The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Lake to Lake in Beautiful BC

May 30th to June 7th

Ride Director: Wendy Hesketh
Ride Co-Director: Allan Hesketh
Report by: Lary Schiller

On May 30, 2026, 23 BAC cyclists arrived in Vernon, BC, for a seven-day adventure in the Northern Okanagan Valley. We came from Texas, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and California—16 women and 7 men. Our hosts, Wendy and Allan Hesketh, were leading their first BAC ride. This was my 19th BAC ride and the first with mostly e-bikes. We’re getting older, and the hills seem steeper every year.

The Prestige Vernon Lodge featured a grand atrium housing the bar, restaurant, and pool, but navigating to the rooms required following a maze-like route. Wendy had arranged a large room for storing and charging bikes, which was greatly appreciated. Our welcome meeting was held near the pool, where the screams of children made conversation difficult, but dinner afterward gave everyone a chance to actually hear one another. By the end of the evening, introductions had been made, stories exchanged, and the excitement of a new week of riding was clearly evident throughout the group.

Only about 10,000 years ago, glaciers carved these valleys and left behind a chain of lakes framed by fertile farmland and forested hills. On our first ride, many of us climbed past Planet Bee Honey Farm for views of Okanagan and Kalamalka Lakes, then descended to Okanagan Lake and the Paddlewheel Park Museum. Paddlewheel steamboats once dominated transportation here until railroads and automobiles took over. At the lakeshore, a mass baptism was underway, but our group chose to keep riding.

Wendy planned excellent routes with shorter and longer options on mostly well-paved, lightly traveled roads. Along Route 6, huge logging trucks reminded us that forestry remains an important industry. We stopped in Lumby for coffee and apple fritters, while a few hardy riders continued to the falls. Orchards of apples, pears, and peaches thrive here, though vineyards now dominate. Every ride showcased the beauty and diversity of Okanagan agriculture. The region’s combination of rich soil, abundant water, and sunny climate makes it one of Canada’s premier agricultural areas.

On Tuesday we moved north to Salmon Arm on Shuswap Lake. The ride featured blue skies, fleecy clouds, and two favorite roads: Otter Lake and Deep Creek. I stopped at the Tool Museum, where Linda shared stories about the collection assembled by her husband, including an enormous homemade lawn mower that took years to build.

Salmon Arm felt more intimate and walkable than Vernon. The Prestige Waterfront Resort was a step up, and many of us found our way to the Shuswap Pie Company, where the strawberry-rhubarb pie was unforgettable. The hotel overlooked a marsh filled with birds, especially grebes. Some riders tackled the brutally steep climb to Canoe, while others enjoyed the popular Yankee Loop ride, with 40 miles, 2,200 feet of climbing, and a glorious downhill finish. A stroll along the waterfront and out onto the long pier provided beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

The predicted rain never arrived as we returned to Vernon. On the final day, some rode the lakeside trail toward Kelowna, while others explored Vernon’s historic murals. For our farewell dinner, we gathered at Farmstrong Cider Company, enjoying a delicious meal, sampling ciders, taking our group photo, and saying goodbye to new and old friends.

This was an exceptionally compatible group, and Wendy and Allan were terrific hosts and planners. Of my 19 BAC rides, this ranks among the very best.