Aug 10th to 12th - Canon City

Aug 10th – Wed - Canon City
When we set up yesterday we discovered another casualty of the tire blowout – our microwave turntable fell on the floor and broke. Since we don’t have phone service, we took the MW model number and insurance contact information to the service guy at Royal Gorge Truck & RV and then went to WalMart where luckily the insurance rep called while we were in cell phone range.
It took a while to wander through WalMart as they had some clearance sales and then we got some groceries.
I made lunch after putting everything away and then we were back out again to check out things to do in the area. We are staying about 1 mile from Royal Gorge which has rafting, zip lines, train rides and museums. Pike’s Peak is also not too far away. We can’t really make any reservations until we have more definite dates on our repairs but we got lots of information.
Back at the park, we went to check out the laundry room and get some quarters. The lady working at the desk asked how long we were staying and when we said a week she told us that she would give us a key so we could use laundry facilities at the clubhouse instead. It was a nice building with TV so we could relax on comfy couches while waiting for the laundry instead of running back & forth to check on it. There was only 2 washers & dryers so by the time we finished it was time for happy hour & dinner.
We get no TV in our rig so we bought a couple of inexpensive DVD’s with multiple movies and watched 3 of them.

Aug 11th – Thurs – Canon City
An employee at the Royal Gorge visitor center told us yesterday about an early, discounted ticket for the Royal Gorge bridge that could be purchased between 7 & 8:30 but could be used all day for the rest of the facilities that opened at 10 or 10:30. Since it is nearby, we went about 8 and bought tickets and then came back to the rig and had breakfast before going back to spend a few hours in Royal Gorge park.
We watched some rafters go down the Arkansas River and saw a tourist train in the bottom of the gorge before we rode the incline railway to the bottom of the gorge. There are 2 “trains” on tracks that go down the side of the gorge. Actually, one goes down while the other comes up. There are viewing platforms at the bottom and you can take as long as you want before catching a train back up. Then we walked across the suspension bridge over the gorge and took pictures. Vehicles can also cross the bridge but it is mainly pedestrians and “golf” carts.
We found some shade to watch a short, comic performance by a young lady and then found the building for a ½ hour magic show. By now we were ready for lunch so we got a BBQ pork sandwich which left a lot to be desired.
The employee at the tourist center had suggested that we ride the tram over and take the bridge back but the tram wasn’t running yet when we walked over the bridge so we found you why she made that suggestion. The walk to the tram (past a “zoo” with buffalo & elk and a petting zoo) was very uphill and it had gotten hot. If you forget that you are hanging 1000 feet over a canyon by a cable with 15 other people in the car, the tram ride is a fun 4 minutes.
We went back to town to check for messages on the phone and to make a quick stop at WalMart. Then it was time for a visit to Dairy Queen for some cooling ice cream on the way back to the RV park.
We were watching more movies with windows open and fans on when it started to rain. We closed all the windows except 2 that slant open rather than slide but they got closed shortly when it started to pour rain and the wind pushed the rain in those windows as well. We lost power for a short time and there were streams of water running down all the hills in the park. We certainly made a good decision to view Royal Gorge in the morning.

Aug 12th – Fri – Canon City
We took advantage of slack time this morning to clean & organize the large cupboard above the TV. It is amazing how long you can search for things before you decide to do something about it!
Then we went to Cripple Creek via Guffey. Guffey is a small, old, western town where everything is an antique store or looks like one. Cripple Creek is an old mining town which has been restored with small casinos. The entire main street is lined with casinos, hotels & restaurants. Buses bring people from Colorado Springs as you can get to the town from the east (Colorado Springs) or the southwest the way we came. We made a circle so the return trip was not as long. The road climbs to over 9000 feet which makes you think you would be in the mountains but there is a lot of level ground and ranches with small hills around them.
We left at 10 and got back at 7:30 so it was a full day. We had lunch there and Terry won enough money to keep himself in the black but not me. I had put meat & gravy in the crock pot so was able to get dinner on the table pretty quickly. Terry went to the office and rented movies to fill the evening.

Aug 9th - Canon City CO

Aug 9th – Tues – to Canon City CO
We had a little mishap today. About 25 miles north of Colorado Springs on I25, we blew a tire on the 5th wheel. I was on the phone at the time and heard & felt the “explosion”. The bad news is that it took out or damaged quite a bit of the skirting around the tires.
The highway has a shoulder wide enough to drive on and we were able to pull up a bit to a gravel area and get off a little further. Terry started to walk back to get a large piece of tire off the left freeway lane when a police car pulled up behind us so we set to changing the tire. At this point, the first police car moved into the right freeway lane to force all the traffic to the left lane so we didn’t have to worry about getting hit. A second police car picked up more debris and then parked in the median with his lights on to warn traffic. It was the back, left tire that blew so we pulled the front tire up on a ramp and then jacked the back axle up a bit. We had traffic backed up for a long ways so Terry was really sweating trying to get it done quickly – and was helped by the 80+ temperature.
I got on the GPS & phone looking for RV repair places in Colorado Springs and we found one that wasn’t backed up 2 or 3 weeks. We were there for 1 ½ hours and the guy was still trying to finish the estimate so Terry got mad and we left. We were heading for Canon City anyhow so we carried on – with no spare as the Goodyear dealer in Colorado Springs would have had to order a tire. In Canon City, we drove past the RV park where we thought we were going to stay and said “no way”. This put us right in front of an RV dealer &service place so we pulled in. A very nice, knowledgeable service guy looked at the damage and said he could fix most of it right away by fabricating & painting but would have to order the fender skirt & decals.
We drove about 10 miles further to an area with many RV parks, picked Prospector’s RV and registered for a week. After we set up, we discovered that there is no Verizon access here! We headed back to town to file an insurance claim and get something to eat as we had eaten nothing all day and by now it was 4:30. While I waited on hold with the insurance company, Terry went into WalMart and got dinner.
Back at the RV park, we set out chairs and a table in the shade of a lovely tree right beside our site and had a much deserved drink with dinner.
I normally don’t post just one day on the blog but since we have no phone access, I thought it would be nice for people to know where we will be for a week. We are using the park wifi so at least we are not totally cut off from technology.

