Roy & Carols Retirement

Christmas

2012-01-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

Just before heading north for Christmas, our friends and us went on a Christmas hotel tour of Palm Springs. Each place served us goodies and we got to see some interesting hotels from the fourties and fifties that were kept to the design of the era.

Going north we spent the night in Yreka and this was an interesting frost pattern on the truck.

We went with the Davenports to a coffee shop close to their house with a live band. Here we are up to our shenanigans again. No wonder the women don't want to be seen with us.

This might be a more appropriate picture with Janet and James.

We had a grave side memorial for my mother with the family. Missing is Kristen and her family. She went to the funeral and represented our family there.

Here's Carol and Janet at the Cactus Club. We had breakfast with Jim and Janet before we headed back south. Our thanks go to them for letting us crash at their home over Christmas.

Fall

2011-12-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

End of October meant a trip to the Apple Barn for a hay wagon ride with the grand kids Lexi, Connor, Caleb, Lincoln and Rielly, and to the pumpkin patch to pick out carving pumpkins.

We went with Shirley and Larry to a Canucks game in Vancouver, after dinner of coarse.

Carol's birthday party at George and Della's

We drove to Vernon for Zada's birthday party. Here's the grandkids sleeping on the way.

I'm glad I spent two months visiting with my mother. A week after we left for down south, she passed away. She's finally in a better place. She did not recognise people any more.

A rest stop on the I-5 in northern California at Mount Shasta. Finally some sunshine.

A better view of Mount Shasta. Can't believe it's almost time to head back for Christmas, but someone has to help Santa with the presents. I'm going to miss the daily soaking in the hot pools.

Google

2011-10-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

Before we left Vernon, Carol spotted the Google mapping vehicle. I checked and we are now on it. We are in the passing lane, second vehicle in. I almost missed it as we are only in two frames. Yves and Sandi crossed the border a few minutes ago with clear sailing. We will be along soon!

End of Summer

2011-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

We must be going on a trip. How can you tell?? Yves and Roy are under the trailer welding. This was the water tank whick came off in Mexico.

Our caravan at a rest stop, on our way to Red Deer. Yves and Sandi's rig, our rig and Doug and Adelle's rig. My tranny blew in Cochrane, so I high tailed it into Red Deer to get it fixed.

We had a mens day out and went to a wrecker north of Red Deer, where they had hundreds of cars from the fifties. This place was on an episode of Canadian Pickers.

Down the road was the Reynolds Car Museum. They had cars and farm equipment.

Another one of the displays, a Corvair van and a 58 Buick.

I couldn't resist getting a picture with my signs at the Dodge main parts distribution for western Canada.

Carol with her sisters Frieda and Shirley. Larry and Shirley came out to the Okanagan on their maiden voyage of their new motor home. Raudz is an excellent restaurant in Kelowna with all local ingredients and a famous chef.

The end of summer was a block party concert by our friend Rob and his band, The Dial Tones. (Mostly retired Telus guys, hence the name). Gold old rock and roll.

Some people rolled an old VW through the set.

Here's the host of our party, Rob's wife Chantelle with Carol, Sandi and Dixie. We had an excellent pot luck between sets.

A club of Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky vehicles had a rally through the Okanagan. They don't build these anymore as GM shut down both Pontiac and Saturn, so these are now collectable. There were over a hundred from the western provinces and the western states.

This was our RV park for the past 5 months at Swan Lake. We left and are in Abbotsford visiting for a few weeks before heading back south for winter.

Summer

2011-10-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Summer was mostly spent in Vernon. Here are some grandkids learning to swim.

And juice and popsicles after.

Jonah and Zada helping walk Mocha at her favourite dog park, with streams and trails through the forest.

I call this the Red Neck Crew at Nascar. George and Della came out for a visit and we went to Nascar. Here's Carol, Della, George, Sandi, Yves and Roy.

Photo finish.

Carol and Roy had a picnic at their property.

Car show downtown Vernon.

Back to the race track where we saw the RV trailer races. That was something to see, pieces of trailers flying everywhere.

Carol took Lexi to Build a Bear and she made a Hello Kitty. Here she is putting the heart in.

Made a nice pillow for the trip home.

Grandkids at Melanie's new place.

Vernon

2011-06-10T12:39:00.001-07:00

We are now in Vernon for the summer. Here's four of the seven grandkids.

Going Home

2011-06-02T20:37:00.001-07:00

Mocha was cold so we always had to chase her away from the front of the heater.

We along with Chuck and Judy were in charge of dinner one night. Carol made salmon with spinach and rice stuffed in filo dough and baked. Judy made baklava for dessert. The theme was Mediterranean.

Here's cousins Carol and Lorna. (Maybe Tom can email me a better picture).

Then a couple of morjez showed up so we knew it was time to leave.

We all met at a restaurant in Lakeview for breakfast. Here the waitress is sucking her snot back in while taking and order. I thought it was picture worthy.

On the trip north we ran into a cattle drive down the highway.

The first night we made it to Ellensburg Wa (from close to the California border), then the next night we made it close to Penticton where our friends from Palm Spring, Dave and Linda, are camp hosts at a RV park in the golf course.

Oregon

2011-05-31T13:11:00.001-07:00

Art and Margaret came with us in their RV to the Oregon Coast. Nice sunny days for the beach. Before we got into town two of the leaf springs on the trailer broke. We blocked the axle up with pieces of wood. They replaced all 4 springs with heavier ones but kept the trailer overnight and plugged it in for us to stay the night at the shop.

We toured a working lighthouse.

Here's the stairway looking down. The light is all electric now but in the old days it was an oil fired light. The prisms are still in use, imported from Paris around 1900.

We went to old town Newport, by the sea.

This seafood restaurant was recommended to us. Rachael Raye featured it on one of her shows.

Roy had short ribs and prawns. It was good but he had to get past the prawns with their heads on with shell and legs.

Carol had the fish and chips, which was excellent. Nice crisp fried without dough and greasy oil.

Here she is trying her first taste of crab cake.

Art and Margaret headed back home (north) and we headed east to Bend. Over the pass we hit snow coming down in big feather flakes. We stayed at Thousand Trails and then in the morning met our caravan at a truck stop restaurant. After a good breakfast we all headed south to Lakeview.

This is where they caught Lorna cheating.

The men could not figure out how to light the fire without kindling.

Carol was in a skit with some other ladies and got her words out.

Of course we are in the US so the men had to stop beside the road and pull out their revolvers. This was the first time Roy shot a large caliber automatic hand gun. A little different than a rifle.

Carol and Lorna dressed up in wigs and took off their glasses to see if they were recognizable. After they took their glasses off they were not recognizable to each other. Roy was tracing family trees and found Carol and Lorna are 3rd cousins.

Wedding

2011-05-15T22:28:00.001-07:00

This Sunday we went to one of Carol's best friends sons wedding at Minter Gardens. Here's the bride and father in anticipation.

The vows under the tent in the pouring rain.

The wedding march down the hill to the reception hall.

The cutting of the cake. It was good to have the grooms mother at the wedding and most of the reception. We checked her out of the hospital for the occasion, then back in. Everyone was glad she did not miss it.

