March 2013 - Los Algodones, Lake Havasu, Bakersfield, Seven Feathers and home.

 

March 2nd - Los Algodones, Mexico

 We are staying at a little RV park on the Colorado River in western Yuma called Hidden Cove RV Park.  It is very small but we managed to fit.  I chose it because of it being close to Mexico and they were a Passport America park hence less $$$ so I could get more laundry done! This park is the friendliest that we have been at.  By the next morning everyone in "camp" knew who we were and that we were only staying for a few days! Kind of like Macktush!

We went to Los Algodones yesterday to get my mouth guard ordered.  It was easy going into Mexico and we were accosted constantly to buy stuff which we declined.  It would have been nice to look at more stuff but we could not stand being bothered so much!  We ate lunch at a restaurant recommended to us by our friends Bill and Elke, with an outdoor courtyard.  We both ordered good shrimp tacos and margaritas.  Although we got into the lineup to get back into the states at 11:50 am, it took 1 hr and 15 min to get back in plus 85 degree heat!  Ray kept sitting on benches and catching up with me as it took so long. Fortunately they had sun shades or I would have roasted.  Today we crossed at 9am to get my stuff at the dentist and were back by 10 am with no line-up.  Found out that the line gets long after 11am as that is when you can import liquor!  Seemed to be the same price as the states so why bother.  The streets were crowded with various vendors.

Where we ate lunch.

Look at the electrical!

The end of the mighty Colorado River entering Mexico.... not much water left and all treated! Hummmm I wonder if the ice in my margarita came from that!

Here are a couple more pictures of the Colorado River at the campsite.  Look at one of the huge catfish skulls they have nailed to the post that the guys in the park have caught over the years.  Huge!

March 5th - Celia's Rainbow Garden Quartzsite

Waiting for the solar work to be done, we took a walk through Tyson Wells looking at all the vendors stuff.  This store boasts the biggest silver belt buckle with turquoise inlays.

Later in the afternoon while waiting back at Solar Discount, we started reading some magazines about Arizona and came across an article on Quartzsite. There is a well-known character who owns a store called Reader's Oasis Books.  We will have to visit it on Friday personally when we pick up our mail.

The owner, Paul Winer, is a 67 year old poet, cartoonist, civil-rights activist, community leader, musician and merchant. His book store is located on East Main in Quartzsite.  He came to Quartzsite in 1991 and stayed in part, because the town tolerated his idea of "business casual" which he interprets as wearing as little as a thong! He is often seen posing for pictures with all of us elderly snowbirds.

15 years ago Paul and Joanne's only child, a daughter who was just 8 years old, died unexpectedly from a virus.  The town grieved with them and Joanne started a memorial garden called Celia's Rainbow Garden.  The town people volunteer to help with the upkeep and everyone who wishes can set up a memorial to their loved ones who have visited Quartzsite.  The dead are honoured no matter who they were or how they lived.

So that is how we spent our day yesterday.  We did not get the coach back until 7 pm so here we go again driving in the dark.  We only drove a short distance though and parked quickly as there had been storm warnings issued with winds up to 50 miles per hour (not kilometers!).  The winds did come at around 2 am for about 2 hours.  The coach rocked a little but remained steady.  Glad to be warm and cozy!  After a few showers through the night we awoke to the sky clearing so maybe another nice day to come!

 

With all the rain recently, the desert is turning green.

March 7th - On the Road Again Finally !!!

 We finally received the final documentation for the car so we can head north back to Canada.  We have been spinning our wheels for about a month and were unable to head north earlier.  Not too bad however, as the weather has been fairly warm with only a few clouds! Quartzsite was left in the dust yesterday and we headed up the road to mile 165 between Parker and Lake Havasu City. (This place was pointed out to us by Bill and Elke)  Thanks guys it is lovely.  After the few days of rain last month and a couple of weeks ago, the desert is alive turning green.  Even the mountains of rock have tinges of green showing. Plants are starting to flower as well.  Unfortunately we are leaving a little too soon to see the cacti blooming.  I was looking forward to seeing the ocotillo bloom.  They look like dead sticks most of the year.  They are green now just not flowering yet. Here is a picture from Google.

This is home for the next two days. Pretty nice heh!  Yesterday it was 80 degrees! We plan to take the car and visit Lake Havasu today and explore the Parker Strip tomorrow and see the state parks.  After this it will be more of a push to get north so we can cross the border before the end of the month.

March 8th - Lake Havasu City

Took a day trip into Lake Havasu City to see the London Bridge.  London Bridge is a bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States, that is the relocated 1831 London Bridge that spanned the River Thames in London, England until it was dismantled in 1967.

After lunch we stopped at Cattail Cove State Park, a couple of miles away from where we were camped so that Freya could have a swim.  This is one of her most favorite activities put together...chasing the stick and swimming for the stick!  They actually have a dog beach which was perfect.

March 9th - Mohave Desert

The drive along the I40 from Lake Havasu is fairly non-descript.

First time seeing Joshua Trees

Sierra Nevada Mountains

SNOW!

Dropping 2000' into Tehachapi

 

March 13th - Bakersfield California to Canyonville Oregon

We've been making our way slowly north, driving 4 hours per day.  2 for him and 2 for me.  The new coach drives beautifully.  We plan to cross the border next Tuesday as our paperwork needs to be sent 72 hours in advance and with a few glitches from the Ford Dealer the papers won't be sent until today.

