We are back on the road, California our first stop.

Our first blog post for almost 6 months. Nice to be back on the road.

 We spent the late spring and most of the summer in Port Alberni to spend time with family and friends. Arrowvale Campsite was our home base till September, close to our family, close to the river, and had all we needed available to us with all services at our site. Made for a good base.
Polly's Mom, Memere was in a home by the hospital, Westhaven, and we got to visit her regularly till she passed in the middle of June. Was tough, but we did know she was close to the end of her life, she was 98, and we all hoped she would make 100, but this was not to be. Was good we got back in May, as we had some good talks with her while she was still doing good. Memere was always sharp, and loved a laugh. Was hard when she passed, we all loved her very much.
We spent much time with our grandchildren, swimming in the river, and BBQ dinners by the trailer. Our daughters and grandchildren came to our site for Mothers day and Polly really liked that. Was a great summer, and we managed to visit with many friends and family all summer long.

Memere's Funeral was in July, it was tough, but we did have most all family, and many friends come to pay respect. Was a very nice service, after we had time to talk about the past and future. Memere's house was where we all met regularly, Birthdays, Christmas, and other times during the year. This will now change, so what will happen now was a question raised. Reunion was talked about, who knows.

When September came we raised the jacks and off we went to the North Island for what we think will be our annual fall holiday discovery of our Island. We stopped at our home base in Courtenay Americo and Claudette's for a couple nights, then off to Pacific Playgrounds RV park at Saratoga beach. Was a great week, and we really enjoyed the area, even though the rains had started for the fall. Jacks up again and we moved to Cluxewe |Resort for a week as this is such a beauty place by the ocean. We met Peter and Catherine Aspinall there, Polly and Peter have known each other for many years, and some good reminiscing was done this time. We made plans for next years trip here at same time.

We like to look around the north island while there. Keogh River was one of our stops thanks to Peter, who gave us good directions, we made an hour long hike in and got some great pictures of black bears at the river mouth feeding on salmon. Kwa'lilas hotel is a new addition to the town, we did not go in this time.

Also took a drive to Story's Beach, our first time here. I had been told of the beach by a friend from work a few years earlier, said good place to fish for Coho in the late summer early fall. We just went to look around, is such a beautiful beach. We will be back, and next time plan to spend more time. After this we drove into Port Hardy and took a look around, always nice to see the town and the waterfront.

We made a trip to the beginning of Cape Scott trail, to San Josef Bay. Was a long drive in, then a beauty hike to the bay. We were tired after, and just ate our lunch, talked about the trip in, laid on the beach, and made the return trip. Better to stay a night on the beach, or even at the parking lot I would think.

We also made a drive into Port Alice, always nice to see this place, we stop at the legion and have a beer with locals, and get a feel for how the town is doing since the paper mill has been down a couple years now. 

On our way back down island we stopped in Sayward for a couple nights at the community campsite in Saward, was a nice place to stay, even though we had torrential downpours most of the time we were there. We did get a few times to get out and about, and will stop again here, but make sure the weather is better.

Cable Restaurant Sayward was closed, but will try again next year.

As the month of September came to a close we planned to park at Osborne Bay RV resort in Crofton, as we had some repairs to get done to our trailer, and service to our truck before we leave the island. Also a doctor's appointment, and eye exam and glasses to be made. All the maintenance items done before we leave.

Last but not least we had a dinner with our family in Port Alberni the week before we left at the Golden Dragon, and this was a fun night. Watching grandchildren together, and family all talking, not like at Memere's, but the best we could do this time. Talk of what the next dinner would be like next year was talked about. Polly and I were just happy to see us all together again before we left. Christmas will be different this year, Christmas where we still do not know. This will be a different year.

I am writing this while we are in Hemet, California, two weeks after we left the island. Most of what we have done the last 2 weeks was expected, and somewhat planned. We stayed 3 nights at casinos,  one at Seven Cedars in Washington, and one at Seven Feathers in Oregon, and again at Rolling Hills in Corning. We got a message from Ed and Chris, friends from Courtenay that were doing there first trip south in there new van, and could we meet up? We made a plan, and met at Willamette Mission State Park for the night, was fun to hear of there trip and what they learned, and some of there fun times, as well as some of the places they had been. We sat around the Fire till we got just a little cold, and then in the trailer for some of Polly's good cooking.

