Last week at Parker Arizona

Here are a couple of pictures of our campground at Parker Arizona that we stayed at. The Colorado River is spectacular! Lots of fishing, boats, and opportunities to throw your dog in the water. Also the fabulous Emerald Canyon Golf Course is a treat.

Settling in In Yuma

We arrived in Yuma on Monday in the midst of a heat wave. The temperatures have been unseasonably high, 38C, with lows in the evenings of 23C. Our first night brought hot winds also so it was like having the furnace blowing all night long. since then it has cooled of a bit ad the evenings are very pleasant.
We are in the same site as last year, recognizing some of our neighbors as they return to their winter homes. We have spent our days at the pool and reorganizing around the site. Abbey seems to know her way around the park and headed for the same path we walked each morning last February.
We also enjoyed a visit with friends from Eatonia, Ann and Gerry Rhodes, who are getting some dental work done in Mexico. Last evening we went for dinner with them and today we are planning to meet at the Flea Market.
I am planning to buy some Halloween treats today. Our neighbors told me that we may see some youngsters out trick or treating tomorrow. I imagine there may be a few "oldsters" out and about as well. The park seems to be coming alive with more snowbirds arriving each day and the regular programs such as aquacizes, jam sessions etc are in full swing next week.

A Punch In the Face

Last year it was called being tagged, now its a punch in the face. If I was still on the playground doing supervision I would say the game is getting too rough but I'm not so I will go along with the newest Blog game.

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Carving pumpkins with Kindergarten and Grade 1 students
2. Directing 3 plays for the upcoming high school dinner theatre
3. Driving Megan and allan to volleyball, basketball and hockey games
4. Timekeeping for the Eatonia Spartans (I think they would have been in playoffs)
5. Trying to keep up with day to day chores at home and school

5 things on my to do list today: (By the way, I have a good start on my to do list, having done 4 of the 5, just need to go for a swim and that will be happening soon)

1. Laundry
2. Take Abbey for a walk
3. Going for a swim
4. Updating my blog
5. Reading my book

5 snacks that I love:

1. chocolate
2. appetizers made with cream cheese
3. more chocolate
4. salsa and tortilla chips
5. and more chocolate

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire :

1. Pay off my childrens' debt! All of it. Student loan, car loan, et cetera.
2. Buy a large motor home.
3. Take yearly vacations to exotic places.
4. Take my family on a vacation to Europe
5. Buy Senor Ping a sporty car to tow behind the motorhome

5 places I've lived:

1. Eatonia
2. Kerrobert
3. Saskatoon
4. Yorkton
5. a farm by FoneHill

5 jobs I've had:

1. Floral delivery girl
2. Summer Playground coordinator for Special Needs children
3. Laundry room at Hospital
4. Teacher
5. Substitute Teacher

5 people I punch:

1. Colleen H.
2. Diving Diva
3. Donna from Kirkville
4. Raymondo
5. Allan

Parked at Parker

Senor Ping and have spent the last 3 nights at Buckskin State Park just outside of Parker. We were fortunate to get the last full hookup site overlooking the river. The campground is full, many of which are families and campers from Arizona. hard to impagine going camping for a weekend in October but that is life in Arizona. It has been very warm but we golfed 2 rounds at Emerald Canyon and it is as spectacular as we remembered. The rates are very reasonable, $15 per person for 18 holes of golf cart included. Yesterday we met some people from Saskatchewan and soon discovered that I had taught their daughters in Kerrobert. Today we golfed with a couple from Whistler. Abbey has enjoyed a swim in the river and meeting all the other camping dogs. It seems that every camper has at least one dog.
We are very happy with the campground with the exception of no internet service. The scenery is wonderful, nothing like sitting on the bank of the river as the sun rises and sets each day. We plan to spend a few more days here before moving on to Yuma. This evening we finally found service at the campground we stayed at last spring. Looks like we can spend a few more days here for sure!!

Next Stop: Laughlin

We aren't straying too farnfrom our usual path this trip. After a quick stop in Mesquite to clean the inside and outside of the 5th wheel and to stock up on some supplies we are heading to Laughlin. We have offers for 2 free nights at a couple of the casinos so we are going to take advantage of the offer. Abbey will spend the nights at a kennel across the river.

From Laughlin we are going to make the short trip to Parker and we hope to golf at Emerald Canyon again. And then finally at the end of the week we will head to Yuma and settle in for a while. The weather is beautiful, I was out for a walk at 7:00 AM with just a t-shirt and shorts. There doesn't seem to be the crowds and traffic that we have seen in February or April so that is also very pleasant. So far all is going great.

Mesquite, here we come!

We had a long day of driving yesterday but there wasn't much traffic and even the drive through Salt Lake City was less stressful than usual. We spent the night at the East Bay Campground. It is one of the nicest RV parks we have ever stayed at. Everything was clean, easy access from the freeway and friendly staff. We are taking our time this morning, as we have a shorter drive today. We will stop in Mesquite for the night. I want to give the trailer a good cleaning and then do some shopping for groceries. If there is time we may even take some time for a margarita by the pool. We are never sure what kind of internet service we will have for the next few days so we may not be posting until we get settled in Laughlin. By the way, it was about 10 C last night and we are looking at 28 to 32C for the next few days.

Here We Go Again

Senor Ping and I have decided to venture south with the ducks and geese this fall. Actually, we may be ahead of the ducks and geese since there are still American hunters dressed in full camoflouge strolling the streets of Eatonia and that means there are still some birds left to shoot. Anyway, we were packed and on the road by 1:30 this afternoon. I would like to say that the trip to Great Falls was uneventful but that would be a lie. We were about 30 miles from Medicine Hat and Senor Ping decided to let me in on a secret....we were almost out of gas. Apparently the strong winds had some bearing on how fast we were using gas and it was touch and go whether we would reach the first gas station. Thankfully we made it to the gas station and we now have an idea of just how many litres of gas the truck actually holds.
Back on the road and the cell phone rang. Allan had a few questions about setting up and positioning the satellite dish. It was nice to visit with him and say our goodbyes. And then Raymondo started texting us with the score of the Edmonton-B.C. football game. Needless to say the trip went by quickly and we are now set up at the RV park in Great Falls for the night. The weather is great, shirt sleeve temperatures at 9:30 PM. We have the furnace on in case it cools off overnight, Shreddies for breakfast and high speed internet. Life is good!!
We will aim for Provo tomorrow and unless we get slowed down by weather will be in Nevada by Sunday. I'm looking forward to short and sandals once again. And just so you know....V R having fun!!