Trip North

2011-04-07T11:28:00.001-07:00

On April 1st a group of us headed north together. I couldn't think of a good April Fools joke to play without sending someone way out of their way traveling, so I left it alone. We took a different route out of Palm Springs to bypass the traffic of LA. Here's an interesting rock formation.

We drove past the California Poppy Preserve, where the poppys went on for miles and miles, blanketing many hillsides.

It was around 40 degrees when we left and the air quit working so Carol kept cool with an ice pack.

Here's part of our mini caravan. We had portable radios so we could coordinate potty and lunch breaks together.

According to the rainbow Wayne and Dixie had a pot of gold in their RV. (Probably all her winnings at the casino). This was at Seven Feathers RV and Casino. They had the best buffet I had in a long time. Very fresh food. I had prime rib for dinner and dessert. After Oregon we split our separate ways with us going over the border, Wayne and Dixie to Lynden for night and Yves and Sandi all the way to Vernon.

We're spending a few days in Abbotsford before heading to Vernon. Grand daughter Lexi was in a fashion show at The Bay, modeling Easter dresses.

Down the runway in another dress. She was a natural.

Going Away Party

2011-03-27T14:05:00.001-07:00

All the people on our street had a block party as we are all leaving soon. There was 4 types of chilli served along with salads. It's sort of like leaving summer camp and saying good bye to all the friends you made.

Algodones

2011-03-26T15:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I ran off with the neighbour lady to Algodones Mexico. This is the entry to Mexico. You can walk over and no one checks you, just a straight walkway in.

I had my dental work done there for 10% of what it would be in Canada, and also got new glasses with sunglasses and bi-focals for $125.00. (Including the eye exam). Dixie got new lenses for her glasses plus another set.

While we waited for the glasses to be ready we went to lunch at a lovely outdoor restaurant with a live band and good Mexican food. Here's one of the back alley shops we went through. We also went to a grocery store with 8 tasting stations with 5 different drinks on each and were back home by dinner.

Kings and Queens

2011-03-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

After we got back to Palm Springs we started with the Tour de Palm Springs bicycle race. We knew several of the over 7,ooo entrants. There were different length courses.

Roy went to the Renaissance Fare in Palm Springs. Had a lovely time. Carol ordered the more boosomy pictures removed so we're stuck with this one.

Then March came in with Roy's birthday. Older but not wiser?

Some of our friends from the Okanagan, along with cousins Ernie and Joni from Delta.

Roy took Ernie and Joni to the Greek Festival. There was lots of Greek food to try as well as Greek dances and displays. Roy met Bill and Lillian Vanderzalm there and had a visit with them.

Now for the Kings. When Roy was at the Greek festival, Carol went to LA to see a Kings versus Canucks game.

To make it more even the Canucks had to play on their knees, and they still beat them. Really they are practicing here.

Dave went with her and the place was over 50% Canuck jerseys in the crowd. Tomorrow is a Canucks versus Ducks game in Anaheim and there are 5 buses going in from here full of Canuck fans.

End of Trip

2011-02-08T19:51:00.001-08:00

This was our site in Catavina. Pictures don't do it justice. The rock formations were fantastic. We had a campfire in the evening and there was a tree with large branches going straight sideways. Ron walked into it not once but twice.

I did another coffee breakfast in Colonia Vincente Guerrero. Here's Ron getting his morning coffee in his housecoat.

At Estero Beach we all went to the restaurant for our last meal together. All the men wore Hawaiian shirts in memory of Randy, who liked to wear them.

Interesting urinals, all different heights.

This is the huge home of the owner of the RV site, facing the ocean. This picture was taken from our RV.

Here's a Bimbo. We saw Bimbo delivery trucks all through our trip.

This is the final hill to the border. Tijuana on the right and the US on the left. The zig zag wall is the border fence put up by the US to keep people out.

Where we were entering the line to the US, it was backed way passed there. We budged into line by the police and jammed the whole intersection. The police wanted us to go to the back of the line but the first RV was too big and pulling a towed vehicle. He explained he could not turn around, so the beleaguered police asked if they had three waters. They gave him two waters and a coke and he let all seven of us in the line. The other vehicles we not too happy but we were on our way.

This is in the final line. Vendors were set up in between the lanes selling everything imaginable, including prescription medicine. It took us two hours to get through, even with butting in line. We made it to Palm Springs for dinner.

Sombre Evening

2011-02-05T19:54:00.001-08:00

Tonight was a sombre evening for us and our caravan group. Just before dinner we got word that Randy passed away. Details are sketchy but we understand he made it to La Paz and his aorta valve in his heart burst. It was a huge shock to the group. Carol and Linda took it hard as well as Roy and Dave. We made such a friendship with Randy and Karen.

Randy Gobiel 1958 - 2011

Randy on the quad trip.

One of our first get togethers. Carol, Dave, Barry, Vanda, Randy and Karen.

Randy we miss you! It was great to get to know you.

Down to Eight

2011-02-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

We are down to eight rigs now but not the way we hoped. Karen came out of her rig calling for help. When we went over there Randy was not responding. He came to with chest pains so we put him in our truck and raced for the hospital. Luckily I went to town in the morning and snooped around so I knew where most things were. After he stabalized there they were going to release him when he had another attack. They called an ambulance to take him code 3 to a larger town north of here. Linda went with them in the ambulance and we went back to the campsite and had a rest and got up to go at 6 am and bring their rig there. So far they determined it had something to do with his heart and they were transferring him to La Paz for to a larger hospital for more tests and his medical insurance was going to airlift them both back to Canada. Barry our wagon master and wife Vanda came to the hospital and we moved their rig to a Federal Police station. Their medical insurance will transfer their rig back. The above picture has Randy on the left in a wheel chair waiting for the ambulance for the 5 hour ride to La Paz. Next is Vanda, Randy's wife Karen and Dave. We are waiting word how things went.

This is the hallway in the hospital. Notice the dirty walls. It was cold at night in there and Karen and Linda froze all night.

A view from our winding highway to the road yet to travel, just south of Loreto.

A stop to enjoy the view of the Sea of Cortez.

Same place.

Coming into Loreto there is a Canadian development with golf and condos.

Our private lagoon where five of us camped for 2 nights.

Another side trip I took and found these colourful houses. Mostly people from Oregon here.

Heading north we hit high winds and sand storm heading to Geurrero Negro.

This shows how narrow parts of the highway are and how close semis come to our rigs.

We saw this car blazing at the side of the road as well as two flipped semis.

When we got here Senior Roy hosted happy hour with the customary sombrero.

After that we had blindfold races The driver is blindfolded and the passenger gives directions around the pylons on the course.

Later Carol went.

Here she is crossing the finish line on a perfect run. Others went way off course and almost hit signs and parked vehicles as well as spectators.

Roy came in first thanks to Carols excellent navigation calls.

Tecolate

2011-01-31T15:28:00.001-08:00

After Carol did the wash someone thought it would be funny to put my underwear on the wagon master's flag pole. When we left here Barry hooked his steps onto something and bent them all up. Two couples stayed behind with their rigs to explore further and meet other friends that were coming down to Cabo to meet them. They will then hook on to a later caravan coming back.

This was a shower in the camp site.

On our way north we stopped for lunch in a little town that had a music museum. Here's some of the steps inside with different heights.

These were steps on the sidewalk in town. You always have to watch where you walk.

