April 21 to 27, 2019 ; Jackpot, Nevada, U.S.A. to Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada

Easter Sunday ; Jackpot, Nevada

Cloudy, cold, windy.

This morning we moved from Cactus Pete’s Casino’s RV boondocking parking lot to their full service RV park. AHHHHH … full services ; sewer, water, electricity. We can run the little electric space heater until we’re all toasty warm !

This afternoon we went inside the casino and renewed our Cactus Pete’s players’ club cards. Then I went to sit in the hotel lobby and use Wi-Fi. DARN ! I hadn’t checked our phone messages for quite a few days. There was a request for a trailer towing quote since last Tuesday. DARN ! When I returned the phone call, not surprisingly, the caller no longer wanted / needed a trailer towing quote from me. DARN ! ! !

I checked phone messages and e-mail, then uploaded my weekly blog entry. 

I returned to the camper for a very small lunch … have to leave room for Easter buffet dinner … and an afternoon nap. Late in the afternoon we returned to the casino to have Easter dinner.

This was the second time we have had Easter dinner in this casino’s buffet restaurant. And both times were exceptionally good. Especially the desserts, which were beyond outstanding both times. We surmise that they must still have the same pastry chef as last time we had Easter dinner here a few years ago.

While having dinner I did a lot of people watching. Because … it appalls me that so many men wear baseball caps while having Easter dinner in a nice restaurant. And it appalls me that table manners have become so … lacking. It seems to me to be a … < cough cough > … “cultural” thing ! It’s not just the Roman Empire that declined ! ! !

The table behind us was a family with five young boys, ages about four to about ten. And it seemed as if the parents told them that they could have whatever they wanted for dinner. The youngest two ate copious amounts of watermelon. HA HA HA ! Followed by Jello and ice cream. Lots of it ! HA HA HA ! The oldest boy ate shrimp and … watermelon ! The father ate a lot of fried chicken and … watermelon ! HA HA HA ! One of the boys in the middle broadened his horizons and had a slice of cantaloupe. HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA !

Monday, Jackpot, Nevada through Idaho to La Grande, Oregon

Sunny and warm.

This morning before leaving the Cactus Pete’s RV Park we refilled our freshwater tank and dumped our black and grey waste tanks. We were northbound on Hwy. 93 around 11 AM, and a few minutes after leaving Jackpot we crossed from Nevada into Idaho. At Twin Falls we crossed the Snake River Canyon and got onto Interstate 84 heading northwest. We stopped at an Interstate rest area to have lunch.

We covered a lot of miles today, and rather quickly. The Interstate speed limit was 80 MPH / 128 km. per hr. I don’t drive that fast, but I did spend a lot of today at 120 km. per hr. / 75 MPH.

We stopped at a Wal-Mart in Boise, Idaho. I refilled Lanoire with ( cheap ) diesel at Wal-Mart’s fuel bar, then Joanne went inside the store to refill our five gallon water jug and to buy some salad vegetables. When we reached our planned destination for today, a rest area near Huntington, Oregon, we stopped to feed Ozzie, then decided to keep driving for another hour and a half or so. We reached La Grande, Oregon about 7:30 PM, just before dark. We parked at 

Wal-Mart to boondock overnight. And to facilitate our Oregon tax free shopping tomorrow.

Tuesday ; La Grande to The Dalles, Oregon

Mix of sun and clouds, warm, windy.

This morning we went shopping in Wal-Mart. While I went to buy a new “house” battery for the camper, Joanne went to do our Oregon tax free shopping. She bought everything except one item on our list which Wal-Mart did not have. 

I bought a battery for the camper, took it out to the parking lot, and was almost finished installing it by the time Joanne returned to the camper with the rest of our purchases. While I finished the installation and got myself cleaned up Joanne took the old battery back into the store to get the core exchange refund.

We left Wal-Mart, and La Grande, shortly after noon. We continued heading northwest on Interstate 84. When we reached Pendleton, we stopped at Wildhorse Casino, one of our favourite boondock locations. We dumped our black and grey waste tanks, refilled our freshwater tank, and refilled with diesel at their Arrowhead Travel Plaza. Got a good discount on their already cheap diesel fuel, using our Rewards On The Rez card. HA HA HA ! We pulled over to their RV boondocking parking lot and had a late lunch.

