Sunday ; A lovely, sunny, mild, fall day.
We spent the morning and early afternoon visiting with my sister and brother-in-law. Late in the morning Bud made us a campfire in the back yard.
We went into Winnipeg to do some Wal-Martin' before visiting Joanne's sister and two nieces for the evening.
Monday ; Lorette / Winnipeg, Manitoba to Broadview, Saskatchewan
Today was cloudy and gloomy, with intermittent light rain frequently throughout the day as we drove, and occasionally heavy rain. Shortly after we stopped for the night the sky began to clear which resulted in a beautiful horizon sunset, something we don't see where we live in the mountains.
We had a farewell breakfast this morning with my sister and brother-in-law, prepared for departure, and pulled out of their yard in Lorette about 10:30 AM. Thank you very much, Sharon and Bud, for all your hospitality and generosity over the last eight days.
We stopped at the City of Winnipeg Wastewater Treatment Plant on the South Perimeter Highway, dumped our "black" waste holding tank, and continued on the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg, then west on the Trans-Canada Highway 1. We had lunch at a rest area prior to reaching Brandon, then stopped in Brandon to refill with diesel. Bought only half a tank because I didn't like the price !
We crossed the border from Manitoba into Saskatchewan, contemplating stopping for the night at the Saskatchewan Travel Information Centre. Not surprisingly, not only was it closed for the season, the entry road was blocked so we couldn't even enter the parking lot to boondock overnight. We recall the same thing from previous trips across Saskatchewan, both spring and fall. Another province that seems to think travel occurs only between Victoria Day in late May and Labour Day in early September !
We stopped at the Co-op Fuel Station in Moosomin and refilled with diesel. Decent price, so full tank ! Impressive station ! Travellers' lounge with free Wi-Fi. Free overnight parking. Free trailer dump station. Free showers ! Free, fresh, clean towels for the users of the showers. We marked this station in our road atlas, for future trips.
We stopped for the night at a municipally operated rest area near Broadview, Saskatchewan. Very nice ! Lots of train whistle blowing at the nearby level crossing. A soothing prairie sound at night time, actually.
Tuesday ; Broadview to Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Today was sunny and warm, a slightly boring, long day of driving across Saskatchewan. Endless grain fields ! At this time of year, endless fields of grain stubble. With occasional piles of potash thrown in just to break the boredom. HA HA HA !
We stopped to dump and flush our waste holding tanks and refill with freshwater at the municipal campground in Grenfell. HEY ! Didn't we spend a night here in May, 2005 on our way east to our summer WorkCamping job as campground hosts at West Hawk Lake on the Manitoba / Ontario border ? Yes, yes, we did !
We stopped to have lunch and refill with diesel in Regina. MMMMM ... my sister's chicken soup for lunch. Thank you, Sharon ! MMMMM ... my sister's raspberry cookies for dessert. Thank you, Sharon ! We stopped for the night in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart at Swift Current. MMMMM ... my sister's perogies with dill cream sauce for supper. Thank you, Sharon ! MMMMM ... my sister's chocolate cake for bed time snack. Thank you, Sharon ! MMMMM ... Bo spent the evening gnawing on a beef rib bone. My sister gave us a bag full for him. HA HA HA ... thank you, Sharon !
I guess I have a sister who expresses love through food. Thank you, Sharon !
After supper Joanne went into Wal-Mart to do some shopping. I took my laptop into the McDonald's inside the Wal-Mart and used their free Wi-Fi to retrieve and pay a MasterCard bill.
Wednesday ; Swift Current, Saskatchewan to Medicine Hat, Alberta
Today was cloudy and cold with intermittent light rain.
Before leaving Swift Current this morning we refilled with diesel, then continued west on Trans-Canada Highway 1. We refilled our freshwater tank in the town of Gull Lake. We crossed into Alberta and stopped to have lunch at a rest area. I napped briefly, then we continued on to Medicine Hat.
We spent the late part of the afternoon visiting with our old friend Sep, and his wife Susanna after she returned home from work. We had supper with them, and then ... as I had promised Susanna two weeks ago ... I performed a magic show for them. HA HA HA ... they were a great audience, especially Susanna who was seeing my magic for the first time. Sep has been an audience to my magic for 24 years.
Thursday ; Medicine Hat, Alberta to Sparwood, British Columbia
Today was sunny and cold. BRRRRR !
Before leaving the Wal-Mart parking lot this morning Joanne went into the store to buy a few grocery items. HMPH ! Why does Alberta charge both a recycling fee and a deposit on disposable milk jugs ? I suppose they have to make up for a lack of provincial sales tax somehow !
We left Medicine Hat and got onto the start ( or end, depending on direction of travel ) of Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. Here's the directions to our home ; get on Crowsnest Highway 3 where it starts at Medicine Hat, drive about 1029 km. / 643 miles, turn left into Riverside RV Park Resort. Ya can't miss it ! HA HA HA !
We stopped at Coalhurst, in their municipal park and campground. While Joanne prepared lunch
I took Bo for an off leash romp and some Bo-gility in the playground. After lunch and a brief nap we dumped and flushed our waste holding tanks and refilled our freshwater tank before continuing west on Crowsnest Highway 3. We refilled with diesel in Fort McLeod. We stopped at the site of the Frank Slide, to learn about the horrific rock slide that took place there in 1903, covering the town of Frank and killing 70 people, the deadliest rock slide in B.C. history. We crossed over the Crowsnest Pass from Alberta into B.C. and stopped for the night at a rest area near Sparwood.
Friday ; Sparwood to Nancy Greene Provincial Park, B.C.
Very cold this morning and this evening. When we departed the rest area this morning the temperature was right at the freezing level. It rained on and off all day.
We continued west on Highway 3. It was a long, difficult day of driving through the mountains on wet roads. We stopped in Cranbrook to empty the grey waste holding tanks and refill the freshwater tank. We refilled with diesel. We bought some groceries. We refilled a propane tank.
We stopped to have lunch at a roadside rest area beside Moyie Lake. As we pulled into Castlegar late in the afternoon I received a phone call from a trailer delivery client. I'm supposed to move her trailer from Oliver to Okanagan Falls on Monday, but now there's a possibility I'll have to take it to Smithers in Northern B.C. WOW ... that's going to be about a $1500 delivery job !
We couldn't find a suitable place in Castlegar to boondock overnight, so we continued driving until we reached Nancy Greene Provincial Park. The campground was closed for the season, but there was a large parking area near the park entrance. We parked there overnight.
Joanne cooked Rainbow Trout for supper. Rainbow Trout that I caught in the Similkameen River at Riverside RV Park Resort, then froze and hauled all the way to Winnipeg and back. HA HA HA ... well travelled fish !
Saturday ; Nancy Greene Provincial Park to Keremeos, B.C.
Cold and raining !
We left Nancy Greene Provincial Park this morning and continued west on Crowsnest Highway 3. We stopped in Grand Forks to refill with diesel. At Osoyoos we turned north on Hwy. 97 to go to Oliver to meet with a trailer delivery client.
We had lunch in the parking lot of Canadian Tire in Oliver, and met with the trailer delivery client there. He and I finalized plans for me to pick up his new ( to him ) trailer in Oliver on Monday and deliver it to him in Smithers in Northern B.C. next Friday. I'll have to drive about 1200 km. / 750 miles in just a day and a half, leaving Thursday morning.
We drove north on Hwy. 97 from Oliver to Kaleden, then southwest on Hwy. 3A to Keremeos, then west on Hwy. 3 home to Riverside RV Park Resort, arriving home by 5 PM.
