RV Having Fun

Oasis Players has Trouble With Cats

2012-02-11T12:54:00.007-07:00

This year's Oasis Players Dinner Theatre was a huge success. We had sell-out crowds all three nights and everyone raved about the meal, the music and the play called the Trouble With Cats. The catering committee outdid themselves with a delicious roast beef dinner. Julie and Richard Nunweiler and Doug Bailey brought the audience to their feet with six musical numbers. The set was the most elaborate we have ever used and hats off to Gary S. for all his work with set construction. The cast was a combination of well experienced actors as well as a few newcomers to our club. Congratulations to all of the cast and crew for a fabulous performance!!

The Housesitters: Phillip and Ivy meet River and Sunshine
(Brett Becker, Deanna Callsen, Steven Kanasevich, Kim Somerville)

The Annoying Neighbors: Joy and Nelson
(Geri Golightly, Bryan Somerville)

The Home Owners and the Local Fishermen: Frank and Joanna, Bill and Ben
(Deanna Callsen, Nathan Longmuir, Saraha Becker, Dave Becker, Dion Swan)

Just One Chocolate: River and Onie
(Steven Kanasevich, Karen Luptak)

The carpenter arrives: Phillip, Ivy and Mitzy
(Brett Becker, Deanna Callsen, Debbie Kroeker)

The women are plotting: Joy, Ivy, Sister No
(Geri Golightly, Deanna Callsen, Mary Skjei)

Did you know? Nelson, River, Phillip
(Bryan Somerville, Steven Kanasevich, Brett Becker)

We sleep natural: Sunshine, River
(Kim Somerville, Steven Kanasevich)

My little pussycat: Amos, Mitzy
(Johnny Golightly, Debbie Kroeker)

PJ and Onie
(Mathew Stimson, Karen Luptak)

Thanks For the Memories

2012-02-04T10:11:00.010-07:00

We are celebrating ten years of Community Theatre in Eatonia this weekend. Oasis Players started out as a small group of dedicated people who decided to put on an adult Dinner Theatre to raise funds for community projects. A play was chosen and then nine actors were recruited, some of them with no experience on stage. We borrowed lighting and sound equipment, set pieces, props and costumes. We had 450 people over two nights come out to watch our production at the new Eatonia Community Hall. In the spring Oasis Players hosted the “Marty Party”, a huge fundraiser for the organization. Thanks to the hard work of a small group of people and an enthusiastic community we were able to purchase stage lighting and sound equipment for the hall. After another successful production the following year, we decided that we needed to expand the dinner theatre to three nights. That means that approximately 6000 people have been entertained by Oasis Players productions in the past nine years. Each year the profits from the dinner theatre are donated to community organizations.

Here are just a few of my favorite candid shots from the past nine years!!

Update on Construction

2012-01-28T12:34:00.004-07:00

These are the latest photos of the AZ room. Doors and windows are in!! Looks like the exterior siding will be next on the list. We can hardly wait to get to Mesa. Senor Ping will do the electrical and plumbing, we will insulate and then we will contract out the drywalling. In the meantime I can start shopping for paint coloring, flooring and window coverings.

This is a view from the street.

This is a photo of the interior taken through the back window.

We hope to get the back patio finished before we head north at the end of March.

And thanks again to Pat (at http://pat-aviewfromtheedge.blogspot.com/ ) for the photos!!

Under Construction

2012-01-27T06:39:00.004-07:00

After we bought our park model last November we discussed the pros and cons of and Arizona Room vs. storage shed. Senor Ping and I spent lots of time biking around the park, looking at what other people have built and we eventually came to the decision that an AZ room would best meet our needs. The next decision was whether Senor Ping would build it or have the work done by an outside the park construction crew. We were already committed to spending 7 weeks back in Saskatchewan and tools and other equipment were going to be an issue, so we hired a crew to do the outer walls, ceiling, floor, door and windows.
This week the crew arrived and work started. Thanks to our friend Pat (from A View From The Edge) we are able to see the work in progress. We have also received emails from others who are checking out the work and reporting back. It's so great to have good friends that keep us up to date with the construction.
Here are a few photos taken by Pat of the work in progress!!

Back to Blogging

2012-01-21T07:59:00.007-07:00

I am sure many of you thought I had given up posting on my blog. Not really, but I have found that I post less on here and more on facebook these days. I just spent a few minutes reading posts from my first year of blogging. It's hard to believe that it's been almost 5 years since Senor Ping and I retired. When I read about the preparations we made before our first trip south I can hear the excitement in my voice. It was fun to read about those last days at school and family holidays. And then I checked the archives and reread posts about our trips to Europe, visits with family and friends and day to day events. And then I noticed a large gap....no posts between April 2011 and now. Time to change that!!!

So, with that in mind, here I sit on a cold frosty Saskatchewan morning. I look out the window and see that it is starting to snow. This past week the temperatures dropped to -30C (and that as before the windchill) and by next Wednesday the forecast is for +9 C. We arrived back in Saskatchewan on December 10 and except for the last week, it has been a wonderful winter. We have also seen some of the most beautiful prairie sunrises. This photo was taken from my kitchen window.

And now we have two weeks before we head south again. I have a long list of things to do. Dinner theatre rehearsals and prep will take up the majority of my time, but I also have a quilt to finish and things to pack for our new home. But before long we will be back in Arizona.

Singing

Swinging

Dancing

And having a great time with wonderful friends!!!!

Welcome To Canada....How did you get here??

2011-04-28T06:40:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we drove the last leg of our journey back to Saskatchewan. We spent the previous night in Havre, Montana. Since the border crossing doesn't open until 10:00 AM we took our time in the morning and winterized the 5th wheel, organized and packed some of our stuff and went over our list of items we needed to declare at customs. AT 10:00 we were loaded up and ready to head north. But on the edge of town there was a road block up that said "Road Closed To Through Traffic". As we sat there contemplating our next move, which would have included turning around the truck and 5th wheel on a hill with a slight curve, a vehicle came from the opposite direction. The guy stopped and told us the road would be closed for at least 3 hours, possibly longer. He must have seen the looks of despair on our faces because he then proceeded to give us a set of lengthly directions of a route that would take us around the highway construction and still lead us to the border.
Senor Ping backed the rig up (well, actually down the hill) and turned us around and away we went...."when you come to the corner keep going straight, out on a grid road, past the golf course about 5 miles and then turn right and go another 3 or 4 miles and then you'll come to the highway and that will lead you to the Willow Creek Crossing". The road was not too bad for a grid road, there were some ruts but we slowed down and didn't have any problems and we eventually came to the highway. There was a bit of traffic on the road, so we decided that other people obviously knew about the detour as well.
When we arrived at the US border crossing we had to pull in to the US Customs office first. A big sign said, " Wait for the Officer". There weren't any other vehicles there, but it seemed like it was taking him a long time to come and wave us through. Finally, he came to the window and said "How did you get here?" We explained about the alternate route we had taken and he told us that when the road is marked closed that means it is closed.....no detours, "do not pass go, do not collect $100"!!!!! According to him, if the state police had seen us they could have fined us! HUMPF!!! No one told us that!!!! He must have been happy to see someone though, because he chatted at length before letting us head to the Canadian Customs office.
Again, we were met by the same question, "How did you get here?" We repeated the story about the detour we took and they were amazed. They had been told that the Shepherd Road (the one we took) was full of ruts and that vehicles couldn't drive through to the highway. We were the first vehicle they had seen and were certainly not expecting to see any more until the road was repaired. While we were there, two vehicles came from the north. The road was blocked and an officer went out and told them the road was closed...no crossing into the US for them!! It would be a long drive out of their way to find another crossing open.
After a quick run through of the usual questions, checking of receipts and Abbey's papers, we were on our way. We were back in Saskatchewan!!! The next 3 hours we were bumped and jostled around as we drove the rest of the way home. The detour road, that was supposed to be closed, was much better than most of the highway we drove on for the rest of the trip. But, as
Dorothy said, "There's no place like home!!"

A Stop At Zion

2011-04-24T12:58:00.005-07:00

Our last stop before heading home is Zion National Park. We settled into an RV park in Leeds Utah on Friday afternoon. On Saturday morning we packed a lunch and drove to the park. Vehicle parking is limited within the gates of the park so we used the free shuttle from the nearby town of Springdale. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is accessible by shuttle bus only and visitors can hop on and off the bus as often as you like. It stops at the Museum, the Zion Lodge as well as the starting points for the numerous hikes throughout the Zion Canyon. We rode the shuttle to the Temple of the Sinawava, the last shuttle stop before it begins the return trip. There is a 3.5 km hike that runs along the Virgin River to the Narrows. There was a spectacular waterfall at the start of the walk.

The path follows the river with plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the scenery, walk down to the river and enjoy the wildlife. We saw lots of squirrels along the trail.

There were wild turkeys across the river. The male turkey is much more easy to spot than the females.

On Sunday we went on a "Ride With the Ranger" tour. The 2-hour tour included 4 stops with a short, but informative lecture at each stop and lots of time for photos and questions. There was a light rain shower as we boarded the bus but the sun was shining by the time we made our first stop.

There are beautiful little streams and waterfalls.

A yellow columbine in bloom.

Golf at Johnson Ranch

2011-04-13T08:34:00.003-07:00

Yesterday Senor Ping and I golfed at Johnson Ranch at Queen Creek, which is a 45 minute drive from our RV park. The front nine has wide a few rolling hills and longer holes on the floor of the San Tan foothills. The fairways are lined with homes, but they didn't come into play too often!!! The back nine rises and falls in and around the San Tan Mountains and and has some elevated tees and approach shots. We golfed with a couple who were familiar with the course so it made for an enjoyable round.

A view from the top.

A par 3 with an elevated tee.

A long par 5 with a challenging approach to the green. Guess who was in the rough!!!

The cactus was huge!

Water and wildlife on Hole 18.

Chicago in Concert

2011-04-11T08:48:00.002-07:00

I have been listening to Chicago since their first album back in '68(?). Finally got a chance to see the band at the Encanterra Festival last night. Awesome.

Fun Times at Canyon Lake

2011-04-10T09:02:00.004-07:00

Our friend Pat has done a fantastic job of retelling the tales of our 5 hour tour on Canyon Lake so I have asked permission to post a link to her blog. If you are a blog reader, you must add "A View from the Edge" to your reading list. Pat writes a wonderful account of their travels as well as a humorous look at their daily adventures.

To get you in the mood for the Canyon Lake tour here's our version of "Gilligan's Island" theme song.

Just sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a wonderful trip,
That started from Canyon Lake,
Aboard three tiny ships.
The mates were mighty sailin' men,
The Skippers brave and sure,
Thirty passengers set sail that day,
For a five hour tour,
A five hour tour.

And here is Pat's blog:
http://pat-aviewfromtheedge.blogspot.com/2011/04/fun-in-sun-at-canyon-lake-part-two.html
(Be sure to read part 1 and part 2)

Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Rapters

2011-03-30T21:38:00.007-07:00

One of the highlights of our winter in Arizona has been the NBA basketball game that we attended last week. Our resort had a special deal for tickets and we paid $45 for $130 tickets. We took the Metro light rail to the US Airways Center. Our tickets also included early admittance to watch the pre-game warm-up.

One of the courtside celebrities was Martin Kaymer, the #1 ranked golfer on the PGA tour.

