On the Road Again

Sedona -A Must See

2011-02-19T18:14:00.000-08:00

Feb.14th- After spending a week in Apache Junction with Larry and Lori we headed north to Sedona AZ. Sedona is situated in the high country just south of Flagstaff. A number of people had told us that Sedona is a “must-see” but we weren't really prepared for the natural beauty of the area.

The houses are all Santa Fe style and tucked into pockets of greenery so none compete with the spectacular scenery.

As we entered the city, we began to see monolithic mountains and red rock formations.

Towering cliffs, unique formations and a palette of rich colors.

The design and color of the roads blend in with the surrounding landscape.

The shape and beauty of the rock formations defy description.

View from Chapel Drive.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross, a beautiful chapel built on a twin pinnacled spur about 250 feet high, jutting out of a thousand foot red rock wall. It's hard to believe this modern looking structure was built in 1956.

The guardians of the Chapel.

A cactus garden bordering the chapel grounds.

An Angel in the garden.

The view from inside the church.

Looking down the valley from the church.

Another view of the mountains surrounding the church

Looking up at the Chapel Of The Holy Cross .

Rock Spires

Alvina at rest stop

Beautiful

Red rock formation

Bell Rock

Cathedral Rock

Bell Rock,believed to be one of the spiritual vortexes in the area.

Castle rock

Organ Pipe National Monument

2011-02-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Feb.1st--During our stay in Organ Pipe state park we took a day trip on Aho Mountain Drive, a one way gravel road that formed a 21 mile loop through pristine desert wilderness. The scenery was magnificent and the desert was lush with many species of cacti.

Entering Organ Pipe National Monument bordering Mexico.

Organ Pipe Cactus, indigenous to the southern part of the Sonoran Desert.

The jumping cholla, also called the chainfruit cholla after its long hanging chains of fruit.

Cholla cactus and mountain scenery.

Organ Pipe Cactus

A ramada originally built by the native Indians to shelter from the sun. The roof was made from the husk of the saguaro cactus.

Interesting saguaro - The old men of the desert

The cacti are so tenacious that they actually seed themselves on the rocky sides of the mountain.

Larry and I

Natural arch, caused by erosion on mountain top.

Larry and Lori from the Double L Ranch on Vancouver Island.

Alvina and I in yet another desert.

Lori standing beside huge saguaro cactus. At maturity, they can reach heights up to 50 ft. and live as long as 200 years.

Old Spanish church in Aho AZ.

Yuma,Gila Bend,Aho and why az.

2011-02-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

Jan.31st--Leaving Quartzsite, we traveled south to Yuma on Hwy 95 and then took #8 towards Aho and Why AZ. This part of the Sonoran Desert is favored by smugglers trying to bring illegal drugs across the border and immigrants hoping to find a home and a job in the U.S.

Wow! Tractor with Quad behind sleeper, towing a large 5th wheeler and pulling a Hummer. What a man!

Scenic farmland on route to Yuma.

Gila Bend AZ. pronounced -Hila-. After Larry and I got there the sign was changed to "and 7 old crabs"- enlarge sign for details.

Following Larry and Lori through the Sonoran Desert.

Another great sunset just south of Why AZ.

We stayed at a B.L.M . site just north of the Mexican border.

Larry at our campsite.

Snakes and Balloons at Lake Havasu City

2011-02-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

Jan.22--Alvina and I drove to Lake Havasu to see the Balloon Festival. Larry and Lori went to Quartzsite to get satellite T.V. installed and we will meet with them later in the week.

Alvina with Bull snake. The snake really liked her and did not want to let go.

This is the London Bridge purchased from England and reconstructed at Lake Havasu.

One of the hot air Balloons at the Festival in Lake Havasu.

Lots of old restored cars on display.

Yep, it's me again.

They charge $15.00 for a ride up and down in a tethered Balloon. They cram between 7 and 9 people into the basket for a ride that lasts about 10 minutes.

Alvina admiring one of the vintage cars.

Date Palms bearing fruit ,found at a gas station on the way to Havasu.

Each tree bears an enormous amount of dates.

Beautiful to behold.

Camping in the desert with Larry and Lori

2011-02-03T14:33:00.000-08:00

We met Larry and Lori on Dec. 31st and spent the month of January boon-docking at Quartzsite, Blythe and Yuma.

While camped at Quartzsite Alvina discovered an unusual rock formation. Who built it and why??

Lori explores a paintball fortification next to the B.L.M. at Yuma.

Larry camped at Yuma.

During the 2nd World war General Patton trained his troops near Yuma.

Lori ready to take off on the Quad in the B.L.M. we stayed at near Blythe CA.

Alvina posing at a fence covered with shoes in Rice CA. There are hundreds of shoes left here and the questions begs--WHY???

The grave of Hi Jolly in Quartzsite. One of the most visited grave-sites in the U.S.

Plaque at the Memorial.

Rugged Landscape in the Desert.

Striking rock formation on top of a mountain.

Bees and Sunsets at Blythe C.A.

2011-02-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

While sitting outside reading a book and enjoying the sunshine, our attention was suddenly diverted by a unique sound rolling across the desert towards us. As the sound moved closer it increased in intensity and we were able to identify the source. The sky turned darker as tens of thousands of bees flew past us and swarmed onto a tree branch some 25 feet from our motorhome.

At 10 o'clock the next morning the Bees abruptly left and continued their journey.

The swarm passed right over us as they left.

Very short Quicktime movie showing the Bees departing

The sunsets at the Midland B.L.M. north of Blythe C.A. are nothing short of spectacular.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2010-12-25T08:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All. Dec. 25th and we are still camped in the desert just out of Blyth California. The temperature here is around 70 degrees and not a cloud in sight. We had a pot luck Christmas dinner today with all of our fellow campers at Midway. Take good care .

Most of the campers have been coming here for years. A great bunch of people.

A first class dining room in the middle of the desert

We enjoyed prime rib, ham, three different dishes of potatoes,several salads , assorted veggies and numerous other epicurean delights

It just wouldn't seem like Christmas without a dog dressed up like Santa.

