Life in The Slow Lane

Kelowna, British Columbia

Yesterday I spent several hours on the interstate, ten hours in three different jets, moving at about 470 miles per hour, and about eight hours in four different airports. I saw the sun three different times at seven miles altitude. When I went to bed after nineteen hours of travel, I hardly knew where I was.

Today was sublime in its slowness of pace. After a fine sleep of seven hours and leisurely conversation with my good friends Dwight and Barbara, Dwight and I set out to see British Columbia – at eight miles an hour. On two old bikes obtained from yard sales, we set off to see the marshlands and sites around Okanogan Lake here on the edge of Kelowna. We rode around town and I realized that a bike must be the perfect way to see a city for the first time. Kelowna has become a destination city for wealthy retirees. The amenities and recreation opportunities here are incredible. The outdoor recreational ethic here is powerful and I rather basked in the idea of being part of it for a few weeks. What I really basked in was riding around this fine lake nestled in the Canadian Rockies with a good friend for conversation. The ultimate benefit from travel to other countries is meeting new friends and building a lifetime of memories. At one point we made happy conversation with a couple visiting from Dublin, Ireland. There are some really fine interesting people in this world. I am grateful for the opportunity to be out and about again. Life is good.