back home

We are back home as Kim had to return to work.... someday soon, someday soon... that will not be the case! The weather has turned warm with 30 celcius temps, though not as warm as Ontario.

We are busy with laundry catchup, cleaning the RV outside and in, deciding where to go this weekend and general chores around the house.  Don's sister has noted on her facebook page that she is de-cluttering bigtime, and we will be following suit, that is for sure!

we're back!

It is so frustrating not to have internet access at the rv lot.  Hence, we are very tardy in our posts.  We have had a very relaxing three weeks here, with a visits at the start from our son and daughter in law, and then just doing little chores around the lot.  Donald didn't plan on any big construction this year, and instead built a lovely little terraced stair area next to the gardens.

 There is a large home being constructed down the street, and we managed to purchase some very good underlay landscape fabric that was left over.  The fabric was laid underneath the gravel to keep the weed population at bay.  We hope.

Another neighbour, Mabel, gardener extraordinaire, was cleaning out some of her perennial beds, and gave me some great iris plants.  She was trying to give away more, but at this point I have no flower beds prepared to accept them.  One of the roses was replaced, and will hopefully make it through the winter.  Our 3 year old rose is still blooming brilliantly.

And the new fifth wheel?  We have an appointment this next week to have a few items looked at, but generally we are quite happy, as it really feels like home. 

Today we started on the long trek back to the north country, enjoying a great day for weather.

Oh!  I forgot!  This morning, prior to doing the final pack-up, we were very much entertained by three mallard ducks in the bird feeding garden.  I didn't want to open the door and frighten them away, so this is the best picture I could get of 2 of them waddling away after their fill of sunflower seeds.

As you can see, what a lovely day to travel and take a few pictures along the way - this is Kamloops Lake, just about at the top of the highway.  Yes, it was a bit of a climb, and apparently the truck is handling the climbs great. I wouldn't know, as I can't see the temperature gauge, and I am sure Donald doesn't want me craning my neck over every 5 seconds to check.  

We took our little tomatoe plants with us to the rv lot, and they grew very well in the warmth of the Thompson/Okanagan weather.  Tonight, we enjoyed a few of the cherry tomatoes with our supper.  The travel arrangements of the tomatoes is unusual.

 

The bigger plants fit into the big storage compartments just fine.  Tomorrow we will arrive in Prince George for the day.

Hot at the Lot

     That sounds like a song title!  We have been way less busy with landscaping projects this summer - no dump truck loads of heavy rock!  Donald has a small project of some landscaping tie levels and berming and I have planted a new rose bush, as one was lost to the winter weather.  All the rest of the plantings seem to have faired well over the winter, which was very mild according to a neighbour.

 We spent a few hours at the beach and the water was warmer than we thought and very nice to cool your toes in!  There is new construction taking place around our little lot - some of the houses as big as 6000 square feet being erected - all I can say is - been there, done that, don't want to clean a monstrosity any more!  The 5th takes only a quick 45 minutes to give a good cleaning - whoo hoo! 

I will have to take some pic's of the garden and roses that are in bloom.  I think that will be todays big goal.  Ah, the life of leisure.

Fun at the River, travelling and a new Window

Don managed to pull the new 5er down to our friends riverfront property.  Our dinner club has a windup at this time of the year and our hosts were offering their great property, complete with a beautiful fire ring, music and sheltered picnic tables.  It was a great time, with lots of fun conversation and stories.  Dinner was a mess of yummy BBQ ribs and about 10 different kinds of salads, followed by the greatest BBQ pie: Lemon meringue.

The next morning, we were off and running down the road to our other lot in the Shuswap.  We overnighted at the brand new SuperWalmart in Williams Lake.  We had an unbelievable view from the high parking lot, across the valley and mountains with the lights of the city.

Poor old Gatorgirl thinks the new steps are high for those wee little legs!  Turns out that they are wider and deeper, and are actually easier for her to handle getting up and down.

We take a back logging road to make our route much shorter - we don't have to go through Cache Creek, and then onto Kamloops.  It cuts out all of that.  The road has been sketchy at times, but last fall a Smithers construction crew did a remarkable job with grading, widening and laying down calcium.  This is the start of the logging road by Adams Lake resort.

 

The day that we arrived at the lot, so did our son and daughter in law ( Nathan and Keira ) from Victoria.  We had a great visit, with a drive over to Salmon Arm.  Why? Well, we have to get used to the turning radius on the new 5th - we took out the back window of the truck, and went to Apple Auto Glass in Salmon Arm to get it repaired.  Ah, the lessons of life.

the gal's tour

This is the living area, and with the opposing slides, it makes for a nice 14 feet width.  The chairs are recliners and I have suggested to D that perhaps one should come out to be put away in storage, and a small desk in its' place for sewing or computer work.  I am thinking there may have to be more discussion on that.    I have already covered the couch because of doggy paws.

This new rig has lots of cupboard space, but we are trying to be very frugal in our packing and are really watching the weight.  So, all the upper cupboards around the slides are empty.  I suppose if we were to sit on the RV lot for some time they would be used more. Of course, I need a step stool for most of them.

I opted for a smaller kitchen to realize a bigger living room space.  You give up something to get something else when it comes to RV space.  The countertops are Corian ( which was not a selling point for us ) and came with a little copper disk embedded in the corian on the corner by the sink.  Some times, we are such deep thinkers - both of us though it was a sticker and gave it a swipe to remove it.  It is the 'corian' logo.

Lots of light with windows.  The cupboards are a dark cherrywood, so lots of windows are great.  We are really enjoying the height of the ceiling.  The 'hallway' is short compared to some units we looked at and we wanted it that way, as a hall just uses up space.  I have already put up some pictures of the kids.

And then, onto the bedroom!  Door to the left is the bathroom. Jeepers, who left the clothes closet doors open.  Better go up and close them.

Ah, nice light colored bedding and it looks like someone was laying about reading a book and trying out the mattress. ( it was just right, says the princess ). Now, when we were looking at rigs, the salespeople assumed it was the big TV and fireplace that sold the unit. NOT.  Believe it or not, it was the $2.00 (probably) piece of 'counter' next to each pillow - to put your readings glasses, alarm clock, etc.  You would not believe how many 'retirement' rigs have no place for the ol' reading glasses. Yep, most of us past a certain age need them, and we need a place to put them at night.  Small thing for sure, but if it is not there....The other appealing thing in the bedroom was the opening windows in the slide ( mentalpause heat, you know I need the cool air )and in the main part, the opposing slides.

And, so ends the tour on this nice and sunny day.  Tonight is our first night out with the new rig - no we did not sleep in it on the driveway!  The RV gang and dinner club are meeting down at the river for a rib and salads BBQ.  My portion is to be a fruit salad, which is good because I worked today and I am now off for three weeks. Whoo hoo!

Our salesperson, Al Bompas, of Happy Trails RV in Prince George has been extremely helpful, especially with any PDI issues and 'making things right'.  Al sold us our very first RV - a Coleman Tent Trailer ,when our boys were little. So, he has been in the RV business for some time, and he knows his stuff. If you are in the area and are looking for a new unit, we recommend him.

Stay tuned for the ' river happenings'.