The Smart Way to Go

Florida

2011-10-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

We finally did get finished in Red Bay and headed south to our site at Deer Creek in Davenport FL. Great to arrive Sunday and start setting up our new home for the next 7 mos. John's been busy spraying red ants and has those pests under control. Went to Downtown Disney Wed nite for dessert, wander around and to Skype the kids. It was dark when we got home but did see two racoons scampering out of our way when we arrived. John and Chiko have spotted a possom a couple of times while out for their walk at nite. I (Sheila) went to a seminar at the club house on Medicare and am now more confused than before. So will use a rainy day to see if I can figure that out. Will make a list of questions and then find a Medicare office to get them answered. John has John W's golf cart up and running and is having fun with it. Took Chiko to his first of six obedience classes and John and I did really well. Went to a murder mystery dinner in Frostproof Fri.nite and that was fun. Lots of live theatre near here so look forward to enjoying many performances over the winter.

Red Bay Alabama

2011-10-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

When we got to Red Bay, without an appointment, we were advised we could be

here until into November. This was pretty discouraging as this is the 3rd time we need to have the rotting floor replaced on the driver's front slide. John talked to them and they worked some things around so we were able to get in Friday. The service techs will finish up Mon or Tues. Such a relief as we have doctor appointments Nov 3rd in Florida to check a couple of spots for skin cancer. While here we have met some more friends for life. I had heard at the rally that my gungy microwave could be cleaned with Bartenders Friend. Peggy told me not to buy it as she had and it didn't work. She gave me hers, I boiled a lemon in it and then used the Bartenders Friend. Could not believe the results. It looked band new! So Peggy tried the same process, using the lemon, and her microwave looks great too. We are passing around the BF, scouring pad and the lemon for others to clean their microwaves. Awesome. I had two couples over for dinner Wed as trying to learn to use the foreign buttons on my microwave. Made the Mexican Potatoes and Pineapple Pork Roast according to the Sharp Convecton Microwave instructions. I was so proud of the dinner. Everyone was impressed. I'll keep trying receipes using CompuRoast, High Mix, Sensor Cook etc. VERY pleased with how this microwave cooks. Can't believe I've had one for 10 years and just starting to learn. Peggy had invited all the Canadians over for the Canadian Thanksgiving dinner and served turkey, stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes etc. Awesome dinner. Life is good.

Alabama

2011-10-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

We left the rally on Friday morning and drove 495N to 90W to 84S to bypass the New York traffic and we were able to make it to a Walmart in Chambersburg,PA. Worked out great as was tucked back in from traffic and quiet. We were up early then next morning and made it to a Walmart in Kimball, Tenn., just outside the Alabama State line. This Walmart is used by a lot of transports who leave the truck running all night and tend to be really noisy. Won't do that one again. It was an easy drive into Red Bay to have Tiffin work on our coach. We had set the month of Oct aside to get some major warranty repairs done. Took Chiko to vet Tues to be neutered and have his dew claws removed. He's doing just fine with his little bright green bandages on. We take him back Monday to have the stitches for the dew claws taken out. No stitches for the neutering. Pleased with the job the vet did. Went to Mr.J's for pizza last night with neighbors and food was excellent. Going to Rattlesnake Saloon tonight.

New England

2011-10-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

Monday, Sept. 26 we left and drove I-95 north to the rally. We weren't there 10 minutes when we got a knock on the door. Free generator oil and filter change compliments of Bob Tiffin. We were given a sheet when we registered and asked to write down 3 items we would like the Tiffin Service Techs to look at and possibly repair for us. The list was put under the windshield wiper and the reps looked after everything. What they couldn't fix, we will get done at Red Bay next week. Tues we attended seminars and picked up some great tips. The Cumins rep advised us that 2,000 rpms is the sweet spot for the Cumins 360 that we have in our rv. When climbing, downshift and keep the tak as close to 2,000 as possible. Will make climbing hills much easier. Letting the coach lug up a hill is hard on the engine. John has been doing this and notices a big difference. Michelin put on a tire presentation and then visited each coach to tell the owners about their wear patterns and how to make corrections, if needed. Lucky for us our tires are wearing perfectly. Air pressure and alignment are right on. I (Sheila) had made a committment about a month ago to start learning about and using all the bells and whistles on my convection microwave. It was great to learn more about it at this seminar. The dog park at Normandy Farms is the biggest, nicest and most amazing one we have ever seen.

On Wed. we took a cruise to view 10 Lighthouses and take a complete tour of Newport Harbor. Cool but sunny and just beautiful. We ate lunch at the Quonset Officer's Club at the U.S.Naval Complex and it was (actually a dinner) one of the best John and I have enjoyed. On the way to the cruise, our bus (one of 4) toured Providence RI when we learned the effects that the Gaspee Affair, the Great Depression, the Civil War and the New England Hurricane of 1938 had on this capital city. Thursday was "Sports Day' and, although it rained a lot of the day, we had great fun socializing. And lastly but most important, we met some new friends for life.

New England States

2011-09-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

We headed east on Hwy 2 to take the scenic route thru upper New York State. It was pretty but before the end of the day we had switched to I-90 east. It was much faster and the toll cost was minimal. We called Normandy Farms in Foxboro, Mass. to see if we could get in early and do our sightseeing from there. Turns out they had a 25 % off for Mass. campers so were full. We called a member of the Nutmeg Allegro Club (Connecticut) and Jennie recommended Aces High RV Park in Easy Lyme (Flanders/New London area). It turned out to be an excellent referral. We are getting rain off and on but have managed to enjoy the Mystic Seaport area and Jamestown RI area along with the Foxboro Casino. The park is not big but clean with nice sites and walking trails along the water. We even have a Five Guys just down the street. Took Chiko to the vet in Groton Tues as he has been licking and scratching his one leg where we believe he was stung by a wasp the first of Aug. Turns out the vet, her assistant and the second vet at the clinic are Canadian. The Dr. believes Chiko was stung by something and, because he has been at it, he has a bacterial infection on the leg. So he is on antibiotics for 12 days to clear it up. We are so relieved it is not allergies. We had been giving him a half dose of children's Benedryl but she said to increase it to the full dose of 12.5 mg per day. The half dose had been the Canadian Benedryl which is only 6.5 mg strength. So we really increased it but she says it won't hurt him and will stop the urge to scratch more quickly. Will be happy to see him healthy again and will pay closer attention to where we walk him. Other than that, he is doing great. Turning out to be an excellent breed as a housepet. Still not barking and still no interest in people food.

Back in the U.S.of A.!

2011-09-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

After leaving Ontario, Canada, we travelled southeast thru Fort Erie to Holley NY to visit Skip and Lana. They recommended we stay at the Hickery Ridge Golf and RV Park just down the road and it turned out to be an excellent choice. They very graciously took us sightseeing in the area and we were pleasantly surprised at how scenic it is. Easy to see why they love living where they do. They took us to the Dinosaur BBQ where we had the best ribs ever! Apparently Airforce 1 gets their bbq here when in the area. Awesome food. Skip and John golfed at Hickery Ridge Wed. for $18/18 holes incl cart. Both liked the course. Thurs. Skip took John out on the Erie Canal boating with friends. We didn't realize the canal came this far inland and it is beautiful. It was cold out but John enjoyed himself. Lana and I shopped both days. Good friends and we enjoyed the visit. We hated to leave but it was time to move on. We are booked into the Allegro Rally on Sept 26th so will spend time touring New England States before we get there.

Summer with the Kids

2011-09-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

We stayed long enough to see our last grandchild go to school for her first day. Sarah, who turned 4 on Aug 31st, said it was a good day at Jr. Kindergarten as she didn't get sent to the office of principal at all. We had taken all 6 granchildren on our traditional 'back to school' shopping trip. We were really successful in buying outfits that they all liked and were happy to wear to class. It's another fun event for John, myself and each of the childen. They enjoy trying on clothes and then presenting a fashion show for ours and their parents enjoyment.
We then took Michelle, Tim, Bob and Dione to the Elm Hurst Inn in Ingersoll for a goodbye dinner Sunday evening. Food and ambiance were excellent.
Then early monday morning on Sept 12th, we were packed up and on the road again, heading south. First stop. Holley, NY.

Summer with the Kids

2011-09-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

We had planned on spending our 'in between time' camping at Spring Lake RV Resort in Mount Elgin as we have done previous years. We really enjoy this park, it has the lake and splash pad for the kids, lots of kids activities and good friends we have made after camping there for the past 5 years while visiting Canada in the summer. When we first arrived there in July, we realized that the electrical power was going to be another struggle for us. We knew we could run our generator to run the air conditioner on hot days but this was not something we like to do. So we gave up on Spring Lake and moved to Willow Lake Park on the north edge of Woodstock. It turned out to be a good move. We were able to get a 75 ft pull thru with full service including 50 amp power. It's a smaller park but very friendly, clean and with a nice pool and hot tub. So this became our home base and will be again next summer. It is close to Woodstock for shopping, half way between both Michelle and Dione and close to Stratford. I was able to enjoy a Shakespeare play, Twelth Night. We tried to buy tickets to 'Jesus Christ Super Star' but it was sold out the entire time we were in Ontario. Early in Sept. we were awakened at 4 am to pounding on the door. It was the man next door and he wanted to warn us to get up and out of the way as his motorhome was on fire. We threw dog, clothes, purse, passports and laptop in the car and drove a distance from the rv. The fire dept was there quickly and did an awesome job containing the fire but were unable to save the coach. The man had purchaed it new last year and this was his first time using it. His dog woke him up to fire and smoke in the front area of the coach. The smoke detector did not wake him so not sure it went off. He was able to drop the dog and then himself out the bedroom exit window. We haven't heard the results of the investigation but wonder if he knew to check the furnace for a nest made by wasps or mice before starting it up for the first time. Good reminder to all of us to check our smoke detectors, furnaces and exit windows. It was a pretty scary situation for everyone watching.