Aug 7th & 8th - Idaho Springs CO

Aug 7th – Sun – to Idaho Springs CO
We left about 8:30 for our long 53 mile drive to Westminster CO where we were going to stay at an Elk’s Lodge. When we arrived and looked around, the only sites available were very narrow or in the overflow parking lot with electric only so we decided to continue on to Idaho Springs which is west of Denver. We are staying at Cottonwood RV situated on a little creek about a mile off I70 – very peaceful.
We had trouble getting cable TV so the owner came over and put a new end on our cable which solved the problem. After a late breakfast sandwich, we headed to Black Hawk which is 14 miles away and consists of casinos. Like a lot of Colorado that we have seen so far, you drive through narrow, winding canyons with a stream to get there. It doesn’t open up too much so the casinos are all multi-storied and backed into excavated holes in the mountains. We parked in a parking garage which always makes Terry nervous with our big truck but it was high enough and the slots were just wide enough to wiggle into.
We spent the rest of the day and into the evening going from one casino to another. We earned points at one casino to get 4 free buffets (with all-you-can-eat king crab) which we took advantage of for dinner. We weren’t doing too well on the slots but I won a bit of money right before dinner which lasted us until we left about 8.

Aug 8th – Mon – Idaho Springs CO
Yep, we headed back to Black Hawk this morning. We were going to have a breakfast buffet but we were about 10 minutes too late. We checked and found out that the buffets earned yesterday had to be used yesterday so we gambled to get enough points for lunch today. We thought we had enough but found out it was “double points” day so we went back to the slots. On the third spin on a machine, Terry hit a bonus and got $446.90 with his 40 cent bet!
After lunch we continued our casino hopping and gathered cards for our collection. I was not doing well but Terry was pretty lucky. At a machine that we had not played before, he got one symbol across the whole screen and won $100.00!
After dinner that was paid for by coupons from yesterday, we drove to Central City which is just a mile or so away and is more casinos. They are older, smaller casinos and we were pretty much gambled out so we drove through the town – very “restored” and picturesque – and came back a different way on the “Central City Parkway”. This road does not follow a canyon but ends up on the side of a mountain with lovely views and 8 percent grades down to I70.

Aug 4th to 6th - Loveland CO

Aug 4th – Thurs – to Loveland, CO
I kind of misjudged reporting the altitude yesterday – Rawlins is at 6800 feet. We headed to Colorado today. The snow fences we saw yesterday were half of what we saw today. A lot of them are a newer design with posts in the ground and a vertical fence rather than slanted sections with braces on the lee side. As we approached the south side of Wyoming, there was more grass and huge herds of cattle.
We found a PA park in our book but they did not have a space for us for 3 days. They called a park just down the road so we are at the Canyon Valley Campground just west of Loveland. It is a small park off the main road so I expect it to be quiet tonight.
After we set up and had a late lunch, we went back to Loveland so I could get a much overdue haircut. As we walked into WalMart, it started to rain but stopped by the time we were done. We made one more stop at a hardware store before heading back to the campground to relax and have a good dinner.

Aug 5th – Fri – Loveland
I packed a lunch and we went to Rocky Mountain National Park. A couple of miles down the road we entered a narrow, steep-walled, scenic canyon containing the Big Thompson River. We went through Estes Park (a town) and entered the park. I took this opportunity to get my Golden Age Pass as I am officially an “old fart” according to the federal government.
We drove along the Trail Ridge Road which is the only road through the park. We only went part way through – to the highest point on the road which is 12,183 feet. We saw a herd of elk beside the road and had to brake suddenly to avoid running over a coyote who knew he had the right of way crossing the road. The scenery is stunning and the Trail Ridge Road would cause some of our friends to look the other way when the edge of the road is looking over a canyon. Terry suggested that we come through Steamboat Springs and pull the 5th wheel through the park – what a mistake that would have been!
We found a picnic table to have our lunch and as we were eating the wind came up and dark clouds moved in. We continued to where we were going to go for a walk but when we saw a sign saying the parking lot was full and we would have to take a shuttle, we turned around and went back to Estes Park where it was much warmer than the 55 degrees on top of mountain.
We wandered up & down the main touristy street of Estes Park and bought a decorative item for the empty wall beside the steps up to our bedroom.
We had a new neighbor at the RV park and we enjoyed talking to them (Charlie & Deloris) before and after dinner.

Aug 6th – Sat - Loveland
We had a piece of molding and a panel partially pop off in the kitchen so Terry got working on that first thing this morning. It had only been stapled and the wood behind did not even go the entire length of the panel so Terry put in some screws and glued the molding on to cover the screws. Of course he was working in the small area behind the counter so it wasn’t easy.
Then we went to hang our new wall hangings and 2 of the 3 had keyhole cutouts for screws upside down. So we had to make a trip back to Estes Park (22 miles) and exchange them for correct ones.
We explored more of Loveland and found it is quite a large city. We had a couple of small items to pick up at different stores, got diesel ($3.75) and had lunch. We drove past our RV park to see what was up the road and found very nice, large houses and lots of horses & boarding farms.
Back at the rig, we hung our wall art which took a while as the 3 pieces had to be level & equidistant apart and secure. We were both kind of cranky which got interesting sometimes!
We thought we were going to get a rain shower to cool things down but it only amounted to a few drops so it remains hot tonight. Our neighbors toured the park today and we talked to Charlie for a bit this evening.