Sunset Christmas day

An Irish Blessing
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you

Yuma and Blyth California

2010-12-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Dec. 7th 2010. Hello from just outside of Blyth California where we are enjoying a beautiful day with a temperature of 80 degrees . For the past seven weeks we have been boondocking -dry camping - on BLM sites at Quartzsite, Yuma and Blyth Ca. The Bureau of Land Management fees for camping on their sites are very reasonable, forty dollars for two weeks or you can buy a season's pass, good from Sept. till April, for one hundred and eighty dollars.

Visual freedom and beautiful scenery from our campsite.

Alvina taking a break from taking a break. Life sure is hectic in the Desert .

Our Backyard as seen from our campsite.

Once you have your permit you can move from site to site with no additional cost. Each campground provides different services varying from Telephone, Trash, Dump Station, Water and Restrooms at "The Imperial Dam site" and "La Posa" to just garbage Bins at Hot Spring, Tamarisk and Pilot Knob. Midland,where we are currently parked, has Telephone,Trash and Dump Station with free water nine miles away in Blyth.

Sunset over the Desert. A beautiful thing!

Cotton field ready for harvesting.

State Highway 34-Ogilby Road-out of Yuma to Blyth. Like a roller coaster.

A dogs got to do what a dogs got to do.

These date palms produce Medjool Dates , the finest that nature can grow. The fresh dates are delicious and taste nothing like the dates you buy in the grocery store. Heartily recommend the fresh date milkshake.

Lettuce and Date Palms.

Green and red Lettuce. as far as the eye can see.

The Colorado River that provides irrigation to the fields of the Imperial Valley.

Hidden Shores resort near the Imperial Dam.

Harvesting the crop. The machine cuts the lettuce from the stalk and the field workers bag and box it . Ready for shipment to the stores.

Do you ever wonder where the lettuce that you eat in the winter comes from? The Imperial Valley California.

Workers weeding the crops in the Imperial Valley out of Yuma

We are really enjoying our time in the desert. Every 7-8 days we travel to town and get water and groceries.

Lake Havasu to Quartzsite

2010-11-23T12:08:00.001-08:00

During our two days in Lake Havasu we stocked up on groceries etc. in anticipation of dry camping in Quartzsite. While we had previously boon-docked in the desert it was only for two or three days and this time we were going to stay for three weeks to a month--penance for the lavish life style we had enjoyed in Las Vegas. Traveling south from Lake Havasu, we passed through Parker and on to Quartzsite.

How would you like this Job? Driving around the Lake each day picking up weeds. Pretty good job I'd say.

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

An Irish Blessing

He's just about got it picked up.

Lake Havasu again--Love this place!

Interesting Mountain along the way.

Quail at our campsite at Hi Jolly 2 miles north of Quartzsite.

Sunset over the desert.

And again

Our campsite in the desert

Miles of campsites- hard to believe that in peak season-January and Feb. you can hardly find a spot to park.

Storm clouds but no rain.

Our Backyard- at night you can hear the coyotes calling.

Most of the campers here are Canadian.

Leaving Hi Jolly and heading into Quartzsite to do some laundry and then will be heading down to the Imperial dam in California.

When you're traveling you meet a lot of interesting people. Paul Winer, the owner of Desert Oasis Bookstore in Quartzsite is definitely one of those. At first glance you might think "oh yeah! just another naked bookseller ", but after talking to him you begin to realize what a truly remarkable individual he is. I happened to notice a picture of him playing a piano and I asked him if he still played. "Oh yes " he said, leading us to a small grand piano at the back of the store that was covered with books, would you like me to play you something?

What was immediately evident, as we listened to him play, was that he was a very gifted and accomplished musician. We were to learn, in a subsequent conversation, that he was in the entertainment business for 25 years traveling throughout the New England states and eastern Canada. Since his retirement from the music scene 20 years ago he has been selling books in Quartzsite. It has only been , in the past few months that he has started performing for a audience again and he has a show in Quartzsite on January 9th 2011. Keep on Trucking Paul.

LAS VEGAS and Cirque Du Soleil

2010-10-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Oct.23 to Oct.30th--Leaving Pahrump and the high desert we set off to Las Vegas to meet KC who was arriving by plane later that afternoon. Our last trip to Vegas was 25 years ago and we were amazed to see how much the City had grown.

The Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino where KC was staying.

New York New York Hotel and Casino. This is actually one hotel made up to resemble the New York skyline.

Especially enjoyed the Cirque Du Soliel show "O" at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.

The Stratosphere Hotel and Tower with revolving Restaurant . There is a roller coaster that runs around the top of the tower-unreal-only in Vegas.

KC and I at the Bellagio waiting for the Cirque Du Soleil show to start. Note the replica of the Eiffel Tower in Background.

Halloween theme inside the Ballagio Hotel.

Las Vegas the City of lights-unreal!

Caesar's Palace featuring Cher. Didn't she retired?

We checked into the Hitching Post R.V. Park on the Las Vegas Blvd.North, right beside the Nellis Airforce Base. We had picked the Hitching Post because it's located 10 miles off the strip and away from all the traffic and noise. The RV park was clean and well managed with full hookups; the only drawback being the constant roar of the fighter jets taking off and landing at the Airbase.

The ubiquitous Chem trails. Every day started out sunny without a cloud in the sky. The picture above shows the sky after the spray planes made numerous passes.

The Pyramid at the Luxor Hotel and Casino.

The front of New York New York Hotel and Casino. Note the roller coaster .

Shopping Mall on the Strip. The sculpture in the center of the picture is actually a restaurant.

The Harley Davidson Cafe.

The Arc Du Triomphe at The Paris Hotel.

The Eiffel tower at The Paris Hotel.

Caesar's Palace hotel and Casino.

The Venetian Hotel and Casino. To give you an idea of how big these hotels are, this picture was taken inside the hotel where they have replicated the canals of Venice. The sky in this picture is not the sky at all, but the roof of the hotel painted to resemble the sky. Amazing!

