Sunday ; cloudy and cool, a bit of light rain around lunch time.
I changed many of the light bulbs in our home today, converting from compact fluorescent bulbs to LED bulbs, to conserve energy, and improve the lighting quality.
I did some work inside the camper today, including getting ready for departure tomorrow on a two day trip to the Lower Mainland / Vancouver area and back. In the evening I did some Interstate 5 trip planning.
I watched the supper time news on an American network tonight, the day after the synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh. What a ****ing ugly society the U.S. has become in the last two years !
Monday ; home to Abbotsford
Cloudy and mild at home, raining heavily around Hope, overcast and cool at Abbotsford.
We left home around noon, heading west on Crowsnest Hwy. 3, through Princeton and into Manning Provincial Park where we stopped for a late lunch and a nap ( for me ).
At Hope, Crowsnest Hwy. 3 ended and we continued west on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 through Chilliwack to Abbotsford, arriving at the mile marker 99 rest area at 6 PM.
Tuesday ; Abbotsford to Surrey to Abbotsford to home
Cloudy, cool, intermittent light rain at Abbotsford and Surrey, partially sunny and cool at home.
This morning we left the mile marker 99 rest area in Abbotsford at 10 AM and headed west on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 then south on Hwy. 15 to Royal City Bedding in Surrey, arriving at 11 AM. We picked up our new, custom made, RV mattress and were on our way out of there by 11:30 PM. We were back at the Abbotsford rest area by 12:30 PM. We packaged our old mattress into a plastic mattress bag ( HMPH ... eight bucks ! ), marked "FREE" on the bag, and left it leaning up against a pole in the rest area. There seems to be quite a few homeless people living there at the rest area in decrepit old RV's, and even some in cars. We are certain that our very good condition, three year old, fairly expensive, foam RV mattress will be put to good use. It's just too soft for us.
Driving from Surrey back to the rest area at Abbotsford, in congested traffic, I failed to adequately check my "blind spot" little convex rear view mirror on the driver's side, and changed lanes while a little car was right beside me, in the blind spot ! **** ! ! ! Close call. I don't often make mistakes like that. I'm NOT very pleased with myself !
We headed east on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 to Hope where we had a quick lunch and refilled with diesel at Flying J. Then east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3, where we stopped at Princeton to refill with diesel again. We were back at home around 5 PM.
Wednesday ; Hallowe’en
Cloudy and cool.
First priority for today was to remove the camper off the truck, and get the fifth wheel hitch reinstalled into the truck. We had that done by lunch time. In the afternoon I did some minor truck maintenance and minor camper maintenance. Around supper time we went to the swimming pool to do an aquatic exercise session. In the evening
I retrieved month end bank statements and investment files. And assisted Joanne with cooking Rainbow Trout ( that I caught in the Similkameen River ) for supper.
Thursday ; home to Oliver to home
Low ceiling overcast, raining, chilly.
This morning as we were departing for a trailer towing job in Oliver, the truck's new starter "misbehaved" for the second time. The first time was a few days ago in Abbotsford. We left home at 10:30 AM, drove east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3 to Osoyoos, then north on Hwy. 97 to Oliver, arriving at the client's rural property on time at noon. We got hitched up and began the short drive to the RV park where the trailer was going.
As I began to descend the very tight curve, steep driveway ... < sigh > ... the front corner of the fifth wheel trailer caught on the top rear corner of the truck's bed rail.
I slightly damaged the corner of the trailer, and moderately "crunch" damaged the top rear corner of the truck bed. < huge sigh > I obsessed about the damage to our truck for the rest of the day ! The client was so grateful to get his trailer relocated that he generously "forgave" the damage that I had caused to it. I have been providing trailer towing service for nine summers, and in that time I have towed 147 trailers. I suppose that it was inevitable that sooner or later I would damage my truck and / or a client's trailer.
We transported the trailer to Apple Beach RV Park in Oliver where the client will live in his trailer for the winter. We got the trailer delivered and set up, and were leaving Oliver about 1:30 PM. We drove north on Hwy. 97 from Oliver, through Okanagan Falls to Kaleden where we turned south on Hwy. 3A back to Keremeos, then west on Crowsnest Hwy. 3 to home at Riverside RV Park Resort. When we arrived home around 3 PM our electricity was off. There was a power failure from 1:30 PM to about 4:30 PM.
We had a very late and very quick lunch then drove both vehicles back into Keremeos. All day long I had not turned off the truck's engine, afraid that it would not start again.
I left the truck at Total Performance Auto Repair for a diagnosis of why the recently replaced starter has "misbehaved" twice this week. On the way back home we stopped at Sanderson Farms to buy produce.
For the remainder of the day I have been trying ... and mostly failing ... to focus more on the important things in life, like my good health, and less on the trivial, like some minor damage to a thirteen year old truck. < exhaling deeply >
Friday ; Mostly cloudy, cool, windy.
We did some work in the camper today, including removing the new mattress from the plastic bag it was sealed in. We gave Ozzie a bath. Around ( everybody else's ) supper time we went to the swimming pool for a cardiac rehab exercise session. And some hot tub soaking time ! I spent a lot of time this afternoon and evening working on financial planning. Joanne's 65th birthday is in less than three months. Mine is in eleven months. Over the next fourteen months we will have government pensions start, as well as private annuities. Our income will increase substantially over the next fourteen months. All my financial / investment hard work of the past fourteen and a half years of "unemployment" / self-financed "early retirement" will finally pay off handsomely.
Well done, Daniel !
Saturday ; Cloudy, chilly, raining until after lunch time.
Well ! ! ! Our investment losses for the month of October were well over $37,000 ! ! ! HMPH ! ! ! How wonderful is that ? ! ? < scowl >
While Joanne did a lot of laundry this afternoon, I worked on the camper. I drained the freshwater tank, in anticipation of below freezing temperatures in a few days. Tomorrow I will drain the hot water tank, then winterize the camper's entire water system. < sigh > I was hoping that would not be necessary before our departure in eighteen days, but ... that was just wishful thinking. I also changed all the accessory batteries in the camper. You know ... smoke alarm, alarm clock, wall clock, etc.
In the evening I worked on reconciling monthly bank statements and ... < ahem > ... updating investment files ... < cough cough >.
DSK
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Sunday, October 28, 2018
October 21 to 27, 2018
Sunday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I conducted a 6000 km. inspection on the truck, part of getting it ready for the long drive south. Like us, that truck isn't getting any younger. Using "Awesome" spray cleaner, I scrubbed the poutine gravy stains off my shoes. HA HA HA ! When
I was walking from the food vendor back to the truck camper in the parking lot at the Adams River Sockeye run last Thursday, I spilled poutine gravy all over my feet. HA HA HA ! We took Ozzie for a long walk, and I returned a book to the library in the clubhouse. Ozzie got snarled and snapped at by a female English Springer Spaniel who was off leash along our riverfront walking path. PUT YOUR DAMN DOG ON A LEASH, ASSHOLE !
After lunch and a nap we went to visit our neighbour / friend Jeanine. After supper
I worked on Joanne's spousal RRIF annual withdrawal details.
Monday ; Sunny and mild.
Fall pre-departure preparations slowly continue. I harvested the remaining lettuce in our garden, then tilled the garden. I checked the truck tire air pressures. I phoned the pharmacy to check on the prescriptions I am waiting for. HMPH ... not ready yet. I shut down our furnace ... completely ... after using it all last winter. Turned off the power at the electrical panel. Turned off the blower motor switch. Turned off the gas valve. Cleaned the filter. Hope to never have to use the furnace again. This home, and its furnace, are now twelve years old, and the furnace has been used for only one winter.
I prepared some travel documents. You know ... the "proof" that U.S. Customs & Border Patrol requires to prove that we don't intend to illegally remain in the United States beyond our six month allowance. HA HA HA ! Right ! Old Canadians ... in declining health ... living in a country with "free" / universal health care ... just might want to become illegal "Merkins". HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA ! They're so ****ing s****d !
I did some work on our long range financial planning. Because Joanne's 65th birthday is not too far off, OAS follows that, as does income from some annuity type investment products we have. Got to "keep our ducks in a row" ! And in the evening I began working on my medication inventory records. What do I have at home ? In the
camper ? In the trailer in Yuma ? What's on order at the pharmacy ? What more do
I need ? Buy it here ? Buy it in Mexico ?
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild. Not too many of these nice fall days left.
Fall pre-departure preparations continue. Treated Ozzie's ears and brushed his ( six ) teeth, a regular weekly job. Ears remain infection free. WOO-HOO ! Made some phone calls. Disconnected and / or removed solar lighting in the yard. Found our old American cell phone. Charged its battery. Will try to reactivate it before we depart in a week. Did monthly computer backup procedures in the evening. Filled out my BC voting referendum forms. Watched a new episode of “Highway Thru Hell”. Makes me eager to never spend another winter here !
Wednesday ; Sunny and mild.
I spent much of the day on the telephone ; making calls, missing calls, lots of telephone tag ... ! All of the calls were with our travel medical insurer. Who has worked very hard, for over two months, to manipulate / back me further and further into a corner. Until there is insufficient time to permit me to purchase travel medical insurance elsewhere. And today presented me with two options ; bad and worse ! ! ! Pay more than double the two thousand dollars they have already charged me for six months worth of travel medical insurance coverage, or ... delay our departure for three weeks. It's a long and aggravating story / explanation. I won't even bother !
I chose the three week delayed departure.
And ... I am NOT happy about it ! ! ! ! !
So ... I might as well start my campaign as soon as possible ;
ANYONE WHO NEEDS TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE ... DON'T CHOOSE MEDIPAC. THEY ARE NOT TRUSTWORTHY ! ! ! ! ! AND THEY PROVIDE EXCEPTIONALLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE !
Let's hope ... and pray, if you are so inclined ... that we won't need to make a claim with them over this upcoming winter season. Because ... if they work that hard to make it that difficult to purchase travel medical insurance, I am certain that they would put an extraordinary amount of effort into finding ways to deny claims made.
Thursday ; Cloudy and cool.
And yet another day goes by where MEDIPAC fails to do what they said yesterday would get done today ! ! ! ! ! Have lost count of how may times this has happened in the past two and a half months ! ! ! ! !
Spent much of today thinking about and revising travel plans. Neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit this afternoon. Late this morning we went into town to pick up prescriptions, refill water jug, refill propane tank, buy produce. Had a "medications review" meeting with pharmacist.
Friday ; Penticton
Cloudy and mild.
Today was another long day of running errands in Penticton. It was supposed to be our last errand day in Penticton before departing for the winter, but ... obviously ... now that is not the case.