After lunch we continued northwest on I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge until we reached The Dalles about 5:15 PM. We went to O’Reilly Auto Parts and picked up the K & N high performance fuel injection “permanent” air filter that 

I had ordered online before leaving Yuma. I decided recently that it’s time to replace the one in the truck that is now about twelve years old. We also went into Staples to buy the last item on our Oregon tax free shopping list. They didn’t have it. HMPH ! Guess we’ll have to buy it at Staples in Penticton !

We left The Dalles and drove a short distance to the west on I-84 and stopped for the night at Memaloose Rest Area, adjacent to Memaloose State Park. It was shortly after 6 PM when we arrived. We took Ozzie for a long walk around the rest area, then down the hill to walk around the state park campground, verifying that their sani-dump station is functional for the summer season. We’ll probably use it tomorrow morning before meeting our 97¾ year old friend Eilene in The Dalles for lunch.

While Joanne prepared supper in the camper I worked on updating our “purchases to declare” list with today’s purchases. DARN ! We’re a teensy bit over our annual duty free allowance limit, and will likely have to pay a small amount of duty / taxes on our winter season’s purchases as we cross the border back into Canada.

Wednesday ; The Dalles, Oregon to Seattle, Washington

Sunny and warm.

This morning we refilled our freshwater tank and dumped our grey and black waste tanks at the sani-dump station in Memaloose State Park adjacent to the rest area where we boondocked overnight. We left there at 11:15 AM and drove about ten miles east on Interstate 84 back to The Dalles. We met our ( really ! ) old friend Eilene at her seniors’ apartment building at 11:45 AM. We hadn’t seen Eilene in two years, and it was great to visit with her again. < whispering > She’s frail ! I suppose at her age she’s entitled !

Eilene wanted to go to a pizza restaurant called Spooky’s so off we went in the truck. We all shared a pizza for lunch, and chatted while we ate. Eilene’s hearing has deteriorated, so chatting in a noisy restaurant was difficult for her. After lunch we drove her back to her apartment, and said our goodbyes, about 1:30 PM. Before leaving I told her I want an invitation to her 100^th birthday party in 27 months.

We drove to Safeway and while I refilled Lanoire ( the truck ) with diesel Joanne went into the store to buy some bread and luncheon meat. We left The Dalles at 2 PM heading east on Interstate 84. Shortly after leaving The Dalles we turned north on Hwy. 97 and crossed over the Columbia River from Oregon into Washington. We drove north on Hwy. 97, stopping at a rest area mid-afternoon and taking Ozzie for a long walk for exercise for all of us. When Hwy. 97 ( north / south ) reached Interstate 90 ( east / west ) we turned west heading for Seattle. Shortly before reaching the eastern edge of Seattle we stopped at Snoqualmie Casino, our destination for tonight, around 6:30 PM.

We got parked near other RV’s out near the edge of their large parking lot, and had supper. After supper we went into the large casino to look around. Joanne returned to the camper in the parking lot while I sat in a café in the casino using the casino’s free Wi-Fi to check e-mail.

Snoqualmie Casino is a very large, and very busy casino, especially for a weeknight. Surprisingly, it is a casino only, no hotel. It’s situated in a lovely forested area of the Pacific Northwest, and has been well designed to fit in and take advantage of the natural surroundings. No money spared here ! ! !

Thursday ; Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Overcast and mild.

As we left Snoqualmie Casino this morning I refilled the truck with diesel fuel, then we headed west on Interstate 90 into Seattle. We turned northwest on Interstate 405 to get through and around Seattle’s eastern and northern edges, then headed north on Interstate 5. Our relatively new to us GPS does a magnificent job !

We stopped at a rest area to dump our waste holding tanks and refill our freshwater tank at the sani-dump station. Further north we stopped at Angel of Winds Casino to have lunch in the camper. And I took a nap, abandoning the idea of ordering a new mattress in Surrey, BC today. We’ll do it tomorrow.

About 30 miles / 50 km. before reaching Canada we left I-5 and dipsy-doodled down country back roads to reach the border crossing at Sumas, Washington to Abbotsford, BC. We reached the line up at the border at 4:45 PM. HMPH ! There’s never a line up at the Oroville, Washington to Osoyoos, BC crossing ! We reached the front of the line precisely at 5 PM. I know this because … the slightly surly female agent cut her interrogation of us short when another agent showed up at her booth to relieve her for her one hour dinner break.