I needed access to the Internet, and our Internet service was not working tonight < fume > !
DSK
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
September 15 to 21, 2013
Sunday ; International Peace Garden, Manitoba / North Dakota border to Winnipeg / Lorette, Manitoba
This morning we dumped the waste holding tanks and refilled the freshwater tank before leaving the campground. We drove around the International Peace Garden "ring road". I recognized the grassy area that was the site of the Boy Scout International Jamboree that I attended here 47 years ago. I also recognized the area of the lake where I experienced my first ( of two in my life ! ) near drowning.
The actual "Peace Garden" is a mile and half of manicured flower gardens right on the international border, with walkways on both the North Dakota side and the Manitoba side. We parked the truck and trailer in a parking lot near the "9/11 Memorial" and started there.
We were surprised to find that the International Peace Garden 9/11 Memorial includes a display of broken girders from the World Trade Center. I found it hard to fathom that steel girders of that magnitude could be broken. Under the brilliant prairie sunlight, on a silent cool morning, I stared at them ... and cried.
We spent an hour or so walking around the flower gardens, admiring them, appreciating the serenity. The Province of Manitoba and the State of North Dakota long ago achieved their objective of creating a space that evokes "peace".
We spent a fairly long day driving east across Manitoba on country "back roads", arriving at my sister's home in Lorette ( just outside Winnipeg ) shortly after 6 PM. We had a pleasant evening visiting with Sharon and her husband Bud, and briefly with their daughter Andrea.. Sharon is recuperating from recent hip replacement surgery.
Monday ; WOO-HOO ! The father and son team from Winnipeg have just won Amazing Race Canada !
Today was sunny and mild. We spent this morning visiting with my sister and brother-in-law. This afternoon we ran errands. In Lorette we went to Co-op to refill with diesel, refill a propane tank, refill our five gallon water jug, and buy some groceries. We went to Winnipeg and bought a small electric heater at Goodwill, and jeans at Wal-Mart. In the evening we had dinner with Sharon and Bud, their daughter Andrea, and her fiancé Drew, whom we met for the first time tonight. After supper we all watched the finale of Amazing Race Canada.
Tuesday ; Today was mild but cloudy and windy.
We spent the morning and early afternoon visiting with Sharon and Bud. Mid-afternoon we drove into Winnipeg where I had an oil change done at Great Canadian Oil Change. This location was nowhere near as satisfactory as the location in Penticton. None of the service technicians knew exactly where to find the grease needle hole on the front drive shaft U-joint on our truck. AND ... despite me having been shown its precise location by the staff at the Penticton location of Great Canadian Oil Change, today I could not find it ! I spent 25 minutes in the pit underneath the truck along with various staff members trying to locate the grease needle hole. < sigh > I was frustrated and embarrassed. And if they weren't ... they should have been. It shouldn't be the responsibility of the customer to show them where the lubrication points are on any given vehicle !
After the oil change we went to Joanne’s sister’s home for supper and a visit. Lorraine wasn’t home from work yet when we arrived, but the two nieces, Madeleine and Amelia were already home from school. WOW ... they certainly have grown ... and grown up ... since I last saw them a few years ago.
We had supper and an evening of visiting with Lorraine, Madeleine, and Amelia ... and Macie the Bichon Frise.
Wednesday ; Today was cloudy and mild, with just a few drops of rain.
Sharon and Bud treated us to a day outing to Steinbach and area. Late this morning we drove to Steinbach and had lunch at the golf club restaurant. We did a bit of shopping at the town shopping mall, and then went to browse ... and buy ... at the local thrift store. Bought interesting stuff at a good price at the thrift store which is operated by the Mennonite community. We also stocked up on some fresh cheese products at a local cheese dairy in New Bothwell.
Sharon and Bud drove into Winnipeg late in the afternoon for some wedding dress shopping with their daughter. While they were gone Joanne and I prepared a B.C. salmon dinner for the four of us. We had dinner then watched the season premiere of Survivor.
Thursday ; Today was cloudy and mild.
We spent the day working on the retrieval of our artwork that we left here nine years ago. It's the primary reason for this trip to Winnipeg. We sorted through what was in storage in my sister's basement, carried it out to the trailer, and packed it, ready for travel back to B.C.
Sharon made a wonderfully eclectic lunch. Home made borscht, and home made poutine made with fresh cheese curds that we bought yesterday at the cheese dairy in New Bothwell.
Late in the afternoon Joanne drove herself into Winnipeg to spend the evening visiting with her sister. I had supper with Sharon & Bud, then they drove me into Winnipeg, to Joanne's sister's. They dropped me off, picked up Joanne, and drove back to their home in Lorette, leaving me at Joanne's sister's home, with our truck parked out front. I went out with Joanne's brother-in-law Doug for a couple of hours of visiting.
Friday ; Cloudy and cool. Second day of an ulcerative colitis flare up.
Spent the morning visiting with Sharon and Bud. Had lunch with Sharon and Bud. Went into Winnipeg in the afternoon to run errands before having supper with friends. Errands included buying pickerel fillets, pickerel cheeks, and smoked Lake Winnipeg Goldeye at Gimli Fish Market.
Had supper and an evening of visiting with very long time friends Shirley and Darcy. Went to high school with Shirley. She was Joanne's "Maid of Honour" at our wedding almost 39 years ago.
Saturday ; AHHHHH ... a beautiful, sunny fall day !
I spent the entire day visiting with my sister and brother-in-law. Joanne drove herself into Winnipeg in mid-afternoon to visit her sister. Bo and I went for a long walk with Bud. Sharon, Bud and I sat around a backyard campfire that Bud made. We ate. Then we ate some more. After that ... we ate again. It's what we do at my sister's ! It's a family thing ! When Joanne returned in the evening ... we all ate !
DSK
Monday ; WOO-HOO ! The father and son team from Winnipeg have just won Amazing Race Canada !
Today was sunny and mild. We spent this morning visiting with my sister and brother-in-law. This afternoon we ran errands. In Lorette we went to Co-op to refill with diesel, refill a propane tank, refill our five gallon water jug, and buy some groceries. We went to Winnipeg and bought a small electric heater at Goodwill, and jeans at Wal-Mart. In the evening we had dinner with Sharon and Bud, their daughter Andrea, and her fiancé Drew, whom we met for the first time tonight. After supper we all watched the finale of Amazing Race Canada.
Tuesday ; Today was mild but cloudy and windy.
We spent the morning and early afternoon visiting with Sharon and Bud. Mid-afternoon we drove into Winnipeg where I had an oil change done at Great Canadian Oil Change. This location was nowhere near as satisfactory as the location in Penticton. None of the service technicians knew exactly where to find the grease needle hole on the front drive shaft U-joint on our truck. AND ... despite me having been shown its precise location by the staff at the Penticton location of Great Canadian Oil Change, today I could not find it ! I spent 25 minutes in the pit underneath the truck along with various staff members trying to locate the grease needle hole. < sigh > I was frustrated and embarrassed. And if they weren't ... they should have been. It shouldn't be the responsibility of the customer to show them where the lubrication points are on any given vehicle !
After the oil change we went to Joanne’s sister’s home for supper and a visit. Lorraine wasn’t home from work yet when we arrived, but the two nieces, Madeleine and Amelia were already home from school. WOW ... they certainly have grown ... and grown up ... since I last saw them a few years ago.
We had supper and an evening of visiting with Lorraine, Madeleine, and Amelia ... and Macie the Bichon Frise.
Wednesday ; Today was cloudy and mild, with just a few drops of rain.