The Rapters led most of the game but it was the amazing play of Steve Nash that led the Suns to a win.

Besides an entertaining basketball game, the cheerleaders, the mascot, the giveaways and the fans made for an exciting evening.

More Music with Plan B

2011-03-27T10:49:00.007-07:00

Plan B played in the courtyard for the last time this season on Friday. Everyone was there to sing a long, dance and have a good time.

Friends from Eatonia and Regina joined us for the afternoon.

Senor Ping got the crowd rocking!!

We did the Locomotion!!

And after the last song, a group of us moved over to the BBQ Patio for a Potluck supper. There was tons of food, many laughs, good company and lots of farewells as some of the group are packed and ready to leave within the next few days.

Krazy Daze Parade

2011-03-19T22:05:00.004-07:00

The RV park held a parade last week to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and the arrival of spring. There were decorated golf carts, line dancers, tennis players, horses (real and cardboard) and lots of people having a good time.

A huge favorite was the Lawnchair Brigade. These gentlemen are also members of the Val Vista Synchronized Swim Team.

Following the parade we enjoyed burgers, green beer and more music!!!

Gold Canyon-Sidewinder Course

2011-03-12T21:19:00.004-07:00

This week Senor Ping and I played in a golf tournament at the Gold Canyon Golf Course. Half of the golfers played the Dinosaur Mountain Golf Course and the rest of the golfers play the Sidewinder Course. This year it was our turn on the Sidewinder. The day started out windy and cool, not the best weather for golf. Fortunately the wind died down a bit in the afternoon. It was a fantastic golfing experience in the shadows of the Superstition Mountains.

Quilt Show

2011-03-12T20:31:00.004-07:00

Last November I decided I wanted to learn to quilt. Loreen was an excellent teacher and showed me the ins and outs of cutting and sewing the strips of fabric and building the blocks for my first quilt. I finished sewing the blocks and was able to lay them out before heading home at the end of the month. While home, I sewed the blocks together and picked out the border fabric. When I arrived back at Val Vista, I got the border cut and sewed on and the binding ready, but I was sure I wouldn't have time to get it finished before the Quilt Show. Well, with lots of help and a few strings being pulled, a miracle happened and four days before the show I dropped off the quilt to have it machine quilted. Loreen came to my rescue again and showed me how to prepare the binding and then sew the binding onto the quilt. Before and after the Canada Days' celebration I hand sewed the binding. This is the finished product!!

On March 2 Val Vista hosted their first Quilt Show, with 129 entries, plus 37 challenge fabric entries.

This quilt is called "Quick Trip Around the World" in black and white fabric. it is one of my favorite at the quilt show.

The challenge fabric brought out the creative side in all the quilters. These flowers were cut from the challenge fabric and attached to a painting. Just beautiful!!!

More challenge fabric!!

This is the "Best of the Show "quilt. The photo does not show the beautiful embroidery or the detail. Lil did a fabulous job!!

Dancing Queen

2011-03-12T20:10:00.002-07:00

When Plan B played at the neighboring park Ellen and I went along to listen. When the music started, a not quite so young gentleman came over and asked Ellen to dance.

He sat with us for a few minutes and told us he goes to all the dances and has been coming to Mesa from his home state of Missouri for 26 years. He danced every dance and Ellen had a second round on the dance floor. He left before I had my turn....maybe next year!!!!

Are We Having A Good Time?

2011-03-12T10:24:00.003-07:00

Senor Ping and I have been back in Mesa for a month and I've only posted once on my blog. That's not because we lead a boring life, never do anything and consequently have nothing to blog about. It's the exact opposite! We are so busy, I hardly have time to do laundry and the usual cleaning around the 5th wheel, let alone keep updating my blog. Shortly after we arrived, I went to "Menopause: the Musical" with a group of gals from the park. We had so many laughs!! Gavin and Loreen and Doug and I also went to "Spamalot" a few days later. We are so fortunate to have access to performances like these, without driving two and half hours like we would at home. The park has a concert series and we went to see Esteban (a classical guitarist). There is music in the courtyard at least twice a week, there are lots of talented musicians here in the park, as well as other musicians that are hired to perform. A pitcher of beer sells for $5 so with free entertainment and cheap beer how can you not have a good time!!

I usually take my camera and have photos to add to my posts, but there were a few events that I have forgotten my camera, or it was too dark to take good photos. Besides the usual Music in The Courtyard and Saturday night dances, we were fortunate to get tickets for the Canada Days celebration. Each year residents from a specific province host a dinner and dance. This year it was scheduled for February 4 and Saskatchewan was hosting the event. Unfortunately there was a power outage in the park and the host committee decided to postpone the celebration. Fortunate for us, tickets came available and we were able to get some. No surprise to us, the Saskatchewan committee put on a fabulous evening. They wore their "Rider Pride" shirts and were easy to identify in the sea of red and white. The provincial flags were on display and Ellen was an honorary "Newfie" for the evening!!

On March 7 and 8 the park held their annual Variety Night. This year the show was the best ever. The theme was "On The Road Again" and the show included music and dance from across the U.S. and Canada. Doug accompanied the line dancers with "I'm Going to Kansas City" and I was part of the Mardi Gras paraders. The highlight was the Synchronized Swim Team!! I just wish I had taken my camera!

I am going to try to get a few more posts done today. I have quilt show, golf tournament, happy hour photos and pictures of the St. Pat's parade to sort and organize and then get posted.....but first it's time to hit the pool!!

Can You Hear The Music??

2011-02-26T23:12:00.003-07:00

Plan B played in the courtyard at Val Vista this week.

The sun was shining and the crowd was lively. A broken leg didn't stop Margaret from encouraging crowd participation. The "trashy women" were also in attendance.

Some friends from home came to the park to dance and enjoy the music.

Love Thy Neighbor: Oasis Players Version

2011-02-15T20:13:00.007-07:00

Another fabulous drama season has come to and end, but the memories live on!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T19:23:00.009-07:00

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving with our friends at Val Vista. We spent the afternoon enjoying delicious food and drink, beautiful weather, wonderful companionship and great music. We are very thankful to have made so many wonderful friends and to be able to share this holiday with them.

London, Stonehenge, Bath and Salisbury

2010-11-14T11:00:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Europe 2010

2010-11-13T10:23:00.001-07:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

10-10-10

2010-10-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

We are having a lazy day today. This morning we visited with the owners of our agriturisimo, did some posting on my blog and then went for a walk through the vineyard. This afternoon we drove into Montalcino for a light lunch and our daily dose of gelato. We are going to do some wine tasting of the Brunello wines that this region is famous for and then have an early evening. We are back into Rome tomorrow.
I am missing the excitement of Thanksgiving, and especially the fun times we have when the family is together. Megan and Gary are in Trail and will be having their annual feast of turkey with Gary's mom. I'm not sure what Allan's plans are, but I hope he will be eating turkey and pumpkin pie!!! Love to all the family and see you soon!!!!

Saturday in Siena and San Gimignano

2010-10-10T07:00:00.005-07:00

The sun was shining when we arrived in Siena. We parked the car in a paid lot and set off to explore the city. Our first stop was the Piazza Del Campo. This is one of the most famous squares in the world and home to the famous "corsa al palio" or horse race. The square is fan or shell shaped and the buildings surrounding the piazza are beautiful. The bell tower can be seen for miles when entering the city.There are many streets that converge on the piazza and each of them leads to shops and restaurants. Many of the shops were selling linens and beautifully painted ceramics.

From the Campo we headed to the Piazza del Duomo. I thought the cathedral was even more spectacular than the Duomo in Florence. The bands of black and white marble and the statues and mosaics outside were beautiful. The inside of the cathedral had stained glass windows, frescoes, beautiful sculptures, marquetry panelling on the choir stalls and 56 marble panels on the floor. They are restoring some of the panels, but in order to protect them from excessive wear they cover parts of the floor and you would have to visit many times to see all of them. There was also a room built to store the library of Pope Pius ll. The ceiling and walls were painted with scenes from his life and there were display cases containing 15th century psalters.

From Siena we took a drive northeast to a small town of San Gimignano. This is a UN World Heritage site and well known for the 14 stone towers, which some believe to be the precursors of modern skyscrapers. We fell in love with the place as soon as we saw it. San Gimignano was much busier than we had anticipated and it took a while to find parking. We climbed the winding streets to the Piazza della Cisterna. The well is still in the center of the square and you can imagine it would have been the hub of activity a few hundred years ago. There were many spots to take photos of the countryside and some of the cafes were perched on the side of the walls overlooking the valley

Hill Towns of Tuscany

2010-10-10T02:34:00.005-07:00

Our first day in Tuscany and we were off to see some hill towns. With a map in one hand and the GPS in the other we started with Montalcino. I had read that it was Market Day on Friday and would be very busy so we arrived early to get a parking spot. We parked near the castle and went for a walk through the market area. The market stalls included hardware supplies, housewares, linens and towels, clothing and footwear as well as bedding plants, cheeses, meats (an entire roasted pig was on display) and baking and candy. There were lots of local people visiting along the way and it looked like everyone was in the mood to shop!!

We also checked out the 14th century Rocca (fortress). Senor Ping climbed to the top of the parapet walk where he got some awesome photos of the countryside. The high walls of the rocca form a pentagon and provided refuge for the people when they were under attack. Nowadays people head there to taste some wine and enjoy the scenery. We walked along the walls of the city and then made our way back to the car.

Our next stop was Montepulciano, a typical town of the Rennaissance period. The town is located at the top a hill, unfortunately, most of the parking it as the bottom of the hill. It was a steep climb to Piazza Grande, the main square at the top of the town. The narrow alleys up and down led to such picturesque spots it was easy to take our time and stop for lots of photo shoots along the way. The view from the top was spectacular. The straight rows of the vineyards, the tall cypress trees and the different shades of greens and browns in the distance are just like I've seen in books and movies.

On our way back to Montalcino we stopped at Pienza. This is another little hillside town with a wonderful little piazza, beautiful tower and cathedral.
Our final stop was the Abbey at Sant'Antimo. The church was built in the 12 century and is now a spiritual retreat run by the Augustinian monks. We walked the grounds and saw a view of the countryside from the valley looking up into the hills.

Tuscany October 2010

2010-10-10T02:23:00.003-07:00

We picked up our rental car and left Rome at 10:00 AM on Thursday morning with very limited directions on how to get out of the center of the city. Thankfully, the GPS we brought with us finally found our location and directed us to the main highway and out of the city. It was smooth sailing to Montalcino. Senor Ping handled the 5 speed Ford Fiesta just like a race car driver, maneuvering the narrow winding roads. We located the agriturisimo that we were booked into for the next 4 nights, but they were closed over the lunch hour so we drove the 3 km back up the hill to Montalcino to explore.....bad move!!! We took the wrong turn at the top of the hill and ended up going down a one-way steep, dirt back road. The only consolation was that we were followed by another car. They stopped to ask directions in English, at least we weren't the only lost tourists. A van stopped but he only spoke italian and so we really didn't get much assistance. We ended up going all the way to the bottom of the hill and then heading back up to the town.

We made our way back to the agriturisimo and checked into our room. We are staying in a villa on a fully operational vineyard. Our villa comes with a fully equipped kitchen, living/bedroom, bathroom and private terrace. The vineyard is just a few steps from our door. Our hosts gave us a tour of the property and then we unpacked and relaxed under the tuscan sunshine.

