The Spirit of the Okanagan sits demolished in front of her eyes.
Shelley McDonald香蕉视频直播檚 spirit is, well, not quite broken. But she is broken-hearted.
McDonald is the owner/operator of Carpe D香蕉视频直播橶ine, a business that takes guests on a boat cruise of Okanagan Lake aboard the Spirit of the Okanagan to sample some of the valley香蕉视频直播檚 wine from area wineries, and charcuterie from local cheese, bread, delis and grocery stores.
But on Tuesday, Aug. 1, just before 12 p.m., the unthinkable happened to McDonald. Her boat caught fire while in dry dock.
香蕉视频直播淚 was in town getting some supplies because we were going back out on the water on Friday (Aug. 4) when a girlfriend texted me that her son saw smoke coming from the area of Paddlewheel Park (where the boat was docked) and wondered if it was my boat,香蕉视频直播 said McDonald on Thursday, Aug. 3.
香蕉视频直播淚 texted my captain and while I was texting him asking if it was my boat, I missed his text that told me to get down here right now. He answered 香蕉视频直播榶es, it was the boat.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
McDonald had the boat in dry dock doing some minor repairs and getting it ready for what would have been a busy summer of cruising the lake. She said she香蕉视频直播檚 had to cancel 25 cruises as a result of the fire, which she believes was caused by a welder hired to do some of the repairs.
香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen him since (the fire),香蕉视频直播 said McDonald.
The boat was insured for being on the water with people aboard. It was not, said McDonald, insured for dry dock.
Like the guests on her cruises, McDonald香蕉视频直播檚 glass, she said, is always half-full. She is an eternal optimist. When asked what香蕉视频直播檚 next, she tried to think of the Greek phrase 香蕉视频直播 Illegitimi non carborundum 香蕉视频直播 that translates to 香蕉视频直播楧on香蕉视频直播檛 let the bastards grind you down.香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 love to get another boat and get back on the water next summer,香蕉视频直播 said McDonald.
Her venture created two new jobs and the wine and snacks were locally sourced.
香蕉视频直播淪mall business makes the world go around,香蕉视频直播 she said.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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