Sharon and Bud treated us to a day outing to Steinbach and area. Late this morning we drove to Steinbach and had lunch at the golf club restaurant. We did a bit of shopping at the town shopping mall, and then went to browse ... and buy ... at the local thrift store. Bought interesting stuff at a good price at the thrift store which is operated by the Mennonite community. We also stocked up on some fresh cheese products at a local cheese dairy in New Bothwell.
Sharon and Bud drove into Winnipeg late in the afternoon for some wedding dress shopping with their daughter. While they were gone Joanne and I prepared a B.C. salmon dinner for the four of us. We had dinner then watched the season premiere of Survivor.
Thursday ; Today was cloudy and mild.
We spent the day working on the retrieval of our artwork that we left here nine years ago. It's the primary reason for this trip to Winnipeg. We sorted through what was in storage in my sister's basement, carried it out to the trailer, and packed it, ready for travel back to B.C.
Sharon made a wonderfully eclectic lunch. Home made borscht, and home made poutine made with fresh cheese curds that we bought yesterday at the cheese dairy in New Bothwell.
Late in the afternoon Joanne drove herself into Winnipeg to spend the evening visiting with her sister. I had supper with Sharon & Bud, then they drove me into Winnipeg, to Joanne's sister's. They dropped me off, picked up Joanne, and drove back to their home in Lorette, leaving me at Joanne's sister's home, with our truck parked out front. I went out with Joanne's brother-in-law Doug for a couple of hours of visiting.
Friday ; Cloudy and cool. Second day of an ulcerative colitis flare up.
Spent the morning visiting with Sharon and Bud. Had lunch with Sharon and Bud. Went into Winnipeg in the afternoon to run errands before having supper with friends. Errands included buying pickerel fillets, pickerel cheeks, and smoked Lake Winnipeg Goldeye at Gimli Fish Market.
Had supper and an evening of visiting with very long time friends Shirley and Darcy. Went to high school with Shirley. She was Joanne's "Maid of Honour" at our wedding almost 39 years ago.
Saturday ; AHHHHH ... a beautiful, sunny fall day !
I spent the entire day visiting with my sister and brother-in-law. Joanne drove herself into Winnipeg in mid-afternoon to visit her sister. Bo and I went for a long walk with Bud. Sharon, Bud and I sat around a backyard campfire that Bud made. We ate. Then we ate some more. After that ... we ate again. It's what we do at my sister's ! It's a family thing ! When Joanne returned in the evening ... we all ate !
DSK
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
September 8 to 14, 2013 ; Trail, B.C. to International Peace Garden, Manitoba / North Dakota border
Sunday ; Trail. B.C. to Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
Another gloomy, rainy day of tough driving. We have just arrived and settled in for the evening at the closed for the season Travel Information Centre on the Alberta side of the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains. And it has begun to rain very heavily. We're tired of the rain. And I'm tired of driving in the mountains. Up, down, curve around, all the time ! And having just replaced a $5200 transmission, I'm neurotic about the effect the hills are having on the new transmission.
We left the Wal-Mart parking lot in Trail this morning, continuing east on Hwy. 3B, then Hwy. 3. We stopped in Creston to buy some freshly picked, wild Huckleberries. Yes, yes, they are expensive, but the opportunity to have fresh Huckleberries was irresistible to me. We stopped in Cranbrook to refill with diesel, dump the shower waste holding tank, refill the freshwater holding tank, and have lunch ... and a nap. Joanne is strongly encouraging us to "travel slowly", so yesterday and today I napped briefly after lunch.
Early in the evening we passed from British Columbia to Alberta through the Crowsnest Pass and stopped to boondock overnight in the parking lot of the closed for the season Alberta Travel Information Centre. You’d think that a province as rich as Alberta could afford to keep their border crossing Travel Information Centres open longer than Labour Day, wouldn’t you ? ! ?
In addition to seeing lots of deer yesterday and today, today we saw a young wolf on the side of the road. After we passed it I could see in my rear view mirror that it was cautiously crossing the highway. What a treat to see such a shy and rare animal in the wild.
Monday ; Crowsnest Pass to Medicine Hat, Alberta
It was very cold this morning at the high elevation of the Crowsnest Pass, but ... the sun was shining brightly. We left the Visitor Information Centre parking lot and continued east on Hwy. 3, descending down out of the Rocky Mountains and through the Foothills into ... prairie ! Ranches and farms. Big sky ! Smooth, straight road. Easy driving ! And very warm temperatures !
We stopped to refill with diesel at Fort Macleod. We stopped to dump all the waste holding tanks and refill the freshwater tank at the municipal campground in the pretty little village of Coalhurst. Near the village of Seven Persons we stopped at a small, independent butcher specializing in sausage making. Unfortunately, all the sausages were in pork casings, so we couldn't buy any. But we did buy some fresh ground lamb, and some home made cabbage rolls. We stopped to have lunch ( and a very brief nap ) in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Taber.
By 5 PM we were in Medicine Hat. We had dinner with and spent the evening visiting with our friends Sep and Susanna, whom we haven't seen in five years ! It was great to visit with old friends. At 9 PM we said goodbye and headed for another overnight stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Minutes after we got parked at Wal-Mart there was a knock at our door. HUH ? We were parked next to the motorhome of Robert and Sharon, Escapee friends of ours from Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33. Small world ! We chatted in the parking lot with them for quite awhile.
I'm typing this at 11:30 PM. We are in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart on the outskirts of a small city. Why are we surrounded by howling coyotes ? ! ? Bo doesn't like it !
My old friend Sep is and has always been a cigar aficionado. About 25 years ago he introduced me to the pleasures of extremely fine, exotic cigars. My very best cigar smoking experiences have been with Sep, and his cigars. Tonight ... < sigh > ... it broke my heart to have to decline his offer to share the two cigars he recently acquired from Nepal.
Tuesday ; Medicine Hat, Alberta to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Saskatchewan
Sunny and very warm, a lovely, prairie "big sky" day.
This morning while Joanne went into Wal-Mart to buy a few grocery items, I walked to the next mall over to buy an item I needed at Canadian Tire. When our shopping was completed we pulled out of the Wal-Mart parking lot, drove down the highway one exit, and refilled with diesel at Safeway.
We headed east on Trans-Canada Highway 1 for awhile and then ... our adventure began. We always consider it an adventure to take a route we have not travelled before. Joanne had planned for us to explore Southern Saskatchewan on this trip, starting with Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, which is partly in Alberta and partly in Saskatchewan.
A half hour or so after leaving Medicine Hat we turned south on Hwy.41 heading for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta side. When we arrived we went to the Visitor Information Centre to get some information. The lone attendant working was ... neither very knowledgeable nor very helpful. The only useful information she had for us was that the water system within the park was down for maintenance today. No water today ! Well ... with no water, we might as well stay for free in a Wal-Mart parking lot, n'est'ce pas ? Why would I pay $35 to stay in a campground with no water ( bathroom / shower building closed, no water refill for trailers, etc. ) today ? ! ?
We drove through the park's three campgrounds and checked them out. Not particularly impressive. We drove over to the day use area beside the lake. We had a "Bo-gility" session in the playground. WOO-HOO ... Bo loves going down playground slides. HA HA HA ! Joanne prepared lunch and we ate it at a picnic table beside the lake. After lunch we drove over to the trailer dump station to empty the trailer's shower waste holding tank, with plans to refill the freshwater somewhere else later. We found that the water system repairs were completed and the potable water spigot was functional so ... bonus ... we were able to refill the trailer's freshwater tank. With empty shower tank and full freshwater tank, we decided to leave the Alberta side of the park and go explore the Saskatchewan side.