Sandtrap

It is raining today and I can't get out of the house. I found this picture from last year and thought it appropriate to use to show you what I'd rather be doing.

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One Month and counting....

Well it is time to start thinking about Arizona. We are planning to leave about a week after Thanksgiving. First stop will be the Grand Canyon and then Route 66 to either Laughlin or south to Phoenix/Mesa etc. Thought I would post a few pictures from last year's trip to get myself into the mood.

It's My Birthday

I am writing this from the deck of the deluxe room while sipping coffee and gazing out over the white pine trees. Senor Ping and I are enjoying a bit of R&R at the expense of Oasis Players. Last February they were so kind and thoughtful when they gave us a golf and stay package at the new lodge at Elkwater. We haven't been to this part of Cypress Hills for close to 15 years so there are many changes since we camped here in our tent trailer. We enjoyed a drive to the lookout and then saw wild turkeys as we wound our way back down to the main beach. Last evening we saw deer, elk and rabbits. Abbey is quite excited about gophers that are quite boutiful. She was a bit worn out from all the walking yesterday but it didn't stop her from running in the grass that is much taller than her.
Today we are going to play some golf and then enjoy a swim in the pool. A glass of wine while watching the sunset might also be in order. It will be a wonderful way to spend my 39th birthday!!!!!

"A new car!!!"

Here I am polishing the newest member of our family.... a Nissan Altima! Lots of fun to drive, a BOSE sound system, Leather, Moonroof.

Home Reno-Bailey Style

Last spring I got ambitious and did a major cleaning throughout the house (with the exception of the lower basement where my school boxes are still stacked against the wall). I had planned to do some painting inside but only got as far as the fence. The Tom Sawyer trick didn't work and so Senor Ping and I ended up doing the fence by ourselves. Between the heat and mosquitos the job dragged on and my enthusiasm for painting waned.
During the winter I had contemplating what colors to paint Megan and Allan's bedrooms and after many months of indecision I finally made up my mind. I started shopping for bedding and switched some of the furniture around. And today I started painting. Allan, I am sorry to inform you that your blue "Toronto Maple Leaf forever" bedroom is no more. The hockey posters are gone (but not thrown out) and the jumbotron light fixture will be put in storage for you. The carpet is gone and new flooring is next on the list.
And then the tough part, sorting through the piles of things that came out of the room. What to keep and what to put in the garage sale next year? Startrek toys and a tub full of Lego, hockey and baseball cards (don't worry they are safe), books, t-shirts and football jerseys, Sonic the Hedgehog comic books, Magic kit and much much more!
And then comes Megan's room. The painting will be the easy part. A new bed and room for my sewing machine. Some photos taken on our Europe trip. But wait, again we have some treasures to sort through. Basketball medals, my little ponies, stuffed animals and books, books and more books! Where is the "Clean Sweep" or "While You Were Out" gang? How am I ever going to decide what to keep and where to put it? Maybe I'll put it all back and let the kids sort through everything.

Nine Down and Two To Go

I am spending the weekend at the drama festival which showcases the best high school plays in the province. When I was teaching this was a weekend I looked forward to all year. First, I hoped that I would be directing one of the plays at the festival. (and I was thrilled when this actually did happen. I still get goosebumps just thinking about the play and just heard another school did it this year but was told it was not as good as ours). Second, I watched each play with great anticipation, in my mind casting my own actors into the roles and imagining what it would be like if I chose to direct that play in the future (and in other cases thinking NEVER, NEVER, NEVER). Third, I looked forward to networking with other teachers and directors and hearing about what plays they had done and what they were planning to do.
Now I just come to the festival, sit back, relax (no kids to supervise, therefore, no chaperoning at the dance) and critique the plays. So far we have seen 9 plays. All but 2 of them ran 60 minutes (a couple had to have been over the regulation 60 minutes). The plays range from themes of fairytales and the big bad wolf, teenage angst, baby angst (no not what if I have a baby but I am a baby and what am I going to do about these adults around me), a mother-son bedroom scene, more teenage angst, dating angst, teenage angst, doing a play angst and more teenage angst. I have had enough of the angst, please give me something else!!
I have enjoyed some of the actors though, my favorites are the 6 foot baby and the 10 year old waiter. I am looking forward to the plays tomorrow and then I will record my votes for the awards and later check to see how close the adjudicator and I are in our thinking.

Happy to Be Home

We arrived home yesterday to a snow-filled backyard and a clean driveway thanks to our dear friend Duane. My plants have been well-taken care of during my absence by Bunny (probably much better cared for than when I am at home). We unloaded the 5th wheel and parked it temporarily. When it warms up we will head to the car wash and I'll do a final cleaning on the inside. Today we spent the morning sorting through the mail and getting caught up on paying bills. I have 11 issues of Macleans and 3 of Chatelaine to browse through. And tonight I am off to the library to pick up the new books I requested while I was away. It is good to be home, although the weather could have been more cooperative. We were looking forward to getting out on the golf course but it looks like we may have a bit of a wait. The good news is we can put off doing yard work for a while.

Abbey is not very impressed with the weather in Saskatchewan. Her daily routine for the past 11 weeks has included an early morning walk (often at the crack of dawn much to our displeasure), followed by breakfast and then more walks interspersed with naps and more food. This morning she whimpered and cried at 8:00 AM so I crawled out of bed to let her outside. She hopped up on the bed, settled in to the spot I had vacated and settled in for another hour of sleep. When she finally decided to go outside she barely stuck her nose out the door, raced around the yard and then was back on the deck barking to be let in. Although she thinks she would like to go for a walk I don't think she will last outside for very long.