We arrived in Tecolate Beach in time for happy hour.

I made friends with this little puppy. It was so skinny, we were wondering if it would make it to the next day.

The next day we had breakfast on the beach. There was a little concession restaurant that opened just for us.

Then relaxing in the sun. (like the commercial on TV).

Barry found an octopus and showed us before releasing it back to the sea.

View from our trailer back window. The Sea of Cortez is such a colourful blue.

In the late afternoon Roy hosted Happy Hour. He got out our Starbucks machine and made Iced Mochas. The couple on the right are from England and were interested in seeing our big rigs up close.

This morning we lined up to leave. It was hard to leave this beautiful place on the beach. We are now in CD Constitution for the night on our way north.

Box Canyon

2011-01-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

Our little internet cafe at the beach by our satellite uplink.

Carol did laundry and this is the drying system. She called it Baja Breeze. You can't buy it in stores.

We rented a bunch of quads and rode to a box canyon. Here are 5 burrows we saw on the way there.

Riding into the box canyon.

At the end.

Looking back towards the entrance.

A nice waterslide at the end. After Carol and I rode to town on the quads and did some shopping.

Cabo Cruise

2011-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

This is the ship we went on for our diner cruise in Cabo. It was an all you can eat and all you can drink cruise for $27.00 per person.

A couple of cruise ships in port. One was the Disney Cruise and the other a Carnival Cruise Ship.

Our group on the top deck.

At lands end, the most southern tip if the Baja.

Some of the houses along the shore cliffs.

There was a live band playing.

Sunset.

The top deck was the drinks and live band, the second deck was dinner and the bottom deck was the dinner show, highlighting South American regional dance.

Traynor the husky horned in on our picture of the marker ball at the Tropic of Cancer. At kunch today we arrived at Los Barriles on the sea of Cortez, between Cabo and La Paz, RV ing on the beach.

Loreto to Cabo

2011-01-24T21:03:00.000-08:00

Having a good breakfast in Loreto. Fresh squeezed orange juice.

We went four by fouring up a dirt road to a mission 32 km in the mountains.

On our way we saw this tree growing out of the rock.

Finally up at the mission after bumpy dirt roads, the mission is paved with brick.

The San Javier Mission was built in 1750.

My new friend miss Cinco de Mayo.

The next two nights we spent in the capitol city of La Paz. A beautiful sea walk with nice shops. We stayed at an RV park owned and started by Mennonite Missionaries in the fifties.

One of many statues along the sea walk. (Sea of Cortez).

Of coarse all the Canadians watching the Canucks games on satellite outdoors. After leaving La Paz we officially entered the Tropic of Cancer.

After La Paz we drove to Todos Santos on the Pacific side where I saw Tim Spencer, who lives there. We saw him five years ago when we came down here. When we got to Cabo, there was a political parade which we found ourselves in the middle of. Took like an hour to go five blocks. As you can see in this picture they were butting in everywhere.

Dave hated this guys posters because he is always pointing, so of coarse I had to get him one. I placed it in his windshield facing in, to greet him in the morning. I wrote on it Pull my finger.

Carol went on a glass bottom boat ride.

Some of the colorful fish.

The very end of the Baja Peninsula.

Karen jumping in to go snorkeling. The airconditioning quit working in the truck so I brought it in to get fixed. The charged me 90 Pesos, which is less than $9.00. They also fixed the horn and washed the truck.

Mulege

2011-01-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

We visited the town of San Igacio. This is the church in the town square.

This is the inside of the church which was built in 1786.

As we walked through the village we stumbled upon a tortilla factory. They gave us samples. They were so good fresh so we bought 2 dozen.

New family photo.

Lovely little residence.

This is the grave yard in town. Very colourful.

On the road again. This is Devil's Grade. 3 miles of 12% downhill grade.

Past the little town of Mulege (pronounced Mew la hey), we came down a last hill and saw this lovely beach. That's the beach we were staying at.

Carol settled in quickly.

There's miles and miles of beaches here. We met a lot of people from BC here.

The sun was setting on our right as the moon was rising on our left.

Roy went beach combing with Linda (from Kelowna).

We ordered in fresh prawn from today's catch and Vonda showed us how to shell and devein them.

We had a nice pot luck and prawn barbecue on the beach.

Carol with her feast. I did one skewer with lime and the other with garlic and butter.

They were so good Carol ate them up. Here's proof of her actually eating her first prawn meal.

One night we had a campfire on the beach with the full moon behind. We spent 2 nights here on the beach.

Here's an assortment of shells Roy collected on the beach. Nice patterns on the shells.

Whale Watching

2011-01-16T21:00:00.001-08:00

Today Carol went out on a whale watching expedition. The group went out in two small boats.

Greeters to the ocean.

Mexico is the only place you can go up to the whales and pet them.

A closer look of each other.

Saying goodbye.

After the whale expedition we drove to our next night's stop. The best authentic Mexican food at the onsite restaurant. Some baja race teams stay here during the race. There are three helicopter pads always in use during the race. We tried some new mexican dishes, (new to us).

Day 5

2011-01-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

Day 5 was sort of uneventful. At least for us. We were meandering inland on the highway and our tour leader was telling us over the radio about the dry lake bed we were crossong, that it is the route of the Baja 1000 Race. The road has about a 4 inch drop at the pavement edge. We saw the motorhome in front of us drop the rear wheels off the pavement, and couldn't get back up. He was still going full speed and the back end started going down the embankment. He then steered right and caught a dirt side road at the bottom. Any other decision would have flipped the motorhome in front of us. Any other place on the highway did not have this boulder free way to a side road. The only reason this part of the road was smooth going down is probably because of the Baja 1000 traffic.
In the picture above is Barry and Vanda's 11th anniversary. Our campsite had the best seafood as it is a port city, in Geurrero Negra.

Inland

2011-01-14T17:15:00.000-08:00

Today we started heading inland after following the Pacific Coast for 35 km. Here is an unauthorized Starbucks which the company can do nothing about because it is in Mexico.

Here is a pair of cacti. One is a young bud and the other is old and dying.

Here's the same cacti in bloom. They bloom once in their lifetime.

Our group did a walking tour through a cacti jungle.

Here's a roadside memorial to Hector. He must have been a truck driver who was killed at this tight corner. There is a picture of him in the cab looking out.

More cacti beside the highway. They're getting bigger.

This was an area with huge round rocks. They call it a rock garden. It went for about 30 km. We are now in a campsite and getting ready for dinner. Our tour leader has a satellite internet connection so I can update way in the boonies.

Day 3

2011-01-13T20:09:00.001-08:00

Our caravan heading south through the country side.

One of many military check points. Usually they just wave you through. This one just asked where we were going and petted Mocha through the window.

One of many fields of cacti. This kind they sell in stores for eating. They don't have prickles.

We passed a Federal Police building on the highway. They had rumble strips and speed bumps on the highway in front of it.

We arrived at our RVing on the beach site.

Here's a sand dollar. The beach was all full of them.

This is the view from the water.

Several miles of nice clean beaches. Again Mocha loved the ocean. She's a well traveled dog, from the ocean in Alaska to the Ocean in Mexico and points in between.

For dinner we had a barbeque and then a fire on the beach with a beautiful sunset.

