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