July 5th was another travel day. We were up fairly early so I could have a shower, get the dogs properly exercised and we could have a good breakfast. The day was hot and I was lovin' it! We didn't endure seven months of winter to have a cool summer.
We stopped for gas before we left Golden. $1.41 a litre. What a rip off. The trip to Penticton was fairly uneventful except for a little snafu at Three Valley Gap. We thought we would pull in there and we did except that we turned left when we should have turned right and ended up at a dead end. So I got out to direct and Bernie had to back the trailer up all the way down the parking lot, basically the same way we drove in except backwards. We just got back on the highway and kept on going! We have been there before anyway so no big deal.
We stopped for gas again in Vernon and got something to eat. Wait? Did I say we got something to eat and I didn't have to make lunch in the trailer?? Yes, we went to a Subway and actually bought something for a change! AND, we sat in the truck and ate and not while the truck was moving. Things change. The temperature continued to rise the further south we went. Good job we have air conditioning or I am sure the poor dogs would have been toast!
It took forever to get through Kelowna, one traffic light after another. I used the Maps app on my IPad to direct us to Park Royal RV Park once we got to Penticton. "Betty" as we call the GPS directed us fairly well but the street names that she chirped out did not match the street names on the signs. She took us in a big circle and we finally found the RV Park. A very nice man, Bob, directed us to our sight. Oh thank goodness another pull through site and it was a piece of cake. We got everything all set up and then I fiddled around with the t.v. trying to get it to work. They gave us a map of the campground and wrote down the password for the WiFi and then another set of numbers 2-4-1. Bernie tells me that this has something to do with the t.v. set up and I couldn't figure out what to do. I fooled around and tried every combination and finally got it to work - just in time for the Rider game which started at 6:00 and not 7:00 as we thought - forgot about the time change. TSN was not coming in that well, but we didn't care, we watched, wore our new hats, drank Pilsner and lo and behold they beat the crap out of the Stampeders!
Bernie visited the washroom later on that evening and he came back fairly quickly. As it turned out the 2-4-1 was the code for the washroom/shower room doors. LOL He looked kind of sheepish. I said nothing, I think my point was made by my body language!
Our air conditioner worked overtime since it was about 28 degrees and did not cool off that much in the evening. We did go for a little walk but I didn't last very long since my leg and hip were hurting.
Saturday the 6th of July was another scorching hot day. I got up early just to sit outside on our patio. It is quite a nice set up. The sites are not all that big but you pull your trailer into the spot, drive around and there is a parking spot for your vehicle. Beside the trailer is a patio area with a picnic table and a little side table as well. Then there is a little grassy area as well. There are lovely trees separating the camping sites as well. We set our barbecue up and our chairs, pulled down the canopy and our little home is all set up! It is also nice and shady which is good for the dogs. We are fairly close to the beach and across the street is the Okanagan River. Coyote Cruises is also set up across the street and people ride down the river in tubes and rafts. It looks like fun!!
Today, Sunday the 7th I managed to sleep in. My back was just acting up a little bit more so I took a lovely muscle relaxant in addition to all the other drugs and it really knocked me out. I was not feeling all that great in the night and had to get up - stumbling all over the place. Oh I want to feel better and real soon. I am still enjoying my holiday but it could be so much better if I wasn't so crippled.
Bernie barbecued tonight and my contribution to supper was to open a can of beans and a can of fruit cocktail!! I am weary of making meals. We went for a longer walk this evening. There is a lovely trail - the Trans Canada Trail - to walk along. We also walked through a park called the Rose Garden. There is a gazebo there surrounded by beautiful rose bushes. It is a memorial garden and around the gazebo there are memorial plaques. There are also benches with plaques engraved in memory of people. It is all very nice and apparently it is used quite a bit for weddings, etc. and a wonderful venue for pictures. We walked further along and saw a few more things before we turned around and headed back to our trailer. We finally got around to putting flea and tick collars on the dogs. Last year we had to pull a tick out of Sarge's ear when we were down in this area so I bought some collars before we left. They are all natural and smell quite strongly like peppermint. They don't seem to bother the dogs so I guess I can live with the smell! I just hope they work because I don't feel like pulling any more ticks out - they are nasty things.
I have pretty much had it for the evening and it is now 11:30 p.m. I called my mom today to see how she was doing and she reassured me that she is just fine and not to worry about her! That is good to know.
I am all caught up now. We really like it here and I am pouting already about having to leave so soon. We are here until Thursday and then it will be travel time again.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Interesting day continued
I digressed when I got to the hat part of my blog so I will continue on with an update of how we spent the 4th of July.
We got in so late the night before that the office was closed. So we just pulled into an empty spot - E4. When I visited the office first thing in the morning to get the WiFi password I was informed that our confirmation number also included the site that was assigned to us - F6. E, F, 4, 6,.....whatever. I asked the attendant if we had to move and she said no, it would be all right. So that was that. I am sure it was my repentant look and the several "I'm sorrys" that convinced her to just leave things as they were!
So on to the tourist centre where we poked around. I picked up all the free stuff and Bernie bought a post card and some doggie poop bags. We forgot to take some and of course there were none in the trailer from last year. They are available in most tourist centres I am sure!