At home in the evening I worked on reconciling and paying our October MasterCard billing. YIKES ! And trip planning. Planning where to have American Thanksgiving dinner ( Seven Feathers Casino in Southern Oregon ) and where to buy SAS shoes and maybe a laptop computer on Black Friday ( Medford in Southern Oregon ).
Saturday ; Sunny and mild. We continued trip planning and preparations today.
I got hired today to tow a trailer next Thursday, my last trailer towing job of the year, no doubt. It means taking the camper off the truck, reinstalling the fifth wheel hitch, then removing the hitch and reinstalling the camper after the job is completed. Lots of work, but ... oh, well ! It makes up for / is exactly the same amount of revenue as the job I lost a few weeks ago due to a "dead" truck.
DSK
This morning I conducted a 6000 km. inspection on the truck, part of getting it ready for the long drive south. Like us, that truck isn't getting any younger. Using "Awesome" spray cleaner, I scrubbed the poutine gravy stains off my shoes. HA HA HA ! When
I was walking from the food vendor back to the truck camper in the parking lot at the Adams River Sockeye run last Thursday, I spilled poutine gravy all over my feet. HA HA HA ! We took Ozzie for a long walk, and I returned a book to the library in the clubhouse. Ozzie got snarled and snapped at by a female English Springer Spaniel who was off leash along our riverfront walking path. PUT YOUR DAMN DOG ON A LEASH, ASSHOLE !
After lunch and a nap we went to visit our neighbour / friend Jeanine. After supper
I worked on Joanne's spousal RRIF annual withdrawal details.
Monday ; Sunny and mild.
Fall pre-departure preparations slowly continue. I harvested the remaining lettuce in our garden, then tilled the garden. I checked the truck tire air pressures. I phoned the pharmacy to check on the prescriptions I am waiting for. HMPH ... not ready yet. I shut down our furnace ... completely ... after using it all last winter. Turned off the power at the electrical panel. Turned off the blower motor switch. Turned off the gas valve. Cleaned the filter. Hope to never have to use the furnace again. This home, and its furnace, are now twelve years old, and the furnace has been used for only one winter.
I prepared some travel documents. You know ... the "proof" that U.S. Customs & Border Patrol requires to prove that we don't intend to illegally remain in the United States beyond our six month allowance. HA HA HA ! Right ! Old Canadians ... in declining health ... living in a country with "free" / universal health care ... just might want to become illegal "Merkins". HA HA HA < SNORT > HA HA ! They're so ****ing s****d !
I did some work on our long range financial planning. Because Joanne's 65th birthday is not too far off, OAS follows that, as does income from some annuity type investment products we have. Got to "keep our ducks in a row" ! And in the evening I began working on my medication inventory records. What do I have at home ? In the
camper ? In the trailer in Yuma ? What's on order at the pharmacy ? What more do
I need ? Buy it here ? Buy it in Mexico ?
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild. Not too many of these nice fall days left.
Fall pre-departure preparations continue. Treated Ozzie's ears and brushed his ( six ) teeth, a regular weekly job. Ears remain infection free. WOO-HOO ! Made some phone calls. Disconnected and / or removed solar lighting in the yard. Found our old American cell phone. Charged its battery. Will try to reactivate it before we depart in a week. Did monthly computer backup procedures in the evening. Filled out my BC voting referendum forms. Watched a new episode of “Highway Thru Hell”. Makes me eager to never spend another winter here !
Wednesday ; Sunny and mild.
I spent much of the day on the telephone ; making calls, missing calls, lots of telephone tag ... ! All of the calls were with our travel medical insurer. Who has worked very hard, for over two months, to manipulate / back me further and further into a corner. Until there is insufficient time to permit me to purchase travel medical insurance elsewhere. And today presented me with two options ; bad and worse ! ! ! Pay more than double the two thousand dollars they have already charged me for six months worth of travel medical insurance coverage, or ... delay our departure for three weeks. It's a long and aggravating story / explanation. I won't even bother !
I chose the three week delayed departure.
And ... I am NOT happy about it ! ! ! ! !
So ... I might as well start my campaign as soon as possible ;
ANYONE WHO NEEDS TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE ... DON'T CHOOSE MEDIPAC. THEY ARE NOT TRUSTWORTHY ! ! ! ! ! AND THEY PROVIDE EXCEPTIONALLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE !
Let's hope ... and pray, if you are so inclined ... that we won't need to make a claim with them over this upcoming winter season. Because ... if they work that hard to make it that difficult to purchase travel medical insurance, I am certain that they would put an extraordinary amount of effort into finding ways to deny claims made.
Thursday ; Cloudy and cool.
And yet another day goes by where MEDIPAC fails to do what they said yesterday would get done today ! ! ! ! ! Have lost count of how may times this has happened in the past two and a half months ! ! ! ! !
Spent much of today thinking about and revising travel plans. Neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit this afternoon. Late this morning we went into town to pick up prescriptions, refill water jug, refill propane tank, buy produce. Had a "medications review" meeting with pharmacist.
Friday ; Penticton
Cloudy and mild.
Today was another long day of running errands in Penticton. It was supposed to be our last errand day in Penticton before departing for the winter, but ... obviously ... now that is not the case.
At home in the evening I worked on reconciling and paying our October MasterCard billing. YIKES ! And trip planning. Planning where to have American Thanksgiving dinner ( Seven Feathers Casino in Southern Oregon ) and where to buy SAS shoes and maybe a laptop computer on Black Friday ( Medford in Southern Oregon ).
Saturday ; Sunny and mild. We continued trip planning and preparations today.
I got hired today to tow a trailer next Thursday, my last trailer towing job of the year, no doubt. It means taking the camper off the truck, reinstalling the fifth wheel hitch, then removing the hitch and reinstalling the camper after the job is completed. Lots of work, but ... oh, well ! It makes up for / is exactly the same amount of revenue as the job I lost a few weeks ago due to a "dead" truck.
DSK
Sunday, October 21, 2018
October 14 to 20, 2018
Sunday ; Sunny and mild.
This afternoon I cleaned both the small barbecue in the camper and the larger "home" barbecue. YUCK ! The home barbecue is now cleaned and stored for the winter. The camper barbecue is now cleaned and ready for use as we travel.
We planted a hazelnut tree in the park. I would like it to be a memorial tree for Bo. Joanne found this little hazelnut seedling in our composter early last spring and transplanted it into a pot. It grew well over the last six months or so, and we decided to plant it in the park near some mature hazelnut trees, hoping that it will be pollinated by being in proximity to other hazelnut trees.
Because of the very nice fall weather we took a couple of long, leisurely walks with Ozzie today, stopping frequently to chat with neighbours. And ... I said goodbye to Jake, a twelve year old beagle who lives in the park. He is ill and his life will probably have to end tomorrow.
Monday ; Penticton
Sunny and mild.
Late this morning we drove into Keremeos and I paid the bill for the truck repairs, but left the truck there at the auto repair facility in Keremeos until we were returning home from Penticton in the evening. We continued on to Penticton and spent a long, tiring day running errands in Penticton, including a doctor's appointment for me, and a meeting with our financial advisor. While I was seeing my doctor Joanne took the minivan to Canadian Tire and had the headlights aimed. When we were driving home in the early evening ... AHHHHH ... that's better !
On the way home we stopped in Keremeos again, Joanne refilled our five gallon water jug, and I drove the truck home.
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild.
I awoke at 6 AM to ... < sniff, sniff ... ahem > ... clean the litter box. And since that was 9 AM Toronto time, I phoned our travel medical insurer to find out what the hell is going on with our travel medical insurance policies, which we should have received in the mail at least a couple of weeks ago. AND ... < sputter > ... after some telephone tag,
I received a phone call from their doctor later in the morning. Medipac has decided that ... I need to fill out MORE forms ... provide a copy of my last echocardiogram and ... < sputter > … pay an additional $200 administrative fee ! ! !
With not enough time left before departure to switch to another travel medical insurer,
I feel as if there is no alternative. I'm livid, and feel manipulated. Despite their excellent reputation, I am extremely dissatisfied and will not be doing business with Medipac in the future ! Too bad I don't really have any other viable option for this upcoming winter season. I will take any and every opportunity I get to "bad mouth" Medipac to my Canadian Snowbird acquaintances. I hope Medipac thinks the extra two hundred bucks they suck out of me will be worth the lost future business I hope to cause them !
While walking Ozzie around lunch time we were joined by our neighbour Colleen and her new Cocker Spaniel puppy Quincy. Colleen has been having difficulty controlling Quincy while walking. Joanne took Quincy's leash, and we "pack walked" him with Ozzie. It didn't take Quincy very long to accept following Ozzie, his new "pack leader". Well done, Quincy. And ... well done, Ozzie.
Before lunch I drove into Keremeos to take my new prescriptions to the pharmacy to be filled. While I was there I got a flu shot. In the afternoon we mounted Elsie the camper back onto the bed of Lanoire the truck, in preparation for departure tomorrow on a short ( two day ) trip to see the Adams River Sockeye Salmon run.
Wednesday ; home to Kamloops
Sunny and mild at home, cold in the evening at Kamloops.
This morning we finished our preparations for departure, then took Ozzie for a long walk, accompanied by our neighbour Dave with Quincy the Cocker Spaniel puppy, before departing at noon. We headed west on Crowsnest Hwy. 3 to Princeton, then north on Hwy. 5A to Hwy. 97C, the Coquihalla - Okanagan Connector, then west to Merritt. At Merritt we refilled with diesel at the Mobil / Extra Foods Fuel Bar, then
I parked in the grocery store parking lot to take a nap for an hour.
After I napped we continued north on Hwy.5, the Coquihalla / "Highway Thru Hell". Minutes after leaving Merritt a passing car threw a stone up into our windshield, making a "star" chip in the glass. DARN ! As soon as we arrived in Kamloops, just before
6 PM, we headed for Canadian Tire where I bought a windshield stone chip repair kit. By the time it got dark at 6:30 PM I had completed about 95% of the repair procedures. I will finish the repair tomorrow morning. The last part of the repair requires sunlight to cure the resin.
We left the Canadian Tire parking lot and drove a short distance to the Visitor Information Centre, our boondock "home" for tonight. While Joanne prepared supper,
I turned on the 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC inverter, plugged the TV into the inverter outlet, raised the rooftop antenna, and began searching for "over the air" TV signals. Found one signal, and fortunately it was the Global Okanagan feed from Kamloops. WOO-HOO ... the Global network carries Survivor, which is what we wanted to watch.
Thursday ; Kamloops to Adams River to Penticton
Mostly cloudy, cool.