Summer with the Kids

2011-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

While we enjoyed our time at Sauble, the rest of the family enjoys a 'Smart Family Reunion' at Sprey Lake nearby. The resort is owned by good friends who generously let us use the cabins, grounds for tenting and all the many amenities that any kid could ask for. It is a great week for our family to creating many awesome memories with parents, grandparents and children. In this picture some of our family have successfuly (after an hour of trying) set up a large dining tent that Bob purchased on sale for $25. The kids swim, boat, fish, play games and enjoy a campfire at night along with much more.

Summer with the Kids

2011-08-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Each year we begin the month of August spending two weeks with our friends, Bill and Gail. Bill and John hung out through high school and Bill was best man at our wedding. We have been friends for a long time and look forward to camping together at Woodland RV Park, Sauble Beach, Ontario. Top rated park and the sandy beach is one of the nicest in Ontario. This year we spent more time with Bill and Angie from Chatham. We spent the rain days playing Jokers and Marbles, a game that Bill and Angie taught us. Bill gave us the 10 boards that he had made of wood. This was so generous of them and John and I look forward to enjoying games with new friends in Florida this winter. Great time, lot of laughs and good memories. The 6 of us are booked in again for Aug 1st 2012 and we're looking forward to our 'adult time' being silly kids.

Summer with the Kids

2011-07-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

Our road trip with the kids this summer included all 6 of them. It was wonderful to have Jack well enough to join us. We went to Cedar Beach CG in Stouville, Ontario for the week. It was a perfect park for us as it had a sandy beach on Lake Musselman, two pools and a splash pad. We took the kids to the Ontario Science Center in Toronto on Monday and Thursday. Ty was a little bored the second day but was a trooper enjoying the younger kids having fun. Tuesday we went to Canada's Wonderland for the day. Both attractions were only 30 min from where we were camping. The kids loved Wonderland. It rained late in the day so we left to go to the car to eat snacks and what was left of our lunch. As the rain subsided and the sun came out, the kids voted to return to the park. We ended up being there from 10 am to 11 pm with lots to do for all ages. Sarah (age 3) and I shut down the SpongeBob 3D ride as poor Sarah had to go to the bathroom. Security met us at the exit, took our glasses and marched us out. It was so funny. When Tate and Abby came out of the ride, they said that there was an announcement that, if anyone else got up and stopped the movie part of the ride, they would shut it down and not restart it for the children who where in the theatre. We did not expect that at a children's fun park. We celebrated Ty's 12th birthday that day and the day after. His wish was to have strawberry cheesecake which we all enjoyed. By the time we took them home, we were all happily exhausted.

Summer with the Kids

2011-07-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with the kids this summer. A month at Green Acres included John and I having all of them over for a July 1st Mystery Dinner. It was a big hit with parents and kids. Lots of pajama parties with the grandchildren provided loads of fun. Then, at the end of June, John and I moved on to the Holstein Rodeo for a weekend. We met up with Rick and Bonnie as well as met friends of theirs, Bob and Nancy. Cowboy hats and boots were the attire for the weekend while we enjoyed lots of country and western artists and music.

Homeward Bound

2011-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

We left the UP and proceeded south. Our plan was to visit a couple of RV Resorts along the way but, as we were getting closer to seeing the kids, we bypassed those stops and headed straight to Frankenmuth where we stayed at the Jellystone CG (which was really nice) downtown and toured one of our favorite German/Christmas towns. We ate at Zehnder's and John was able to pick up his Cheddar Bacon flavored cheese spread. Of course we visited Bronners, the largest Christmas Store in the U.S.
Then moving on to the Farmington Hills area so we could visit with our very good friends, Nat and Candy for a few days. We stayed at Haas Lake RV Resort in New Hudson. This is central to our doctor for annual checkups and only 15 min from Nat and Candy. Great time with them. All is good with doctor and then on our way east into Canada. Yeah!!! So looking forward to seeing the kids. We called Green Acres CG in Waterloo, booked in early and, when we arrived, we were able to have kids onboard. We pulled into Green Acres Park to find our 08 Phaeton was pictured on their park map. What a pleasant surprise. It does look good.

MacKinac Island

2011-06-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

We travelled east from Minot ND on highway 2 which we thought was more interesting than what we had seen of the prairies in Canada. It was nice to be on our 'home turf' as we went thru Minnesota to Duluth and on into Wisconsin, along the south shore of Lake Superior and into Michigan. The cg at Iron Mountain was nice. When we arrived at St.Ignace MI, we decided to spend a few days at Summer Breeze CG overlooking Lake Michigan. Full hookup and only $25 with our Good Sam discount. Really a pretty spot to tour the Upper Peninsula. We spent a day at MacKinac Island and were pleasantly surprised at how big the island is, how interesting and pretty, and at how many people live there. The only way to the island is by ferry. We took the Shepler's Ferry trip which included a tour under the Mackinac Bridge.
We took the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours (world's largest horse & buggy livery) to experience the history, legends and beauty of the island. Although we took a horse and carriage tour, we could have rented our own horse and buggy, our own horses to ride around the island or rented bicycles. We would def recommend this stop to anyone. Can't believe we lived in Michigan for so many years and never went there.

Flooding in Saskatchewan and North Dakota

2011-06-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

We left Lake Louise Friday and joined our friends, Marv and Donna, at their rv park in Okotos, AB. Really nice rv park. However, they have a stream running thru their park that was now a raging river and threatening to overflow it's banks. The water would have flowed in to Marv and Donna's site as well as the one next door that they had borrowed for our use. Donna had just had surgery on her foot and was immobile. Fortunately the river stayed and then went down. It stopped raining to further ensure safety at this time. Marv showed us around Calgary even tho there wasn't much to see at this time of year. We did have a great visit with Marv and Donna. Then Monday we started out again heading east to Ontario. The rain, the mud and the wet combined with the boring scenery of the Prairies prompted us to again change our plans and we headed south east on hwy 39 at Moose Jaw. We crossed the border at Portal into North Dakota. What an experience that was. We could not believe the water sitting in the fields both in southern Saskatchewan and in North Dakota. We expected to stay the nite in Minot, ND but when we called campgrounds, they were closed due to flooding. We called Walmart to find that they were not in the flood zone and were allowing rvs to stay there. We spent the night, safe and dry, along with about 40 other rigs. The National Guard, Core of Engineers, Contractors and many volunteers were filling over a million sand bags. Ten Thousand of the town's residents had to manditarily evacuate their homes. It will take months to clean up the mess in this and other North Dakota areas. The flooding going east along #2 highway is just amazing.

Banff National Park

2011-05-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

The drive going east on TCC-1 was breathtaking. Smooth road, surrounded by trees in various shades of green and many waterfalls coming off the mountains around us. OMG,,,,, just the other side of Hope, BC on hwy 5 and we saw a big brown bear in the field beside the road, hunting for food in the grass.WOW! Beautiful drive thru the mountains and around the lake before settling into the Elks Park in Salmon Arm, BC.There is more than one rv park in Banff National Park that can accommodate our length of rv. We ended up at the Lake Louise Trailer Park with electric only. Excellent 30 amp. Well built rv dumps. Good choice as we toured to Jasper and Banff.
Athabasca Glacier,Jasper National ParkThe Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield once formed part of an enormous ice sheet that ground and carved the landforms that we see today throughout the Rocky Mountains.The most recent Ice Age ended only 10,000 years ago. Most glaciers in North America are still in retreat, as the summer's melt is greater than the winters' accumulation. As the glacier flows downhill, it carries a tremendous amount of rock and debris with it. Lateral moraine and terminal moraines are left at the toe of the glacier. As the glacier has paused in its retreat up the valley, distinct ridges of large terminal moraines are clearly visible.Columbia Icefield is the largest body of ice in the Rocky Mountains. Highest point is Mount Columbia at 12,284 ft. Average depth is 1200 ft. Average snowfall is 23 ft per yr. Drains to the Pacific, Artic and Atlantic Oceans.Athabasca Glacier is an outlet valley glacier covering 2.5 sq miles. length is 3.75 miles. depth 270 - 1000 ft. Surface speed is: icefall 400 ft/yr, turn around 80ft/yr, toe 50 ft.
We had lunch in Jasper,a pretty and quaint ski town. The drive on Hwy 93 thru Banff NP from Lake Louise to Jasper opened up the beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains as well as some of the local wildlife. Great day. We were lucky that it did not rain much during the day, the sun was out at times and the temperature was in the low 60s.
The next day we toured the town of Banff. Another quaint and pretty ski area. We took in the Banff Springs Hotel which was amazing. The Tunnel Mountain RV Park could hold an rv our size and offered full hook ups. All pull thrus the same as Lake Louise Trailer Park. Lake Louise was a pleasant walk even tho the lake was still frozen. The Fairmont Hotel looks like a pretty nice to stay if in the area. We drove on hwy 1A to and from Banff and we're lucky to spot white tail deer and a large wolf.

Vancouver BC

2011-05-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

We travelled north on I-5 toward Canada. Beautiful countryside unfolded around us as we wound between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains. The crossing at the Pacific bordfer crossing was painless as BC welcomed us to warm sunshine. It was a narrow miss as we drove thru customs but the young office came out to watch that we didn't scrape the sides of our coach.As good a driver as John is, no problem. Our site at Burnaby Cariboo RV Resort was another test to John's driving and he passed with high marks. Not after some testy attempts tho. We ended up on site 134 which worked out just fine. Very private and not busy likely because of how expensive it is to stay here. It was fun when the train passed behind us. We could hear the roar and feel the vibrations long before the train arrived near us. And when it did arrive,it felt like an earthquake the way the coach rattled and shook. Too fun. Worked out great tho for touring the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Stanley Park and Downtown Vancouver. It is impressive to note the time, effort and cost that this Province has put into the suspension bridge. Very impressive and we were glad we took the time to tour this attraction. Stanley Park is a big park and beautiful. Would be great to spend time on a warm summer day. We had a lot of rain during this stop but that was to be expected. Planned on going to Whistler Monday but changed our minds and moved on.