This afternoon I am "home alone". I am listening to music, doing laundry and enjoying the extra space. I really should do some housecleaning but I think I will curl up with a good book and a cup of tea instead. We are going to enjoy the flounder Fred and Colleen brought us from San Carlos for dinner. Maybe if we turn up the heat in the house and drink margaritas while preparing dinner we can imagine ourselves back in the sunny south.

Safe and Sound and Freezing in Havre

We had excellent driving conditions today so we were able to get to Havre by 6:00 PM. Fred and Colleen and Maggie greeted us and supervised our parking. The flames game is on TV tonight so we set up the dish and then had a short Happy Hour inside. It has been a few years (well maybe more than a few) since we have stayed in Havre. A new hotel has been built and some of our favorite places have had facelifts. The entire main street is under road construction so it is a bit tricky to navigate with the trailer. We have found an alternate route and will try that tomorrow. We are going to do some last minute shopping and then head for home before lunch. If all goes well we should be home in the early afternoon. Just in time for everyone on the block to watch and listen to the Baileys' park the RV. I doubt that we will be able to top the departure but will give it a try.

One More Night???

This morning we are leaving Pocatello with plans to drive to Great Falls or Havre depending on the snow and road conditions through Montana. We had a rather chilly night last night. Temperatures have been unseasonably low here and so the maintenance man came around last night and turned the water off at each RV site. He was afraid of freezing pipes. We made a quick trip to Walmart to buy RV antifreeze and winterized the trailer. The satellite was working so we watched hockey and news from back home. We had our furnace going and were quite cozy until about 3:00 AM when we ran out of propane. Fortunately Senor Ping had filled our second tank so he was out the door to switch tanks the heat was back running in no time. It really has been no different than camping at Cypress Hills in May, however, we may be in for worse conditions tonight. I am digging out our winter jackets and boots just in case. Hopefully we will be able to post tonight to let you know where we are, if not, we'll catch up with everyone when we get home.

Zion National Park

Here are a couple photos of the spectacular view we had on our trip to the gates of Zion.





We also drove around Hurricane and thought it would be a place to visit some time in the future. I've heard the golf course is quite a challenge...especially the fairways and tee boxes with the homes close by. I would hate to put a ball through someone's window.

The Last Stop

We arrived in Mesquite on Friday noon, right behind Fred and Colleen who had driven from Laughlin that morning. I am beginning to think that if we planned to meet or arrive at campgrounds at about the same time it wouldn't happen, but for some reason when you don;t plan it happens. On Saturday we drove to Zion national Park. We took Abbey with us because we weren't sure how long we would be away and how hot it would get in the 5th wheel. Not the best plan we have had. There was a $25 fee to enter the park and we couldn't go on the shuttle to see the canyon or take any of the hiking trails because of Abbey. We settled for lunch at the gates and plans to visit another time. We did take a few good photos of the beautiful scenery and I will post them later.
Today we did some cleaning and organizing and then spent the afternoon at the pool. We arrived back at the RV park in time for some excitement. It seems that our new neighbor had backed into a trailer behind him. We also met some people from Saskatoon and Doug had a short jam session with him. We have friends in common so it is indeed a small world. We are off to spend our last night (and our last $) in Mesquite and will start for home tomorrow.

The Truck Stops Here!

We left Laughlin this morning with plans to spend the night at Mesquite. I am not sure how it happened but as we got nearer to Las Vegas our conversation turned to "I wonder what's new on the strip?", "We could stop at the outlet stores and Guitar Centre", "It has been a whole year since we were in LV" and before we knew it the truck turned into Sam's Town RV Park. So here we are, about to check out the strip, do some shopping and maybe see what new machines they have in Las Vegas.

Get Your Kicks On Route 66

We finally took the advice of numerous people who have visited Laughlin and area and drove to Oatman yesterday. About 30 miles from Laughlin, Oatman is a gold mining ghost town situated on the historic Route 66. It was a bustling town until the gold mines were closed down in the 1930's. It is also known for the wild burros that roam the streets looking for food. They are descendants of the burros used in the mines. We were advised to get there early because by 4:00 PM the mother burros call their babies and they all head for the hills. I read a brochure about Oatman on our way so we were expecting to see a few burros, some remains of the gold mine and a sign referring to Route 66. Our first surprise was when we went to look for parking and discovered that a many other people had also made the trek to Oatman. There was also a large number of motorcyclists who appear to cruise to Oatman for lunch. There were lots of burros ambling down the main street looking for a snack and just as many visitors carrying bags of carrots ready to feed them. We strolled the main street and browsed through the touristy trinket shops and then watched the gunfight put on by members of the Oatman Chamber of Commerce. We ended our visit to Oatman with a stop at the town bar for a beer. It is the original Oatman hotel and the walls are papered in dollar bills left by guests dating back to the early 1920's. This tradition has continued and we even saw a few $5 Canadian bills hanging.

Laughlin: DIng, Ding, Ding

We moved on to Laughlin on Thursday morning. After packing up, Senor Ping and Keeny (our neighbor) sat down for one last jam session and then we were off. We have booked into the Rv park for a week, but also have free rooms at one of the casinos for a couple nights. The problem is Abbey is not included in the deal. We will either find a kennel for her or just use the hotel room to shower and use the pool etc and then sleep at the 5th wheel. We haven't quite worked out the logistics yet.
We are enjoying the casinos, shopping, restaurants and sight seeing around Laughlin. Internet service is poor at the RV park so we are becoming resourceful as we look for free WIFI. Today I am posting from the car wash we found last year. For $5 they take your vehicle and wash and dry it (by hand) while you wait in the air conditioned comforts of a coffee shop. The internet is fast and the leather sofas quite comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if Senor Ping stretches out and has a nap. Good thing there isn't a TV or he would be taking over control of the remote!
The slot machines have been good to us. We are playing on their money and finding some new machines we haven't seen before. Hope this keeps up for the rest of the trip.

