I've Got a Peaceful Easy Feeling

No we did not go to another Eagle's concert, but I'm sure this song was meant to highlight our second week of travels. 

After leaving Surrey we headed south and east to Wenatchee, Washington.  The skies were a bit overcast and foggy, but nonetheless still created a feeling of peacefulness. 

As I said before we have not travelled this area. Although we were looking forward to new places, we were not prepared for the beauty of the area!  We were primarily on Hiway 2. It climbed and winds through old towns, still vibrant with life and community, as well as coulees and farmland; all along offering a peek into the beauty of fall and what it presents. 

The region is known as the apple capital of Washington, and production was at maximum while we visited. Miles and miles of orchards that offered apples, peaches, nectarines and pears were being harvested. I kid you not when I say it even smelled like apples. 

The trees, row on row, are heavy with the fruit. 

We stayed at Lincoln Rock State Park. This park needs to be visited again. Not only were the campsites roomy and serviced, but they also offer boat mooring, an enormous playground and access to many walking trails. The trees were a mix of oak, maple and poplar, as well as others I didn't recognize. The show of colors almost decadent.  Especially when right out your back window. 

We took the opportunity to tour along theColumbia  River as well as the shores of Roosevelt Lake. 

Wednesday morning we headed off to a new destination. Farragut State Park just north of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Our readers will know this is an old favorite of ours. We spent our day here just wandering the area, and I must admit shopping. 

It has been a quiet little break as we did not set up our US phones and hence did not have wifi and phone service 24/7. That allowed is a few more games of Yahtzee and a few visits to Statbucks for wifi. 

Today we are headed home but first a night with Pat and Walter just south of Calgary. We always enjoy those stops. 

If you don't hear from us for a while  no alarms. We have a busy week when we return home!

Enjoy these days of fall, and check in soon. 

Close To Home

Often we forget the amazing opportunities we have almost in our own backyards. It wasn't until I travelled to Japan that I finally understood just how privileged we are to have the Rockies in our province. 

Needless to say then that Jasper National Park is one of our favorite classic areas to camp. So the first night of this short escape was spent there. 

The scenery along the way was just as nature promises at that time of year. The leaves are beginning to change and the colors of summer and fall blend majestically!  Excuse the windshield but that's how most of my photos roll. 

What is a visit to Jasper without a picture of the bear?  However faced with several vertical differences between Don, Jasper and myself, it's not the best. 

After walking the town, stopping in at my favorite stores, and a great dinner back home, the day was complete. 

We set off to Kamloops on Wednesday morning. We have some old friends that live in Falkland, which is about 40 km from Kamloops. The history with Keith and Marcia is that Don went to high school with Keith. After they were married they ventured to British Columbia. Fast forward the years and here we are. We try to touch base every couple of years. The best part is after all that time we still have such wonderful visits. Keith recently was ordained in the Anglican Church, and I only wish I could attend his services. Many challenges and events through his life allow him a unique perspective of life that shows through in conversation. Every darn time we are together we forget to take a picture. Maybe next time!

Normally we would stay at Kamloops RV park, but this time we tried Steelhead Provincial Park. Great choice!  Best spot for 2 nights in the area. 

Friday morning we were off to Surrey and home of Stewart and Susan. As with most visits we abscond their driveway and allow them to play tourist guide. Always a great time - eating, drinking, walking White Rock, eating, drinking, visiting uncle Ed and Auntie Ethel, eating, drinking. You see the theme here?  Oh and this time we added a hike!  Saturday we headed out to Quarry Rock in North Vancouver. Although we are used to elevation changes on our hikes I have to admit the humidity challenged me. And although my hiking boots are broke in, I got the worst blisters for the first time in years.  Thankfully the end of the climb was worth it, as we were greeted with the most inspiring view of North Vancouver!

I was trying to look as tall as the guys. LOL. Still didn't work!

After our descent we lunched at a local pub, then continued our adventures. Ever the patient tour guide, I wanted to see the Lululemon lab, and Stewart complied. 

 

Anyone who knows me will understand the shattering impact this stop had for me!

With a drive through Stanley Park and a short walk on a beach completed, it was time to... you guessed it - eat and drink!

We had dinner at a fantastic Greek restaurant and enjoyed the warm summer weather on the patio. 

Not to be outdone by Saturday, Sunday found us walking the boardwalk at White Rock. Of course this included EATING and DRINKING!  How exciting to discover that our favorite pub had a Sunday breakfast special with mimosas!   