We walked (hobbled) back to the campsite. Of course the dogs started to bark and whine and scratch at the door and the window as soon as they heard our footsteps. Bernie had locked up so he got his keys out and started twisting and turning them and then a little inappropriate language ensued and then he asked me what he was supposed to do now since the door would not unlock. I didn't know either. This had happened one other time but I was inside the trailer and I just fiddled around with the little red lock thing from the inside and everything worked fine after that. So I tried as well and then he tried again - each time different combinations: first the top lock, then the bottom, first the bottom lock then the top. Nothing worked! We were both working up a sweat and the dogs were frantic. The neighbours across the road were watching with interest but we just kind of ignored them because if they could help I am sure they would have come over and told us what to do. So after bending the stupid key I said, not once but twice, "We have to go in from underneath." There is a storage area at the back of the trailer that is under the bed and there is a hydraulic lift thingy that opens - it is very handy to store extra stuff and thank goodness it is there since it was our way in. It doesn't open very wide, so we just slimmed right down immediately (especially me!). Bernie went in first and honestly I should have taken a picture, he looked like a turtle going inside his shell. Don't tell him I said that. Oh who cares, he might read it anyway! He went in head first, maneuvered over a wooden divider, squeezed in through a very small opening, and pushed up the plywood that is under the mattress. Voila! He was in. The dogs were ecstatic! So was I, for the moment, because I was not feeling like doing what he just did. So I turned the key from the outside and he fiddled around from the inside. Nothing happened. Something was still stuck in there and the door would not open. Why oh why does this have to happen to us? What on earth did we do to deserve this??
The bottom line is Bernie ended up crawling out again. I said I would go in....praying that I could actually squeeze through that opening. So he stayed out and I went in. What a chore. I was halfway through and just over the wooden divider when I started to laugh uncontrollably - well it was funny. I said "What if I get stuck?" and Bernie says, "You stay there like Winnie the Pooh until you slim down." And so I thought of that story and I thought of Nicholas and how he just loved the Winnie the Pooh stories. Then I thought of my high school English teacher who said he liked my composition about something or other and that I wrote in the style of A.A. Milne. Oh my goodness, the things that go through your head when you are in a sticky (or is it a "stucky") situation. So I just imagined that I was Twiggy and I got through. Duke and Sarge were happy to see me too and they wanted to play. I mean, what did they know? So then Bernie fiddles around for a while outside and I can hear that one of the neighbours came by to say, "Can't get in hey?" Wow, that was deep. Anyhow, Bernie came back in and the dogs thought, "Finally we are one big happy family." I was just praying that they didn't have to pee because I sure as heck wasn't going to take them outside the same way I got in!!
I located the tool box and Bernie found the right screwdriver and proceeded to take everything apart. We were very careful to put all the screws and various parts of the lock in a container for future reference. Only one screw fell on the floor and I am sure it was my fault...... may as well take the blame because tempers were kind of short at the time. It must have taken half an hour at the least and finally, finally we got the door open. What a procedure. We used screwdrivers, tweezers, scissors and patience (?) and it worked! I thanked Bernie for at least knowing what to do and I proceeded to put things back in the storage area. He sat down for a minute to collect his thoughts which led to having a cold drink which is what we should have done before we started all the screwdriver, etc. business. He put things together as best he could after supper. We have one lock that works and the other one can just go hang itself until we get to an RV place. We will probably just get a new door handle thing a ma jig. I think it should just be a regular door knob with a dead bolt - way easier if you ask me. Everything in a trailer is kind of generic and cheap if you ask me. Some of the stuff that is in here you don't dare lean on and you have to be careful since it is so light and frail that it could break at a moments notice.
So that was our adventure for the day, as if we needed one. I kind of wanted to go away on holidays to get away from all the drama and here we are having a little comedy/drama sitcom right in our campsite in Golden, B.C. Brother!
Bernie had a well deserved nap and I organized things under the trailer - again! I waved a howdy do wave to the neighbours and said, "Well that was an adventure!" They told me that they were glad we solved the problem and that they were rooting for us the whole way! Woo Hoo.
I had taken chicken out of the freezer to barbecue for supper so I got that ready. We ate late but then we tend to do that when we are on holiday. who cares what time you eat? You eat when you get hungry, right?? When we camped with the kids we always ate regular meals since I wanted to make sure everything was kind of normal. I am not sure why I did that but it didn't seem to hurt them. They were more put out by the fact that they had to change their underwear every day, brush their teeth and wash - just like at home!
We had a normal evening, took the dogs for a walk after we ate and then packed up most things like the outside mat, the barbecue and the chairs.
What a day. My hip and leg hurt like the dickens and especially after crawling around underneath the trailer. Boy camping is fun!
We got in so late the night before that the office was closed. So we just pulled into an empty spot - E4. When I visited the office first thing in the morning to get the WiFi password I was informed that our confirmation number also included the site that was assigned to us - F6. E, F, 4, 6,.....whatever. I asked the attendant if we had to move and she said no, it would be all right. So that was that. I am sure it was my repentant look and the several "I'm sorrys" that convinced her to just leave things as they were!
So on to the tourist centre where we poked around. I picked up all the free stuff and Bernie bought a post card and some doggie poop bags. We forgot to take some and of course there were none in the trailer from last year. They are available in most tourist centres I am sure!
