillar Road. Deep Roots is a family-owned and operated winery perched on the clay cliffs above Okanagan Lake. 

The family has been farming the land around the winery for over 100 years, spanning four generations. Orchards of cherries, pears, apricots, and apples eventually gave way to grapevines in 1998. 

After many years of selling grapes to other wineries, they dove into winemaking, producing their first vintage in 2012, and opened the tasting room in 2014.

At the tasting room, Sasha was fun and informative. I chose a 2022 Cabernet Franc, and as I turned to go, she suggested that we visit Elephant Island next.

Elephant Island, not just fruit wines!

“Elephant Island?” I said, “But they make tree-fruit wines.”

“Not anymore. They have a tasty selection of grape wines, too,” Sonya replied.

As it turns out, they do! With fun names like Naysayer, I Told You, So, and Think Again. 

The humorous wine labels poke fun at concerned friends who were worried about Miranda and Del Halladay’s change in focus.

Elephant Island. 

Elephant Island Winery launched in 1999. Their sister company, Naramata Cider Co., started in 2017. 

The family’s philosophy is to maintain a healthy diversity in the agricultural landscape. 

All of their wines and ciders are made with low-intervention, living fermentation techniques. 

What fruit they don’t grow is grown by farmers whose methods they respect.

I added a bottle of 2019 Meritage to my collection of tasty Naramata Bench wines.

Where should we go next? 

How about Wesbert on Naramata Road? 

Wesbert Winery

The Joubert family, originally from South Africa, founded Wesbert Winery in 2019 and quickly gained a reputation for warm hospitality. 

It’s a popular stop for cyclists and hikers enjoying the KVR Trail.

My taste buds were already getting a bit confused, so I limited myself to one sample.

Then, we decided to stop at one of the original Naramata Bench wineries, Hillside Estate.

Lawrie and I have connections with Hillside.

The old apricot orchard was purchased in 1979 by Bohumir and Vera Klokocka, who had immigrated to the Okanagan Valley from Czechoslovakia. Even though she had no experience, Vera dreamed of growing grapes and creating good wine. In 1984, she and Bohumir pulled out the orchard and planted 3.5 acres of vineyards. The grapevines thrived in the gravelly soil and warm Okanagan sunshine, and Vera’s dream took shape.

In 1989, Hillside, along with Lang Vineyards and Wild Goose, lobbied the Provincial Government to implement the Farmgate Winery Policy. The new policy allowed small vineyards of five acres or less to not only produce wine but also to sell it directly from their premises.

Lynda and Bohumir bottling 1994

When we moved to Sutherland Road, on the bench, Lawrie and I became friends with the Klokockas. We helped with the harvests and bottling while listening to Czechoslovakian music, drinking wine, and eating great food. Vera sold the winery to a Calgary consortium in 1994, which expanded the property and built the existing structure.

In 1998, we sold our craft brewery, Tin Whistle Brewing Company, and I joined the newly expanded Hillside Estate Winery as the office manager. 

Lawrie, harvesting for icewine. 

In 2004, while I was the manager of the Sandman Hotel, Lawrie became the General Manager at Hillside, overseeing the operation of the winery, vineyards, gift shops, distribution, and bistro.

Back to our Winterfest explorations. At Hillside Estate, I purchased a yummy bottle of Bordeaux-style 2018 Mosaic. I am saving it for my 75^th birthday in February. Stacey and Kyla stocked up too! And we were off to our next stop.

La Frenz Winery has been on the Naramata Bench for a long time. 

In 1999, Jeff and Niva Martin purchased the apple orchard and began clearing the land with the help of their daughters, Elise and Jess. 

La Frenz was one of the few wineries that required an appointment, and we felt pressured, so we never visited.

La Frenz Winery

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a standalone wine shop had been added in 2004, allowing aficionados access to the delicious wines without disturbing the family at home. 

I treated myself to a 2022 Syrah. And Stacey made similar choices for their collection.

We decided to do one more stop before calling it a day. Township 7 was our final stop. 

Kyla, outside Township 7 

I know very little about the history of this winery. The parent company began in 2000 in Langley, and the Penticton location opened in 2004. It has changed hands at least once. I believe it is owned by two major investors.

By this time, my taste buds were well and truly done! I left the tasting to Stacey! Back home, I carefully stored my new treasures. More wine tasting will have to wait for next year’s Naramata Bench Winterfest.

