Here Comes Fall

Fall was a unique time for us. Along with all the fantastic things in our life like kids, grandkids, friends etc., we went on a car trip and stayed in a yurt!

September was filled with anticipation as we looked forward to our trip to Las Vegas to see Jimmy Buffet! One more concert off our bucket list, and a chance for a road trip. We decided to take the long way to Vegas by travelling through the Oregon coast. LOL Not your normal route. We booked a few hotels and a few Yurts, hoping that would have us closer to the ocean for walks.

Most of this plan went well, except that Jimmy Buffet concert was CANCELLED!! We seem to offer the worst karma to any performers over the age of 60. We have had a broken hip that caused a cancellation, we were at Meatloaf when he took sick in Edmonton, and a few other incidents.

Thankfully we found out in time to readjust things, and the new plan was a trip to the Oregon coast! So other than the day spent getting there and home, we stayed in Yurts. Thank goodness Don planned properly and we had a few amenities with us to ease the transition from a 35' completely self contained fifth wheel to a one room hard walled tent! 

Thrown in throughout the fall were the regular Saskatoon Co-op trips, a fantastic Thanksgiving with the whole family in the house, a first since Covid, and many many hockey and ringette games, with a game of basketball thrown in to confuse me.

My work is just busy enough I don't get restless, and I must say I am looking forward to going south, although I don't stop working, the scenery is much nicer and we do relax a lot more.

This September was kind of odd for us. We usually go on a vacation within Canada but not close to home. This year I guess because of my “co-op life”  we couldn’t find a time that fit in. Also we have been meeting in the summer with our friend Larry to camp, and that didn’t work this past summer. So long story short we planned a camping trip with Larry in Saskatchewan that aligned with my Saskatoon work.

So off to Waskesiu Lake at Prince Albert National Park for a week! It was kind of funny when we realized we don’t have to go in the summer, as we have no kids and school to schedule around! The campground was really nice, the sites large, and an easy walking distance to the little downtown.

We spent our days exploring the area, catching up with Larry, and even made a trip into Prince Albert and had lunch with Don’s sister Kathy.

Waskesiu Lake is as beautiful as everyone says. There are so many campgrounds along the lake, and many many spots to put a boat in, etc., but it may be a bit far for regular visits!

After our stay there, we went to Langham for 2 nights. Don stayed in the trailer and I went to Saskatoon for my meetings.

Thanksgiving with all the kids home was just fantastic. Some day we will quit referring to the pandemic – but this was the first time since that we were all back together for a holiday dinner.

As I said we decided to take a road trip even though the concert was cancelled. What a great decision. We stayed in a hotel one night on the way there, and then booked yurts for the ocean stays. The Durango was PACKED! We weren’t really sure how this roughing it would go for us RV people, but it was pretty great. I won’t say the beds were comfortable, and we missed indoor plumbing, but overall it was a good experience, and being on the ocean was worth it. Lots of beach walks, exploring and relaxing.

Our first yurt stay was near Astoria at Fort Stevens State Park. This has always been a favorite stop of ours, the beaches are amazing for walking and the park is close to town for everything, but most importantly our favorite restaurant – Mo’s Diner. Only the best clam chowder ever. So good that we brought back frozen starter packs for ourselves and Lindsay.

The photos will show the yurt. There was a bunk bed with a double on the bottom and single on top, a table and 2 chairs and a futon. Also thankfully electric heat. What there wasn’t was a fridge, but we brought an electric cooler with us and that worked just fine. We ate our bigger meal when we were out through the day, and cereal for breakfast and snack stuff for dinner. We also brought a coffee pot and electric kettle, so that made mornings nice not having to search for coffee.

The yurts were more booked up than we expected so we did spend one hotel night in Portland. Then it was back down the coast a bit to Nehalem Bay State Park and another yurt. Also a great state park and beach!

Although the yurts were “interesting” it was a great trip – the chance to walk our favorite beaches and smell the ocean were worth the odd sleeping arrangements. Not the same as in our fifth wheel, but a great holiday none the less!

October has one family birthday - Don! Rink schedules didn't allow for a family dinner, as well as the fact that we were in Saskatoon for co-op meetings, but that meant we were able to meet Ken and Brenda for his birthday supper which was nice.