The size of the hotels and the grandeur of the decor is truly amazing.

Each one with a unique theme as they try to out do one another in order to attract the tourist dollar. Note the Paintings on the roof.

Alvina at The Venetian Hotel.

Unbelievable Artwork

More Chem Trails over Las Vegas

Had a wonderful time in Vegas visiting with KC and exploring the hotels and restaurants on and around the strip. Thanks KC, great to see you and a special thanks for the car you rented and left with us for the week.

Buckskin Mountain State Park AZ. and Pahrump Nevada

2010-10-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Oct.9th to Oct.23--Leaving Laughlin, Nevada we headed south past Lake Havasu City to Buckskin Mountain State Park where we stayed for a week .Our next stop was Pahrump, Nevada.where we will stay until Oct. 23rd.

Lake Havasu one of our favorite places to camp.

Buckskin Mountain State Park. Right on the shore of Lake Havasu

While we were at Buckskin Mountain the temperature was 30 degrees C.

Our Campsite

Buckskin Mountain Park Has a restaurant and a general store.

Nice sandy beach.

A Cactus Garden.

Scenery on the way to Pahrump

Pahrump in the high desert of Nevada.

Preferred R.V. park in Pahrump

South Rim Of The Grand Canyon and Laughlin Nevada

2010-10-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

Oct.7th to 8th--From Cameron we drove 57 miles on State road 64 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The distance from the North Rim to the South Rim, traveling on Hwy.89, is 212 miles.

The elevation of the South rim averages 7000 feet.

The width of the Grand canyon averages 10 miles.

The South Rim has a depth of 4500-5000 feet.

One of the wonders of the World.

Pictures do not do justice to this masterpiece of nature.

The Desert View Watchtower, built in 1932, rises 70 feet above The South Rim.

Simply Incredible!

The Watchtower is the highest point on the south Rim.

Murals inside the Watchtower were painted by a Hopi artist.

The Watchtower was built to replicate an ancient Pueblo Tower.

Alvina at The Watchtower.

Old Indian dwelling by The Watchtower.

A list of the Indian Tribes that call the Grand Canyon home.

You have to see it to fully appreciate the magnitude of the Canyon.

Views from the top of the Tower include The Painted Desert and the San Francisco Peaks.

Unbelievable

And again

Our last view of the Canyon as we prepare to leave for Nevada.

Entering Laughlin, Nevada where we will stay the night at the Riverside Resort and Casino--Great Buffet.

Grand Canyon North Rim,Cameron Arizona

2010-10-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Oct.6th to 7th-- From Jacob Lake we took AZ. Hwy. 67 about 30 miles to the park entrance and a further 14 miles to the North Rim of The Grand Canyon. The walk up to the Grand Canyon Lodge, situated right on the lip of the Canyon, was breathtaking and spectacular.

The Grand canyon at last.

Almost there.

First glimpse of the Canyon

Just another great day.

WOW!

To really appreciate the depth of the Canyon you have to be here.

Today was not the best for taking pictures due to the heavy smog from California.

Elevation at the North Rim is close to 8ooo feet.

This picture alone was worth the trip.

The Lodge is a go to destination for overseas travelers and because of it's popularity, reservations are made years in advance.

A windy day. What a view from this lookout.

The blue line at the top of this picture is actually smog coming in from San Francisco.

These cabins sit right on the rim of the Canyon and have UNBELIEVABLE Views.

The Grand Canyon is a must see.

Bright Angel Point -a walk with fantastic views.

One of the views along the Bright Angel trail.

Scenery along the highway between the North Rim and Cameron Arizona.

The last chance motel.

More scenery along the way.

The Cameron Post Office.

Leaving the North Rim we took the east route around the park and stayed the night at Cameron AZ. before driving to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Great restaurant at the Cameron Trading Post. Note the tin roof.

Madison Wyoming,Southern Idaho,Utah and Jacob Lake AZ.

2010-10-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Oct. 4th to 6th--Leaving the West gate of Yellowstone, we entered Idaho and traveled south to Utah. Our destination is Utah Lake State Park in Provo Utah, about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, where we plan on staying the night.

The west gate of Yellowstone just out of Madison.

Southern Idaho

Thunderstorm and Rainbow

Awesome scenery

Great farmland

welcome center

Salt Lake City is huge, stretching on for what seems miles and miles. The land is rich with fertile soil and it's easy to see why so many people settled here.

Northern Utah is densely populated

In comparison to the south of the state.

Our next stop in Utah is Snow Canyon State Park in Ivins, Utah where, we are told, The Biggest Loser ranch is located.

Snow canyon is eye-candy for the R.V.ers with unbelievable views of painted mountains and Canyons.

A curious blend of colors.

More great scenery

The mountain looks like it was poured out of a blender.

Rugged beauty

The High Desert

A sign in Fredonia AZ. What else do you need?

Alvina at rest stop

From here we will head to Jacob Lake National Park- the gateway to the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Yellowstone National Park

2010-10-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

We entered the park at Gardiner though the Roosevelt Arch and headed to the Information Center at Mammoth Hot Springs. Arriving at the Ranger station we were told that there were only 2 campgrounds in the park that were still open and one of them would close tomorrow. Securing reservations for the first night at West Thumb and the second night at Madison Junction, we started to explore the Park.

The Roosevelt Arch where president Roosevelt dedicated the park to the people of America in 1903.

Actually it's Yellowstone.

Still a long way to get to the Equator

Welcome to the Park.

The Yellowstone River

Beautiful Scenery

Wherever you look in Yellowstone the scenery is spectacular.

Mountains everywhere

Striking Mountains in the distance

Fall showing her colors

Entry to The Porcelain Basin by Norris

Part of the Porcelain Basin Walk

The Ledge Geyser

The walkway around the Blue Geyser

The Blue Geyser

And again

The Colloidal Pool

Yet another Geyser

The Porcelain Basin from above

The park is literally situated on top of an active volcano and every year there are numerous people badly injured by wandering off the boardwalks on what appears to be solid ground, only to find they are on a thin crust that breaks and they are left standing knee deep in mud with a temperature of 200 degrees plus.