Cheers, Lynda

Death in the Vineyards, Okanagan mystery novels!

Sparky: The true-life story of a Mexi-mutt

 

Chapter 1

All alone in the world: November 2013

Hola, soy Sparky. Hi, I’m Sparky.

I’m a short-legged mutt, born on the island of Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean Sea, near the city of Cancún.

Soy Mexicano. I’m Mexican.

I have curly white and grey fur covering my pink and black polka-dotted skin, and long, dark, silky ears. My front paws are larger than my back ones, and my sense of smell is amazing.

When I was a puppy, I lived with a young man, but he had to move away and told me I couldn’t come with him. He untied me and said I had to find a new place to live. I was miserable. I whined, and howled, and cried until I finally realized he wasn’t coming back. If I wanted to survive, I would have to take care of myself.

On the beach where I lived, many visitors spoke languages other than Spanish, although most of them spoke English. A very nice woman, who spoke a slightly different type of English, was gentle and kind to me. She said her name, and then she repeated it more slowly so that I could understand her.

She encouraged me to come closer, and she offered me food and water. I gulped the food, then timidly ran away. Eventually, I let her touch me. She made soothing sounds while she pulled the big, nasty ticks from my fur and combed out the tangles. It hurt a bit, but it felt good to be free of those awful bugs for a few minutes. Unfortunately, no matter how many times she pulled them out of my fur, more ticks would find me.

I hate ticks!

One day, while she was removing the bugs from inside my ears and the sensitive spots between my toes, her friend asked her, “What should we call this little guy?”

“Do you have a suggestion?” The woman replied as she dunked the nasty ticks into a container of soapy water to make sure they couldn’t come back to bite me again.

“How about Sparky?” he said.

“Sparky?” she tilted her head like I do when questioning something. “Why Sparky?” she asked.

“He looks a little bit like the dog in the movie Michael, and that dog’s name was Sparky.”

I wanted to tell them my real name. My first owner called me Bos because I have a deep bark for a small dog. Bos is the Spanish pronunciation of the word meaning voice, vos. Now I was going to be called Sparky. I hope I remember my new name.

Every day, I visited the place where my new friends were staying, and they offered me food and love. But one day, my wonderful new friend had tears in her eyes as she cuddled me. She told me she had to return to a place called Japan. I didn’t know how far away Japan was. It sounded like it was a long way away. I was miserable because another person I loved was going to leave me.

The man said he wasn’t going away, yet, and we could be buddies for a little longer. Then, in late November, he moved into a white house where two cats lived. One was a small, tortoiseshell female, and the other a huge grey male. I was afraid of the cats, especially the male. I had seen him chase larger dogs away from his house.

“It’s okay, Sparky,” my friend said, “I’m looking after the cats for three weeks, and you can visit me. They won’t hurt you.”

Making sure I had an escape route, I cautiously stepped through the open kitchen door. The cats ignored me. They just flicked their tails and strutted away. 

to be continued...

Sparky's mystery novels by Lynda L Lock

Watch cat versus cat burglar! 2008, our first year living in Mexico!

Our first experience living on Isla Mujeres was for a four-month stint in the winter of 2007, going into March 2008.  We still had plans at that time to continue working and living part-time in Canada, plus part-time in Mexico, but that’s another story. 

Our Maine Coon cat, Tom Thumb, also known as Tommy, was 9 years old that winter. He was in the habit of sleeping on our king-sized bed, stretched horizontally to his full 32-inch tip-of-the-nose-to-tip-of-his-tail length. He is a big cat. Even with a concrete base for the bed, I can tell when he leaves for a hit of cat crunchies, or a drink of water, or maybe to use the sandbox box, so I wasn’t particularly bothered when, around four in the morning, he bounced off the bed and disappeared.

About 10 minutes later, I decided I needed to get up as well. On my way to the bathroom, I noticed Tommy was on the floor staring at the bedroom patio door, so I casually reached over, slid the door closed and flicked on the lock. Back in bed, I expected the cat to continue sleeping with us until at least the sun was up.  After a couple of more minutes, I sat up in bed, looking for Tommy, and noticed he was still staring at the patio door. That’s when I actually noticed what he was staring at. A person!  A person dressed in dark clothing crouched on his hands and knees, trying to slide the bedroom patio door open!  Shit, that’s annoying!

