May 12, 2013, Happy Mother's Day

We spent a fun day with Sheena, Tyler, Alexia and Olivia. We arrived about 11:00 am to a yummy brunch of bacon and eggs with hash browns. It was delicious! Sheena and I took the girls to the park to play and grampa and Tyler took off to do there various chores.

The girls helping Grampa rake leaves.

Me and my beautiful granddaughter

Lexi

Livi

Sheena

We then dropped off my brother Terry's stuff that we had brought with us from B.C. and had a nice visit with him and his friend Laurie. They have 3 dogs and 3 cats and a warm and inviting home. Terry is very lucky to have a friend like her.

We then returned to Sheena and Tyler's for Mother's Day dinner. Tyler made some burgers and smokies on the BBQ and Sheena had loads of potatoes and veggies grilled to perfection. Tyler's parents, Gail and Gordon were also there so we got to meet and visit with them. It was a long day for those little girls and this big one too so we set off back to our trailer for a much deserved sleep. Tomorrow is another day.

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Location:Regina, SK

May 11, 2013 here at last - Regina

     Well I must say, we, in British Columbia, have the most beautiful scenery. The whole day was spent driving along the bald prairie and the difference is remarkable. Our fuel consumption has probably dropped a notch or two; although we are fighting a strong head wind for much of the drive. Once you get used to the change, you start to enjoy the simplicity of the rolling hills and fields of stubble. As we get closer to Regina, we see that they still have quite a few snow banks left behind from their harsh winter. The temperature has been slowly dropping as well. By the time we reach Regina, we are at 14 degrees C.



Big sky in Alberta and Saskatchewan

World's largest teepee, Medicine Hat, AB



Snow close to Regina

Me in my new wind hat.

     It was a long drive and its getting late so we head out to a campground that we found on the Internet. It's called Comfort Plus and it turns out to be very nice. It is about 12 kilometers east of Regina and 1 km north of the #1, right across from White City. It is $32 per night but that includes power, water, sewer and Internet. They also have a swimming pool but they are just starting up for the season and it's not open yet.

     Dinner comprises of bacon, eggs and toast but we are staying here for 5 nights so we will be cooking a little more deluxe in the next few days.


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Location:Comfort Plus Campground

May 10, 2013 on the road again

Since we don't want to haul all of our cooking stuff out, we decide to stop in Cranbrook for breakfast at Smitty's. This is the first time we have had a restaurant meal since leaving home.

Sheep along the road.

Another beautiful drive through the mountains; Cranbrook - Fernie - Sparwood - and then into Alberta. Richard has managed to find a part that he needed in Elko, B.C. to complete the connections for the BBQ to the propane tree. He was very excited and talked about it for about 100 miles. It's kind of like Seinfeld episode where your whole day can be about nothing. I have forgotten to bring the cord for us to listen to our audio books so we are forced to talk to each other. And you know what? It's wonderful! I also forgot the audio cable for listening to music in the trailer so I end up buying one in Cranbrook at their brand new Target store.

Richard's amazing store in Elko, BC

 

     We stopped at the site of the Frank slide which occurred on April 29, 1903 when Turtle Mountain slid down and buried a portion of the mining town claiming around 76 lives.  It was the largest slide in North American history.


The rocks still remain untouched after over 100 years

We drive through to Taber where we find the municipal campground a couple of kilometers out of town. They charge $30 per night and we opt for the 30 amp electrical service but unfortunately they do not have water to the campsites so you need to fill up before parking. We don't do that so Richard carries about 4 - 3 gallon containers back to the trailer and dumps them in. Live and learn. There is no cell or Internet service out here but we are just parking for the night so it's not a big deal.

camping in Taber, Alberta

After a dinner of spaghetti, corn on the cob and salad we take a walk down to the Oldman River. It's a very well maintained and pretty campground.


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Location:M.D. Taber Campground

May 9, 2013, travelling through the mountains

     We leave Osoyoos around 9:30 after our fresh fruit, bratwurst and eggs breakfast. Ron and Shanon will also leave and travel to Vernon to spend time with Jeff, Cristal, Owen and Evelyn. We are on our way to Regina and have no particular stopping place for the night.

Osoyoos Lake

Kootenay Pass

     The drive along highway 3 is absolutely spectacular. I can't even remember the last time I drove this highway. We stop at a provincial park along the shores of Cristina Lake for some lunch. The fuel consumption is also very high. Kootenay Pass, between Salmo and Creston is 5800 feet above sea level and it seems that you climb the whole distance without a break.