The Rangers Museum at Porcelain Basin; unfortunately it was closed.

The dreaded Chipmunk

The Lower Falls area is located just to the east of Canyon Village in Yellowstone National Park.

A long shot of the Falls. It's said to be higher than Niagara.

The Yellowstone River tumbles 308 feet, striking the canyon floor with such force that it sends foam and mist hundreds of feet upward.

The Yellowstone River

Approaching too close to the Elk,Bison and Bears to have pictures taken can only end poorly and every year people are injured and killed through no fault of the animals, but by their own stupidity.

Oh give me a home where the Buffalo roam

And the skies are not cloudy all day

Steam everywhere

The Yellowstone Lake is 7732 feet above sea level-the highest in the U.S.-and covers 136 sq. miles.

Sandy Point on Yellowstone Lake

A nice chubby Elk

The elevation in Yellowstone is between 5282 in the north to 11358 feet at the Eagle Peak summit with temperatures currently falling to the mid thirties overnight.

The Roosevelt Lodge located right beside Old Faithful.

Built in 1919-1920 incredible workmanship

Alvina waiting for the Geyser to erupt.

There she blows

Up to 180 feet

Lasts anywhere from three to eight minutes.

Even at this time of year there were hundreds of tourists from all over the world to see the famous Geyser.

Now we've seen it I'm going to eat.

These Buffalo are everywhere.

The Excelsior Geyser at Midway Geyser Basin

Excelsior Geyser from above

Excelsior, once a large geyser, is now a productive thermal spring, presently discharging 4050 gallons per minute. Numerous vents boil and churn the water within the crater, covering it in a dense layer of steam.

Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone, and is considered to be the third largest in the world.

Grand Prismatic sits upon a wide, spreading mound where water flows evenly on all sides forming a series of small, stair-step terraces.

The colors begin with a deep blue center followed by pale blue. Green algae forms beyond the shallow edge. Outside the scalloped rim a band of yellow fades into orange. Red then marks the outer border. Steam often shrouds the spring which reflects the brilliant colors. Grand Prismatic discharges an estimated 560 gallons per minute.

The Elk apparently can't read-note the hoof prints in the Bacterial mats

Like an Artist's palette

Opal Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin

Turquoise Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin.

Roosevelt Dam to Idaho,Montana and Wyoming

2010-10-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sept. 30th to Oct.2.nd---Leaving Roosevelt Lake we traveled towards Spokane and through the pan-handle of northern Idaho stopping at points of interest along the way. The scenery was spectacular with fall starting to turn the forest into brilliant colors of red and yellow. Entering Montana, "The Treasure State", we headed south to Wyoming and the gateway to Yellowstone National Park.

Spokane, Washington the gateway to northern Idaho

Welcome to Idaho a new State that we have not travelled.

It seems that Idaho has a lot of everything Mountains, Rivers and fertile grasslands.

Montana is the 4th largest state and ranks 44th in population with only 958 thousand residents. As we traveled south the mountains gave way to large fertile valleys that supported ranching and farming.

Butte Montana the capital

The Ranches in Montana are huge some containing thousands of acres

The Mountains of Montana

As we were leaving Livingston Montana, just north of the entrance to Yellowstone, a pick-up truck pulled up beside us and told us that we had a huge bulge in the sidewall of our inside rear driver side tire. After alerting us he advised where we could get it fixed and we were on our way in a hour. What luck firstly that he was able to spot it and also that he would take the time to follow and inform us. Could have been real trouble if it had blown in the Mountains.

Our Backyard Oct 1st. Yellowstone Edge R.V. Park on the Yellowstone River.

Vancouver Island to Coulee Dam and Roosevelt Lake

2010-10-17T12:51:00.001-07:00

Sept. 27th to Sept. 30th--After over six months in Canada and a beautiful summer on Vancouver Island we are ready to travel to the United States for the winter. On the first leg of our journey we are driving to Osoyoos where we will cross the Border and make our way through Eastern Washington state to the Coulee
Dam and Roosevelt Lake.

The Hope Princeton Highway

The Woods are lovely, cool and deep but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.

This fellow wandered out of the bush about 25 feet from Alvina while we were stopped on the Hope-Princeton Hwy.

OH! Canada

Scenery in Washington State

A beautiful spray of Wild flowers.

A Memorial To Chief Joseph.

The Grand Coulee Dam

Lake Roosevelt backing-up behind the Coulee Dam

Our Back Yard Tonight

Just another wonderful place to be

A Really Great Campground in Eastern Washington State

Prawn Fishing,Thetis Island,Porch building and old ladies dancing

2010-09-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

Wow! August went quickly and we are already five days into September. The days are getting shorter,the trees are starting to turn and you can feel fall in the crisp night air. We,like hundreds of other Snowbirds {R.V.ers} across Canada,are starting to prepare to escape the Canadian winter and follow the sun across the southern United States. We have now been living in our motorhome for a year as of Sept 2nd and I can assure everyone as Elton John says "It's no sacrifice at all".

Alvina's mother 86 and Annie 89 picking Blackberries at Gay's

Signy and Annie dancing on the new deck. Girls just want to have fun

Brad and Mat putting siding on and building a new deck on Gay's house

Ian and Mom checking out the new deck

Brad the architect and master builder of Gay's house.

Mat the world traveler and chief assistant to the master builder.

We took Larry's flat bottom 21 ft. boat out prawning off Thetis Island. Note the ocean is as flat as a mill pond.

Using five traps we managed to get 400 Prawns in 4-5 hours

Scooby checking out the catch

Bounty from the Sea

A beautiful day on the water

You gotta love the mechanized trap puller. The traps are down over 200 ft. and it's quite a job pulling them by hand.

A ocean freighter. I wonder where it's going?

Beautiful scenery

Boats at anchor in the lea of the Island

The nice thing about prawn fishing is you set the traps and while they are soaking for 3-4 hours there is lots of time to explore the area.

Lori just found out we are heading to the pub on Thetis Island to have lunch.