We walked (hobbled) back to the campsite. Of course the dogs started to bark and whine and scratch at the door and the window as soon as they heard our footsteps. Bernie had locked up so he got his keys out and started twisting and turning them and then a little inappropriate language ensued and then he asked me what he was supposed to do now since the door would not unlock. I didn't know either. This had happened one other time but I was inside the trailer and I just fiddled around with the little red lock thing from the inside and everything worked fine after that. So I tried as well and then he tried again - each time different combinations: first the top lock, then the bottom, first the bottom lock then the top. Nothing worked! We were both working up a sweat and the dogs were frantic. The neighbours across the road were watching with interest but we just kind of ignored them because if they could help I am sure they would have come over and told us what to do. So after bending the stupid key I said, not once but twice, "We have to go in from underneath." There is a storage area at the back of the trailer that is under the bed and there is a hydraulic lift thingy that opens - it is very handy to store extra stuff and thank goodness it is there since it was our way in. It doesn't open very wide, so we just slimmed right down immediately (especially me!). Bernie went in first and honestly I should have taken a picture, he looked like a turtle going inside his shell. Don't tell him I said that. Oh who cares, he might read it anyway! He went in head first, maneuvered over a wooden divider, squeezed in through a very small opening, and pushed up the plywood that is under the mattress. Voila! He was in. The dogs were ecstatic! So was I, for the moment, because I was not feeling like doing what he just did. So I turned the key from the outside and he fiddled around from the inside. Nothing happened. Something was still stuck in there and the door would not open. Why oh why does this have to happen to us? What on earth did we do to deserve this??
The bottom line is Bernie ended up crawling out again. I said I would go in....praying that I could actually squeeze through that opening. So he stayed out and I went in. What a chore. I was halfway through and just over the wooden divider when I started to laugh uncontrollably - well it was funny. I said "What if I get stuck?" and Bernie says, "You stay there like Winnie the Pooh until you slim down." And so I thought of that story and I thought of Nicholas and how he just loved the Winnie the Pooh stories. Then I thought of my high school English teacher who said he liked my composition about something or other and that I wrote in the style of A.A. Milne. Oh my goodness, the things that go through your head when you are in a sticky (or is it a "stucky") situation. So I just imagined that I was Twiggy and I got through. Duke and Sarge were happy to see me too and they wanted to play. I mean, what did they know? So then Bernie fiddles around for a while outside and I can hear that one of the neighbours came by to say, "Can't get in hey?" Wow, that was deep. Anyhow, Bernie came back in and the dogs thought, "Finally we are one big happy family." I was just praying that they didn't have to pee because I sure as heck wasn't going to take them outside the same way I got in!!
I located the tool box and Bernie found the right screwdriver and proceeded to take everything apart. We were very careful to put all the screws and various parts of the lock in a container for future reference. Only one screw fell on the floor and I am sure it was my fault...... may as well take the blame because tempers were kind of short at the time. It must have taken half an hour at the least and finally, finally we got the door open. What a procedure. We used screwdrivers, tweezers, scissors and patience (?) and it worked! I thanked Bernie for at least knowing what to do and I proceeded to put things back in the storage area. He sat down for a minute to collect his thoughts which led to having a cold drink which is what we should have done before we started all the screwdriver, etc. business. He put things together as best he could after supper. We have one lock that works and the other one can just go hang itself until we get to an RV place. We will probably just get a new door handle thing a ma jig. I think it should just be a regular door knob with a dead bolt - way easier if you ask me. Everything in a trailer is kind of generic and cheap if you ask me. Some of the stuff that is in here you don't dare lean on and you have to be careful since it is so light and frail that it could break at a moments notice.
So that was our adventure for the day, as if we needed one. I kind of wanted to go away on holidays to get away from all the drama and here we are having a little comedy/drama sitcom right in our campsite in Golden, B.C. Brother!
Bernie had a well deserved nap and I organized things under the trailer - again! I waved a howdy do wave to the neighbours and said, "Well that was an adventure!" They told me that they were glad we solved the problem and that they were rooting for us the whole way! Woo Hoo.
I had taken chicken out of the freezer to barbecue for supper so I got that ready. We ate late but then we tend to do that when we are on holiday. who cares what time you eat? You eat when you get hungry, right?? When we camped with the kids we always ate regular meals since I wanted to make sure everything was kind of normal. I am not sure why I did that but it didn't seem to hurt them. They were more put out by the fact that they had to change their underwear every day, brush their teeth and wash - just like at home!
We had a normal evening, took the dogs for a walk after we ate and then packed up most things like the outside mat, the barbecue and the chairs.
What a day. My hip and leg hurt like the dickens and especially after crawling around underneath the trailer. Boy camping is fun!
Restful and interesting day
July 4 - Independence Day in the USA - to all my American friends I hope you had a great day of celebrating.
We were both so tired that I slept in til noon and I think it was more like 1:00 p.m. before Bernie crawled out of bed. I was up earlier to take Sarge outside to do his morning routine and then Duke had to go......dogs. I am a little whacked out on account of all the medications I am taking. Yesterday was just crazy. I was able to read a bit while we were travelling but then I just dropped off to sleep which is something I do not normally do.
We didn't do much, just sat outside and enjoyed the scenery. Bernie read, I checked my e-mails and responded to one - more on that later. I honestly cannot be without internet and my laptop, phone and IPad. I don't care if we are camping or at home or just visiting. I just need to stay connected and that is just the way it is! I keep track of my family and my friends and that makes me happy. No cable t.v. here but that's okay I can live without t.v.
