Luke’s home from the rigs for a couple of weeks, and when he’s here he likes to lash money around.  He decided to rent a boat, and invited Denis, Nicky and I to join him and Jan.  Haruka had to work so couldn’t come.

We were laden with beer-filled coolers, and met the person dropping the boat at the launch near the yacht club at noon on Labour Day.  Luke was the captain, so he was given a few instructions and we all hopped aboard.

Can you believe I’ve lived here for 27 years and have never been on the lake?  So I was quite thrilled with the whole thing as we roared off, headed under the bridge, and off to Rattlesnake Island.  I’ve only ever seen it from the highway, and so was quite intrigued to go up to it.

There were people standing on it, obviously no snakes live there any more, and there were a few kayaks about.  We cut the motor to float and watch the planes scoop water to dump on the Peachland/Summerland fire.  It was actually a rare day of decently clear skies so we could see quite a bit into the distance.

I had the common sense not to drink anything, but I saw Jan down an iced tea and thought oh oh.  Denis soon had to pee, as did Nicky and Luke.  Luke easily stood on the back of the boat, balancing himself while peeing.

Nicky and Denis each tried this stunt, but couldn’t do it.  It was great fun to see these two standing there trying to coax pee out of their bladders.  Nicky had to jump into the lake, swim to shore, and pee behind a boulder.  Denis just toughed it out for the rest of the trip.

As we all complained we had to pee, Luke said this was the last time he was inviting any of us to do anything as we were just so terrible.  I said why is it terrible to have to pee after 5 hours?  I said Jan’s said she has to pee, too and you didn’t include her in the list of people never to invite.

But aside from bladder issues, it was a hot day, the views were spectacular, and we were generally in good spirits.  I adore experiences like that.  And after boating all over the lake, we all agreed renting is the way to go as it’ll likely be another ten years before we want to do that again.  And then of course the fee and the gas are the kicker.

Then the next evening I was one of the privileged few to be invited to the Innovation Centre in downtown Kelowna to hang with the PM.  Yes, you read that right.  I don’t think there were more than a hundred of us there, so there were no people mobbing him and he could just move about the room, talking to folks.

Being the aggressive Hun that I am, I was the first person in line for a photo.  Unfortunately he didn’t know that’s why I was there, so he shook my hand and I had a few moments to blurt out I was a Trudeau girl in 1968.  He then replied, “I’ve got to get a beer” and headed off.

Never one to be deterred, I walked back up to him and said oh, I actually want a photo, and he replied “just ask.”  He’s so adorable.  Sadly, I had to close my eyes at the very moment of the photo, so look stupid, but he looks fab, so I went home feeling satisfied.  Two great events in one week.