AHHHHH … welcome home to Canada ! ! ! Joanne heralds our return to Canada as the resumption of her right to free speech. She feels that America / Americans / the Republicans that populate our Yuma RV park community stifle the speech / opinions of anyone who has something to say that they don’t like or want to hear, which is anything and everything contrary to their opinions / beliefs ! Harsh, but … she’s right ! Diversity of opinions, beliefs, religions, skin colours, languages, … and pretty much anything else … is NOT encouraged nor even accepted in America … < sigh >. Surely is nice winter weather in Yuma though ! HA HA HA !

After crossing the border back into Canada it was a very brief journey to 

Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 mile marker 99 rest area, our boondocking home for tonight. It was obvious last October and November when we stayed here that the provision of RV electrical pedestals and free Wi-Fi had resulted in a 

semi-homeless “living in an RV” problem here. The electrical pedestals and Wi-Fi have now been disabled. Nevertheless, a “tiny home” towed by a pickup truck that was living here last October and November is still here !

Friday ; Abbotsford to Surrey to Abbotsford to Chilliwack to Hope, BC

Cloudy, cool, windy, light rain at bedtime.

Well ! ! ! That was a day that didn’t unfold as it should have ! ! !

Before leaving the Abbotsford rest area this morning around 11 AM we dumped our waste holding tanks and refilled our freshwater tank at the rest area’s 

sani-dump station. We drove west on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 to Surrey, and found our way to Royal City Bedding. We bought a custom made foam and latex mattress there for the camper last October, and were returning there today to order a custom made foam and latex mattress for home. A couple about our age walked in the door right in front of us, and were served before us. This is a “Mom & Pop” small business, so … we had to wait for “Pop” to finish with the couple before us. They took about an hour to be served !

< sigh > Normally my impatience would have kicked in long before an hour had passed, but … “building” a custom made mattress is a bit complicated, and this was the other couple’s first time, so … I understood how and why it took so long. Despite this being the third time we have ordered a custom made foam and latex mattress, and the second time at this business, serving us didn’t take much less time than the other couple. As I said … it’s a bit of a complicated process.

We got our mattress ordered and paid for, and were leaving the business about 

2 PM, quite a bit later than we had anticipated. We returned back to 

Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 and headed east. Before reaching Abbotsford, the traffic ground to a halt, and we were stuck for about two hours. Emergency vehicles were passing the stuck traffic by driving on the shoulder, so obviously there had been a traffic accident up ahead of us. We crawled along at less than walking speed for two hours, until we finally reached an exit leading into Abbotsford. We took the exit, found a Subway, and had lunch … AT 4 PM ! ! !

When we returned to the highway about 4:45 PM, the accident must have been cleared, because traffic was now moving along … at regular Friday afternoon rush hour pace … < sigh > ! Note to self : DO NOT EVER MOVE TO BC LOWER MAINLAND … or any other large urban area !

It was now 5 PM. We had expected to be home before that ! We weren’t even at Chilliwack yet, where we were planning to go grocery shopping at Superstore. Our fridge was empty … we had crossed the border yesterday with no food, as is appropriate. Once we reached Chilliwack we left the highway again, and did our grocery shopping at Superstore. We were back on the highway again about 6 PM. At Hope we refilled with diesel at Flying J and decided that it was time to call it a day. It was 7 PM when we pulled into the rest area on TCH 1 at Hope.

I spent the evening working on the computer. Joanne made a late, light supper around 8:30 PM. She and the animals went to sleep around 10:30 PM. I worked on the computer awhile longer.

Saturday ; Hope to home / Riverside RV Park Resort near Keremeos, BC

It rained all night overnight. We left the rest area near Hope around 11:15 AM this morning and continued east on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 briefly, then east on Hwy. 3. Just a short distance east of Hope the rain turned into snow, and as we approached Manning Provincial Park it got heavier and heavier, until we were in a winter blizzard ! The temperature had dropped to 28ºF / -2ºC. And you wonder why we don’t want to return back home to Canada until the end of April ? !

We stopped for a late lunch at Princeton. The snow blizzard had ended by then. After lunch I napped briefly, then we continued east on Hwy. 3 to home, arriving home shortly after 4 PM. Ozzie was glad to be home. Emma seemed upset. We don’t know why !

The previous arrangements I had with a neighbour to share her Wi-Fi signal can’t be continued. < sigh > It certainly would have been nice if she had sent me an e-mail to give me a heads up, and perhaps I could have made other arrangements even before we returned home. But NOOOOO … so now I’m blindsided !

I went to a different neighbour and borrowed her phone to make a call to have our satellite TV service receiver “refreshed”. So … at least we have TV service. But no phone and no Internet. And I need to file our income taxes electronically. And do a lot of other “return home” work online. So yes, yes … I’m pissed off !