Aug 1st to 3rd - Thermopolis & Rawlins WY

Aug 1st – Mon – Thermopolis
We went golfing with Dennis this morning. It was a 9 hole course and Dennis rented a cart but we decided to walk. Unfortunately, we started too late so it got really hot and the course was hillier than we thought so we got a workout – and it didn’t do much for our games.
In the afternoon we went for a drive. We drove through the bison grazing area in Hot Springs State Park and saw the small buffalo herd from a distance. We walked through a park to swinging bridge but just as we were starting across, the wind came up and we decided to go back. Dennis wanted to make a buddy burner so we stopped at a few stores looking for cans & candles without any success. We also made the mandatory stop at a grocery/liquor store.
Thermopolis is a small town which has the world’s largest hot spring. There are 2 water parks with slides, pools and hot tubs which are all supplied by the hot springs. There is also a small facility with an indoor and outdoor pool that you can use for free for a 20 minute soak each day. Excess water from the hot springs runs through the park and creates mineral terraces before running into the river.
After dinner, Dennis & Susie came over again to visit and enjoy the buddy burner. Actually, Dennis found a small tin and enough candles to almost fill his own buddy burner.

Aug 2nd – Tues – Thermopolis
We slept in a bit this morning and then did laundry before going out to do some more exploring. We stopped at a visitor center and picked up some information. We walked up & down the main shopping block in town, browsed through some stores and found a tin & some candles for another buddy burner for Dennis. Terry discovered some energy and cleaned up the outside of the 5th wheel when we got back.
We figured we better at least try the mineral water while we are here so we put on our bathing suits and went to the small hot pool facility. You have to sign in, separate to go to the men’s & women’s sides for a shower and meet in the pool. Luckily part of the outdoor pool was in shade as it was very hot today. The water in the pool was 102 degrees so the attendant opened a valve to heat it up a bit. “Pool” may be misleading as it is 3 ½ feet deep all over and has concrete benches built into the bottom. Seemed just like another hot tub to me except some of the 27 minerals stink.
We were sitting out before dinner when Dennis & Susie were doing laundry so they joined us for a bit when it was done. We had a late dinner and called it a night.

Aug 3rd – Wed – to Rawlins WY
We enjoyed the picturesque Wind River Canyon on the way to Riverton and a casino this morning. I continued my losing ways while Terry hung onto his money until we had lunch. Then it all disappeared and we continued down the road to Lander and towards Laramie.
Obviously there is snow & wind in this part of the country because there are miles & miles of snow fences along the roads. There are also several places with barriers that close off the highway when it’s impassable. We crossed the Continental Divide a couple of times and were at 6600 feet for a while. But that didn’t keep it from being hot.
We are in the RV World Campground in Rawlins. We had a brief rain shower which cooled things down a bit so we are comfortable with windows and door open.

July 29th to 31st - Deer Lodge to Thermopolis WY

July 29th – Fri – to Deer Lodge MT
We are taking a rather odd route but we look at the Atlas and find an area that we haven’t explored and if it is kind of in the right direction and has something that we would like to see, that is where we go. We took Hwy 12 from Orofino to Missoula and then hopped on I90 to Deer Lodge where we are staying at Indian Creek Campground.
The drive and scenery on Hwy 12 was lovely. We followed the Clearwater River for a long way and then the Lochsa River. The road condition was excellent and there was little traffic. We stopped in Lolo (edge of Missoula) for fuel and lunch and lost an hour as we changed to Mountain Time.
After we set up, we drove into town to find a tire dealer. When we left Orofino this morning, Terry noticed a nail or screw in a back tire in the truck but we weren’t losing air so we figured we would wait until we were at a tire shop to pull it out. When we got to the tire dealer, I got out to spot the nail as Terry drove but it was no longer in the tire! We figure it was just a short nail and it was in the thick part of the tread. So we drove down the main street and stopped at a grocery store for a few items on the way back.
It is clear and very warm here. We had the AC on when we were out but turned it off when we returned as it is too noisy and there is a nice breeze.

July 30th – Sat – Deer Lodge
We went to 5 museums here that are all covered by the same admission fee. The largest is an old prison that was in use for over 100 years and was closed in 1979. A good job has been done of making a self-guided tour of the buildings & grounds. Attached to the prison is a car museum with 140 restored cars. Across the street is a toy museum (mostly dolls), a Western museum with a (non-working) bar in the back and a pioneer museum (?) that also had wood carvings done by one man over his lifetime. Many of the carvings were horse-drawn wagons, sleighs, etc. A replica of a 20 Mule team was 9 feet long.
We stopped at a hardware store and a couple of grocery stores before heading back to the rig with fried chicken for a late lunch/early dinner. After eating, we went to a nearby car wash and cleaned up the truck. Back at the RV park we cleaned the inside, the windows and any missed spots. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing, watching TV and checking out places on the computer to see when we leave here.

July 31st – Sun – to Thermopolis WY
We had planned to stay in Cody today but it was pretty early when we got there so we kept going to Thermopolis. Just as we left Cody, we hit road construction and a very bumpy gravel road. A sign said the construction was for 10 miles and Terry was ready to turn around and take a longer route when we hit pavement again. There were a few more short gravel stretches before a return to smooth pavement. When we started driving, it was 72 degrees and climbed to 91. We also climbed to 6200 feet which is not hard to do when so much of Montana & Wyoming is at or near 4000 feet.
We are at the Eagle RV park just out of town. After we set up, we sat outside with a drink. A neighbor (Dennis) was having trouble opening his motor home door so Terry dug out his tool box to help. After dinner, Dennis and his wife Susie came over to visit. Their granddaughter, who lives with them, came over a couple of times between watching movies. We sat out until just after 10 when rain drops made us decide that we were done.

