Monday already of week 2, slow down time we have too much to see and you are going too fast! We left Vancouver this morning about 737am and arrived at Kelowna at 1230ish. Stopped on the way at a little town called Hope. It was just lovely, the town where the gold rush started. Had a cuppa and bickie and took heaps of photos before starting again off to Kelowna. Stopped at the lookout showing Lake Okatanaga - spectacular view! Booked into hotel, embarrassed myself - again! When receptionist asked me if this was my first time in Canada, I said oh yes and my first time in Canada too (I thought she had said Kelowna!). When she looked at me weirdly, I said did you say Kelowna and she said, no I said Canada. I think she was rethinking our booking! Went on then to Big White. Don't know how it happened but we ended up in a place called Beaverdell. Had to ask the banjo playing lady ( well she seemed like she should have been playing a banjo!) and she said it was about 1 hour back! Could have cried, but like the real troopers we are, back we went. Thank God, what a beautiful place, even though it has now closed for the season. It is so easy to imagine what it must look like in the season as there is still snow everywhere. I have wanted to visit this place for so long and it definitely did not let me down. I really felt like Mum was with us as she knew how much I wanted to see Big White. Mike, we imagined you there going up the gondolas and skiing down ( or more like falling flat on your face!). We were  going to buy you a snowboard but unfortunately  all was shut and chance missed! Never mind, will have to think of something else. Very disappointing! everything was shut so luckily we had some paper cups and as every good Aussie does, a bottle of red in the car. We toasted all our loved ones at home, ate some potato chips and left feeling very happy. Went for a walk around Kelowna when we got back, lovely place. On the water and they have a weird idea of what a "beach" is! No Canada it is not a bit of sand sitting on the edge of a lake! Dear me!