Catalina Spa -December 14 ,2009

Back at Cat Spa and catching up with everyone. Walks in the desert, biking, swimming, etc. It cann't get any better than this.

Slab City, California, December 6 - 10, 2009

We headed to Slab City and Salvation Mountain as suggested by Jeanette and another couple we met at Pilot Knob when we were there. We took in Salvation Mountain, man made by an elderly guy who moved there 20 or so years ago and has never left. We spent four days at this unique place as seen in the pictures before moving on to Salton Sea.

Salton Sea, December 10.2009

Out of the desert at Slab City and off to Salton Sea. We stayed at the Salton Sea State Park right on the sea. The visitor center gave us a good history of the sea and information about the sea life and minerals in the sea. We managed to wash the motorhome and car at the boat wash before moving on to Cathredal Palms in Cathredal City for a few days before Cat Spa on December 14. While at the Sea we went and checked out The Fountain of Youth RV Park, the Bashford RV Park and Sonny Bono Wilflife Refuge.

El Centro, California - December 3 - 6,2009

Off to El Centro and Rio Bend RV Park so Denis can get in some golfing. What is in El Centro you ask? well nothing! The park is nice but we are told that the manager doesn't like Canadians and the golf course isn't the greatest. Skip it the next time. We went to the Marine Base and were told that Canadians (retired service people) can use the RV park on the base if you get a pass to go on the base and you can only get it on week days. It could be very noisy as planes are coming and going all day, although they stop at night. We did manage to find Wally Mart, Costco , J. C. Penny's, Target, etc. so it wasn't a complete waste of time. Ha!

The Desert at Pilot Knob - Nov 30 - December 3, 2009

We decided to experience the thrill of the desert again for a few days. Surprise, we meet a couple from Wells, B.C. just up the road from Quesnel and found out he was the one who did my railings for the front steps of our house. Small world! We finished our Christmas shopping and got the parcels off to the kids while we were there. I did manage a few walks in the Desert so I can keep up with Linda and Shirley when we get to Cat Spa.

Church on the Hill & Yuma Territorial Prison

We have been looking at the Church on the Hill across from Pilot Knob RV Park all week, so today we went to have a look. When we got to what we thought was just a little church on the hill we found a whole interesting center with Central Store, Restaurant, Pyramid, monuments, and of course the church. We were told that it is the center of the earth and they had the original spiral stairs from the Eiffel Tower. The monuments were granite slabs with the history of the US, California, Arizona, humanity, and they have 5 acres to develop.
After the church we visited the old Yuma Territorial Prison and seen the history of how the prisoners lived and worked. The graves were just piles of stones like you see in the old westerns and the cells were just holes in the walls with six inmates in each cell and no frills.

Yuma, Az

Two days in the desert boondocking was great fun. We met some other B.C.er's and enjoyed some beautiful sunsets. We moved into Pilot Knob for the next week and waited for our friends Chuck and Shirley to arrive. It was great to see them again and we enjoyed a chicken supper on the ronco. Today was Mexico to see what we missed in the last seven months.

John F. Kennedy Park & Del Sol Casino

Today was J.F. Kennedy day. We visited the park and watched the fishermen enjoying their day at the lake as well as toured the picnic park.

We went for a hike in the desert with a guide froim the resort and had lunch before returning.

After a bit of Christmas shopping (yes, Christmas shopping) we decided to have supper at the Del Sol Casino. As it was we missed the 2 for 1 prime rib that they have on tuesdays and we will not be here for the seafood buffet on saturday. Along with that we also left some money for them.

Biosphere2,Oracle, Az

Today we went for a tour of the biosphere2 just outside of Tucson. This unique stucture was created to better understand how natural environments create habitable conditions for human sustainability. It is a unique facility that can be used to understand the role of life on Earth and the effects of climate change. Biosphere2 consists of five of Earth's biomes, plus a human habitant and a large ecological experiment facility. The University of Arizona manages Biosphere 2 since 2007.

Arizonas-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

The desert museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place. They have displays of living animals and plants native to the Sonoran Desert region. We went into the hummingbird Aviary, walk-in aviary(different birds of the area) ,cactus gardens, reptiles, earth sciences center, etc, etc. all while Chase was having a day at the groomers. We even managed to find a super Walmart and a casino that we plan on spending some time in tomorrow.

International Wildlife Museum, Tucson, AZ

What an interesting place. They have animals from all over the world starting with insects and butterflies to lions, giraffes, and even mammoth, of course they are all stuffed but very realistic. The museums motto is conservation, education and preservation. It was a very enjoyable day. On our way back we stopped at Old Tucson that was built for the movie Arizona and also used for other films after that.