This morning we dumped our waste holding tanks and refilled our freshwater tank at the Kamloops Visitor Information Centre before departing. We headed east on
Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 to Squilax where we turned north to Tsútswecw Provincial Park, and the "Salute To The Sockeye" Festival at the Adams River Sockeye Salmon spawning grounds.
This is a "dominant" Sockeye spawning year. Every fourth year, the Sockeye population is very high. This year about 750,000 Sockeye will be returning, over a three week period, to this small section of this small river to spawn ... then die. It's an astounding spectacle to witness. We did it once before, twelve years ago. When we arrived late this morning there were many school buses, and MANY school children there on field trips, to view and learn about the Sockeye life cycle. What a great way to learn !
We walked down to the river, then ambled along the riverbank for an hour or so marvelling at the sight of all those large, green headed, red bodied Sockeye Salmon jockeying for position to lay eggs or fertilize eggs, in water too shallow to cover their bodies. We returned to the camper and fed Ozzie ... ( "HEY ... MY LUNCH IS LATE !" ) ... then wandered around the small vendors' area, looking at Sockeye Salmon related Native arts and crafts. The food vendors' area was interesting, so ... for lunch we had Russian Borscht, a grilled Sockeye Salmon fillet on a bun, and an extremely large order of very good poutine. What do I care ? My arteries are bypassed ! HA HA HA
< SNORT > HA HA ! The poutine fed both of us for lunch and supper !
Because it was chilly Ozzie was wearing his multi-coloured fleece sweater. We call it his clown suit. He was a big hit with the teenaged schoolgirls. "< giggle giggle > He's SOOOOO adorable < giggle giggle>". HA HA HA ... who knew ?
We left the provincial park around 3 PM and headed east on TCH 1 to Salmon Arm where we parked in a shopping mall and I had a nap. At 5 PM we left Salmon Arm heading south on Hwy. 97B, then Hwy. 97A to Vernon, our planned destination for tonight. On the way we stopped at Armstrong to buy some cheese curds, but we were too late, the cheese factory closed at 5 PM. At Enderby we stopped to take Ozzie for a walk around a lovely municipal park.
When we arrived at Vernon about 6:30 PM, we were neither hungry nor tired, so we decided to continue south on Hwy. 97. Same decision at Kelowna. Same decision at Westbank. We stopped for the night at 8:15 PM in Penticton. Joanne has an appointment here tomorrow, and we have errands to run here. We boondocked overnight in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Sunny and mild.
We spent the day in Penticton, running errands. Joanne had a medical appointment in the afternoon. We arrived back at home around 5 PM. Emma was very glad to see us, after being left home alone for two and a half days.
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I finished the windshield chip repair that I started a couple of days ago. I did some work on the camper, removing an empty propane tank, and refilling the freshwater tank. Joanne helped me carry the fifth wheel hitch into the shed, to put it into storage for the winter. I drained the remaining two ( of our four ) garden hoses, and put them into winter storage in the shed. Joanne worked on camper interior cleaning. Late in the afternoon we went to the swimming pool for an exercise session.
Eleven days to winter departure !
DSK
This afternoon I cleaned both the small barbecue in the camper and the larger "home" barbecue. YUCK ! The home barbecue is now cleaned and stored for the winter. The camper barbecue is now cleaned and ready for use as we travel.
We planted a hazelnut tree in the park. I would like it to be a memorial tree for Bo. Joanne found this little hazelnut seedling in our composter early last spring and transplanted it into a pot. It grew well over the last six months or so, and we decided to plant it in the park near some mature hazelnut trees, hoping that it will be pollinated by being in proximity to other hazelnut trees.
Because of the very nice fall weather we took a couple of long, leisurely walks with Ozzie today, stopping frequently to chat with neighbours. And ... I said goodbye to Jake, a twelve year old beagle who lives in the park. He is ill and his life will probably have to end tomorrow.
Monday ; Penticton
Sunny and mild.
Late this morning we drove into Keremeos and I paid the bill for the truck repairs, but left the truck there at the auto repair facility in Keremeos until we were returning home from Penticton in the evening. We continued on to Penticton and spent a long, tiring day running errands in Penticton, including a doctor's appointment for me, and a meeting with our financial advisor. While I was seeing my doctor Joanne took the minivan to Canadian Tire and had the headlights aimed. When we were driving home in the early evening ... AHHHHH ... that's better !
On the way home we stopped in Keremeos again, Joanne refilled our five gallon water jug, and I drove the truck home.
Tuesday ; Sunny and mild.
I awoke at 6 AM to ... < sniff, sniff ... ahem > ... clean the litter box. And since that was 9 AM Toronto time, I phoned our travel medical insurer to find out what the hell is going on with our travel medical insurance policies, which we should have received in the mail at least a couple of weeks ago. AND ... < sputter > ... after some telephone tag,
I received a phone call from their doctor later in the morning. Medipac has decided that ... I need to fill out MORE forms ... provide a copy of my last echocardiogram and ... < sputter > … pay an additional $200 administrative fee ! ! !
With not enough time left before departure to switch to another travel medical insurer,
I feel as if there is no alternative. I'm livid, and feel manipulated. Despite their excellent reputation, I am extremely dissatisfied and will not be doing business with Medipac in the future ! Too bad I don't really have any other viable option for this upcoming winter season. I will take any and every opportunity I get to "bad mouth" Medipac to my Canadian Snowbird acquaintances. I hope Medipac thinks the extra two hundred bucks they suck out of me will be worth the lost future business I hope to cause them !
While walking Ozzie around lunch time we were joined by our neighbour Colleen and her new Cocker Spaniel puppy Quincy. Colleen has been having difficulty controlling Quincy while walking. Joanne took Quincy's leash, and we "pack walked" him with Ozzie. It didn't take Quincy very long to accept following Ozzie, his new "pack leader". Well done, Quincy. And ... well done, Ozzie.
Before lunch I drove into Keremeos to take my new prescriptions to the pharmacy to be filled. While I was there I got a flu shot. In the afternoon we mounted Elsie the camper back onto the bed of Lanoire the truck, in preparation for departure tomorrow on a short ( two day ) trip to see the Adams River Sockeye Salmon run.
Wednesday ; home to Kamloops
Sunny and mild at home, cold in the evening at Kamloops.
This morning we finished our preparations for departure, then took Ozzie for a long walk, accompanied by our neighbour Dave with Quincy the Cocker Spaniel puppy, before departing at noon. We headed west on Crowsnest Hwy. 3 to Princeton, then north on Hwy. 5A to Hwy. 97C, the Coquihalla - Okanagan Connector, then west to Merritt. At Merritt we refilled with diesel at the Mobil / Extra Foods Fuel Bar, then
I parked in the grocery store parking lot to take a nap for an hour.
After I napped we continued north on Hwy.5, the Coquihalla / "Highway Thru Hell". Minutes after leaving Merritt a passing car threw a stone up into our windshield, making a "star" chip in the glass. DARN ! As soon as we arrived in Kamloops, just before
6 PM, we headed for Canadian Tire where I bought a windshield stone chip repair kit. By the time it got dark at 6:30 PM I had completed about 95% of the repair procedures. I will finish the repair tomorrow morning. The last part of the repair requires sunlight to cure the resin.
We left the Canadian Tire parking lot and drove a short distance to the Visitor Information Centre, our boondock "home" for tonight. While Joanne prepared supper,
I turned on the 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC inverter, plugged the TV into the inverter outlet, raised the rooftop antenna, and began searching for "over the air" TV signals. Found one signal, and fortunately it was the Global Okanagan feed from Kamloops. WOO-HOO ... the Global network carries Survivor, which is what we wanted to watch.
Thursday ; Kamloops to Adams River to Penticton
Mostly cloudy, cool.
This morning we dumped our waste holding tanks and refilled our freshwater tank at the Kamloops Visitor Information Centre before departing. We headed east on
Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 to Squilax where we turned north to Tsútswecw Provincial Park, and the "Salute To The Sockeye" Festival at the Adams River Sockeye Salmon spawning grounds.
This is a "dominant" Sockeye spawning year. Every fourth year, the Sockeye population is very high. This year about 750,000 Sockeye will be returning, over a three week period, to this small section of this small river to spawn ... then die. It's an astounding spectacle to witness. We did it once before, twelve years ago. When we arrived late this morning there were many school buses, and MANY school children there on field trips, to view and learn about the Sockeye life cycle. What a great way to learn !
We walked down to the river, then ambled along the riverbank for an hour or so marvelling at the sight of all those large, green headed, red bodied Sockeye Salmon jockeying for position to lay eggs or fertilize eggs, in water too shallow to cover their bodies. We returned to the camper and fed Ozzie ... ( "HEY ... MY LUNCH IS LATE !" ) ... then wandered around the small vendors' area, looking at Sockeye Salmon related Native arts and crafts. The food vendors' area was interesting, so ... for lunch we had Russian Borscht, a grilled Sockeye Salmon fillet on a bun, and an extremely large order of very good poutine. What do I care ? My arteries are bypassed ! HA HA HA
< SNORT > HA HA ! The poutine fed both of us for lunch and supper !
Because it was chilly Ozzie was wearing his multi-coloured fleece sweater. We call it his clown suit. He was a big hit with the teenaged schoolgirls. "< giggle giggle > He's SOOOOO adorable < giggle giggle>". HA HA HA ... who knew ?
We left the provincial park around 3 PM and headed east on TCH 1 to Salmon Arm where we parked in a shopping mall and I had a nap. At 5 PM we left Salmon Arm heading south on Hwy. 97B, then Hwy. 97A to Vernon, our planned destination for tonight. On the way we stopped at Armstrong to buy some cheese curds, but we were too late, the cheese factory closed at 5 PM. At Enderby we stopped to take Ozzie for a walk around a lovely municipal park.
When we arrived at Vernon about 6:30 PM, we were neither hungry nor tired, so we decided to continue south on Hwy. 97. Same decision at Kelowna. Same decision at Westbank. We stopped for the night at 8:15 PM in Penticton. Joanne has an appointment here tomorrow, and we have errands to run here. We boondocked overnight in the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Friday ; Penticton
Sunny and mild.
We spent the day in Penticton, running errands. Joanne had a medical appointment in the afternoon. We arrived back at home around 5 PM. Emma was very glad to see us, after being left home alone for two and a half days.
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
This morning I finished the windshield chip repair that I started a couple of days ago. I did some work on the camper, removing an empty propane tank, and refilling the freshwater tank. Joanne helped me carry the fifth wheel hitch into the shed, to put it into storage for the winter. I drained the remaining two ( of our four ) garden hoses, and put them into winter storage in the shed. Joanne worked on camper interior cleaning. Late in the afternoon we went to the swimming pool for an exercise session.