Seattle (Puget Sound)

2011-05-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

While in Washington,we checked out the Space Needle. Beautiful view of Seattle. Then off to the Underground Tour. This story was really interesting. Seattle (originally know as Puget Sound) was built on a tidal plain. It is said that when you went to the bathroom, you had to stand up when the tide came in as it would swoosh the sewer back up the toilet and end up all over you. The sewer from the folks living in the mountainside also travelled down to the town streets and then into the ocean. Only to be washed up again when the tide came in. Seattle was a smelly, dirty town. The term 'Skid Row' came from Seattle. The first toilets were built by a company owned by a man named Crapper. Many crappers were shipped to Seattle. It was advertised as the gateway to the gold mines and many came to Seattle to stay and sell to the wannabe miners. The city decided to raise the streets to escape the sewer problems. Eight foot walls were build on each side of the streets to give a waffle effect. To go shopping, one would walk down the street, climb down the ladder to the store, shop and then carry the goods back up the ladder to the street where the donkey and cart were parked. To cross the street, one would climb up the ladder to the top of the eight ft wall, cross the street and then climb down the ladder on the other side. As coverings were built from street to street, the original stores remained under the new streets. Sewer pipes were made of wood with small passage ways. The great fire burned the downtown Seattle. It was only in the 1970s the Pioneer Square became a Historic Site. Awesome tour.

Washington

2011-05-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

We just left Willsonville, OR where we spent the weekend. It was good to see our friends, Don and Pat, who graciously toured us around the Portland area. We went to the Arts and Crafts Festival Saturday morning where we enjoyed the sights and sounds of many cultures. I (Sheila) enjoyed a Falafel for lunch which was soooo good. Then off to Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge. We walked up to the bridge close to the fall, enjoyed the beauty and then returned to the car just as it started to rain. Lots of hiking trails but weather not in our favor to enjoy any distance. We could see Mount Hood and Mount St. Helen off in the distance. Lot of snow on both. We woke up Sunday to pouring rain but Don and Pat planned on taking us to the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. Very interesting place. We had our pictures taken in the cockpit of the Spruce Goose. This was a prototype built by Howard Huges in 1947. A huge cargo boat that flew. http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/ . Interesting story. The Imax of the Fighter Pilots was a good show and we were proud to see the Canadian participation. Now (Monday morning) we are heading north again to see what Washington has to offer.

Oregon

2011-05-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

John, Sheila and 'the dog' moved on up the road and are now at Seven Feathers Casino and RV Park in Oregon for a few days attending to the transition of 'the dog' from the litter he is familiar with to his new home on our coach.We thought Jackson had one of the nicest rv parks we have stayed in, until we got here. This place is amazing. We left Chico alone in his cage while we went swimming and hot tubbing in the indoor pool. We could hear him howling as we walked away but there was no sound as we arrived back at the coach. This is such a pretty time of year as everything is in bloom. Nice to smell the lilacs and enjoy the Rhododendrons and Azalea blooms. Sunny and warm with no rain in site.

California

2011-05-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

Once on the road again, we detoured off CA-99 to Jackson Racheria and Casino. Beautiful rv park and extremely clean. Really nice pool area; lounge with outdoor bbq and tables/chairs; really nice dog park and regular shuttle thru the park to the casino with fresh Dungeness crabs legs on the buffet. We were pretty impressed with this stop. Full hook up with 50 amp and price was $34 a nite for back in.
Our next stop was the Elks Lodge in Red Bluff. Uh huh,,,, we stopped there so John could go to Chico and look at the pups that Cornerstone Kennels had available. Surprise! We are now the proud parents of a 3 mos old Havanese. So our 42 ft rv is even smaller now! He is a little green with the travelling but we're sure he will adjust easily over the next few days.

California

2011-05-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

After leaving Visilia, we travelled north to the Elks in Fresno for a few days. Decent rv spots, on grass, overlooking a small lake. Enjoyed the sunshine and downtime. Did attend a class at the Apple Store on using the Ipad2. We were pleasantly surprised with how much we learned. After Fresno, we moved the the Elks in Oakhurst. Not a lot of spots there that could accommodate our coach but they weren't busy so we were able to make ourselves at home.While there we toured the Bass Lake area. Then we spent an entire day at Yosemite National Park. The lady at the Visitor Center advised us to travel on CA-49 up to CA-120 and take120 into the park. Excellent advise as 120 winds along the river. The scenery was breathtaking before we even got to the park. Yosemite had a record snow fall this winter and, now that it is melting, the water falling off the mountain tops is more beautiful than ever. There were roads that were still closed for winter but we were able to tour and enjoy the valley. Pictures in Picasa Stream.

Sequoia National Park and King Canyon NP

2011-04-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

We had moved from Santa Maria to Atascadaro Elks Lodge to visit Hearst Castle and to see the Elephant Seals. Now we moved to the Visilia Elks Lodge so we could spend the day at Sequoia National Park and the Kings Canyon NP. As we were visiting in the winter months, the hiking trails were closed but we were still able to feel the beauty of both parks while driving along the General Highway. We learned a lot about the Sequoia tree and the difference between it and the Redwood tree. We are looking forward to seeing the Rocky Mountains in Canada as we hear they are awesome. It is hard to believe anything could be more beautiful than what we saw today. Every mile on this journey, which took from 9 am to 5 pm, was breathtaking.

Hearst Castle

2011-04-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Hearst Castle is built on the ranch, Rancho Piedro Blanca, which was purchased by George Hearst in 1865. His only child, William R. Hearst, started construction in the 1920s and spent the next 18+ years building and changing what resulted today in a 90,000 sq ft "Casa Grande". William's mother, a school teacher, took William, at age 10, on an 18 mos world tour. It is believed that his impressions of homes, churches, palaces and castles in Germany, Sweden, Italy, England and the Mediteranian played a part in the artitecture of this home in California. This 'moorish' castle has 165 rooms incl 56 bedrooms and 61 bathrooms. The castle has 3 guest houses that hosted such guests as Pres. Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charlie Chaplin, David Niven and Cary Grant to name just a few. During times that Wm. Hearst lived here the grounds included a zoo with many exotic animals (incl polar bears, giraffes, zebras and tigers). William lived here with his girlfriend, Marion Davies, an actress who stared in many movies produced by a production company owned by Hearst.

It is said that movies such as Citizen Kane and The Cat's Meow are based on his life. Although the castle has been donated to the State of California, the Hearst family has maintained rights to some areas of the castle. The Hearst family ranches the land around the castle.

When you arrive at the Visitor Center, your guided tour begins with a bus ride for 5 miles up the hill to the castle.

The oldest artifact is the 18th Egyptian statue of Sekhmet, one of the oldest known deities at 3,600 years and from the time of King Tut.

California

2011-04-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

After leaving the Madonna Inn, we moved on to the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. When we were in California a few years ago, I had wanted to check out some of the old missions but it didn't work out. I enjoyed this stop. This mission was founded by Father Juniper Serra September 1, 1772. It is named after Saint Louis Bishop of Toulouse France. In 1769, Fr. Serra, a member of the Order of Franciscan Minors received orders from Spain to bring the Catholic Faith to the Natives of Alto California. This area had an abundance of Grizzly Bear meat in the 'Valley of the Bears" and Fr. Serra decided to make 'La Canada de Los Osos" the ideal place for a fifth mission.

California

2011-04-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

While in Santa Maria we drove up
to San Luis Obispo to do some touring. Tony and Barb had suggested that we stop at the Madonna Inn. Barb said it had been built by Mrs. Madonna and is approx. 50 years old. She said to def go in to the restrooms. This Inn was well worth the stop. Hot pink is the main color, but tasteful. The Inn is know for it's cakes (which we avoided looking at) and has an interesting restaurant as well as a beautiful formal dining room. Think if we hadn't been in the the rv, we would have stayed there for a night. Check it out at www.madonnainn.com

California

2011-04-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

On the 18th, we left the Indio, Palm Springs area and drove over to the Elks Lodge at Garden Grove to be near our friends, Barb and Tony. Barb has been sick with the flu and Tony got called up to Jury Duty plus they were busy with plans for the Easter weekend. We were able to spend Wednesday with them before moving on north. We enjoy their company and it was a good visit. Ate at the Five Guys Burger joint. We really like In N Out and think their burgers are just as good for half the price. Fried mushrooms and onions on the Five Guys burgers are good tho. Fries at Five Guys are better. We left the area Thurs morning and drove up the coast to the Elks Lodge at Santa Maria. We were pretty impressed with the rv parking at this lodge. Full hook up, very clean and good 50 amp service at only $25 per nite. We understand the parking at Santa Barbara is nice too but didn't see it.

California

2011-04-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

We went to the Palm Springs Aerial Tram with every intention of going up the 8500 feet to the top but,,,,,, John has had an ear problem since returning from Florida (and I'm afraid of heights) so we opted to just take a couple of pictures in the parking lot. Maybe I'll start with a ski lift at Collingwood. Beautiful countryside tho and it's obvious why poeple fall in love with California.