St Clair Winery, Deming, NM

Today we decided to sample the wines of New Mexico. We went to St. Clair Winery here in Deming, New Mexico and tasted some very good wines and of course we had to have some for ourselves. The weather was great again and we planned our route for the next week. We decided to spent it in Tucson, Az at Diamond J's RV park. It is a few miles out of town but we want to have peace and quiet after the trains in Deming.

City of Rocks, Deming, NM

Woke again with a beautiful day. We went to the City of Rocks just outside Deming, New Mexico. It was amazing. There are campsites within the hugh shaped rocks and lots of hiking trails into the desert and mountains.
From the city we drove to Silver City to check it out. It is a fair size city but not much to see close to the city.

Las Cruces & While Sands

Another great day. We arrived in Las Cruces at Sunny Acres RV park. It is an adult park with lots of trees. We went to White Sands Missle Range and White Sands dunes. There were missiles from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. At the White Sands it is amazing how the sand looks just like piles of snow. They even plow it when the winds blows it across the roads. They have picnic tables throughout the park and it even makes you feel cool looking at it. We walked the dunes and took some pictures even though it was getting dusk. We went for the walk at sunset but it wasn't on today.

Elephant Butte & Truth & Consequences, NM

We are having a great time in Elephant Butte and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. We toured the Elephant Butte State Park and Truth & Consequences yesterday and had lunch at a pub/restaurant overlooking the lake. There were dozens of houseboats, motor boats, parasailers, fishermen, ATVs in the 33 mile long state park. You can easily see that this is a busy place in the summer as there are boat and rv storage everywhere. It is said that the towns doubles in the summer.
Today we visited Chloride, as old silver mining town. The silver is not so profitable now so they have discovered a white substance in the soil that is used in kitty litter. There are only 10 year around residents in Chloride and some rancher in the area.

Terry Bison Ranch & R.V. Park, Cheyanne, Wyoming

We found this great ranch just outside Cheyanne that has everything. There is a small town atmosphere with small children's fair, train trips around the farm, gift shop, pub, restaurant,bison, camels, horses, etc. Alot of the things are closed for the season but they have activities going all summer and it should be a fun time then. They sell bison meat at the store. It was abit expensive but well worth it.

Conestoga Campgrounds, White Sulphur Springs, Montana

We traveled to White Sulphur Springs, Montana for our first day across the border. It was a good campsite but right out in the open and windy. We woke to chilling temperatures and got under way.

Visit with granbson

I took two weeks off from Manning at the end of August to fly to Ottawa to visit with our daughter and son and family. Gramma put our grandson, Sam through training at gramma camp. We visited Gordon (from Thomas the train), spent time at all his favorite place. I had a great visit and I was able to help our youngest daughter get her condo ready to sell. She sold it to the second people that looks at it and that was good as she had already purchased a house.

Sam (4 yrs) helped gramma get around Ottawa whenever we got lost. He would say turn here gramma.

Tanya and I also drove to Barrie, Ontario to visit my mom for her 89 birthday. We had a good visit and found her in good spirits.

September - October, 2009

We spent time with Herb & Maureen, Denis's brother and family in Quesnel catching up with everyone. Thanksgiving was great, we eat thanksgiving dinner at friends and then another at our daughter and family in Williams Lake. We bought a different vehicle that we can tow behind the motorhome and Denis (and I) are happy to be rid of the dolly.
We spend time with Denis's cousin in Cranbrook and they are traveling down in January and we plan to meet up with them in Quartzite. From there we spent time in Castlegar with our other son (hockey player that stayed with us about 20 some ago. We hadn't seen him for two years and enjoyed his wife and 2 children. He gave us some Elk and Deer meat that we had to bring across the border. After that visit we traveled to Calgary to visit Denis' sister and brother. When we were leaving we discovered that we had some trouble with the motorhome so were delayed until Denis fixed it. We made it to Milk River, Alberta last night (halloween) and crossed the border (without any trouble)at Sweetgrass, Montana to arrive at White Sulphur Springs today. We encountered some snow passing through the Lewis and Clark National Forest but we were 7000 ft up so what would you expect this time of year.

Out of Manning Park - September 28,2009

Well we are finished with Manning Park and heading for Camperland in Bridal Falls where we will spend a few days. There was snow on the mountains the morning we left so it was time to leave. We met up with Maureen Monkman who is visiting here step dad in Chilliwack. Linda and John joined Maureen and us for dinner. We plan on going to Williams Lake to see our daughter and family.