Easier said than done ! We continued south on Hwy.41 for about an hour, almost to the U.S. border. We turned east onto Hwy. 501 heading into Saskatchewan. HEY ! ! ! The map indicates that this is a paved road. It's not ! ! ! < sigh > Sixty kilometres / forty miles of gravel ! We crossed into Saskatchewan, the gravel road became Hwy. 13, and at the tiny village of Consul it changed from gravel to asphalt. We turned north on Hwy. 21 and headed up to the Saskatchewan side of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Once in the park we found our way to Rainbow Campground.
Nice campground ! Cheaper than on the Alberta side. And nicer, too ! We chose a long site ... can back in the truck and trailer and not need to unhitch / disconnect ... near the shower building.
I built a campfire. HMPH ! Wood was green ! Had a restful and pleasant late afternoon and evening.
I'm currently ( 7:30 PM ) sitting at the picnic table beside the campfire, working on the computer, while Joanne is inside the trailer preparing Chicken Chile Verde, a Mexican recipe using tomatillos, for supper. We don't often find tomatillos in Canada. AND ... < sputter > ... fresh, wild Huckleberries with cream for dessert. My mouth is watering in anticipation of both the main course and dessert.
Wednesday ; Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park to Weyburn, Saskatchewan
This morning as we were preparing to depart Rainbow Campground I received a phone call from a Vancouver area code phone number. A woman wanted to hire me to move her trailer from a Kaleden campground to an Okanagan Falls storage yard ... on Saturday. Sorry, lady, I'm in Saskatchewan and won't be home for 2½ weeks. She seemed annoyed with me.
Our departure was delayed by a day / night shade that required repair. We left Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and drove south on Hwy. 21 to Hwy. 13, then east all day on Hwy. 13. Saw two herds of antelope today. Stopped in the lovely town of Shaunavon to refill with diesel, refill a propane tank, and buy some bread. While Joanne went into the Co-op grocery store to buy bread, I went next door to the little butcher shop. Bought some ground bison and ... WOO-HOO ... pickerel fillet. We had lunch beside the beautiful municipal park. While Joanne prepared lunch in the trailer I took Bo for an off leash romp in the large, empty park, then we did some "Bo-gility" in the playground. HA HA HA ... good dog, Bo, well done. Bo loooooves playground slides.
After lunch we continued east on Hwy. 13. Endless grain fields ! Our objective for today was to spend the night in the village campground in Ogema. We didn't like it, so didn't stay. Plan B was the village campground in Pangman. Didn't like it there either ! Plan C was Wal-Mart in Weyburn. That made for a bit too many miles, a bit too long a day.
However, the bonus was that I was able to get online and post my blog entry for last week. After we had supper in the trailer in the Wal-Mart parking lot, I walked across a large, empty field ... and two railroad tracks ... in the dark ... to a McDonald's and used their free Wi-Fi.
Thursday ; Weyburn to Moose Mountain Provincial Park, Saskatchewan
A beautiful, sunny, warm, perfect "June 18" day.
This morning while Joanne went into Wal-Mart for a few items I did the 228,000 km. inspection on Lanoire. And while checking the truck maintenance records I realized that an oil change is due at 228,000 km. How fortuitous, there was a Jiffy Lube beside the Wal-Mart. We left the Wal-Mart parking lot and drove over to Jiffy Lube. A hundred and twenty bucks for an oil change ? ! ? I don't think so ! I'll do it myself in Winnipeg !
We found our way to the Co-op Fuel Bar and refilled with diesel before leaving Weyburn, continuing east on Hwy. 13. Twice I had to pull right off the road onto the grass shoulder and stop to let houses that were being moved pass by. Out here on the flat prairies with wide, flat, straight roads they move pretty large houses from one place to another !
Shortly before the reaching the town of Kisbey ... THWACK
J**** F****** H C***** ! ! ! A rock the size of a golf ball flew up from an oncoming tractor trailer and smashed the windshield, leaving a series of circular cracks in a ring the size of a baseball ! And this happened on a perfectly smooth stretch of dry asphalt road. !
When we got to the town of Carlyle we found a glass repair shop. The owner came out, looked at the windshield, and declared it not repairable. Too many circular cracks, too big a ring. DAMN !
From Carlyle we headed north on Hwy. 9 and drove to the White Bear Casino. We went inside, looked around the casino, went outside, checked out their small, free RV park, then had lunch in the trailer in the parking lot. Their free RV park was our "Plan B" for tonight.
After lunch we continued north on Hwy. 9 to our "Plan A" destination ; Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Upon arrival at the park we stopped at the trailer dump station, dumped all the waste holding tanks, and refilled with freshwater. We stopped at the firewood shed and picked up some firewood. We drove around the lovely, large campground and found a site to our liking.
We got set up in our site, then went to the playground nearby and had a great "Bo-gility" session. HA HA HA HA HA ! Well done, Bo, good dog ! I chopped firewood and started a campfire while Joanne figured out how to prepare ratatouille so that I could cook it over an open fire. Even Sully wanted to be outdoors enjoying the weather and location, so ... I took Sully for a long walk. Well ... for Sully a long walk meant walking very slowly about 100 feet down the sunny campground road, then turning around and heading back to the trailer to resume snoozing.
Joanne sat by the campfire enjoying the sizzling sounds of supper cooking while I sat at the picnic table working on the computer and Bo explored the forest around our campsite. Supper was excellent !
A few years ago I severely injured / broke two toes on my left foot. They are susceptible to being easily re-injured. Today while collecting firewood ( wearing sandals ! ) I re-injured them. Then later, while chopping firewood, I injured them even more ! I'm typing this late in the evening, sitting on the sofa with a frozen wine bottle chill pack on my foot. OUCH ... I'm in pain !
It became obvious when I applied ointment to my toes at bedtime that one of them was broken !
Friday ;
Weather is too nice ! Campground is too nice ! Pickerel fillet cooked over an open fire is too enticing ! We decided to stay here another day !
We slept late and had a lazy day. Repaired another broken day / night shade. I hope when we buy a truck camper next winter that it has horizontal mini-blinds and not day / night shades ! We went for a long but slow walk around the campground. We did a lengthy "heel" session of training. Bo has recently been behaving as if he no longer remembers what our expectations are when commanding "heel". After twenty minutes of training reinforcement his reward was a "Bo-gility" session at the campground playground.
And yes, yes ... the pickerel cooked over the open fire was excellent !
Saturday ; Moose Mountain Provincial Park, Saskatchewan to International Peace Garden, Manitoba / North Dakota border
Today was sunny and warm during the day, but cold and windy in the evening. BRRRRR ! ! !
We left Moose Mountain Provincial Park this morning and headed north on Hwy. 21 back to Hwy. 13 at Carlyle. We stopped in Carlyle to buy some bread and baking at the small town bakery. We continued east on Hwy. 13 which became Hwy. 2 when we crossed from Saskatchewan into Manitoba. We stopped to have lunch at a roadside rest area near the village of Deleau. At Hwy. 10 we turned south. We stopped in Boissevain to refill with diesel and buy a few grocery items. The very young fuel pump attendant at the Co-op fuel bar was so friendly, and was working so quickly to get all the vehicles filled and on their way, how could I express my annoyance when he smacked the fuel nozzle against the side of the truck as he was inserting it into the fuel filler, chipping the paint ? ! ?