And … a plastic part inside our toilet broke. So … we have to temporarily turn the water valve to the toilet on and off each time we flush the toilet.

While walking Ozzie around suppertime we stopped at our neighbour / friend Jeanine’s to pick up our mail she collected for us over the winter, and to visit with her briefly.

This was the first time since my heart surgery that I have had to reconnect the water supply underneath our manufactured home. In winter like conditions late this afternoon, I found it very difficult to do. < sigh > There’s no doubt … I’m not the man I used to be ! I suppose that’s a normal part of getting old !

DSK

April 14 to 20, 2018 ; Salton Sea Beach, California to Jackpot, Nevada

Sunday ; Salton Sea Beach, California to Quartzsite, Arizona

Sunny and hot, temperature 88ºF / 31ºC.

We left the parking lot of Red Earth Casino late this morning. On our way out of the casino we refilled our freshwater tank at one of the casino’s three RV potable water spigots. Thank you very much, Red Earth Casino.

We had planned a new route to Quartzsite today. We were going to take a back road shortcut, from the town of Mecca, on the north shore of the Salton Sea, northeast on Box Canyon Road over the Orocopia Mountains to the Chiriaco Summit junction at Interstate 10. However … as we drove though the village of Mecca signage indicated that Box Canyon Road was closed. So … we returned to Hwy. 86 and followed that northwest all the way to Palm Springs, where we turned east on Interstate 10.

Just before reaching Palm Springs we stopped at Oasis Date Gardens and bought date shakes for lunch. HA HA HA … all three of us really enjoyed having date shakes … and only date shakes … for lunch. First time in the year and a half that we’ve had him that Ozzie was willing to forego dog food for lunch. HA HA 

HA !

Date shakes must be an acquired taste. The first time Ozzie had a date shake, he was unfamiliar with the taste, and was a bit uncertain. The second time he was eager. Today … his third time … he was as uncontrolled enthusiastic as Bo used to be about date shakes. HA HA HA HA HA ! And after having a significant portion of Joanne’s date shake, he went into the back seat of the truck and snoozed contentedly … without demanding his regular dog food lunch … until we reached Quartzsite a few hours later.

I was trying to avoid having to buy diesel fuel in California, where it is about a dollar a gallon more expensive than in Arizona. And not being able to take the short cut, and having to go all the way to Palm Springs before we turned east on I-10 towards Quartzsite, the truck was sucking up diesel fumes from the bottom of the tank by the time we reached Quartzsite. I haven’t run the truck that low on diesel fuel in a lot of years !

We arrived in Quartzsite around 3:30 PM, bought diesel at Chevron, then headed north on Hwy. 95 to the High Jolly BLM unserviced campground. We found a quiet place to park in the desert beside a nice, clean fire pit. The desert boondock camping areas around Quartzsite are almost deserted this late in the season. We took Ozzie for a long, leisurely walk. Joanne cooked supper inside the camper, then I lit a campfire and we sat around a campfire for a couple of hours.

Monday ; Quartzsite, Arizona to Laughlin, Nevada

Sunny and hot.

We left the High Jolly BLM unserviced campground this morning and continued north on Hwy. 95. We stopped at Wal-Mart in Parker and while Joanne went into the store to buy a few items I used their free Wi-Fi to check e-mail and upload my weekly blog entry. By the time we were both finished we decided it was time to have lunch.

After having lunch in the camper in the Wal-Mart parking lot we continued north on Hwy. 95 to Interstate 40, then west to the Arizona / California border, then north and west on Historic Route 66, then north again on Hwy. 95 to Bullhead City, Arizona. We refilled with diesel fuel at Smith’s Fuel Bar, then drove across the Colorado River into Nevada, and the Avi Casino. We refilled with freshwater at the Avi Casino then parked in their RV boondocking lot, and I napped for an hour.

We continued north on the west / Nevada side of the Colorado River a short distance into Laughlin and found our way to the Colorado Belle Casino, our boondocking home for tonight. When it was time to have supper we walked across the street to the Tropicana Casino to have the bottomless pasta bowl special in their Passagio Italian Garden Restaurant. MMMMM ! Excellent food, as always, and … excellent service from our server Taylor. Nice change from the poor service we received the last time we were here, in February. Big tip for Taylor ! Thank you !