July 25th to 28th - Sandpoint to Orofino ID

July 25th – Mon – to Sandpoint ID
Terry’s brother Skip and his wife Kathy very recently moved to a house that they had built at Dover Bay development on Priest River. We wanted to see the house and told them that we would help them move or finish moving when we came to visit. But they really worked hard so there wasn’t too much to do when we arrived this morning. By the time we took a tour, it was time for lunch.
Terry & Skip went shopping for a light bulb for a pendant light over the kitchen island and did some sightseeing in the area as well. It only took about ½ hour to figure out how the replace the light bulb and then I noticed a cover broken on a second light. Kathy & I puttered around while Skip showed Terry how everything in the house – security system, lighting, TVs – is controlled on his Ipad. When he is in Palm Springs he can turn lights on & off to make their house in Sandpoint look occupied.
A guy on a backhoe was leveling their lawn areas and we were smart enough to start happy hour outside on the deck on the side where he was working and we were yelling over the noise. Almost as soon as we moved to the other side, he was done for the day!

July 26th – Tues – Sandpoint
I helped Kathy do some organizing in her kitchen while the guys made a trip to hardware & lighting stores. They got back just in time to help Kathy & I move furniture in the great room. The new layout was mostly my idea and luckily everyone thought it worked better.
Then it was time for shopping – bank & groceries – for Kathy & I. The guys were watching a movie when we got back so we made a late lunch and then Kathy & I worked on unloading boxes in their office after Terry & I figured out how to put hangers in file drawers for 2 rows of file folders. Delivery people brought bedroom furniture and a dining table this afternoon so we enjoyed a salmon dinner on a table rather than at the kitchen island – which is not a hardship!
In one guest bedroom, we ended up moving the new bed to a different wall and making a couple of other small adjustments to the room. Skip bought a new movie today so I watched it and the others napped on & off. It was a very weird movie – Source Code – so I think they had the right idea.

July 27th – Wed – Sandpoint
S&K had an appointment with their security guy this morning. It was nice & sunny with possible PM showers so we decided to golf at Priest Lake. Of course the security guy was late but with Skip’s fast driving we were only 10 minutes late for our tee time.
The golf course is very challenging. Skip & Kathy looked at the course yardage and we decided that the guys would play the blue tees (farthest back) and Kathy & I would play yellow which is basically white (normally what Terry would play) with a couple of shorter holes. This was a mistake as a lot of the holes had water & weeds to hit over, a lot were very narrow and the white/yellow was just too much for me.
Then on the 7th hole it started to rain. We finished the 9th hole, pulled the carts under a tent and went in for a drink. Actually, we ordered our 2nd drink before the rain stopped so we took it with us and finished the round. Anyone who has golfed with me knows that I HATE rain so I was not a real happy golfer – but the 2 drinks made it somewhat better!
Back at Skip & Kathy’s, happy hour continued and was followed by an excellent steak dinner with steaks cooked to perfection by Skip on the BBQ which was just connected to gas this morning. Then we taught S&K to play Wizard and didn’t get to bed until after midnight which is quite late for 4 old farts!

July 28th – Thurs – to Orofino ID
We had a nice breakfast with Skip & Kathy and were on our way at 10. We were going to stop at the Costco in Coeur d’Alene but there were too many RVs and boats in the parking lot so we kept on going.
We decided to go south out of CDA and then maybe across Hwy 12 to Missoula so we stopped at the CDA Casino. The machines teased us and let us play quite a while before gobbling up our money. We had an early dinner at a restaurant in the casino where we have previously enjoyed County Fried Steak. We didn’t enjoy it today and I wasn’t shy about saying so to the waitress and on a survey card that we were given for comments on their new menu.
Then it was a nice drive to Lewiston where we stopped for fuel and then carried on to Orofino to the Clearwater Crossing RV park. The RV sites are backed up to the Clearwater River and every site has a concrete “patio” & picnic table so you can relax and watch the river glide by. This is a Passport America park so is very reasonable at $15.58 including cable TV.
The drive along the Clearwater River from Lewiston was very pretty with very little traffic. I also enjoyed the fields in the Palouse area before we got to the casino.

July 21st to 24th - Walla Walla, Burbank

July 21st – Thurs - toWalla Walla
We headed to Walla Walla this morning to attend Terry’s Mom’s funeral. We successfully navigated some narrow lanes on the freeway in Spokane where a lot of road work is underway and arrived at the Blue Valley RV park about 12:30. After registering and setting up, I made lunch and then we went for a drive to locate the cemetery and the funeral home. We picked up a flower arrangement and a bit later went back to the funeral home for the viewing. I found it very bizarre and hope not to have to attend one again! No one else was there so we didn’t tarry long.
Back at the rig, we changed into shorts, turned on the ceiling fan, opened windows and enjoyed a drink and the warm weather. The RV park is next to a golf course so we walked to check it out and chatted with some fellow campers on the way back. The park has cable TV so we OD’d on HGTV and the Golf channel.

July 22nd – Fri
We hung around the rig in the morning, had strawberry shortcake for breakfast and bacon & eggs for lunch.
Ella Mae’s funeral was at 1. Attendees included friends of Don & EllaMae’s from when they lived in Pasco, firefighter co-workers of Terry’s brother Harry, our friends Bill & Georgia and of course all the kids and many of the grandkids. It was a gravesite service with beautiful weather.
After the service, most of us went to The Depot restaurant for a light lunch hosted by Don. It was very nice to meet old friends of the family and to visit with relatives that we don’t see too often.
Then we just let down and relaxed for the rest of the day. We made a quick trip for a few groceries and took another walk to the golf course and around the park but that was it.