We took the dogs for a walk to air them out a little bit and then we left them inside the nice air conditioned trailer while we went for a walk. I took a cane with me thinking that it would help a bit with relieving the pressure on my hip and leg, blah blah blah. We walked to the B.C. Tourist and Information Centre which was not too far from the campground. It was hot and I'm glad we took water, sunglasses and hats. Ah yes, the hats, now there's a story, so I will digress for a moment:
As we were getting ready to leave on Wednesday both of us had made trips downtown for various things so I wan't surprised to see a bag from Value Drug Mart sitting on the driver's seat. Well I was sort of surprised because before I went to the drug store I made a point of asking Bernie if he needed anything from the pharmacy. He said that he did and told me what he needed and I got it. So when I saw this bag I was a little puzzled that he would just go anyway. But I thought, that's just like a man to do that and never gave it another thought. I gave it a cursory glance and noticed two big bags of chips and a cap. I surmised that he didn't want to get his new cap dirty and stepped on by the dogs so he put it in the bag. I took the bag and put it behind the console on top of some stuff that I had already put in the truck. It had to be readjusted a few times while we were travelling because Duke is a big suck and as soon as we start to roll he has to crawl over everything from his original spot on the back seat and lay on my lap with his chin resting on the console! I said a couple of times that those chips of his were going to get crushed and Bernie looked at me with a blank look; but then again he tends to do that! We stopped to eat a lunch at a rest stop at the Morin Bridge and I thought he would like some of the chips but he said no and on we went. I think we were near Canmore when he needed a snack and asked me what kind of chips were in that bag. I looked at him and said , "Why are you asking me?" and when he got annoyed I just pulled them out and told him anyway. I said, "Don't you remember what you bought??" and he said "What are you talking about, I didn't buy them." Well, here I am highly medicated and not able to drive or at least it would be a big mistake to do so and I'm thinking that either he is having a low blood sugar episode or he is showing signs of early onset dementia. Then he starts giving me the gears about buying Buffalo Wing chips because they may be too hot and he only likes to eat them with a nice cold beer. The other bag was Dill Pickle so I opened that one up too and he calms down and starts to eat them. Then he spies the hat in the bottom of the bag and says, "Look in there, what's that??" I looked and said, "I think you put it in there but it looks like the one you are wearing already." Then he starts telling me again that he doesn't have a clue what I'm talking about. So I said, "Didn't you buy this stuff?" and he says, "No. I thought you did." My answer was that I did not buy anymore chips since I already put chips in the trailer and we had enough as it was. When I pulled out the "hat" it turned out to be two Rider caps. So we are bantering back and forth and at times it got a little heated but when I saw the two caps I put two and two together and realized who had done this. So my friend who always comes up with thoughtful gifts and seems to know just what to give, how to give it and what to say: the gig is up and you have been busted!! It sure caused a very interesting conversation at any rate. Bernie told me to text her and tell her that this caused some marital discord but we survived as usual. I have other friends (you know who you are) who would call this the "B&B Show" and we should take it on the road! I think we did!
We were both so tired that I slept in til noon and I think it was more like 1:00 p.m. before Bernie crawled out of bed. I was up earlier to take Sarge outside to do his morning routine and then Duke had to go......dogs. I am a little whacked out on account of all the medications I am taking. Yesterday was just crazy. I was able to read a bit while we were travelling but then I just dropped off to sleep which is something I do not normally do.
We didn't do much, just sat outside and enjoyed the scenery. Bernie read, I checked my e-mails and responded to one - more on that later. I honestly cannot be without internet and my laptop, phone and IPad. I don't care if we are camping or at home or just visiting. I just need to stay connected and that is just the way it is! I keep track of my family and my friends and that makes me happy. No cable t.v. here but that's okay I can live without t.v.
We took the dogs for a walk to air them out a little bit and then we left them inside the nice air conditioned trailer while we went for a walk. I took a cane with me thinking that it would help a bit with relieving the pressure on my hip and leg, blah blah blah. We walked to the B.C. Tourist and Information Centre which was not too far from the campground. It was hot and I'm glad we took water, sunglasses and hats. Ah yes, the hats, now there's a story, so I will digress for a moment:
As we were getting ready to leave on Wednesday both of us had made trips downtown for various things so I wan't surprised to see a bag from Value Drug Mart sitting on the driver's seat. Well I was sort of surprised because before I went to the drug store I made a point of asking Bernie if he needed anything from the pharmacy. He said that he did and told me what he needed and I got it. So when I saw this bag I was a little puzzled that he would just go anyway. But I thought, that's just like a man to do that and never gave it another thought. I gave it a cursory glance and noticed two big bags of chips and a cap. I surmised that he didn't want to get his new cap dirty and stepped on by the dogs so he put it in the bag. I took the bag and put it behind the console on top of some stuff that I had already put in the truck. It had to be readjusted a few times while we were travelling because Duke is a big suck and as soon as we start to roll he has to crawl over everything from his original spot on the back seat and lay on my lap with his chin resting on the console! I said a couple of times that those chips of his were going to get crushed and Bernie looked at me with a blank look; but then again he tends to do that! We stopped to eat a lunch at a rest stop at the Morin Bridge and I thought he would like some of the chips but he said no and on we went. I think we were near Canmore when he needed a snack and asked me what kind of chips were in that bag. I looked at him and said , "Why are you asking me?" and when he got annoyed I just pulled them out and told him anyway. I said, "Don't you remember what you bought??" and he said "What are you talking about, I didn't buy them." Well, here I am highly medicated and not able to drive or at least it would be a big mistake to do so and I'm thinking that either he is having a low blood sugar episode or he is showing signs of early onset dementia. Then he starts giving me the gears about buying Buffalo Wing chips because they may be too hot and he only likes to eat them with a nice cold beer. The other bag was Dill Pickle so I opened that one up too and he calms down and starts to eat them. Then he spies the hat in the bottom of the bag and says, "Look in there, what's that??" I looked and said, "I think you put it in there but it looks like the one you are wearing already." Then he starts telling me again that he doesn't have a clue what I'm talking about. So I said, "Didn't you buy this stuff?" and he says, "No. I thought you did." My answer was that I did not buy anymore chips since I already put chips in the trailer and we had enough as it was. When I pulled out the "hat" it turned out to be two Rider caps. So we are bantering back and forth and at times it got a little heated but when I saw the two caps I put two and two together and realized who had done this. So my friend who always comes up with thoughtful gifts and seems to know just what to give, how to give it and what to say: the gig is up and you have been busted!! It sure caused a very interesting conversation at any rate. Bernie told me to text her and tell her that this caused some marital discord but we survived as usual. I have other friends (you know who you are) who would call this the "B&B Show" and we should take it on the road! I think we did!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Yippee!! Holidays have begun!