Our objective for today was Moose Mountain Provincial Park, a few miles north of the U.S. border. When we pulled into the park, Joanne got out of the truck to pick up a park map, and bumped into a park ranger. She asked the park ranger about the campground. The female park ranger ... didn't know anything about anything, but told us to go on in, there was no charge at this time of the year. We drove into the campground and found ... every campsite loop road had a "closed for the season" barrier across it. We were not very impressed with the park ranger !
We drove another mile or two to the International Peace Garden straddling the Manitoba / North Dakota border. We found a suitable site in their campground and settled in. I started a campfire, and barbecued supper. After supper we sat around the campfire for awhile until it got just too cold to remain outside.
Bo seems to have an upset tummy tonight. Yeah ... eating wild rosehips and little frogs will do that to ya, Bo ! ! !
DSK
Another gloomy, rainy day of tough driving. We have just arrived and settled in for the evening at the closed for the season Travel Information Centre on the Alberta side of the Crowsnest Pass through the Rocky Mountains. And it has begun to rain very heavily. We're tired of the rain. And I'm tired of driving in the mountains. Up, down, curve around, all the time ! And having just replaced a $5200 transmission, I'm neurotic about the effect the hills are having on the new transmission.
We left the Wal-Mart parking lot in Trail this morning, continuing east on Hwy. 3B, then Hwy. 3. We stopped in Creston to buy some freshly picked, wild Huckleberries. Yes, yes, they are expensive, but the opportunity to have fresh Huckleberries was irresistible to me. We stopped in Cranbrook to refill with diesel, dump the shower waste holding tank, refill the freshwater holding tank, and have lunch ... and a nap. Joanne is strongly encouraging us to "travel slowly", so yesterday and today I napped briefly after lunch.
Early in the evening we passed from British Columbia to Alberta through the Crowsnest Pass and stopped to boondock overnight in the parking lot of the closed for the season Alberta Travel Information Centre. You’d think that a province as rich as Alberta could afford to keep their border crossing Travel Information Centres open longer than Labour Day, wouldn’t you ? ! ?
In addition to seeing lots of deer yesterday and today, today we saw a young wolf on the side of the road. After we passed it I could see in my rear view mirror that it was cautiously crossing the highway. What a treat to see such a shy and rare animal in the wild.
Monday ; Crowsnest Pass to Medicine Hat, Alberta
It was very cold this morning at the high elevation of the Crowsnest Pass, but ... the sun was shining brightly. We left the Visitor Information Centre parking lot and continued east on Hwy. 3, descending down out of the Rocky Mountains and through the Foothills into ... prairie ! Ranches and farms. Big sky ! Smooth, straight road. Easy driving ! And very warm temperatures !
We stopped to refill with diesel at Fort Macleod. We stopped to dump all the waste holding tanks and refill the freshwater tank at the municipal campground in the pretty little village of Coalhurst. Near the village of Seven Persons we stopped at a small, independent butcher specializing in sausage making. Unfortunately, all the sausages were in pork casings, so we couldn't buy any. But we did buy some fresh ground lamb, and some home made cabbage rolls. We stopped to have lunch ( and a very brief nap ) in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Taber.
By 5 PM we were in Medicine Hat. We had dinner with and spent the evening visiting with our friends Sep and Susanna, whom we haven't seen in five years ! It was great to visit with old friends. At 9 PM we said goodbye and headed for another overnight stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Minutes after we got parked at Wal-Mart there was a knock at our door. HUH ? We were parked next to the motorhome of Robert and Sharon, Escapee friends of ours from Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33. Small world ! We chatted in the parking lot with them for quite awhile.
I'm typing this at 11:30 PM. We are in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart on the outskirts of a small city. Why are we surrounded by howling coyotes ? ! ? Bo doesn't like it !
My old friend Sep is and has always been a cigar aficionado. About 25 years ago he introduced me to the pleasures of extremely fine, exotic cigars. My very best cigar smoking experiences have been with Sep, and his cigars. Tonight ... < sigh > ... it broke my heart to have to decline his offer to share the two cigars he recently acquired from Nepal.
Tuesday ; Medicine Hat, Alberta to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Saskatchewan
Sunny and very warm, a lovely, prairie "big sky" day.
This morning while Joanne went into Wal-Mart to buy a few grocery items, I walked to the next mall over to buy an item I needed at Canadian Tire. When our shopping was completed we pulled out of the Wal-Mart parking lot, drove down the highway one exit, and refilled with diesel at Safeway.
We headed east on Trans-Canada Highway 1 for awhile and then ... our adventure began. We always consider it an adventure to take a route we have not travelled before. Joanne had planned for us to explore Southern Saskatchewan on this trip, starting with Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, which is partly in Alberta and partly in Saskatchewan.
A half hour or so after leaving Medicine Hat we turned south on Hwy.41 heading for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta side. When we arrived we went to the Visitor Information Centre to get some information. The lone attendant working was ... neither very knowledgeable nor very helpful. The only useful information she had for us was that the water system within the park was down for maintenance today. No water today ! Well ... with no water, we might as well stay for free in a Wal-Mart parking lot, n'est'ce pas ? Why would I pay $35 to stay in a campground with no water ( bathroom / shower building closed, no water refill for trailers, etc. ) today ? ! ?
We drove through the park's three campgrounds and checked them out. Not particularly impressive. We drove over to the day use area beside the lake. We had a "Bo-gility" session in the playground. WOO-HOO ... Bo loves going down playground slides. HA HA HA ! Joanne prepared lunch and we ate it at a picnic table beside the lake. After lunch we drove over to the trailer dump station to empty the trailer's shower waste holding tank, with plans to refill the freshwater somewhere else later. We found that the water system repairs were completed and the potable water spigot was functional so ... bonus ... we were able to refill the trailer's freshwater tank. With empty shower tank and full freshwater tank, we decided to leave the Alberta side of the park and go explore the Saskatchewan side.
Easier said than done ! We continued south on Hwy.41 for about an hour, almost to the U.S. border. We turned east onto Hwy. 501 heading into Saskatchewan. HEY ! ! ! The map indicates that this is a paved road. It's not ! ! ! < sigh > Sixty kilometres / forty miles of gravel ! We crossed into Saskatchewan, the gravel road became Hwy. 13, and at the tiny village of Consul it changed from gravel to asphalt. We turned north on Hwy. 21 and headed up to the Saskatchewan side of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Once in the park we found our way to Rainbow Campground.
Nice campground ! Cheaper than on the Alberta side. And nicer, too ! We chose a long site ... can back in the truck and trailer and not need to unhitch / disconnect ... near the shower building.
I built a campfire. HMPH ! Wood was green ! Had a restful and pleasant late afternoon and evening.
I'm currently ( 7:30 PM ) sitting at the picnic table beside the campfire, working on the computer, while Joanne is inside the trailer preparing Chicken Chile Verde, a Mexican recipe using tomatillos, for supper. We don't often find tomatillos in Canada. AND ... < sputter > ... fresh, wild Huckleberries with cream for dessert. My mouth is watering in anticipation of both the main course and dessert.
Wednesday ; Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park to Weyburn, Saskatchewan
This morning as we were preparing to depart Rainbow Campground I received a phone call from a Vancouver area code phone number. A woman wanted to hire me to move her trailer from a Kaleden campground to an Okanagan Falls storage yard ... on Saturday. Sorry, lady, I'm in Saskatchewan and won't be home for 2½ weeks. She seemed annoyed with me.