Tuesday ; Laughlin to Las Vegas, Nevada

This morning when we left the parking lot of the Colorado Belle Casino in Laughlin it was sunny and warm. When we arrived in Las Vegas a couple of hours later, the temperature had dropped about forty degrees, it was cold, and raining heavily. < sigh > By suppertime the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared.

From Laughlin we drove west on Hwy. 163 then north on Hwy. 95. As we entered Las Vegas we took the Sunset exit to look for a grocery store. We bought a few items at Sprouts Farmers Market, then got back onto Interstate 515 heading to downtown. We found our way to Main Street Station Casino and while I waited in the truck in the parking lot Joanne went inside and got us registered into their RV park. We parked in our assigned site, and … < sigh > … I got soaking wet and cold hooking up utilities, refilling freshwater, and draining waste tanks. We had a late lunch and I napped for awhile.

At 6 PM we took Ozzie for a long walk. The rain had stopped, the sky had cleared, and it had warmed a bit. At 7:30 PM we walked over to the California Casino next door and had supper at Aloha Specialties, a Hawaiian restaurant that Joanne wanted to try. We shared a huge bowl of Kim Chee Saimin. WHEW … spicy ! Interesting experience.

We returned to the camper, and I set up the TV and raised the roof top antenna. 

I was looking for an over the air CBS feed, so that we could watch Survivor and Amazing Race tomorrow evening. Our antenna found twelve channels, but none were a CBS feed. So … I don’t think we’re going to stay here tomorrow, as planned.

Wednesday ; Las Vegas to Pioche, Nevada

Sunny and mild. Which is pretty good, considering that here in Pioche we are at an elevation above 6000 feet ASL.

Yesterday’s supper of Kim Chee Saimin did an excellent job of clearing out my sinuses last night … and my intestines this morning. HA HA HA !

This morning while Joanne went into the Main Street Station Casino to settle our bill I did some maintenance on the camper’s “house” battery, removing it from its compartment ( a difficult job ) and checking the acid / fluid levels. It has been performing poorly since we left Yuma. It seems as if we will have to replace it very soon, despite it being only a bit more than three years old. Hopefully it will last for another week or so, and we will be able to replace it in Oregon … tax free.

We left Las Vegas and headed north on Interstate 15, then west and north on Hwy. 93. It was a long day of driving through endless miles of desolate, scruffy, high desert. No wonder the U.S. military used to blow up atomic bombs around here. HA HA HA !

YOW ! ! ! Darn ! I just opened a bottle of salad dressing and … it exploded all over me. HA HA HA … way more pressure inside the bottle than outside the bottle … we’re at a high elevation. Hope I remember that when I open … HOLY SHIT ! ! ! A herd of eighteen White Tail Deer just walked by ! ! !

As I was saying … I hope I remember the pressure difference when I open my toothpaste tube tomorrow morning.

Shortly before arriving here we refilled with diesel in the pretty little town of Caliente. We stopped here in the small town of Pioche around 5 PM, to spend the night in their free municipal campground. What a lovely gesture, a free municipal campground. Thank you, Pioche. It’s not really free, there’s a donation box. The campground has ten sites, each with a water spigot and a sewer dump inlet, but no electricity. It’s beside the lovely and very large municipal park. After choosing a site we took Ozzie for a long walk around the perimeter of the municipal park. The sun was shining, the temperature warm, the neighbourhood children were playing baseball and basketball in the park, the neighbourhood dogs came over to visit Ozzie. What a nice little town !

Thursday ; Pioche to Cathedral Gorge State Park, Nevada

Sunny and warm.

This morning before leaving the Pioche municipal campground I refilled our freshwater tank and dumped our grey waste tank. We back tracked / drove south on Hwy. 93 for 19 km. / 12 miles to Cathedral Gorge State Park. We entered the park campground around 11:30 AM, the second in a line of three vehicles entering the campground. AND … < sputter > … the three of us got the last three available campsites. The campground was filled by 11:30 AM ! Such is the pressure on the state park campgrounds for the upcoming Easter weekend ! Oh, well, we’ll be leaving tomorrow morning, so some lucky incoming camper will score a campsite when we leave.

We selected a site, and registered, then took a walk around the campground with Ozzie. We had lunch, then Ozzie and I napped. After a nap Ozzie and I went for a hike to the nearby slot canyons, about half a mile away. Joanne was feeling ill, so she did not come with us. And without Joanne being with us, and the sun beating down brutally, Ozzie was reluctant to go on this short hike. Like hiking with a cranky two year old ! “NOOOOO … I DON’T WANNA GOOOOO ! ! ! ! !” 