July 23rd – Sat – to Burbank WA
Terry had coffee and I had a light breakfast before we headed about 35 miles to see friends Dave & Margo at their lot overlooking the Snake River. They have a house in Walla Walla but they are going to sell it, use the lot in the summer and continue to go south in the winter. They had a huge shop built last winter and have made a flat spot to park their motor home so they work on the lot most of the week and go back to mow their lawns in Walla Walla.
We parked in front of the shop, set up and gave Dave & Margo the “grand tour” of our 5th wheel. Their neighbor Art came by as we were finishing so we sat outside to have coffee & banana bread and visited. The lot is just upstream of Ice Harbor Dam which forms a wide spot called Sacajawea Lake. We walked down to the river and went through the day park, the marina and the RV park. It was quite a bit more exercise walking back up but by then it was time for happy hour. Margo made us all dinner which we ate outside after moving a table into the shade. Then it cooled down quickly so we moved inside for dessert.

July 24th – Sun
Today was the first day this summer that I put shorts on first thing in the morning – it was a gorgeous day. I made jelly biscuits & fruit for all of us for breakfast and after lazing around a while we went to wander around at Ice Harbor Dam (notice the ambitious verbs?!). When we got back, it was time for a snack for lunch followed by moving chairs occasionally to stay in the shade as we talked and enjoyed the view.
We put some beer in a cooler and drove down to the park. Art had asked us to go out on his little houseboat but another couple was with them so we just cooled our feet in the water and then sat in the shade and continued chatting and people watching.
We came back about 5:30 so I could marinate pork chops for my turn to make dinner. The evening cooled off suddenly again about 9:30 so we went our separate ways about 10.

July 18th to 20th - 100 Mile to Spokane

July 18th – Mon
We left Marg’s at 9:40 this morning, dumped the tanks at the sani station in town and then pulled into the car wash to get rid of a layer of dust on the 5th wheel and lots of dirt on the truck. It was raining when we finished and pulled out of the car wash!
The drive was uneventful and we decided to take a slightly different route down the east side of Okanagan Lake which is winding but nice. We stopped for lunch in Merritt and stayed at Rock Creek where we camped with a group of friends a few years ago.

July 19th – Tues
We walked across the highway and played a 9-hole round of golf this morning. The grass was very wet and neither one of us had a good game but we had the requisite couple of good shots to keep us golfing. We were meeting Bill & Georgia at Sullivan Lake so we continued through Grand Forks and crossed the border at Cascade. It must have been a slow, boring day for the customs agent as he looked in the rig and then had Terry open the slides so he could check the living room. Terry said he spent more time commenting on the rig & amenities than checking anything.
To get to Sullivan Lake, we went south to Colville (where we bought groceries and had lunch), then east to Tiger/Ione and north to a few mile from the Canadian border. There are 3 forest service campgrounds and when we talked to Bill he wasn’t sure where we would find a spot but figured we would be OK with cell phones. Wrong!! There is no Verizon service there so we drove around – in the rain – the campground loops and didn’t find Bill & Georgia. We decided to head back towards Spokane and finally got cell service where we had several messages from Georgia saying they were waiting for us at Tiger. We didn’t have any other ideas of where to stay and we finally ended up at the Spokane RV Park beside the Deer Park golf course. It is a lovely setting, it was warm enough to sit outside for dinner and we are with good friends so all is good.

July 20th – Wed
Georgia brought Terry a bowl of raspberries from her garden and we really enjoyed them for breakfast. We chatted a while with Bill & Georgia before we all packed up to leave. We set up at the Elks Lodge in Spokane, ran a few errands and then went to the casino for a few hours – to the delight of the casino rather than us.
It was time for happy hour and dinner when we returned so we had a quiet evening. The weather was dry and pleasantly warm.

July 15th to 17th - 100 Mile

July 15th – Fri
We had an real mix of projects today.
Several years ago when Marg made a trip to France, she bought some sheer curtain panels that we finally hung in her bathroom window. It looks so good that we wish we had gotten around to it years ago.
Last winter a young man staying with Marg was using the tractor to clean the barn and knocked a wall out by a couple of inches. Marg cleared away sheep “excrement” with the bucket on the tractor and we finished clearing with shovels while Terry stood 20 feet away and asked how we could stand the smell! Marg pushed the wall back in with the tractor and we hammered in some big nails so it won’t happen again. Then we did some more building realignment and pushed a small hay shed back into place and beefed up the supports.
Marg & Terry used a heavy metal device to pound in the 2 posts that we couldn’t reach with the tractor a few days ago. I got to hold the wire aside and replace the staples – tough job!
After lunch we put in 3 new posts by the lagoon, tightened barbed wire at the top and wove slats through page wire to straighten it. Then Marg lifted Terry on the platform on the tractor so he could tie a rope to a dead tree to persuade it to fall in an unnatural direction and avoid the lagoon. We wondered why we fixed the fence before we cut down the tree! But the tree avoided the fence by about 3 feet, Marg cut it up and I carried the rounds to Terry so he could split them.
Next it was on to a tree that fell over a fence but hung up in a tree on the other side of the fence. Marg supported the tree with the tractor while Terry cut it down, then we piled all the limbs & sections of tree on the platform to dump on the burn pile. Terry & I continued on the ATV from there to make a tour of the fences looking for signs of bear. When we got back, Marg was just driving up to the house with all the split wood on the tractor so we helped her stack it for immediate burning. Yes, Dad has started a fire in the upstairs wood stove many mornings to take the chill off even in July.

July 16th – Sat
Terry, Marg & I left right after breakfast to go to Lone Butte to pick up the boat motor that was repaired and to visit a hardware store to get a rechargeable screwdriver that Terry just had to have. We stopped at a little farmer’s market and got a few items and then returned to 100 Mile for more shopping & lunch. Groceries, paint for Dad, animal feed, plywood & nails were on the agenda.
We were having company for dinner so once we unloaded all the purchases, I started dinner preparations and Marg did some cleaning. Janet & Bill arrived first and we had time for a nice visit with them before Al & Cecile arrived. We had time for a couple drinks and much talking before Ralph & Gina got here after Ralph got off work. We had an unusual menu for dinner but everyone either enjoyed it or was kind enough to say they did! It was a lovely evening.