Our departure was delayed by a day / night shade that required repair. We left Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and drove south on Hwy. 21 to Hwy. 13, then east all day on Hwy. 13. Saw two herds of antelope today. Stopped in the lovely town of Shaunavon to refill with diesel, refill a propane tank, and buy some bread. While Joanne went into the Co-op grocery store to buy bread, I went next door to the little butcher shop. Bought some ground bison and ... WOO-HOO ... pickerel fillet. We had lunch beside the beautiful municipal park. While Joanne prepared lunch in the trailer I took Bo for an off leash romp in the large, empty park, then we did some "Bo-gility" in the playground. HA HA HA ... good dog, Bo, well done. Bo loooooves playground slides.
However, the bonus was that I was able to get online and post my blog entry for last week. After we had supper in the trailer in the Wal-Mart parking lot, I walked across a large, empty field ... and two railroad tracks ... in the dark ... to a McDonald's and used their free Wi-Fi.
Thursday ; Weyburn to Moose Mountain Provincial Park, Saskatchewan
A beautiful, sunny, warm, perfect "June 18" day.
This morning while Joanne went into Wal-Mart for a few items I did the 228,000 km. inspection on Lanoire. And while checking the truck maintenance records I realized that an oil change is due at 228,000 km. How fortuitous, there was a Jiffy Lube beside the Wal-Mart. We left the Wal-Mart parking lot and drove over to Jiffy Lube. A hundred and twenty bucks for an oil change ? ! ? I don't think so ! I'll do it myself in Winnipeg !
We found our way to the Co-op Fuel Bar and refilled with diesel before leaving Weyburn, continuing east on Hwy. 13. Twice I had to pull right off the road onto the grass shoulder and stop to let houses that were being moved pass by. Out here on the flat prairies with wide, flat, straight roads they move pretty large houses from one place to another !
J**** F****** H C***** ! ! ! A rock the size of a golf ball flew up from an oncoming tractor trailer and smashed the windshield, leaving a series of circular cracks in a ring the size of a baseball ! And this happened on a perfectly smooth stretch of dry asphalt road. !
When we got to the town of Carlyle we found a glass repair shop. The owner came out, looked at the windshield, and declared it not repairable. Too many circular cracks, too big a ring. DAMN !
After lunch we continued north on Hwy. 9 to our "Plan A" destination ; Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Upon arrival at the park we stopped at the trailer dump station, dumped all the waste holding tanks, and refilled with freshwater. We stopped at the firewood shed and picked up some firewood. We drove around the lovely, large campground and found a site to our liking.
We got set up in our site, then went to the playground nearby and had a great "Bo-gility" session. HA HA HA HA HA ! Well done, Bo, good dog ! I chopped firewood and started a campfire while Joanne figured out how to prepare ratatouille so that I could cook it over an open fire. Even Sully wanted to be outdoors enjoying the weather and location, so ... I took Sully for a long walk. Well ... for Sully a long walk meant walking very slowly about 100 feet down the sunny campground road, then turning around and heading back to the trailer to resume snoozing.
Joanne sat by the campfire enjoying the sizzling sounds of supper cooking while I sat at the picnic table working on the computer and Bo explored the forest around our campsite. Supper was excellent !
It became obvious when I applied ointment to my toes at bedtime that one of them was broken !
Friday ;
Weather is too nice ! Campground is too nice ! Pickerel fillet cooked over an open fire is too enticing ! We decided to stay here another day !
We slept late and had a lazy day. Repaired another broken day / night shade. I hope when we buy a truck camper next winter that it has horizontal mini-blinds and not day / night shades ! We went for a long but slow walk around the campground. We did a lengthy "heel" session of training. Bo has recently been behaving as if he no longer remembers what our expectations are when commanding "heel". After twenty minutes of training reinforcement his reward was a "Bo-gility" session at the campground playground.
And yes, yes ... the pickerel cooked over the open fire was excellent !
Saturday ; Moose Mountain Provincial Park, Saskatchewan to International Peace Garden, Manitoba / North Dakota border
Today was sunny and warm during the day, but cold and windy in the evening. BRRRRR ! ! !
We left Moose Mountain Provincial Park this morning and headed north on Hwy. 21 back to Hwy. 13 at Carlyle. We stopped in Carlyle to buy some bread and baking at the small town bakery. We continued east on Hwy. 13 which became Hwy. 2 when we crossed from Saskatchewan into Manitoba. We stopped to have lunch at a roadside rest area near the village of Deleau. At Hwy. 10 we turned south. We stopped in Boissevain to refill with diesel and buy a few grocery items. The very young fuel pump attendant at the Co-op fuel bar was so friendly, and was working so quickly to get all the vehicles filled and on their way, how could I express my annoyance when he smacked the fuel nozzle against the side of the truck as he was inserting it into the fuel filler, chipping the paint ? ! ?
Our objective for today was Moose Mountain Provincial Park, a few miles north of the U.S. border. When we pulled into the park, Joanne got out of the truck to pick up a park map, and bumped into a park ranger. She asked the park ranger about the campground. The female park ranger ... didn't know anything about anything, but told us to go on in, there was no charge at this time of the year. We drove into the campground and found ... every campsite loop road had a "closed for the season" barrier across it. We were not very impressed with the park ranger !
We drove another mile or two to the International Peace Garden straddling the Manitoba / North Dakota border. We found a suitable site in their campground and settled in. I started a campfire, and barbecued supper. After supper we sat around the campfire for awhile until it got just too cold to remain outside.
Bo seems to have an upset tummy tonight. Yeah ... eating wild rosehips and little frogs will do that to ya, Bo ! ! !
DSK
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
September 1 to 7, 2013 ; Keremeos to Trail, B.C.
Sunday ; Another lovely, sunny, very warm day.
We slept late this morning then decided to have brunch at our new patio table set on the deck off the living room. It was very nice ... until Joanne was stung by a wasp ... yet again ! Second day in a row !
Late in the afternoon we took Bo to the dog park where ... wait for it ... Joanne was stung again ! Three stings in two days !
Monday ; Still sunny and very warm.
Oh, for crying out loud ! ! ! Today it was Bo that was stung by a wasp ! Poor Bo-Bo ! Just as we were leaving the dog park, he started to yelp and hop around on three legs. He must have stepped on a wasp that was on the ground. OW ! I had to carry him home. For most of the rest of the day he was unable to put weight on that foot, having been stung right on the fleshy pad underneath.
Late this afternoon Joanne went into town to buy some produce and ... locked herself out of the truck ! Key in the ignition, electronic fob sitting on her night table at home, spare hidden key not currently in its regular hiding place on the truck ! I had to borrow the neighbour's car, drive into town, and unlock the truck for her.
We spent part of the evening planning ( arguing ? ) about the placement / positioning of the artwork that we are going to Winnipeg to retrieve. When we started full time RV travel 9½ years ago, we left 28 pieces of artwork in Winnipeg, either on display in family members' homes, or in storage. We have planned where to mount and display almost all of it, either in our park model manufactured home in Keremeos, B.C., or in our Arizona room / "casita" in Yuma, Arizona.
By late evening Bo was able to put weight on his foot. His face and nose were hot with fever.
Tuesday ; This morning as we were preparing to head to Penticton for a day of errands, it was cool and raining lightly. So ... I wore a pair of long pants. And regular shoes. Shortly after leaving home, the rain stopped, the sky cleared, and the temperature rose ... to 90° F. / 30° C.
And I sweltered all day !
We were surprised to find a Bighorn Sheep grazing on the side of the road near Olalla. We usually see them only in the spring and fall ... when it's pretty cool down here in the valley. During the hot part of the summer ... which it still seems to be ... they're up at higher elevations in the mountains ... where it's cooler. The sheep was probably thinking ... "why's that guy wearing long corduroy pants ?" HA HA HA !