Our first evening we walked down the road a bit to a small trattoria for dinner. The food was excellent and the wine was delicious!!! We walked back to our villa and marveled at how peaceful it was.

Roamin' Holiday

2010-10-06T08:33:00.004-07:00

We continued our tour of Rome on foot with long walk through Trastevere, somehow missing the trendy parts and only seeing the more rundown and questionable area along the river...oh, well, now we have an excuse to come and back and see if we can discover the charm of this area that we have only read about and not seen!!!

From there we walked over to the Isola Tiberina and then towards the Bocca della Verita, the mouth of truth. We took turns inserting our hand into the mouth and we both still have all our fingers!!!!We had a long walk to the Arch of Constantine and the Collosseum, and when we saw the lineups to get into the collosseum we were glad we had visited it last time. We strolled along the Roman ruins, watched the crazy traffic at Piazza Venezia and then walked to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

Rome is a wonderful city but we are ready to head for the hill towns of Tuscany tomorrow.

Roaming Around Rome

2010-10-05T09:16:00.005-07:00

Monday was a travel day for us. We checked out of Edi's place at 10:00 AM but left our luggage with him for the day. We went for a walk around the old town, hoping the crowds would be smaller but along with the usual tour groups there were also school groups. Dubrovnik is a very busy place!! Our flight was short and we took the express train into the main train station in Rome. Our hotel was a short walk from there. We are very pleased with the hotel, great location, rooms are excellent and breakfast is included.

We started our first day in Rome with a walk to the Spanish Steps. When we visited here with our school tour we couldn't get anywhere near the steps for crowds. Today was a different story. We visited the church at the top and then took our time walking down the steps. Even the horse drawn carriages weren't busy!!
Our next stop was Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that if you toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain you will be guaranteed a return trip to Rome. Must have worked because I think we tossed a coin the last time!!!
The skies clouded over and there was a light rain falling when we arrived at the Pantheon. We took some time to sit and enjoy the beauty of the building.
By the time we walked to Piazza Navona my feet were beginning to hurt, just like the poor guy's feet in the Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi or fountain of the four rivers. We strolled around listening to street musicians and admiring the painting on display.
We walked to Castel Sant' Angelo and then over to the Vatican. This is where everyone was hiding!! The lineups to get into the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica were over half way around the square. We were very happy that we had seen both on our last visit, saving us the long wait today!!
By this time we were ready for some gelato!! We checked out a book store on the way back to the hotel and bought a map of Tuscany for our drive on Thursday. Tonight we will enjoy a glass of wine and an evening meal at a ristoranti in Rome and then an early night, we still have lots to see!!

Cruising the Elephite Islands

2010-10-04T01:13:00.002-07:00

On Sunday we went on a 7-hour cruise through the Elephite Islands. There are ruins of former patrician summer residences scattered around the islands as well as sandy beaches, old churches, botanical gardens and small summer resorts (most are closed for the season).

Our first stop was at the island of Kolocep. We went for a walk to the sandy beach and I waded into the water. Some of our group went swimming and others opted for a beer at one of the sidewalk cafes. What a peaceful little spot!!!

After about an hour we headed to the Island of Sipan. When we arrived we were entertained by a group of young children down on the pier fishing with a long spear. They caught a fish and also a small stingray. As we walked around the island we came across them as they ran home calling "Mama, Mama!!" anxious to show her what they had caught. We were also treated to lunch on the boat while we were stopped . We had a choice of chicken or fish and I chose fish. It was served whole on my plate with some salad greens and bread. It had been pan fried and seasoned, and other than having it look at me while i was eating it was quite good. (Senor Ping chose the chicken).

Our last stop was the island of Lopud. There are no cars on the island, we saw a few bicycles and golf carts. We put on our swim suits and went for a swim, the water was crystal clear, but a bit chilly when you first got in. There was a shower and change stalls on the beach so we were able to change out of our wet suits and relax on the beach.

The ride back took about an hour as we would our way through the Dalmatian Islands. We saw people sunbathing (some nude) or fishing off the rocks. it was a great way to end our time in Croatia!!

2010-10-02T12:27:00.006-07:00

We arrived in Dubrovnik on Friday afternoon and were met at the bus station by our landlord's sister. She helped us get on the correct bus to the old town and the Pile Gates where Edi was going to meet us. As we got off the bus we could hear a big guy calling out "Mr. Doug, Mr. Doug!" and sure enough it was Edi. Allan and Julia had recommended Edi's sea view apartments as they had stayed there last year. We had contacted him and he promised us a room with a view of the sea...and we got just as he promised!! This is what we see when we open the shutters in our room!

Our apartment is just outside of the old town walls. We are on the first floor overlooking a small bay. There is a market across the street, restaurants and bars nearby and we are just a short walk to the old town.

After we settled in we went for a walk and ended up at the famous Buza Bar. We found it by chance, the entrance is a hole in the wall and it opens up to a wonderful spot to watch the sunset. We arrived early enough to get a table and we had a few beverages as we watched people diving off the rocks into the water. The sunset was spectacular!!!

Later in the evening we went to a concert in an old church to listen to classical music played by a string quartet. The acoustics were great and all the musicians were very talented. Senor Ping really enjoyed the classical guitarist.

On Saturday morning we walked the walls of the old town. There are lots of steep steps going up and down and some narrow ledges. I am not fond of heights or edges so I was not sure about the walk but it was worth it. The scenery is breathtaking. We saw quite a few swimmers, even though the locals think the water is too cold to swim in October. Later in the afternoon we went down to the docks and watched charter boats coming and going.

We celebrated our 28th anniversary with dinner at a Bosnian restaurant recommended by Edi. The food was excellent, but then, we really haven't had a bad meal the entire holiday. As I write this, we are sitting at a caffe bar and Senor Ping is listening to the Roughrider football game on the computer. Go Riders!!!

"Split" ting Our Time in Croatia

2010-09-30T09:59:00.003-07:00

We have been in Split for the past 2 1/2 days. We arrived here by bus from Mostar, passing many little villages, hotels and resorts and autoparks (campgrounds) on the way. As we got off the bus in Split we were approached by a woman who had a small apartment for rent. She showed us the location on the map and after some negotiating we agreed to go with her and have a look at it. She pointed out restaurants, super markets and bakeries nearby the apartment while she was giving us a ride there. The Police station is next door and a monastery is just across the street and so it is a quiet but safe neighborhood. The apartment is similar to a studio apartment with a kitchen, bed/sitting area and private bath. The cost was $56 (Canadian) a night so we agreed to rent it for three nights. She gave us a map and directions for walking to the Old Town (about 300 metres away) and left without payment or even our names.

On our first night we tried some traditional Croatian food. I had a beef dish called pasticada served with gnocchi and Doug had a beef goulash. Both dishes were delicious. We headed to Diocletian's Palace and strolled past many shops and cafes. It seems to be a very popular place with tourists and locals alike.

On Wednesday morning we headed to the bakery for some fresh pastries and also picked up a few groceries to make lunches since we have a kitchen. Everything seems to be very cheap here, for about $10 we bought pastries (still warm from the oven apple and cherry strudel, a croissant like pastry filled with cottage cheese and fresh buns), meat, cheese, juice and water. We ate breakfast and then waited for Dianne to arrive so we could pay her. I mentioned that I would like to do some hand laundry and she showed me where I could hang the clothes to dry.

We decided to go for a short stroll around the palace and see it in daylight. We checked out the fish market and enjoyed the sound of the vendors selling their fresh fish. We came across a walking tour and decided to join a small group for a tour of the palace. Our guide was a bit long winded and much of the tour was a too long history of Diocletian and not enough of a description of what we were seeing. There are some posters describing parts of the palace so we will need to go back and read them to see if we get some answers. The old town or palace area has a market for fresh produce, butcher shops, restaurants and cafes, shopping similar to what you would find in any shopping mall as well as apartments that are home to over 2000 people. We just got back to our apartment when the rain started so we had a rest and did some reading. We had a late dinner and strolled down to the palace. Many of the shops were closing up because of the rain and cooler temperatures.

On Thursday morning we took an intracity bus to Trogir. It is an island town and has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. We walked across a small bridge and checked out the cathedral and market square. Then we walked down to the military fortress and enjoyed the view of the surrounding yacht harbors, beaches and town. We stopped for a beer and lunch at the Farmers Market. Along with fresh fruits and vegetables they were also selling honey, olive oil, fresh flowers and, of course, pastries. We caught the bus back to Split and walked back to the Palace for one last look. Tonight there is a football (soccer) game between Split and Belgium and the streets are full of fans on their way to the stadium. I am sure we will hear lots of singing and cheering. We are going to try to find a bar that is televising the game and maybe watch it with the locals. Tomorrow we will head to Dubrovnik.

Mostar, Bosnia

2010-09-29T01:33:00.005-07:00

Mostar was the site of some of the most vicious fighting in the Bosnian Civil War (Bosniacs vs Croats) in 1992-93. The Croatian seige of the city brought with it almost total destruction. Our hotel manager told us that she was eleven years old at the time, describing how she and her family hid out every night in their basement during the seige. They also took in others whose homes were too damaged to live in. She said that they had 25 people living in their basement at all times. Please search YouTube to witness the horrible destruction of the Mostar Bridge. (search stari most or mostar bridge). This is a view of the Bridge from our Hotel room!

Our hotel driver told us that every family in Mostar lost family members. He lost two brothers. He had joined the army because he would have starved had he not. He was in the Army for four years. His pregnant wife was so malnourished she almost died. They now have 3 children. He also repeatedly thanked us as Canadians because without our help many more would have died. It was a most intense day.
This picture shows the beautiful Nevreta River that flows through Mostar.

The area around the bridge is beautiful. Although lots of war damage is still evident, many buildings have been restored. Every roof in the city and all of the windows, doors and floors have been replaced, bringing back some of the pre-war beauty to the city. We will never forget Mostar.

Destination #2 or The Not So Amazing Race Through Four Countries

2010-09-29T01:24:00.004-07:00

We were up at 4:00 AM Monday morning to head to our next destination. Our driver picked aus up on time and traffic was light all the way to the Ataturk Airport. We entered the airport and went through security immediately, the line wasn't too bad and things seemed to be going smoothly. A stop for a quick coffee ($11 Can) later and we were off to find our gate. and then the thunder and lightning started!! After the time for boarding had passed they announced that there was a gate change for our flight. Back we went to where we had started and discovered we needed to go through more security to get to the gate. Our 7:30 AM flight to Vienna was over an hour late departing, and we only had 1 hour and 15 minutes to switch planes. Could it be done???

Our plane arrived and we were down to 35 minutes until the next plane took off. We hustled though customs and then ran to find the check-in for Croatia Airlines. Fortunately I asked one of the attendents and she was able to get us checked in with out having to wait for the lineup. The only problem was, our plane had already started boarding!! Off we ran to find our departure gate. And guess what....more security!!!! The lineup was very long and when I told the staff that our plane had started boarding they just shrugged their shoulders. Then we could hear them calling our names. Panic was setting in...what if we miss our flight??? We finally arrived at security and it was off with belts, watches, jackets and everything out of the bags. We were lucky they sent us through and we started running. Down the stairs and a then down a long hallway. We arrived at the gate and jumped on the bus that took us out on the tarmak to meet the plane. The rest of the passengers were all seated when we hurried on. I think the engine started before I had my seat belt fastened.