Well finally our holidays have begun. I had to admit that I really needed to just get away and do a whole lot of nothing. Today is July 6 so I have some catching up to do. I can't get my laptop connected to the wireless internet here at the Park Royal RV Resort in Penticton so I have to use either a touch screen or a little teeny weeny keyboard that will probably crater after I am done with it. I like to really pound that keyboard; that is how we learned to type way back in the "olden days" when Mrs. Appenheimer was our typing teacher. Those were the days. Anyhow, I digress and that will certainly be another topic for my blog at a later date!
We left home on July 3rd, later in the afternoon than I would have liked but Bernie had some yard work left to do. He pulled the trailer around to the front of the house so it was easier to get the last minute things loaded up. I packed more junk food and beverages in every nook and cranny I could find. It's a good thing we don't have to pull into the weigh stations since we would probably be over the limit! The truck got cleaned inside and out earlier in the week so that made me happy. The trailer was behaving properly except that the stupid pump sounded like it was going to jump right out of the cupboard. I ignored it since we only need it when we are somewhere on the road and otherwise we would be hooked up to a water line. Last year we had problems with the drain hoses leaking all over creation but that problem seemed to solve itself. I had gently suggested to Bernie that he write things down that he did and how he fixed it so that if it occurred again he would know which valve to open, which one to close, what pipe fills what, etc. etc. etc. He didn't do it and then this year when we had some issues he says, "A person should just write this stuff down and label things and.......etc. etc." Okey dokey.
The house keys and security system details were handled by our trusty friend Lois and other details and phone numbers etc. were entrusted to a couple of other people. This was just in case, and usually nothing happens anyway. I neglected to inform Home Care that I would not be around so if any of you girls are reading this ..... now you know. I also want to thank those co workers of mine who not only traded shifts with me so that I could take vacation time now but also the same people who filled in for me when I could not work because of my back problems. I still have a fair amount of pain and my right leg and hip are pretty much useless. Walking is an issue.
We left for Golden, B.C. and the Whispering Spruce Campground around 3:30 p.m. Not bad, only three and a half hours after I thought we would leave. I cannot help with any of the driving. We did not make many stops. The UFA Cardlock in Hanna was a handy place to pull in for gas and we stopped for a lunch break and a walk with the dogs at the Morin Bridge, or at least I think that is what it is called. We bypassed Calgary and went through Airdrie and Cochrane. There is a huge gas station and truck stop by Cochrane where we also stopped for gas. We are learning where all the good places are so we don't have to turn the trailer around at a right angle to the truck!
The drive on #1 highway past Canmore and Banff took a long time but I have to say that the road crews did a great job of getting that highway open to all traffic in such a short time. We could see just from the highway what an awful mess the flooding made of everything. I am so grateful that we did not have to experience what those poor people are going through right now especially in High River. We certainly have advantages to living in the east country.
The dogs are good travellers and they do not make near as many demands as our kids used to make while we were on holidays years ago. "Are we there yet?" "Where are we?" "I have to pee." "I puked." Oh what memories we have.
We got to the campground at 10 p.m. I was exhausted so I can't even imagine how Bernie was feeling. Of course the office was closed at 9:00 p.m. so we just went and found a spot and pulled in for the night. It did not take long to set up because of the late hour and we were just plain tired. The ground was covered in pine tar.......at least that is what I am calling it. The spruce trees are beautiful but they tend to leave sticky stuff everywhere. The dogs desperately need a grooming and that didn't help the sticky situation. We got our chairs out and enjoyed a cool beverage and to heck with the sticky paws, sticky shoes, sticky everywhere. It was late to begin with and later before we finally said good night, sleep tight and see you in the morning!
We left home on July 3rd, later in the afternoon than I would have liked but Bernie had some yard work left to do. He pulled the trailer around to the front of the house so it was easier to get the last minute things loaded up. I packed more junk food and beverages in every nook and cranny I could find. It's a good thing we don't have to pull into the weigh stations since we would probably be over the limit! The truck got cleaned inside and out earlier in the week so that made me happy. The trailer was behaving properly except that the stupid pump sounded like it was going to jump right out of the cupboard. I ignored it since we only need it when we are somewhere on the road and otherwise we would be hooked up to a water line. Last year we had problems with the drain hoses leaking all over creation but that problem seemed to solve itself. I had gently suggested to Bernie that he write things down that he did and how he fixed it so that if it occurred again he would know which valve to open, which one to close, what pipe fills what, etc. etc. etc. He didn't do it and then this year when we had some issues he says, "A person should just write this stuff down and label things and.......etc. etc." Okey dokey.
