It’s funny how we like to call ourselves Travellers, or even Adventurers, whenever we go somewhere new, but we call all those other people who come to the same spot – Tourists. What’s worse, we even say things like “this place would be so much better if there were no Tourists”. To my surprise, it’s always been so – well at least since 1914.
We were in Penticton the other day, partly because it has a funny name, but mainly because it’s just a short drive from Peachland and Summerland (I kid you not, those are real names). Anyways, Penticton sits at the southern end of Lake Okanagan and has long been treasured as a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities and just relax on or beside the lake.
The lakefront is the place to be. There’s a beach with real sand, cafes with real coffee and – a real paddle steamer! “Hey guys, let’s all go check out the cool ship!” Hmm, the ladies don’t seem too interested in “paying to see a broken down old boat.” Ok, so I’ll just take the kids.
Up the ramp and in the door. We’re greeted by a nice young lady named Megan. “Hey, your name’s the same as …” “Yes – I know.” Pleasantries over, Megan asks that dreaded question. “How old are the children?” “Um, er, one medium and one small.” Megan runs a practiced eye over the kids. “The four-year-old is free. It’s three dollars for the eight-year-old, and seniors are five dollars.” We pay the eight bucks and turn our attention to the nearby machinery. “Hey grandad. What’s this huge boiler for?” Time for me to shine. “Ah, that heated the coffee for the passengers.” “And all these big pipes and stuff?” “Um, that must have – er – Megan, can you just fill in a couple of details for us?”
Megan tells us that the SS Sicamous was built in 1914 right here on the lake. Apparently, the Canadian Pacific Railway came up with a brilliant idea for up-selling their rail holiday experience. “We’ll combine the very latest in modern transportation and call it the Rail-Sail Package!” And, it was a success – for a couple of decades – until some crazy guys decided to build tracks for those new-fangled automobiles.
Here’s how it went. The upper crust of Canadian society would board their luxury train carriages in exotic places like Kamloops, then chuff chuff down to Penticton. At this point, they faced a vexing question – to stay overnight in one of the local hotels and board the Sicamous by 5:30AM, or, board the night before and relax in one of the thirty luxury cabins. Obviously, the evening boarding, silver service dinner, cocktails and dancing won the day. Now, the only question was – does one retire to one’s cabin with tastefully appointed bunk bed, or should one simply party on until sailing time.
5:30 AM. The steam whistle shrieks out. Last night’s revellers are starting to regret their indulgence. Time for a little refreshment before one commences the charming trip across the waters to far-away places like Kelowna. “A-hem. Waiter! What’s that abominable noise?”
“That would be the other passengers ma’am.”
“Other passengers? But I can see all my chums and none of them are in any mood for – noise making!”
“Yes ma’am. That would be – the – “Other” passengers. We takes another five hundred economy passengers on board just before we sails.”
“Oh no – you mean – Tourists!”
LamondG 