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James Kanester envisions the Okanagan one day being a world-class destination for cyclists.
When he talks about the cycling trip he made along the Danube River from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary he can't help imagine travellers one-day sharing similar stories about cycling trips along the Okanagan Rail Trail.
"I hope that something like that will happen here. Maybe, eventually, all the way from Salmon Arm to Kelowna," he says.
Through efforts put forth by the Silver Star Rotary, Kanester and his fellow Rotarians have raised close to $30,000 for the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative — an organization created to help bring the rail trail from Coldstream to Kelowna to life.
To date, the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative has raised almost $7.8 million dollars through various organizations and charities.
"The rail trail is one of those things that we believe in," says Kanester. "It is going to be important for our area and attract both local people for their recreation as well as people from other countries and other areas of the province and Canada."
This weekend they are hoping to add to that total with the 5th annual "Ride for the Rail Trail" cycling event.
This year the ride will be on Sunday, July 22th starting at Kin Beach.
Three routes options are available:
- a 66-km route that goes to Armstrong and back on secondary roads;
- a 98-km route that goes to Armstrong and out Salmon River road to Glenemma and back to Vernon; and the longest,
- a 126-km route that adds a loop north of Armstrong.
"We've had a hundred riders in the past, and we are hoping to reach that again," says Kanester.
All the proceeds from the Rotary Ride will be going to the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative.
The number of riders will be limited to the first 200 to register at RotaryRide.ca.
"This event provides a great opportunity to help build a world-class rail trail.”
The registration fee for all tours is $85 including a BBQ. A donation tax receipt of approximately $50 will be provided by mail via the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan after the event.