The flight to Dubrovnik was very uneventful, I even had time to nap a bit. We headed out of the Dubrovnik airport and found the shuttle bus that would take us to the bus depot. It was 12:15 and we had a 3:15 bus to Mostar to catch. After we got our bus tickets and bought some Kunas we walked over to a tiny market and bought some snacks and water for the bus trip. The bus depot was very clean, the staff was quick to mop up any spills and swept the floors at least 3 times while we were wating. There was a 3 kuna charge to use the washrooms, but they were spotless so it was worth it!!!

Finally we boarded the bus and headed up the coast. The scenery was spectacular as we drove along the sea. When we turned inland we saw huge orchards with oranges, lemons, pomogranites and olive trees, and greenhouses full of ripe tomatoes and peppers, fields full of cabbages and rows of grape vines. We stopped frequently so that our passports could be checked. And then, just when we thought we were on the home stretch the bus stopped again. An announcement was made and everyone stood up and started filing off the bus......now what???? The driver motioned for us to get off and get on the bus parked beside it. We never did figure out what the reason behind the switch was, but we finally made it to Mostar. A driver from the hotel was waiting for us and we were soon checked in to the Villa Anri.

The view from our balcony was enough to convince us that the hectic day of travel was well worth it. The famous Stari Most bridge was such a beautiful sight we could hardly wait to go for a walk to see it close up. We stopped for dinner at a Balkan Restaurant and then walked the almost deserted streets of war torn Mostar.

Our Last Day in Istanbul

2010-09-26T10:35:00.003-07:00

Last day in an incredible city, and we saved one of the best for last. This morning we visited the Hagia Sofia Cathedral, built by the Byzantines around 500AD, but converted rather hastily by the Ottomans in 1453 to a Mosque. The old Christian symbols were plastered over and replaced with Moslem symbols. Several centuries later much of the plaster fell off revealing the Christian paintings underneath. This must have been distressing to the Moslem worshippers. In the 1930's it was converted into a Museum showing its dual purpose as a cathedral and a mosque.

This was followed by a quick trip to the Medusa's head in the Basilica Cistern. The cistern was built 1500 years ago and used to store water for the people of the Hagia Sophia area of the city. In the 1800s it was restored and provided water for Topkapi Palace.

We took some time to sit in the park between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and reflect on all that we have seen and done in Istanbul. People watching is always a favorite pass time and this was a perfect place for it!! We stopped for lunch and beer at a small cafe on one of the side streets nearby.

It will be tough to leave Istanbul tomorrow morning, but Bosnia (Mostar) and Croatia awaits.

Saturday in Istanbul

2010-09-25T11:24:00.003-07:00

Today is our second last day in Istanbul. We visited the Blue Mosque, built in seven years following the Ottoman Conquest of 1453. Magnificent architecture, no shorts or short skirts, ladies had to cover their heads and arms, men and ladies had to remove their shoes. Thankfully I had brought along my own scarf and did not have to borrow from the mosque.

Then we boarded a ship for a cruise of the Bosphorus Straits that separate Europe and Asia. Historically very important, the Bosphorus also joins the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Fishing boats, tankers, freighters, yachts and pleasure craft of all kinds can be seen. On the shore huge numbers of multimillion dollar homes, lavish hotels, and, of course. mosques can be seen.

The cruise goes under the Bosphorus bridge, built in the early '70s that connected Europe and Asia. 10 TL and 90 minutes later and we were back at the Galata Bridge. Then an afternoon stroll through the Spice Market and some local markets areas near there. It is estimated that 400,000 people visit these markets every day! I think we bumped into half of them.

We ended the day with a magnificent meal of turkish cuisine on the rooftop terrace of a nearby hotel. The view was spectacular, too bad we left the camera back at the hotel. The Bosphorus Bridge was lit with changing colored lights and with the full moon in the distance it rivaled the Eiffel Tower for its light show.

These Feet Were Made For Walking

2010-09-24T12:51:00.002-07:00

Today we started out with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the ottoman household. There are many priceless collections stored at the palace, and the views of Europe and Asia on the Bosphorus Strait are fabulous.

We also toured the harem which is where the sultans used to live with their families and saw the three sections: the area allocated to the sultan, the area for the mother of the sultan and the area where the area reserved for the sultan’s favorite concubine. An interesting place to visit!!!

The sun was fighting to break through the cloud cover we have had for the past 2 days so we took our time strolling around the Hippodrome, the Arasta Bazaar and the grounds around the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. There seemed to be many more people walking around the tourist areas today, as well as school children in their uniforms. With the weekend also come more visitors so we expect it to be much busier the next couple of days.

In the afternoon we took the tram to Karakoy and walked up to the Galata Tower. This was not an easy walk and I questioned the whereabouts of the funicular that is supposed to run to the top of the hill. Thankfully, there is an elevator that takes you most of the way to the top. We arrived at the top to find the observation deck that goes around the outside of the tower crowded and then we were reminded about how much neither of us is fond of edges.

The walk down was much easier and we walked across the Galata Bridge and watched the fishermen. It must have been a good day for fishing because they were shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the bridge!!

By the time we made it back to the hotel we had walked 17 km and it was time for a beer and a rest. Our favorite watering hole is the Red River Pub. The staff was very excited when we gave them photos F&C had sent from their visit in July. After a rest it was off to find a place for dinner. We have tried a different restaurant each night and sampled a variety of dishes. There are so many choices and we are running out of time.

Visiting the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market

2010-09-23T10:45:00.002-07:00

This morning we decided to visit the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. We entered the bazaar through the main gate and were amazed at the huge number of jewelry stores lining the street, selling watches, diamonds and gems of all kinds. Then we entered the leather district, full of jackets and hand bags. A salesman who was eager to make his first sale of the day stopped us. He soon realized we weren’t interested in buying anything but he was interested in what our impressions of “his city” were and also made some suggestions of places we should be sure to visit while in Istanbul. Many of the shopkeepers call out as you pass, offering bargains and trying to entice you into their shops. Everything you could possibly want was for sale, one street was lined with shops selling wedding and formal gowns, traditional clothing for the Turkish women, shoes, and lingerie. Another street had a zipper shop, one selling only buttons, fabric shops of all kinds, stores with sequins, lace and thread, definitely a dressmakers dream!!!! We walked around for a couple hours, but didn’t come close to seeing it all. When we stopped to purchase a few souvenirs, we enjoyed conversations with the shopkeepers about Canada, sports and the history of Turkey.

From the Grand Bazaar it is a short walk to the Spice Market. It was easy to know when we were getting close because of the wonderful aromas of spices. As well as spices, there were cheeses, olives, coffee, fruits and nuts and other items for sale. We sampled a few of the spices before buying some paprika and we also enjoyed tasting the chocolate covered lokum (Turkish delight candy) which offered at many of the stalls.

HO HO in Istanbul

2010-09-22T08:38:00.009-07:00

We took the Hop On Hop Off city tour of Istanbul today.

We saw the line fishermen on the Galata Bridge.

The more modern part of Istanbul centers around Taksim Square. this is also where all the buses stop and people use this as a meeting place.

There is a long pedestrian walkway with upscale shopping. The crowds were unbelievable. Some of the side streets had fresh veggies and fruits, fish and meat for sale.
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The bus took us past the ruins of the old walls of Istanbul.

We stopped by the Fish Market at the end of the day, there was still a few left for someone's dinner.

First Stop: Istanbul

2010-09-21T08:55:00.003-07:00

Senor Ping and I began the first leg of our amazing vacation early Monday morning. It was still raining and gloomy when we boarding the flight from Calgary airport bound for Toronto. We had a bit of walk from our arrival gate to our next departure gate but it was good to stretch our legs before boarding the flight to Dusseldorf. We marveled at how smoothly everything was going, we had no delays, flights were on time and we weren’t even tired (yet!!) When we arrived in Dusseldorf (at 6:05 AM local time) we walked to a different terminal, got our boarding passes and found the gate with about 15 minutes to spare. On to destination #1.

Our flight arrived in Istanbul on time and we quickly found the visa office and paid $60 US dollars each to visit this amazing city. We arrived at the exit and waited a few minutes for the shuttle to arrive from the Ilkay Hotel where we will be staying for the next six days. F&C told us that the ride to the hotel would be a ride to remember, how right they were!!!!

The Ataturk airport is about 15 km from our hotel. Our driver negotiated the busy roadways with ease, talking on his cell phone as he drove. We could see the oil tankers in the harbor and he slowed down as we went past a fish market. There were old and new apartment buildings, some looking very luxurious and others looked as though they were abandoned, but then we saw today’s laundry was hanging on the balconies. As we neared the hotel he turned off the main road and began winding his way up and down narrow streets past restaurants, Turkish baths, grocery stores, carpet shops and trinket shops selling everything imaginable.

Check in at the hotel was quick and efficient. Our room overlooks the street that the trolley runs down. We asked for a room closer to the pub with hopes that we can get WIFI in our room. They will move us tomorrow. The weather is perfect, 21C with a slight breeze. Much better than the cold and rain we left at home.

We stopped at our room for a few minutes to relax and study the maps. After grabbing the compass (a must in this city) we headed out for a walk. The streets are bustling, cars and trolleys and people everywhere. We finally decided it would be best if we followed the street that the trolley runs on, for sure we won’t get lost. We admired the items in the shop windows, until we discovered that the least little bit of “showing interest” led to a 15 minute stop while the street “hustlers” tried to convince us to check out the carpets in their stores. We drooled over the baklava and checked out the menus at a few of the restaurants and cafes. We eventually found ourselves across the street from the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Today was not a visit the “must sees” of Istanbul, our intention was to have a look around, find out where the main sites are and come back another day. We listened to the “call for prayer” and it hit home that after months of planning we have arrived in Istanbul!!!!

We stopped for a beverage on our way back to the hotel and are going to have an early night tonight. Dinner will be at the Red River Pub in our hotel. Efes beer and a kebab to top off our first day!! Tomorrow we will tie on our walking shoes, grab the camera and maps (and compass) and start to explore the city.

Shopping in London

2010-08-22T08:48:00.003-07:00

You can buy just about anything in London.

Salisbury, Bath and Stonehenge

2010-08-22T08:27:00.012-07:00

We took a bus tour out of London on August 10th. Good trip, quite a bit of rain and wind on this day, but perhaps, a good day to be on the bus. To the left is a picture of the beautiful Bath Cathedral. We also took in the Roman Baths, of course - why else visit Bath.. Great lunch (Shepard's Pie) acrossfrom the Cathedral. There is much much more to see in Bath. The bus tour just doesn't allow enough to see it all.

Lots of mystery surround the building of Stonehenge. It was also windy. Check out the umbrella.

And of course, the incredible 12th Century Cathedral at Salisbury. This is the one that Ken Follett used as inspiration for his "Pillars of the Earth" meganovel about the bulding of a Cathedral. Here's me being Cloistered.

We Will Rock You!!!

2010-08-22T08:24:00.003-07:00

One highlight of our trip to London and Paris was taking in the musical We Will Rock You, based on the music of Queen. Absolutely awesome! Especially if you are a fan of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Here is a picture of Scaramouche..... can you do the Fandango?