California

2011-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, after the Nascar race of course, we toured Joshua Tree National Park. What a difference to what we have see before in our travels. Because it was 100F here, we didn't dress to hike. As we drove up the mountains into the park, we watched the temperature drop to a comfortable 79. Def could have hiked but saw a lot of the park which was breathtaking. John is standing in the Cholla Cactus Garden and Sheila with the Joshua Tree forest behind her.

California

2011-04-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the Elks Lodge in Indio, CA on April 15th to some VERY hot weather. Has been up in the high 90s during the day and high 60s at night. But we are still touring. We went to the Palm Desert street market Sat. morning and sweat off some lbs. More of a designer type flea market. All new. While driving there we were on hwy 111 going west thru Indian Wells. What a beautiful area. It was actually 100 degrees F (40 C) but we could see the snow on the mountains. These mountains are between us and the California coast. It is beautiful here and John thinks now he may like California better than Florida. Still going to FL for the winter and will decide from there.

On the Road Again

2011-04-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

We were sure lucky on our return to the Foothills. Cool (high 60s) and rain. It was great weather to get our Spring cleaning done and get ready to roll. We got back Thurs and on Fri morning John wanted to go to Best Buy just in case they had received any Ipad2s. Well they had just gotten two. Both were sold immediately with John getting one of them. He loves it. It is much easier to take with us when we go somewhere and we can Skype the kids anytime. We just take our little Mifi with us for internet access. Before leaving the Foothills, we stopped in at the In & Out for one last burger. Because of the rain, the trees were in bloom at the mall. It was beautiful. Then on the 15th we hit the road traveling west.

Disneyworld Florida

2011-04-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

We just had time to get ready when the kids started to arrive at DisneyWorld. Michelle, Tim, Ty and Tate arrived on the 28th. Dione, Bob, Abby, Grace, Jack and Sarah arrived on the 29th. We celebrated John's 65th birthday on the 29th (whoo hoo,,,, now we got Medicare). On April 1st, we all went to Magic Kingdom and celebrated Jack's 6th birthday. He has been cancer free for almost a year now and it was wonderful to celebrate this birthday in the most fun place in the world. It was great that Ty and Tate spent the day at Magic Kingdom with us as a family even tho they would probably have enjoyed another theme park that offered rides for the older kids. Of course, we did 'it's a small world' that has been a tradition since Michelle and Dione were little. We stayed at the Disney resort 'Old Key West' and we were treated royally. You can't beat the friendly service that the Disney Cast Members offer their guests. The kids loved the water slide there along with all the daily pool activities. 'Just the best place for the magic to begin'. Michelle and her gang went home on the 4th followed by Dione and her gang on the 5th. Laura, her daughter Stacy, her sister Lynne, sister in law Dee and our mutual friend Barb all landed in at OKW on the 6th for a fast tour of Disneyworld. We took them to a few of the resorts followed by shopping Downtown Disney and then dinner at Planet Hollywood. We enjoyed some downtime before flying home to Yuma on the 7th. As you can see by the Picasa steam on photos, we all had an awesome time. We are so very fortunate that we invested in Disney Vacation Club when we first moved to the States in 97. Otherwise we would not be able to afford to show our family and friends the quality of vacation time at Disney that DVC allows us to do. Someday Michelle and Dione will be bringing their grandchildren to Disney to watch them grow up with the same 'magic' that these kids are enjoying. Life is good. When we get back to Yuma, we'll chill (right ! at a temp of 105) for a few days before moving on to Huntington Beach, CA to visit Tony and Barb as we start our trip North. Looking forward to some more sightseeing in California and to visiting Oregon and Washington for the first time.

Foothills, Yuma AZ

2011-03-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

Buss and Jane dropped in for a visit and we did some major touring so they could see as much as possible. We were able to rent a trailer across the road that offered them their own space. Worked out really well. We took them to Mexico to enjoy the festivities, to the desert to see the 'Big Squeeze' and the 'Desert Graffiti', to the Yuma Territorial Prison and,,,, to the Casino (even tho they are not gamblers). Packed a lot into a short period of time. They left on Thurs for San Diego and we packed for Disney. Drove to Phoenix Friday and then flew into Orlando Saturday.

Yuma AZ

2011-03-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

We are having a great time in the foothills with our friends. Kids cut our supply of Geritol as Sheriff was called to settle down our 'roudy' parties on more than one occasionl. Happy hours here include 'jamming' sessions with as many as 9 musicians strumming guitars, banjos and drums. Trips to Mexico are very different to crossing the border from Texas. We enjoy partying at the outside restaurants to the music of local bands (and Wally). Went out partying for St. Paddy's day but not as much going on here. John and Wally dressed for the part and we did drink lots of beer. Hot during the days but evenings cool off for great sleeping at nights. Enjoying the desert, casinos and friendships.

Yuma AZ

2011-03-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

We are having a great time. Have updated photos in the Picasa Stream below. John went ATVing in the desert today and had a great time. We went to Mexico the other day and had a great time. Been to the flea market. Stopped in to visit Bill and Doris tonight. Hot here but cool breeze helps

Foothills, Yuma AZ

2011-03-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Yuma, here we come. Stayed at the Voyager in Tucson last nite and had a pleasant stay. Went to Trader Joe's (yes there is one here) and loaded up on cheap wine. Found a Whole Foods store and loaded up on Spelt bread for John. Great store. Bought a Rosemary plant and a Basil plant so I can have fresh herbs like Paula and Bonnie. Took a look at Rick and Bonnie's blog and pictures are awesome. We haven't been to these caverns but look like the ones in Bristol Virginia. Bill and Glenda haven't been on their blog for a year so will send them an email to see where they are. The friends who got us started on a blog years ago toured Oregon and Washington this fall which is where we are headed in a couple of months. So we'll take a close look at their info to see the areas we want to make sure to cover. That's it. Will be in the Foothills just after lunch and staying there until mid April (aside from a 2 week flight to Disneyworld). Life is great.

Big Bend, Texas

2011-02-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

We spent yesterday in Big Bend NP touring. The mountains and deserts were beautiful. When we went down to Santa Elena Canyon, we were alongside the Rio Grande River. It is more like a creek in most areas and it is interesting that we could have walked across it into Mexico. We concluded that, as beautiful as Big Bend is, we enjoyed the drive on 170 from Lajitas to Presidio the day before just as much. Now we are on hwy 90 heading north to #10. We stay in or around El Paso tonightand move into New Mexico and a new time zone. Tomorrow we'll be two hours behind the kids. The Strpes in Marfa that we just stopped at for diesel was a very easy in and out and only $3.59 per gal. It is on the west end of the town and last service until we hit 10. It was $3.99 down at Big Bend area. Nice to be on the road again.

Big Bend, Texas

2011-02-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

We left Llano Grande RV Resort Monday morning and headed west along the Texas/Mexico border. Very interesting drive. Stayed Monday nite at Seminole Canyon SP and arrived here in Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in the middle of nowhere. Interesting area. Drove to Presidio today thru the mountains on the most beautiful drive ever. Passed a movie set that I have included in our Picasa stream below. Going in to Big Bend NP tomorrow for the day. This is def 'God's Country'.

Texas

2011-01-20T07:50:00.000-08:00

Still enjoying Llano Grande RV Resort and will be here until Feb 21st. Then westward ho via Big Bend National Park on our way to Yuma AZ. Had a great Christmas with the kids in Canada. Weather was clear and we were able to take the grandkids to Owen Sound to see the Christmas lights and visit great gramma Gillen. The Days Inn has an indoor pool so the kids got to swim. Mom enjoyed the kids singing Christmas carols to her. Life is good.
Looking forward to seeing Wally and Connie in Yuma end of Feb.

Llano Grande RV Resort, Mercedes Texas

2010-11-26T14:46:00.003-08:00

Well, we finally arrived at Llano Grande RV Resort on October 28th. We were greeted by two of Llano's wildlife (one of whom has been moved to another lake). As you see, we've already had our turn at happy hour. And here I am, wanting to look like a 'biker girl'. Life is good !

Kerrville, TX

2010-10-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

We finally made it to Kerrville, TX (Texas Hill Country) to spend time at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort with our friends, Barb and Steve. Shopping in Fredericksburg, dinner and dancing at the 11th Street Bar and Grill in Bandera and a tour of the Lyndon B Johnson State Park and Historic Site in Stonewall,TX made for a fun and interesting time. The picture at the 11th Street bar includes Skip and Lana who joined us on their way to Llano Grande and Larry, a resident at Buckhorn and a friend of Steve and Barb. We learned a lot about the Johnsons and about Lyndon B's time in office. Intersting and fun stop over.

San Angelo, TX

2010-10-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

After leaving Polo Duro, we made our way south west toward Kerrville, TX. We spent one night at San Angelo State Park and toured the nearby town of San Angelo. The picture was taken at the first Hilton hotel in the U.S. We ate lunch in what was once a bordello. Interesting ambiance and excellent hamburger.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas

2010-10-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

"Grand Canyon of Texas". Opened in 1934, this canyon is 120 miles long and 800 feet deep and is the second largest canyon in the United States. The canyon was formed less that a million years ago when the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River first carved it's way through the Southern High Plains. The canyon is rich in layers of rocks of various colors, rich in history as well as plants and wildlife. One picture was taken at 7 am from our bedroom window. The sunlight reflecting off the red rock walls of the canyon. Another is taken at the bottom of the switchbacks as John is driving the rv out of the canyon. We had camped at the back of the canyon and enjoyed several days of it's beauty.

Amarillo, TX

2010-10-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

We finally hooked up with Tony and Barb at the casino in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Had a great time visiting and gambling. Site was free and diesel gas was the cheapest yet. We travelled the next day with them to the Elks Lodge in Amarillo for the night. Along the way, just east of Amarillo, we stopped to enjoy the Stations of the Cross. It was an amazing stop. We found out the Elks was hosting a cookoff on Saturday so we stayed while Tony and Barb continued on home to California. We pigged out on some of the best food. Steve,a member of the lodge, was an excellent host and made sure we had lots to eat. Had a fun time. Then Sunday, John and I moved on the the Palo Duro Canyon State Park just a few miles south of Amarillo.

