Since mid June till the last couple of weeks most of us were whining that the weather was not up to our usual expectations.  May was lovely then it took a turn for the worst.

Actually, it wasn’t really bad as most days we had lots of sunshine but always followed by clouds and some rain and definitely cooler.  Tomatoes didn’t flower much and most of our gardens looked less than fruitful.  However a couple of hot days changes everything and we all rejoice.

After the first week, we forget the cool spring and start to moan about the heat.  Gardens now need to be watered at first light before the sun really gets going, tomatoes swell and ripen and flower beds are glorious.  What do we do then?  We hide indoors!

Dave and I are both outdoor people and our doors are opened from the moment we get out of bed until going back to bed that night.  We do not use air conditioning, do not have it installed and do not like it.  Many of our friends keep their homes so cold that you need a sweater.  If it was so cold in winter, you would turn up the heat

The luxury of entering a nice cool store and shopping in air conditioned comfort is soon forgotten with the slap of heat you get when you go back outside into the sun.  Loading groceries into a hot car and then driving with all windows down to grab some breeze, is not fun.  It is not worth turning on the air in the car as you are home before it kicks in.

So how to beat the Okanagan heat?  Spend part of your day up to your chin in cool water.   In Oliver we have a fabulous pool and it is a luxurious experience to float round while enjoying the trees and mountain views.  Being a definite senior I have the benefit of swimming in a comparatively quiet environment.  There are exercises going on in half the pool but the other half is for those of us who just want to float, swim and chat with the regular attendees.  Sometimes being an old fart has it’s advantages, and this is one of them.

Once or twice each year I go with various grandchildren for a float down the Penticton channel, which is another great experience and, for those of us who want a cheap day out, it is free!  I can take all my grandkids down the channel for the cost of the gas to get there.  Always a good idea to take two cars, so you can park at one end, then all pile in one vehicle to drive to the start of the system.  Taking your own floatie is a must or you have to hire a tire and take the channel bus back.

Many people do the channel in real style with huge blow up islands that seat eight or ten, plus the cooler of drinks, but a cheap foam tube from the dollar store, is lightweight and doesn’t need inflating.  The fast current makes it very easy to just swim down to the end, you just pick up your feet and go.  However, when travelling with kids it is good to take some floats and tie them together, so nobody floats off alone.  The journey takes  a good two hours so covering up exposed skin is to be advised.

What is it about water that makes us feel like kids again?  I just know that when Labour Day rolls round and the pool closes, it really feels like I am missing something in my life.  Grandkids all back to school and I don’t want to do the channel alone, it is much more fun in a group.  Would I use a covered pool in winter?  Probably not.  The idea of going out in the cold and changing into a swimsuit seems like a lot of bother.  However, for the next few weeks I do not have to think of that, I will be up to my chin in water.