One of today's errands was to buy a yard of finishing gravel. When we returned home we began shovelling it out of the back of the truck and spreading it around the gazebo. We worked on that until we ran out of daylight.
Wednesday ; We had been planning to leave for Winnipeg on Sunday, September 1, until I was hired to winterize a trailer and take it to a storage yard on Saturday, September 7. So ... our second planned departure date was Sunday, September 8. Today the "client" cancelled, having changed her plans ( again ! ! ! ). So ... now our third planned departure date will be Saturday, September 7. Wish us luck !
This morning we finished shovelling gravel out of the back of the truck and spreading it around the gazebo. We kept a small amount of extra gravel for future needs and gave a small amount to our next door neighbour. Then I installed a new entry door window frame, that I bought yesterday in Penticton, on his fifth wheel trailer.
OUCH ! While making lunch Joanne cut her finger, slicing through the side of her finger up to the nail.
Thursday ; Cloudy, warm, humid. Spent the day slowly preparing for travel. Removed the trailer's dinette table and chairs to make room for the artwork we're retrieving from Winnipeg.
Friday ; Cloudy, cool, raining intermittently. Another day spent slowly preparing for travel. I much preferred the "old days" before we owned a park model manufactured home and preparing for travel was much simpler ! Went into town today and while Joanne ran some errands I got a haircut and beard trim so that I can go to Winnipeg and visit family without looking quite so much like a "bushy".
Saturday ; Keremeos to Trail, B.C.
Day 1 of the Winnipeg trip. Very gloomy weather, difficult driving conditions.
This morning we finished our departure preparations and left home under cloudy skies, but not raining yet. We stopped in Keremeos to buy some fresh produce and adjust the air in the trailer's tires. A few minutes later the rain began, just as we got to Cawston. And it rained for most of the rest of the day.
We travelled east on Hwy. 3, a difficult road of uphill and downhill and curves. It was made more difficult by the wet conditions, and occasional thick fog as we were in clouds at the higher elevations.
We stopped briefly in Osoyoos because Bo was frantic to stop at what we call "Bo's PP Park". What can I say ? It's like travelling with a little kid. He seems to smell Lake Osoyoos and is always very eager and excited to stop at the lakeside park in Osoyoos. We stopped in Grand Forks to refill with diesel, and to buy perogies at Cecil's Perogies. HEY ! ! ! WHERE THE HELL IS CECIL'S PEROGIES ? ? ? How could a business that made such good perogies ... and dill cream sauce ... go out of business ? ! ?
Joanne wanted to take an alternate route that we have not taken before, diverting on Hwy. 3B to go through Rossland and Trail. Neither of us knew that Rossland is a ski resort village and the road climbs and climbs and climbs to get there ! And then descends steeply ( 10% grade ) for a long time ( 10 km. ) to get down to Trail. We were ready to stop for the night by the time we got to Trail ... and saw a Wal-Mart, a perfect boondocking spot to spend the night.
DSK
We slept late this morning then decided to have brunch at our new patio table set on the deck off the living room. It was very nice ... until Joanne was stung by a wasp ... yet again ! Second day in a row !
Late in the afternoon we took Bo to the dog park where ... wait for it ... Joanne was stung again ! Three stings in two days !
Monday ; Still sunny and very warm.
Oh, for crying out loud ! ! ! Today it was Bo that was stung by a wasp ! Poor Bo-Bo ! Just as we were leaving the dog park, he started to yelp and hop around on three legs. He must have stepped on a wasp that was on the ground. OW ! I had to carry him home. For most of the rest of the day he was unable to put weight on that foot, having been stung right on the fleshy pad underneath.
Late this afternoon Joanne went into town to buy some produce and ... locked herself out of the truck ! Key in the ignition, electronic fob sitting on her night table at home, spare hidden key not currently in its regular hiding place on the truck ! I had to borrow the neighbour's car, drive into town, and unlock the truck for her.
We spent part of the evening planning ( arguing ? ) about the placement / positioning of the artwork that we are going to Winnipeg to retrieve. When we started full time RV travel 9½ years ago, we left 28 pieces of artwork in Winnipeg, either on display in family members' homes, or in storage. We have planned where to mount and display almost all of it, either in our park model manufactured home in Keremeos, B.C., or in our Arizona room / "casita" in Yuma, Arizona.
By late evening Bo was able to put weight on his foot. His face and nose were hot with fever.
Tuesday ; This morning as we were preparing to head to Penticton for a day of errands, it was cool and raining lightly. So ... I wore a pair of long pants. And regular shoes. Shortly after leaving home, the rain stopped, the sky cleared, and the temperature rose ... to 90° F. / 30° C.
And I sweltered all day !
We were surprised to find a Bighorn Sheep grazing on the side of the road near Olalla. We usually see them only in the spring and fall ... when it's pretty cool down here in the valley. During the hot part of the summer ... which it still seems to be ... they're up at higher elevations in the mountains ... where it's cooler. The sheep was probably thinking ... "why's that guy wearing long corduroy pants ?" HA HA HA !
One of today's errands was to buy a yard of finishing gravel. When we returned home we began shovelling it out of the back of the truck and spreading it around the gazebo. We worked on that until we ran out of daylight.
Wednesday ; We had been planning to leave for Winnipeg on Sunday, September 1, until I was hired to winterize a trailer and take it to a storage yard on Saturday, September 7. So ... our second planned departure date was Sunday, September 8. Today the "client" cancelled, having changed her plans ( again ! ! ! ). So ... now our third planned departure date will be Saturday, September 7. Wish us luck !
This morning we finished shovelling gravel out of the back of the truck and spreading it around the gazebo. We kept a small amount of extra gravel for future needs and gave a small amount to our next door neighbour. Then I installed a new entry door window frame, that I bought yesterday in Penticton, on his fifth wheel trailer.
OUCH ! While making lunch Joanne cut her finger, slicing through the side of her finger up to the nail.
Thursday ; Cloudy, warm, humid. Spent the day slowly preparing for travel. Removed the trailer's dinette table and chairs to make room for the artwork we're retrieving from Winnipeg.
Friday ; Cloudy, cool, raining intermittently. Another day spent slowly preparing for travel. I much preferred the "old days" before we owned a park model manufactured home and preparing for travel was much simpler ! Went into town today and while Joanne ran some errands I got a haircut and beard trim so that I can go to Winnipeg and visit family without looking quite so much like a "bushy".
Saturday ; Keremeos to Trail, B.C.
Day 1 of the Winnipeg trip. Very gloomy weather, difficult driving conditions.
This morning we finished our departure preparations and left home under cloudy skies, but not raining yet. We stopped in Keremeos to buy some fresh produce and adjust the air in the trailer's tires. A few minutes later the rain began, just as we got to Cawston. And it rained for most of the rest of the day.
We travelled east on Hwy. 3, a difficult road of uphill and downhill and curves. It was made more difficult by the wet conditions, and occasional thick fog as we were in clouds at the higher elevations.
We stopped briefly in Osoyoos because Bo was frantic to stop at what we call "Bo's PP Park". What can I say ? It's like travelling with a little kid. He seems to smell Lake Osoyoos and is always very eager and excited to stop at the lakeside park in Osoyoos. We stopped in Grand Forks to refill with diesel, and to buy perogies at Cecil's Perogies. HEY ! ! ! WHERE THE HELL IS CECIL'S PEROGIES ? ? ? How could a business that made such good perogies ... and dill cream sauce ... go out of business ? ! ?