< rolling my eyes >

We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing around our campsite. I chopped a bit of firewood for a campfire tonight. I worked on our income taxes, and am almost finished. I did some vehicle depreciation calculations. While Joanne prepared a salad and foil packets of meat loaf and vegetables I lit a campfire. I cooked supper on the campfire, we ate supper, then spent a very pleasant evening sitting around the campfire.

Good Friday ; Cathedral Gorge State Park to West Wendover, Nevada

Sunny and warm.

This morning we pulled out of the Cathedral Gorge State Park campground, dumped our waste holding tanks and refilled our freshwater tank at the park’s sani-dump station, and were back on Hwy. 93 heading north again at 11 AM. Another long day of endless scruffy high desert, with an occasional antelope running across the road in front of the truck just to keep me alert. We stopped to have lunch and a nap for me at an elk viewing area.

When we reached our planned destination for today at 4 PM, the Schellbourne rest area, we decided it was too early to stop for the night. And I wanted to alter our planned route slightly. I was getting really bored ! So … instead of continuing north on Hwy. 93 to Wells, we diverted on Alt. Hwy 93 to the town of West Wendover, in northeast Nevada right at the Utah border. We knew that there was a casino there, and we thought that might be a good place to stop for the night.

When we arrived in West Wendover at 6 PM we realized that casinos were all that West Wendover had. Casinos were its reason for existence. The town and its casinos must exist to service the desires of the population of Utah, all the way to Salt Lake City, not too far away. We drove around some of the large casinos’ large truck & RV parking lots before deciding to park for the night at Pilot, a “truck stop” travel center.

First thing we did after getting parked beside some long haul delivery trucks from Indiana with new fifth wheel trailers being shipped from Indiana RV manufacturers to dealers was take a long exercise walk with Ozzie down the main street of town. The one ton diesel dually trucks delivering trailers were all new Dodge Rams, costing about US$75,000 / CDN$100,000 ! I wonder how hard one has to work at delivering trailers to justify the expense of those trucks ? ! My understanding of the trailer delivery industry is ... about 5000 km. / 3000 miles per week !

After eating supper I went into the Arby’s attached to Pilot and used their free 

Wi-Fi to check e-mail.

Saturday ; West Wendover to Jackpot, Nevada

Very changeable weather today. Sunny and mild in West Wendover this morning. When we stopped for lunch near Wells, it was cold, extremely windy, and raining lightly. After we arrived in Jackpot around 5 PM it varied from sunny and cool, to cloudy and cold with light rain.  It rained heavily late in the evening and overnight.

This morning around 11 AM we pulled out of the RV parking area of Pilot and drove a short distance down the street to Smiths, a large supermarket. There we refilled with diesel and freshwater at their fuel bar. We left there about 11:30 AM heading west on Interstate 80. At Wells we turned north on Hwy. 93. We parked in a roadside pullout to have lunch and a nap for me. I was tired after being awakened at 6:30 AM by the jackass trailer hauler from Indiana who fired up his diesel engine and pumped our camper full of diesel exhaust fumes. I had to stomp outside in my pyjamas to tell the asshole to move or turn his truck off until he was ready to pull out ! I expect better behaviour and more awareness of where your diesel exhaust is from a “professional driver” !

We arrived at Cactus Pete’s Casino around 5 PM. We parked and set up in a site in one of their two RV parks, then walked ( too far ! ) with a large load of laundry to their laundromat. I returned to the camper while Joanne did laundry. Before the laundry was finished the weather turned ugly. I unhooked our water, electricity, and sewer connections and drove to the laundromat to wait for Joanne. The walk from the campsite to the laundromat was a long one.

While Joanne did laundry I finished our income taxes. Good boy, Daniel ! All that is left is to electronically file them after we return home. By the time the laundry was finished it was dark outside. We decided to just go park in the casino’s boondocking parking lot instead of returning to the serviced RV park. Twenty-four bucks saved ! One of tomorrow’s two Easter buffet dinners paid for !

DSK

April 7 to 13, 2019

Sunday ; Sunny and hot.

This morning I back flushed the trailer’s black ( toilet ) waste tank. YUCK ! After lunch Joanne went grocery shopping by herself. I napped with the animals. HA HA HA ! And I continued ( and finished ) moving outdoor furniture into the Arizona room for summer storage. Late in the afternoon and into the evening I worked on finances and budgeting. I uploaded my weekly journal entry to my blog.