We had to eat earlier than usual to make room for dinner at Auntie Ethel's. It is always special to visit with Ed and Ethel. They open their hearts and home to us time.  

Tonight we are packing up as tomorrow we are going to venture a bit south, then east to Wenatchee, WA. This is unusual for us as we will be driving completely new territory. 

Talk to you soon!

Hate to talk about the WEATHER!

But it's been quite some time since we had snow in September.  Absolutely disgusting weather for the season, but hopefully we see some Indian Summer now.

This post is mostly about grand-kids, so if you read this for our travels talk to you later...

September so far has been kind of a sad month.  Our grandchildren are growing up way too fast.  I thought that pace might seem slower with grandchildren than it does with your own kids, but not at all.  So sad in that every day we need to capture the memories and file the pictures.

Mason - well Mason feels like our last chance to hold and cuddle a bundle of babyness :(  He is 7 months old now, and his smile is ever present and fills your heart.  It is so great to watch him learning to get up on all fours, laugh at his brother, and just hold him.

Connor - nothing more precious than a 2 year old!  Connor takes delight in all things that move - trucks, planes, trains, loaders, tractors, school busses, etc.  He is happy, funny and ever cuddly.  But because he is 2, sometimes you are told no when you want a kiss or hug.  LOL

Reese - Sweet Reese, who should still be Mason's age, has all of a sudden grown up.  She is in pre-school 3 days a week, and loving it.  She is the coolest little 3 year old, soon to be 4, that I know.  So independent.  And quick with a hug.

Emerson - There has never been a little girl ready for Kindergarten as much as Emerson, except maybe her mom at that age.  Emerson soaks up life with a big smile, and has quite the outlook on things.  Conversations with her are always entertaining and her hugs are easily shared.

Blake - Grade 2, hockey evaluations, etc.  All the signs of growing up.  The other day after hockey we had a great conversation, which was so sad for me.  Little kids don't have conversations, so this new grown up skill is just another indicator he is getting old.

All of the kids are quick to hug, still act excited no matter how many times we see them in a week, and we live them all like crazy.

The whole family got together on the long weekend to help Lindsay and Jeremy build a shed.  The guys built, the girls cooked, and I took 3 of the kids to an indoor play gym called the Treehouse.  Fantastic place!

My mom stayed with us for almost 2 weeks this month, while my brother and his wife had a break.  It coincided with Don working away, and I enjoyed the company.  It was so wonderful having her around.  I may have exhausted her taking her all over, visits with the kids, dinners out, a fishing day, shopping and hockey and ringette practices...  But she has gone back to my brother's now and is probably sleeping.

I also had my cousin Diane and her son Rylan visit.  Rylan has just been sworn into the Canadian military, and is on his way to Quebec for basic training.  I really enjoyed my visit with Diane, and she really needed a friend by her side as she waved good-bye to her son on Saturday.

Tomorrow Don and I are getting on the road for a couple of weeks.  People still always ask me if we are taking the trailer.  Yes we are.  How else can I pack everything I want, all my exercise stuff, and still be in the comfort of our own home.  Trust me if we ever go on a holiday and hotel it, you will know, as we will probably both be cranky (in a good way I hope).  I'm not really sure where we are headed but first night stop is Jasper, and after that you will have to read the blog to find out.

Enjoy the rest of the month - the weather is predicted to be nice, school and schedules are settling in, and Don is Driving Miss Donna.  Doesn't get better than that!

“It’s a Great Day to be Alive"

“It’s a great day to be alive, I know the sun’s still shinin’ when I close my eyes / There’s some hard times in the neighbourhood, but why can’t every day be just this good?”

SInce I like songs so much I picked this one to talk about August.  What did we do in August?  Well nothing really, just went to a Rod Stewart concert, enjoyed a 5 day camping and boating trip by ourselves, went to the zoo with the girls and our fantastic grandkids, had the basement insulated and a new ceiling put in, had supper with the Ken Smith family and some of ours in Saskatoon, attended our incredible godson Murray's wedding to the beautiful Stacy, visited Don's mom and dad in Tisdale, had the Cameron kids for a 2 night sleepover, numerous coffees and visits with friends, completed the company year end, Co-op meetings and finished it off with a few days at the amazing Abraham Lake, camping by ourselves but having company drop in.

FANTASTIC month.

Talk to you in September