Joanne wanted to take an alternate route that we have not taken before, diverting on Hwy. 3B to go through Rossland and Trail. Neither of us knew that Rossland is a ski resort village and the road climbs and climbs and climbs to get there ! And then descends steeply ( 10% grade ) for a long time ( 10 km. ) to get down to Trail. We were ready to stop for the night by the time we got to Trail ... and saw a Wal-Mart, a perfect boondocking spot to spend the night.
DSK
Sunday, September 1, 2013
August 25 to 31, 2013
To "anonymous" who recently posted a comment to a blog entry of about a year and a half ago asking for referral / recommendation re : my Mexican periodontist ; please send me your name and e-mail address
Sunday ; Sick today with a full blown flare up of ulcerative colitis, apparently triggered by last night's gluttonous feast at Bogner's of Penticton. My "new" ( since 2011 ) gastroenterologist thinks that my 1990 diagnosis of ulcerative colitis may have been incorrect, and that I actually have Crohn's Disease. They're so similar that it doesn't much matter, does it ? Although ... after some research I think she's correct. She wants to "fiddle" with my meds a teensy bit to help her be more definitive in her diagnosis.
In any case ... I'm sick today ! ! !
Monday ; Feeling better today, although weak. Got hired today to do another trailer winterization and delivery from campground to storage yard. My sister phoned today, after getting home from the hospital following her ( second ) hip replacement surgery six days ago.
Tuesday ; Headed to Penticton late this morning for ( most of ) a day of errands. After a picnic lunch we headed to Peachland to see ... and buy ... a slightly used glass top patio table with market umbrella and four upholstered chairs. The furniture that we previously had on our deck we have now moved to our gazebo, so the deck requires refurnishing. Back in Penticton, at Wal-Mart we bumped into our next door neighbours ... and their granddaughter. I invited the neighbour and his granddaughter to go flying.
After our errands were finished Joanne dropped me off at the airport, she went shopping, and
I took Joe and seven year old Georgia on a flightseeing flight to see Riverside RV Park Resort ... and Grandma standing on the road waving at us. HA HA HA ... Georgia was pretty excited by it all. Except for having to do some "scud running" under a little rain squall ( with downdrafts / wind shear ) over Keremeos Village, it was a pleasant flight.
Wednesday ; Today the neighbour that I took flying yesterday fulfilled a previous promise made to me to teach me how to fly fish. We walked over to the Similkameen River behind our park's "clubhouse", waded across to an island, and ... in less than two hours of instruction and practice, we caught about twenty or so Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout. WOW ... it was exciting ! ! ! Thank you very much, Joe. Learn to fly fish ; another item to cross off my "bucket list".
Yesterday I bought another couple of very well priced wild caught Pacific salmon. This afternoon
I filleted them ... and cleaned three Rainbow Trout and one Cutthroat Trout.
We unloaded the patio furniture that we bought yesterday and got it all up on the deck of the house. Very nice !
Joanne and I had a fun "hide & seek" obedience session with Bo.
Thursday ; It was raining today until mid-afternoon. Until then we had a lazy day. After the rain ended I did some minor maintenance work on the trailer.
Found an interesting Maple Syrup glazed Rainbow Trout recipe online, and that's how I prepared the fish I caught yesterday for supper tonight. T'was pretty good !
Friday ; Joanne left at 6:30 AM this morning to accompany Dorothy to her chemotherapy session in Kelowna. Jimmy the dog came to spend the day with me, Bo, and Sully.
I spent the day puttering around with some minor maintenance on the trailer. Once again it is one hundred percent ready for travel, with no outstanding maintenance issues. We'll be leaving for Winnipeg in nine days.
After Joanne returned home late in the afternoon we worked on "gluing" some of the shells that we collected last winter in Mexico onto the outside base of the gazebo, as a "whimsical" display.
Saturday ; Another sunny, hot day. Not too many left this year, I would expect.
We continued our whimsical gluing of Mexican beach shells onto the bases of the gazebo and shed. While painting some exterior door trim Joanne was stung by a wasp. The wasps are so bad this year ! Lots and lots and lots of them, all with "hair triggers". Our next door neighbour was stung while in our yard a few days ago. I did some repair work on the neighbour's fifth wheel this afternoon.
DSK
Sunday ; Sick today with a full blown flare up of ulcerative colitis, apparently triggered by last night's gluttonous feast at Bogner's of Penticton. My "new" ( since 2011 ) gastroenterologist thinks that my 1990 diagnosis of ulcerative colitis may have been incorrect, and that I actually have Crohn's Disease. They're so similar that it doesn't much matter, does it ? Although ... after some research I think she's correct. She wants to "fiddle" with my meds a teensy bit to help her be more definitive in her diagnosis.
In any case ... I'm sick today ! ! !
Monday ; Feeling better today, although weak. Got hired today to do another trailer winterization and delivery from campground to storage yard. My sister phoned today, after getting home from the hospital following her ( second ) hip replacement surgery six days ago.
Tuesday ; Headed to Penticton late this morning for ( most of ) a day of errands. After a picnic lunch we headed to Peachland to see ... and buy ... a slightly used glass top patio table with market umbrella and four upholstered chairs. The furniture that we previously had on our deck we have now moved to our gazebo, so the deck requires refurnishing. Back in Penticton, at Wal-Mart we bumped into our next door neighbours ... and their granddaughter. I invited the neighbour and his granddaughter to go flying.
After our errands were finished Joanne dropped me off at the airport, she went shopping, and
I took Joe and seven year old Georgia on a flightseeing flight to see Riverside RV Park Resort ... and Grandma standing on the road waving at us. HA HA HA ... Georgia was pretty excited by it all. Except for having to do some "scud running" under a little rain squall ( with downdrafts / wind shear ) over Keremeos Village, it was a pleasant flight.
Wednesday ; Today the neighbour that I took flying yesterday fulfilled a previous promise made to me to teach me how to fly fish. We walked over to the Similkameen River behind our park's "clubhouse", waded across to an island, and ... in less than two hours of instruction and practice, we caught about twenty or so Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout. WOW ... it was exciting ! ! ! Thank you very much, Joe. Learn to fly fish ; another item to cross off my "bucket list".
Yesterday I bought another couple of very well priced wild caught Pacific salmon. This afternoon
I filleted them ... and cleaned three Rainbow Trout and one Cutthroat Trout.
We unloaded the patio furniture that we bought yesterday and got it all up on the deck of the house. Very nice !
Joanne and I had a fun "hide & seek" obedience session with Bo.
Thursday ; It was raining today until mid-afternoon. Until then we had a lazy day. After the rain ended I did some minor maintenance work on the trailer.
Found an interesting Maple Syrup glazed Rainbow Trout recipe online, and that's how I prepared the fish I caught yesterday for supper tonight. T'was pretty good !
Friday ; Joanne left at 6:30 AM this morning to accompany Dorothy to her chemotherapy session in Kelowna. Jimmy the dog came to spend the day with me, Bo, and Sully.
I spent the day puttering around with some minor maintenance on the trailer. Once again it is one hundred percent ready for travel, with no outstanding maintenance issues. We'll be leaving for Winnipeg in nine days.
After Joanne returned home late in the afternoon we worked on "gluing" some of the shells that we collected last winter in Mexico onto the outside base of the gazebo, as a "whimsical" display.
Saturday ; Another sunny, hot day. Not too many left this year, I would expect.
We continued our whimsical gluing of Mexican beach shells onto the bases of the gazebo and shed. While painting some exterior door trim Joanne was stung by a wasp. The wasps are so bad this year ! Lots and lots and lots of them, all with "hair triggers". Our next door neighbour was stung while in our yard a few days ago. I did some repair work on the neighbour's fifth wheel this afternoon.
DSK
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