Eleven days to winter departure !
DSK
Sunday, October 14, 2018
October 7 to 13, 2018
Sunday ; Cloudy and mild.
We worked on yard and garden cleanup today. Joanne continued to work on cleaning up our front yard rock slope. I helped with the difficult removal of some Russian Sage. I removed my tomato plants. And I removed the beans from our vegetable garden. Indoors we cleaned and drained the living room air conditioner. I removed the microwave upper vent panel ... YUCK ... and Joanne cleaned it.
Joanne baked a boneless lamb shoulder for our Thanksgiving dinner tonight. And she prepared a mint sauce using fresh mint from our garden. Great dinner ! Thank you.
What am I thankful for this year ? ! ? That we live in a country with a great health care system that immediately provided me with the health care I needed to save my life a year ago.
Monday ; Thanksgiving ( Canadian )
Raining and cold. < sigh >
I did some yard cleanup and winter preparation work this morning. This afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did an exercise session. We walked Ozzie and
I returned a book to the library. I watered and turned our composter, maybe for the final time this year. I drained, cleaned and stored two of our four garden hoses.
And I spent a fair amount of time in bed with Emma, reading a book ( me ) and snoozing ( both of us ).
Tuesday ; Sunny and cool.
Today I finished removing the Russian Sage from our front yard rock slope. Joanne wanted them truly removed, so that they won't grow back. I used a reciprocating saw, and a power drill with a large bit, to cut and drill and damage the roots as much as
I could. I adjusted the air in all seven truck tires. I did some other truck preventive maintenance to get it ready for travel. Just before supper I went bicycling. BRRRRR ... getting too cold for bicycling !
WOO-HOO ... more episodes of "Highway Thru Hell".
Wednesday ; Daniel's 64th birthday
Cloudy and cool. Happy Birthday to me ! Joanne presented me with a pile of birthday gifts to unwrap over breakfast. First was a double size version of my favourite chocolate bar. Then ... some toiletries she bought on her recent trip to Winnipeg ; beeswax and honey soap, goat's milk and sage soap, beeswax and sunflower oil body lotion, goat's milk, chamomile and calendula face wash, beeswax and lemon lip balm. WOW ! There was also a wild herb smudge bundle ( to burn ) that she made herself at a "Culture Days" workshop. And ... finally ... a paper bag filled with Milkweed pods. She had planned a fun activity for us of busting open the ripe pods, harvesting the seeds with their little fluffy parachutes, and planting the seeds, to grow Milkweed flowers to attract bees and butterflies. BUT ... HA HA HA ... since she acquired the pods a week and a half ago ... they completely dried out, and burst open, leaving a small paper bag filled with Milkweed seeds on their little fluffy parachutes.
This afternoon I finalized arrangements with a trailer towing repeat client for a job on Friday. So ... we went outdoors to remove the camper off the truck. And weren't able to complete that task, because I couldn't drive the truck out from underneath the camper. Because ... the truck's two batteries are dead ! Charging them with a battery charger did not work. Jump starting the truck from our minivan did not work. Jump starting the truck from a neighbour's large diesel truck with two large batteries did not work. I spent the evening shopping online for batteries. And found what I need ... immediately ... at NAPA in Oliver. NAPA in Keremeos and Penticton don't have stock immediately available. Guess I'll be heading to Oliver early tomorrow morning !
Before supper we walked down into our park's burn pile area and scattered all the Milkweed seed pods, throwing them into the air and letting the wind carry them away on their little parachutes. HA HA HA ... what fun ! Thank you for such a unique birthday present, my dear. And then ... I burned the herb bundle in the living room ( on a pie plate ) and filled the house with the aroma of burning sage and other wild herbs.
Joanne prepared my favourite meal as a birthday treat, and we ate it while watching Survivor. At bedtime she presented me with a birthday cake ... with lit candles. Thank you, Joanne, for making my birthday special. Well ... except for the dead batteries part. HA HA HA !
Thursday ; Sunny and cool.
I was up at 6 AM and outside working on the truck by 7 AM. I removed the truck's two batteries, cleaned the battery cables and trays, and was leaving at 8:10 AM heading for Oliver to pick up two new truck batteries at NAPA Auto Parts. Yesterday, online, the Keremeos NAPA store showed no stock of the batteries that were a match for my truck. Nevertheless, as I drove past the Keremeos NAPA store I decided to stop in and check, to be sure. Well ... they had stock of two batteries that were right for my truck, although slightly better and, of course, more expensive than the ones that I had chosen online, and were waiting for me at the Oliver store. But ... my time has value, so ...
I bought the slightly more expensive batteries in Keremeos, and avoided about two and a half hours of driving to Oliver and back.
I returned home, installed the two new batteries, turned the key in the ignition and ... nothing ! < sigh > The batteries weren't the problem. < sigh > Even though the old batteries were near or at the end of their life. So ... I phoned my emergency roadside assistance provider, and waited two hours for a tow truck to arrive.
The tow truck driver got my truck pulled out from underneath the camper, then took a long time to get ready to tow my truck into Keremeos. He had to disconnect the rear driveshaft in order to tow my truck with the dually rear wheels on the ground. And the tow truck driver was sick today with a migraine headache, so ... he was a bit slow and ... didn't have the right tools needed to disconnect my truck's rear driveshaft. Good thing I had the correct tools ! ! ! By the time he got my truck towed into Total Performance Automotive in Keremeos it was 2 PM.
I returned home, and cancelled my trailer towing job scheduled for tomorrow. And
I REALLY HATE cancelling a trailer towing job ! Hopefully the client will reschedule with me for next week. I will have to reimburse her for the wasted transport permit she purchased for having her trailer towed tomorrow.
Late in the day Total Performance Automotive phoned me with the diagnosis of the truck's problem. Not at all surprising to me, the starter needs to be replaced. Oh, well ... so this truck "eats" a starter once every thirteen years. My last truck "ate" one every six months !
Friday ; our 44th anniversary
Sunny and mild. Our 44th anniversary did not unfold quite as had been planned, nevertheless ... Happy Anniversary, my love !
This morning I had ANOTHER phone call with our travel medical insurer. And then ... spent much of the rest of the day stewing and fuming about it. Our travel medical insurance policies still seem to be lost somewhere in their bureaucratic Never-Never Land, and I can't seem to get answers. While Medipac has an excellent reputation as a travel medical insurer, so far ... my dealings with them have been quite unsatisfactory !
AND ... < sputter > ... my trailer towing client has "fired" me, so to speak, and has found someone else to tow her trailer. And I can't blame her at all. I was supposed to do her job today. And not only did I fail to be able to do that ... I still can't tell her when I will be able to do the job for her. My truck repairs were not completed today. Maybe Monday !
This afternoon I "rebuilt" our yard fence which I had disassembled and removed to facilitate having the truck pulled out of the yard by a tow truck yesterday. And while we carried the heavy concrete bicycle stand back to position, Joanne dropped her end, and ... < taking a deep breath > ... that injured my sternum ! Again ! It's still healing from the injury I inflicted upon it a few weeks ago by lifting the fifth wheel hitch by myself into the bed of the truck.
Before supper ... ( at home, because we had cancelled our "dinner out" plans ) ... we went to the swimming pool for an exercise session. After supper I planned an outing next week to see the Adams River Sockeye Salmon run.
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
Today we continued slowly preparing for departure at the end of the month. I did a bit of outdoor work in the yard, cleaning and storing things for the winter. And I did work that I have been procrastinating doing on my fishing tackle, both my fly fishing equipment and traditional spinning reel equipment. All my tackle is now ready for next year.
We went for a couple of long walks with Ozzie. We bumped into and chatted with neighbours that haven't been here in over a year. And just before supper I went bicycling. Such nice fall weather !
DSK
We worked on yard and garden cleanup today. Joanne continued to work on cleaning up our front yard rock slope. I helped with the difficult removal of some Russian Sage. I removed my tomato plants. And I removed the beans from our vegetable garden. Indoors we cleaned and drained the living room air conditioner. I removed the microwave upper vent panel ... YUCK ... and Joanne cleaned it.
Joanne baked a boneless lamb shoulder for our Thanksgiving dinner tonight. And she prepared a mint sauce using fresh mint from our garden. Great dinner ! Thank you.
What am I thankful for this year ? ! ? That we live in a country with a great health care system that immediately provided me with the health care I needed to save my life a year ago.
Monday ; Thanksgiving ( Canadian )
Raining and cold. < sigh >
I did some yard cleanup and winter preparation work this morning. This afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did an exercise session. We walked Ozzie and
I returned a book to the library. I watered and turned our composter, maybe for the final time this year. I drained, cleaned and stored two of our four garden hoses.
And I spent a fair amount of time in bed with Emma, reading a book ( me ) and snoozing ( both of us ).
Tuesday ; Sunny and cool.
Today I finished removing the Russian Sage from our front yard rock slope. Joanne wanted them truly removed, so that they won't grow back. I used a reciprocating saw, and a power drill with a large bit, to cut and drill and damage the roots as much as
I could. I adjusted the air in all seven truck tires. I did some other truck preventive maintenance to get it ready for travel. Just before supper I went bicycling. BRRRRR ... getting too cold for bicycling !
WOO-HOO ... more episodes of "Highway Thru Hell".
Wednesday ; Daniel's 64th birthday
Cloudy and cool. Happy Birthday to me ! Joanne presented me with a pile of birthday gifts to unwrap over breakfast. First was a double size version of my favourite chocolate bar. Then ... some toiletries she bought on her recent trip to Winnipeg ; beeswax and honey soap, goat's milk and sage soap, beeswax and sunflower oil body lotion, goat's milk, chamomile and calendula face wash, beeswax and lemon lip balm. WOW ! There was also a wild herb smudge bundle ( to burn ) that she made herself at a "Culture Days" workshop. And ... finally ... a paper bag filled with Milkweed pods. She had planned a fun activity for us of busting open the ripe pods, harvesting the seeds with their little fluffy parachutes, and planting the seeds, to grow Milkweed flowers to attract bees and butterflies. BUT ... HA HA HA ... since she acquired the pods a week and a half ago ... they completely dried out, and burst open, leaving a small paper bag filled with Milkweed seeds on their little fluffy parachutes.