Alvina on the dock at Thetis Island.

Thetis Island

Just another day in Paradise. What a Day! See Ya

Llama's, Fishing,Canning and Black Bears

2010-08-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

August 9th---Lazy days of summer on Vancouver Island. July was a scorcher with temperatures reaching 100 degrees F. for a couple of days and not a cloud in sight. August has thus far been overcast and cooler with a few days of rain that is most welcome as there are some 400 forest fires burning in British Columbia. Larry and Lori have been busy working on Lori's duplex building the forms and laying the re-bar in preparation for the pouring of the concrete parking pad. We managed to get away a couple of times to fish at port Renfrew but the fishing in that area has been spotty with very few large Chinook being caught--at least while we have been there. Only seven more weeks left before we head back on the road. First stop will be "The Grand Canyon" Take good care and will blog again in Sept.

What's for Breakfast?

Llamas on the farm just behind our motorhome.

Another small Chinook Salmon.

No Fish biting so might as well read.

You may think he's sleeping but he's actually thinking really hard.

Scooby will let us know when the fish hit our lines.

A Sample of some of the canning Alvina did in preparation for our upcoming trip to the U.S.

Blueberry Jam, Apricot Jam, Antipasto,strawberry Jam,Pickles and salmon.

We encountered a Black Bear Fishing as we left the Marina on our way to the ocean.

Warning from B.C. Parks Read carefully.

We advise the outdoorsman to wear little noisy bells on clothing so as to give advanced warning to any bears that might be close so you don't take them by surprise.

We also advise anyone using the out-of-doors to carry "Pepper Spray" with them in case of an encounter with a bear.

Outdoorsmen should also be on the watch for fresh bear activity, and be able to tell the difference between black bear feces and grizzly bear feces. Black bear feces is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear shit has bells in it and smells like pepper.

Scooby watching the Bear.

Larry and Lori all dressed up and heading for a wedding up-island. What! Wait! It is Larry. That old Cowboy cleans up really well.

Great read--Bryce Courtenay--"Persimmon"

Lori cleaning the roof. Actually she has so much fir pitch on her feet she can't move.

Alvina's Garden ,Excavators and Dinner

2010-07-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Alvina cleared sod out of an old dog run Larry had in his yard ,spaded the soil up and added some good topsoil. She has a real green thumb and always enjoys planting a Garden

Alvina planted snow-peas, cilantro, tomatoes, zucchini, chives, cucumbers and beans

Whenever the Horses see Alvina they know she'll feed them

Reminds me of a horse I bet on at the track--Lost my shirt

Larry dropped 8 loads of topsoil down by the lower road and rented a Bobcat to move it to form a terrace behind Lori's duplex

There ain't nothing this old boy can't drive

Lori and Scooby

Larry cooking Buffalo burgers and we're drinking a couple of beers

Yum

Fishing Port Renfrew Van Isl.

2010-07-01T15:45:00.002-07:00

Port Renfrew located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Larry rented a spot at a campground for the year and moved his trailer out there. Campsite includes mooring so it's really handy for fishing. The season for Chinook is just getting started at Renfrew so felt fortunate to get a small one

Small Chinook great eating

Larry happy to take the old Honda off for the last time. He replaced it with a new Merc.9.9

Rocking Rolling Ocean

Scooby a great fisher-dog. Whenever the reel clicks she jumps up

Japan straight ahead

2010-07-01T15:45:00.001-07:00

Lori's Wall

2010-07-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

In order to have a legal duplex Lori needed to have four parking spaces. The only way to accomplish this was to build a retaining wall, fill the area in with gravel and top it with pavement .

The Erickson Brothers Construction crew

This 1700 lb block was tricky to place having to be moved by hand

With a little help from the hoe operator

When Larry lets that puppy out buttons have been known to fly 50 feet

To reinforce the wall Geo-grid was placed between each row of blocks

The lift truck was able to place 4000 lb blocks up to 32 feet

After each course of blocks gravel was dumped and tamped down

The Last Block

Good Job Ian

Hope she don't turn around and catch me eating the lunch she has laid-out for the workers

Larry's Birthday--

2010-07-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Tracy and Rick

Happy Birthday Larry

Larry and granddaughter Madison

Larry and Lori's R.V Park

2010-05-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

May 30th 2010--When Larry returned home from the U.S. he purchased a 27ft. Fleetwood trailer with large slide-out and all the bells and whistles. Perfect for traveling as he can tow the trailer and carry his Quads in the Pick-up and enjoy all the comforts of home.

Parked at Larry's R.V. Park

The R.V. Park has full hook-ups power, water, cable, wifi and sani-dump

The Matriarch of the family 86 years old and still going like the ever ready bunny

Full walk around bed

Large dinette that makes into a bed

Very spacious Kitchen area with rear bath

Proud Grandpa Murry with Ella

"The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, gang aft agley."

2010-05-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

May 30th 2010. After a month in the Kootenays we find ourselves back on Vancouver Island. We arrived back May 20th and are currently staying in Duncan at Larry and Lori's place.

Alvina on Ferry Arrow Lakes

The view of Osoyoos, BC climbing up the Anarchist Pass.

Scenery going through the Kootenays

The Arrow Lake British Columbia

Three Valley Gap near Revelstoke B.C.

Deer along the highway

The Deer were everywhere as we traveled through the mountains

Work Kamping in Cranbrook

2010-04-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

April 15th--Hello from Cranbrook B.C. We arrived yesterday and got settled into our campsite at Mount Baker R.V. Park. The park is situated in downtown Cranbrook and is a short walk to grocery stores and restaurants. We were able to avoid snow on our trip here from Vancouver Island. The road was bare over the Kootenay Pass,on the Salmo Creston highway, with snowbanks some 8 to 10 ft.high on the shoulders over the summit. A ominous reminder of how treacherous the road conditions can be.

On the ferry crossing the Arrow Lake

When we live in B.C. we tend to take for granted what a beautiful province we have

The scenery here, driving pass our lakes and through our mountains, rivals and surpasses that seen anywhere in North America.