Listen To the Music

Today we are planning to tour around Lake Havasu, see the Parker Dam and relax at the campground. We also need to pick up some groceries before heading to Laughlin for a week. My morning started early with Abbey anxious to go for a walk before 7:00 AM. We took a stroll along the shore of the Colorado River and she chased ducks, yellow headed blackbirds and anything that moved, including her shadow. Then it was time for coffee and a chapter or two of my book. Fred and Colleen stopped over to tell us their plans to move to Buckskin State park and then it was time for breakfast. I was packing a picnic lunch and then we were going to head out when our neighbor brought out his guitar. Very soon Senor Ping was out the door and a discussion about guitars began. And then out came the guitar and the music began. What could be better than sitting back and listening to a couple of guitars and watching the birds and the boats go by.

Just for John

Before I left home I promised I wouldn't post as many pictures of us having "happy hour" this year because it was like rubbing salt in a wound for our friends back home. Last night we stopped at the Roadrunner Floating Bar and while we were enjoying the sound of the waves lapping at the sides of the dock and watching the sun sink behind the hills across the river we thought of our dear friend John. If he should decide to join the ranks of the retired, we want him to know that we found the dock for his boat and a great place for beer and tacos.

Emerald Canyon Golf

Here are a few photos of the Emerald Canyon golf course. As they say, a picture tells a thousand words....or something like that.

You Do What You Have To

It is 8:50 PM. I am sitting outside (almost on the road but not quite), there is only a sliver of a moon but the stars are twinkling and I can hear the last few guests at the Roadrunner Bar. Most important I found an internet signal and so I am mooching off of someone's WIFI to post tonight. It's not the best but as I said "you do what you have to". We had an awesome round of golf (well, it depends on who you talk to and what your definition of awesome is but in my books it was awesome). There are pictures to go with the golf but I don't think my signal is quite strong enough to add the photos so you will have to wait until I find a better signal.
After our round of golf we headed over to the Roadrunner Floating Bar. If you read Fred and Colleen's blog you will get an idea of what it's like on a Sunday afternoon, well, Monday evening is much the same. We are here in Parker for a couple days and then off to Laughlin. Abbey had her first swim in the Colorado River today and we are proud to say she actually knows how to dog paddle. We are back to the golf course tomorrow and then we plan to check out Lake Havasu and the London Bridge before moving on.

5:01 in Salome

We are nearing the end of our stay in Salome. It's been a great place to golf and relax. My golf game has settled back to normal, with a good drive followed by a hit into the desert, back on the fairway and then a chip over the green and then an impossible putt. I did have an amazing putt yesterday and if Senor Ping and F&C had not been witnesses I am sure I would never be able to convince people that I put the ball down with an 80 foot putt. Since it was Friday yesterday we knew that friends at home would be anxious for 5:01 to start. So were we, but it was only 1:05. Oh well, it's 5:00 somewhere!!! After a few beverages and snacks we spent the rest of the day reading and enjoying the sunshine.

Today we will be getting ready to move on. It's time to do laundry and clean the 5th wheel. Our plans are to head to Parker for a few days. If we are lucky we will be camped along the Colorado River. We have tee times booked at the Emerald Canyon Golf course on Monday and Tuesday and will do a bit of touring around the area before heading to Laughlin. We will be without WIFI for a week so don't be disappointed if you don't see any new posts. I'll try to update the blog as soon as we get to a computer friendly place.

This afternoon we will be heading to Salome for supplies and a stop at the Cactus Bar. We will be toasting our friends Bob and Glenda on their recent marriage. Senor Ping and I will also raise a glass for our nieces, Kelly and Jaime, who celebrate their birthdays on April 6 and for our "first born" and favorite daughter, Megan, who will turn 24 on April 7. If you see these lovely ladies be sure to wish them a "Happy Birthday"!!

Browsing At The Bookstore

Just down the road a half hour is the town of Quartzite. We are told that during the months of January and February this town with a population of 1900 sees hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving daily to check out the rock and gem shows, the numerous RV shows and swap meet vendors. Since there are not enough RV parks for that many people and because some of them like to "rough it" the desert surrounding Quartzite is scattered with RVs of all sizes just parked for a day, a week or possibly even the whole winter. For my Eatonia friends, that would be like parking out at Eyre Park for a couple months. (But not anywhere near the hall or any other form of civilization).

Today Senor Ping and I decided to see what the main attraction was in Quartzite. We stopped at aroad side flea market and browsed through the stalls, picking up a few bargains. We saw a few vendors with lots of rocks for sale. Why would you want to buy rocks when there is a whole desert and surrounding mountains full of rocks for you to go and pick yourself? We stopped at Carl's Jr, Allan's favorite lunch spot, and had a bite to eat. We noticed that many of the people looked like they had been out scouring the hills for gold and had just come to town for supplies (and possibly a shower).

And then we noticed a book store and decided to stop and check out the used book selection. Colleen had given me the title of a book she has been looking for and I am always in the market for something to read. Sad to say, I didn't find the book Colleen wanted, nor did I find anything that caught my eye. Well, I guess I should add nothing that caught my eye to read. What I did see was the "bookman". Maybe this is what is drawing the hundreds of thousands of people to Quartzite each winter. Do you think if Eatonia had a "bookman", it, too, would draw huge crowds of RVers and tourists from across the country? Well, I took a photo and maybe I'll talk to town council when I get home and they can suggest someone that might want to take on this business venture. There might be few that wouldn't mind running the bookstore during the summer months but can you imagine December or January?

From 39 To 93

We are enjoying the golfing here in Salome. We have played two rounds and other than one group right behind us yesterday we have had the course to ourselves. They opened 8 new holes this year, making it a short 18 hole desert course. The greens are a bit rough but for the price and convenience we can't complain. Yesterday I scored my all time (and probably will never do it again) low score of 39 on the front nine. My back nine was not so pretty but I still broke 90 so I was quite happy. Senor Ping did not have quite as good a start, but we will blame that on his recent illness.
Today my game was a different story. Things did not go as well as the picture shows. Fred and Colleen and Senor Ping all improved their scores and mine, well, I got a better score than 93, but just by a few. Not that you will every hear me complain. After all, it's not snowing, we are enjoying sunshine and golf and good company and it's Tecate Tuesday!