I jumped out of bed and started hammering on the glass, screaming. ‘Get out of here! Get out of here!’  

Lawrie, who was sound asleep at the time, leapt straight out of bed, waving his arms over his head and growling. Somehow, he knew the situation called for being big and noisy. Tommy ran for the bathroom and had a bit of an accident as he slid around the corner, spraying cat pee everywhere. The cat burglar wisely decided that we were all nuts and he dove off the second-floor balcony to escape the madhouse, leaving his sandals behind in his haste.

Wide awake and pumped with adrenaline, we grabbed the flashlights and searched outside the house. We could see were face and hand imprints on the outside of the glass patio doors, where he had attempted to see if we had anything worth stealing on the lower level. Since we don’t own a TV, there was nothing of interest to him. He then climbed up the half-wall between our neighbours and us, and pulled himself over the deck railing to gain access to our bedroom level. 

Laughing with relief, we headed back into the house to make a pot of coffee and wait for the sun to come up. There was absolutely no way any of us, Lawrie, Tommy, or I would be sleeping anymore that night.

In the end, all that happened was we tightened up our security a bit with metal poles to slot into the patio door frames at night to allow air circulation, but not enough space to allow a burglar inside. And we added a motion detector onto our upper patio, which we activated at night.

Tommy, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck for months after. Anytime we went to bed, even for an afternoon nap, he perched on the foot of the bed, facing the door, not sleeping!  We slept better knowing he was on guard.

Hasta luego, Lawrie, Lynda, and Tommy

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Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

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Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky

Small seaside towns. Beautiful ocean vistas.

The crisp sunny days of September and October are made for road trips. The good weather was making me restless, and the coastal towns of Vancouver Island were calling me. 

Sunday, at nine in the morning, I impulsively strapped my e-bike onto my car rack, tossed a few items into a suitcase, and hit the road. 

I didn't have a defined plan except to head to the island for a few days. To breathe in moist salty air, watch the waves, and eat fresh fish.

After brief stops at Parsons Fruit Stand in Keremeos to stock up on crisp Ambrosia apples and the Grand Union Cafe in Hedley for a latte, I continued driving southwest toward the coast.

Instead of driving straight through to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, I spontaneously detoured onto Highway 7 at Hope and overnighted at the Sasquatch Inn in Harrison Mills. 

Sasquatch Inn

The inn is a favourite stop for groups of middle-aged to senior motorcyclists, enjoying a road trip in perfect fall weather. 

The pub food was good, and my bed was comfortable. 

In the morning, I retraced my route a short distance. I was the first customer of the day at the Cabin Fever Junction bakery in nearby Agassiz. Their scones are to die for! 

Cabin Fever Junction Bakery

And then the rain started. I had a reservation for a mid-afternoon ferry sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, leaving plenty of time to negotiate 92 kilometers of heavy commuter traffic between the outlying cities and Metro Vancouver. Stop and go. Stop and go!

A ferry reservation between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island is always a good idea. When I traveled with my little adventure buddy, Sparky, prebooking was the best way to ensure that our car would be on the upper, open deck, and I would be allowed to remain in the car with him. Drivers on the lower decks must exit their vehicles. Only registered service or guide dogs are permitted inside the boats. There is a pet area on the top deck, but it can be unpleasant and noisy. As Sparky aged, he became more sensitive to the blast from the ships' horns and preferred to remain in the car. (I miss my travel buddy. On May 2nd, Sparky left for a new adventure somewhere in the universe.)

Ferry to Nanaimo BC

When the ship docked in Nanaimo, I turned north toward Nanoose Bay to spend a couple of days with friends whom I have known since 1981. Their charming Cairn terrier was happy to provide much-needed doggie love.

The steady rain continued to thwart my cycling plans, but in the interim, I had my bike tuned up at Big Grin Bikes in Qualicum Beach. Several bolts had rattled off over the summer. Georgia tightened, replaced, adjusted, cleaned, and polished my bike. It looked brand new. When I went to pick it up, Georgia also adjusted my handlebars into a more comfortable position. 

Ladysmith Old Town Bakery

A few days later, when I was traveling south toward Sooke, I chanced upon the delightful Old Town Bakery in the middle of a downpour. I detoured from the Island Highway into Ladysmith for a short break from driving in the rain. After hunting for a parking spot in the quaint downtown area, I dashed into the bakery. And stopped! 