Next morning we agreed to go see the Spruce Goose as Ed and Chris had seen the museum on there way here. Was that a good decision, even if we could not spend too much time there as we had to travel to Seven Feathers that afternoon. We got in the doors after a winding trip through the country roads, and what a huge aeroplane this is. We soon lost Ed and Chris, as they went to watch a video, and we went the other way. The building was huge to house the plane, and we had much to see. There was also another building for films, and another for Space craft. what a good time to stop, not to many people, and lots for us to see. At 1pm we had to say good bye and off we went on our way south.

Casinos stays are sometimes just a night and then you get on the road again, but or stay at Rolling Hills Casino was fun, and interesting. We pulled in at around 2pm, and had some daylight left to enjoy, as well as two couples that we parked next to that were from the Island too. Campbell River was their home town, and we wasted no time getting to know each other. Don & Barb and Curt & Odette. Was a fun time getting to know each other, we stayed outside with a propane fire pit going till the security got after us for the fire pit. Then we had to move into the casino for dinner, and of course a little gambling.

6 degrees of separation is a saying or a belief. I heard it many times, and does seem to have some merit as I go forward in life. When talking with Curt I realized he was a RCMP and worked on the island, and I knew another person in our Camera Club in Ladysmith that was also in the police so asked him if he knew him. Yes he did, know Charlie, and they worked together up north. He had known him for a long time. Later I was talking with Don, and found out he worked for Greyhound, and asked if he knew Cliff, and yes he did. Wow meet two people, and both have connection. We are 2500 km away, meet people from the island, and two know people I know. wow, that is cool.

We pack up the next morning early, and off we go to Orange Grove, and so are the others. We follow them most the way, and meet them the next morning before they leave Orange Grove for Vegas. We exchange card info, and they will spend time this winter in Yuma, at Fortuna De Oro, and we are going to be there for December as it looks now. Funny how things work.

On the way to Orange Grove we take highway 99, as did last year. A little shorter than I-5, but I had a close call last year on this road, and again this year, same kind of problem. I  was in the right lane, and someone wants to exit, comes in front of me and steps on there brakes!!! Lots of scary here. I just cram on the brakes, and I am sure I am going to hit them, then at last second, Zoom off they go off the highway. I lay on the horn, and they are gone. That is the last time I take this road.

We spend 3 nights at Orange Grove as we do need a little rest and the weather is now warm, so relax. Picking oranges does not take long, as there are many oranges here, and we can pick all we want. So I pick  3 bags, and Polly picks one more before we leave.

We then go to Hemet as was recommended by a friend as a good place to hang our hats for awhile. The first place we stay was under repair, so off we go to Golden Village Palms RV Resort. Was a nice place, well maintained, friendly people, and nice clean warm pools & Hot tubs. All the same expected amenities at a resort, and was Thanksgiving on the Thursday, so we managed to get on the list for the dinner, and was good. Turkey was supplied by the resort, and someone cooked it ahead of time for each table, and all other foods and cutlery was brought by people attending. Made for an organised group, and Polly had a surprise when a friend tapped her on the shoulder and said "Hi Paulette" Polly was Hi, and the woman says, you don't remember me do you? Joanne, Joanne Barr! Well Polly nearly feel over. This was a neighbour she had grown up with, and hadn't seen for years. Shocked is what I say Polly was, she was so surprised she kept saying how that was so unbelievable, all the way here and meet someone from home!

Our week went fast, and we did think of staying another, even about going toward San Diego, but after a trip to the Rv Resort and Casino in Temecula, we decided that in the bigger city type of places is not what we were really wanting. Will head toward Indio as we knew where another couple Neil & Debbie were staying and stay a few nights there. We would like to get to Yuma for the month of December, and spend Christmas there.