First Day in Paris

2010-08-06T12:14:00.004-07:00

We had an easy flight to Paris, departing from Calgary on Thursday at 1:00 PM. Allan was able to drop us off at the airport and so we didn't have the hassles with parking the car, etc and check in went smoothly. Senor Ping noticed one of our fellow passengers was checking in with an Ovation guitar and when we discovered our flight was going to be a bit late departing and that certain passenger with the previously mentioned guitar was seated across from us he had time to talk to that passenger and found they shared a love for guitars and rock and roll!!! At least I didn't have to worry about him wondering off to play pinball and not hearing the boarding call like the last time we were departing from Calgary airport!!!!

Our stop over in Toronto was short and soon we were on our way to Paris....a few movies and a cat nap later we had landed. We checked in at our hotel and then headed for the Musee du Louvre. The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited museum in the world, and a historic monument. It is a central landmark of Paris and although we strolled the grounds on our last trip we had chosen to visit the Musee d'Orsay instead. There is no possible way anyone can hope to see the entire collection of paintings, sculptures and other artifacts at the Louvre so we concentrated on a few of the things we wanted to see and then sat outside by the fountains and did some people watching. (And although I thought I was quite observant and noticed a mother and her two teenage daughters posing for photos and leaving their belongings beside us while they walked closer to the pyramid, I completely missed 2 of them changing their clothes right in front of us. They changed from dresses and mini skirts with sparkly tops to jeans and sweat pants and t-shirts without leaving the bench beside us!!!)

After we took some time to reenergize we did a walking tour of some of the covered passage ways built at the end of the 18th century, so the ladies could escape the muddy roads and enjoy a new phenomena: window shopping displays. Walking through the passages is a great way to get away from the heavy traffic and street noise, as well as check out some of the cute little sidewalk cafes and shops.

We passed by the original building of the Folies Bergere on our way to a little cafe for dinner. Many people were sitting at outdoor cafes as we headed back to the hotel to catch up on our email and some much needed sleep. As I am writing this I have the window open on our 3rd floor room and I am listening to the fountain outside and the conversations of the Parisian families who have come to sit and enjoy the beautiful August evening.

Little Valley Jamboree

2010-07-26T15:39:00.003-07:00

In mid July we took our 5th wheel an hour down the dusty trail to the Callsen farm for the Little Valley Jamboree. This was our first time at the LVJ and so we took our trailer over on Thursday to make sure we would get a camp site. There were about 10 trailers already parked when we set up in the farm yard. We headed back on Friday evening and the yard was full of campers and people of all ages. Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs, beverages and dancing shoes. Musicians young and old are invited to join in the music. We missed the square dancers that kicked off the weekend. A camp fire was kept burning so that you could roast wieners or marshmallows or warm up if you were chilly. When we went to bed on Friday night the band was still going strong.

Doug made his debut on the stage on Saturday afternoon. Just as he started to play the clouds opened up and down came the rain. Everyone moved their chairs under the big red and white striped tent and enjoyed the music and the 2 young dancers that stayed on the dance floor the entire time. A roast beef supper was served to all the guests (everyone brought salads and desserts). As the sun was setting the music started up again and continued on until the wee hours of the morning. We had a great time visiting, had many laughs (who could forget Bryan's domino chairs or Geri and Brett's chair dance) and the final singsong around the campfire.

Sunday morning we were treated to a pancake breakfast and gospel music. All the musicians made their way up on stage for one final time before packing up and saying their goodbyes. We had a wonderful time meeting new people, listening to great music and enjoying the company of good friends. Our hats go off to the Callsen family for hosting such a fantastic event!!! We've booked our calendar for next year!!!!

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Trail...ing Behind

2010-07-26T15:02:00.006-07:00

I have been neglecting this blog as well as not downloading photos but the time has come!!! So to deal with the backlog of posts and photos I decided I would go back to the end of June and try to catch everyone up with what we have been keeping busy with.

Senor Ping and I visited with Megan and Gary and his mom in Trail B.C. at the end of June. It was a very scenic drive from Calgary to Trail, with a few stops to stretch our legs and take Abbey for a quick run. Our first evening we enjoyed a fantastic "all you can eat" spaghetti dinner at a family style restaurant in Trail. I am still drooling when I think of the delicious meatballs!!!

The next day we took a drive to Nelson, did a bit of shopping and stopped for lunch. it was such a treat to eat at a sidewalk cafe and not spend the whole time slapping mosquitos. After lunch we continued on to Ainsworth Hot Springs and had a refreshing swim. In the evening we visited with some of Doreen's (Gary's Mom) friends and shared in the surprise birthday celebrations they had planned for Doreen.

Senor Ping and I managed to get in a round of golf at the Trail Country Club. Our last evening we had dinner at the Rock Cut Grill near Red Mountain Ski Resort. Our vacations was short but we had a wonderful time visiting Trail!!

This is what is at the end of our driveway!

2010-05-28T08:26:00.003-07:00

It has now been two weeks as the town keeps digging up the water system. Right in front of our house seems to be the holdup as it has been dug up 3 times now. Today they are working in the rain. Must be very unpleasant for the workers. In the meantime we are still getting water to our house via the neighbor's using 300 feet of garden hose.

And our garage is cut off from the street. Can't get the car out.

Panama Canal? Suez Canal?

2010-05-16T16:48:00.009-07:00

It certainly appears like they are digging a canal up 5th Street East in our town. This is what our house looks like from the street!!!

New water pipes are being installed for the
residents of 5th Street.

You can see our house in the background again. Crews worked all day Sunday to dig this trench. We are without water, and have been since Saturday. Robbie, the town foreman and good friend of ours, tells us we should be reconnected to the town water supply by Thursday. In the meantime, we have strung garden hoses to the neighbour's house across the back alley.

This is what we see from our front step.

Here's to the Horses, that Pull the Budweiser!!!

2010-05-02T18:08:00.005-07:00

We welcomed our son home to Eatonia for the weekend. He is now employed by Labatts, the distributer of Budweiser. His arrival in the Budweiser Beer Wagon caused quite a stir in our little town. Lots of people stopping by and enquiring "got any free beer" or "Do you have any Neon Beer signs to give away"? Can't wait to hear what the word on the street is.

Click on the picture to see it full-screen

Invitation to preview our Newest Vacation Book

2010-04-25T09:20:00.003-07:00

Check out our Southwestern US and Mexico Photobook on Shutterfly.

Click here to view this photo book.

A Thai Goodbye

2010-04-03T23:27:00.003-07:00

Many of our friends here in Arizona have already headed for home. Everyone is hosting Happy Hours. The Canadians are trying to empty their liquor cabinets and the people in park models are cleaning out their freezers and fridges. Lucky for us we have a few more weeks before we go home as we have a few bottles to empty before we cross the border.

We have also enjoyed farewell dinners with many of our friends. We are always eager to try a new restaurant and during the past couple weeks we have gone to Mexican, Italian and Thai restaurants. The meals have been delicious and the evenings full of laughter. We are so fortunate to have made so many wonderful new friends and we look forward to seeing them next year!!

Organ Stop Pizza

2010-04-03T12:33:00.002-07:00

One of the "must do" things on my list this year was to go to the Organ Stop Pizza. We finally went for supper one evening before David and Ellen left. I am not sure what the rest of the group was expecting but I was very surprised when we arrived. The Wurlitzer theatre organ is the focal point of the two story restaurant. Seating consists of long tables and benches and you must order your pizza and beverages at separate counters.
The organ has nearly 6000 pipes and is the largest Wurlitzer theatre organ in the world. We enjoyed listening to the wide variety of songs including "Hockey night in Canada" and we joined the rest of the Canadian visitors by standing for playing of O Canada.

More Golfing Photos

2010-03-19T20:33:00.003-07:00

Here are a few more photos of the golf course.

Cal Am Golfing

2010-03-18T12:16:00.003-07:00

This week Senor Ping and I played in a golf tournament at the Gold Canyon Golf Course. Half of the golfers played the Sidewinder course and the rest of us were on the Dinosaur Mountain Golf Course. Dinosaur Mountain is ranked the #1 public golf course in Arizona. It was a fantastic golfing experience in the high Sonoran desert. Every tee box had a panoramic vista and became a challenge for all of us. The course took us up, over and around Dinosaur Mountain with dramatic tee-to-green elevation changes and long, loping fairways. The views of the nearby Superstition Mountains were spectacular.

Renaissance Festival

2010-03-13T19:02:00.003-07:00

Today we visited the Arizona Renaissance Festival. This is the first weekend since the festival opened that has been warm and sunny and I think everyone else had the same idea as us. The traffic was bumper to bumper and it crossed our minds that we might not find parking. Not a problem!! There were acres of parking and the only problem might be finding your vehicle when you finally decide to leave. The festival includes a medieval amusement park, a 12-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast. We arrived before lunch and strolled through the village. I was amazed at the large number of visitors, young and old, dressed in medieval costumes. For the younger crowd there were rides and carnival games. My favorite to watch was a ride called "fight the knight".

There was non stop entertainment on the various stages. We took in some of the shows but realized when we got home that we only saw about half of the performances. We enjoyed the music and song, story telling, comedy acts, sword fights, rope walking and juggling, and circus acts.

There were demonstrations on glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery, leather work, weaving, spinning and a renactment of a medieval village.

A favorite on the lunch menu was the roasted turkey leg and people everywhere were strolling along chewing on the legs. There were chocolate covered bananas and icies served in half oranges. There was beer, wine and other beverages served throughout the park. We were both tired at the end of the day but will definitely head back another year. Senor Ping has his heart set on dressing up as a knight's templar and I think I would make a charming queen!!!

A Girl For All Seasons

2010-03-07T20:16:00.003-07:00

The annual Variety Show was held last week. I was responsible for one of the numbers in the show, "A Girl For All Seasons". While I was back in Eatonia working with Oasis Players, the 12 "girls" were recruited. Each of them designed their own costume and with a bit of makeup they were ready to go. Here are a few photos of the Val Vista Calendar Girls!!!

Happy People at Happy Hour

2010-03-07T11:02:00.003-07:00

Senor Ping and I have been very busy since we arrived back in Arizona. I was busy with the Variety Night (more to come in another blog) and Senor Ping has been playing and practicing with Plan B. We have been to three dances and a couple watering holes as well as numerous Happy Hours in the courtyard. We also attended a Hula Party (that included a hilarious game of Pictionary) and a quadruple birthday party (with bocce and a musical jam session). We have also squeezed in a few happy hours with friends Dave and Ellen.

Last Wednesday Plan B played in the courtyard from 12-2 and then a few of our friends came over for Happy Hour. Our neighbors, Henry and Diane, had also decided to host a Happy Hour. Our block really came to life!!! After our friends went home we moved next door to join the sing-a-long. Along with the guitar, there were tambourines, maracas, shakers, and Diane played the spoons. There was even some dancing in the street.

Plan B in the Courtyard

2010-03-07T10:49:00.002-07:00

Senor Ping and friends (called Plan B) have been booked into the Val Vista courtyard to provide entertainment during lunch and happy hours. Their mixture of classic rock and 60's favorites was well received, it even brought the line dancers to their feet.

It's Raining, It's Pouring!!!

2010-02-22T11:30:00.002-07:00

The weather has been beautiful since we arrived in Mesa. We have had almost 2 weeks of blue skies, sunshine and pool weather. That is, until Saturday. We woke up to the sound of rain pitter, pattering down on the roof of the 5th wheel. For a minute I thought we were back in Saskatchewan. Hard as it is to believe, it really does rain in Arizona. The sun came out for a bit and I was able to take a quick bike ride around the park to admire some of the lake front property. Senor Ping and I went to the dance on Saturday night and wore rain jackets to walk to and from the hall. The rain put a damper on the Mardi Gras theme!!