Monday ; Sunny and hot, temperature almost 100 degrees F.

We continued working on departure preparations. And for the first time this winter season, we spent time in the swimming pool. Better late than never, I suppose.

Tuesday ; Sunny, hot, temperature almost 100 degrees again, hot winds during the day, extremely windy / desert storm in the evening.

We had a somewhat lazy day, because we are a bit ahead of schedule in preparations for departure. And because we were hiding from the hot weather by staying inside the air conditioned trailer. This afternoon we took our recycling to the local recycling plant.

Wednesday ; Sunny, very warm, windy early in the day.

Today we continued working on departure preparations, getting the car ready for storage. In the afternoon we went to the Humane Society for our final weekly volunteer shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. We both got injured in the cat room today, Joanne worse than me. HMPH … testy cats today ! Now I’ve got a cat bite on each hand, one from last week on the left hand that is almost healed, and a new one today on the right hand. I should just stick to walking big, unruly, pit bulls. I never get hurt doing that. HA HA HA !

Thursday ; Sunny and very warm.

This morning we took the car to the storage yard and prepared it to be in storage for the long, brutally hot summer. This afternoon we finished covering the furniture in the Arizona room, and putting on the remainder of the vinyl “walls”. Joanne moved a lot of food and kitchen stuff from the trailer into the camper. And she did laundry. All the trailer laundry is now washed. We’re now wearing clothes from the camper. Remember … we have three sets of everything ! HA HA HA ! In the camper, in the fifth wheel trailer in Yuma, Arizona, and in the manufactured home in Keremeos, BC.

Friday ; Mostly sunny, very warm.

Today we worked hard on departure preparations. And my afternoon was complicated by having to deal by phone with the Canada Revenue Agency. They have once again changed their online access security procedures, and … 

< fume > … once again made it impossible for us old folks to get access to our Government of Canada online accounts !

By suppertime my Government of Canada / Canada Revenue Agency online access was restored, and we were finished “moving” from the trailer to the camper. We had supper in the camper, and will sleep in the camper tonight. Tomorrow morning we will finish “summerizing and storing” the fifth wheel trailer, and will probably be on our way by noon.

Saturday ; Yuma, Arizona to Aqua Caliente County Park in Anza Borrego State Park, California   OOOOPS … Plan B … to Red Earth Casino, Salton Sea Beach, California

Sunny and hot, temperature this afternoon as we drove was 84º F / 29º C.

We finished our departure preparations / summerization of the fifth wheel trailer this morning, and departed Kofa Ko-op SKP RV Park at noon. We drove to Fry’s where I refilled Lanoire ( the truck ) with diesel fuel while Joanne went inside the store to buy some groceries. After leaving Fry’s and on our way to Interstate 8 

I decided on impulse to stop at Harbor Freight for one last purchase of the season. I had two coupons with irresistible prices, so I bought those two items. Didn’t need ‘em, but … < shrug >. Now that’s good marketing on Harbor Freight’s part ! Persuading customers to buy stuff that they don’t really need. HA HA HA !

We left Yuma and were on the Interstate heading west about 1:30 PM. Over the Colorado River into California, and an hour later we were at Holtville where we stopped for a very late lunch of Holtville Taco Shop’s burritos. MMMMM ! ! ! Carne asada ( seasoned diced beef ) for me, al pastor ( seasoned pork ) for Joanne. Gee, Holtville Taco Shop’s burritos are superb ! HA HA HA !

We ate lunch in the camper and were on our way again about 3 PM. About halfway to San Diego we turned north into Anza Borrego State Park. Our objective was to view the amazing bloom of wildflowers, and stay at the Aqua Caliente County Park campground tonight and tomorrow, and spend much of tonight and tomorrow soaking in their mineral hot springs. When we arrived at Aqua Caliente County Park at 5 PM the campground was full ! HMPH ! Need a Plan B !

We continued driving north through Anza Borrego State Park, making a wide loop to the east, and arriving at Hwy. 86 ( the road from Yuma to Palm Springs ) near the Salton Sea. We drove north on Hwy. 86 towards Palm Springs, undecided about whether to stop at Red Earth Casino near Salton Sea Beach, or continue all the way to Coachella ( east side of Palm Springs area ) and stay overnight at Spotlight 29 Casino. I had a vague recollection that the Coachella Music Festival was starting this weekend, which would make Spotlight 29 not a good spot for boondocking … as it usually is. It was 7 PM when we reached Red Earth Casino, and we decided to stop there for the night. It was not quite dark yet, so that was a good time to stop. We went for a long walk with Ozzie and by the time we returned to our camper it was dark already.