Ensenada

2011-01-13T16:21:00.001-08:00

This was our welcoming sight in Mexico, south of Tijuana.

One rest stop was at the ocean where Mocha and the other dogs ran and ran.

Part of our caravan.

Entering Ensenada.

This was our RV park right in the city.

We all went to town. Here are typical street vendors.

Here's Barry, our tour guide.

A real Baja Bug.

One night club we passed was a little rowdy. Girls were dancing on the bar. There was a cruise ship in port, where they were from.

We went to a quieter place, Hussongs Cantina, the oldest one in Ensenada, which opened in 1892. There were a couple of cruise ship girls who grabbed my as I was taking this picture, and made me dance with them. They had bumper stickers across their bumpers.

After that we went to a taco place next door. The best tacos ever. Pork or beef or chicken or cheese melted in.

Mexico Visas

2011-01-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

Here's our group waiting for the transit to Mexico to apply for our travel visas.

This is the walking bridge into Mexico from the U.S. We got a bird's eye view of the lane we are supposed to use tomorrow on our entry into Mexico.

I was in charge of getting milk for the group.

After we got back to San Diego we went as a group for all you can eat Chinese food for dinner. Tomorrow morning all 12 RV's head off on our caravan to Cabo. We should be back Feb 7.

Dog Show

2011-01-08T19:20:00.001-08:00

Today we went with our neighbours to a large dog show here. People from all over the US were showing their dogs. There were over 3,300 dogs showing. We mingled with the hoity toities.

Here are some Golden Retrievers in final judging, all straight in a row, on their best behavior.

One of my favourites here is the German Pinscher.

This dog has an interesting pattern in his coat.

Happy Holidays

2011-01-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Christmas Happiness. We got our grandson Woody pajamas from Toy Story. He was excited and ran away to the other room. We were wondering what happened to him and he came running into the room wearing his pajamas and the Woody cowboy hat he already had. Now his costume is complete.

Then we headed to Vernon for a second Christmas. Here is Carol's sister Frieda.

We got Zada riding lessons for her birthday and Christmas combined. She loves horses and was a natural on one. She saved a lesson for Nana to see.

Micha wanted an electric guitar, so we got him a toy one as a gag, before presenting the real one.

Four of seven grandkids. After we got back from Vernon we had a third turkey dinner at our friends in Abbotsford, before returning to California. On our trip back we stopped in Disneyland and had breakfast with the other three grandkids. Lucky for us to have Facebook to find them.

Last night we were at a New Years party with a few neighbours, but we did not make it to midnight, with everyone going home at 11 pm.

Back in Canada

2010-12-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Canada was uneventful. Just a bit of snow in Northern California through the Siskyou Pass. We are in Abbotsford to meet friends and celebrate Christmas and then off to Vernon for actual Christmas. Hoping to get back on the road on boxing day to get back by New Years. While in Abbotsford we are staying at Davenports.

Markets

2010-11-27T22:11:00.000-08:00

Today on our way to the markets we passed the fire scene and here is the aftermath. It was an oasis with towering palms.

At the College of the Desert Market we played hide on Yves.

Carol got a massage. Hey Guy, easy on the butt.

Yves got a massage also but she stayed away from his butt. Actually she gave them a good rub down. After we went to Marie Calendars Pies for lunch and all had Shepherds Pie and pies for dessert. After dinner we went to the Mexican Market in Indio. Sort of a dollar store meet flea market.

Black Friday

2010-11-26T22:28:00.000-08:00

Today was Black Friday where stores have huge sales after Thanksgiving. Carol and I braved the crowds at the Outlet Mall. Some stores opened at 3 or 4 am and people lined up 2 days ahead of time. Traffic was a zoo.

I had to put it in 4X4 to get into a parking spot.

This afternoon we noticed smoke east of us, which turned to a huge plume. The oasis preserve down the road is on fire. Good thing there is no wind or we would be evacuated. Tomorrow we will look if they got it out.

Carols Back

2010-11-16T22:16:00.000-08:00

Carol just flew in from Kelowna. She went up to visit the grandkids for their birthdays while I held the fort here looking after Mocha. Back to flip flops.

Lemon Tree

2010-11-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

For the second Sunday in a row we went to Shermans Deli for lunch. Their sandwiches are 3 or 4 inches thick with meat. I had a turkey and pastrami. MMM

We bought a lemon tree and planted it today. Hopefully next year we will have our own lemons along with shade. It is a Mayer Lemon tree which is a sweeter lemon. Lemon aid anyone? The watering system is still in place from the olive tree we ripped out.

Rat Patrol

2010-11-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Yves and I had some time on our hands so we rebuilt the golf cart. We put new batteries in, upgraded wiring, reupholtered the seats and a camo paint job. The old show Rat Patrol gave us inspiration. The cart goes like stink now. All the other guys in the park are envious.

Here's some of the stickers I made up for it.

We didn't have the nerve to put this one on.

Birthday

2010-10-29T09:34:00.001-07:00

Thursday was Carol's birthday so we spent the morning at the pool. I was her pool boy so I had to slather her regularly with lotion.

For dinner we went to The River in Palm Springs to PF Changs, with Yves and Sandi.

I took care of the squawking birds.

Yves and I took out an olive tree by our patio. It's the worst tree, always dropping olives to step on and make a mess. Also Mocha would eat them and choke.

After delimbing and cutting the main roots we tied it to the truck...

And yanked it out. Now to go plant and tree shopping for the ones we like.

In Texas Mocha tore a toe nail out so when we got here we took her to the vet where they removed her nail at the base. We had to put the cone on her so she wouldn't lick it. After a few days she's back to her rambunctious self.

Palm Springs

2010-10-14T22:45:00.001-07:00

We're finally in Palm Springs for the winter. The only problem is it's 39 degrees celcius (104f), but it's supposed to cool down to the 80's (30c). Now just waiting for our friends to come down.

Thanksgiving

2010-10-12T15:19:00.001-07:00

We left Georgetown TX on Monday. Getting ready to leave we saw this spider after Caleb ran through the web. Fold a five dollar bill in half and that is the size of this guy. He must snack on birds...... UPATE: It's called a Argiope spider.

We went past The Alamo in San Antonio. March 6 of 1836, the Alamo fell to the enemy. April 21 they took it back as Sam Houston shouted "Remember the Alamo", referring to the lives lost.

This is a golf cart we saw.

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Fort Stockton Tx. We had ribs and beer. Closest we could come to for turkey. Our waitress was a Canadian and we reminded her it's Thanksgiving. She was going to call her granny back home in Windsor Ontario. For Tuesday night we are in Deming New Mexico. It's bloomin hot here. They have a pool for us to cool off before supper.

Georgetown Cousins

2010-10-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Roy's cousin Darlene came up for a couple of days. It was great to meet her also after fourty some years. This is Darlene, Tim and Roy.

We did a day trip to Georgetown. Interesting old architecture.

This is the top of the court house.

This is a statue in front of the court house commemorating the Confederate soldier.

This is our camp site beside their house. Nice shade. This is Tim's wife Rebekah with Carol. Can't believe it's been a whole week here. We had a great time and are getting ready to hit the road on Monday.

Only in Texas. This is in front of the Westinghouse Corporation, and they have two Long Horn Cattle on the front lawn grazing.