Sunday morning and we woke up to the steady drip, drop as it was raining once more. Not so much fun!! Abbey and I went for a quick walk and she could hardly wait to get back inside. Apparently, she doesn't care much for the rain either!! We spent the day watching hockey, curling and figure skating. Good thing the Olympics are on!!

And Monday arrives....and with it more rain!!! I thought the wet weather would keep people away from aquacises this morning. NOT!!!! There were 37 women in the pool today. They were probably all looking for an excuse to get out of their motor homes. Cabin fever has struck!! The sun has tried to peak out from behind the grey clouds but as soon as I think it's over, the clouds roll in and the rain starts!!! I may have to check with my New Brunswick neighbors to see if they have hip waders!!

Death By Chocolate Part 2

2010-02-13T09:36:00.005-07:00

Death by Chocolate

2010-02-12T13:22:00.007-07:00

Oasis Players' 8th annual Dinner Theatre was held last weekend. We were sold out for all three evenings. The evening started off with a delicious meal, followed by the fantastic pre-show music. You could have heard a pin drop during Julie and Richard's vocal selections. And finally, the main event, a comedy murder mystery called Death By Chocolate. The long hours of rehearsals paid off as the cast did a wonderful job each evening. We received so many wonderful comments and the reporter who did the review for the local paper declared the evening a huge success!! Hats off to the cooks, the bar workers, waiters and waitresses, hosts and hostesses, the musicians and especially the actors!!!

A Winter Storm

2010-01-24T22:15:00.002-07:00

When we arrived back home in early December we were greeted by -40C temperatures and both Senor Ping and I (but especially Senor Ping) were wondering what the heck we were doing coming back to the great white north. But then in early January milder temperatures arrived and it has been very pleasant here in "flatskatchewan". We have had above average temperatures, the snow started to disappear (which might not have been the best thing for the farmers) and you didn't need to start your car and let it run for half an hour before going anywhere.

Well, this weekend the mild weather came to an end!! It started with freezing drizzle and fog on Thursday evening. And wouldn't you know it, I was booked to substitute teach in Marengo on Friday, a 45 minute commute from home. For those of you that commute daily, you're probably saying "So what, suck it up!!" But you have to realize that for 24 years of my teaching career I lived next door to the school. This meant that it took me 57 steps to go from my door to the door of the school and if I cut through the playground I could do it in considerably less steps. And on Friday morning I had to drive cross-country on grid roads, through fog and freezing rain with the worst sense of direction anyone could have. Senor Ping suggested it might be in my best interest to take the truck with 4 wheel drive and the GPS. Thankfully, I made it to and from Marengo without getting lost or stranded. I really do admire anyone that has to commute to work, I'm so glad it's not me!!!

Anyway, by Saturday morning the snow had begun to fall, the wind was blowing and there were winter storm warnings!! Watching the snow pile up on the driveway brought back memories of some of the rare "snow days" we have had over the years. The days the buses didn't run, but the parents drove through the blizzard just to make sure their Kindergarten student didn't miss a day at school (which really wasn't necessary) while the high school students that lived down the street from the school didn't show up. Those few times when commuting teachers couldn't make it home and would spend the night at our house, and the last big storm we had on April 1, 2004 when the car was buried in the driveway, the drifts reached the roof of the school and the 57 steps to school was through thigh deep snow.

However, by far the most retold "snow day" story is the about the time I buried our jeep in a snowbank. The storm had started early one Sunday morning and by mid afternoon there was lots of drifting snow and high winds and zero visibility. I ventured out in the storm to pick up prizes we had won in the annual Ladies Bonspiel. I picked up my curling buddy and Al had a movie to drop off. We put the jeep in 4 wheel drive and off the three of us went. We made it to the curling rink and the convenience store without a problem. We were homeward bound!! I followed the usual route from the store to home. My buddy suggested I might want to take Main Street. "Not a problem," I replied. "I have 4 wheel drive!" And that's when we came to a grinding halt. No warning, nothing!! We couldn't see beyond the hood of the jeep, but then it didn't matter much because we really couldn't see the hood either....it was buried in the snowbank!!! I tried to get out and assess the situation but it soon became apparent the the snow was blocking my escape. Fortunately Al was able to get his back door open and by crawling over the seat I was able to get out and go for help. Off to the nearest house I went to call for help. A phone call home brought this response from Senor Ping. "Call a tow truck!" Eventually, after many head shakes, questioning looks and a few chuckles the jeep was extracted from a 3 foot deep and half a block long snow bank. So much for the jeep advertisement that maintained "Jeeps will take you anywhere" Ha!!! When I got home I had to put up with wise cracks and smart remarks from my family but the humiliation didn't end there. The next morning I arrived at school to find photocopied hand drawn pictures of a jeep buried deep in a snowbank posted throughout the school for all to read. So much for "What happens in the snow bank, stays in the snowbank!!"

The storm of 2010 is over, we have a few snowbanks in the backyard, some snowdrifts on the streets and the temperatures have dropped. Overall, not one of the more memorable blizzards. Of course, the jeep story was told once again (I can't believe there are actually people who have not heard the story) at a birthday party this afternoon. And when we were leaving, I offered my friend (yes, the same buddy) a ride home. She declined. I wonder why?????

Winslow Arizona

2009-12-27T12:32:00.003-07:00

Well, I did it! I always wanted to stop in Winslow Arizona and get my picture taken in front of the Eagles display. Note the girl in the flat-bed ford slowin' down to take a look at me. Also see the Eagle perched in the upstairs window!

Cool eh!

Me and my New Gretsch!

2009-12-20T22:33:00.005-07:00

Here are my latest acquisitions, a '63 Fender Vibrolux and a '66 Gretsch 6120 Nashville! Both Guitar and Amp are doing well and putting out those fabulous vintage sounds.

Thanksgiving on 12th Street

2009-11-29T22:51:00.002-07:00

Senor Ping and I celebrated American Thanksgiving with our friends and neighbors in Val Vista. Carol and Sandy organized the dinner and everyone contributed by bringing appetizers, hot and cold dishes and desserts. We spent the afternoon (and into the night) enjoying delicious food and drink, beautiful weather, wonderful companionship and great music. People from elsewhere in the park dropped by to listen to the singing and share in the good company. We are so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful "snowbird community".

Glass Blowing

2009-11-26T21:54:00.004-07:00

When Senor Ping and I led a student tour in Italy we were treated to a glass blowing demonstration in Venice. It was amazing to watch and something I never thought I would have an opportunity to try. When we arrived in Mesa, Loreen asked me if I was interested in taking a class in glass blowing and I jumped at the chance. Four of us from Val Vista spent 3 hours with a glass blower for a beginner class in glass blowing.

First we made flowers, which do not involve any blowing. We started by "gathering" the molten glass on a pipe. I know it sounds easy, but first you have to stick a long pipe into a furnace which is at about 2400 F, pick up enough glass and then you have to keep the pipe turning as you take it out of the furnace and move to the bench, again turning the pipe constantly so the glass doesn't fall off. And while you are keeping the pipe turning you use long pliers to pull the glass which has the consistency of very, very stiff taffy. In Venice the glass blower made a horse.....I'm not there yet!!!!

When we had "mastered" the first step we moved to making glass ornaments and adding color to the glass. This involved gathering on a blow pipe and then rolling the glass on a marver (a thick sheet of steel). When you add the colored glass (called frit) it goes back into another furnace called the "glory hole" and is reheated. Next you need to blow into the pipe and create a bubble. Oh, and did I mention you need to keep the pipe turning the entire time so the glass doesn't droop or fall off or any of those other disasters that might just happen. We discovered that even a small glass ornament requires team work, and we took turns blowing into the pipe while others used tools called jacks and diamond sheers.

All completed pieces of glass are put into a "lehr", another type of furnace that is used to cool the glass slowly over many hours. The time flew by quickly and before we knew it the class was over. Hopefully I will have another opportunity to learn more about the art of glass blowing, but in the meantime I will be hanging the ornaments I made on my Christmas tree.

Green Is The Color!!!

2009-11-22T22:07:00.002-07:00

I decided to change the template on my blog in honor of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. We will be cheering them on when they meet the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup next Sunday. GO RIDERS!!!!

Frost Delay in Mesa????

2009-11-17T20:49:00.003-07:00

Yesterday the Jacobs' and Baileys' had a 8:37 AM tee time at Superstition Springs Golf Course. When we arrived they told us our tee time was delayed due to frost....now, I admit it was a bit chilly the night before, but these people do not know the meaning of November frost!!! Needless to say, we hit a bucket of balls at the driving range, enjoyed the view and relaxed until we teed off.
We had seen the golf course from the freeway as we had driven by, but this was our first time golfing at this course. The landscape was spectacular. It was full of undulating greens, rolling fairways, water hazards, sand traps, birds of all kinds (we saw herons and egrets just to name a few) waterfalls and challenging holes.

This hole is known as the volcano. A long par 3 surrounded by sand bunkers. I have to admit I was at the beach on the way to the top!!

There was water everywhere. Quite a change from our regular course where the only water is in your glass. Senor Ping had a tough out on this hole.

Golfing at Kokopelli

2009-11-17T19:56:00.002-07:00

We made a return trip to Kokopelli golf course last week with friends Loreen and Gavin. It was a beautiful day for golf, slightly overcast (meaning not as hot as it has been) but no wind or bugs!! The course is lush with rolling fairways, lots of water and sand (my favorite things ....just not on a golf course) and no obstacles like houses for Senor Ping to worry about. What a great way to spend the day!!!

Guess What I Found!!

2009-11-12T13:31:00.005-07:00

Last week we went golfing and I took my little camera along and took a few shots of Senor Ping and the golf course. When I went to upload the pictures to the computer t I was quite surprised to find golf photos from Desert Blume in Medicine Hat. In August Doug and Debbie K. and I enjoyed a round of golf in Medicine Hat. Although we drove through rain most of the way to Medicine Hat, the rain clouds lifted and we were able to enjoy our round of golf at one of the more challenging courses we have played.

Up To Speed

2009-11-10T11:12:00.002-07:00

One of our biggest beef's about the RV park we are staying in is the high speed internet. At times it works just fine, but on occasion (and those occasions have been getting more frequent as more people arrive), it slows to a crawl, times out and generally annoys us to no end. It is very difficult to harvest and plant crops on Farmville when it is so slow and last night we skyped Megan and had to reconnect 4 times to finish our conversation. Last year I had to sit outside to use skype or walk to the laundry room to improve the strength of the signal.

This morning we had an internet provider come and hook up a modem and now things are zooming along. I can farm all I want, Senor Ping can check out how the Roughriders are preparing for their next football game and we can skype (and hopefully not lose our connection). I will also be able to post more photos on my blog without waiting and waiting and waiting.....