Monday we drove to Indio, and arrived at Indian Waters Resort RV at noon, and the gate was closed, and the sign read, Check in at 1:00 Gate opens at 12:30. Hmm, well now we wait. We did not get the memo re gate will be closed so we just turned the truck off and waited. Another surprised person walked up, and same never seen this before. Then someone that had a code came along, and he put in his code, and said Shazam! and let us in. Off we go to the office and checked in. Was nice as had a person with a cart direct you to your site, and help you park, this I always appreciate, and less often does it happen. The road was wide, and Nick directed me well as the pad to park on had a electric valve box beside it, so he new to keep my tires away from this. Sure makes it nice to have some familiar direction.

After Nick left, we were making our final adjustments, and Polly noticed a woman feeding the birds, and they were Road Runners. Well this was a first, and before we finished parking we had to go check this out. We found out so much about Road Runners in a short time. Hi I'm Brent I say, and this is my Wife Paulette, and Ann is this woman's name, and she feeds the birds every day since she has been in this spot, for last couple weeks. We find out that these birds are carnivores, and what she feeds them is small pieces of steak. They are a couple her husband David tells us later, and he fills us in on many facts about these birds.

We did get the trailer parked finally, and after we got all hooked up, I was parched, so Beer please Polly, and we open up the lawn chairs, and put them in the shade, and sit and yak it up with these tow, and another woman that happened by for a couple hours. LOL Sure is fun meeting people, and sharing knowledge. We find out that Evelyn and her hubby are full timers, and so are David and Ann. Now we have even more to yak it up about. The afternoon went fast, Bosco met there dog, and made friends, and we talked and made friends. Was a different kind of reception, not totally unusual, but different as we sat and the others stood, and we just yaked for the afternoon, till I was cooled down enough to get into the sun, then I had to put the shirt back on, was getting cool. Now we got away, as was feeling a bit trapped after awhile, we went for a walk to see the place, and see where Deb and Neil were.

We walked by there site, and no truck, but there 5th wheel was there, so we walked over to the pool, and around the clubhouse, and as we made our way back Deb comes out, and says Hey Brent, Polly, Hey! So we go over to a warm welcome, and sit with her, and Oh, we have another beer. Gee this is tough to take. More yakin, and getting familiar, and the Neil comes home from Golf, and we yak a little more, much about the trip here, there trip and ours trading stories. It gets cooler, and darker, so we go home for dinner with plans to meet up after.

Nice way to start our first day here in |Indio.

Loving our Life.

Desert, Ranches, Lakes, Farms, what Beautiful Country we drive through.

Polly took some good photos as we drove

We let out of Pahrump early and our drive was great to start as we had been to Beatty before, but past that we noticed much flat desert, and rolling hills as we made our way to where we hoped to spend the night. Tonopah was a bust as we drove upward to the top of a mountain 6047' Wow, not as expected. It was a very cold day, wind blowing and temperature has dropped to 52 Deg F, 11 Deg C Brrr. The town was not pretty, an old mining town that was somehow still mining to a small degree. Even if the weather was warm, we would not have stayed here, but may have walked around and took a look. We bought fuel, and a subway, and off we went toward Carson City, looking as we went for a possible stop.

We did stop as we made our way there, we went through a town called Hawthorne, on the way we saw many bunkers and were told later they were munition dumps, for old ammunition. We drove through, and saw The town looked depressed, and not doing well. We did see an RV park on the highway when we left, but not what we were looking for, very exposed, and wind blowing like crazy.
We passed Walker lake on our way and thought a nice spot, but looked like was nothing open yet for RV parks.

Our next stop was Yerington, for a bathroom break at a gas station, nice little town, much farming here.  I asked for best route, and an RV park recommendation in Carson City, the woman had no idea on RV parks, but did give me best route for us with the trailer. I find this local knowledge is so much better than just pick a route on the map, as she did say she would usually recommend another route, but too many twists and turns for such a windy day with an RV she said.