Next Stop: Salome

We had a pleasant drive this morning to Salome, about 113 miles northeast of Yuma. When we arrived at the Rv park we discovered it was lunch time and would have to wait until 1:00 PM to check in. We went for a drive to check out the sites and found Fred and Colleen, in the process of setting up. After a short visit we checked in and are just a stone's throw away from them. We are pleased with the Rv park here. The sites are large and well graveled with a large cement patio. There is a pitch and putt course at the end of the block and an 18 hole course adjacent to the park. There is a pool and spa, laundry facilities etc. We have a nice view of the mountains in the distance and I am sure there will be an awesome sunset this evening.
We are planning on getting together with Fred and Colleen in a short while for happy hour and to catch up on the

On the Road Again

The time has come for us to say farewell to our friends at Fortuna De Oro Rv park and hit the dusty trail. When we arrived at this park we thought we would try it out for a month since we had not yet experienced a long term stay at an Rv park in the U.S. Our four weeks has turned into six and we are reluctant to leave but know that some day we will be back.
Our experiences here have been great. We made new friends and enjoyed the life of a retiree. A swim in the pool always means you're in for a conversation or two about what part of Canada you're from (most often the Americans were outnumbered 2 to 1), a discussion about the weather back home, how the hockey/curling/BlueJays are doing and most recently, when you are leaving.
This evening we went to a farewell supper put on by the owner of the park. He and his crew served a mexican supper with wine to over 600 people. There were lots of goodbyes and "see you agains". It sounds like many people will be leaving in the next few days, many heading back to Canada.
We will be heading to Salome tomorrow to do some golfing. We are meeting Fred and Colleen and Maggie. The weather forecast is looking great! We will eventually start making our way north with stops in Laughlin and Las Vegas. We are hoping for better weather in Utah this spring because we would like to stop at Bryce and Zion national parks.
Since we aren't too sure what kind of internet service we will have for a few days we hope all is well at home and with the family and will be in touch soon.

Happy Easter from Yuma

We have had a couple of very relaxing and restful days. Yesterday, (Good Friday) we said our goodbyes to our neighbors. They helped us get settled in when we arrived (three men could not sit by and watch me direct the back up and parking so I graciously let them take over) and have enjoyed a few happy hours with them. The temperatures have been climbing so by 10:30 I was heading to the pool to cool off. We went grocery shopping later in the afternoon and then back to the pool for another swim before dinner.
Today we spent most of the afternoon at the pool. It was +34 so they finally turned the heater off (water temp was about 90 F). This evening we visited with some Canadians here in the park. Senor Ping and Pat played guitar and the rest of us exercised our vocal chords.
It looks like the weather will be more of the same for the rest of the week so we will probably spend our last week in Yuma at the pool and doing a bit of last minute shopping at Algodones and the Flea Market. We have not quite decided which direction we will be going from here. It may come down to a flip of a coin or we might have to see which way the wind is blowing.
We want to wish all our friends and family a Happy Easter! Hope you are having wonderful weather and enjoying the weekend. Be sure to have a Cadbury Easter egg for me!!!

Jamming with Senor Ping

The RV park has a weekly Jam Session. We went twice to watch before Senor Ping decided to join in. Last week he sat on the sidelines and played along as various performers from the park and outside of the park took a turn on stage. The music choices are not exactly what we would normally listen to, and certainly not something I am accustomed to hearing around the house but the large audience seems to enjoy old (and I mean old) country music.
This week Senor Ping decided to play a couple instrumental numbers. The audience was soon tapping their toes and there were a few shouts when he played "Ghost Riders" and his second number had many of the people singing along. I guess he will have to start thinking about what he will play next week. I thought I could maybe join in and play tambourine but that job is already taken so I guess I will have to just be a member of the audience.

Curling In Yuma

A "cold front" moved into Yuma on Saturday and yesterday was the coolest day we have experienced since we arrived. It was overcast and windy so we spent the day inside doing some long neglected chores and then washed the truck and toured some other RV parks. We decided to watch the final game of the Mens' Brier and invited our neighbors from B.C. to join us. Apparently the other night Senor Ping and I were watching a game between B.C. and Manitoba and they sat on their patio and tried to watch through our window. They were quite unhappy when Senor Ping blocked their view with his arm and nearly cried when I pulled down the blind (unknowingly).
Senor Ping moved the TV outside and we settled in to watch the final. As the sun set the jackets and jeans were put on and the blankets came out (you would have thought the alcohol in the system would have kept everyone warm but I guess not!) We were all rooting for Team Alberta so there were cheers from everyone after the final shot.

Vancouver at Phoenix

Glen Bews and I got tickets to the Phoenix-Vancouver NHL Game for last Thursday. A pleasant 3 hour bus trip and we were at the Jobing.com Arena. I also got to see the Football Arena, site of the SuperBowl (which I missed due to commitments to Drama!!) which is adjacent to the hockey rink. Very nice facilities. Lots of empty seats. Wayne + crew still have a selling job to keep hockey in the desert.


The blow-up doll is in a restaurant district just outside the arena. Lots up upscale eateries including Margaritaville. Game tickets were only $55.


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Soggy Peso Facilities

I'm sure many of you that are reading our blog regularly are also keeping tabs on Fred and Colleen in San Carlos. If you aren't reading about their winter adventures, check out their blog at http://warmerwinters.blogspot.com. Yesterday Colleen commented on a favorite palapa bar of ours called the Soggy Peso. She was excited to inform us that they had clean, new washrooms. Anyone that has not visited the Soggy Peso may not know why this is such wonderful news. Well, here is a picture of the washroom last year. By the way, it also doubled as a referee stand for the beach volleyball court.

