We reluctantly leave Fresno and head north. It is the end of our journey for this year and we are more than a little anxious to get back to BC, the Okanagan, and home......if for nothing else but to see Ross’ physician. As Ross and Ed stop for gas near Stockton CA, we bid farewell to our dear friends Buck and Heather.
They have been incredible, as friends, as traveling companions, and a wonderful people. We have had lots of laughs, great food, interesting discussions about most everything, and we are proud to consider them our friends. Buck and Heather have booked into the Flags RV park in Lodi for a couple of nights. There are wineries that need to be explored, and wine to be drunk!!
We head off to Corning to the casino and the Olive Pit!! We make our usual shop at Olive Pit vowing not to spend any more money than we absolutely have to......then end up spending 5X more than we expected because there are things we just HAVE to try!!!
Corning casino has changed its RV parking system (we didn’t know this until we parked in somebody else’s spot.......and they let us know in no uncertain terms.........but we play dumb, apologize all over the place, and finally work it out.) We wander over to the casino where Ross loses most of the money he came in with ($20), but Ed wins a fairly large pot at the slot machines!!!! Then home to sleep and get an early start in the morning.......we have the Siskiyou pass to contend with .
February 28
Off early and on the highway. All reports say there is a huge storm front coming into this area and they are expecting to close the pass about 4PM. As we travel through this part of highway I-5 there is no snow, no rain, and not much traffic.........things are looking up. We run into a bit of rain as we come down the mountains in Oregon but even that is mild in comparison to what this area can get weather-wise.
We arrived in Canyonville – Seven Feathers RV park – early afternoon, get checked in (they actually remember us!), and we book in for two nights as we are told the storm is about to come into the area that night. A sit in the hot tub, some TV, feed/walk/water the dogs, and then off to the casino for dinner and a bit of fun at the slots. We neither lost too much nor won a huge amount but we did have fun. And then back to take the dogs for a walk...........in the rain!!!
February 29
We get off to a late start but again have a soak in the hot tub while watching braver (or more stupid?) RVers drive off in the snow.......go for a walk with the dogs.......eat a bit.......watch TV..........sit in the hot tub again..........and soon it is time to go back to the casino for dinner and some fun. Ross’ luck (or lack thereof) is holding and he is losing money............but Ed wins a minor jackpot. Bells are ringing, lights are flashing, the slot machine has told him to sit tight until an attendant get there........and sure enough as two attendants arrive he is given $650, congratulated, and then encouraged to keep playing!!! Well done big guy!!!!
Enough excitement for tonight and back to the motor home.
March 1
We pack up the rig and take off to more northern climes. Just after we arrive in Centralia, Washington we got a phone call from Buck and Heather saying they had made a crazy trip from Lodi to Seven Feathers so we all could celebrate Buck’s birthday at the seafood buffet..and where were we?? Well, if we had known they were coming we would gladly have stayed put and had a great time with them.........maybe next year????
March 2
We cross over into Canada. All our border crossings this trip have been quite pleasant and relatively quick. The weather is cold and wet.......welcome to the Pacific Coast in winter!!
After settling in we’re off to meet up with Carolyn and family. Of course we pig out on sushi for dinner and generally catch up on news. Emily has grown tremendously over the last 4 months and is now talking in complete sentences, no matter how rudimentary they are. And she is finding her own personality!!! Angie (Alex's daughter) has improved her English as well and she and Ross have a pretty good conversation. We make plans for the weekend and are planning on taking off home March 5.
March 3
We pick up Carolyn and Emily and head over to a new playground just around the corner from them. As Ross is still feeling a bit under the weather we drive over there, which of course takes up more time than expected.
The dogs enjoyed having a bit of a stretch while Emily discovers swings, slide, and all manner of climbing places. Back to their place for Chinese food from just across the road. You have to love a place that has so many Asian restaurants in one place!!! Sushi one night, Chinese the next, then Thai, Korean, Mongolian, etc etc!!
March 4
Off to see the new and improved Vancouver Aquarium and wouldn't you know it, they are having their grand opening of their new wing that day....... lots of people! But the aquarium is well laid out and displays are nicely signed, well lit, and well maintained.
Ross is not feeling too well so he holds down a table in the food court while Ed, Carolyn, and Emily finish looking at all the things to see and do. We were going to have more Asian cuisine for dinner but Ross felt he had had enough for one day and we took off home.
March 5
Weather is not great (like what had been predicted) but we take off for home in the morning. Vancouver to Hope had rain, but when we leave Hope we realize both the Coquihalla and Hope-Princeton highways are closed so all traffic is being routed along the Fraser Canyon (Hwy #1).
By the time we reach Yale the snow is coming down in huge flakes. We find no way to turn around, and we don't want to just sit in Yale for the night, so we take our hearts and souls in hand and pray that we can make it to Kamloops.
After what seemed like years the snow finally stopped and turned to rain and was quite dry by the time we reached Kamloops. From there it was a straight (dry) shot home where we were greeted by the welcoming committee asking all kinds of questions while Ross is trying to guide Ed into the "parking lot" at our place.
March 6 - 15
Just a quick update about Ross' condition. After many more tests it is determined that he had a bacterial infection in his gut that appears to have been resolved.
When they did the CT scan of his abdomen in Chula Vista (San Diego) there was an mysterious mass on his pancreas. He has since undergone another CT scan in Kelowna and the radiologist compared both scans. The mass is still there but has not grown or changed shape over the last 3 weeks so they say it PROBABLY will not be of any clinical problem!!
He is slated for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy at the end of the month just to check on his gut. Otherwise Ross is slowly but steadily improving each day.
The day after we landed home......at 9AM if you please.......Ed had his first client and so tax season started. Ross has been busy answering phones, making appointments, and filling out forms, while Ed has been doing his "magic" and helping people keep as much money as they are allowed!! That’s pretty much it for this year’s adventures.
The whole trip has been great........yes, there have been some bad times, but all in all we have had a great time for the last 5 months on the road.
Some of the highlights:
- Fresno Fashion Fair Santa set, manager, and crew
- Trader Joe's stores and the amazing food they carry
- Spending time in the Arizona desert with good friends
- Getting good deals on steaks in Fry's (Yuma)
- Whale watching off the shores of Guerrero Negro
- Camping on the beaches......especially Los Barriles
- Excellent food all over Mexico, Arizona, and California
- The amazing 'moving department store' along the Mexican beaches where you can buy most anything - food, jewelery, clothing, and souvenirs
- The ancient churches - some in far away and remote places
- The roads in Mexico........they have to be experienced to be believed
- Visiting with friends in Cabo San Lucas and San Juan del Cabo
- Tequila/Margaritas/Mexican beer
- The interaction of our two dogs with Kirby and RaRa (Buck and Heather's two canines).......they got along famously
We hope you have enjoyed traveling along with us…we’ve enjoyed having you! Look for the 2012-2013 blog next year as we again head south for an extended adventure!
Ross and Ed