July 17th – Sun
Marg was a little rough with the platform on the tractor when she was supporting the tree on Friday so it was time to rebuild rather than patch. Terry started work on that while Marg & I became mechanics and tried to find out why Dad’s ATV wouldn’t start. It happened a week or so ago when Marg was in Merritt. Terry charged the battery and cleaned the battery connections but couldn’t get it to start. Marg talked to the mechanic who fixed the boat motor and he told her one thing to try which didn’t prove anything. We decided to reclean one battery terminal which turned into a huge job as the connector was broken which led to multiple trips for parts & tools, parts dropped & lost, wires connected incorrectly (me!!) and dismantling of the front of the ATV to put a cover in correctly. But it started!!
After lunch I helped Terry build the platform and Marg went bear hunting again with still no sight of the bear but just evidence of trees & stumps pulled apart. Marg & I put in a support for a shelf in the shop which led to organizing pieces of lumber and sweeping the shop floor. Somewhere in there we also cleaned up her electrical bits & pieces drawer and we also managed to do 3 loads of laundry.
We are leaving here tomorrow and heading back to Spokane and then Colorado. We will also be making a trip to Walla Walla as Terry’s Mom passed away last night and we will be attending her funeral.

July 12th to 14th - 100 Mile

July 12th – Tues
Marg, Terry & I repaired fences this morning. A corner post needed to be pounded in some more & braced and then we had to add on a section of page wire to fill in where an old, temporary gate had been. Then I walked along the same fence checking the posts as Marg knew there were more that were loose. When I found a loose post, Marg maneuvered the tractor in with the post pounder, we took out the staples, hit the post a couple of times and put the staples back in. Due to the slope of the ditches, we couldn’t fix 2 posts so we will have to return and do them manually. The amount of rain this year has made it a good time to fix posts as the ground is softer than usual and the posts will go in further than in the normal dry ground.
After lunch we dug out the bottom of a broken corner post in a corral, put in a new post and a couple of new boards. Then we went to a fence between Marg & a neighbor where a corner post was breaking because of trees coming down on the wires a couple of years ago. It is a huge job to replace a corner post so we put a new post in right beside the old one and fastened the two together. On the way to this repair job, we stopped to cut up and haul away a tree that had fallen over another fence.

July 13th – Wed
After getting Dad going on a new project in the shop, we loaded up supplies & tools on the tractor & ATV to repair yet another corner post in the furthest corner of Marg’s property. Before we could get going, it started to rain so we waited until after an early lunch to go out.
There was no way that we could get the tractor in to put in a new post right at the corner so we put in 3 posts as close to the corner as we could get, braced them together and transferred the electric wires to the new posts. This left a gap in the electric wires between the old post & new post but we will fill it in with page wire and one electric wire on top. Rain was threatening so we hooked up the electric fence with temporary wire, checked that the current was OK and headed back in. Marg has to take the tractor through the brush to get to this location and saw evidence of a bear in the property – rotten trees & stumps clawed apart to get at bugs. This is the field where the sheep are grazing right now so it is a worry. Terry & I followed her back on the ATV and then made a loop along another fence but didn’t see the bear.
Marg & I went golfing this evening but first Marg got insurance for her truck and I picked up a prescription refill for Dad. We didn’t get rained on while golfing but neither of us had a good game.

July 14th – Thurs
Marg & Terry went to finish the corner fence while I got out my sewing machine to do some mending and alterations for Marg & Dad which I finished just in time to get lunch on the table.
After lunch, we were preparing to go out for some more fencing when it started to rain. Terry worked on a puzzle while Marg & I found a curtain rod and used some pillow shams for a curtain in the guest room – you’re welcome, Pat & Rick! The rain let up so we went to the lagoon (septic pond) to replace 3 posts that had totally rotted. We ended up also picking up a load of branches and cutting down a dead tree and hauling it away.
Just as we finished, Nicole arrived with her nephew & his wife (Guy & Monique) who are visiting from France. We chatted with them for a while and then the rain returned as they were leaving. But it was time for happy hour and dinner.
I got ambitious after dinner and baked a big batch of cookies.

July 9th to 11th - 100 Mile

July 9th – Sat
We finished the last 3 sheets of roofing, trimmed the strapping boards and put the last fascia board on the shed this morning. We also cut and installed boards to secure siding (metal roofing) on one gable end. After lunch, we went to town to get the roofing and got one end installed.
Dad made blocks for us to use under the jacks & stabilizers on our 5th wheel. Terry was going to make them but we decided it was a perfect project for Dad and he did a great job.

July 10th – Sun
We finished the second gable end this morning and then had to return all the tools & supplies to their correct places which was a job in itself. We picked up all the scrap wood and dumped it on the burn pile, replaced pallets used under lumber and cleaned up in general.
We finished a jigsaw puzzle after lunch while we were waiting for Al & Cecile who were coming to visit. They didn’t see our 5th wheel when they were here previously so they got the grand tour and also viewed the completed shed. Dad gave them one of his little side tables so now he can build another one!
When Al & Cecile left, I went to check the greenhouse & garden and was watering some flower pots when it started to rain so we all came inside to read & watch TV.
After dinner the weather was beautiful again so we mowed the lawn in the garden, in front of the greenhouse and in the fire pit area.