Abbey Before and After

Last year before we headed to Mexico we took Abbey for a "Mexico Beach haircut" and she was shaved. People had to ask what kind of dog she was and whenever we met other dogs Abbey would cringe as if to say, "I know I have a bad haircut but it's not my fault."
When we left home this year it was too cold for a haircut so Abbey has been strolling the streets of our RV park looking like a scruffy little mutt. Yesterday we finally got an appointment for a grooming. Three hours later Abbey departed looking like a princess. There is a definite change in the way she holds her head as she prances up and down the streets. Here are some before and after shots of Abbey.

The Before

The After

A Stroll Around Old Town

Old Town has always been a favorite spot for our family. On our first trip to San Diego we found an excellent Mexican restaurant and made a point of going back there on our second trip. We decided it was only fitting that we have dinner at the same place again. We also enjoyed a walk through the Old Town Historical State Park. Before leaving for home yesterday we headed back to Old Town to take a few photos. There are lots of little shops selling souvenirs from Mexico as well as handmade items, imports from Europe and standard touristy trinkets.

Fun At The Zoo

When we booked our Trolley tour tickets we also purchased tickets for the San Diego Zoo. Our ticket included a guided tour on the double-decker bus and the Skyfari aerial tram. One of the guides recommended starting our visit with the bus tour. We did a circle tour and were given an overview of the different areas of the zoo. Then we took the Skyfari to the other end of the zoo to see the polar bears. We took our time walking back to the main gates and retraced some of the bus route to get a better look at the panda bears. The baby panda was born at the zoo last August and we were treated to a rare view of the mother and baby having some play time. Senor Ping had a great time with his new camera and lenses, getting some great photos. We had beautiful weather so our afternoon at the zoo was very enjoyable.

Clang, Clang, Clang Goes The Trolley

When we arrived in San Diego we went to Old Town and booked a Trolley Tour. The trolley has 10 stops and you can get off and walk around and then get back on and head to the next stop. Our first stop was the San Diego Harbor. We walked along the water and then stopped at Seaport Village. We had visited this area when we were in San Diego as a family so we didn't spend much time here. The Trolley tour was narrated so we were given a history lesson as we passed through the Gaslamp Quarter and crossed the bridge to the island of Coronado. We walked along the beach, which is rated #2 beach in America and through the grounds of the Hotel Del Coronado.

The Road To San Diego

This week Senor Ping and I took an overnight trip to San Diego. We left Yuma early in the morning and enjoyed a very scenic 3 hour drive. The I-8 took us through the agricultural area west of Yuma and we saw the field workers already at work picking cauliflower. The Algodones Sand Dunes were spectacular. We saw numerous dune buggies and quads driving through the dunes, as well as the border patrol checking for illegals. The mountainous area was very different from the Canadian Rockies, huge boulders and rock formations with very little vegetation. On the way back we stopped at the Viejas Casino and Outlet Shopping Center. The shopping center has beautiful landscaping including fountains, plants and a large area for entertainment. The RV parks in Yuma offer day trips to Viejas and I could see myself making a return trip another year.

Golfing in the Desert

Yesterday Senor Ping and I tried out a new golf course in Yuma. Las Barrancas is an 18 hole course in the foothills. They have putting and chipping greens and a driving range that is included in the price of 18 holes. We played as a threesome with a fellow Canadian who was familiar with the course. We really appreciated his tips and advice. The view was spectacular and it was quite an experience. Prior to yesterday we had played 3 rounds at the golf course in our park. That course is like golfing in a pasture and I think the greens are comparable to putting in our backyard. At Las Barrancas we were faced with all kinds of challenges including ravines, cliffs, water and GPS on the golf cart. And very fast undulating greens. We will definitely play this course again.

Yuma Air Show

Senor Ping and I went to the Air Show on Saturday. We arrived early and avoided the lineups at the gate and parking. There were numerous booths with giveaways and promos as well as a few rides for the younger visitors. We spent most of the day sitting in our lawn chairs watching the aerial show. There were numerous demonstrations ranging from small stunt planes to F16 fighter jets. There was also a variety of military equipment for visitors to check out. Some of the stunt pilots were available for autographs and there were numerous military personnel available to answer any questions. A great day!

Mi Casa Su Casa

This is the place we are going to be calling home for the next month. We are situated in the middle of the block with the swimming pool, small meeting room and main office in one direction and the recreation room with pool tables and showers in the other direction.


Here is our site.

Senior Follies Part 2

Here I am in the recreation room at the RV park. I am getting ready to Skype Megan but I am waiting for the crowd to thin out or for the table poolside to become available. In the meantime I do a casual glance around the room and what do I see: 2 ladies working on jigsaw puzzles. Mind you it's not the same puzzle. They each have their own 1000 piece puzzle sitting on the same table. I ask myself, "Do you think they ever try to put the other's person's puzzle pieces in their own puzzle?"
This morning I decided to check out the aerobics class. It could have been a scene out of our recent dinner theatre. I felt like I was working out with Mildred and Sarah Jane. (I must admit I did get a good workout, maybe not quite up to Rose's level but I did feel like I had stretched and worked some of those highly inactive muscles) I also attended the water exercises later in the morning. A new instructor took over this morning and a 55 minute workout was completed in 30 minutes. One of the other participants thought maybe the instructor had taken an extra "energy pill" this morning.
I think I will have to do a bit more observing of life at this park and maybe start working on the script for Senior Follies: Part 2. Maybe we could set the play in an RV park. But absolutely no Kung Fu!!

Monday, Monday

It seems that part of getting old and being retired is that you just can't get yourself out of the need for routine. So, here we are in sunny Arizona, with nothing pressing on the agenda (that means we aren't thinking about the annual teachers' convention we usually attended at this time every year). This morning we got up when Abbey insisted we get up, drank a pot of coffee while reading on the patio and then said to ourselves,"What shall we do now?" We decided to check out the golf course connected to the Rv park. Its short 9 hole, not in the best of shape, but the price is right. I wouldn't say it was my best game I've played but no one needed to wear a "golf helmet" this time and I didn't lose a club. The down side was there was no La Palapa to go to at the end of the game for quesadilias and our favorite beverages. We spent the rest of the day by the pool and continue to enjoy the pleasant weather.
Tomorrow it will be laundry day and maybe Senor Ping will fix my bike. It seems that I have 2 flat tires and I haven't even gone for a bike ride yet. There is a jam session in the afternoon so we may check that out and see if Senor Ping can play a few tunes.