Little Rock, Arkansas

2010-10-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

On the road again. As we head west to meet up with Tony and Barb, we stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas to visit the William J.Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. While there, we picked up two books at the gift shop "The Underground Railroad for Kids" and "The Encyclopedia of World Religions". Will read to the grandkids in the summer. Lots of pictures and will enjoy teaching them about both.

Tunica, MS

2010-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

After we left Red Bay, Alabama, we stopped over in Tunica, Mississippi, where we met up with Bill and Nancy. Tunica is home to over nine big casinos. We stayed at the Hollywood Casino RV Resort for only $12.50 per nite. Saw our first armadillo. While there, the four of us toured Graceland in nearby Memphis. We were not big Elvis fans but we were really glad we went. We were not aware that he recorded so many songs or that he made so many movies. It was really interesting. Such a loss that he passed so young. Now I wish we had paid more attention to his life while he was here. Such an amazing man.
While in Memphis we went to the site where Martin Luther King was assasinated. As we had toured the March to Freedom in Alabama a couple years ago, we were interested in this bit of history. Great stop and looking forward to meeting up with Bill and Nancy in Texas in December.

Red Bay Alabama

2010-10-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

Still here but hoping our repairs will finally be completed on Monday morning and we can head out to meet up with Bill and Nancy in Tunica MS before hooking up with Tony and Barb in Arkansas. Friends took us to the Rattlesnake Saloon just north of Red Bay. Too fun! The cylos in the picture are bunk houses. Many people bring their horses here and go riding for the day. There are pens to put your horse in if you didn't bring a horse trailer. The 'taxi' picked us up in the parking lot and drove us down to the cave. Didn't see any rattlesnakes but sure they are there. Did see a bat and a mouse. We were with Dean and Mary, Bill and Nancy, Hollis and Bev and Joe. New friends and we look forward to crossing paths with them again in the future.

Alabama

2010-09-29T19:25:00.003-07:00

Helen Keller 1880 - 1968
"I believe that life is given to us so we may grow in love, and I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower. The Light is my darkness, The Voice is my silence".

Second on our list was the Helen Keller's birthplace and home at Ivy Green. Most of us have seen 'The Miracle Worker' and were impressed with the story of the 'First Lady of Courage'. At age 19 months, Helen Keller was stricken with a disease that left her blind and deaf. At age 16, she could speak well enough to go to preparatory school and college. In 1904, she was graduated 'cum laude' from Radcliffe College. We didn't realize Miss. Keller had written and published 12 books including her autobiography written during her years in college and published in 1903 . She acted in a movie about her own life. We learned she lectured in over 25 countries and spoke 4 languages She dedicated her life to improving the conditions of blind and deaf-blind around the world. The credits to this amazing woman go on and on. We haven't seen the movie 'The Miracle Continues' so will rent it soon.

Red Bay Alabama

2010-09-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Looks like we're going to be longer in Red Bay than expected. Just as we were about to leave Tues, the service tech found that the floor on one of the slide-outs is rotted. They ordered a new floor and will need to rebuild the slide. Meantime, we spent today touring.A visit to the Coon Dog Cemetery in the Freedom Hill area of Alabama was first. Cute stop. The first coonhound buried there was 'Troop' in 1937. Since then more than 185 certified coon dogs are buried in this graveyard, including several World Champions. This cemetery does have 'burial standards'. To qualify three requirements must be met. The owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog. A witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog. A member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the coondog and declare it as such.

Back in the U.S.of A.

2010-09-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

It is good to be back in the U.S. although we will miss the grandkids. Jack had his heart biopsy and his cancer pet scan last week so we await the results. John is on the last of his antibiotics for his bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infection and Crohns flair up. Back on 'Eat Right 4 Your Type' and believe making a difference. Now in Red Bay, Alabama at Tiffin Service Center getting work done on coach. Stopped in to visit Don and Scarlett on our way here. Scarlett battling cancer and our prayers are certainly with her. When we're done here we will try to hook up with Tony and Barb for a few days as they travel home to California.

Exploring Georgian Bay

2010-07-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

July 13th we left Belmont, Ontario and headed to Tobermory to begin our 11 day road trip with the oldest grandchildren. We had to leave Jack at home as too far from hospital in the event of a fever. So we left Sarah behind to keep him company. As it turned out, Jack developed a fever later that day and ended up in London Sick Kids for 5 days. Had a very pleasant stay at Happy Hearts CG in Tobermory. We all enjoyed the company of pirates and lots of fish and chips at the 'Shipwreck'. Up bright and early the next day and were first in line to board the Chi Cheemaun. Stormy day but everyone weathered their 2 hr voyage just fine. Three days at Batmans CG, Sheguiandah, Manitoulin Island turned out to be a fun time. We hiked, swam under the falls at Bridal Veil Falls and enjoyed the waters around the island. Batmans had been recommended and was a great choice. Power weak but plans in place to upgrade to 50 amp over the winter. Would def go back. On leaving the island, we arrived at Little Current just as they closed off the bridge. We climbed out of the rv and enjoyed watching the swinging bridge go around in order to let the boats go thru. Hwy 6 turned out to be an easy drive to connect to Hwy 17 onto Sudbury. We camped at Carols just outside Sudbury while we toured Dynamic Earth and Science North. Awesome!
We bought a 'Grandparent Pass' which is good for all of us for a year plus free and/or reduced prices into 150 more locations outside Canada. Will def take advantage of. The kids loved both places. We ended up the trip with a visit to Santa's Village in Huntsville and the Elvis Festival in Collingwood. We packed a lot into this trip but the kids will have awesome memories for the rest of their lives.

Ontario Canada

2010-06-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

We have been busy since the first of April, staying close to Belmont in the event Dione needs us. Anyone clicking on the link to Jack Hildenbrand's journal knows he is now home having completed his 5th and final round of chemo. He has done extremely well and now has clinic in Toronto. He will take the first clinic on Tues in London because of the G20 in Toronto. London is so much closer to home. We have been dog sitting a yorkie mix named Harvey for 10 days and are returning him to his owners tomorrow. Will miss him. He is well behaved and easy to have around. However,,,,we do get Sarah (age 3) back. Dione's two oldest girls are in school all day so if we have Sarah, she and Bob can get stuff done. Sarah is extremely entertaining and keeps us on our toes. I have been busy organizing our "Trip Around Georgian Bay" and having difficulty finding campgrounds that can accommodate our rig. We are booked at Happy Hearts in Tobermory to start the adventure. Then will put the rv and car (and the 5 grandchildren) on the Chi-Cheeman ferry to Manitoulin Island. We can't reserve the ferry because of our size so will go early to get a spot in line. We are booked in to Batman's RV Resort on the island for 3 days (highly recommended). From Batman's we will visit Deep Earth (the nickel mine) in Sudbury. We are trying to find a cg closer to Sudbury so we can visit Science North. Then we will move on to Santa's Village in Bracebridge. Their cg 'Whispering Pines' has low wires and they don't believe we can get in. So we'll look for something close by. The kids should likely have an awesome time and I'm sure will wear us out. But isn't that what grandparents are for? Making Memories!

Owen Sound

2010-04-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

We are in Owen Sound for the weekend to visit family. Brought the 3 girls and staying in motel. Indoor pool being repaired so disappointed that can't use and it's cold enough to snow. Oh well. Good thing we have the girls to entertain us. Will see all the Smart family tonight at our nephew's wedding reception. Should be fun. Then back to Belmont Sunday by way of a hockey game in Stratford. Jack handling chemo well and is showing his true self as the fighter he is.

Jack

2010-04-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

Our grandson, Jack, is in Sick Children Hospital in Toronto battling cancer. He has been in and out of hospitals for the past month while they conducted all kinds of test, finding nothing. Finally on March 29th, they removed a mass in his colon that they had found with a Pet Scan the previous week. He had chemo immediately and the doctors and nurses are aggressively working on removing this major scare from his little body. Jack spent his 5th birthday on April 1st in Sick Kids. He is a fighter and is handling things well. He has a medical web site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jackhildenbrand which is updated daily by his mom. John and I are 'parenting' Jack's three siblings which is NO problem for us. We enjoy being with them. Spring Lake RV Park just south of Ingersoll opened early to let us in. We have been there before, it is only 10 minutes from Dione and Bob's home in Belmont, and they know us as well as the kids. We have been getting a lot of prayers, love and support for Jack so can only expect the best.

Kerrville, Texas

2010-03-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

We moved out of Llano Grande RV Resort, Mercedes, TX on March 22nd north to Buckhorn RV Resort in Kerrville, TX. Texas Hill Country. We have been having a great time touring the countryside. Shuttle from Buckhorn took us to dinner at 11 St Cowboy Bar in Bandera where Sheila spent the evening dancing to a live band, under the open sky with 'George Strait'. We took our own steak to cook on their pits. Went to tour the grand town of Luckenbach, TX. Sheila rode the wild bull. Interesting country. Today is a 'down day' and then we'll go to Sea World Thurs, horseback riding Fri and Wimberley Flea market Saturday. No rest for the wicked.

Llano Grande, Mercedes, TX

2010-01-31T18:10:00.000-08:00

South Padre Island with Dewayne and Nancy turned out to be perfect weather for exploring. Grama was able to collect 'Texas' sand for making rocks with the kids this summer. Papa and Grama practiced a little Tai Chi. We enjoyed watching folks fishing in the Gulf. They seemed to be having good success around 8 am and then again at 3 pm. The merchants are really struggling. Business seems to be down due to the economy as well as a very rainy winter this year.