What an Adventure

2010-10-02T18:13:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Melanie we took a detour just west of Amarillo to the Cadillac Ranch. A guy half buried several different vintage years of Cadillacs.

People add their graffiti to the art from all over the world. I sprayed on Carol & Roy.

He originally buried them at a different location but the city complained so he bought acreage outside of city limits and reinstalled them here. It's right beside the major highway, which was also route 66.

For night we made it to just east of Dallas to a Thousand Trails. This was the view from our trailer.

After seeing this guy on the beach it reminded me they have gators here. I don't know what this guy was as there is also a snake skin close to him. What ever he is he had sharp teeth.

Carol decided to get me fresh milk. Everything is larger in Texas. We stopped by the dairy museum. I sold them some fifties diner furniture while still working, for their cafeteria.

Now the fun part. We had another blow out. When I pulled over to change the tire, I noticed a fire in the ditch rapidly heading our way. The wind was blowing in our direction, so we thought it prudent to move a mile further down the interstate before changing the tire. There were police and fire vehicles racing to the fire, which they put out. That sure backed up the highway. Apparently a piece of my tire blew into the grass and started the fast moving grass fire. When that was out the police and fire trucks came upon us. A group of young people stopped and helped us change the tire. It was shredded and wrapped around the axle and brake drum. We had to cut it off. The fire truck is missing from the picture, it was beside us. This kept the highway backed up from all the rubber neckers. The cops were fun. They said they don't like northern Yankees but we're okay, we're from further north. We finally made it to my cousins house in Georgetown Texas and went out with them for a lovely dinner. Glad today is almost over.

Amarillo

2010-09-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

We went days with scenery like this. Saskatchewan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma to Amarillo, all flat prairie.

Here we are as Oakies in Oakley Kansas. This is a cutout of Oakley Annie and Buffalo Bill, now renamed Oakley Carol and Buffalo Roy with Mocha the Indian.

Here I am saving the buffalo.

When we got to Amarillo, the restaurant has six limos that pick you up and drop you off free.

Only in Texas do the limos have steer horns on the front.

The Restaurant has a 72 ounce steak. If you can eat it in an hour it's free. (with two sides and a roll). Here's a couple trying to beat the clock. They didn't make it.

I had a sirloin about three inches thick and Carol had the fillet mignon. The old guys below went table to table serenading people.

Mid West

2010-09-28T19:46:00.001-07:00

This was a sunset after we entered the US. We took I85 to Cheyenne Wyoming over two days.

Here's a mighty machine on some road work.

My rear view.

This is the area where they filmed Dances with Wolves. Very vivid fall colours.

A statue on someones lawn.

Saw this rare truck for sale at the side of the road. The box and cab are all one piece. Ford only built them for one year.

We got a flat today. Turned the tire into spaghetti. Good thing I learned a trick. With a trailer suspension, drive the good tire up on blocks and that also raises the flat tire axle so it's easy to change.

Saw this sign in Wyoming. Now we know where the red necks shop.

Grandma's House

2010-09-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

After Corner Gas we drove to Carnduff Sask and found the house Carol's mother was born at. You go to the middle of nowhere, and then drive a little farther.

The house is made of rock.

Here is a picture of the wall in the attic.

There is still an oil derrick in the back field.

Carol's grandfather planted the trees. All the houses around here are abandoned. Most are wood framed farm houses.

Corner Gas

2010-09-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

First we stopped in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, where of coarse they have the world's largest moose. It's about five stories tall.

Here it is. My trip of a lifetime, the set of Corner Gas.

Here's the grain elevator across the road.

And James, Lacy says hi. The set is boarded up as they have been vandalized over the years. The Ruby sign is missing.

In town they still have the police station, selling souvenirs.

Here's a lady that needs a drink.

On the Road Again

2010-09-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we left Kamloops on our next trip. We spent the night in Brooks Alberta. Today we went through Herbert Saskatchewan and the museum there.

They have this picture there of Carol's great great grandfather, Thomas Sawatzky. (4th from left). He owned the general store in Herbert.

This is in front of the museum, the old train station, where they serve faspa every day. We came after lunch so we didn't have any, but they made me coffee while Carol did some research. For night we made it to Moose Jaw.

Rodeo

2010-09-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

It must be the year of sports. I went to a Nascar Race and now a pro rodeo. We went with our friends Sandi and Yves. Here's the mini chuck wagon races. We saw bull riding and bronk riding.

We must of had cheap seats because this is the entrance.

They called their elephant ears horse blankets. The food was great, perogies, sausage and cabbage rolls.

Visitors

2010-09-03T09:27:00.001-07:00

We had my cousin Joni and husband Ernie come down for a couple of days, on their way east to visit relatives. We showed them some of our favourite places. This is at the Gray Monk winery bottling area.

After a nice lunch there we went on their tour. This is in the cellar where they have rows of these vats. If you drink two bottles of wine per day it would take almost twenty years to empty one vat.

After we went to Predator Ridge to the new Sparkling Hill Spa and Wellness Resort. Here's me in my cedar coat. Speaking of coat, it's time to head south as the furnace is on in the morning and air conditioning during the day. In just over three weeks we hope to head east and south.

Anniversary

2010-08-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our 34th wedding anniversary. It's getting better every year. Just hang in there. We went to the Gray Monk Winery for lunch. It was good food.

The view from our table was excellent, with the vinyard below and Okanagan Lake behind.

When they heard we were here for our 34th, they gave us a complementary dessert.

Redneck

2010-08-01T23:18:00.001-07:00

I must be turning into a Redneck. I went to my first official Nascar race in Vernon Saturday night and loved it. After they ran the truck series so I got two races in.

Dawson Creek

2010-07-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

Three sisters in Dawson Creek. Carol and Della's road trip.

Dirt!

Carol and Kristen quilting.

This bird appeared at our place and seemed stressed. I could come right up to it and it would not fly away. I gave it some water a couple of times, then it flew away after a couple of hours. When I was barbequing it flew back and kept me company.

Electric Storm

2010-07-19T18:47:00.001-07:00

Last night we had an electrical storm here. Made a beautiful sunset. Nice lightning going horizontally across the sky. The storm started two fires in the area.

DC

2010-07-13T20:15:00.001-07:00

Carol left on a road trip to DC (Dawson Creek) with a friend, so now I'm batching for a week and a half or so. First thing I did was head to the meat store and load my smoker with meat. The top rack has a rack of baby back ribs, sausages and a pork loin. The second rack has salmon, chicken thighs and short ribs. The chicken was the best I ever tasted, moist and flavourful, like ham.

The Okanagan has unique cloud formations, like the prairies have.

The other day I saw some guys getting the honey out of hives, so I stopped in. That was a unique experience with all the bees buzzing around me. I was not wearing a bee suit. I got one sting for my efforts, not bad for the hundreds buzzing around me.

Boating

2010-07-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went boating with our friends Yves and Sandi on Okanagan Lake.

Here's Yves after jumping off the back of the boat to cool down.

Here's a view of our property from the lake side. It's just to the right of the house in the picture.

Canada Day

2010-07-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

I made a batch of my famous ribs in the new smoker.

And I am perfecting a recipe for beans. This batch has bacon and chunks of ham.

We spent a few days in Abbotsford and went with the kids and grandkids to the Canada Day Parade.

