What a wonderful weekend!!
We arrived to a friendly group of organizers who handed out the registration packages and escorted us out to waiting buses to go on a tour for the afternoon.
There were two amazingl venues on our bus tour. Our first stop was the Summerhill Winery, where we ….
toured the winery …..
tasted the wine ……
and meditated in the pyramid.
Our next stop was to the Okanagan College Trades Complex which is to officially open in September of this year. The just completed complex has expanded and updated its shops and classrooms. The three story addition to the existing Trades Complex contains approx 5500 square meters of new classrooms, labs, shops and student space. We toured a number of rooms including the metal fabrication, auto body, welding, and RV maintenance.
Our Friday night Meet and Greet included the Valve Cover Races. There were 27 beautifully decorated racers made out of various auto valve covers. These were raced down a track which was built by a long time member, George Staley. He conducted the races and the winners were: #1 Garret Tanner – #2 Jeanette Wright and #3 Marlene Beddie.
Thank you to our sponsor, Lordco Auto Parts
.
There were also two wonderful tours; the Northern route took us up the Okanagan Centre Rd to Carrs Landing and north to Old Kamloops Rd and past Predator Ridge. The views of Okanagan Lake were spectacular! Our first stop was Kingfisher Boats, where we learned how to make aluminum fishing boats from aluminum! Each piece carefully cut out, shaped and welded together to make a line of the finest fishing boats money can buy. Some traveled across the road to Huber ‘s Heritage Furniture manufacturing plant, and then off to O’Keefe Ranch for a buffet brunch.
The Southern tour took us through Peachland, Summerland and over to the Kettle Valley Railroad. We were wowed by the size of the Steam Engine and the beautiful restored vintage coaches and cattle cars. The Kettle Valley train took us on a ten mile trip of beautiful vistas of lush orchards and vineyards to a spectacular view of Okanagan Lake from the Trout Creek trestle in Summerland. On our return to the station we were served a wonderful lunch. From there off to Penticton to visit the SS Sicamous. This was followed by a visit to the Bat Colony before returning back to Kelowna.
The Judging went very well, 23 Vehicles ranging from a 1906 Maxwell Runabout to a 1973 Buick LeSabre were judged by 13 Judges including a Junior Judge, Kaeley, who will move up to a full Judge next year. The awards were given out at the Awards Banquet on Sunday evening.
Thank you to all of the volunteers and the organizing committee for putting on such a great weekend. Looking forward to a great tour next year!
For more pictures please go and look at the May Tour Picture Albums.