This afternoon I finalized arrangements with a trailer towing repeat client for a job on Friday. So ... we went outdoors to remove the camper off the truck. And weren't able to complete that task, because I couldn't drive the truck out from underneath the camper. Because ... the truck's two batteries are dead ! Charging them with a battery charger did not work. Jump starting the truck from our minivan did not work. Jump starting the truck from a neighbour's large diesel truck with two large batteries did not work. I spent the evening shopping online for batteries. And found what I need ... immediately ... at NAPA in Oliver. NAPA in Keremeos and Penticton don't have stock immediately available. Guess I'll be heading to Oliver early tomorrow morning !
Before supper we walked down into our park's burn pile area and scattered all the Milkweed seed pods, throwing them into the air and letting the wind carry them away on their little parachutes. HA HA HA ... what fun ! Thank you for such a unique birthday present, my dear. And then ... I burned the herb bundle in the living room ( on a pie plate ) and filled the house with the aroma of burning sage and other wild herbs.
Joanne prepared my favourite meal as a birthday treat, and we ate it while watching Survivor. At bedtime she presented me with a birthday cake ... with lit candles. Thank you, Joanne, for making my birthday special. Well ... except for the dead batteries part. HA HA HA !
Thursday ; Sunny and cool.
I was up at 6 AM and outside working on the truck by 7 AM. I removed the truck's two batteries, cleaned the battery cables and trays, and was leaving at 8:10 AM heading for Oliver to pick up two new truck batteries at NAPA Auto Parts. Yesterday, online, the Keremeos NAPA store showed no stock of the batteries that were a match for my truck. Nevertheless, as I drove past the Keremeos NAPA store I decided to stop in and check, to be sure. Well ... they had stock of two batteries that were right for my truck, although slightly better and, of course, more expensive than the ones that I had chosen online, and were waiting for me at the Oliver store. But ... my time has value, so ...
I bought the slightly more expensive batteries in Keremeos, and avoided about two and a half hours of driving to Oliver and back.
I returned home, installed the two new batteries, turned the key in the ignition and ... nothing ! < sigh > The batteries weren't the problem. < sigh > Even though the old batteries were near or at the end of their life. So ... I phoned my emergency roadside assistance provider, and waited two hours for a tow truck to arrive.
The tow truck driver got my truck pulled out from underneath the camper, then took a long time to get ready to tow my truck into Keremeos. He had to disconnect the rear driveshaft in order to tow my truck with the dually rear wheels on the ground. And the tow truck driver was sick today with a migraine headache, so ... he was a bit slow and ... didn't have the right tools needed to disconnect my truck's rear driveshaft. Good thing I had the correct tools ! ! ! By the time he got my truck towed into Total Performance Automotive in Keremeos it was 2 PM.
I returned home, and cancelled my trailer towing job scheduled for tomorrow. And
I REALLY HATE cancelling a trailer towing job ! Hopefully the client will reschedule with me for next week. I will have to reimburse her for the wasted transport permit she purchased for having her trailer towed tomorrow.
Late in the day Total Performance Automotive phoned me with the diagnosis of the truck's problem. Not at all surprising to me, the starter needs to be replaced. Oh, well ... so this truck "eats" a starter once every thirteen years. My last truck "ate" one every six months !
Friday ; our 44th anniversary
Sunny and mild. Our 44th anniversary did not unfold quite as had been planned, nevertheless ... Happy Anniversary, my love !
This morning I had ANOTHER phone call with our travel medical insurer. And then ... spent much of the rest of the day stewing and fuming about it. Our travel medical insurance policies still seem to be lost somewhere in their bureaucratic Never-Never Land, and I can't seem to get answers. While Medipac has an excellent reputation as a travel medical insurer, so far ... my dealings with them have been quite unsatisfactory !
AND ... < sputter > ... my trailer towing client has "fired" me, so to speak, and has found someone else to tow her trailer. And I can't blame her at all. I was supposed to do her job today. And not only did I fail to be able to do that ... I still can't tell her when I will be able to do the job for her. My truck repairs were not completed today. Maybe Monday !
This afternoon I "rebuilt" our yard fence which I had disassembled and removed to facilitate having the truck pulled out of the yard by a tow truck yesterday. And while we carried the heavy concrete bicycle stand back to position, Joanne dropped her end, and ... < taking a deep breath > ... that injured my sternum ! Again ! It's still healing from the injury I inflicted upon it a few weeks ago by lifting the fifth wheel hitch by myself into the bed of the truck.
Before supper ... ( at home, because we had cancelled our "dinner out" plans ) ... we went to the swimming pool for an exercise session. After supper I planned an outing next week to see the Adams River Sockeye Salmon run.
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
Today we continued slowly preparing for departure at the end of the month. I did a bit of outdoor work in the yard, cleaning and storing things for the winter. And I did work that I have been procrastinating doing on my fishing tackle, both my fly fishing equipment and traditional spinning reel equipment. All my tackle is now ready for next year.
We went for a couple of long walks with Ozzie. We bumped into and chatted with neighbours that haven't been here in over a year. And just before supper I went bicycling. Such nice fall weather !
DSK
Sunday, October 7, 2018
September 30 to October 6, 2018 ; home to Lower Mainland / Vancouver area and return
Sunday ; home to Princeton to Chilliwack to Abbotsford
Cloudy, chilly, raining lightly at home, raining steadily as I drove, cold in the evening at the rest area near Abbotsford.
This morning I did household chores, completed packing and preparing for travel, and left home at 12:20 PM heading west on Crowsnest Hwy. 3. I stopped in Princeton to buy some groceries. I stopped at a rest area near Hope to take a nap. Ozzie and
I were cold and tired. From Hope I continued westbound on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1.
I stopped at Canadian Tire in Chilliwack to buy a couple of items I need to do a project on the camper next week. I arrived at the Mile Marker 99 rest area near Abbotsford at 6:15 PM. It was completely dark within an hour of arrival.
I got set up in a pull through RV site ... with 120V AC power ... fed and walked Ozzie, and did some online work until it was time to make supper. After having supper at 8 PM, I washed dishes, walked Ozzie again, and continued working on the computer until going to bed early.
Monday ; Abbotsford to Surrey to Chilliwack to home
Heavy rain all day, until near home.
Woke at 7 AM with departure from rest area planned for 8 AM and pick up of Joanne at Abbotsford Airport at 8:30 AM. Joanne awoke in Winnipeg at 3 AM BC time for 5 AM BC time departure from Winnipeg Airport. Her flight arrived in Abbotsford fifteen minutes late, at 8:15 AM. I arrived to pick her up about ten minutes late, at 8:40 AM.
We were both eagerly anticipating Ozzie's "big hello" for Joanne's return. Very surprisingly to both of us ... there was no "big hello". Ozzie seemed ... pissed off at Joanne. Maybe that's understandable, given that he has been abandoned firstly by Gord upon his death, then Marcie when she left to go live with her son in the Lower Mainland, and now, for the third time, by his "new mommy" Joanne.
From Abbotsford Airport we returned to Trans-Canada Hwy. 1, and drove a short distance west to the rest area at Mile Marker 77 Westbound. We had breakfast and chatted for awhile before continuing west on TCH 1, then south on Hwy. 15 to Royal City Bedding in Surrey where we ordered a custom fabricated foam and latex mattress for the camper. We ordered a custom fabricated mattress very similar to the one we had custom fabricated in Parksville on Vancouver Island about thirteen years ago for Harvey the fifth wheel trailer. We've always LOOOOOVED that mattress in the fifth wheel.
After ordering the mattress we returned to TCH 1 and headed back east, to Chilliwack. We shopped for advertised grocery specials at Superstore, then refilled with diesel at Petro-Canada. By the time we left Chilliwack at 2:30 PM I was already really sick and tired of the cold, heavy rain. We continued east on TCH 1 to Hope, then east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3, through Manning Provincial Park to Princeton. Through Manning the rain began to diminish, as expected. By the time we reached Princeton, the rain had just about stopped, as expected. By the time we reached home at 5:40 PM ... no more rain ... as expected. That's one of the main reasons why we live here !
After supper, Joanne ( and Ozzie ) went to bed very early, around 9 PM.
Maybe Ozzie’s pissed off at her for leaving for ten days, but ... I missed her and I’m very glad that she’s home.
Tuesday ; Cloudy, windy, very cold.
This morning as soon as I went outside I noticed ... < sigh > ... the truck had a flat tire. Oh, well ... better to have a flat tire on the driveway than while on the highway in pouring rain. When I went to check out the possible cause, I discovered that one of the 135 degree valve adaptors had broken ... < sigh >. So ... my "new" method of dually tire valve extenders is resulting in as many problems ... or more ... than my "old" method of dually tire valve extenders.
I removed the broken valve adaptor, installed a new one ... good thing I had just received the four spares that I had ordered ... and ... the new one broke as I installed it. < very deep sigh > Cheap junk made in Hong Kong ! When we get to Yuma, Arizona in November I will order American made ones that cost about four times more.
While walking Ozzie this morning we discovered ... WOO-HOO ... Shaggy Mane Mushrooms. They grow here about one week a year. We harvested a dog poop pickup bag full ... HA HA HA ... and Joanne prepared them as part of supper. Which was stuffed Portobello Mushroom caps. SO ... supper was stuffed mushrooms with a side dish of mushrooms ! HA HA HA ! And fresh green beans from our garden.
Wednesday ; Sunny and cold.
Today I very sadly recall the death of Bo one year ago.
And we spent the better part of today angry and/or hurt and/or squabbling and/or sniping.
Late in the afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did cardiac rehab aquatic exercises. While eating supper we watched Survivor and then Chicago Med.
Thursday ; Penticton
Sunny and cold.
Spent the day in Penticton, running errands, including getting a haircut and beard trim at the cosmetology school. Second and probably last time I will go there. Cost is a teensy bit cheaper than going to my regular stylist in Keremeos, but ... takes more than twice as long, and ... both times I was there the young women / students who cut my hair and beard were ... pleasant, but ... such bimbos !
Friday ; Sunny and cold.
It's time to start our fall pre-departure preparations. We're leaving for the winter in about four weeks.
This afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did a cardiac rehab exercise session.
This evening I binge watched The Discovery Channel, which is available on a free preview basis this month. WOO-HOO ... Highway Thru Hell ! It certainly is ... we spent a lot of time on that highway this year !
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
We have both been eagerly awaiting this nice weather day this week, to get some outdoor work done. I recaulked a section of the camper, removing old, dried, cracked caulking, and applying new silicone caulking. Joanne worked on our front yard rock slope, cutting out and cleaning out perennial and annual plants and flowers. Our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit late in the afternoon.
DSK
Cloudy, chilly, raining lightly at home, raining steadily as I drove, cold in the evening at the rest area near Abbotsford.