It is late now, 4:30 so we call ahead for a place to roll into when we get to Carson City, and Camp-N-Town RV says they have one site left, so we take it for the night, and make our way there in about an hour. We find our site, and make it home for tonight. Now a beer, and a yak. Polly and I do that well after our moves. We like to talk about what we did, saw, and feel about this last leg of our journey. The possible stop at Tonopah was top of the order, and we agree was not for us today. We did like the town of Yerington, was clean homes and well kept businesses and farms were well taken care of too.
Not for us to stay in though, Carson City was the destination.

We got up next day, and went for a walk around the town, was told the capitol building, and other areas there were worth seeing, and they were. Many interesting statues that with there written history on the plaques, made for good reading for us. We learned that Carson City was developed mostly by one man with a vision, here is the history link  Abraham Curry He saw a city where others saw land.

Our site first night at Camp-N-Town RV

No dogs in Casino's, unless a service dog

Never made it in, Next time!

Ain't we cute

Kit riding through the brush

Polly reading about the Miners Monument

We went up to Virginia City, and was a good climb up hill to get there. This is an old mining town, which there are many around Nevada, but this one is mostly intact, and was a real good view of what it was like in the past.

On the way up the hill to Virginia City

Love this sign

Was a school in past, now a Museum

Dressed in clothing from past

Many great bars here

View South

We also went to Carson Hot Springs, was a beauty pool full of very warm mineral water to soak in. Was a good day for us to do this, as wasn't busy, and was a beauty, sunny, warm day.  Only a couple hours, as could only take so much sun. Showers were with same hot spring water, so soap didn't want to come off easily.

Casinos in Carson City, like all of Nevada were plentiful, and we went to 3 different casinos, Fandango, The Nugget, and Cactus Jack's. Fandando was best, Nugget next, and never stayed in Cactus Jack's as was small, and real bad smoky.

We also went for a drive up to Lake Tahoe, was a beautiful place to visit. My first thoughts were fast speed for around a lake, 50 mph, and many No Trespassing, Private Property, and Keep Out, Private Property, No turnaround!

This gave a feeling of all here was out of our grasp until we got to a good pullout at Cave Rock State Park, where we could get a few decent pictures of the lake and mountains from above.

Our first look at the mountains and lake

I made it to the top of the rocks

Tie ups for boats in summer I am guessing

Polly loved the huge pine cones

Boat that takes people out for tours of the lake.

Further down the road we stopped at Zephyr Cove Resort, where it was free parking today, and we had a chance to get out and take a walk down the dock to where a huge boat was docked that would take people out for cruises. Clean clear water here, and all the lake we saw.

Next stop was Nevada Beach Campground and day use pavilion, a forest service operation. Was closest we got to the water, and with Bosco, was a no go on the beach, so we just looked from the trails and road. Gates were closed, so could not drive in, but the walk was good. Sunny warm day made for another good excursion for us.

Next we got to South Lake Tahoe, and Lake Valley, was a bit much for us, had many huge buildings, we didn't expect here. Made a drive through, then turn around and back to Safeway for some lunch, and a picnic at Zephyr Cove as was a nice place to stop, and a little less restrictive. All in all a good look around, even if we didn't go all the way around the lake.

At Safeway we talked with a local girl, and she said there are some beaches that they go to that you could bring your dog, and were less restricted, that made me happy to hear as so far all looked like dogs were a no go everywhere we went.

Our stay here in Carson City was just what we wanted, even took a trip into Reno our last night to see the Peppermill Casino we had been told about in Laughlin. A great card room I was told, so had to check it out. Yes it was a great card room, and a very nice casino. Polly did well at the slots, Me I left a few at the card table, but was a very nice casino, we will return again.

So much to see here in Carson City, will stop again if we pass by here.

Should we stay, or should we go? The never ending question as we move northward.

Here we are now in Pahrump, Nevada a small town spread over a big area in a huge valley.

We came hear from Las Vegas, and we came there from Laughlin, and we came there from Mesa by Phoenix, and we came there from Yuma. As you can see we have been travelling around the southwest a little, and have seen much, and more to see as we move back toward our home town Port Alberni, BC. We plan very loosely, and make some up as we go, but this trip has been full of fun, and new experiences, and a few less miles than last years trip. We still know we will have to go over some of this trip again, as we just can't visit all we want each time, but we can return.