Did I mention that we booked in until the first of March? Tai Chi is going well for both of us. Line dancing three times a week is keeping Sheila in shape. (well would be if it weren't for the happy hours). Sheila driving to McAllen for Spanish classes weekly. We are enjoying the Killer Bees hockey games and getting in short visits with the coach, Chris Brooks and his family. In spite of the weather, it is turning out to be an awesome winter.

Llano Grande, Mercedes, TX

2010-01-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

Nancy, Gloria and I enjoying the 'Lights of Hildago'. It was a large and beautiful display and a fun filled evening with friends.

Our turn to host the 'happy hour' and, as you can see, we were able to enjoy many 'rent-a-friends'. In all seriousness we really are enjoying the friendships here at this park. Very tempting to return again next fall.

John and Roy had just returned from a cruise where the dreadlocks seemed to bring out their 'secret' side.

Christmas

2009-12-30T17:19:00.000-08:00

We flew from McAllen, TX to Ontario, Canada to spend Christmas with the kids. Of course, Papa is just lucky to have somewhere to sleep while Grama was in demand. We took the kids to Owen Sound to see the Christmas lights, which are awesome. Stayed in a hotel and got some quality time in with family. Sheila's mom was delighted to see (sort of as she is blind) the kids and hear them sing Christmas Carols to her. She gave them each presents which they were delighted with. Just a 'totally awesome' visit.

Texas

2009-11-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Went to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlington Texas Wed. and were really impressed with the museum. We watched a 35 min video and learned that this was one of the most tragic battles in American history. The marines were sent Feb 1945 to capture the island from Japan in 3days. It took 36 days, 6800 deaths and 23,000 wounded. Will get the movies 'Shores of Iwo Jima' and 'The Outsider' to watch again. Will mean more to us now that we are more familiar with the story. There were articles at the museum about the 'Code Talkers' and that adds to our interest in going to the Burger King in Kayenta,AZ. Larry, at the museum, recommended to go to Windowrock NM and Gallop NM. Also recommended books by Tony Hillerman.

Llano Grande RV Resort, Mercedes Texas

2009-11-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

We arrived here October 29th and decided to stay a month to try it out. Well, we soon paid for Dec and Jan to extend our stay. We are loving it here. Sites are a good size, lots to do and great facilities. Web site is www.LlanoGrandeResort.com . We start our day at 7 am with Tai Chi lessons followed by a workout at an awesome fitness center. Then we go to line dancing lessons. Have been to Mexico for pedicure $9. Manicure, pedicure and 1/2 hr body massage is $40. Life can't get any better. Outlet mall nearby. So far weather has been great. Grapefruit, lime and avacado trees around the resort. 5000 people when full and will be by Jan. and everyone is so friendly. Spanish lessons start in Jan. They welcome beginners so we fit right in. Dances every Sat. nite.

San Antonio, Texas

2009-10-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

The Shrine at the Alamo. We learned more about American history and about Texas fighting for their independence from Mexico. Then photos taken on the Riverwalk. It was very impressive. The bridge that John and I are standing by was in the movies, Selina and Cloak and Dagger. Will have to rent them. Miss Congeniality was also filmed on the Riverwalk. We took a narrated ride on one of the riverboats but still did a lot of walking. Stopped at a couple of the restaurants for beer and snacks along the way. Def a 'must do' in one's travels around the U.S.

French Quarters, New Orleans

2009-10-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

We met Bob and Patsy from Cape May, New Jersey at the rv park and hooked up for some fun times. They are headed to Texas so will likely see them again. Patsy and I bought funky earrings and scarves at one of the shops at the French Quarter so now we are 'with it'. Really enjoyed our new friendship.

French Quarters, New Orleans

2009-10-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

We arrived in New Orleans on Thursday and spent Friday at the French Quarters. Really enjoyed walking around the area and are taking the free shuttle from the rv park to Jackson Square again tomorrow. Met Bob and Patsy who are going with us. Bob got us tickets to the House of Blues Sunday Gospel Brunch. Lots of places to go and most restaurants and bars have entertainment. The man with the dog did not move the entire time we were in the area.

Yes, that's water we're driving through !

2009-10-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

We left Canada on Monday October 5th after attending Derek and Amanda's wedding in Owen Sound on the 3rd. Headed to New Orleans but decided to stop in at Tiffin in Red Bay, Alabama to finally get the ice maker fixed. Arrived at the Allegro CG on Thurs, they put us in to the express bay Monday and got us looked after just fine. As usual they pampered us. Left there Tues and drove south on 59 for most of the day. Decided to stop at an Elk Lodge for the nite and found this one in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was a challenge getting to the site but it was fun. And only $10 with water and 50 amp service.

Ontario Canada

2009-08-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

After Woodland, we moved the rv to Bus and Jane's dairy farm in Springmount for two days. Ended up staying a week. Too fun. Lightening hit their phone line and blew out their computer, phone lines, printer and modem. Also hit a tree beside the rv. Good thing the huge branches fell the other way. John and Bus cut up over 4 cord of wood and stacked in the barn. Jane got her computer up and running at a minimal cost so all is well that ends well. Jane and I went to the Keady market Tues morning and I loved it. We went to the Hanover Raceway Wed afternoon where I donated a few dollars on the horses and on the slots. Had dinner at the track and the food was good. Ate fresh veggies from Jane's garden, had a LOT of laughs and brushed up on our eucre skills. Girls still the best. Looking forward to going back next year.

Waterloo, Ontario Canada

2009-08-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Back at Green Acres in Waterloo with internet again. Wow I miss it when we are in Canada. Had 120 email to download when we got here. Have been busy. Before leaving here the first of July, we went to see Jersey Boys in Toronto with Nat and Candy. Loved it. Spent a lot of time with Ty and Tate and attending their soccer and hockey games. We then moved to Spring Lake in Mt. Elgin (just south of Ingersoll) where we spent a lot of time with Abby, Grace, Jack and Sarah. It was so much fun to have the grandkids on board agn. We attended a stag and doe for Derek and Amanda in Woodstock on the 18th. It is their wedding that we are staying in Canada for Oct 3rd. Then July 20th we packed up 5 grandkids (except Sarah, who is too young yet) and travelled to the KOA in Port Huron. Awesome campground for kids. They had a riot, in spite of the rain. After almost a week there, we returned them to their parents and moved ourselves in to John and Charlene's driveway in Stratford. It was good to see them again and we had a lot of laughs. We then moved north to Woodland at Sauble Beach, stopping over for a few nights at Pike Lake in Mount Forest. We stopped just south of Pike Lake to fill up with gas and ran in to Ced and Shirley from Orillia (the couple we met in Florida 3 yrs ago). Great visit. If you go to Pike Lake to stay and golf, ask for a site in 'f' section. Their overnight sites are brutal. Woodland never fails to impress us. We are already booked in next year July 29th to Aug 9th. When we got to Woodland Campground, people on our site had their dates mixed up and were not ready to leave. Their driver was away for the day. They said they would move off the site if someone could drive their Prevost. That was John's excitement for the summer, getting to drive a Prevost. Good lesson for us tho. We will now pay close attention to our check in and check out dates. Bill and Gail booked in to Woodland at the same time (Bill was bestman at our wedding 43 yrs ago) and we had so many laughs together. While at Sauble (which is the second longest freshwater beach in the world) we spent a lot of time at Sprey Lake where our family were spending the week. A friend of Scott and Kathy's (John's brother) had given them their resort to use while they went out west. Scott invited all of our family to stay either in the cabins or in their own campers. We had a great time. The resort was amazing! Hope we get invited back next summer.

Waterloo, Ontario Canada

2009-06-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

June 1st we arrived at Green Acres CG in Waterloo. One of the nicer campgrounds in Ontario and centrally located to kids, attractions and friends. Have been to Waterloo/St.Jacobs Farmers Market which is also one of the nicest. Will enjoy this area until July 6th. Then not sure where going. Tony and Jo are coming here from Indiana June 22nd along with new friends, Ron and Lynda who we met in Florida at Tony and Jo's. Ron and Lynda live in Kitchener near where we lived for 10 years. Will be a busy and fun month.

Canada

2009-06-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

On May 22nd we received a call from family that John's mom was failing and we may want to go home. We closed up Saturday morning and drove north. By 5 pm, we had reached Sleepy Hollow CG in Buffalo NY area and had a great time with the kids. The folks there were so nice giving us an easy in and out site with water and electric. Not easy to find on a long weekend. The kids enjoyed the playgrounds, a wagon ride and a dance. We were really fortunate to land here as the kids were soooo good on a full day of driving. Sunday we crossed the border and met Bob and Dione in Guelph. They took the kids home and we continued to the KOA in Owen Sound. John was able to spend quality time with his mom before she passed on the 27th. It was such a healthy week with family remembering the fun times and laughing a lot. We all partied for the next few days just as Marg would have wanted. She didn't believe in sadness at a passing. It was nice sharing the love with the family. So many family and friends came out to the funeral home and to the mass on Saturday. She was well loved and will be missed.

Kids in Pennsylvania

2009-05-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

We were able to take the kids to the Touch Please Museum in Philidelphia. We had a really fun time and will plan Sesame Park another time..

Friday we leave Brandywine CG and move to an rv park in Hershey PA so we can take the kids to Hershey Park as well as the Chocolate Factory. Everyone is pretty excited.

Yeah ! Kids are here.

