Okanagan Hub and Spoke
We arrived at the Sandy Beach Campground early for our adventure in Vernon. The team organizing the event for us were already set up with Canopies and were doing their final briefing for the ride leaders as we arrived. Auspicious of a well organized ride. This was to be confirmed over the next 4 days.
On the first day, Sunday June 19th we had a meet and greet with the participants and ride leaders. Due to some unfortunate events the Vernon group had scrambled to get replacement leaders for some of the rides. As it turned out the event went flawlessly. On the first day they led the group on a short bike ride to show the 3 places where the rides would start from: Sandy Beach Campground, Polson Park and the Super 8 motel.
We were given an opportunity to sign up for rides on the first day. They had 3 different rides, one for each day, with 3 different start points and you could do them in any order. On the fourth day we all did a ride around Vernon, which had varying lengths depending on the group you rode with.
Dianne and I chose to do the ride to Lumby on the first day. A long ride (88 km for those of us starting from the campground). My fitbit said we had climbed 112 floors on this ride. We had lunch in Lumby at a campground, with a nice ride back taking advantage of the climbing we had done in the morning for the return to Vernon. One of the leaders got a flat tire en-route, but quick work and we were on our way again. We felt very spoiled having two ride leaders and a sweep with the group for the whole ride. That evening as we gathered in the campground, we got to meet all of the others who had done the different rides that day.
On the Tuesday we joined the ride to Armstrong with a stop at the Rogers Flour Mill on route. We were very lucky in that we had one of the group that met us at the mill in their car, so that we could take advantage of the very good deals on flour and other foods that they sold. From there we were able to go on to Armstrong. About 10 km from Armstrong we had a choice of doing a shorter, flatter ride or continuing on to a hillier more scenic route. I accompanied our ride leaders on the hilly route, while most of the group took the short cut to Armstrong. I had to ride hard to keep up to the leaders, who are very strong riders! We stopped at the Armstrong Village Cheese Shop for a delicious lunch. Another day, another flat tire at the lunch stop! After helpful hands fixed it, on our way, and from there an easy ride back to Vernon. Today’s ride was some 70 km from the Super 8 Motel, with my fitbit reporting we had climbed 140 stories. On the way back we encountered the only rain we had on the rides – and it only lasted a few minutes. One of the other groups apparently got a good soaking on their ride! Another social at the campground in the evening, complete with prizes for the participants.
On the Wednesday we completed the trio of rides with the ride to Ellison Park for lunch, with a visit to the Allan Brooks Nature Centre on top of a hill overlooking Vernon. Today’s ride was short but quite hilly. The fitbit said I climbed 173 stories, riding some 45 km.
Our final day would have everyone doing a ride around Vernon. This consisted of visiting a new track on the edge of Vernon, a lake nearby with a coffee stop at a lovely little café with wonderful baking choices, in the country. From there we climbed up to the BX Press Cidery where we were able to sample some of their product (and have someone else carry our purchases home for us). On to lunch in a campground, followed by a ride down into Vernon to the Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. A huge distillery located in Vernon, where we got to see the spectacular facility as well as sampling a number of their products. On this ride I rode with the group riding the furthest. We covered some 90 km, and climbed some 193 stories during the ride. Just near the end of the ride, another leader got a flat tire, in the pouring rain! The helpful hands were all gone by then, leaving just two to fix the tire and get home.
The hub and spoke concluded with a meal at Kiki Gardens in Vernon. Great Chinese buffet meal with good company. Later that night, it poured, and as were all packing up to leave, it was also pouring, So the rain pretty well waited for us to finish our rides before beginning. It was a very well organized and led Hub and Spoke, and the leaders were all very upbeat and cheerful – a pleasure to be around all of them. The riders in turn were all friendly and happy too. There was a variety of rides each day, and they were extremely good at adapting to the wishes of the group. Everyone got to experience all of the rides. Everyone had a good time. This is the first hub and spoke that was almost completely led and organized by all women to our knowledge – and on the basis of this event, we should have many more of them! Thanks to all of the hard work by the organizers and ride leaders for making the event such a success!
by Brian Collier