Tuesday, August 18th, 2026
Hello Kal Lake Swimmers:
As if the speed tables on Postill Drive and the speed bumps on the Park entrance road weren't enough, the speed table happy District of Coldstream had to add three more on Kidston Road! Presumably they want to slow down traffic due to the lack of visibility around the tight corner just south of the Coldstream Creek Road intersection. Just like at the Red Gate crosswalk, one would likely be effective but nooooooooooo, they had to put in three! The blind corner is due to a tree hedge right at the corner. Logically the problem would be solved by moving the hedge back two metres but nooooooooo, that would make too much sense! Looks like our vehicle suspension systems are getting more of a workout than we're getting in the lake!
Yesterday afternoon, after our brains stopped rattling from the speed tables, four of us, Cindy, Darin, Sean and I, went from 33 degree air into 25 degree glassy water at the beach. Not a molecule of rubber was in the vicinity. With the lingering smoke we all were in cruise mode (most of the way until Darin got stupid and started to push it so, also stupidly, I had to stay with him) and were content to swim to the Point and back.
Our shocks should be rested and recovered enough by Thursday at 5:30pm when we'll hope for the smoke to leave us to do this again.
What are you all doing this Saturday morning? So far, Darin, Sean and I are planning to do our annual Swim/hike to Paul's Tomb in Kelowna. We leave from Sutherland Park at the foot of Knox Mtn at 8:00am and swim along the east side of Okanagan Lake for about 3 km until we get to a small cove called Paul's Tomb. From there we hike back to the foot of Knox Mountain on the well-established trail looking back down over where we had been swimming. We pack along a shirt, good sandals or shoes, a water bottle and whatever else we can fit into our swim buddies. Needless to say (but I will anyway) a wetsuit and fins can be quite a burden to pack on the hike so it's best to swim unadorned, so to speak. We always stop for rest breaks along the way.
If we want, we can stop for brunch downtown afterward. Please let me know if any of you would like to join us so that perhaps some carpooling can be arranged.
If the smoke is too thick, we would postpone the swim for one week to from Aug 22 to Aug 29.
Hope to see you on Thursday and Saturday!
Cheers,
Mike
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