Today is Wednesday February 10, 2010 and we have been home in Coronation for two days.  We arrived safe and sound, in the snow and cold, about 3:00 p.m. on Monday the 8th.  While it is nice to be home I miss being away......if that makes any sense.

We left Campland at 8:00 a.m. on Friday February 5/10.  We got all organized and on the way out we stopped to blow the water out of the lines and drain everything since we were headed to the snow and ice again.  We got gas the day before so we were good to go.

We stopped in Barstow for lunch and gas.  I just ran into a Starbucks and got a couple of sandwiches and coffee for me, cold drink for Bernie.  We got gas at a station right in Barstow and had lots of fun getting back onto I-15.  Next time we would stop at Exit 191, get gas at a nice BIG gas station and have lunch at Peggy Sue's Diner.  Ahhhhh, live and learn.

We got to Vegas around 2:00 p.m. and just drove right on through.  It seemed to take forever, but it was about half an hour.  We stopped for gas again at the Las Vegas Speedway.  Gas was getting a bit cheaper now that we were out of California.

We arrived at Desert Skies RV Resort about 4:00 p.m.  I had called the day before to reserve a spot for one night.  It is on the eastern outskirts of Mesquite, Nevada and actually in Arizona, right on the border.  We took a wrong turn before we got there and as we were turning on what we hoped was the right road (of course it was Betty's fault) two people and a dog called out to us and asked if we were heading to Desert Skies.  They told us where it was, just down the hill.

When we got there they were right behind us and as I was filling out the registration form and putting money in the envelope the gentleman greeted me and welcomed us to Desert Skies.  He then invited us to a potluck at 5:00 p.m. in the "Palm Room"!!  We drove to our site and the neighbours on either side introduced themselves and we shot the breeze for a while before settling in.  We took Duke for a walk and also found the washrooms and while we were there the people going to the potluck also invited us to come.  I declined gracefully.  We just got there, had the dog with us, didn't bring any food - the usual excuses.  If we were planning on staying for a while we would probably have gone and it would have been fun!

It rained like crazy during the night, unusual for this part of the world.  Our neighbour from Wyoming said it was 75 degrees the day before.  Now that's more like it!

On Saturday morning we were up at 6:00 a.m.  I made the coffee and went for a shower.  We had a quick breakfast, took the dog for a pee (he is not impressed with getting up so early), cleaned up and put things away.  We dumped our black and grey tanks for the last time (heading to freezing temperatures now), stopped at the bathrooms and left the resort at 7:55 a.m.  Well....we were in Arizona now so it is Mountain time, same as at home, making it 8:55 a.m.  Cripes we were behind before we even got started!

We stopped in Cedar City, Utah for gas at a Shell station at a quarter to eleven.  I wanted to get a loaf of bread at the food store but they didn't sell bread.  Weatherwise it was all right.  It rained before we got to Cedar City and there was lots of snow in the mountains. 

Our next stop was Fillmore to eat.  We just parked in a rest/truck stop (right where a cattle truck had parked - nice).  I made some sandwiches and then went to both "food stores" for bread.  I came away empty handed.  Why do "food stores" not sell bread??  I got milk.

We stopped at a Flying J at Springville for more gas and checked out their food store.  Guess what??  No bread there either.

We finally arrived at Salt Lake and then drove on to Brigham City, KOA which in my opinion was the biggest dump I have ever seen.  It was 5:00 p.m., the office which closed at 6:00 was already closed, the bathrooms looked like they were insect infested at some point in the summer.  There was ice and snow and it had melted a bit.  We found a good spot that was easy to get into.  There were not many people there and it was friggin' cold.  A campground guy came and knocked on our door about 7:00 p.m. looking for money.  We paid but I didn't want to!!  They were supposed to have WiFi but I couldn't get a signal.  There was cable t.v. so we watched a bit and went to bed.