The bakery was packed with customers waiting for a chance to order their favourite indulgence. As we slowly inched along toward the front of the line, I changed my mind several times. Cookies, bars, tarts, slices of pie, savory rolls, and then the famous cinnamon buns in a multitude of flavours: pumpkin pie, peanut butter, chocolate, and of course, cinnamon. It's October. I had to try the pumpkin pie flavour! So, so good. I nearly went into a food coma. 

Sooke BC

Back on the Island Highway, my next stop was the Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke. One look at the view from my room, and I added another night to my reservation. The proximity of the ocean filled my soul with peace. 

The Prestige chain was founded by Josef and Anna Huber, who arrived in Canada in 1950 and started with a small motel in the Okanagan Valley. Built in 2010, this hotel has the feel of a 1920s seaside resort. 

My oceanfront room had high ceilings, crown moldings, and interesting architectural details. The staff are fabulous. 

Galloping Goose Trail

The weather had finally cleared, and I cycled a good chunk of the Galloping Goose Trail, running from Victoria to Sooke. 

It's a well-maintained trail and an easy ride, but the dense rainforest vegetation frequently blocks the view of the ocean.

Two days later, I meandered along country roads, exploring the oceanfront communities of Sooke, East Sooke, Metchosin, and Colwood, and then I discovered Hatley Castle. 

Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University

I have lived in British Columbia most of my life (except for a dozen years in Mexico) and had never heard about this stunning 800-acre historic site. Oh, sure, I knew about the Royal Roads University, originally a military college, but I didn't know it is a national historic site open to the public. The castle was closed in preparation for a wedding, so I just walked around the perimeter. 

My next find was Fort Rodd Hill and the Fisgard lighthouse. It's another national historic site, located in close proximity to Royal Roads University. Surrounded by coastal landscapes, Fort Rodd Hill was a 19th-century artillery fortress in active duty from 1895 to 1956. Fisgard Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on Canada's west coast. Exploring the site is a great way to stretch your legs, then relax on a driftwood log, and breathe in the fresh salty air. 

Fisgard Lighthouse

Driving from Fisgard Lighthouse, I explored the twisty Prospect Lake Road, driving past lush farms and stunning homes. Moving on through Brentwood Bay and Moses Point via the West Saanichton Road, I arrived at The Waterfront Inn & Suites in Sidney, BC. 

This was the last night of my one-week poke around on Vancouver Island. The hotel is located on the boardwalk in downtown Sidney. I stayed in the newer annex, on the 2nd floor overlooking the harbour. 

View from Waterfront Inn & Suites, new annex

Nearby shops specializing in quality clothing, outdoor gear, home decor, and bed and bath accessories are fun to explore. The Riva Restaurant is in the same complex. I enjoyed a yummy meal with an oceanfront view. It was a great area to hang out on my last night before heading home to the Okanagan.

Sidney is a short distance from the Schwartz Bay ferry terminal. I caught the 7 a.m. boat, heading home. 

Cheers, Lynda

Sparky's Story - A Surprise Gift

 

2014 Sparky and his servant

Chapter 40

The next adventure.

May 2^nd, 2025, Sparky departed for his next epic adventure, somewhere in the Universe.

He’s been suffering from chronic pain for years, and his medications weren't effective anymore. His spine and joints were disintegrating with age, and the after-effects of being hit by a car when he was very young.

When he adopted us, he could only use three legs. The back right leg was weak and damaged. Over time, we were able to help him regain the use of the damaged leg, but when he was tired, he lifted it to run. Now the pain in his right shoulder, his right hip, and his spine is causing him distress.

2016 Lawrie, Sparky watching the Super Bowl

Sparky has been my adventure partner and my grief therapist. We’ve lived in five cities in two countries: Isla Mujeres, San Miguel de Allende, White Rock, Summerland, and Penticton.

He’s traveled on airplanes seven times. Since returning to Canada in March of 2020, we have traveled 120,000 kilometers on driving trips and adventures. We visited fourteen American states and nine Canadian provinces.

I deeply miss his independent and quirky personality. His steadfast companionship. And his snoring!

Enjoy your next epic adventure, Sparky. Sir Fuzz-butt. The Sparkinator.

You were the very best surprise gift for Lawrie and me.