Our Home for the Summer

Alvina raking pine needle at Mount Baker R. V. Park

Back on Vancouver Island and Heading to The Kootenays .

2010-04-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

April 7th--We are currently parked at Dale and Lynne's place attending to getting our income tax filed and taking care of all the little details before heading to the Kootenays to spend the next six months Work Kamping. We have to be in Cranbrook by the 14-15 of April and will be there till the end of October. Work kamping goes like this. We are expected to work two days a week to a total of seventy hours a month and in return we get free campsite,electricity, WiFi and cable. If we work additional hours we are paid 10 dollars a hour. Our duties will include looking after the office, taking reservations, booking people into the park and seeing to the wants and needs of the customers. We are looking forward to being in Cranbrook as it is a beautiful place and the summers are really nice. The park is located downtown so it is a short walk to the shopping area. You all take good care and will post when we reach Cranbrook. This has been a fantastic trip. We have traveled some 20,000 miles and visited 22 American states and 5 provinces. Each state was unique, interesting and wonderful. We can't say enough about the American people we have had the pleasure to meet on our journey. We have been treated with kindness and made to feel welcome everywhere we traveled.

Trip to Decatur Indiana and home to Vancouver Island

2010-04-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Mar.13th to Mar. 29th We've had problems with our large slide-out leaking and not retracting properly and after trying unsuccessfully to have it fixed at local RV dealerships we decided to take a trip to the Fleetwood factory in Decatur, Indiana a distance of some 2000 miles . Traveling to Decatur, located in upstate Indiana, We added three new entries to the list of States we have visited. Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

Lake Shasta California

Alvina by Olive tree at rest-stop.

This Rest-stop was actually a Olive Orchard

California's got it all

Mountains in bloom near Bakersfield California

Lush green hills near Tehachapi California. Beautiful!

Wind turbines just above Edwards Airforce Base in California

Heading to Flagstaff. Looks cold ahead

Coal fired power plant producing electricity in New Mexico

Navajo pottery

It truly is the land of enchantment

Navajo rest-stop on Arizona New Mexico border

Red rock mesa in New Mexico

The desert in bloom

Old buildings along the route 66

Free 72 ounce steak in Amarillo. All you have to do to get it free is eat the whole thing.

The red soil of Oklahoma

We escaped snow all winter but finally got caught in Amarillo Texas

World famous arch in Saint Louis built by Ironworkers

Welcome Center in Missouri. Lots of licence plates.

State Park at Santa Rosa Lake New Mexico where we stayed on our way to Decatur.

Bullhead City,Lake Havasu and Blyth Ca.

2010-03-10T19:18:00.000-08:00

Mar.2 to Mar 10th Bullhead City, Lake Havasu and Blyth California Larry and Lori decided to head west and north after our visit to Death Valley and Alvina and I traveled east to Bullhead City where we stayed for a couple of days. Heading south we boondocked for a night in a beautiful spot overlooking Lake Havasu near the Bill Williams river. We are currently in Blyth California camped on the Colorado river and will stay here until March 12th.

Death Valley Day 3 Scotty's Castle

2010-03-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Mar.1st Our last day in Death Valley. We went north to Scotty's Castle, a remarkable mansion built for his wife by millionaire Albert Johnson. Although construction started in 1922 it would take many years to complete. The story goes that Mr.Johnson had invested in a mining venture with a man named Walter Scott who claimed to have discovered a very rich gold mine on a mountain in Death valley.

One of two swimming pools that were never finished

The entry

Palm trees along side the worker's quarters

Entrance to the garage and main house

After a couple of years and not earning any returns on his investment Mr. Johnson decided that he and his wife would take a trip to see this mysterious gold mine first hand. It didn't take long for the Johnsons to find out that there was no gold mine and they had been conned by Scotty. Thus, a curious relationship was formed between the millionaire and the con man. It seemed that Mr.and Mrs.Johnson, despite being conned,took an instant liking to Scotty and would later tell reporters "All Scotty showed me was a few dry holes" But, Mr. Johnson explained "Scott has repaid me every dime in laughs.Plus he's a darn good cook."

The door to the main House

The sitting room

The parlor and adjoining library

Mr.Johnson loved the desert and would return to visit Scotty every year. Mrs. Johnson also enjoyed the trips but grew tired of sleeping in tents and told her husband that she would not accompany him unless he built her a house. He agreed and the construction of Scotty's Castle was started.

Balcony looking down on the sitting roomCourtyard separating the main house from the guest quarters and garage

Tile and mosaic fountain in courtyard

The mansion was built in a valley literally in the middle of nowhere by Shoshone and Mexican craftsmen. No expense was spared from the hand carved redwood beams and iron chandeliers to the custom crafted tile floors and handmade Majorcan rugs. Some of the innovations built into the house include passive solar heating for hot water,flush toilets, a generating system for electric power with huge battery banks,rock gas cooking stoves,one of the first refrigerator freezers from Kalvinator and an enormous pipe organ.

The music room. Note the beams and inlaid tile on the ceiling

Death Valley Day 2 Badwater Basin

2010-03-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Feb.28th we traveled with Larry and Lori down to Badwater Basin the lowest part of the valley at 282 ft. below sea level which ironically is located close to Telescope Mountain the highest point in the lower 48. Due to the extraordinary amount of rain that had fallen in The desert this winter a lake had formed over the bottom of Badwater Basin. We found out later,from a park ranger, that this was something that had not happened since 1926 and very few people had seen water there.

The lowest point in the desert

A walk through the salt flats

A Lake on the salt flats for the first time since 1926

Unusual Rock formations

Alvina Mountain climbing
A Natural Bridge

Returning to Furnace Creek we drove through a area called Artist's Drive,a winding one way road that took us through mountains and canyons. The colors of the rock formations were unbelievable with shades of red,yellow,purple,green,pink and blue. A MUST SEE. It was indeed like a Artist's palette.