July 11th – Mon
We made a trip to town to return one sheet of roofing and stopped at the liquor & grocery stores. Our plans for today were to rent a pressure washer to clean the back deck but Dad pointed us in another direction when he mentioned a mess in a small section of trees between the drive and the shop. We have talked about cleaning it up so that is what we worked on.
When we got back from town, Dad had sharpened the chain saw and filled it with gas & oil. Terry found a way in with the tractor and then he started cutting down trees. Some had already fallen and hung up in other trees, some were dead and some were bent from the ice storm a few years ago. We piled everything on the platform on the tractor and Dad made the trips to create a new burn pile fairly close by but it was a challenge to get the tractor in & out of the standing trees.
Terry was hurting from using the chainsaw so much & loading the heavier logs so we quit about 3:30. He also had a branch snap in his eye and that was bothering him a lot. OK, I was also happy to have an excuse to quit!
Marg got home about 5. She & I looked at the new shed after I did chores and it passed inspection.

July 6th to 8th - 100 Mile

July 6th – Wed
We made good progress on the shed today. We put up 8 sheets of roofing and most of the metal siding. Terry might have dug deep for energy and put up more roofing but the batteries for the cordless drill had to be charged. Buck & Snow went “out for lunch” today with Buck tethered and Snow wandering free as she is a sucker for grain and easy to get back into the corral.
We also hung a couple of bat houses that Dad built earlier this year. Information that I found on the internet said to hang them at least 12 ft. above the ground so it is a good thing that Terry could lift me with the platform on the tractor.

July 7th – Thurs - Happy Birthday to Me!
Terry insisted that we take today off because it is my birthday and I didn’t protest too much. We played golf at Marmot Ridge in 100 Mile in the morning with only a few drops of rain and temperature warm enough that we were both in short sleeves. A group with beginners in front of us let us play through so we were able to move along at a nice pace.
Then we went to Williams Lake where we stopped at a couple of stores for small items, had lunch and then went to the casino. I fairly quickly lost most of my allowance and then started winning. Terry was also losing and joined me on the machines that were doing OK. Eventually I gave back all the casino’s money but kept what I started with. Terry didn’t do so well but we both had fun.
I had left some dinner for Dad to warm up so we went to a restaurant in 100 Mile for dinner to end a lovely day. When we got back about 7:30, I did the chores and then found that Dad hadn’t eaten dinner yet as he said he couldn’t find anything so I heated the leftovers for him.

July 8th – Fri
It was cold this morning but after breakfast we went out to work on the shed. We were standing in the barn which was a huge wind tunnel and decided that we could wait until it warmed up a bit and came back inside. Terry played games on the computer and I puttered around doing bits & pieces. I picked a huge handful of lettuce from Marg’s garden as it has gotten way ahead of us. Dad was in the shop painting some little tables that he made.
After lunch, we went back out as it had warmed up a lot. I lifted Terry with the tractor so he could put in the top row of screws in the roofing. He had to do this from inside the barn as the shed roof is the same pitch as the barn roof and starts only a little way below the barn eves which meant he would have to lie on his stomach on the shed roof to reach the top row. This did not sound too safe. We finished the metal siding which had previously been on the outside of the barn. Unfortunately, the barn is 5 inches longer than the outside of the shed (don’t even ask!) so we had to cut off the last sheet of siding just to keep things interesting.
Next we made a trip to make a couple of adjustments to the outhouse that we built. The guys didn’t put it together as we had planned so we trimmed a panel and added stops for the door that we forgot to include. Then we cut leveling boards for our 5th wheel and Marg’s motor home before hanging the last bat house.

July 2nd to 5th - 100 Mile

July 2nd – Sat
We got the rest of the trusses up today and of course nothing can be easy. As I said before, the shed is being added to the side of the existing hay barn. The top of the side of the barn had metal siding which we removed so there is no consistent place to secure the trusses. We had to be quite innovative to get them up. After lunch we put up some knee braces and figured out where the boards had to go to reuse the metal siding and put screws in the same holes. I ran the tractor a couple of times and haven’t knocked Terry off the scaffold yet!
We had to quit early in the afternoon as Marg was going to a party and had to prepare snacks. Terry & I headed to town with a varied to-do list – return unused cement, buy fasteners for the outside of the trusses, get paint for Dad, hit the liquor store & grocery store, refill prescriptions for Dad, return carpet samples (store closed for the weekend), pick up Marg’s mail (post office closed!) and get wheat for the chickens. I had a roast in the crock pot so we enjoyed a drink while I made the rest of dinner.
After dinner, I asked Terry to bring Marg’s motor home to the house so we could plug it in and cool the fridge as she is leaving tomorrow to volunteer at the Merritt Mountain Music Fest. First we had to assemble a hitch stinger with the right size ball as Marg is dropping off Rick & Pat’s utility trailer on the way to Merritt. Same thing, nothing is easy!!

July 3rd – Sun
I helped Marg a bit loading up her motor home and we took a tour on the ATV to decide where the sheep would pasture next. Terry & I couldn’t get the strapping on the shed roof as we need more lumber and can’t get it until tomorrow. But we got some boards on the side that will be below the siding, put up some bracing in the trusses and figured out exactly how many boards we need and what size. This was all while hiding from rain showers.

July 4th – Mon
We hooked up Ralph’s trailer (still parked here waiting for Ralph to pick it up) and went to buy lumber. We got rough cut boards and fascia boards at one place and 2x4s & nails at another. After unloading, we decided to have an early lunch rather than working for a short time and then stopping for lunch.
We got the bottom fascia board up and almost finished the strapping before Terry ran out of steam. He had to climb over the trusses and walk on the bracing to nail the boards so he was working hard. I was happy to be the gofer & board trimmer rather than the monkey & nailer.