Posting on Facebook gives some info, but there is just so much to tell, I have to write once in awhile just because I like to give some detail. Here is a little about what we have been doing this winter.

Fun, lets start there. We have been having just too much fun, meeting many new people, some will be life long friends I'm sure, Sharon and Jim Bohner are a couple we met in Yuma, and spent more time with in Laughlin, and as we left them a week ago, we realized we just couldn't say all we wanted to before we parted company. So nice to meet really good friends, that are on similar paths.

One of the most memorable looking casinos at night

Chris Stapleton was fantastic

Our site at the base of a bank

We enjoyed two great concerts in Laughlin, as did Jim and Sharon.

Sharon was "Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner"

We played cards, and slots, and some of us won, and some did not! LOL We made plans, and will meet again this summer all going well.

We stayed in Riverside RV Park, right across from the casino which also had a shuttle to and from the casino 24hrs a day. Our site was close to the dog park, and laundry, made things just a little nicer. We had a huge bank behind us, and at first I was thinking would be crappy view. That was until Polly spotted some interesting wildlife here, small chipmunks, and geckos and migrating birds made up some of what we got to watch out our living room window. Was much better than the nature channel as we saw live what happens here daily.

Hold on hey, I want a piece of your tail

Oh Yea, right here I bite

We hada fun afternoon dancing with Jim & Sharon in the sun
on the river-walk by the Colorado Belle

We met Chris & Jenn Browning, our son & Daughter in-law, and Jenn's parents John and Jane Juska and spent some time with them while they holidayed in Vegas, was nice to see them all again. Vegas took some $ from us, and we saw much, and Oh yea, we had more fun! We stayed at Mainstreet RV, was good deal for us, as so close to the downtown & Freemont st.

Our site at Main Street Station RV

Fremont Street Experience was fun

Our view of the casino at the 4 Queens as we ate dinner

Excalibur, where Jenn, Chris, Jane and John stayed

A painting on a building I liked.

Jennifer's Birthday cake

Such cool art work in the casinos

Making our way from one casino to another

Now in Phraumph we have been staying close to the RV park, Preffered RV, and yesterday we took a drive into the desert to a small town, Beatty, and Rhyolite. Was a nice day, warm not hot, and very little wind, which I know now are the two conditions that stop us from exploring sometimes.

Our site at Preferred RV in Pahrump

One our neighbours in the RV park. Love the old buses.

I was surprised to learn that Mars Attacks was filmed here

 I learned much about this area at the museum, like I usually do about most places. Talk to people, and visit the museum, and you learn much. Farming was most important here, and now seniors buying here is one of the main economy, along with people that live here and work in Vegas.

 This area, and The Yucca mountains have been a place the Atomic Energy Commission has been working to be a dumping ground for the atomic waste from electricity production for many years, to the tune of 14 billion dollars spent, and to this day not one spent fuel rod has been placed.

The testing that was done years ago for atomic explosions is still present and will be for years to come.

Setting up for another above ground test

I was amazed to see this, and read of how the testing was done.

What it looked like from above after many tests

The rig that was used to set up for an above ground test

What is looks like after the explosion as the dirt sinks and a crater is created

In between we do have some time to watch TV, ("The Voice" being our steady show of choice), take many walks with my friend Bosco, he helps me see places in areas I may not otherwise walk to, he also enjoys and afternoon nap with me on a fairly regular basis. Polly and I have visited many Casinos, and left a small fortune spread around the south west as we make our way home, no regrets, we keep getting a pension check, and as Uncle Doug says, we will keep doing all that Polly's pension can afford! LOL

Other things we have to do are small, laundry, dishes, clean wash, maintain our home and truck. minor repairs, but mostly we are having fun exploring the areas we are in.

Choosing where we stop and stay has something to do with weather now, as we are heading north, and want to make sure we don't leave warmth too soon, and run into snow, and cold rains, so we will stay here in this warm lovely place for a few more days as a beauty pool here, and warm here temps right now.

Today off toward Tonopah, and see what we will learn there.

Next we will make our way to Reno, and spend a few days, and nights there.

Loving this life we are living.