Salt flats and breathtaking views of the Mountains

The Beauty of the Desert

The camera does not capture the colors that the eyes see

If you ever get a chance you Must visit here

The Mountains look like they were painted

Borax Crystals on the Valley floor

Death Valley Day 1 furnace creek

2010-03-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

Feb. 27 Death Valley. Our destination in Death valley was the Furnace Creek campground located in an oasis on the valley floor 196 feet below sea level. We spent the first day exploring the area around Furnace Creek, visiting the Museum and learning about the history of Death Valley. The discovery of gold,silver and borax in the 1850s led to the creation of boom towns and mines throughout the valley. Mining continued in the valley until 2005 when the last active mine closed. The climate in the valley is very harsh with temperatures between 90 and 115 degrees for seven months of the year.

The Furnace Creek Museum

Old Mining Equipment

We finished our day by visiting an Old Borax mine complete with the old mine and milling machinery.

Tacopa Hot Springs

2010-03-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

Feb.26 We traveled with Larry and Lori from Quartzsite Arizona to Blyth CA.and headed north to Death Valley. Our trip took us through the Mojave Desert where we passed several dry lakes. As the lakes evaporated from the desert heat they left a thick carpet of salt that stretches for miles and miles across the desert floor. From a distance the salt on the old lake beds looks like snow and must have fooled the early travelers as they passed through on their wagons.

We camped at a RV park on the shores of a dry lake bed in a place called Tecopa Hot Springs, that turned out to be most peculiar.

When we arrived at our campsite there was a drizzle of rain falling that mixed with the salt on the ground, resulting in a slurry of salty mud covering the area where we were parked.
No big deal, because after all, there was a Hot Spring and the idea of a warm mineral soak was definitely appealing. What? Wait! you're kidding, we have to be nude to get into the water and the men and women are segregated to different areas. Now as much as I like and enjoy my brother-in-law's company the thought of sitting nude with him in a hot spring was a little too much for me and I'm sure he felt the same way.

No big deal, there was still the restaurant on the premise and after a long day's travel we were all hungry. So, full of good cheer and anticipating a great meal we set off to the Bistro. As we entered the front door the interior was dark and dingy with the only light being a small candle in the centre of each table. Still optimistic we asked for menus and a flashlight so we could see to order our food. Now, if there was ever a menu specifically designed to make hungry customers flee in sheer terror this was the one. There was absolutely nothing palatable to eat on the entire menu. We all glanced at each other, got up in unison, and left the restaurant. There was something decidedly off kilter about this whole place and it would be a perfect setting for a Stephen King novel.

Tombstone and Bisbee AZ.

2010-03-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Feb.18th to 25th. Visiting Tombstone is like entering a time machine and traveling to the American west in the 1880s . The merchants and the people of the town do their best to keep the town as authentic as it was a hundred years ago. This was the old west where such notables as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson and Johnny Ringo did their thing. We had dinner at The Longhorn Saloon where the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday gathered before walking over to the O.K. Corral for the famous shootout with the Clantons.

The Courthouse where they would give you a fair trail,

And hang you in the morning.

Museum and home of the worlds largest Rosebush.

The World's largest rosebush is a white Lady Banksia. From a single trunk it spreads over a arbour that covers over 8000 sq. feet with millions of blossoms.

The Tombstone Epitaph,dating back to the 1800s.

THe Longhorn Saloon--A Great place to eat

The Silver Nugget Salon. We were told that gun fighters used to get drunk and make bets about who could shoot flies off the ceiling with their six shooters

Larry,Alvina and I at Boot Hill--Happy to be alive.

Lori at Boot Hill---Notice the sign lol

You have to read this grave-marker. Talk about having a bad day.

Lots of souls in Boot Hill. The headstones tell a lot of stories

The great thing about visiting a Graveyard is being able to walk out.

Interesting Reading

Man were they ever hard on their kids in those days

Alvina at the bar. I said a double dammit.

I don't know what Larry did to this lady but when she couldn't stuff dollar bills in his shorts she stuck them under his hat.What a guy?

The site of the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

The infamous Bird Cage Bordello where Ladies of the night would entertain their clients in small tent like enclosures suspended from the ceiling

Adobe Building

Downtown Bisbee just as it was a hundred years ago

A Shop in Bisbee that made Artwork out of skulls and bones

The Queen mine in Bisbee

Open Pit Mine at Bisbee. What a price the Earth pays for our plunder.

Vidio of fish creek Descent

2010-02-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

The Apache trail --Tortilla flats to Roosevelt dam --"The most hair raising and intimidating drive in Arizona and possibly the world". Not recommended for RVs. Video by LORI

The Apache Trail--Part 1--Apache flats to Tortilla flats

2010-02-23T18:57:00.001-08:00

Feb.16th to 17th--Lost Dutchman state Park to Roosevelt Dam--After consulting our atlas we decided to continue north on The Apache Trail, Hwy. 88, to the Roosevelt Dam for, what we thought would be, a nice scenic drive. Little did we know what we were about to encounter.

The Start of the Apache
trail

Scenery along the Trail

Canyon Lake

Larry in Tortilla Flats

The first leg of our journey took us some 10 miles on a paved narrow 2 lane road, that wound through the mountains, to Tortilla Flats. Tortilla Flats has a population of six people and no services except for some souvenir shops and a restaurant .

The apache Trail--Part 2--Tortilla Flats to Roosevelt Dam

2010-02-23T16:06:00.000-08:00

Leaving Tortilla flats the paved two lane road lasted for 8 to 10 miles and then changed into a single lane washboard gravel cow trail. The road took us up mountains and down valleys with curves and switchbacks that barely gave us enough room to negotiate the turns. Larry and Lori were driving ahead of us and videoed our descent down Fish Creek Hill.

Beautiful scenery

Single Lane Bridge

Canyon Lake in distance

Leaving Tortilla Flats

About 15 miles from the Roosevelt dam we came to a sign that said "No Vehicles Over 40 Feet Allowed To Proceed" as we were 36.5 feet long, and not knowing what lay ahead, we carried on.

Two lane gravel at this point--no problem eh!

Tonto National forest

Oh! Oh! Single lane. Are you kidding?