This morning I did household chores, completed packing and preparing for travel, and left home at 12:20 PM heading west on Crowsnest Hwy. 3. I stopped in Princeton to buy some groceries. I stopped at a rest area near Hope to take a nap. Ozzie and
I were cold and tired. From Hope I continued westbound on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1.
I stopped at Canadian Tire in Chilliwack to buy a couple of items I need to do a project on the camper next week. I arrived at the Mile Marker 99 rest area near Abbotsford at 6:15 PM. It was completely dark within an hour of arrival.
I got set up in a pull through RV site ... with 120V AC power ... fed and walked Ozzie, and did some online work until it was time to make supper. After having supper at 8 PM, I washed dishes, walked Ozzie again, and continued working on the computer until going to bed early.
Monday ; Abbotsford to Surrey to Chilliwack to home
Heavy rain all day, until near home.
Woke at 7 AM with departure from rest area planned for 8 AM and pick up of Joanne at Abbotsford Airport at 8:30 AM. Joanne awoke in Winnipeg at 3 AM BC time for 5 AM BC time departure from Winnipeg Airport. Her flight arrived in Abbotsford fifteen minutes late, at 8:15 AM. I arrived to pick her up about ten minutes late, at 8:40 AM.
We were both eagerly anticipating Ozzie's "big hello" for Joanne's return. Very surprisingly to both of us ... there was no "big hello". Ozzie seemed ... pissed off at Joanne. Maybe that's understandable, given that he has been abandoned firstly by Gord upon his death, then Marcie when she left to go live with her son in the Lower Mainland, and now, for the third time, by his "new mommy" Joanne.
From Abbotsford Airport we returned to Trans-Canada Hwy. 1, and drove a short distance west to the rest area at Mile Marker 77 Westbound. We had breakfast and chatted for awhile before continuing west on TCH 1, then south on Hwy. 15 to Royal City Bedding in Surrey where we ordered a custom fabricated foam and latex mattress for the camper. We ordered a custom fabricated mattress very similar to the one we had custom fabricated in Parksville on Vancouver Island about thirteen years ago for Harvey the fifth wheel trailer. We've always LOOOOOVED that mattress in the fifth wheel.
After ordering the mattress we returned to TCH 1 and headed back east, to Chilliwack. We shopped for advertised grocery specials at Superstore, then refilled with diesel at Petro-Canada. By the time we left Chilliwack at 2:30 PM I was already really sick and tired of the cold, heavy rain. We continued east on TCH 1 to Hope, then east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3, through Manning Provincial Park to Princeton. Through Manning the rain began to diminish, as expected. By the time we reached Princeton, the rain had just about stopped, as expected. By the time we reached home at 5:40 PM ... no more rain ... as expected. That's one of the main reasons why we live here !
After supper, Joanne ( and Ozzie ) went to bed very early, around 9 PM.
Maybe Ozzie’s pissed off at her for leaving for ten days, but ... I missed her and I’m very glad that she’s home.
Tuesday ; Cloudy, windy, very cold.
This morning as soon as I went outside I noticed ... < sigh > ... the truck had a flat tire. Oh, well ... better to have a flat tire on the driveway than while on the highway in pouring rain. When I went to check out the possible cause, I discovered that one of the 135 degree valve adaptors had broken ... < sigh >. So ... my "new" method of dually tire valve extenders is resulting in as many problems ... or more ... than my "old" method of dually tire valve extenders.
I removed the broken valve adaptor, installed a new one ... good thing I had just received the four spares that I had ordered ... and ... the new one broke as I installed it. < very deep sigh > Cheap junk made in Hong Kong ! When we get to Yuma, Arizona in November I will order American made ones that cost about four times more.
While walking Ozzie this morning we discovered ... WOO-HOO ... Shaggy Mane Mushrooms. They grow here about one week a year. We harvested a dog poop pickup bag full ... HA HA HA ... and Joanne prepared them as part of supper. Which was stuffed Portobello Mushroom caps. SO ... supper was stuffed mushrooms with a side dish of mushrooms ! HA HA HA ! And fresh green beans from our garden.
Wednesday ; Sunny and cold.
Today I very sadly recall the death of Bo one year ago.
And we spent the better part of today angry and/or hurt and/or squabbling and/or sniping.
Late in the afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did cardiac rehab aquatic exercises. While eating supper we watched Survivor and then Chicago Med.
Thursday ; Penticton
Sunny and cold.
Spent the day in Penticton, running errands, including getting a haircut and beard trim at the cosmetology school. Second and probably last time I will go there. Cost is a teensy bit cheaper than going to my regular stylist in Keremeos, but ... takes more than twice as long, and ... both times I was there the young women / students who cut my hair and beard were ... pleasant, but ... such bimbos !
Friday ; Sunny and cold.
It's time to start our fall pre-departure preparations. We're leaving for the winter in about four weeks.
This afternoon we went to the swimming pool and did a cardiac rehab exercise session.
This evening I binge watched The Discovery Channel, which is available on a free preview basis this month. WOO-HOO ... Highway Thru Hell ! It certainly is ... we spent a lot of time on that highway this year !
Saturday ; Sunny and mild.
We have both been eagerly awaiting this nice weather day this week, to get some outdoor work done. I recaulked a section of the camper, removing old, dried, cracked caulking, and applying new silicone caulking. Joanne worked on our front yard rock slope, cutting out and cleaning out perennial and annual plants and flowers. Our neighbour / friend Jeanine came over for a visit late in the afternoon.
DSK
Sunday, September 30, 2018
September 23 to 29, 2018
Sunday ; Cloudy, windy, cool.
I spent much of the afternoon doing preventive maintenance chores on the truck and the minivan.
Monday ; home to Oroville, Washington to Fintry, BC to home
Mix of sun and clouds, a few minutes of rain while driving near Summerland in
mid-afternoon.
Long day of trailer towing. Left home at 10 AM. Arrived back home at 7:45 PM. Just about schmucked a deer in the dark just before I got back home !
Left home at 10 AM. Drove east on Hwy. 3 to and through Keremeos and Cawston and to Osoyoos. Met client at Visitor Information Centre. She got into my truck and we drove across the border to Oroville, Washington to pick up her fifth wheel trailer at a service station about half a mile from the border. It had been sitting there for eight days, since an American trailer towing service left it there when he was not permitted to enter Canada. He had towed the trailer from the seller's location in Bellingham, Washington, and was not aware that he lacked the proper credentials to cross the border into Canada with a trailer that he did not own. Amateur ! The buyer of the trailer hired me to pick it up in Oroville and deliver it to her home in Fintry, BC, on the west side of Okanagan Lake, across the lake from Kelowna and Vernon.
We crossed the border into the United States uneventfully, picked up the trailer, and returned to the border. We crossed back into Canada, and I waited while the client did the importation paperwork and paid the taxes owing. I drove her back to the Visitor Information Centre where her car was parked, and we proceeded north on Hwy. 97. We stopped in Oliver to have lunch at Tim Hortons. Thank you for buying me lunch, Shelly ! We continued north on Hwy. 97. I stopped in Okanagan Falls to walk Ozzie and feed him his lunch meal. Past Kaleden to Penticton, then Summerland, Peachland, and Westbank. We stopped at an insurance agency in Westbank for the client to do more paperwork.
At Westbank we got onto Westside Road, the difficult, narrow road following the west shore of Okanagan Lake. Her home was near Fintry, a village ( and nearby provincial park ) about 35 km / 20 miles or so from Westbank. We arrived at her home about
4 PM. An hour later the trailer was positioned and unhitched, and I was leaving for the return trip home ... with a generous tip in my pocket. Thank you ! The client appreciated how good I am at what I do, and wants to hire me again for a small trailer towing job in a few weeks when her trailer needs to be taken back to Westbank for a CSA inspection and certification. I gave her a quote, but ... I'm not sure I can make the logistics of that job work.
In Penticton I stopped at Rona to buy an item, then to Safeway to use the BMO ATM to deposit my job payment before refilling with diesel at Mobil. Arrived back home at
7:45 PM. Had leftovers for supper. Upon our return home Ozzie immediately went to sleep. HA HA HA ... trailer towing all day is tough work for an old dog !
All day long I have been suffering considerable chest pain. My sternum ... sawn apart during bypass surgery ... and / or my pectoral muscles ... cut during bypass surgery ... may not yet be sufficiently healed ... and maybe never will be ... to allow me to lift the fifth wheel hitch ( 75 pounds ? ) high enough to get it into the bed of the truck, as I did yesterday ! OW !
Tuesday ; Sunny and warm, a very nice fall day. Too bad I was too sick to enjoy it !
I had an unpleasant night. In addition to suffering from considerable chest pain due to some manner of self-inflicted injury to my sternum or pectoral muscles by lifting the fifth wheel hitch into the bed of the truck, I suffered overwhelming nausea due to
self -inflicted food poisoning ... again ! I was unable to eat much today, and spent too much time in the bathroom with cramps and diarrhea.
Note to self ; don't keep any Dolly Varden Trout caught in the future !
This afternoon I unloaded all the trailer towing equipment and supplies out of the truck, then recruited our neighbour Lyle to help me remove the fifth wheel hitch head out of the truck bed. < sigh > I must conclude that my heavy lifting days are over ! I thought that my sternum and pectoral muscles would be sufficiently healed a year after my bypass surgery to allow me to do heavy lifting, but ... apparently not !
Wednesday ; Sunny and warm, no wind, a really lovely fall day. Should go fishing for the last time this season !
So ... this afternoon that's what I did. And set a new record for catching my limit of four Rainbow Trout. Previous record was twenty-seven minutes. Broke that record today by catching four Rainbow Trout in the first twenty-four minutes of fishing ! And then they stopped biting ! Fished for a total of seventy-five minutes, caught six Rainbows in total. I returned home, cleaned the fish that I kept, gave two to my neighbour Betty.
Felt healthy today after a couple of days of illness. Prepared a real supper. Garden salad, baked Rainbow Trout, French fries, sautéed mushrooms, Key Lime pie. Watched the season premiere of Survivor.
Thursday ; Cloudy, mild.
While having lunch I watched a few minutes of the Kavanaugh / Ford spectacle.
< rolling my eyes > God Bless America ! ! !
This afternoon I did a "home improvement" project on the camper. I installed a fresh air intake vent to provide an air supply to the WAVE 6 catalytic infrared heater. I cut a hole in the wall of the camper near the heater and installed a ceiling register that can be opened ( and closed ) to allow fresh air in to feed the heater's need for oxygen.
Friday ; Cloudy and mild.