The house keys and security system details were handled by our trusty friend Lois and other details and phone numbers etc. were entrusted to a couple of other people. This was just in case, and usually nothing happens anyway. I neglected to inform Home Care that I would not be around so if any of you girls are reading this ..... now you know. I also want to thank those co workers of mine who not only traded shifts with me so that I could take vacation time now but also the same people who filled in for me when I could not work because of my back problems. I still have a fair amount of pain and my right leg and hip are pretty much useless. Walking is an issue.
We left for Golden, B.C. and the Whispering Spruce Campground around 3:30 p.m. Not bad, only three and a half hours after I thought we would leave. I cannot help with any of the driving. We did not make many stops. The UFA Cardlock in Hanna was a handy place to pull in for gas and we stopped for a lunch break and a walk with the dogs at the Morin Bridge, or at least I think that is what it is called. We bypassed Calgary and went through Airdrie and Cochrane. There is a huge gas station and truck stop by Cochrane where we also stopped for gas. We are learning where all the good places are so we don't have to turn the trailer around at a right angle to the truck!
The drive on #1 highway past Canmore and Banff took a long time but I have to say that the road crews did a great job of getting that highway open to all traffic in such a short time. We could see just from the highway what an awful mess the flooding made of everything. I am so grateful that we did not have to experience what those poor people are going through right now especially in High River. We certainly have advantages to living in the east country.
The dogs are good travellers and they do not make near as many demands as our kids used to make while we were on holidays years ago. "Are we there yet?" "Where are we?" "I have to pee." "I puked." Oh what memories we have.
We got to the campground at 10 p.m. I was exhausted so I can't even imagine how Bernie was feeling. Of course the office was closed at 9:00 p.m. so we just went and found a spot and pulled in for the night. It did not take long to set up because of the late hour and we were just plain tired. The ground was covered in pine tar.......at least that is what I am calling it. The spruce trees are beautiful but they tend to leave sticky stuff everywhere. The dogs desperately need a grooming and that didn't help the sticky situation. We got our chairs out and enjoyed a cool beverage and to heck with the sticky paws, sticky shoes, sticky everywhere. It was late to begin with and later before we finally said good night, sleep tight and see you in the morning!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Happy Canada Day 2013
We just got back from the wonderful Party in the Park that is organized by the good folks who belong to the Museum Society. I hope I got that one right. In any event it is organized by a great group of volunteers who slave away to make our Heritage Park look absolutely fantastic. There are flags everywhere and my heart just swells with pride to be a Canadian!
This year I gave greetings from the town. I also did that job last year because our Mayor was unavailable to do so. I don't mind, in fact I kind of enjoy it even though it means writing a speech. Here, in its entirety is the speech I delivered this year, July 1, 2013:
First off a
few words about the terrible flooding and devastation in High River, Alberta. We can only imagine what this has done to
disrupt the lives of all those people who live there. In our community we have caring and
compassionate people who have gathered graduation clothing and accessories to
send to the High River Grade Twelve students who have lost everything. Now they will be able to celebrate their
graduation from high school in style and with the knowledge that we all
care. That is what makes me so proud to
say that I am a Canadian an Albertan and a proud citizen of Coronation.
As the
Deputy Mayor I am very pleased to bring greetings on behalf of the Town of
Coronation on Canada Day.
On July 1st,
1867 Canada was proclaimed a nation. We
have come a long way since 1867 but the basic tenants of freedom have resounded
loud and clear throughout our history. I believe we live in the best country in
the world. We have freedoms that some people
in other parts of the world can only dream about. We can express ourselves, we can vote for
whoever we wish to vote for, we can move about freely; all without fear of
persecution.
In
Coronation we are no different. We are a
safe and caring community and as a town council it is our duty to protect those
freedoms for whoever chooses to live here.
We are diverse, things change and sometimes we don’t always know who our
neighbors are. Celebrations such as
this give us an opportunity to come together and bond as a community. As a town council we have worked very hard to
provide the leadership and encouragement to individuals and groups who wish to
enhance and improve our community.
Our vision
for Coronation is that we are a thriving proud and diverse Community that
promotes positive sustainable growth, provides a safe and healthy environment
and enhances the quality of life for our residents. This was probably true 146 years ago when the
Fathers of Confederation gathered to hammer out the details and provide the
terms of reference for the formation of our nation. As a member of council I
feel it is our responsibility to focus our efforts on this vision that we have
created.
To fulfill
our promise to the people we cannot and should not tolerate nor accept the
actions and views of those whose only interests are selfish in nature and have
the potential to destroy the good will the spirit and the compassionate fabric
of our community. My advice to those who
have these characteristics is to try and do something that will improve their
way of life by looking inwards instead of trying to find fault with
others. You have, after all, chosen to
live here so it would be a good idea to try and make the best of it instead of
trying to define yourself by looking for ways to humiliate and criticize
others. That is not what we are all
about in this community nor is it what Canada stands for.
I share the
wishes and the vision of Town Council and hopefully these are the hopes and
dreams of all citizens of Coronation. We can all live together in harmony with
tolerance, acceptance and a willingness to embrace new ideas that will enhance
and improve our community and our way of life.
So let’s
have fun today. Let’s celebrate and be
proud of who we are and what we can become as a community.