Princeton - August 4,2009

We decided to go to Princeton and on to Kerameous for the day to get some fruit to make salsa. We stopped in Princeton for breakfast and on to Hedley and visited the our mining town. The old town is small with lots of history. Then we went on to Kerameous to get the fruit. We spent some time at all the fruit stands there. On the way back we had lunch-dinner at an old pub which housed the mine's owner and family at one time. Don't know when we will get the salsa done as we all work tomorrow.

Manning Park activities

We have finally managed to do some activities here at Manning. We did some trail hikes and went canoeing on Lightening Lake with Jeanette and Dale. The weather has been either very hot or rainy with thunder storms. We had hail the other evening. This is the extremes here, so we just have to enjoy the changes that it brings. We had six lightening fires the other day and watched the helicopter doing the water dips in Lightening Lake. We now have a fire ban here in the park that doesn't make the campers too happy.

Manning Provincial Park - June 6 to ---

We are spending the summer at Manning Park about 40 minutes from Hope or Princton, B. C.

It is a working holiday with friends we met in California. We are very busy at the moment with all the vacationers in the four camping areas. Denis and I clean the sites after the campers leave as well as do the garbage and pit toilets. I do one night at the gate house and one day collecting to relieve the ladies and am in charge of the two group camps. Their is also painting and weed wacking, etc. to be done if anyone has time on their hands. I am hoping to get in shape during our time here but after work it is happy hour and appies so guess there isn't any hope of that. They have a pool and weight room at the resort that we can use and there are many, many trails to walk but with groceries and house work (yeh) the time goes fast. It is hard to believe we are nearly half way through the summer here.

Vicki and Pete were here for a couple of weeks and we seen them every day during working hours and they had us for a supper of buffalo burgers. It was great seeeing them again.

Jeanette and Dale are here working also and we enjoy their company along with a new couple we met Terry and Pam who live in their motorhome and travel south for the winter.

One camper said he was glad they are getting rid of the young people and hiring retirees. The people are from all over the world and very nice to talk too.

Fishing trip May 9 - 14, 2009

Denis, Herb and two others went on a fishing trip to Prince Rupert. The weather wasn't great and the salmon wasn't running so they called it quits and came back. They did manage to get some ling cod and lots of crabs. Actually they got a few more than the fishery officer thought they should so it became an expensive trip. It looks like the weather is going to improve so we will go to Williams Lake next week to put in our daughter's garden and green house after Denis finishes his air brake course. Lets hope this course is a go as it has been cancelled twice already because of lack of numbers.

Last week was a little stressful as my brother was taken to the hospital and came very close to not making it out. He is doing better now after checking himself out of the hospital. He is a little

stubborn. Suppose it runs in the family?

Williams Lake May 5,2009

Williams Lake, the stampede capital of the Cariboo.

The granddaughters called again. We went to Willie's puddle to watch them play soccer. Forgot to get any soccer pictures though. We thought we could get some things from the trailer but it was too much of a hazzle moving boxes. We had to go buy some things for Denis to take on his fishing trip to Prince Rupoert next week.

Lunch with friends - April 26 - May 2,2009

Weather this week has been great with it getting chilly at night. I had lunch with my old boss and my 94 year old friend. The motor home was so dirty so Denis got that washed and waxed this week. We had to make a trip to Prince George to get new glasses for Denis as his eyes had changed so much in the last 6 months. Denis volunteered at the Quesnel Home and Garden show for the Legion. They missed him so much last winter.

Ulysses' restaurant, April 24, 2009

Tonight we went to our favour restaurant for prime rib with Herb, Maureen, and our dog groomer and her husband. It was delicious as usual. Denis did some odd jobs around the motor home and I went for a bike ride to our old house. They have cut all the scrubs from the front of the house and cleared the woods in the back. I talked to our neighbour about spreading Taz's ashes, but now I have decided to keep them for awhile. I don't think I am ready to part with him yet.

Happy Birthday George, April 23, 2009

We celebrated Denis' brother's birthday tonight with nine people in the motorhome. Reminded me of the house warming in Desert Hot Springs. The old Ronco was performing again. Everyone enjoyed the chicken and cake.

Hail today, April 22, 2009

We were blessed with snow flakes and hail today with as touch of sun. Doesn't get any better than that now does it. Just a taste of what we missed. We visited with Herb and Maureen last night and I guess our company wasn't too stimulating as Herb and Peanuts fell asleep while watching the hockey game.