CS - Wednesday, June 6, 1984 - North Shore News a SE Se ee SE crane | Su) | JUST A CAR DRIVE AWAY Summer playground in Penticton PENTICTON, one of British Columbia’s sun- drenched playgrounds in the Okanagan Valley, lures every summer, thousands of beach-goers, sun-bathers, boaters and other outdoor recreationalists. This friend tourist des- tination is fuated on a By RAY LOGIE broad, fertile, alluvial fan created by the Shingle. Ellis tion of being between \1Lwo and Penticton creeks. lakes:the glittering Okanagan Lake that stretches like a It enjoys the unique posi- crooked finger for 110 WHEN ON VACATION kilometres (68 miles), cover- ing 351 square kilometets (137 square miles) of the valley floor, and the pictur- esque, 12.6-kilometre (eight- mile) Skaha Lake, yawning 20 square kilometres (eight square miles) in the hot sun. Okanagan Lake has a golden sandy beach on Pen- ticton’s north shore while sparkling Skaha Lake has a spectacular sandy beach where its azure waters gently caress the city’s south shore. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Penticton, in a spectacular vale and having a semi-arid climate, is des- cribed by residents and visitors alike as a ‘‘peach of a city.”’ In 1806, Tom Ellis, it is said, gazed upon the area’s munificence and agreed with the Indians’ descriptive name for the place. He planted a few fruit trees here. Fifty years later, orchards had spread across hill and dale. Today, with lakes, beaches and orchards, Penticton is truly a place to live forever. The city has more than 60 hotels, motels and_ resorts and over 70 restaurants and fast-food outlets, making it well-equipped to handle the influx of summer tourists. Penticton is easily accessi- ble: only 384 kilometres (240 Fiow to survive a hotel fire iF YOU are planning a holiday that includes stay- ing at a hotel this year, there are steps you can take to help ensure your safety. While the possibility of be- ing involved in a hotel or motel fire is remote, taking a few precautions and knowing what to do in an emergency ts important to every traveler. According to BCAA, sur- viving a fire begins right after you check into your hotel. Take a few minutes to find out about the building fire protection system, alarms, sprinklers and -extinguishers. Then cheéK the exits on your floor and memorize their location, counting the number of doors to th nearest exit. Test the windows to see how they open. When you go to bed, put the room key on the bedside table. If a fire begins in your room, call the fire depart- nt immediately and get out the room, closing the door behind you. BCAA warns hotel guests to take every alarm seridusby Shopping around for water rafting variety WITH more than a dozen outfitters offering raf- ting expeditions, there are lots to choose from. a There are differences,too, jeans, woollen socks, runners which make the packages and a sweater All could get competitive some. offer wet from the spray The river round-trip) transportation water seldom gets warm and from Vancouver, others use the spray from the rapids Willams Lake oor Prince coupled with an afternoon Rupert as their reporting breeze, can diminish the en point, some require reserva yovmment of those clad only in Qons as much as a year in ad cutoffs or a bathing suit vance, others, most notably the one day trips on the Thompson, require guests to only show up at the rendez vous area along the river on the morning of the trap Pood ois cxcellent, par troularly overnight Crips on the Although the weathics Thotnposcon along btaser fivces can be catremely hot in the take and Suimines along 259 219 Montreal return air Toronto return alr North Shore independent Travel Agents Park Royal North Richmond Centre Mall Personal floatation devices, provided by the out fitters, must be worn at all tumes while on the river Waterproof camera bags are often also provided Take plenty of film in waterproot containers Allow oa minimum of two rolls per day For information on water rafting and the different trips available, call Gaillhan booster at the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC at 6&7 1600 MEEP, Meep ... It's the Roadrunner We match any advertised price a it See your The Roadrunner Is the smalies? folding Qual voltage hairdryer availabie. * 1250 powerful watts - folds easily for go anywhefe > eins convenience 3 Gh 0 + dual voltage NITA - 3 speeds. 3 heats QW @ - igntweight and compact QUIS ¢ durabte plastic travel case A mini dryer with big Grver performar x et sac? A 898 Reg $21 98 922-9650 276-2606 If you hear an alarm, act! Take the room key, keep low and make for the door. Crawl, in a smoke-filled area, since fresh air will be near the floor. Feel the door with the back of your hand — don’t open it if it is hot. Check the hall, if there is smoke, keep low, counting the doors to the exit. Do not use the elevator. The heat sensor in the elevator could take you right to the fire, trapping you. Walking to the ground level is usually the safest way to go, keeping a tight hold on the handrail to avoid being knocked down. If you can’t get to the ground level, go to the roof or back to your room. While waiting for rescue, seal your room from in- coming smoke by putting water-soaked material over the vents and under the door. If there is smoke in your room, open the window. Break it if necessary. Make a> tent around your head with a blanket, keeping your face near the window. If smoke is coming from the _ floors below, filter it out by using a water-soaked towel. Let someone know where you are by phone or by hang- ing a bedsheet out the window. Finally, BCAA recom- mends that you listen to the instructions of rescuers. Remember few people are burned to death in fires. Smoke inhalation and panic are your two worst enemies! miles) from Vancouver, 688 milometres (430 miles) from Calgary, 368 kilometres (230 miles) from Spokane, and 464 kilometres (290 miles) from Seattle. It is serviced by thrice-daily flights and coach lines. Visitors can spend time at any of the areas’s five golf courses, the water slides, the tennis courts, the marinas, and the amusement parks which dot the landscape. WAIKIKI Alt only WAIKIK} $529 8 Days, 7 Nights, Air & Hotel LAS VEGAS $279 5 Days, 4 Nights, Air & Hotel RENO $249 5 Days, 4 Nights, Air & Hotel ‘MAPLE LEAF TRAVEL 736-3555 Reg. get 187-3 $429 PORT HARDY TWICE EVERY BUSINESS DAY Monday-Friday © 7:00 am 5 Sunday ¢ 5:35 pm 35pm