Spring/Summer 2011

From this.......

This is a summary of the spring/summer months.  We arrived back in BC, Canada on April 12th, 2011.  Spent a month in Victoria visiting with Mom and stepfather David, and friends while we waited until the snow was gone and weather warmed up in Alberta.  It was a busy summer, with all the visiting and doing the business that was necessary.  The first major item was moving all of my things from the basement of my former home into a storage container and then my son Daryl came with his flatdeck tow truck and hauled it to their acreage.  The highlights for each of us was being able to spend time with our families.  Specifically, our grandchildren.

.......to this!   Great move!

Jim teaching his grandsons to play pool.

We did a major move from the 1999 Monaco Diplomat to a 1998 Monaco Windsor.  Are enjoying the Windsor so much.  It is definitely our home "for now".  Along with the move, we participated in several other highlights.  The Ponoka Stampede.

                                             Enjoying the rodeo!!           
Another highlight was camping with my sister Gail and brother-in-law Ross at Drumheller the end of August.

                             Miniature Church at Drumheller, Alberta
It was fun seeing our friends in Camrose, Ponoka and Edmonton.  Great times at my son Daryl's and Jim's son Aaron's.  Too many special moments to share in this space. 
I spent a wonderful day with my two youngest grandsons to celebrate their birthdays before I left for British Columbia and a short tour of that great province before we travelled to Victoria.  The trip through BC was interesting but stressful at the same time because I had gotten news that my Mom was in the hospital.  She had not been feeling well for some time. 

One highlight of our BC trip was staying in the Radium Valley Vacation Resort at Radium Hot Springs.  Lovely place.  We went on a hike in the mountains and on our way south from there unhooked the car and drove up a logging road to some natural hot springs.

   

Just south of Osoyoos, across the US border we met this couple in the campground there.  They had this unit custom made in Germany and shipped over so they could tour North America.  Very interesting and lovely folks.  While in BC we visited some friends and family and thoroughly enjoyed their company.  Went to a small winery in Kelowna called the Beaumont Winery.  Family of a friend.   

We went for a wonderful bike ride over the Kettle Valley Train Trestles.  Definitely something to do if you are a bike rider.  They are located just south east of Kelowna, BC.
I was a bit nervous at first but that is because I am not good with heights but nothing to worry about.  We also toured a resort east of Vernon in the hills.  Beautiful place decorated with millions of crystals.  I think it is call the Crystal Palace.
After a couple of nights at the Holiday Park Resort, we decided to head for Victoria.  Mom was still in the hospital and I just needed and wanted to be there.  
There is so much to see everywhere, so if you are travelling and can take your time, do so.  It is worthwhile.
We definitely have to go back to BC in the future and spend more time.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post.  More later.  Cheers!

New posting on its way!!!!! Want to get into the habit of at least once a week!  Take care everyone as you travel.

Testing my blog!

I am testing my blog to see if it actually is out there for people to find.  I really want to beable to do this properly!!!!Sharon

California!!!!

Got to the border in midafternoon!  Pouring rain, windy and just plain nasty!  Drove to the Lucky 7 Casino in Smith River.  Small native operated casino but they have a good parking area for RVs so we decided to park and stay overnight.  No charge.  Went into the casino and got our first player's card ever.  Spent the $5.00 bucks they gave us and then went for a walk on the beach.

Came across some structures that must have been someone's summer home at one point.  Were startled by a rat!

Next day, headed out early even though it was still raining which let up shortly down the road.  Drove through some beautiful redwoods and stopped to have lunch in amongst them. 

At Legget we decided to go inland to get away from the rocky, wet coast and have some easier driving.  Stopped at Willits for diesel and a break.  Heading into Sonoma Wine Country .  I am sure in the summer it is very beautiful because it is quite stunning now.  Drove as far as Windsor, a small city in the wine country and parked beside a Holiday Inn Express for the night.  Walked downtown and into an antique store and a small wine tasting bar.  They told us about the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and said we should not miss that.  Next morning we got up and headed back to Healdsburg and the Coppola winery.

Had lunch in the restaurant and walked through the vineyards.  Did some wine tasting and spent time in the museum.  Wonderful place to visit.

Next stop SAN FRANCISCO!

Trying to catch up!!!!!!

Okay, so I haven't been very diligent with this.   That was not my intention when I started.  I know I'm not that committed so I guess that is the problem.   Committment, Ha Ha Ha.  Being committed is the big problem.  I don't remember when I posted before and am not sure it matters.  We are having a great time and have seen a lot of things in the last 2 months, met a lot of great people and have joined The Catalina Spa and RV Park in Desert Hot Springs, California.  I do want to catch up and fill in the blanks but will start tomorrow.  Right now, I am going to head up to the pool to see what Jim and the others are doing. While in Tillamook, we spent time with a nice couple from Sylvan Lake, Alberta.  Don and Sheila Williams.  They took us on a short road trip on Sunday and we saw a lighthouse and The Christmas store in Lincoln City.  That little store was jam packed with Christmas decorations.  Amazing!  Lots of different things.  We then went to the Casino for dinner with them.  

When we left Tillamook, we travelled all day basically until we got to Floras Lake which is a small lake just next to the sand dunes and then the beach to the ocean.
On the way we saw a lot of the ocean and stopped at a casino to eat breakfast.

We stayed over night at Floras Lake in the day picnic area.  The main campground was closed for the winter.  This is the lake that Jim wind surfed on over 20 years ago.

This man and his dog live only a few miles from Floras Lake.  The dog is a board collie and his master was training him to herd sheep.

Motoring down the road

We left Barrhead on Tuesday Oct. 14 and headed west.  Stopped in Edson to wash clothes and do some banking etc.  A quick stop in Hinton for fuel and Jasper to go for a walk on main street.  Headed out again and ended up at Valemount, BC.  Spent the night there in the parking lot of a large motor inn.  Left early in the morning and headed toward Kamlopps where we stopped off the highway for lunch.  Decided to go to Scotch Creek to the campsite there where Barry and Anne have their park model.  We had heard that the salmon run was fantastic so felt we should not miss it.

Parked in the RV park 2 nites, took in the salmon run and went for a nice long walk with Barry's neighbors, Joe and Wilma. Friday morning we left Scotch Creek and headed back to Kamlopps and down Highway 5 towards Hope and ultimately Abbotsford.