Back in Canada

Just a short post as we set up.  The plan was to cross the border yesterday, but it was just pouring rain and would have made for a miserable drive, so we spent another evening at the Fairgrounds in Omak, Washington.  Leaving there at 9 am this morning, it was a lovely sunny drive to the border and a final fill of 1/4 tank before hitting the crossing.

The crossing went well - fruits and vegetables? Liquor? How much did you spend? Alterations or Repairs to any vehicles? Ok, thanks, have a nice day. Yippee, we're on our way.

A one hour stop in Penticton as we thought we could get a rebate on our out of country extended medical policy. Nope - forgot we took annual policies. Anyway, we renewed our BCAA membership for another year.

On to driving through the crazy city. Kelowna. Ack. So, we are presently set up at Wood Lake RV Park and Marina, and it is full hookups and right on the beach for $20 a night. Normal price? $85 for being within touching distance of your next door neighbour. We would not even fit here in the summer.  There are about 4 other rigs here, and none within the aforementioned touching space.  The bonus is that the young man who is working here, and doing landscaping, wood delivery, office.. and working on his CMA is a delight. He ran up to our rig when we got here, introduced himself and offered his hand to shake. Got to like that. Smiley, too.  We have a couple of boys like that....

So, we drove up to Voyager RV to confirm our appointment Monday morning then went out for Chinese Dinner smorg. Wonderful fresh food at $11. each.

Oh yes, Donald still hasn't put on long pants. Rick, there is an ad in the paper here for a sale on John Deere lawn tractors. One has cruise control! Should we send you the flyer?

The return of long pants

A long driving day yesterday from Pendleton, although we did miss all the wind that Russ and Donna enjoyed after we left. Whew.

Presently we are sitting in the rain in the Omak, Washington Fairgrounds RV park.  Right behind us is the river, and the hill that men and horses fly down during the Suicide Race here in August. It must be really something to see.

Still yet to decide whether we will be off today to cross the border, or wait for the rain to clear off. Ah - long pants. Oh well.

Great Day that goes out with a Bang

Since we didn't unhook the truck from the 5th while in Mountain Home, Idaho we had a great start to our day.  The biggest city yet to travel through on our way back, other than Kelowna was Boise, and driving through there at 9:30 Sunday morning is a great travel time. Whoosh... we were through.

A beautiful day with a great drive, and an early arrival at Wild Horse Casino RV Park in Pendleton, Oregon. Our site backs onto a gigantic farmer field, complete with tons of birds, deer, and something we have yet to see, but we can hear it. Sounds like a turkey and it is in the field.  Now this 'turkey' is as scared of thunder and lightening storms as most dogs are. Poor Poppy! Yes, we are parked next to Russ and Donna and their lovely dog, Poppy. They were able to get some fantastic pictures of the storm last night. www.therapytravels.blogspot.com.  I tried, but only managed to get some sheet lightening behind the clouds.  Every time the thunder boomed, the poor 'turkey' sound worse.

Since we just blew through here last year, Don decided we should stay for 2-3 days and have ourselves a little explore.  This morning we are off to breakfast with Russ and Donna at a downtown place they say is pretty interesting, then I have our tourist map to explore some more.  Oh my, I did make a note of the quilt shops. ( yes, Paulette... how can we stop and not check those out, EH?) Donald is thinking about checking into an oil change for the truck, although it is not quite due.  He did notice that quite a number of B.C. plated RV's were already set up and their satellite dishes, when we got here at about 1:30 in the afternoon. What? They beat us here when we had an early start? Oops! It was hockey game night, and unfortunately for B.C., the last. 'nuff said 'bout that.

I must take a picture of our site and post it. Marvellous here. Good rate too. $21.00 per night, all hookups, big sites, VERY quiet, buses to casino and museum. HUGE golfcourse with 5 lakes. WE sit outside with our binoculars watching the deer in the field and the vehicles coming down the killer hill on I-84, way off in the distance. ( 6% grade for 6 miles ). The only place on our travels that give you 3 warnings about the need to downgrade. In BIG letters on BIG signs. The last one of course, says LAST WARNING!!!!  Up in the Nisga'aa territory, there are 18% grades. Tiny signs there. Only one sign per hill.

parked next to grass!

Our time in Ely was great, especially staying at the Casino for $15 a night, that included 2 margaritas, indoor pool and spa, and the cheapest laundry machines I have come across yet.  This morning we left with the rest of the northbound snowbirds and after a long day of wind free driving, we are now located in Mountain Home, Idaho.  This is the first time since 7 Feathers RV Park last November that we are parked next to grass.  In fact, this park is set up much the same as 7 Feathers with the roads and RV pads, but just not quite as nice.

If we get our butts in gear early in the morning, we hope to make it to Pendleton and meet up with Russ and Donna.

Northern Nevada Railway

Don here today.  This morning we took a brief tour around the town of Ely, Nevada and checked out the new Post Office, a small quilt store downtown and some old houses and architecture.  After a good lunch at the Train Cafe, Kim returned to the RV site at the Prospectors Casino to do laundry, and I returned to the Northern Nevada Railway Museum and yard for a personal tour with Bob ( yes another Bob!).  The personal tour was $9, and he would show me all the equipment, building and yards for whatever time I needed. Great Deal.  Man, there was a lot of rolling stock and it was pre-1900 to about 1950.  There were spreaders,  Coal Fired rotary snowplow, auxiliary crane, passengers cars, cabooses and even a passenger car from the Grand Trunk Railroad. Locomotives: electrics, diesel electrics, steam.  Two of the steam engines were operating and two of the diesels  both in use for their excursions.  Sometimes they even run a double headed steam train!  Bob says the rail buffs really like that.

Operating Coal Fired Steam, doing scheduled maintenance till Memorial Day weekend

I only took a few pictures, Sam.. so that you will be curious enough to put it on your to do list!  They also have complete locomotive and car repair shops.  It was a huge amount of rolling stock and trackage, restored buildings.  You can easily spend a lot of time going over it all. The volunteers are more than happy to answer questions and give out information about their operation.  Yesterday I saw Shelby race cars being built to order, and today old steam engines!

Steam engine running on tomorrow's excursion

Oh yes, Kim got the laundry done and I didn't even have to help fold as it was all done by the time I got back. Good timing, she said.