Help! I'm Drowning

So July?  Yes it happened!

We are not really people who celebrate occasions often, such as July 1st, but this year we had two events to attend for just that reason.

First Lindsay and Jeremy hosted the 1st Annual Stecyk Beach Day on June 28th.  They live in the Summerside Community and there is a lake and beach club right there! It was a hot one out, so a perfect place to spend the day.  After hours of playing in the sand and water, everyone headed back to their house for a BBQ.  Great hosts and great fun!

Next some friends from my wine group host a July 1st BBQ annually, and this year we were home and decided to go.  The great thing about this BBQ is that it is on June 30, which means that most people can stay and enjoy themselves and not worry about work the next day.  We had such a great evening, meeting new friends, seeing old friends, and enjoying a night out.  The fireworks were amazing and the food beyond compare, as potlucks usually end up.

Thursday and Friday I was in courses, renewing my safety certifications,  Some classes can be taken online but when able to I prefer in class instruction.

The weekend was spent relaxing as we prepared for our annual Family Vacation, this year held again at Ole McDonald's Resort near Stettler.  What a great week it was.  We spent days on the beach, riding bikes and go-carts, of course the train and tractor rides, and just enjoying each other's company.  We love this time with just our family.  I even snuck in a massage on the beach!

The next week at home was pretty quiet.  We needed a bit of that as we were headed to a Saskatchewan wedding and a family reunion.

We pulled what we refer to as "an Uncle Ed" and arrived at Ken and Brenda's just before midnight.  This is a phrase from Don's Uncle.  Throughout his visiting and RV years he would show up at any time of day or night, and we would always tease him.

Anyhow, Friday was spent on wedding set up, etc, Saturday the AMAZING wedding, and Sunday cleaning up then relaxing.  Monday we made a quick trip to Tisdale to see Dad, then back to Ken and Brenda's for our camping trip.  We spent 4 days at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park on Diefenbaker Lake.  HIGHLY recommend this campground.  Lots of great walking opportunities, a weekly fish fry at the clubhouse, full facilities, etc.  The days flew by and Ken and Brenda were wonderful camping partners.

Friday we headed to Swift Current for the last Smith Family Reunion.  I say the last because the extended family of Louise and Jim Smith have decided to stop hosting reunions.  There are many factors related to this, but mostly the fact that all the families have grown, some having challenges even collecting their own immediate families together.  This reunion was hosted by the Seymour Smith group, and they did a fine job.  As always excellent food and fun for all.  Kind of bittersweet, but we all agreed that as we host our own families in the future, we will always extend open arms to our cousins and their families.

We headed home on Sunday as Don had a couple of days of work to complete, and of course we had another camping trip planned!

We spent a 4 day long weekend with the Cameron  family at Long Lake Provincial Park.  We were all excited about the "new" boat.  Well a new motor on the old boat.  It ran splendidly and added to the fun we always have on these trips.  The kids could spend hours on the tube behind the boat, and Blake even tried water skiing.  He made it up once but the inexperience of what to do worked against him.  After that attempt the water and waves did not cooperate again, so a goal for next summer has been set.

So I am not really drowning, because this is all fun and a great way to see July speed by.  But I could use some time to clean house etc.  But that is somewhat overrated anyway!

August isn't looking any slower and I can't wait to tell you all about it.  Talk to you in a month!

You Can't Be Sad When You're Eating Ice Cream

That caught your attention didn't it?  LOL

Sorry we haven't posted since the May long weekend, but rest assured we've been keeping going and yes there has been some ice cream!

First we attended the wedding party of our niece Michelle and her husband Austin in Lannigan SK. This was a flying one night trip with our daughters Tracy and Lindsay sans husbands and kids. It was kind of fun being just with them. And we had great visits with Don's family as well.

The next adventure left in May was a long weekend with the little Stecyk men. Lindsay and Jeremy were off to a wedding on the island. We had fun with Connor and Mason. I love living closer to them but that means not enjoying longer visits like when they were still in Fort McMurray. It was a great few days with them. I had plans for spray parks and stuff but it was honestly just fun to be home with them and enjoy their antics. And let me tell you Mason has some moves. 

According to his mother he doesn't normally sit this quiet for long ( she's 100% correct) but the Cheerios captured him in this case!