Then on Sunday Lincoln celebrated his fourth birthday. Melanie made the beautiful cake.

We took Robert and Jessie out for dinner to the Red Baron Restaurant and Jessie had the Ultimate Burger. It was 10" tall with 2 patties, bacon, chorizo sausage, fried egg, onion crisps among other things. Not too many people finish it. Jessie did and received a pen for his accomplishment. He also ate the fries and two cokes. Then this morning we left back to the sun in Vernon.

Fathers Day

2010-06-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

We got to Vernon on Friday at 3 pm then off to a party at 4:30. All our California friends got together. There were 7 couples. Yesterday we were at grandson Jonah's fourth birthday party at the park.
Today was Fathers Day, so I opened my gift, a portable smoker. I have been smoking alot of ribs and in California I did a salmon, which was rated a 10 out of 10 by a professional butcher. Now I can try with better equipment. People are happy for me to experiment.
Then Carol and I went for brunch in town and a car show after. Here was my favourite, a 1955 Porsche.

Also last night we went to the Ballet, where granddaughter Zada performed. Here is a video of her in ballet class.

Tale of Two Pigs

2010-06-16T21:00:00.001-07:00

Reunited after 45 years, are the pig cuttingboards Carol and Margaret each made for their mothers, in Wayfarers Club. They each got theirs back after all these years. Friday we are headed back to Vernon for 3 months before heading south.

Gold Beach, Oregon

2010-06-05T16:58:00.001-07:00

We are spending a week in Gold Beach Oregon. Carol can relax and read by the ocean.

I can relax and sleep by the ocean.

Our RV park had six Dodge trucks in a row. One left this morning before I took the picture. There is an old lighthouse at the end of the row.

Mocha just loves to play in the surf.

And relax with us after.

There are two dead sea lions on the beach this morning, giving the vultures a smorgasbord.

I counted eleven of them, each waiting their turn.

Grants Pass

2010-06-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight we are in Grants Pass, Oregon for the night, on our way to the Oregon Coast. An RV pulled into the site beside us, towing a barbeque. He goes to competitions and is coming back from one in Washington. He invited us to the next one this weekend just north of Sacramento California. That would be a dream come true, but we must trudge on to the coast to another dream of having the ocean out your RV door. Can't wait to get back to Vernon where I have a new smoker I've ordered online, waiting for me.

Juniper Ranch

2010-05-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

This morning we met our caravan group for breakfast in La Pine Oregon and convoyed down to Juniper Ranch RV Resort in Lakeview Oregon.

It is an 8,000 acre working ranch. You drive a few miles into the ranch to the RV site. This is our third year here with this group from Bend. Unhooking the trailer I promptly broke a rib. Now to fake feeling good.

Boring

2010-05-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

This place is Boring. Boring Oregon that is. Last night we spent the night in Boring. This morning we drove up the Dimascus Road to Damascus, on our way to Bend.

It took us three hours to get from Boring to Bend to this RV Park. It has a nice 104 degree hot tub. Tom and Lorna came for a visit. We will be here until Friday when we meet the group and do the convoy of ten RVs to the ranch at Lakeview Oregon. Everyone was asking if the Canadians were coming.

Victoria Day Get Together

2010-05-24T23:16:00.001-07:00

Today we had a get together with the kids and grandkids before we head to Oregon tomorrow. These are the youngest two.

And the other three West Coast grandkids.

Robert, Jessie, Chris and Darrell.

Cultus

2010-05-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went out on the boat with Art and Margaret on Cultus Lake.

Also here's a video of South Fraser Way at the Canucks last win.

Abbotsford

2010-05-13T18:07:00.001-07:00

We have been back in Abbotsford for a couple of weeks, getting ready for our trip to Oregon at the end of the month to get some R&R. It's busy in Abbotsford with lots of friends to catch up with and the grandkids to visit. Also getting the truck worked on for lots more traveling planned after Oregon. The north is calling loudly. We'll see.

Baja

2010-04-27T13:05:00.001-07:00

Today I put the deposit down on our Baja Mexico trip. It is a caravan of a dozen RV's that leaves in January and travels down to the tip of the Baja (Los Cabos) and back. It takes about a month and we stay at RV sites, some of which are on the beach. Our friends Dave and Linda are also going with their motorhome. Any other takers? There's still a few spots left. Also we booked our own RV lot in Palm Springs yearly so we get the same lot every year. Our friends and neighbours from last season Yves and Sandi also did the same with a lot beside ours. Now most of our street is from Vernon and Kelowna. Our future plan is to leave the RV down there year round and just drive there.

RV Show

2010-04-25T19:03:00.001-07:00

Thursday we went to a RV show with our friends Yves and Sandi. It was at a racetrack north of Vernon. This motorcycle was doing jumps over an RV.

Carol spotted this and has put it on her Christmas list. A pair of these would be nice to ride back to Alaska, with a trailer for Mocah.

Today we went for a Sunday drive passed our property. (Red arrow pointing to it)

Mocha's Training

2010-04-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Today was Mocha's second day of training. As you can see in this video, it's coming along pretty good. Carol's throwing a ball past her and she has to stay put. Now that's hard for a retriever. Nice sunny days here in the Okanagan.

April Fools

2010-04-04T18:45:00.001-07:00

On April 1st we pulled off the highway in Montana to a town called Melrose. It used to be on the highway and rail line until they built the freeway. Now it's almost a ghost town from the 1800's. We had lunch at a saloon and the waitress was almost as old as the building. When she brought my meal I said "Hey, I didn't order this". This confused her and she was trying to figure out which table it was for until I said "April Fools". After a night in Shelby Montana, we made it to Calgary for two nights and visited our son Ken. Now we are in Vernon deciding where to go next.

Diners, Drive Ins and Dives

2010-03-31T16:41:00.000-07:00

For lunch we made it to Salt Lake City to a place I saw on the TV show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. They have the best homemade meatballs. Carol had the meatball sub and I had Philly steak sandwich. Both were the best we had. For night we made it to Pocatella Idaho. What a change from yesterday, from 90 degrees (30c) when leaving to a snowstorm in Salt Lake. Tomorrow we aim for northern Montana.

leaving

2010-03-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

This morning we left for the north. It was like leaving summer camp. All our friends came by to say goodbye and exchange email addresses. We are also having a reunion in the Okanagan in summer with everyone. We made it to Cedar City Utah for night, which took us through four states, California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. I am plotting out tomorrows distance. This picture was at the Mexican Market in Indio, with Sandi and Yves (from Vernon).

Kenny

2010-03-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Carol went on the star's homes tour and now became our tour guide. Dave and Linda's daughter and husband came down to Palm Springs from Kelowna, so the six of us went on tour. This is Elizabeth Taylor's estate, which takes in a whole block, with two guest homes and pool.

This is Kenny Roger's home. He came out on the deck and waved to us. Gary got it on his camcorder. It was a two hour tour and we went to Jackalopes Restaurant for happy hour after.
Today we drove to Loma Linda and had dinner with Justin Janzen at Olive Garden. This time Natasha did not come along. (inside joke).

Desert Flowers

2010-03-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

Today it was a nice 30 degrees (C). I took a hike into the desert which is starting to bloom right now, so I took some shots of all the different wild flowers.