Safe and Sound in Yuma

We have arrived and are set up for a month at the Fortuna De Oro Rv Park in Yuma. We spent 3 nights in Laughlin at the Riverside Park before finally heading down here. The day we arrived in Laughlin was warm and sunny but then we had 2 days of strong wind and cool weather. Not the weather you would like to have if you want to relax outside so we ended up checking out the casinos. Doug played with their money and I spent Doug's... needless to say neither of us came away a winner. The WIFI was very poor in the park but we did discover a site at the Outlet mall so we were at least able to check our email.
We had a nice drive down to Yuma, checking out the California side of the Colorado River and then crossing over to Quartzite. Although the busy season is over, there were still quite a few RVs parked in the desert. With the wind we had the last few days that would not be my idea of a place to stay. When we drove to our site here at the park we were greeted by our neighbors and their guests, all from Saskatchewan, BC and Alberta. The men took it upon themselves to assist Doug with backing up and parking the trailer. I am sure the staff at Eaton School will be glad to hear we parked without taking out part of the fence. Our first priority was to get the satellite dish set up so we could watch the ladies curling and catch up on what is happening at home.
We are looking forward to doing some relaxing by the pool and plan to head to the driving range tomorrow. It is also time to get Abbey a haircut, hopefully not quite as short as last year. I am sure we will be busy, but not too busy to have a beverage or two and think about our friends back home in the snow!

3:11 To Yuma

I woke up at 8:00 AM to the sound of the wind howling. There were extreme wind chill warnings and even a blizzard warning for south of us. We were undecided about weather we would be able to leave but had things ready to go if the weather improved. At noon we headed to the hall. Clean up at the hall was done by the most efficient crew I have ever seen. In less than 2 hours everything was taken down, put back, scrubbed, cleaned and polished.
We headed home, finished packing, loaded the truck and finally we were on our way. One look at the clock and Senior Ping and I started to laugh. Exact departure time: 3:11. Destination: Yuma (for those of you wondering if we have lost it, we recently saw the movie 3:10 To Yuma)
Between Eatonia and Great Falls we saw the temperature climb from -18 to +6, drove through rain and drifting snow (at separate times) and had an easy border crossing. We hope to reach Salt Lake City tomorrow and then spend a few days in Laughlin before settling in Yuma.

Senior Follies

Oasis Players Dinner Theatre is over for another year. We had another successful program. The meal was excellent, the drinks were flowing, the pre-show music was outstanding and the play was one of the funniest I have seen. The audience of over 600 loved every minute of it.
Now, we were not without the odd glitch that added to the excitement of the show. Like when one of the cast members got a little overzealous during the curtain call and joined the guests in the front row for minute or two. (Note to one self: when doing a play about a group of seniors add "don't break a hip" along with "Break a leg").
And because we are in the midst of winter it is no surprise that weather would finally play a part in our show. Friday brought strong winds, poor visibility and high wind chills. The phone rang all day, will the show still go on? Things died down just a bit around 5:00 and the guests started to arrive. I think there were only 20 empty seats and those that braved the cold loved every minute of the best performance of the weekend.
And then there was the final night. The cast pulled out all the stoppers. There was a bit of improvisation and adlibbing going on and no one knew what to expect including me, the director. After the final curtain call, everyone was ready to party! There was music and dancing until the wee hours of the night. As a matter of fact Senior Ping and I snuck out at 3:30 and many were still going strong.
All that is left is the clean up and then I can start reading plays for next year!

On With the Show

I am about to head to the hall for our final rehearsal of Senior Follies. The ladies in the kitchen have been peeling and chopping vegetables and making desserts all day. The liquor has arrived and the wine and beer are chilling. The tables are set and the window display completed. There are only a few last minute items on my checklist. After 4 1/2 months of rehearsing the show is ready to go. Now I can only cross my fingers that everyone stays healthy and sit back and enjoy!
On the home front, the 5th wheel has been moved from the backyard and we will be able to load clothes, books and other items tomorrow. Abbey is getting very excited because she can see the 5th wheel from her favorite spot in the window and every time I step out the door she acts as if we are planning to leave her at home alone. The weather forecast looks very good so if all goes well we should be on our way on Sunday.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The prairies have been experiencing unseasonable low temperatures and a high wind chill factor for almost a week. Here in Eatonia the thermometer dipped to -38 and with the wind chill it felt like -51. We have had blowing snow, the streets are icy and whenever you step out the door the cold air takes your breath away.
We are watching the weather closely because our plans are still to leave here on Sunday February 10, as soon as cleanup is done at the hall. Looking at the long range forecast it should be warm and sunny by the time we head south. Let's hope its warm and sunny all the way to Nevada.

28, 27, 26......The Countdown Begins

Senor Ping got up on Sunday morning and announced that we will be on our way south in just 28 days. I got out my book and started making lists of everything we need to do before we leave. I know that to some people four weeks seems like a long time but when I think about everything we need to do before then and how busy we will be the week leading up to our departure I am thinking I should start packing today. Well, maybe tomorrow. We woke up this morning to howling winds and although we had plus temperatures yesterday it has dropped back down and the wind chill is climbing. Let's hope that the next 26 days are not below normal temperatures because that could make for a very long 26 days!!

Happy New Year!

It's 11:02 PM and Senor Ping and I are watching Dick Clark's New Year's show on TV. Grandma Clara has already headed to bed. In between doing laundry and watching TV I also spend a few minutes re-reading this blog. I was reminded of how excited we were last January as we counted down the days until retirement and had a few chuckles as I reread our adventures in Mexico and Arizona. It seems I have been a bit lax in keeping this blog updated but my New Year's resolution is to be a "more faithful blogger". I know I won't ever be able to keep up with Megan but I can try.