The Cameron's were out for a visit as well so story time on grandpa's lap was full!

I almost forgot at the same time we had a visit from Ron and Bev!  As always a great visit but I was especially glad to have Bev for a day as I had fallen and really hurt my right knee and she was such a help. 

So on we move to the next weekend, and another Saskatchewan road trip. This time to Tisdale for the wedding of Meghan and Levi ( Don's niece). We stayed a few days arriving on Friday and staying until Monday. It was a relaxing trip and lovely to stay at sister Kathy's. 

Friday night dinner at BP's with mom and Kathy. 

And the beautiful new Mr and Mrs Savage. 

We had time for a visit with Ron and Bev, and several visits with Don's dad in his home. 

We had a week at home after this, filled with all the usual things like coffee and suppers with friends, yoga, little bits of work, seeing the kids, etc!

Then off on a week long fishing and camping vacation. Neither of us had any work to take along which was a real treat. We loaded the boat and trailer and off we went. The first four days were with Lindsay and Jeremy and boys. We were all pretty excited to get the boat in the water and off. Sadly though as we were crossing the lake the motor ceased. So did the fishing. To make a long story short Don and Jeremy took the boat for repair and picked up Jeremy's Zodiac. We were still able to fish lots and totally enjoyed the time. 

The Stecyks packed up, we moved to a new site, and Paul and Mary joined us. Thankfully they have a boat as well, so the fishing could continue!

These are the best times out with the Scotts. So lucky to have friends that we can have this much fun with!

The fishing was pretty amazing and I can actually say now I'm no longer an amateur. Ha ha. 

And as all good things come to an end, it was finally time to leave and face the reality of what we would do with the boat. After much consideration we decided to put a new motor on it. The boat is in fabulous shape and we live it. Now it has a motor with 6 years warranty and we can just move forward! 

Well that basically wraps up June!  July is so busy, but I will try to keep up. Enjoy summer while it's here!

The "May Long"

Or as it's known in Alberta time to party. Now how you do that depends on ages and stages. For us it is a gathering of seven families at Cross Lake Provincial Park. It is customary for the "cough" older folks to go one night prior to the families, in preparation for the activity to come.

Some stats from this years' trip are: 11 dozen cookies, 3 cakes, 6 dozen eggs, unmentionable amounts of bacon and ham, dozens of pancakes, hours fishing, biking and playing ball, AND kids playing unsupervised and unorganized in pure bliss. 

It's one of the best weekends of the year., watching everyone have plain and simple fun. 

Over too fast and waiting for the next!

New Fish Finder

First Boat Ride

Cookie Monster

Loading Up For the Big Catch

And the 5 cutest kids in the campground!

Alberta Bound

Well as I write this we have crossed the US/Alberta border.  I will not deny that getting home will be welcome, however Don and I always miss our one on one time that we enjoy over the 2 months on the road.

We spent our first night in Dillon, and braved the cold to visit a local saloon, enjoy some prime burgers and beer, and watch a little hockey.

Last night we stayed at a familiar RV park – Dicks RV – in Great Falls.  It has easy access for travellers, and allows a final opportunity to purchase all those American treats.  What are they?  Well Whipped Yogurt, Flonase, etc.  LOL

It has been a trip of memories.

But visit us once in  awhile over the next few months, as we enjoy life at home.  We actually won’t be home much but you know what I mean.

Four weddings, a family reunion, numerous camping trips with our girls and their families, and some work thrown in there!

We are SO excited to see our family – I just know the kids will seem to have grown inches and inches.

Take care and enjoy your spring.

My Favourite City

Well actually one of many!  But our next stop – Salt Lake City – is definitely high on the list.  A city should be easy to navigate, have several clean shopping options, great eating places, and an adjacent campground.  Add some great architecture, friendly people, and pretty fabulous weather, and you are talking Salt Lake.
Bless Don’s heart, as a lot of time in Salt Lake is typically spent driving me to stores I have researched on the internet, and decided to shop at; or stores I already know the location of.  Trust me ladies – if you ever want t a clean get-a-way, this is your place.
But the other fantastic fact about this area is yet another amazing Utah State Park – Utah Lake.  Because of it’s close urban vicinity the price is a little higher, but the amenities are worth it.  Walking trails lead you though urban and rural development for miles, alongside rivers and streams.
We have never taken the time to drive the west side of the city and surrounding communities.  We found many small quaint towns, and a historic Pony Express Station.  It is said the horsemen rode 100 miles a d ay, and as you stand here observing the west distances and open land, you can almost hear the pounding hooves.