We met some really nice people in Bakersfield at the Orange Grove RV Park.  Wayne and Karen Stolth from Victoria.  We've travelled for the past 3 days with them ending up at the Seven Feathers Casino RV Park in Canonville Oregon.  Lots of laughs, great happy hours and a shared dinner.  The weather in Bakersfield was a balmy 75 degrees!

We have been told that you always meet people who know people you know anywhere you go.  We sure have found it to be true.  Our new friend Wayne is a cousin of Carol Jaworski who we have camped with in the past from Port Alberni.  While in Kitt Fox RV Park in Patterson, the people next to us know my cousin Kate Anderson in Merritt really well!  Who knew!

Miles of orchards in bloom just out of Bakersfield

Miles of whatever flowers these are.

Mt. Shasta

Lake Shasta

Cinder Cone

Down, Down into Canyonville

The stretch through the Mt. Shasta area is really windy and Ray found it very hard on his back, but no way was I going to drive this. Our first experience of the Siskiyou Pass at 4,310 ft. Ray was leery about this stretch of road as he doesn't have any experience on steep grades, other than the Tehachapi hill earlier.  We creeped down with all the big rigs passing us. The grade into Canyonville is miles of 8%, but we made it safe and sound.

Wayne and Karen Stolth

March 16th - Lynnwood WA

 

We are in Lynnwood Washington for 2 days visiting Ray's cousins (on his mother's side) that I have not seen in 20 years and Ray in 10 years.  It is always great to catch up with people that you should have seen more frequently, but somehow with them living in the states and us on Vancouver Island, we never managed to cross paths until now.  It was wonderful to see Aunt Mary Trottier and Katie who live with her daughter Val.  Conveniently, her other daughter Nicki and her husband live right across the street.  We have been invited to a barbecue at Nicki's tonight to meet all of her husbands grown children and the grandchildren.  Can hardly wait.

Nic and Mike goofing around.

Val and Katie

Nicki, Stacey, Elliott and Lily 

Aunt Mary and me

Stacey and Chris's daughters,  

Mike with his son-in-law Chris, and son Mike Jr. on left 

Mike's youngest daughter Nicole

We had a wonderful time.  They are great hosts and we look forward to seeing them again.

Tomorrow we leave for Ferndale, just before the US/Canada border and ready ourselves for crossing first thing Monday morning.  Hopefully it does not take too long.  Our friends imported a coach 3 years ago and it only took about 1/2 hour on the American side and 1/2 hour on the Canadian, so we will cross our fingers.  I have given the cousins all of our extra liquor and vegetables so we should be good to go.  I have all of our lists and receipts for declaration all ready, as well.  You cannot even bring Cocoa powder across into Canada!  Who knew!  Will let all of you know how it all went when we get back onto Canadian soil after Monday.

 

March 22nd - Back in Canada

We crossed the border with very little fanfare on Monday the 18th at lunchtime. The trip to get to the border was interesting though!  A few wrong turns ... into Canada then promptly back through the US to go to the right border crossing to export the vehicles from the USA. It was nice to be back ... or so we thought.  The weather here leaves much to be desired and it is very cold compared to Arizona!  Anyways it was a good thing that we came back 2 weeks early as instead of my Dad not being well, (he's well recovered from his episode) but Ray's mom ended up in the hospital so we have been going back and forth seeing her.  She will be 89 years old in June and is probably a whole 75 pounds soaking wet so when she has issues we all worry.  We now are in the process of getting all of the things done to the car and coach to be registered in Canada.  We knew about the Federal RIV inspection but found out today the car had to go through a provincial inspection as well, it took three hours at the Ford dealer.  So we will probably not have too much to blog about until we get back to the island hopefully on April 2nd.

March 20th - Easter 2013

 We  had a very busy week and a half.  Mum finally was released from the hospital on Wednesday.  They gave us 1/2 hour notice to pick her up that it had been decided to release her, stuffed her in a wheelchair in the hallway and if we did not come they had transport already arranged to drop her back at her apartment!  Wow, I have heard stories, but did not really expect it. She is still very weak, now needs a walker.  We took her to her doctor on Thursday and she was told that she should go to long-term care facility as if she falls again or gets an infection she will not be going home at all.  Not great news for a very independent English lady.  We took her to my dad's for the first night so I could assess how she would make out on her own for now and she was okay so we agreed that she could try it on her own for Thursday night. She had the best sleep ever.  Fortunately she has a great support network at the retirement building that she is in and lots of people to help her until she gets placement.  

Ray showing Mum our travel pictures.

We finally made it for an hour to the beach in White Rock yesterday. What a beautiful day.  The dog thoroughly enjoyed herself running on the sand.  The place was crawling with people enjoying their day off in the sun.

March 30th - Roast Beast Dinner at Ken, Norma and Family 

Pam and Betty

Jackson

The elusive, camera shy Kendra

Nicole and pooch

Ken and George... and they aren't even arguing!

Chef du Cuisine Norma

Dem Bones with Pam and Dan

March 31st - Easter Dinner Dad and Betty's

We had a wonderful dinner at Dad and Betty's, turkey with all the trimmings. As usual, anything that Betty cooks is marvelous! Sandra supplied a lovely home baked blueberry pie. It was sure nice to see Garrett and Sandra and my aunt and uncle. 

A few more days of making sure that Mum is okay and then we should be back on the island.  Sandra will check on her every week and take Mum shopping if she needs it as she works at Royal Colombian Hospital and is quite close.  We are so lucky to have her in our family.