Exploring the Cliff Dwellings

2009-10-19T07:48:00.003-07:00

The drive from Moab Utah to Cortez Colorado is very scenic. We left the red rock cliffs behind and drove through flat prairie. The trees were golden in the sunshine and it was a beautiful fall day. After getting set up in the campground we drove to Mesa Verde National Park. The road to the top is full of switchbacks and deep ravines. We watched a short video about the Puebloans and then toured the museum. The viewpoint from the museum overlooks Spruce Tree House, the park's best-preserved cliff dwelling. We chose to tour the Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in the park. Our tour took us down uneven stone steps, paths around rocks and into the Cliff Palace. (Should I mention at this time that I am not fond of heights or edges???) It was amazing to see what these ancient peoples had designed and built with none of the modern technology available to us today. The climb back up involved more uneven stone steps and climbing ladders for a 100 ft vertical climb. It was not a climb I would care to repeat anytime too soon, but very much worth it!!!

A Hike to Landscape Arch

2009-10-17T22:31:00.003-07:00

This morning Senor Ping and I drove up to the Devil's Garden in the the Arches National Park. The hike was marked as an easy trail so we were confident that "flatlanders" would be able to successfully make the hike without needing CPR.
The trail led us through red rocks and sand, up, down and between crevices formed by nature. At the end of the trail we were amazed by the huge arch before us. What a spectacular sight!!!

We Saw Utah!!

2009-10-17T22:26:00.002-07:00

Senor Ping and I headed south earlier this week, leaving behind a skiff of snow and below average temperatures. Our first night was spent in Butte and we were very pleased with the furnace in our new rig. It kept us nice and toasty warm! Our second night was south of Salt Lake City and then we had a short drive to Moab on our third day. We settled in at an RV park on the edge of town, did some grocery shopping and then spent the day relaxing in the sun.
The next morning we drove to Arches National Park. We decided to follow the auto tour, stopping at various roadside turnouts to take pictures and marvel at the beauty of the landscape. Some of our favorite stops included the Three Gossips, Balanced Rock, Delicate Arch and the Double Arch. We did a short hike up to the North and south Arches and then had lunch at the base of the trail. There were bikers and hikers of all ages enjoying the trails.
Here are a few of our favorite stops on the trip.

Mesa North

2009-08-15T09:45:00.003-07:00

Last week Senor Ping and I joined 3 other couples for "Mesa North". Our hosts, Gavin and Loreen, welcomed us into their home on the lake for 4 days of fun, food and music. We arrived from California, Saskatchewan and B.C. with guitars, amplifiers, microphones, song lists and tons of food. We took turns cooking dinner each night and enjoyed lingering over a glass of wine as the sun set over the mountains. We had many laughs, numerous discussions, played board games, swapped recipes and shared book lists. Gavin also took us for a cruise on the lake. It was a wonderful week that ended with a concert in the garage. We each went our own ways on Friday morning with a promise of more good times to be had when we meet up again in Arizona.

Alberta Fastball Championships

2009-07-29T11:31:00.002-07:00

Here is a picture of Allan rounding 3rd base en route to a Game-Winning, inside-the-park 3 run Home Run.

The Maiden Voyage

2009-07-15T07:25:00.004-07:00

Senor Ping has brought our 5th wheel to the street in front of our house and I am busy packing the last of the groceries. We are finally going to take our "new to us" Cougar on its "maiden voyage". I started organizing the cupboards a couple weeks ago. I have now moved 1 saucepan and 2 frypans to 3 different cupboards, and I'm not sure if they will stay where they are. There is quite a bit more storage in this RV but, as it seems with all things, the more storage you have the more things you take.

Senor Ping in the meantime has perfected the art of setting up the new TV and satellite dish. He has packed and organized the "basement" storage and installed the new bike rack (although we are not taking bikes on this trip). We have the golf clubs packed, guitar (only one this trip) and other necessities.

Today we are going to Irma, a small town in Alberta, hoping to set up for the weekend and watch some provincial mens' softball (Allan is playing). We are going to have time to visit with Ray and Ronnie and play some golf before the ball games start on Friday.

On Sunday we are going north to Cold Lake Provincial Park. I am facilitating a drama camp for youth at the military base in Cold Lake. The camp should be lots of fun and we are looking forward to seeing some new country. There are 2 golf courses in close vicinity so Senor Ping is going to check them out while I am busy during the day.

From there we are going to head south to Sylvan Lake for the weekend. Ted and Colleen will be out at the lake for the weekend so maybe we will play some golf and have a few beverages. Hopefully the kids will be able to come for a visit and we can have a "mini reunion".

Another Proud Moment for Mama B. and Papa B.

2009-06-16T10:13:00.003-07:00

Last week we went to Calgary for the University of Calgary Spring Convocation ceremonies. We also had time for some shopping, dinner with Megan, Gary and Allan, and a visit with Ted and Colleen. We were very proud to watch Allan receive his Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Fun In Las Vegas

2009-04-18T19:52:00.003-07:00

For some reason we can never bypass Las Vegas. The truck just turns off the interstate highway and it seems to know its way to the RV park. Ritchie and Corrine had emailed us to let us know that they would be in Las Vegas when we were passing through and then Fred and Colleen also emailed to say that they would also be in Las Vegas so what could we do? We just had to let the truck take us to Sam's Town.

It was great to have a few beverages with friends from home and catch up on the news. We enjoyed showing Ritchie and Corrine around the strip (too bad Ritchie was not feeling well and had to head back to the hotel early). We shared some stories and a few dinners while we were together. On Friday they left their truck and trailer in Las Vegas and headed out on the motorcycle to tour around Arizona for the next week.

And our winter holiday would not be complete if we weren't following Fred and Colleen home. They left Las Vegas Friday morning and we started for home today. Roads are clear, I'm still in capris and sandals (not sure for how much longer) and the weather forecast is great. We should be home on Monday!!

Lazing About In Laughlin

2009-04-18T19:13:00.003-07:00

We took a new route to Laughlin last Sunday. We headed north from Mesa through Phoenix, Glendale (home of the Phoenix Coyotes), Sun City, Sun City West, Peoria and finally more than an hour later hit the open road. We took the route through Wickenburg to Kingman (which is on the historic Route 66) and then on to Laughlin. We saw miles of joshua trees and barren desert. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the scenic trip. We dropped Abbey off at the kennel (she seems to remember the place) and then headed over to the employee parking where we left our 5th wheel. We spent the evening feeding the slot machines and strolling along the river walk.

On Monday morning I decided I had to find a beauty salon and the sooner the better. Lucky for me there was a salon on the hotel and they were not too busy. Well, as a matter of fact I was their only customer. An hour and half later I walked out a much happier person. I joined Senor Ping poolside and we spent the rest of the day relaxing and reading while soaking up some sunshine. I also squeezed in a bit of shopping at the outlet stores before feeding the slot machines at a couple more casinos. No jackpots for us!!!

Tuesday was windy and cloudy but we spent a couple hours at the pool and then did some more shopping and gambling. Overall the gambling was poor, weather was fair (Wednesday morning the temperatures hit a record low) and the shopping was good. On to Las Vegas!!!

Homeward Bound

2009-04-11T22:37:00.004-07:00

Tomorrow morning Senor Ping and I will begin our trek home. We have enjoyed the past 2 months here in Mesa and have made tentative plans to return next February. We will spend the next 3 nights at a hotel in Laughlin while Abbey enjoys a few days of R&R at the kennel. On Wednesday we are heading to Las Vegas for a few nights and then we'll start for home.
In the mean time we want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Tortilla Flats/Canyon Lake/Apache Trail

2009-04-03T09:00:00.006-07:00

With our guests, Glen and Trudy Bews, we boarded the "Dolly", a paddlewheel steamboat and toured the magnificent Canyon Lake.

The Paddlewheel Steamship "The Dolly" awaits our arrival.

We stopped for a great lunch at Tortilla Flats, a touristy ghost town, Burgers to die for.

An awesome band provided entertainment for our lunch.

We also saw mountain goats lakeside

Beautiful Sedona!!!

2009-04-03T08:41:00.004-07:00

Senor Ping and I took a scenic drive to Sedona last week. We went north through Payson and stopped at Camp Verde for lunch. We also toured Montezuma's castle before winding our way over to Sedona. Near Strawberry we came across some snow on the side of the road. The temperatures went from a balmy 65 F in Mesa to 36 F when we spotted the snow banks. Down in Sedona it was back up to a pleasant 60 F.
Sedona has a world wide reputation as being a spiritual mecca. There are numerous spiritual guides and readers in the area as well as gift shops selling every possible trinket from the area. We did a quick tour, stopping to take many photos, as we soon realized that this is a place we would like to return to in the future (not for the "vortexes" ) because of the beautiful scenery.

Lenore goes Golfing!

2009-04-03T08:35:00.006-07:00

With the Superstition Mountains in the background, Lenore prepares to attack the beautiful island green at Apache Creek Golf Course

She reached the green but just barely. Her ball lodged tightly against the rotting timbers separating the green from the waters.

Another beautiful view of the pretty 14 tee at Apache Creek. This photo was taken from the Championship tees. Two water hazards to cross.

Scenic Apache Creek Golf Course.

St Patrick's Day Parade

2009-03-29T12:48:00.004-07:00

On March 17 Val Vista Village celebrated St. Patrick's Day with an Irish Stew Lunch and a parade. Senor Ping and I skipped the lunch but lined up with the rest to watch the parade.

These guys were called the Lawn chair brigade and they had quite an entertaining routine.

Canadian representation was strong as the RCMP Musical Ride also took part in the parade.

Old Town Scottsdale

2009-03-28T20:40:00.004-07:00

Great little tourist town... Old Town Scottsdale, expensive restaurants, lots of art galleries, public sculptures and parks. We took the tour on the Old Town Trolley. We were entertained by lots of artistic renditions of horses. Bought birthday card for Megan!

Cubs Win, Cubs Win, Cubs Win!!!

2009-03-22T10:17:00.004-07:00

Alfonzo Soriano hit the first pitch out of the park, and the Cubs went on to win 6-4 over the Oakland A's.

Lots of scouts were in attendance, in fact, they were seated in the row behind us. (Good seats, right behind home plate in row 11).

Check out the BeerMe Guy photo.

Also on hand were several hall of famers including Rollie Fingers, Ferguson Jenkins and Joe Morgan! For a five spot you could get their autograph.

Farewell to New Friends

2009-03-15T11:54:00.005-07:00

We have made many new friends in Mesa. One of the couples we have enjoyed our time with is Bill and Margie. We met Bill and Margie a few days after we arrived in Mesa. Within hours of meeting, Senor Ping, Bill and Dave were jamming together.

Over the past 4 weeks there has been much music and laughter. We have also enjoyed many conversations pool side, during and after dinners, while shopping, bike riding and just visiting. On Wednesday the guys had their last jam session. Hopefully their neighbors enjoyed the music as much as the rest of us. On Friday morning we said our farewells with promises to keep in touch. If all goes well, they may make a trip to "flatskatchewan" in the summer.

In the meantime, Senor Ping is still playing guitar, practicing some new "old songs" and Abbey is enjoying the serenading!!

MIni Kish Reunion in Mesa

2009-03-15T11:32:00.003-07:00

It has been a busy week but I will try to catch you up on what's been happening. On Monday evening Senor Ping and I went to visit with my cousin Cindy and her husband Brian. They have a winter home about 15 minutes away from us and I'm so glad we were able to get together. My Aunt Vi and Aunt Win were visiting with them so we had a mini Kish reunion. Brian was very helpful giving us some suggestions for scenic drives while we are in Mesa. Hopefully we will be able to get together with them before we all head to our northern homes. We would still like to get together with Sandy and Dennis if we can work it out and if any of the other Kish cousins are in the area be sure to let us know. We'd love to see you!!

