Early one morning you are driving south along Highway 97. As you leave Peachland and round the shore by Antlers Beach, you have a perfect view of Okanagan Lake. You are the only motorist on the road. The lake is strangely still. A light mist drifts over the water and softens the edge of the hills surrounding the lake. The colours of pale blue, silver, and white blend together as the sun creeps over the eastern peaks.

How mysterious everything looks. You take your eyes off the road and glance toward the lake. Suddenly, a ripple shatters the smooth surface of the water. One hump appears, then a second, and then a third. The humps look like waves, but they are a darker colour than the water. You brake the car and park on the side of the highway. As you run toward the water’s edge, a large head appears in front of you. “Can this be?” you mutter to yourself.

The beast’s dark eyes stare at you for a moment. You stand hypnotized. Not a sound disturbs the morning calm. Then an eyelid slowly covers one of the animal’s eyes. Ogopogo has winked at you. You smile back delightedly. The creature nods once, and then it sinks slowly beneath the surface. Ripples fan out from the spot where the creature disappeared.

You return to your car and think about the Ogopogo puzzle. You have come face to face with the most famous resident of Okanagan Lake. You have shared a moment of communication. What did you see? Did you imagine it? Whom will you tell? What will you tell? Will you tell anyone at all?