I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with a gut ache from hell.  I quickly stumbled into some shoes and found my jacket and tried to run to the washrooms which was tricky with the ice.  I thought I needed to throw up or something but in the end I didn't.  I wish I had because I felt lousy.  I went back to bed but I did not sleep and I just curled up into a tight ball and lay still thinking that whatever it was that was causing my stomach such distress would just go away.

We left Brigham City at 7:15 a.m. in the fog.  I was getting grumpier and grumpier because I sure didn't feel that good.  Duke was a bit confused at all the early mornings but he just played along.  Bernie drove in silence mostly because when Bonnie gets upset Bonnie is a bear. 

We got to Pocatello, Idaho at 9:30 a.m. and stopped for gas and then at a Jack In The Box for breakfast.  By this time I was hungry and Bernie was craving bacon and eggs.  The last time we ate at a Jack In The Box was in 1987 in Annaheim when we took the boys to Disneyland.  We had burgers and fries, the usual, and about ten minutes later on the drive back to the hotel Brett threw up in the car (in a Disneyland bag!).  Oh brother.  I told that story while we were eating.  It was actually a good memory!

As we drove into the higher elevations it got colder and there was a lot of snow.  We got to the Montana border at 11:50 a.m..  The next gas stop was Dillon at 1:15.  My stomach was not right, again.  I wanted a gingerale but I had to settle for a Coke Zero.  Guess what?  They sold bread in that store.  Now that we were almost home we get the bread.  I would rather have had a Canada Dry!  Oh well.

In Dillon we saw a motorhome from Alberta pulling into a motel and I could have settled for that as well.  Bernie just looked straight ahead and that was my answer! 

Bernie wanted to get gas before we got to Great Falls so he pulled into a Conoco in Helena only to discover that they were closed.  We stopped at a road side rest stop so he could use the "bathroom", and I use that term loosely, and we got to Great Falls in the dark around 6:00 p.m.  Tons of snow, lots of icy streets, Bonnie feels like crap, it is cold and we have to go to an R.V. Park.  There will be changes next time.  Anyhow Bernie watched the second half of the Super Bowl game and I just went to bed.  Duke liked the snow.  To the only people we know in Great Falls - next year we will stay at a motel with a parking lot that can accomodate recreational vehicles and we will have that visit that I promised!! 

On Monday we were up at 5:30 a.m. and trudged through the snow drifts to the bathrooms.  We were out of there by 6:30 and at the Flying J for gas and then on our way.  It was foggy and we also ran into some snow.  The highway is really the greatest thing at this point since it is divided all the way and for the most part in excellent condition. 

We got to the border at 9:00 a.m., stopped for gas and got some smokes for my friend Lois and some beer for us at the Duty Free Shop.  By 9:30 we were on our way.  When we bought the stuff at the Duty Free they asked for our license number and Bernie says, "Charlie Two Charlie Two Zero Zero Two".  After we got in the truck he said he was just dying for somebody to ask because he knew that was how he would respond.  He did the same thing at the border crossing except he forgot the second two so I had to clue him in!!  ha ha  We have fun anyway. 

It snowed pretty much all the way to the border and it was foggy.  When we crossed the border into Canada the fog cleared and the sun shone.  I guess we brought it with us.

We arrived in Taber at 10:30 and had breakfast at the Heritage Inn.  Cactus Corner was our next stop for gas and a bathroom break and we got home at 3:00 p.m. before the sun set on another day.

Welcome home.  The house was the same as we left it.  It took me an hour to get all the stuff from the trailer inside but I did it all because Bernie did all the driving and he looked beat. 

It was a good break from the cold and the snow and we would like to make it an annual affair.

I was sad all day today.  We are starting our homeward journey tomorrow.  I don't want to go....wahhhhh!  I moped around all day.  We went for gas and took the dog for two long walks.  Bernie did a few things outside to get the trailer ready and I cleaned some cupboards and put the barbecue away.  In between times I checked e-mails, etc.  I have caused quite a stir at home with a letter to the editor that I wrote.  I won't get into it. If you want to know more just ask.