Just Three Guys

2009-03-08T13:28:00.006-07:00

Yesterday afternoon Senor Ping and two of his guitar playing buddies played in the courtyard at the RV Park. I think it is safe to say they all had a blast. They played a wide range of music that appealed to all the audience. Some of the people we talked to were quite impressed to hear that they had only known each other less than 3 weeks. It's too bad Bill and his wife are leaving next Friday and their home is Redding, California. It might be a bit difficult to get together and jam over the summer!

Keeping Busy in Arizona

2009-03-07T10:20:00.002-07:00

Senor Ping commented this morning that I hadn't updated my blog in over a week and I responded that our days have been busy and the internet connection has been weak which makes it very frustrating to do any updates. However, I am now sitting in the sunshine, sipping my coffee and so far I have posted 2 entries. I thought I'd finish off today by filling you in on what we have been doing here in Mesa.

Senor Ping is very busy playing guitar and jamming with some great musicians he met when we arrived. This afternoon Bill, Steve and Senor Ping will play in the courtyard from 2 - 4. The courtyard is adjacent to large pool and there is often entertainment during Happy Hour. It is usually BYOB and everyone visits, dances and has a great time. The trio also played at Steve's birthday celebration last night. Bill and his wife are leaving next Friday so they are hosting a Burrito Party tomorrow and I am sure there will lots of music to go with good food and lots of laughter.

We have been shopping a few times (well, maybe more than a few). Mesa is very easy to navigate around and we have been out to the Flea Market, Costco, Guitar Center as well as usual trips to the mall and supermarket. There is a supermarket within walking distance of the park so it's easy to pick up a few things when you need to. We have done some site seeing but there are so many things to see and do I am sure we will have to come back a few more times.

I've kept up with the aquacises each day and we usually head to the pool for a couple hours in the afternoon. The park also has a great library so I have been trying to read the books I brought first and then I will borrow a few from the library. On Thursday I am going to take a sewing class instructed by the mother of my cousin Emily's son-in-law (can you figure that one out??). My neighbor is also taking the class so it will be a chance to get to know a few other people in the park.

Senor PIng and I are going to have dinner with my cousin Cindy and her husband on Monday and will also get to visit with my Aunt Vi and Aunt Win (they are visiting for a week). We'll be thinking of the rest of the Kish Klan when we get together.

Along with all of these activities there are the daily walks with Abbey, bike rides around the park, laundry (the laundry room is across the street, lots of machines and very clean), time to watch the curling on TV as well as lots of time to sit back, relax and smell the orange blossoms that have started to bloom.

Variety Night at Val Vista

2009-03-07T09:59:00.004-07:00

The Variety Night at Val Vista was held on Monday and Tuesday evening. We purchased tickets for Monday's performance before Doug and Bill were asked to provide the pre-show music so I went to see parts of both evenings.

The program began with the Drillettes marching in with the Canadian and U.S. flags. The Drillettes are a group of women similar to the drill team that accompanies marching bands. Some of them marched and others could barely walk. This is not a group I would consider joining even though deep down I've always wanted to learn to twirl a baton and wear matching outfits with 30 other women ranging in age from 60 - 85. I did however get some new moves I can try out with the grads this year. They also presented the park with all of the provincial and territorial flags from Canada and I had to hold Senor Ping down to keep him from yelling "Go Riders!!" when they waved the Saskatchewan flag.

The evening's entertainment ranged from a barbershop quartet (they were very good), skits , singing (much like middle years air bands), tap dancing, jokes, poems, and a wonderful group called the 4 Amigos who had everyone rolling in the aisles. Senor Ping left early but I stuck it out until the end. After all, I've sat through 30 years of Christmas concerts, room programs, music festivals, dance recitals and airbands so what was one more!!

On Tuesday evening I went to listen to Bill, Steve and Senor Ping do the pre-show music, took a few pictures and then headed home.

A Drive Along The Apache Trail

2009-03-03T20:50:00.005-07:00

The Apache Trail is a historical loop through the Tonto National Park. The 85 mile drive started in Apache Junction. We passed by Goldfield with plans to visit this gold mining town another day. We made a quick stop in Tortilla Flats to browse through the gift shop and saloon. The road then turned to a narrow (and in some places one lane only) trail up, down and around the mountains. The view was spectacular. We passed by Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Dam. After the dam the road reverted to pavement and we stopped in Globe for a late lunch. The drive took most of the day and the photos hardly do the scenery justice but we recommend the Apache Trail to anyone visiting this part of Arizona.

Saguaro Lake

2009-02-25T11:38:00.004-07:00

On Sunday we took a drive to Saguaro Lake, approximately 30 miles from Mesa. The lake is one of four reservoirs on the Salt River formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam. The lake is part of the Tonto National Forest and there are a variety of services such as a marina, day camping and overnight camping facilities accessible by land or by boat. We took a 90-minute paddleboat cruise on the Desert Bell. The tour included sightings of blue herons, turkey vultures, ducks and other birds, interesting rock formations and of course many varieties of cacti including the saguaro cactus. We also saw hikers, kayakers, fishermen, water-skiers and pleasure boaters during our tour.

Lazing by the Pool

2009-02-21T20:02:00.003-07:00

The last few days the temperatures have been climbing and Senor Ping and I have been taking advantage of the numerous pools and hot tubs in the park. There are lots of pool chairs but you have to time your arrival and departure so that you get a chair with full sun. Usually by 3:30 the crowds have thinned out as everyone is on their way home for Happy Hour.

Exercising in Mesa

2009-02-21T19:57:00.003-07:00

This RV Park offers a variety of water exercise programs starting with deep-water aerobics at 6:15 AM to Guys and Gals water exercises at 11:00. I believe there are 7 different sessions offered between the 3 pools. I chose one of the sessions offered at the indoor pool because it has still been chilly in the morning. The class is offered daily at 9:00 AM (although the instructor told me they actually start at 8:53 AM). The activity level is similar to that of the class offered in Eatonia during July and August with a few more participants. The first day I attended there were 30 of us in the pool. We break half way through for an opportunity for everyone to introduce themselves and have a short visit. The class ends with everyone singing “AMEN” as they “jog” around the pool. Everyone is very friendly and after attending the class for 4 days I have met many women from across Canada and the U.S. and recognized a few of them at other park functions.

On Friday morning I decided to stay for the “water robics” class held immediately after the class I have been attending. Hilda, who I think did her basic training under Hitler, led this class. First, she told me I would not be able to stay if there were over 18 people in the pool because that was her limit. Her reason being that I had already been to a class already and I wasn’t to take up space from someone else. Hmmmm, if I had gotten out of the pool and then back in who would know the difference?? She also told me her class is the only class with music. Fortunately, there were only 10 participants so I was allowed to take part.

Hilda started the class by telling us that her first rule was for us to keep our mouths shut, second there are no breaks and we will be working for the full hour. She alternated between demonstrating the activity in the pool and walking along the deck shouting out orders and clapping her hands to speed us up. Maybe she was a swimming instructor to Mark Phelps before she retired. We alternated between upper and lower body exercises and finished with a good stretch. If this was my first session of basic training I think I successfully completed it. There was 1 woman that left the pool about 20 minutes into the start of the class and never returned but I didn’t hear the ambulance arrive so I assume she was okay. Overall it was a great workout. Will I return to that class?? You bet!

A Month in Mesa

2009-02-16T10:40:00.004-07:00

Senor Ping and I had a short drive yesterday to Mesa, Arizona. We will be calling the Val Vista Village our home for the next month. We chose this park on the recommendation of some friends from home. The park is very clean and well laid out. There are outdoor and indoor pools and hot tubs, too many activities to mention, and the laundry and showers are just across the street from us. Senor Ping is looking forward to playing guitar with some friends here in the park and I am looking forward to reading and relaxing. This morning I took a stroll over to the main building and there is a trade show in progress. There was a fruits and vegetable stall and everything looked fresh and very reasonably priced. I think I'll make my way back and pick up some fruit for lunch.

Arrived in Yuma

2009-02-14T19:44:00.002-07:00

Senor Ping and I have arrived safely in Yuma. We had a great trip down this year. We left home on Monday morning and had clear skies and roads all the way to Pocatello. We were able to make much better time since we were not hauling the 5th wheel. The next day we made it to Mesquite by early afternoon. There was some snow through Salt Lake City but we were following the road crew so it really didn't slow us down. On Wednesday we headed to Laughlin for a couple free nights at the Edgewater Hotel. Abbey spent the time at the Rising Star Kennel and seemed to be quite happy when we picked her up. We had an easy drive to Yuma on Friday, passing by the huge motorhomes parked in the desert near Quartzite. There didn't appear to be as many "boondockers" this year as we have seen in the past but they may have all packed up and headed home by the time we passed through.

Today we spent the day visiting with friends. This morning we had coffee with 2 couples we met last winter. They aren't staying in the park this year so we were anxious to see the park model and lot they had rented. It looks like they have lots of room for Happy Hour. It was great to see them and catch up on the news. We also had a visit with Pat from Calgary. She was our neighbor last year and also looked after Abbey while we went to San Diego. If we head back this way we will stop by and perhaps she and Doug can play a few tunes on guitar together. Our last stop was to see our friends from home: Bonnie and Jerry and Trudy and Glen. We had a great time catching up on news from home and visiting over a few cocktails.

Tomorrow morning we are packing up and heading to Mesa. We decided it was time to see another part of Arizona so we are planning to find a park and stay for a month. We are looking forward to seeing some more friends and checking out the area golf courses. We'll keep you posted on our travels.

Dearly Beloved

2009-02-14T19:25:00.004-07:00

Sorry I waited until Valentine's Day to post some pictures of our Dinner Theatre but our internet service has been very poor and it was impossible to post any pictures. It's hard to believe that it was only a week ago, hope everyone has recovered and ready for next year.

It's Show Time!

2009-02-05T07:27:00.002-07:00

The big day has finally arrived. After 5 months of planning and hundreds of hours of rehearsing, the annual Dinner Theatre is ready to go. The catering committee has been working hard each day this week doing food preparation for the 600+ dinners they will be serving. The bar has been stocked (not to say it won't need to be restocked) with the fixings for "possom milk paralyzers", "vittles and varment vodka, "remember the alamo rum" and other delightful beverages. Over 100 volunteers have been contacted and are ready to work their shifts in the kitchen, serving drinks or taking tickets. The tables are set, even though some of the cast thought a couple of us (not mentioning any names) were getting a bit too fussy when we wanted all the things on the table to be just so. The window display is complete (and yes, that wedding dress is mine and believe it or not I really was that small 26 years ago!!!) The guitars are tuned and we had a little taste of the songs the Becker boys will be singing and I know everyone will be impressed. Most important, the cast and crew are ready to entertain the audiences each night with another very funny production.
For those of you that will be coming to the dinner theatre, I hope you will enjoy the show. If you are reading this from miles away stay tuned. I will be posting some photos later this weekend!!

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (Theatre)?

2009-01-31T13:39:00.004-07:00

Our annual dinner theatre is less than a week away. I'm finding myself very relaxed and not sure if that is good or not. We will have our dress rehearsal tomorrow afternoon and then maybe I will start to panic (or not). I am excited about who is coming for the weekend. Can you guess who??