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.
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| 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.