     We end up stopping for the night at Moyie Provincial Park which is short distance west of Cranbrook. The good news is, it's free to stay there up until May 15 and it's very quiet but the bad news is, there are no services. No power, no water and no cell and no Internet service. We are right on Moyie Lake and it's very pretty.

Moyie Lake Provincial campground

Moyie Lake just west Cranbrook

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Location:Moyie Provincial Park, Cranbrook, B.C.

May 8, 2013, Osoyoos

     Each morning starts with a big plate of fresh fruit when you are camping with Ron and Shanon and I think this might be a custom that we will carry on with. The sun is shining and it's getting warm.

     We pull out the bikes and take a ride along Osoyoos Lake in the morning and spend the rest of the day relaxing. I really like this area.

At a park on Osoyoos Lake

Well, shrimp on the barby and a couple drinks by the fire and another day comes to a close.


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Location:Nk'Mip

May 7, 2013, Osoyoos

     We awake to another glorious day in Osoyoos. It's going to climb to 30 degrees C again today. It's easy to forget all the rain through the winter on the "wet" coast when you're here.

     After breakfast, Richard, Ron and I go to the Nk'Mip Interpretative Centre and manage to immediately hook up with a guided tour with a local First Nations guide named Bob. He is knowledgable about the area and very much into his aboriginal heritage. We learn many things about the flora and fauna of the area with the help of Ron's many questions prompting Bob along. Richard purchased, much to my frugal horror, a pair of very expensive salad tongs to remember our trip here. He says, "it's only money", and I think I'm starting to adopt his philosophy.

here we are up in the hills above Osoyoos

some beautiful artwork

 

     After a yummy dinner of salmon and vegetables we go to the pool and hot tub to soak our weary bones. This retirement is exhausting sometimes!

Here's Shanon getting dinner ready once again!

     Upon our return to the trailer I find a message from home that my beloved brother Bert has passed away. Even though it has been somewhat expected, I am tremendously saddened by the news. He was a wonderful brother to me and he was only 72 years old. I only hope he is soaring, illness free and happy to be reunited with the love of his life, Doreen.

Here is Bert only about a month ago getting back into his guitar

     We are a little unsure of our plans for the next couple of weeks as we will be returning home soon to be with family and to celebrate the very diverse and interesting life of Bert.
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Location:Nk'Mip campground

May 6, 2013 Nk'Mip Campground, Osoyoos, BC

     After a good first sleep in our very lovely new trailer, we arise to a beautiful sunny morning with the birds chirping and the squirrels playing in the trees. 
    
     Today is the day that Richard will repair our lighting problem but first a trip to town to find the stuff he needs to do that.  There is a Home Hardware in town that has so much stuff it would take you a week to go through the whole store.  It has almost everything we need plus a few things that we really don't need.  Along with the electrical stuff we find a clothes rack for drying clothes outside, a new cutting board, etc.  With this being our first trip out, I'm sure we are going to discover many things that we don't have but for the most part, we are well equipped.

    

Here he is, fixing our broken cord with brother Ron giving instructions.

 

May 5, 2013 our first day on the road

     After loading up the last of our stuff required for 5 - 6 weeks on the road, we head out at 6:30 AM; only half an hour past the plan.  I have a heavy heart as my brother Bert is in hospital with possibly his last fight.  I'm not sure he even knows I've been there the last few days but I look back on the previous years and remember the many times we have spent together.

     The drive along highway 3 is amazing; I haven't been on this route for many, many years and have forgotten just how beautiful it is.  Mind you, it helps that the sun is shining, the temperature is perfect and the company wonderful!

     We arrived in Osooyos around lunchtime and after driving up and down the highway a couple of times, we stopped at the tourist information to find out where the Nk'Mip campground is.  As I am coming back to the truck, I see Richard standing by the trailer holding a piece of cable and I knew immediately that this wasn't going to end well.  Sure enough the fragmented cord was all that was left of our connection for the brake and tail lights and turn signals for the trailer.  I was kind of thankful that I didn't know that the lights and brakes weren't working through that winding hilly highway as I would have been scared to death that we would have gotten rear ended or worse!

     We arrive to find that along with Ron and Shanon, there are Doug, Rina and Ryley also there. We spent the afternoon catching up with news from them.  Our plan is to stay til Thursday along with Ron and Shanon.  The weather is absolutely beautiful with temperatures up in the high 20's.

     Doug, Rina and Ryley pack up and leave in the mid-afternoon and the 4 of us get on our bikes and toodle around the campsite for a little while.  It is very big and beautifully maintained.  It is definitely a place I would return to.

     For dinner tonight, Shanon has prepared some delicious vegetables and potatoes on the BBQ and they throw some steaks on the grill and we finish up the evening with great food, wine and conversation.