2009-05-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

We met Dione and Bob at Corning NY which is about half way between Douglasville PA and their home near London Ontario. So fun to have all three for two weeks. We went to print out the info on Sesame Park and found that it does not open thru the week until May 24 w/e. Next time will have to plan time with them after long w/e. They like Brandywine Creek CG that we have booked in to for the first week. Pool not open yet but they have a trampoline that the kids love. Park is down is narrow road for about 6 miles but nice park and nice people. We do get our satelite and internet. Kids like playing Animal Crossing at Smartlnd and visiting Dadville.

Lancaster, PA

2009-05-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

We are in a rv park just east of Lancaster. Busy Amish and Mennonite tourist area so parks tend to be full on the weekends. We are close to Norm and Bernice and Bob and Cindy and are getting in some quality visiting. Great to see these friends again. Paul and Ann are coming from Toledo, Ohio on the 13th for a few days. Will be great to see them again. Then on the 16th we pick up the grandchildren who will stay with us as we tour north to Canada for the summer. We will take them to Sesame Park near Philly, Hershey Chocolate Factory and the Train Museum in Strasburg. Lots for them to see and do while we are in this area and as we head north. Haven't seen them since Christmas so looking forward to having lots of fun.

2009-05-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

Finally, we made it to New York City. We had conflicting remarks about staying at Liberty Harbor Marine and RV Park, Jersey City, NJ but turned out to be our best choice and we would def stay there again. Just a parking lot at the marina but felt safe and were comfortable. 50 amp service with water and no sewer. We could see the Statue of Liberty from our window. The ferry runs weekdays from 6 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 10 pm to Pier 11. You can also walk a short 5 blocks to the PATH and catch the Grove St train to 33rd street (Upper Manhattan) or the World Trade Center (Lower Manhattan) $1.75 each one way on the train and $6 each one way on the ferry. Again we did a lot of walking and saw a lot. Ate at Johnny's Fish Grill in Lower Manhattan and were pleased with the food and the price. Upper Manhattan was double the price, food not as good and you didn't get as much.

Washington DC

2009-04-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

On our way to NYC we decided to stop at the US Capital, Washington DC. People had referred us to Cherry Hill Park for camping and it was an excellent choice. Located at College Park, Maryland. We were able to book a sightseeing tour, 'Hop On - Hop Off ' thru Gray Line right at the rv park. Buses stopped at Cherry Hill Park at 6:45 am and Gray Line took us to Union Station where we then caught the open top sightseeing tour bus around the capital city. Cost was $35 per person for unlimited off and on for two full days. We then caught the Gray Line back to Cherry Hill from Union Station at 4:30 pm. This rv park caters to tourist sightseeing in Washington and is set up really well. We did a lot of walking and saw a lot. After our tour of the Capital Bldg, we visited the office of the Florida Senator, Mel Martinez in the Russell Senate Ofc Bldg next door and obtained a pass into the Senate. Could not tour the White House as this must be arranged long in advance of the visit.

North Carolina

2009-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

We left SC and headed north to New York City stopping at the RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads in Roanoke Rapids NC. Will be a beautiful rv park when finished. We were at the back which is not yet finished but still really nice. They have overnite sites with full hook up for only $15 per. We used our Passport America discount. Went to Dionne Warwick concert at the nearby music hall for the evening.

South Carolina

2009-04-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

After leaving the Helen GA area, we moved east to a cg just east of Columbia, SC. Stayed at Columbia/Camden RV Park in Lugoff SC which proved to be inexpensive, pleasant and central to our touring the area. We spent an afternoon in Congaree NP and the next day at the State Capital Bldg in Columbia SC. We had planned on staying a couple of days but ended up being at that cg a week and just veg'g out.

Georgia

2009-04-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

After leaving Albany, GA, we moved on northeast for a long overdue visit with Dr. George and his wife Sylvia. We stayed in a cg near them but next time we will go to the nearby Unicoi State Park. We drove thru it and sites were full hook up and could easily accommodate a 42' rv. George and Sylvia live on the side of Mount Helen with the most awesome view. They toured us around their area of Sautee Nacoochee and Cleveland including a trip to Woodlands Camp where their son-in-law, Jon, runs a Christian Camp for Kids. www.woodlandscamp.org Jon and Julie work as part of a team who make a difference in so many childrens lives.

Alabama

2009-04-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Thunderstorms and tornado watch here so time to catch up. We read about 'Parks of Chehaw' in the March FMCA magazine so decided to try it out after getting the windshield replaced at Red Bay. Have been here 5 days and we're really glad we checked this place out. It is like camping in the woods although we were amazed that we got full satellite signal. Wildlife Refuge here that is very pleasant to enjoy for an afternoon. Great place for kids. Albany has had some serious flooding recently and we're sure the 5" coming today won't help. Met a really nice couple from the area, David and Edith Ann, and went to Easter service at their church yesterday. Park is not expensive. We paid $16 per nite for sr's for 50 amp and water. Dump station close and easy to get to. Wildlife Refuge was $7 for the two of us and only a short walk from rv site.

Alabama

2009-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

After leaving Jack and Laura, we moved northwest to Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Nice park with full hook up. Got a windy site on the lake close to the beaches. Getting some pesky cancer spots removed tomorrow in Pensacola then onward and upward to Red Bay to get our windshield replaced. Wouldn't you know it, the day after we left Red Bay in Feb., John washed the coach and found a stress crack. In view of recent bankruptcies and service depots closing, we are sure glad we have a Tiffin product. Bob Tiffin has already said they will look after the windshield even if we have someone locally do the work. However, our experience is that we get the very best service at the factory so the Allegro Campground will be home again soon.

Florida

2009-03-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

We left DisneyWorld and travelled southwest to Fort Myers area to meet up with friends we haven't seen for almost 15 years. Had a really nice time with Ron and Claudia and enjoyed their rv park, Cypress Woods. They took us on a tour of the area as well as to Bahama Breeze for an excellent lunch. While there we went to visit Tony and Jo at Bonita Springs. Everyone is doing great, looks great and are very active. Then we moved our home to St. Augustine, FL where we hooked up with Jack and Laura from Stratford, Ont. Wonder what John and Laura are doing with that penny? Once again, great to get together and look forward to seeing all of these friends in the summer in Canada.

Florida

2009-03-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed staying at the Disney World resorts for two weeks with Dione and family. The kids loved the new waterslide at Old Key West and looking over the balcony at the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge was awesome. Did the Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom theme parks with the kids and really enjoyed their smiles, laughter and looks of wonder. Now the kids have gone home to Canada and the two of us are enjoying Saratoga Springs resort. For full timers, having a bathtub is such a luxury. Enjoy walking over to Downtown Disney to Earl of Sandwich for lunch. Woody and Nancy came over for a visit yesterday and enjoyed EofS as well. Great food. Friday we are back on the rv and headed wherever. Will look at map later this week and decide.

Florida

2009-02-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

We have all our little aches and pains looked after in Red Bay and moved on earlier than expected towards Walt Disney World in Florida. Because we had some extra time, we stopped in Silver Springs to see Don and Scarlett and Bob and Evelyn. Had a great time with them Friday and Saturday. We even got to attend a concert by Mark Chestnut (country and western) at the Silver Springs Wild and Waterpark. Will keep the park in mind the next time in Florida as they have some good talent coming thru the winter and season passes are not expensive. We took a tour in the glass bottom boat and enjoyed the park as well as the entertainment.

We moved on the Deer Creek in Davenport to check out their rv resort. Very nice and may consider buying there. Looked for John and Charlotte but they had to make an emergency trip home to Canada. One of their two lots is for sale. Really nice resort although a little early for us to settle down somewhere. But close to Disney for when we are ready to work there (on our bucket list).

Yuma AZ

2009-02-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a fun superbowl party with our neighbours before heading east. Have established some really good friendships and are looking forward to staying in touch with this gang at the Foothills. We had a lot of healthy laughs together. But it was time to move on so Monday we set out travelling east on Hwy 8. Then we hooked up on I-10 and continued to Red Bay, Alabama by Thurs. Feb 5th. Feels like we're 'home' here too. We have a list of minor things we will have Tiffin complete on the coach before moving on to DisneyWorld to meet the kids. Life is still good to us.

Kofa National Refuge

2009-01-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

We took a drive into the desert but apparently didn't go far enough. After travelling 10 miles on a gravel road and seeing nothing but sand and cactus, we turned around. In this picture we believe it is Ocotillo and Pipe Organ cactus in the background. Don and Pat said we should have continued to the mines where it begins to get much more beautiful. Next year. We left the desert and travelled north to Quartzsite. Enjoyed seeing the rv's in the desert, the flea market and the hustle and bustle of a desert city. On the way home we stopped at Paradise Casino for an hour to gamble. Candy won $16 and I won $8. Big win for us so we blew it on fish and chips at Parrish's Pub. Busy and interesting day.

Quartzsite or bust

2009-01-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Our neighbours and friends have left us and headed to the desert for a few days. They will park together surrounded by thousands of campers who survive the sand storms just to enjoy the rv show, gem show and huge flea market. Waving goodbye to Wally and Connie, Don and Pat, Marv and Donna and Don and Marge. Terry left earlier as needed propane. We would love to have gone but John is in the process of joining the Elks Lodge here and has two meetings this week. So that will remain on our bucket list until next year. Just gotta say 'been there, done it'. We will, however, drive there in the car for one day with Candy and then again to meet with our friends, Tony and Barb.

Farm Smart Program University of California

2009-01-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

We spent the day at the Farm Smart Program, El Centro and had the most interesting time. We toured the gardens on wagons in the morning learning about alfalfa infested with white flies and trees you squeeze for fuel for your car along with much more and then spent the afternoon in a classroom. Did you know that asparagus continues to grow after it is cut ? It is packed and shipped in boxes that allow enough height for as much as 3 inches of growth. Asparagus can be cut twice a day and each time it is cut it is 6 inches tall. The website for our tour info is desertrec.ucdavis.edu. We were very impressed with how well organized, fun and informative our day was. We were given saks to pick all the fresh produce we wanted. No doubt we will be eating veggie plates and salads for the next two weeks. John and I have a whole new respect for the work done by our nephew, Jamie, in Guelph, Ont. Canada. His research station is just north of El Centro in Brawley CA.

