Little Valley Jamboree

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

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!

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?

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!!!

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

Check out our Southwestern US and Mexico Photobook on Shutterfly.

Click here to view this photo book.

A Thai Goodbye

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

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

Here are a few more photos of the golf course.

Cal Am Golfing

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.