Exploring Kelowna old & new – Father Pandosy Mission and a unique wine-paired lunch
It was a calm morning, chatting with Dad over a couple of pots of coffee, enjoying the view from his place high on a hill overlooking Okanagan Lake in West Kelowna.
I had 2 things on my list for the day – to re-visit Father Pandosy Mission and then go for a wine-tasting and lunch at the Summerhill Pyramid Winery’s bistro, a particularly memorable establishment that I was introduced to 3-4 years ago.
The buildings weren’t open at Father Pandosy Mission, but it offers great photo ops and lots of interesting artifacts at any time of year, and is well worth the $2 admission, collected in an honour box at the gate.
This house was built in the 1860s by guide and fur-trader John McGougall with dovetailed cedar logs, and was moved to the Mission site in 1968.
The barn was built in 1886 of notched round logs, and is used for equiment displays.
This bronze sculpture of Father Charles Marie Pandosy, O.M.I., was created by artist Crystal Kay Przybille to commemmorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the mission in 1860. It was installed at the Mission in 2012.
At the end of our tour, we discovered this heartbreakingly sad little feral kitten on the back porch of the Christien House. We went to the SPCA a block away, but they said that there was nothing they could do, as even if they did have room there are lots of feral cats here. Not what I wanted to hear, though I understand 🙁
We took a long drive south along the lake – much further than I’d planned due to confusing directions on the winery Web site (and only the vaguest memory of directions from my last visit). It’s very pretty out there, though 🙂
A massive forest fire came through here in 2003 (the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire), and the pockets that wen’t burned, and the rebuilding that continues to this day, intrigues me.
We eventually did find the Summerhill Pyramid Winery once I figured out that Lakeshore Road does not become Chute Lake Road 🙂
We first did a sampling of four of their wines – in my case a 2010 Merlot, a 2009 Cabernet Franc, 2010 Organic Riesling and a 2009 ‘G2K’ Pinot Gris. The Cabernet Franc in particular is superb, and the quality is reflected in the price 🙂
We each had something different for lunch. My elk lasagne, paired with a 2010 Pinot Noir, was as unique and delicious as I remember my pizza being on my last visit.
As we we driving away, three deer walked across the parking lot.
We’re resting at home now, getting ready for a visit to my sister and her hubby tonight.
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