I would be
remiss if I didn’t mention the people who give of their time to provide us with
this wonderful Party in the Park. Thank
you so much for your volunteer efforts, it is appreciated.
On behalf of
the Town of Coronation I would like to welcome you all here today. I would like to wish Canada a very happy
Birthday and let’s all enjoy the day!
So that's it for another year. I am not walking very well right now, have a pinched nerve that is causing my leg to go numb, my back to ache and it is very painful. I am also very impatient with the whole deal because we are getting ready to go on holidays. I think we are just about done. We have the trailer all packed up and I told Bernie that today he should just get it hooked up to the truck and park it out front like everybody else! LOL I think it can sit there for forty-eight hours before it becomes a problem! I wouldn't want to be in violation of some bylaw that I helped to create!
I will be writing a bit more in this blog when I have more time. I kind of suspect it will be while we are on holidays because I can't walk very far to do anything.
I like to share this stuff on Facebook so if you should happen to read it, just share it with all your friends as well - I don't mind.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Say a prayer for Sandy Hook
I am not familiar with guns, I have never held one and I don't really have the need for one if you know what I mean. When 20 children are gunned down, and 6 adults are killed and a mother dies in her bed, all at the hands of a single deranged individual it gives us more than a pause to reflect. I don't think it is one thing or another and everyone will play out their own feelings and opinions about what kills, what doesn't, what needs to be fixed, what needs to stay the same. Public debate will go on for a while and I do hope there are some changes. The guy was a nut job who got his hands on some very questionable weapons and chose to break into a school and pretend to be Rambo in the jungle. Then he chose to be even more of a coward by taking his own pathetic life. The moral and social fabric of a nation is in the spotlight at the moment. The funerals have begun, another town is in mourning and a nation, the whole world, is watching. My opinion on gun control? While I know they don't just jump off the shelves and go into auto-pilot, handguns and fancy schmansy automatic weapons were made to kill people, there is a huge gun lobby in the United States that is more powerful than most people know, violence is quite often a way of life - something needs to change. Now there is a race to get to the stores and purchase AR 15s, good lord. Get back to the basics, put more money into family programs, make it sustainable funding and in some cases make it mandatory. Why have the weapons in the first place? We feel a need to protect ourselves from other people and their unpredictable ways and I am sick and tired of it. Prevention is the key with everything. There are lots of diseases and other things that can kill children, we don't really need to throw guns and violence into the mix. Merry Christmas everyone and say a prayer for those little kids, for the teachers, for all the families who will be forever changed.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Last day before heading home
This is our last day before we have to head home. I don't want to go but alas, I have a job that beckons me. I don't get it, I should be retired....oh well, I am sure I will settle right in once we get home.
Bernie took part in the Valley First Granfondo on Sunday the 8th. We went into Penticton the day before so he could pick up his package and information. Everybody got a nice wine glass as well. It was burning hot and we left the dogs in the trailer at "Camp Along" with the air conditioner going full blast. They were fine and didn't really miss us.
Before we left the neighbours to the left wanted to get better acquainted so she brought us some cherries from their back yard. They were good and it was nice to have fresh fruit that we didn't have to pay a fortune for! She stayed, and stayed and stayed and visited and of course we had to meet their dogs and learn their life stories.......anyway......
Bernie got ready on Saturday evening for his bike ride. He was up at five a.m. and gone on his way since the ride started at 7 a.m. It was very hot and I was glad that I hadn't signed up to do this. After 50 km he was done. He had signed up for the 92 km but he said his legs were feeling it so he just called it a day. He got back to the campground by noon and we had a big brunch before he had a shower and a long nap.
Our cherry tree neighbours left around 11 a.m. amid a lot of bickering and insults.....good grief, I was glad for the peace and quiet! I sat around and watched others come and try to park their big trailers.....it was interesting. I was just glad that we would be leaving on Monday and hoping that we would be able to maneuver around everybody and the narrow roads.
We watched the Riders beat the Eskimos and had steak and hot dogs for supper. We were sitting around trying to keep cool when I discovered a tick in Sarge's ear. So out came the tweezers and after much wiggling on his part and with Bernie hanging on to him I managed to pull the tick out. Other than that we had no other misfortunes.
Monday morning we were up early since we had a long trip ahead of us. We were out of there by 10:30 and just barely squeaked by two trucks on the way out. So......if anybody is looking for an RV park to stay near Penticton I wouldn't recommend this one unless you want an adventure. The roads are very narrow and as a result it is a one way all around the park. There are no pull through sites and if you make a mistake there is nowhere to go since they are all very small. If you are tenting then this would be the place to go since the sites are very nice. There are fruit trees all over the place as well. They bake cinnamon buns and croissants every morning and take orders the night before. The store in the office does not have much so if you need groceries you would have to go to Penticton. Take quarters because the showers are coin operated: 25 cents for three minutes. There is a laundromat as well and a swimming pool. There is wi fi, cable t.v., water, sewer and power. It is a clean place, just not very big!
We headed south towards the crows nest highway. We sure enjoyed the drive since we had never been near so many orchards and wineries! I took some notes of different RV parks along the way and I think we may try Okanagan Falls next time. We drove and drove and drove all day long. The mountain passes were interesting. We stopped at Grand Forks for gas and then stopped at a rest stop a little while later for lunch. Well, it wasn't exactly a rest stop - it was a weigh station that was no longer in use. On and on we went and never stopped again until a rest stop near Cranbrook since we both had to go to the bathroom and the dogs needed out as well. We got gas at a truck stop in Cranbrook and then headed to Fort Steele to Fort Steele Resort and RV Park.