Muddy waters--Lots of rain recently

With grades of 10 to 15% that take you down 1500 feet in a very short time. Shear cliffs and hair pin turns demand all your attention as one wrong move will take you off the road, falling some 1000 feet, to join the pile of wreckage at the bottom of the cliff. We were driving on a ledge that was supported, in places, by sandbags.

It took two and a half hours to go 30 miles

Just as we thought we had made it through the worst parts of the road we came to the descent down Fish Creek Hill. Fish Creek Hill, as I was to find out later, is the most dangerous,gut wrenching,make a man out of a boy stretch of road that you will ever encounter anywhere.

Severe Washboard 5 miles per hour

Hairpin turns and shear drops

Whenever we met cars coming towards us one of us would have to pull over and we would pass with only inches between us. This often happened on corners and was always unexpected. Because of all the hills and turns we had very little warning of approaching traffic.

Very Little room to pass

Top of Fish creek Hill you can see larry's Camper far below

Winding down the mountains and approaching Roosevelt dam

Finally Paved Roads

Wickenburg to Lost Dutchman State Park

2010-02-23T14:04:00.000-08:00

Feb 14th to 16th--Lost Dutchman State Park--Located in The Sonoran Desert 40 miles east of Phoenix. The campground is located just north of Apache Junction in the Superstition wilderness area and the Tonto National Forest. We stayed two days and took the time to explore Goldtown a authentic old western town located close to the park. The campsite is located at the foot of the Superstition Mountains and is a very beautiful place to visit.

Stopping for the night

Our back yard for the night

Goldtown Business

Bad Place to end up

Two visits to outhouse daily--oh!oh!

The Town Museum

Larry and I at the bordello just kidding eh!

Ride a piece and rest a spell

Having a cold one at the outside Bar

Row of antique cars

Wickenburg Rodeo and Stanton, Arizona

2010-02-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

Feb. 12th to 14th--Wickenburg Arizona--Arrived in Wickenburg,a lovely little town in the valley, just in time to see their annual Rodeo and explore some old ghost towns in the area. We stayed on the rodeo grounds for two nights and made day trips to Stanton, Arizona a old gold rush town that had been restored to resemble it's original condition. The Lost Dutchman's mining Association have taken over the town and there were prospectors from all over America actively panning for gold in the surrounding hills.

Parading the Flags, good to see some Canadian cowboys participating .

One guy and four dummies doing YMCA by the Village People -Hilarious.

These Cowboys are Tough. OUCH!

The Frog Rock Cafe-- Lunch time

Old Fire Truck

Don't mess with these Old Boys

Lori looking over the old buildings

The Old Opera House

Alvina at the Stanton Hotel

Contented Cows in the Desert

Joshua Tree National Park California

2010-02-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

Feb.11--Overnight in Joshua Tree Park. Larry and Lori had stayed here before and really enjoyed their stay. We followed Larry as he led us through the desert, lush with new growth. The area had received far more rain than it normally gets resulting in ideal conditions for the growth of the flora and fauna that inhabits the desert. The desert plants are expected to bloom in six weeks and the result should be nothing short of magnificent.

Entry to the Park

Lori in front of giant Ocotillo

The Joshua Tree

Our Campsite on the mountain

Lori in the cholla gardens

The cholla Garden note the new growth

Morning at our campsite--Gotta love it!

Larry on morning walk--notice he never loses a drop of coffee

Fantastic rock formations

View of surrounding mountains

These are the things on which our heart and spirit feed

Imperial Valley to The Painted Hills

2010-02-19T19:53:00.000-08:00

Feb.10th --We headed north through the Imperial Valley on the Box Canyon Rd., through the Painted Hills and ultimately to Joshua Tree National Park.

Large Orchard of Date Palms in the Imperial Valley. Other crops were Grapes, Peppers and lemons to name a few.

Orange Grove in Mecca Ca.

The Painted Hills in the Orecopea Mountains.

Mountains and the Colorado Desert.

The beautiful Highway through The Painted Hills.

What can I say? Spectacular.

Wish you all could see this.

The end of the Box Canyon just miles from Joshua Tree Park .

El Centro to Salton Sea

2010-02-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

Feb.10th--Leaving El Centro it was easy to see why Ernie and Signy enjoyed coming here . The countryside is much like Yuma with lush farmland,warm climate very similar to parts of the southern Okanagan in Canada.

Alvina and the Salton Sea

Larry, Lori and I

The Salton Sea is a landlocked salt water Lake that is located right on top of the San Andreas fault. The Lake is 226 feet below sea level..

This area was very popular in the fifties and sixties around the time that Route 66 was being traveled. There is a park on the lake but for the most part the area remains undeveloped.

Yuma Az.and El Centro California

2010-02-19T15:49:00.000-08:00

Feb.8th--Headed for Yuma where we spent a few hours looking at Toy Haulers with Larry and Lori. Yuma is a popular destination for RVers due to the weather and the proximity to Mexico.

The land surrounding the town is very fertile and garden farms are everywhere. The colors of the soil and the crops are vivid and crisp. The mixture of greens,whites and browns are a treat for the eyes. We planned on staying for the night but soon found out that all the campgrounds were full. After a consultation with the Gypsy committee it was decided we would head for El Centro and spend the night in the walmart parking lot.

Three Quarters of the gypsy Committee

The Farmland around Yuma

The farms stretched on for miles

50% of the Gypsy commitee

Quartzsite, Arizona

2010-02-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Feb. 8th-- spent the day exploring the area.Thousands of motor homes down here. The whole town is built around the Recreational Vehicle industry. Dealerships selling motor homes,5th wheelers,trailers and everything that you might need to repair or enhance your R.V. Flea markets are everywhere and surrounding the town are acres and acres of desert where you can boon dock--stay for free with no services--all in all a amazing place and a pleasure to visit.

Lori looking at motor home. I think she likes it--Larry not so much. He's looking for a Toy Hauler to haul his Quads.

Alvina and Lori in desert just out of Quartzsite

Larry and Lori and Scobby by a huge Cactus

Alvina and I