We will go as far as Mesquite, NV tomorrow and from there we'll decide how far to go the next day. 

We really enjoyed our stay in southern California and for sure we want to come back every winter.  We like Campland on the Bay and we have checked out some different campsites on the other side of the campground from where we are located in the hopes of reserving one of them for next year.  We just need to decide which months would be the best to go.  Ideally November-March would be nice but I don't know if we can manage it. 

The hardest part for us is to go home now to the cold and snow.  We have to re-winterize the trailer which is so depressing!  We are just going to blow the air out of the lines tomorrow morning before we leave and put anti-freeze in the traps.  We have a small heater which we use instead of cranking up the furnace and using up all the propane but we can use it if we have to.   I am just not looking forward to preparing for the cold.

We liked it in San Diego since there were so many things to see and do and if we just wanted to hang out at the campground all day that was all right too.  We found a Vons store close by on Garnet Avenue and a CVS Pharmacy in the same area.  Vons is like a Safeway and we could even use our Safeway card there for a discount! 

Gas prices are crazy here.  They range anywhere from $2.85 a gallon to $3.19.  At most gas stations here if you pay with a credit card you have to pay ten cents more a gallon.  Today it cost us $56.00 for 3/4 of a tank.  It is still cheaper than at home.  The sales tax is 8.75% and that is very high in my opinion.

We purchased a telephoto lens for the camera at a Target Store in Chula Vista and a new laptop at a Staples here in San Diego.  We found a nice little camera store in Chula Vista where we were able to purchase two little items that we really really needed and that we were not able to find until then:  lens cap holder/savers/thingamadoies.  Ha ha.  That's what I call them.  They are little things that stick on the middle of the lens cap and have an elastic that fits around the lens.  Then the lens cap can just dangle there while you take pictures.  We thought we got a pretty good deal on the lap top - HP Notebook with a 17.3" screen.  Even with the exchange rate on the US dollar I think we did pretty good.  Bernie installed Windows 7 on it and we will figure everything else out when we get home.  It is larger than most because it has a numeric keypad.  I don't really use it anyway but maybe I will.  I am old school - I was taught to "type" and the numbers are at the top of the keyboard.

It was a wonderful time and I am sorry that it is over.  Alas, I have to work on February 12th so we must go home.  Then of course I have meetings to go to and curling games.  We also bowl and it will be fun to get back into that again.

Today we took Duke to Dog Beach.  We thought he should get something out of this extended "holiday".  Who knows what the hell he's thinking.  I mean, do dogs really think?

Anyhow, it is a short drive from our campground to Ocean Beach and that is where Dog Beach is located.  It is a beach area where dogs can be off leash if you so desire.  We don't usually let him off leash except in our yard because he is a Shih Tzu and I emphasize the Shih.

We had a great time, Duke was not sure if he liked it.  In fact he drooled copious amounts of mucous the entire time we were there so I would wager a bet that the entire experience caused him extreme anxiety. 

He is not a dog who takes well to new experiences.  When we take him to dog parks in the campgrounds he stays tangled up in our legs and if he could he would jump into our arms.  He then proceeds to drool on everything and sometimes he throws up when we get back to our campsite.  In fact that is what he did today.

I give up.  I don't think it is necessary to take this animal anywhere except to the obvious places where he likes to relieve himself and then trot briskly back to familiar territory.  He is afraid of everything and I think I like it that way.

We went to Balboa Park today. It was the site of the Panama California Exposition of 1915-16 and the California pacific International Exposition in 1935-36. It is billed as the cultural centre of San Diego since it has museums, theatres and galleries. It is fun just walking around and looking at the buildings constructed in Spanish Colonial architecture. The San Diego Zoo is also in Balboa Park.

We have a pass that will last for seven consecutive days and today was day one. We went to the Model Railroad Museum and the Museum of Man. Of course Bernie is interested in trains so we had to go to that one first. It was interesting. The Museum of Man was good too, in fact I really enjoyed the mummies and shrunken heads. Now that is fascinating. We will go back and see the rest in the next six days.