On our pleasant drive through Anza Borrego State Park we stopped frequently to view the beautiful desert spring scenery … and take photos.

DSK

March 31 to April 6

Sunday ; Sunny, warm, windy.

This morning I worked on reconciling our March billing for electricity and propane, then paid the bill at the office. After lunch Joanne went out by herself to run errands. I napped with the animals. HA HA HA ! Later in the afternoon we worked on annual spring cleaning chores in the trailer. In the evening we watched the Canadian Screen Awards. I posted my weekly blog entry, and retrieved month end banking and investment statements.

Monday ; Sunny, warm, windy. Again !

This morning after watering our plants and gardens I continued working on annual trailer maintenance and spring cleaning. In the afternoon I worked on month end banking statement reconciliations and investment file updates. While having supper we watched another episode of … WOO-HOO … Love After Lockup. HA HA HA ! Gee, the world is full of stupid people, n’est-ce pas ?

Tuesday ; Sunny and warm during the day, chilly and windy in the evening.

Joanne went out grocery and thrift store shopping this afternoon. I continued working on annual trailer maintenance chores, as part of our preparations for departure in about a week and a half. In the evening I worked on budgeting.

Wednesday ; Sunny and very warm. Joanne baked cinnamon buns in the Sun Oven today.

This morning I took care of routine household chores. After lunch we headed to the Humane Society for our regular weekly volunteer shift of dog walking and cat cuddling. I walked half a dozen large, unruly dogs, then went to the cat wing to “rest”. HMPH ! Promptly got bit by a cat. ****ing cats ! Joanne and I were trimming the claws of an extremely obese old cat named Big Boy. He objected to having his nails trimmed. Gee, my hand bled for a long time. HA HA HA !

We returned home to discover that Ozzie had eaten a Graham cracker crumb pie crust Joanne had left on the dinette table. < sigh > What a bad dog ! Joanne helped me do more annual trailer maintenance. Then she made supper and did laundry. We ate supper while watching Survivor.

Thursday ; Sunny and warm, a bit windy late in the afternoon. Joanne baked chocolate bread pudding in the Sun Oven today.

This morning and afternoon I had an ongoing conversation by e-mail with the seniors’ housing condominium development just outside of Winnipeg that we expect will be our next home … in a couple of years. We’re excited about that !

I did some routine household chores, and a bit of preparations for departure in nine days. Winter is over, it’s almost time for the northward migration. Late in the afternoon I began working on our income tax returns. I plan to do a teensy bit of work on them daily until we leave, so that when we return home the income tax returns will be mostly completed.

Friday ; Sunny and very warm.

This afternoon we installed the vinyl “walls” on the “long” side of the Arizona room. Much easier said than done. That’s an annual chore that I have always hated. I ordered a new K & N air filter for the truck. To be picked up in The Dalles, Oregon. No sales tax ! I worked on income taxes, getting as much completed as was possible with the tax information slips that I have received so far. The rest will have to wait until we’re back home in BC.

Today I “blew off” the second trailer towing quote request I received this week. Both jobs need to be done this month, before we’re back home. < shrug > At supper time we went next door to help our neighbour with a trailer maintenance problem. Which I was not able to solve. < shrug >

After supper we had a movie date. Cut short because … the movie was terrible. 

I decided to terminate the date halfway through the movie. We gave itchy Ozzie a bath. He seems to be suffering spring time allergies.

Saturday ; Sunny and hot.

This morning I drove out to the Foothills, to buy an eavestrough drop flange connector at Westerner Products. When I returned home I installed it on the Arizona room, and reinstalled the eavestrough downspout.

This afternoon we both worked on departure preparations, cleaning and storing outdoor furniture, and covering all the furniture in the Arizona room. I removed the trailer’s solar panels and stored them. I back flushed the trailer’s two grey waste tanks, one for the kitchen sink, and one for the bathroom sink and shower. I took an empty propane tank to be refilled, then reinstalled it in the trailer’s propane tank compartment.

Early in the evening we drove to the Pacific Avenue food stand area to have supper at JoJo & Flor’s Filipino Culture Food Stand. MMMMM ! We started with a couple of lumpias, then shared a baked chicken and pancit platter. We ordered a Halo-Halo ( Filipino ice cream and shaved ice and fruit dessert ) to take home. We had our Halo-Halo then watched Saturday Night Live.

DSK