I was awakened early this morning by a telephone call. From Joanne ! Who apparently can not calculate time zone differences ! ! ! < scowl >
This afternoon I did laundry, not a chore I excel at ! I also refilled the freshwater tank in the camper, and installed the camper onto the truck. Around supper time I went to the swimming pool and did a cardiac rehab aquatic exercise session. After a late supper
I watched the Jack Reacher movie on TV. It was great ! I'm a fan of the Jack Reacher novels.
Poor Emma seems to have an upper respiratory infection / kitty cat cold. I began administering Mucotox, an upper respiratory infection medication that I purchase in Mexico, have used ever since the days of Teddy the cat, and seems to work effectively. BUT ... Emma REALLY hates it ! My poor baby Emma. It’s so difficult to intentionally cause them distress and discomfort !
Saturday ; First anniversary of coronary artery bypass surgery
Cloudy and mild.
OW OW OW OW OW ! ! ! It hurts like hell to wash dishes ... with the severe burns I got on my right hand a few hours ago !
This afternoon I prepared for departure and travel tomorrow, to go to Abbotsford to pick Joanne up at the airport early Monday morning. While making lunch ... a pot of soup
I was preparing boiled over. After lunch, when I lifted the stove top to clean underneath ... YUCK ! Does my little wifey never clean underneath the stove top ? ! ?
I cleaned and washed underneath the stove top, then ... I had some difficulty getting the burners to light, after I had removed them, washed them, and reinstalled them.
I fussed, and fiddled, and ... eventually ... burned the palm and little finger of my right hand ! They are at least second degree burns ! Hurts like hell !
I'm eager for Joanne's return. I sustain far fewer injuries when she's here. HA HA HA HA HA !
The Saturday Night Live opening skit featuring Matt Damon as Judge Brett Kavanaugh was hilarious ! And spot on !
DSK
I spent much of the afternoon doing preventive maintenance chores on the truck and the minivan.
Monday ; home to Oroville, Washington to Fintry, BC to home
Mix of sun and clouds, a few minutes of rain while driving near Summerland in
mid-afternoon.
Long day of trailer towing. Left home at 10 AM. Arrived back home at 7:45 PM. Just about schmucked a deer in the dark just before I got back home !
Left home at 10 AM. Drove east on Hwy. 3 to and through Keremeos and Cawston and to Osoyoos. Met client at Visitor Information Centre. She got into my truck and we drove across the border to Oroville, Washington to pick up her fifth wheel trailer at a service station about half a mile from the border. It had been sitting there for eight days, since an American trailer towing service left it there when he was not permitted to enter Canada. He had towed the trailer from the seller's location in Bellingham, Washington, and was not aware that he lacked the proper credentials to cross the border into Canada with a trailer that he did not own. Amateur ! The buyer of the trailer hired me to pick it up in Oroville and deliver it to her home in Fintry, BC, on the west side of Okanagan Lake, across the lake from Kelowna and Vernon.
We crossed the border into the United States uneventfully, picked up the trailer, and returned to the border. We crossed back into Canada, and I waited while the client did the importation paperwork and paid the taxes owing. I drove her back to the Visitor Information Centre where her car was parked, and we proceeded north on Hwy. 97. We stopped in Oliver to have lunch at Tim Hortons. Thank you for buying me lunch, Shelly ! We continued north on Hwy. 97. I stopped in Okanagan Falls to walk Ozzie and feed him his lunch meal. Past Kaleden to Penticton, then Summerland, Peachland, and Westbank. We stopped at an insurance agency in Westbank for the client to do more paperwork.
At Westbank we got onto Westside Road, the difficult, narrow road following the west shore of Okanagan Lake. Her home was near Fintry, a village ( and nearby provincial park ) about 35 km / 20 miles or so from Westbank. We arrived at her home about
4 PM. An hour later the trailer was positioned and unhitched, and I was leaving for the return trip home ... with a generous tip in my pocket. Thank you ! The client appreciated how good I am at what I do, and wants to hire me again for a small trailer towing job in a few weeks when her trailer needs to be taken back to Westbank for a CSA inspection and certification. I gave her a quote, but ... I'm not sure I can make the logistics of that job work.
In Penticton I stopped at Rona to buy an item, then to Safeway to use the BMO ATM to deposit my job payment before refilling with diesel at Mobil. Arrived back home at
7:45 PM. Had leftovers for supper. Upon our return home Ozzie immediately went to sleep. HA HA HA ... trailer towing all day is tough work for an old dog !
All day long I have been suffering considerable chest pain. My sternum ... sawn apart during bypass surgery ... and / or my pectoral muscles ... cut during bypass surgery ... may not yet be sufficiently healed ... and maybe never will be ... to allow me to lift the fifth wheel hitch ( 75 pounds ? ) high enough to get it into the bed of the truck, as I did yesterday ! OW !
Tuesday ; Sunny and warm, a very nice fall day. Too bad I was too sick to enjoy it !
I had an unpleasant night. In addition to suffering from considerable chest pain due to some manner of self-inflicted injury to my sternum or pectoral muscles by lifting the fifth wheel hitch into the bed of the truck, I suffered overwhelming nausea due to
self -inflicted food poisoning ... again ! I was unable to eat much today, and spent too much time in the bathroom with cramps and diarrhea.
Note to self ; don't keep any Dolly Varden Trout caught in the future !
This afternoon I unloaded all the trailer towing equipment and supplies out of the truck, then recruited our neighbour Lyle to help me remove the fifth wheel hitch head out of the truck bed. < sigh > I must conclude that my heavy lifting days are over ! I thought that my sternum and pectoral muscles would be sufficiently healed a year after my bypass surgery to allow me to do heavy lifting, but ... apparently not !
Wednesday ; Sunny and warm, no wind, a really lovely fall day. Should go fishing for the last time this season !
So ... this afternoon that's what I did. And set a new record for catching my limit of four Rainbow Trout. Previous record was twenty-seven minutes. Broke that record today by catching four Rainbow Trout in the first twenty-four minutes of fishing ! And then they stopped biting ! Fished for a total of seventy-five minutes, caught six Rainbows in total. I returned home, cleaned the fish that I kept, gave two to my neighbour Betty.
Felt healthy today after a couple of days of illness. Prepared a real supper. Garden salad, baked Rainbow Trout, French fries, sautéed mushrooms, Key Lime pie. Watched the season premiere of Survivor.
Thursday ; Cloudy, mild.
While having lunch I watched a few minutes of the Kavanaugh / Ford spectacle.
< rolling my eyes > God Bless America ! ! !
This afternoon I did a "home improvement" project on the camper. I installed a fresh air intake vent to provide an air supply to the WAVE 6 catalytic infrared heater. I cut a hole in the wall of the camper near the heater and installed a ceiling register that can be opened ( and closed ) to allow fresh air in to feed the heater's need for oxygen.
Friday ; Cloudy and mild.
I was awakened early this morning by a telephone call. From Joanne ! Who apparently can not calculate time zone differences ! ! ! < scowl >
This afternoon I did laundry, not a chore I excel at ! I also refilled the freshwater tank in the camper, and installed the camper onto the truck. Around supper time I went to the swimming pool and did a cardiac rehab aquatic exercise session. After a late supper
I watched the Jack Reacher movie on TV. It was great ! I'm a fan of the Jack Reacher novels.
Poor Emma seems to have an upper respiratory infection / kitty cat cold. I began administering Mucotox, an upper respiratory infection medication that I purchase in Mexico, have used ever since the days of Teddy the cat, and seems to work effectively. BUT ... Emma REALLY hates it ! My poor baby Emma. It’s so difficult to intentionally cause them distress and discomfort !
Saturday ; First anniversary of coronary artery bypass surgery
Cloudy and mild.
OW OW OW OW OW ! ! ! It hurts like hell to wash dishes ... with the severe burns I got on my right hand a few hours ago !
This afternoon I prepared for departure and travel tomorrow, to go to Abbotsford to pick Joanne up at the airport early Monday morning. While making lunch ... a pot of soup
I was preparing boiled over. After lunch, when I lifted the stove top to clean underneath ... YUCK ! Does my little wifey never clean underneath the stove top ? ! ?
I cleaned and washed underneath the stove top, then ... I had some difficulty getting the burners to light, after I had removed them, washed them, and reinstalled them.
I fussed, and fiddled, and ... eventually ... burned the palm and little finger of my right hand ! They are at least second degree burns ! Hurts like hell !
I'm eager for Joanne's return. I sustain far fewer injuries when she's here. HA HA HA HA HA !
The Saturday Night Live opening skit featuring Matt Damon as Judge Brett Kavanaugh was hilarious ! And spot on !
DSK
Sunday, September 23, 2018
September 16 to 22, 2018
Sunday ; Cool, overcast and raining early in the day, clearing and warming in the afternoon.
Trimmed Emma's claws this morning. Always fun to trim a cat's claws ... outdoors in the rain ! Trimmed my beard in the afternoon. Always fun to trim my beard ... you know the rest ! HA HA HA ! Fixed a minor problem on my bicycle. Replenished toiletries and supplies in the camper.
Went to the Keremeos Grist Mill for one of their monthly dinners, our first time. It was great. Thirty-two people seated at two long tables, food served family style. Slow cooked ( twelve hour ) beef brisket, garden salad with flowers from the Grist Mill's gardens, honey glazed local carrots, many varieties of locally grown heirloom tomatoes, dessert was baked local pears with local walnuts and spiced local honey drizzled on them. These locally sourced monthly dinners are a new pet project of the owner / operator of the Grist Mill. Well done ! The marinated heirloom tomatoes were the highlight, in my opinion. Says the guy who ate at least a pound of brisket ! HA HA HA !
After returning home we visited briefly with Jeanine, primarily to deliver to her the two Rainbow Trout that I caught and kept yesterday. They were small, what I call "widow size". HA HA HA !
Monday ; Sunny and mild, a lovely fall day. Joanne baked a plum cake in the Sun Oven today. Plums from our park's orchard !
This morning our neighbour across the street came over and asked for our help to trim her new cat's claws. So ... across the street we went to trim Darlene's cat's razor sharp claws. And I have the lacerated thumb to prove it ! HA HA HA ! Chili the cat was not co-operative.
This afternoon I took the truck into town to get an adjustment done on the gear selector display. While in town I renewed our fifth wheel trailer's license and insurance policy. And I refilled our barbecue's propane tank. Back at home I exercised our little generator, and did some online financial work. Late in the afternoon we went to the swimming pool and resumed our regular aquatic exercise program. After supper we watched the Emmy Awards show.
Tuesday ; Penticton
Sunny and warm again, another lovely fall day. We spent the day in Penticton, running errands.