Yesterday we took a drive to Mount Soledad where there is a memorial to war veterans. The view was fantastic - mountains to the east, ocean to the west, and everything else in between.
The picture at the top of this entry is the memorial.

The sun is shining this morning. We had four days of rainy, windy, stormy weather so I think that's enough now. The campground maintenance people are out and about sweeping and raking up all the leaves and debris laying around. It is still pretty soggy but at least it is not raining, at the moment.

We drove up to LaJolla on Wednesday before the rain came. We watched the surf, it was incredible. The waves were 25-30 feet high is what we were told. I was mesmerized and I took about a hundred pictures! The sound was thunderous and it sure makes you respect nature for what it is.

It is Friday already. We finally have some sunshine. I am about to reveal one of my latest weaknesses, so brace yourself. .......... I play Mario Kart every day! LOL I think I am hooked.

When our boys were growing up they had all the video game systems known to man and a host of computer games. I think it went like this: Atari, Turbo Grafix, Nintendo, and then blah blah blah, I lost track. It was a Play Station or something like that. The boys left home and then I really lost track. All I know is that I played the game "Gorf" on the Vic 20 and I had to wait until the kids were either sleeping or out of the house. After that I was pretty much out of it. I was busy cooking, and cleaning and baking and making lunches, doing laundry, chauffeuring, working and trying to be a wife and mother. I totally missed the eighties on account of all of the above.

We played Wii games at the local library over a year ago and one day Bernie went shopping in Stettler and came home with the game system. We golfed, bowled, played tennis and baseball. I got the Wii Fit and managed to exercise, step dance, hoola hoop and box my way to losing 27 pounds. Oh my god, I still don't believe that one. (I did the Weight Watchers thing as well and I think not eating as much had a lot to do with it.) In any event I "Wiied" every day.

When we got Mario Kart my routine changed forever. Instead of sitting on the computer checking my Facebook status, uploading photos to my albums and playing Scramble I was now trying to win crazy races driving a race car or motorbike. Nuts!! We have a nice big t.v. so the two of us would race against each other on a split screen. Talk about crazy. If my son could see me now. He is still totally stupid when it comes to video games, he never grew out of it.

One day coming home from Stettler I was driving around a curve and I had this image of me drifting (something you do in Mario Kart). I couldn't believe I did that so I tapered off a bit. I can see now why kids get their brains tuned in to these games and they can't tune out. I totally understand.

That is my confession for the day. We have a smaller t.v. in the trailer but we took our Wii with us and I Mario Kart every day...

We are in day four of the Western Wallop. That is what the Weather Network has been calling this very nasty weather system that has struck Southern California. Apparently it is caused by El Nino.........the warmer than average water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, way west of here, are causing low pressure areas that are driven by an extremely fast jet stream. This extreme weather is bringing high winds and torrential rains. As you can tell I have been listening to the weather man!!

On Monday the rains started and we had some terrific winds. We are sheltered in our campsite by the monolithic motorhomes and fifth wheels. Our little unit is in no danger! We sat here and watched the storm roll in and just as the winds picked up we decided we had better roll the canopy in to safety. There was a lot of commotion at the neighbour's site since he wasn't there and some other people decided they should take matters in their own hands and take his canopy down and put things away. He arrived just as they were starting their mission so then he just took over.

Speaking of the neighbour......he is a very interesting guy who likes to talk loud enough so that everyone can hear his conversations whether we want to or not. It has provided us with lots of entertainment so I am not really complaining. The day that we got here, two weeks ago today, he introduced himself and apologized profusely due to the fact that his daughter's car was parked partially in our site. Then for the rest of the weekend he was preoccupied with the girlfriend who came to visit along with her dog.

After the weekend we listened to his phone conversations with the girlfriend. Apparently she puts the dog before him and he just can't go on like that anymore. It took three days but he finally broke up with her - on the phone!! Well, that is our take on it because we just heard one side of the conversation. It was better than t.v.