We were so lucky that our friends Pat and Walter joined us for a few nights on their way home to Canada (and with satellite TV to watch Calgary play hockey).  We spent our days visiting and shopping.  You have to love that we live 4 hours apart but go 21 hours to visit!
One of the greatest buildings in Salt Lake is the Mormon Conference Centre.  Any direction you approach it from is majestic.

One small difference in this trip for us was that we travelled less distance and stayed longer in most spots.  That has made it a very relaxing holiday, with more emphasis on keeping active, walking and hiking.  And of course my workouts and yoga.
So after 6 nights in Salt Lake City we start the real trek home.  Our date of arrival is April 28 for a Co-op meeting I have.  Over the next few days you will see whether we rush or relax that final leg.

Onward Upward

Now that’s a great statement, except you need to remember that upward at this time of year in this geographic location means getting colder.  There I said that 4 letter word – COLD!

I know I promised you one more spectacular hike in Moab prior to our departure, but I simply wimped out.  We spent our last day there just being lazy tourists – eating out and walking.  Honestly there is a possibility we were spent.

So as the title says we moved upward, north it was.  We watched the weather closely and were incensed to see cold in the forecast, no matter where we parked the fifth.  So we decided to put an end to boon docking and find services that allowed us to enjoy the more “luxurious” compliments of the trailer – that being electricity to run the fireplace.

We chose Huntington State Park, and what a jewel it was.  Located just minutes from Huntington and other small Utah communities, it was a clean, well organized and spacious campground.  And although we only expected power, we had full services, since they had completed upgrades just this spring.

Every day we set out to discover the area but we were a bit limited by the weather.  On one particular trip up a “scenic drive” highway, the high elevation and the cold temperatures combined to create some rather pretty ice formations on the irrigation systems.

The weather finally improved enough for us to set out and discover the San Rafael Swell or Little Grand Canyon area, as the locals called it.

We have been to the Grand Canyon and this is aptly named, as it is just as awe inspiring as the Grand Canyon.

We travelled down some pretty unique county roads, that at home we would call paths, but here were numbered local roads, maintained by the municipalities.

The next destination was Buckhorn Wash area.  This stop boasted pictographs spanning 160 feet.  Our photos aren’t as clear as they could be, as the sun was blaring directly on them.  Now you know I am often tired of all these Indian paintings, but these were so plentiful and quite a bit more skilled than most we have visited.  It is estimated they are over 2,000 years old.

Our last stop on this tour was the San Rafael Bridge.  This swinging bridge was built in 1935, and gave vehicle access to areas of the Swell that had never been explored by tire.  It was adjacent to a great campground/picnic area, and as is most of the areas we have visited in Utah, frequented by many many ATV’s.

So although we were “escaping” the bad weather, this stop turned into five days of enjoyment and exploring.  Now you can’t ask for better than that!

Arches National Park

This was it!  The trip has been great and there is no where we have been that we would not go back to, but Arches National Park is THE destination.

Upon passing through the park’s gate, you’re immediately on a steep switchback road and about to fall in love with one of the most beautiful national parks we have had the luxury of visiting.  Pictures cannot do justice to the grandeur of the rocks, the over 76,000 acres of sandstone formations called arches, or the soaring pinnacles and spires of rocks. Whether you choose to hike or drive, the arches present themselves for viewing upon every turn you take.  Of course some are sneaky, and hiking is the only way.  Even then you don’t often see them until they are literally in front of you.  Mother Nature as many tricks up her sleeve in this park!

Although we have been here over a week, our hiking isn’t over here yet, but tomorrow's adventure will be our longest  hike yet, so I wanted to save that for an individual post.

Most hiking days find us with over 15,000 steps.  My FitBit app states that hiking burns 3 – 4 times as many calories as regular walking, and believe me that’s how you feel here.  There is no walk that is even, that is not over slickrock or deep sand, and traverses canyons and shrubs. A pack loaded with lunch and water is not a treat, but a necessity.  And don’t forget dry socks.

Challenging? Yes Worth it? A thousand times over…