Wednesday ; Mostly sunny, mild, heavy rain briefly around suppertime.
As we walked Ozzie around noon, our neighbour / friend Jeanine invited us to visit. She wanted to tell us that ... her little dog Charlie had died. < sigh > Farewell, Charlie. I will miss you. I'm glad that when we last visited a few days ago I took the time to give Charlie some attention and affection.
This afternoon I went fishing. I fished for an hour and three quarters, caught five Rainbow Trout, released one, kept four, the legal daily limit. I decided to return home when an ugly looking cloud appeared over the mountain behind me. The hike from home to my fishing spot takes about twenty minutes. After about five minutes of hiking from my fishing spot back to home it began to rain lightly. After about ten minutes it was raining harder. After about fifteen minutes it was a torrential downpour. < sigh > By the time I arrived home, I was drenched ! From my chest up to the top of my head ! HA HA HA ... I was wearing my new chest waders.
I cleaned the fish, then Joanne made an excellent squash and cilantro ( from our garden ) soup for supper.
Thursday ; Cloudy and mild, a bit of light rain around lunch time.
This morning I replaced the rubber propane hose from our large propane tank to our house with a copper tubing line, in order to comply with regulations. While I was doing that our friend Jeanine came over with more of Charlie's stuff. She has given all of Charlie's stuff to us, to get rid of. Isn't it bad grammar to end a sentence with a preposition ? This afternoon I cleaned and sorted all of Charlie's stuff. He had a very impressive inventory of clothing and bedding and medications, for such a little dog.
Both of us spent quite a bit of time preparing for travel. Joanne is leaving tomorrow for a ten day trip to Winnipeg, departing from Abbotsford Airport. And I am driving her to Abbotsford, then will attend an RV show in Abbotsford and boondock overnight somewhere before returning home Saturday.
I got hired today to transport a fifth wheel trailer from Oroville, Washington ( across the border from Osoyoos ) to Kelowna on Monday.
Friday ; home to Abbotsford
Cloudy and mild, heavy rain in Abbotsford in the afternoon and evening.
This morning we completed our preparations for travel and departed from home at 11:40 AM, heading west on Hwy. 3. Ozzie was with us, Emma stayed home. Through Princeton and into Manning Provincial Park, we stopped for lunch at Beaver Pond Trailhead. At Hope we refilled with diesel at Flying J then continued west on
Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 through Chilliwack to Abbotsford. We arrived at the Abbotsford Airport at 4:10 PM, just in time for Joanne's 4:30 PM check-in time for her ( very cheap ) flight to Winnipeg.
After dropping Joanne off at the airport I drove next door to Tradex, a large convention centre where the Snowbird RV Show was being held. I got parked, napped briefly, then went into the RV show at 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM I had seen all the exhibits and exhibitors and was ready to leave when I bumped into Richard and Doris, neighbours of ours at Kofa Ko-op SKP RV Park in Yuma, Arizona. We chatted for about half an hour, then I returned to our camper in the parking lot at 8 PM. I contemplated just staying there overnight, but decided to drive a short distance to a rest area on the
Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 eastbound at mile marker 99.
At 8:50 PM I received a text message from Joanne's sister Lorraine that Joanne had arrived safely in Winnipeg. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when I arrived at the rest area and discovered that electrical pedestals for RV's had just been installed at the rest area's RV parking area. How wonderful ! I got parked and plugged in, then made and ate a late supper. I washed dishes, then ... discovered that the rest area also had free Wi-Fi ! WOO-HOO ! Life is good !
Saturday ; Abbotsford to home
Raining heavily all day. I hate this kind of fall weather ! ! !
I departed the Abbotsford rest area at 11:20 AM and headed for home, eastbound on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1. At Hope I continued east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3. I stopped to eat lunch in the camper at Coldspring Campground in Manning Provincial Park.
I refilled with diesel at Petro-Canada in Princeton. I arrived home at 3:20 PM. Emma was very glad to see me. Ozzie immediately went for a long nap. The ongoing rain hampered my ability to unload the camper and remove it from the truck.
After the rain stopped around 6 PM I went outside and removed the camper from the truck, then installed the fifth wheel hitch into the bed of the truck. That was the first time I have lifted the fifth wheel hitch by myself since before my triple bypass surgery almost a year ago. I loaded all the necessary trailer towing supplies and equipment into the truck for a job I have on Monday. I finished around 7:30 PM and it was already almost dark.
DSK
Trimmed Emma's claws this morning. Always fun to trim a cat's claws ... outdoors in the rain ! Trimmed my beard in the afternoon. Always fun to trim my beard ... you know the rest ! HA HA HA ! Fixed a minor problem on my bicycle. Replenished toiletries and supplies in the camper.
Went to the Keremeos Grist Mill for one of their monthly dinners, our first time. It was great. Thirty-two people seated at two long tables, food served family style. Slow cooked ( twelve hour ) beef brisket, garden salad with flowers from the Grist Mill's gardens, honey glazed local carrots, many varieties of locally grown heirloom tomatoes, dessert was baked local pears with local walnuts and spiced local honey drizzled on them. These locally sourced monthly dinners are a new pet project of the owner / operator of the Grist Mill. Well done ! The marinated heirloom tomatoes were the highlight, in my opinion. Says the guy who ate at least a pound of brisket ! HA HA HA !
After returning home we visited briefly with Jeanine, primarily to deliver to her the two Rainbow Trout that I caught and kept yesterday. They were small, what I call "widow size". HA HA HA !
Monday ; Sunny and mild, a lovely fall day. Joanne baked a plum cake in the Sun Oven today. Plums from our park's orchard !
This morning our neighbour across the street came over and asked for our help to trim her new cat's claws. So ... across the street we went to trim Darlene's cat's razor sharp claws. And I have the lacerated thumb to prove it ! HA HA HA ! Chili the cat was not co-operative.
This afternoon I took the truck into town to get an adjustment done on the gear selector display. While in town I renewed our fifth wheel trailer's license and insurance policy. And I refilled our barbecue's propane tank. Back at home I exercised our little generator, and did some online financial work. Late in the afternoon we went to the swimming pool and resumed our regular aquatic exercise program. After supper we watched the Emmy Awards show.
Tuesday ; Penticton
Sunny and warm again, another lovely fall day. We spent the day in Penticton, running errands.
Wednesday ; Mostly sunny, mild, heavy rain briefly around suppertime.
As we walked Ozzie around noon, our neighbour / friend Jeanine invited us to visit. She wanted to tell us that ... her little dog Charlie had died. < sigh > Farewell, Charlie. I will miss you. I'm glad that when we last visited a few days ago I took the time to give Charlie some attention and affection.
This afternoon I went fishing. I fished for an hour and three quarters, caught five Rainbow Trout, released one, kept four, the legal daily limit. I decided to return home when an ugly looking cloud appeared over the mountain behind me. The hike from home to my fishing spot takes about twenty minutes. After about five minutes of hiking from my fishing spot back to home it began to rain lightly. After about ten minutes it was raining harder. After about fifteen minutes it was a torrential downpour. < sigh > By the time I arrived home, I was drenched ! From my chest up to the top of my head ! HA HA HA ... I was wearing my new chest waders.
I cleaned the fish, then Joanne made an excellent squash and cilantro ( from our garden ) soup for supper.
Thursday ; Cloudy and mild, a bit of light rain around lunch time.
This morning I replaced the rubber propane hose from our large propane tank to our house with a copper tubing line, in order to comply with regulations. While I was doing that our friend Jeanine came over with more of Charlie's stuff. She has given all of Charlie's stuff to us, to get rid of. Isn't it bad grammar to end a sentence with a preposition ? This afternoon I cleaned and sorted all of Charlie's stuff. He had a very impressive inventory of clothing and bedding and medications, for such a little dog.
Both of us spent quite a bit of time preparing for travel. Joanne is leaving tomorrow for a ten day trip to Winnipeg, departing from Abbotsford Airport. And I am driving her to Abbotsford, then will attend an RV show in Abbotsford and boondock overnight somewhere before returning home Saturday.
I got hired today to transport a fifth wheel trailer from Oroville, Washington ( across the border from Osoyoos ) to Kelowna on Monday.
Friday ; home to Abbotsford
Cloudy and mild, heavy rain in Abbotsford in the afternoon and evening.
This morning we completed our preparations for travel and departed from home at 11:40 AM, heading west on Hwy. 3. Ozzie was with us, Emma stayed home. Through Princeton and into Manning Provincial Park, we stopped for lunch at Beaver Pond Trailhead. At Hope we refilled with diesel at Flying J then continued west on
Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 through Chilliwack to Abbotsford. We arrived at the Abbotsford Airport at 4:10 PM, just in time for Joanne's 4:30 PM check-in time for her ( very cheap ) flight to Winnipeg.
After dropping Joanne off at the airport I drove next door to Tradex, a large convention centre where the Snowbird RV Show was being held. I got parked, napped briefly, then went into the RV show at 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM I had seen all the exhibits and exhibitors and was ready to leave when I bumped into Richard and Doris, neighbours of ours at Kofa Ko-op SKP RV Park in Yuma, Arizona. We chatted for about half an hour, then I returned to our camper in the parking lot at 8 PM. I contemplated just staying there overnight, but decided to drive a short distance to a rest area on the
Trans-Canada Hwy. 1 eastbound at mile marker 99.
At 8:50 PM I received a text message from Joanne's sister Lorraine that Joanne had arrived safely in Winnipeg. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when I arrived at the rest area and discovered that electrical pedestals for RV's had just been installed at the rest area's RV parking area. How wonderful ! I got parked and plugged in, then made and ate a late supper. I washed dishes, then ... discovered that the rest area also had free Wi-Fi ! WOO-HOO ! Life is good !
Saturday ; Abbotsford to home
Raining heavily all day. I hate this kind of fall weather ! ! !
I departed the Abbotsford rest area at 11:20 AM and headed for home, eastbound on Trans-Canada Hwy. 1. At Hope I continued east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3. I stopped to eat lunch in the camper at Coldspring Campground in Manning Provincial Park.
I refilled with diesel at Petro-Canada in Princeton. I arrived home at 3:20 PM. Emma was very glad to see me. Ozzie immediately went for a long nap. The ongoing rain hampered my ability to unload the camper and remove it from the truck.
After the rain stopped around 6 PM I went outside and removed the camper from the truck, then installed the fifth wheel hitch into the bed of the truck. That was the first time I have lifted the fifth wheel hitch by myself since before my triple bypass surgery almost a year ago. I loaded all the necessary trailer towing supplies and equipment into the truck for a job I have on Monday. I finished around 7:30 PM and it was already almost dark.
DSK
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