We arrived about 7:30 p.m. and it took about twenty minutes to set everything up. The temperatures were just blistering hot and ranged anywhere from 33 to 23 depending on where we were. This campground is wonderful. All the sites are pull through, water, sewer and power hook ups and wi fi. I cranked up the antennae and we can get two channels! There is a gas station, big store, showers, laundromat and a swimming pool. It is located down the road from Fort Steele Heritage Town.
I did no driving but I was still tired. That was a long day of driving for Bernie but he said he felt pretty good. The dogs were perfect. They slept all the way and just got excited when we got here.
Today we left the dogs to the coolness of the trailer and we drove into Cranbrook to WalMart for a few things. Bernie was also on the hunt for Red Man Tobacco which is his vice. He finally found some at a Shell Food Store. It is not as expensive as it is in Alberta.
We have a lovely view of the mountains from our door. It sure beats looking out and seeing the rear end of somebody's truck or the back end of the bathrooms! There are a lot of big units here and most of them pulled in today. They are mostly from Florida and Arizona so it is probably some kind of RVers "Jamboree".....or something.
Tomorrow we will head towards Fernie and Lethbridge and make our way home.
Bernie took part in the Valley First Granfondo on Sunday the 8th. We went into Penticton the day before so he could pick up his package and information. Everybody got a nice wine glass as well. It was burning hot and we left the dogs in the trailer at "Camp Along" with the air conditioner going full blast. They were fine and didn't really miss us.
Before we left the neighbours to the left wanted to get better acquainted so she brought us some cherries from their back yard. They were good and it was nice to have fresh fruit that we didn't have to pay a fortune for! She stayed, and stayed and stayed and visited and of course we had to meet their dogs and learn their life stories.......anyway......
Bernie got ready on Saturday evening for his bike ride. He was up at five a.m. and gone on his way since the ride started at 7 a.m. It was very hot and I was glad that I hadn't signed up to do this. After 50 km he was done. He had signed up for the 92 km but he said his legs were feeling it so he just called it a day. He got back to the campground by noon and we had a big brunch before he had a shower and a long nap.
Our cherry tree neighbours left around 11 a.m. amid a lot of bickering and insults.....good grief, I was glad for the peace and quiet! I sat around and watched others come and try to park their big trailers.....it was interesting. I was just glad that we would be leaving on Monday and hoping that we would be able to maneuver around everybody and the narrow roads.
We watched the Riders beat the Eskimos and had steak and hot dogs for supper. We were sitting around trying to keep cool when I discovered a tick in Sarge's ear. So out came the tweezers and after much wiggling on his part and with Bernie hanging on to him I managed to pull the tick out. Other than that we had no other misfortunes.
Monday morning we were up early since we had a long trip ahead of us. We were out of there by 10:30 and just barely squeaked by two trucks on the way out. So......if anybody is looking for an RV park to stay near Penticton I wouldn't recommend this one unless you want an adventure. The roads are very narrow and as a result it is a one way all around the park. There are no pull through sites and if you make a mistake there is nowhere to go since they are all very small. If you are tenting then this would be the place to go since the sites are very nice. There are fruit trees all over the place as well. They bake cinnamon buns and croissants every morning and take orders the night before. The store in the office does not have much so if you need groceries you would have to go to Penticton. Take quarters because the showers are coin operated: 25 cents for three minutes. There is a laundromat as well and a swimming pool. There is wi fi, cable t.v., water, sewer and power. It is a clean place, just not very big!
We headed south towards the crows nest highway. We sure enjoyed the drive since we had never been near so many orchards and wineries! I took some notes of different RV parks along the way and I think we may try Okanagan Falls next time. We drove and drove and drove all day long. The mountain passes were interesting. We stopped at Grand Forks for gas and then stopped at a rest stop a little while later for lunch. Well, it wasn't exactly a rest stop - it was a weigh station that was no longer in use. On and on we went and never stopped again until a rest stop near Cranbrook since we both had to go to the bathroom and the dogs needed out as well. We got gas at a truck stop in Cranbrook and then headed to Fort Steele to Fort Steele Resort and RV Park.
We arrived about 7:30 p.m. and it took about twenty minutes to set everything up. The temperatures were just blistering hot and ranged anywhere from 33 to 23 depending on where we were. This campground is wonderful. All the sites are pull through, water, sewer and power hook ups and wi fi. I cranked up the antennae and we can get two channels! There is a gas station, big store, showers, laundromat and a swimming pool. It is located down the road from Fort Steele Heritage Town.
I did no driving but I was still tired. That was a long day of driving for Bernie but he said he felt pretty good. The dogs were perfect. They slept all the way and just got excited when we got here.
Today we left the dogs to the coolness of the trailer and we drove into Cranbrook to WalMart for a few things. Bernie was also on the hunt for Red Man Tobacco which is his vice. He finally found some at a Shell Food Store. It is not as expensive as it is in Alberta.
We have a lovely view of the mountains from our door. It sure beats looking out and seeing the rear end of somebody's truck or the back end of the bathrooms! There are a lot of big units here and most of them pulled in today. They are mostly from Florida and Arizona so it is probably some kind of RVers "Jamboree".....or something.
Tomorrow we will head towards Fernie and Lethbridge and make our way home.
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