As we ring in the New Year we are starting to make lists and count down the days again. Only 41 days until we head south. We can hardly wait to get the 5th wheel hitched up and get on the road. We'll be watching the weather and reading the RV forums again to see where all the snowbirds are and what there is to see and do when we get there. Senor Ping is anxious to try out his new putter and take some photos of the desert.

Drama is in full swing and the next month is going to fly by. We are sold out already and I have started a waiting list for all 3 nights. We are going to paint the set and get it put up later this week.

In closing we want to wish all our friends and family a very Happy New Year and all the best in 2008!!!

I've Been Tagged

As many of you may already know, Megan is a die hard Blogger. She can turn a story about her boring morning commute into a great read over your first cup of coffee for the day or leave you shaking your head saying "I didn't know that about my daughter/sister/niece/cousin" with her over 100 random facts about Megan. Well now she has come up with something we can all take part in.
The rules: Each player lists 8 random facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 4 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
So here goes, 8 things you may or may not know about Snowflake:
1. Snowflake was actually a name given to me by my best friend's father when I was a sweet little 6 year old. The name stuck all through school and even followed me to Eatonia.

2. I don't like cucumbers or watermelon, but love dill pickles and cantaloupe.

3. I do not do puke!!! Thank God for Mrs. Craney all those years that I taught kindergarten. She saved me great humiliation many times when she came to my rescue and helped the poor little children who vomited at school and had the misfortune of being in my classroom.

4. I love chocolate, especially Cadbury Easter eggs. I also love chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, even chocolate dipped pretzels but I do not like chocolate ice cream...... but dip my ice cream cone in chocolate or put chunks of chocolate in my ice cream and I am a very happy person!

5. I love to read and I will force myself to keep reading even the worst book just because I started it. I can only think of 2 books I didn't finish and now that I am retired I may have to go back and try reading them again.

6. I love holidays. By that I mean Thanksgiving, Xmas, Easter, Valentines Day, Groundhog Day, St. Patrick's Day,Canada Day etc. I also have a sweater or shirt and earrings for each of the major holidays. (Megan has recently convinced me I don't have to buy anymore holiday apparel...Boohoo)

7. I read cookbooks. I don't always try the recipe but I like to read about it anyway.

8. I can remember birthdates for most of the students I have taught over the past 30 years. I may not be able to get the exact date but I usually have the month right and then I can tell you how old they are by figuring out what year I taught them. That proved to be a real bummer for those almost 19 year olds that tried to order a drink when I worked at the curling rink bar.

Now I will tag:
Allan
Raymondo
Laurel
Diving Diva
Have fun!!!

Paris In The Falltime

We arrived in Paris yesterday morning. Saw the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc the T, Sacre Couer, and miles of filthy subways. Beer is expensive, eleven dollars a glass, streets are crowded and weather is so so but we are still having a great time. Only one more day and the real world will be back.....PB and J sandwiches and making our own beds!

Live From Berlin

Here we are in Berlin. We arrived at noon yesterday and got settled in at the hotel (not the Marriott but just fine). Our first order of the day was to find some lunch and then explore the city. Burger King was the first place we found so after a whopper and coke we jumped on the bus and headed to Zoolander (not exactly but can#t pronounce the real name so it stuck). It was quite cool out so we hopped on a double decker bus and rode around for a while. Actually until the driver parked for the day and we thought we would be locked on the bus for the night. Jumped on another bus and back to the start. The next time round we got off and took a few photos of the Brandenburg gates, Reichstag etc and then finally back to our room. After a rest we headed out to find dinner. a nice little pub served some delcious pasta and pork and then we walked down the Ku'damm and jumed on the bus for a ride around in the dark. Berlin has the Festival of Lights on until the end of the month and many of the building are well lit with brightly colered lights. Today included a four hour walking tour seeing all the Nazi and Soviet era sites-Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie etc. and some currywurst for lunch. We have a few more things to see and do before we head to our final city Paris.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

We are in the airport in Budapest awaiting our departure to Berlin. We had 1000 Ft left (not really that much money) and are using it to update the blog. We had a great time here and will miss the food and luxury hotel. Lots of excitement with the national holiday today but we will miss it because we are going to be checking out Berlin. Its raining here but we are hoping for better weather there. Took lots of pics and will post them later.

Hello From Prague

Today is our last day in Prague. We have done lots of walking and sightseeing. The food and beer are excellent and always makes the long walks worthwhile. so far we haven't ordered anything that we can't figure out what it is. We are becoming very adept at using public transportation and travel longer distances by subway or tram. Doug has taken hundreds of photos of the city and we can hardly wait to share them with everyone. We should be able to entertain the family for many long nights! We are heading into the country tomorrow and then we are off to Budapest. Chicken Paprikas and Retes here we come!

A Quick Report From Europe

We finally found an internet cafe and have a chance to send a few emails and add to the blog. We arrived in London last Wednesday. The flight was uneventful and even arrived early. We made it through customs and onto the Gatwick express and off to London. Found our hotel and dropped off our luggage. The weather was great. Spent the next three and a half days touring about. Didn't see any rain and most of the time it was warm enough to go in short sleeves. On Monday morning we caught a plane to Prague. Weather here is beautiful. Sun shining and warm! What a wonderful place. We did a city tour this AM and now are off to see more of the city. We have today and tomorrow and then we are heading into the country. Thinking about all our friends and family and wish you could be here with us. Will do a full report of the trip when we arrive home. I discovered that it is not easy to navigate through blogspot when everything is in Czech.

European Vacation

The big day has finally arrived. Our suitcases are packed and we are ready to go. We fly to London tomorrow and then will begin our tour to Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Budapest, Berlin and Paris. I will try to post some highlights of the trip while we are traveling and then will add photos when we get home. Check back regularly for updates of our European vacation.