Tournament of Roses Parade January 1, 2009

2009-01-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

We were so fortunate to have our friends, Tony and Barb, invite us to join them for front row seats at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. We drove their rv to a driveway along the parade route, backed it into the driveway and then placed our chairs out front along the road. The street was beginning to get full with chairs, make shift beds, bbqs, heaters and a lot of people. And it was only 4 pm Dec. 31st. Most slept in their spots in spite of the cold air so as not to risk losing the space. We partied into the wee hours and managed to get a few hours sleep before getting up early New Years Day to get ready for the parade. Tony spoiled us with tasty breakfast burritos and coffee. The Rose Bowl parade lived up to our expectations plus we had the added bonus of a warm sunny day. We had an awesome time.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T12:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas with the grandkids was wonderful. We flew from AZ to Detroit where it is a short drive to their homes in Ontario, Canada. There was so much snow and, with winter storms, we were not able to make the trip to Owen Sound to see our moms. We had been looking forward to taking the kids there overnight to show them the display of lights along the river. It is one of the most impressive John and I have ever seen. We were able watch the boys skate and to see Ty win another shut out. Ty, Grace, Jack, Tate and Abby got Webkinz. Sarah will have to wait another few years for hers as she is too young. We were able to follow Santa's route on Google Earth and the kids made sure they left out lots of milk and cookies for Santa and his reindeer. John hurt his back while he and Michelle were shovelling on Christmas Eve but we were fortunate that Tim had a chiropracter friend who came to work Christmas day to work on him. He is in a lot of pain and we now know why we go south for the winter. We are so blessed to have our family to enjoy.

Home for Christmas

2008-12-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

This is our star goalie. We have been busy driving back and forth between Baden and Belmont spending as much time as possible with the grandchildren. Papa has to pay Ty $5 for each shut out and is going broke paying his debt. Ty is so fortunate to have a coach who seems to know what he is doing because everyone on the team is playing very organized hockey. We are so proud of him and the entire Atom AE team from New Hamburg. 'Go Huskies !'

Yuma AZ

2008-12-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is where we get our drinking water in the Foothills. We pull in, put $1.00 in the machine and fill up 5 gallon jugs of salt free water. Interesting.

Yuma AZ

2008-12-06T18:22:00.000-08:00

We had a great day in Los Algodones, Mexico. Parked the car on the U.S. side of the border and walked across to a "Welcome Back Snowbirds" party. Pharmacies had free samples set out on tables for us to pick up and take home. Also had free samples of margaritas, beer and liquors. Lots of laughs, good food, interesting shopping and a little alcohol made for a memorable time.

Yuma AZ

2008-11-28T06:39:00.000-08:00

Last week Fran and Ian flew back to Canada and we got on the road again heading south. Thought we may stop in Quartzsite for a couple of months but, as we drove in and saw how baren it was, we decided to continue on to the foothills in Yuma. We had been to this area last year for a month and really enjoyed our stay. So we drove in, found a 'for rent' sign on a lot we liked and moved in. It's gated, inexpensive, clean and the neighbours are really friendly. The view of the mountains from our window is picture perfect. Hooked up with friends Bill and Doris (full timers) and Steve and Rene (Idaho) who come here every winter. Nice to see them again. We'll drive the car up to Quartzsite for the swapmeet in January. Have had a few rainy days so have had time to spring clean some cupboards. Met up with Tiffinrvnetwork friends, John and Bev from Ottawa, while shopping at Walmart the other day. They are on their way to the Baja. Will be interested to see how that goes for them as we have that adventure on our 'bucket list'.

Las Vegas

2008-11-19T08:28:00.000-08:00

Took Fran and Ian to Hoover Dam with a quick stop at Lake Mead to get John's NP Passport stamped. We were surprised at how large the NWR was and had not planned on the time to explore. So added that to our list for next year. The tour guide at the Hoover Dam had told us that the water was down considerably but that, because of lots of snow this past winter melting into the Colorado River, it had gone up a foot. Hopefully this reverse in weather conditions will continue and the water in the lake will go back up to where it should be. Picked up some information on scuba diving as Dione and Bob are interested in doing an underwater adventure there one day.

Las Vegas

2008-11-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

We were up very early in the morning to begin our long drive from Vegas to the Grand Canyon. John and Ian took turns driving while Fran and Sheila watched a dvd of Death Valley. It turned out to be a perfect day for touring. The Hermits Trail route had been closed for upgrading but it appears it may have re-opened that morning. We were able to drive along the entire route, stopping to look over into the beauty of God's masterpiece. We expected it to be similar to Bryce Canyon or Zion NP but it was completely different. Next year we may consider taking the mule ride down to Phantom Ranch to stay for a few days. Even tho it was cool up where we were standing, it was in the 80s at the bottom of the canyon with a lake and beach to enjoy as well. Added that adventure to our 'bucket list'.

Las Vegas

2008-11-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

We have seen so much of the beauty of nature since starting our touring two years ago that we could not believe we would continue to be so impressed as we explore new areas. But Death Valley was beautiful. It was so cool to walk at Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America. Fran and Ian were equally amazed at the variety of colors in the mountains. Artist's Palette accurately describes the red, yellow, orange and green colors reminding one of the minerals in the rocks and earth. This picture is of them standing at Zabriskie Point, the outlook over Gold Canyon. Furnace Creek holds the record for second highest temperature recorded on earth when in 1913 it reached 134'F. The most profitable and longest-sustained mining activities in the region centered on talc and borate. We didn't see much wild life except the cutest 'kit fox' who trotted up to the car and shone it's big brown eyes on us, looking for food.

Las Vegas

2008-11-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

Fran and Ian flew in from Toronto this morning to spend a week with us touring the Las Vegas area. We'll enjoy gambling plus we'll do some touring as well. Found a coupon in the Motorhome magazine and decided we could splurge and stay at the Outlook RV Resort at the south end of the strip. Good decision as this resort is really pretty and clean. We are parked across from the pool, hot tub and showers and, because the park is not busy right now, it feels like the conveniences are there just for our use. After giving our family a few hours to rest and a good meal, we drove the strip to give them an overview of what to see and what to do stopping finally to enjoy the Paris, Ballagio and Ceasar Casinos.

Los Angelas California

2008-11-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

We had a great time touring Hollywood Blvd with Tony and Barb. Saw the Kodak Theatre and the autographs of the stars in the sidewalk out front. We took a tour of Beverly Hills and saw the homes of the stars (didn't see any of the stars). Ate at our first 'In and Out' restaurant and that was a lark (and the food was decent). Another fun and interesting day with our friends.

Los Angelas California

2008-11-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

How appropriate that we are spending our time with Tony and Barb, the same couple with whom we toured the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. We were in Selma where, in 1965, Martin Luther King led a march to the Capital Building in Montgomery demanding that African Americans have the right to vote. And last night, John and my first vote as U.S. citizens, we helped to vote in President Obama. Not just because of our options or because he is African American but because we believe he is smart, honest and sincere in his quest to make a difference. It is amazing and exciting to a part of this history. It is so sad that his gramma could not have lived just a few days more to enjoy the results of her hard efforts in raising this young man. We believe McCain's speach last nite was the best one we have ever heard.

Los Angelas California

2008-11-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

We spent the day at the Getty Center yesterday with Tony and Barb. What a totally amazing museum. It was so big and complex that we could not get all of it all in in one day. From the art collections, to the sculptures, plus the gardens and everything in between, it was very impressive. Web site it http://www.getty.edu/ if you want to take a look. If in the L.A. area, def put on your list for a 'must see'.

Los Angelas California

2008-10-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

We change our minds daily. As it ended up, we left Gilroy Garlic Farm and their aroma therapy to head south the Pismo Beach. We arrived at Pacific Dunes RV Ranch and Resort in Oceana overlooking the sand dunes for two days. Met up with friends, Bob and Sharon, for dinner at Jockos in Nipomo for the best steak we have had in years! Money is spent on the food, not the ambience. We toured Pismo Beach, Avilo Beach and the area. Pretty but haze and cool. Today we decided to go the Bakersfield, CA for a few days then on to L.A. Well, as we drove south on hwy 101, we changed our minds and continued on to hwy 126, over to hwy 5 and straight south thru L.A. to Orangeland RV Resort in Orange, CA. Took us 4 hrs and John just took it slow. Was not nearly as overwhelming as we expected (not any worse than driving in Toronto) and, as 4 lane hwy driving, we were fine. This is a nice resort. Nice sites, heated pool, patio table and chairs (instead of picnic table), paved site with some grass and a small exercise room. We are next door to the Honda Center so hope to take in an Anaheim Ducks hockey game. Disneyland is just down the street. Will go to the Crystal Cathederal Sunday for service and then over to our friends, Tony and Barb, for a visit. And the beaches. So will be a busy week. Hot and sunny. Friday will be a down day to enjoy the resort.

Pacific Grove, California

2008-10-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to see the thousands of monarch butterflies in this picture. They migrate to Pacific Grove in October and stay until March. On a dull day, they clump together on the branches and look like leaves. This was a really pretty stop on our tour of Monterey Bay area today. We also stopped at the Point Pinos Lighthouse, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the west coast. The building, lenses and prisms of light are all original and this lighthouse's beacon has shone since February 1, 1955. We drove from Santa Cruz to Pacific Grove along the bay and enjoyed some more of California's beauty.