My favourite!

Posing for the picture.

The Birds

2010-03-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

I took this picture of a cacti in the desert. The desert is starting to bloom. I'll have to go out and snap some desert colour.

In the tree I saw one of those long neck birds close to our place. He's usually at the water edge fishing.

Keeping on the theme of The Birds, a hummingbird just hatched two eggs across from us. I don't know how it poops up top like that.

Here's Carol sweeping up after a sand storm. Still beats shoveling snow.

Carol went on a tour to stars homes. This is in front of Audery Hepburns house. (for Kristen who is a fan). She saw Sammy Davis Jr.'s house, Elvis's two houses, Dean Martins house and Liberachie's. Elizabeth Taylor's house took a whole block with several guest houses on the property. Many families still own the houses of the deceased.
Today we went to the College of the Desert Market with Dave and Linda and bought some fresh fruits and dates. Linda bought some more dresses. We ate lunch there and I had nice baby back ribs. They said I sure like my ribs, as I was stuffing my face.
Speaking of ribs, I smoked my first salmon a couple of days ago. The neighbour is a butcher by trade and sampled it. He gave it a ten out of ten. The perfect brine and smoke. He smokes a lot of meat so he's going to show me how to smoke a pork tenderloin. They are down here for winter and in Alaska for summer. A few doors down there is a couple who do the same. Now we are hankering to go to Alaska in summer again. We are also pondering a RV caravan trip to the tip of the Baja in Mexico next year with Dave and Linda. They were going to do that last year until she broke both ankles and came here instead, where we met and became good friends.

Fantasy Springs

2010-03-10T11:06:00.001-08:00

This past week we made a couple trips to Fantasy Springs Casino. The first time was with Dave and Linda. The women went to play bingo and Dave and I played the slots. They have a good deal there. You give them $20 and get to play $70. I got out of there with $140. We went again last night with Dave and Linda and another Okanagan couple John and Molly, whom we also met last year. We went to their POM Restaurant where Tuesday nights is barbeque night. It's family style which I have not had before in a restaurant. They put the items in the middle of the table for every one to take from. It started with a huge salad and honey biscuits. Then they brought out platters of barbeque ribs and chicken, sliced brisket and sides of white cheddar mac n’ cheese, warm bacon-potato salad, homemade southern style slaw and jalapeño corn bread. For dessert they brought out a whole apple pie. Sort of a smorg at every table, except you can take everything home you don't finish. We have enough left overs we are getting together tomorrow to finish them off. My ribs are better but I don't have to make them for 70 tables. Thursday nights they have the same idea with pasta night. Do we dare? After dinner Carol, John and Molly got their Play 20 get 50 deal and played the slots. Someone left a few cents credit in a machine beside Carol so I started playing that one and got $15 out of it. Carol came out with about $40. As we were leaving I noticed a man playing slots and said to Carol that he looks like our lawyer. We greeted him and sure enough it was Peter Linley. He retired last year and bought a condo here, half a block away from the golf club he has been playing at for the past twenty years. Now he plays golf five days a week.

Beer Express

2010-03-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

I made some decals for Carol's Hummer and strapped a bottle of beer to the roof and sent it across the road to the neighbour, Wayne, while hiding out of sight with the remote control. It was fun watching him scratch his head. I've ordered a remote control helicopter. If it will carry the weight I'll send that over next. A couple of nights ago we went out for supper with Shirley and Larry, Kathy and Louie and Bert and Julie. We went to a nice Mexican place in El Paseo.

Birthday Week

2010-03-01T11:00:00.001-08:00

This week is my birthday. Ernie and Joni left this morning after a 3 week holiday here. I'm sure they will be back next year. Last night we went to Jackalopes Restaurant with them for my birthday.

This is the view taken from our table. It's a huge outdoor seating area with fountains, statues and gas fire pits at the tables. Most places here have happy hour and the menu and drinks are almost half price, so it pays to eat an hour earlier. As I said Ernie and Joni left this morning so we have March free if anyone else wants to come down. There's a few rental units in our complex.

Exotic Car Auction

2010-02-26T21:57:00.000-08:00

Today Ernie, Dave, John and I went to day one of the 3 day McCormick's Exotic Car Auction in Palm Springs. They have over 500 cars on auction including the Batmobile with a working afterburner. Every type of car was here from Rolls Royces and Ferraris to muscle cars and even a 1939 Chrysler Aeroflow.

Visitors

2010-02-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

This picture sums it up. We have been filling our faces around Palm Springs. This is at the street fair downtown Palm Springs, with Ernie & Joni (my cousin) who are down for 3 weeks to avoid the olympics. I and Joni each had a hamburger with the meat an inch thick, Ernie had the best pulled pork and Carol had a Johnsonville brat. Other days we went to the Yardhouse restaurant which had a half price happy hour with excellent food and brew. For Valentines we went to PF Changs for the best Chinese food we have ever had. They had a 2 hour wait but I was smart and made reservations, which got me a few points for Valentines Day.

Around Here

2010-02-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

We just got back from taking the garbage away. Mocha loves to go for rides in the golf cart.

We went to the Kobe Steakhouse with Art and Margaret and Dave and Linda. It's our yearly thing to do here with Dave and Linda.

Before Art and Margaret left we went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Here's the size of Art's hamburger. Open wide!

This was after lunch in the courtyard of the restaurant.

This three wheeled bike passed us. It has a Porsche engine in it.

Carol went for lunch with the women from the neighbourhood to the Jackalope Restaurant. This was outside of the restaurant. My cousin Joni and her husband Ernie drove down and rented a place here.

Visitors

2010-01-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

Art and Margaret came down for a visit. They rented a place on the next street over from us. This is taken at "The River", a place with restaurants and shops around a man made river in the desert.

We went to the street fair in Palm Springs. They shut the main street down every Thursday evening.

Here's Art heading to the pool to get some sun.

Past Week

2010-01-27T12:41:00.001-08:00

This was a beautiful sight. It snowed in the high desert so the contrast was picturesque.

This past week I went exploring in the mountains with Dave from Kelowna. Of course when in the states we have to shoot guns.

We did some hiking in the mountain trails.

Arrival

2010-01-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

Before we left the Orange Grove we picked a basket of oranges. They loan you the picker poles at the RV office.
We found a Della's Restaurant for lunch, in honour of our friend Della. Her picture is even on the sign.Then we made it to Palm Springs where I assumed my usual position in the pool. We met up with friends we made here that are from Kelowna and Vernon.

Orange Grove

2010-01-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

Tonight we made it to Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield California, parking between the orange trees. The weather has been perfect on this trip. All the mountain passes did not have any hint of snow. Last year we drove through a snow storm in January.

You know you're getting old when...

2010-01-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

You know you're getting old when you can't put a dent in a buffet like you used to. We spent the night at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning California, where they have an RV Park in the back lot. A feature of staying here is the all you can eat buffet. Even though I did not go up 5 times for the meat like I used to, I still hurt myself.

New Year 2010

2010-01-09T19:14:00.001-08:00

New Years was quite tame for us this year. We went to Vernon for New Years and made some new friends there. We came back to Abbotsford for a few days, for grandson Caleb's 5th birthday and got ready to head south. Right now we are in Salem Oregon for the night. We will take 4 days to get to Palm Springs. Can't wait for the heat and palms.

Early Christmas

2009-12-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

We had Christmas this weekend as all the kids were in the same area at the same time. Here's Nana handing out the presents.

Here we are with our seven grandkids.

Jonah trying his hand at babysitting.

When we got back to our place, a Toyota Highlander didn't make the corner and landed on it's side, just missing a pole. Accidents seem to happen around us. Tonight we went to Olive Garden with George, Della, James and Doris, who came down from Dawson Creek. When we came out of the restaurant I noticed we had a flat tire. I dreaded changing it in a snow storm. George had a air compressor in his car and filled it up enough to get to a gas station. We were plotting the next gas station on the route home when the fellow parked beside us offered to fix the tire. He had a plug kit and in a couple of minutes we were back on the road, from Langley to Abbotsford in a snow storm. The rest of the trip was uneventful. Thank you everyone.

Another New Grandchild

2009-11-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

Today we had grandchild number 7 arrive. He's a boy born to Melanie and Darrell. Carol is staying at their house watching the other 2 boys untill Melanie comes home from the hospital in a few days.

Zada's Birthday

2009-11-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

Before we left for the coast we had Zada over at our RV for her 5th birthday.

Friday the 13th

2009-11-15T18:24:00.001-08:00

Friday night we were going towards our daughters place, and half way there we came across an accident that had just happened. Cars were pulling over to help. A mid sized car crossed the center line on the freeway right into a pickup coming from the opposite direction. The people in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. A 69 year old woman and a 10 year old boy. It shakes you up so close to you.

New Job

2009-11-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

I got a job! Really it's a little contract with the city to do traffic counts at certain areas. Today I hired Carol to help out. It's just a five or six day job, which suits me just fine. And being a government job, it's a good wage plus I work for four hours and get paid for six. Sounds good to me. Little extra spending money and gives me something to do.

Pumpkin Patch II

2009-10-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Now we are in Vernon with the other grandkids, at the pumpkin patch here.

Here's Carol's new snake. We call him Gourd.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

Monday we did the annual trip to the pumpkin patch with the grandkids. There's a hayride to the patch, where the kids pick out a pumpkin. Next week we will do the Okanagan grandkids.

Melanies Ultrasound

2009-10-13T13:11:00.001-07:00

Today Melanie had a 3D ultrasound done. What was cool was we could see it broadcast live online. Baby is due November 19th.

Connor is Home Today

2009-09-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today Connor turned 3 weeks old and got to go home early from the hospital.

Awake

2009-09-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Funny what a few days make with Connor. He's out of level 3 care to level 2. They are just waiting for a bed in Abbotsford and he can be moved to a normal hospital, out of Children's Hospital. Scary though, as they have excellent care here.

Connor Update

2009-09-13T12:44:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!!
This is the first time I have internet, Lexi is sleeping, I am not at the hospital and I am still awake!!
As you know Connor has arrived and is doing better then thought.
His head is not as big as they had thought and so far nothing else seems to be "wrong".
He is breathing too fast and shallow so they had to intibate him for one night. They also put some kind of med's in his lungs at this time.
He seems to be breathing better most of the time.
The Dr's are not as concerned about his shunt operation right now because his head has not grown at all since he was born.
They will hold off the operation until his breathing improves.
Mandy held him for the first time yesterday.
Mandy was released today and is bunking with Roy, Lexi and me at our RV. (Chris is also here when he is able)
We are at a RV park in Burnaby. The same one that we where at last year April.
Please continue to pray for Connor's breathing.
Once his breathing improves they will do the shunt operation and he will be able to go home soon afterwards.

Lexi found a few entertaining things at the hospital.

But the most entertaining thing was the suitcase back at the RV.

New Grandson

2009-09-09T22:13:00.001-07:00

Today Sept 9th (09/09/09) we got a new Grandson. Connor Bryce. He missed the time 09:09:09 but came around 11 am. He was 6 weeks early and 6 lbs, 8 oz. and 19.69 inches long for all the women who want to know every detail that men don't know. Tomorrow he has an MRI. This makes grandchild #6.

Waiting

2009-08-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

We are currently waiting.
1. For Mandy to have her baby. They're checking half week by half week, monitoring it's progression. They had some good news, that the baby is not growing as fast, but news changes at every visit.
2. Also we're waiting to figure my hospital visits out. I was in and out. As soon as they stabilize me, they let me out, without going to find the root of the cause. Last week end I was back in as the pain was so great and they stabilized me with morphine and sent me out at midnight. I explained I had to be back by 8 am for a scope, but that didn't matter. I made them leave the i v tap in as they have trouble finding veins and dig around in there. At the scope they were happy with my idea. The surgeon said the scope was negative and that's a good thing. We don't want him to find any problem there. But that leaves us at square one.

As these pictures show, we are staying in the yard (acreage) of our friends, Art and Margaret. Carol went to school with Margaret and they were (rural) neighbours. When I first met Carol, she was walking home from school with Margaret (grade 9). We are grateful to have friends to help out.

Also we celebrated Lexi's 3rd birthday party. Now we have 3 grandkids 3 years old.

Wired

2009-08-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Talk about change of plans. I've been having stomach pain for a while. In Whitehorse, Montana and here. So Carol took me to emerg when I could not eat and doubled over in pain and they're trying to get to the bottom of it. The xray showed a hiatus hernia and the cat scan showed a gall stone. Then they did an ultrsound to confirm. They let me out for a few days and then I have an appointment with a surgeon. They plan on taking my gall bladder out and leaving the hernia for now. I'll know more tomorrow. At least I have high speed internet in my bed at the hospital. With the morphine shots I didn't need high speed internet. Good ole Canadian medical system. We have coverage but they drag it out as long as they can.

Change of plans

2009-07-31T18:21:00.000-07:00

We came back to the coast on Wednesday. We stopped out of Merritt on the Coquahalla at a stream. Mocha was beside herself with delight. She jumped off a rock into the water at let out a yelp of delight as she sailed through the air. Today I took her to the creek here by Cultus, but she got too rambunctious and skinned her front leg on a large rock. At least it settled her down. Carol went with Mandy to Vancouver and they said they will have to deliver the baby early. So Connor will be here in a month or sooner, depending on the next tests. So we decided to stay and support her during this time of uncertainty. And we have to be here for the delivery. (Of coarse). We just have to figure out where to stay. Abbotsford doesn't have an RV park. I miss Vernon. It's probably hotter there, but they don't have the humidity like here, so it's more bearable. There I can sit in the sun and have my coffee, but here I have to hunker down with the air conditioning. My joints hurt like crazy here.

Evacuations

2009-07-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday they evacuated a whole area affected by the Terrace Mountain Forest fire, which is across the lake from us. We went to work for the City of Vernon, who were taking care of the evacuees. Our shift was 6 pm to midnight. I was the floor supervisor. Workers checking in the evacuees had to get their papers signed off by me, and I had to answer any questions the workers had. Carol was placed as supervisor for acquisitions. Her group of ladies made arrangements with all the hotels for lodging. Roughly 240 families went through the system and others that did not need services (food or lodging), could phone into a separate call centre. Today the fire retreated enough for half the people to go home, but they are still on alert to leave at a moments notice. We made some good contacts here for the future.