July 5th – Tues
OK – Terry was right and can say “I told you so” as I didn’t buy enough nails yesterday so we had to go shopping again. But we also returned the carpet samples, picked up the mail, filled gas & diesel containers and got suet blocks for the birds.
We finished putting up the strapping and cut off the boards on one end before lunch. After lunch, we recut most of the boards (oops!), put on the fascia board, put up 2 sheets of metal roofing and put up 4 boards for the siding on the side wall. Again, Terry had to work hard to climb on the trusses and use a heavy drill for the screws in the roofing. The rechargeable drill doesn’t last very long and our electric drill – which we thought we could use - is not powerful enough for the roofing screws.
We quit early, loaded up all the garbage and made a trip to the dump. Then Terry got a burst of energy and cut down a dead tree that Dad kept saying was spoiling his view. He cut it into stove lengths but we left the cleanup until we have the right attachment on the tractor loader.
Dad has been in a painting mode – deck chairs and anything else that doesn’t move. Terry said he was going to hide the truck so it didn’t get painted!

June 29th to July 1st

June 29th – Wed
We got out and worked on setting the support posts for the shed this morning. We made a slight mistake on the first post so it took a little longer than it should so we only got 2 done before lunch. The shed will only be 9 feet high on the outside but it would have taken longer to get 14 foot posts so we are dealing with 16 foot 6x6 posts. And keep in mind that we are all “senior citizens”!! I did have a short lesson in driving the tractor and didn’t run over anything or anybody.
After lunch we set the other 2 posts and cut the first 3 boards to support the trusses. We were sent inside by a couple of rain showers so before we could put up the boards we had to quit so Marg & I could get ready to go golfing. I put cabbage rolls in the oven for Terry & Dad’s dinner while Marg did the chores and we headed for town hoping that the rain was over.
We did get a few light showers on the golf course but it wasn’t too bad. I did mediocre and Marg did worse – partly due to rain jackets I’m sure!

June 30th – Thurs
Marg was going to spend the day with her friend Jane but that got canceled. We thought we might get more work done on the shed but the weather had other plans in the form of rain so Marg, Terry & I made a trip to Kamloops. We had to return some incorrect electrical tape that we bought and that could not be returned without our credit card. This was a flimsy excuse to do some other shopping and visit the casino.
The trip to the casino was fun with Terry & Marg coming out money ahead and Terry making enough to cover my losses and then some. Actually, I covered some of my own early losses with small winnings just before we left. We had told Dad that we would be home by dinner but that didn’t happen. We stopped at the grocery store in 100 Mile and got home about 8:30.

July 1st – Fri
This may be a holiday (Canada Day) for most people but not for us since we took yesterday off. In the morning, we put up the 3 support boards that we had already cut and cut the remaining 3. It took us longer than it should have as we kept having to move into the barn to wait out rain showers & downpours.
After lunch, we put up the other 3 boards, cut off the tops of the posts – Marg on the chainsaw and Terry on the tractor – and put up one truss. This time we were interrupted by a ewe & lamb grazing contentedly in the yard when they should have been in a field. We got them into the correct spot then I checked the fence and filled the water trough while Marg sharpened the chain saw. Francis & Nicole stopped by to pick up eggs and visit for a while so it was a good time (4:30) to stop for the day.
We had taken out baby backs for dinner which Terry finished to perfection on the BBQ.

June 24th to 28th - 100 Mile

June 24th – Fri
We picked up groceries and material for the shed this morning. First 2x10’s and 2x6’s, then trusses and metal roofing on top then we stopped for some paint and paint thinner. Terry & I unloaded all the material and then I helped Dad finish painting the old plow while Terry cleaned up the trailer.
After lunch we dismantled the outhouse and loaded it on the utility trailer. It rained a couple of times this morning but the lawns dried enough that we could mow. It was still threatening to rain again so we went full out with Terry on the mower and me on the weed eater doing the garden, between the house & greenhouse and the picnic area out back. It didn’t rain!!

June 25th – Sat
We took the outhouse to Rick this morning but he wasn’t there when we arrived. We walked down a hill to where he is situating his vacation place, walked back up and decided to come back later. We had just left his driveway when we passed him & 2 friends coming back so we turned around and went back. We were prepared to help them put the outhouse together but the spot for it wasn’t quite ready and they were looking for things to do so we unloaded it, headed back and unhooked the trailer.
We picked up Dad and went to Francis & Nicole’s to drop off their bags of sand/gravel and back to Rick’s to give him some nails and a door latch that we had forgotten.
Rick Tate (Pat’s husband) arrived in the late afternoon and Marg & Pat got home just after 5. We had a good evening hearing about Marg & Pat’s trip.

June 26th – Sun
Marg, Rick & Pat were going to go fishing but the weather didn’t look too promising so they decided to wait and go later or tomorrow. Marg & Pat unloaded and cleaned up the motor home and I got ambitious and mowed an area by the chicken house that was grown up at least a foot high with mostly weeds. Actually, Terry took over the mowing while I got the weed eater and trimmed it up. Terry got the gas weed eater and we cleaned up some grass under the electric fence as the reading was a little low. Then we took the ATV and unhooked a section of fence that had a lot of weeds and didn’t need to be electrified right now. That made a big difference in the strength of the fence. Terry went to town and washed the mud off the truck and then finished it up here.
Marg & I were out for a walk to check the sheep pasture when we saw a 5th wheel coming along the road. Our friends Terry & Judy Huber were supposed to call us so we could meet them and lead them to Marg’s but their phone wouldn’t work. Luckily, I had sent them instructions but unfortunately I said “Beechwood” instead of “Birchwood” so they were a little confused but found us. We got them situated, they set up and then joined us for happy hour & dinner.
We lit a fire out back in the firepit and made hamburgers on the BBQ. Hardier souls sat out until after 9 in one of the first warm evenings since we have been here.

June 27th – Mon
Quille dropped in for coffee and a short visit this morning while we were eating breakfast. Marg, Pat & Rick hooked up the boat and went fishing. Terry, Terry & Judy and I went for a drive to Mahood & Canim Falls. It was a beautiful walk to the falls and bug repellant kept us from getting eaten by mosquitoes. On the way back, we went to Howard Lake where the others were fishing. They had a little mishap and messed up the motor when launching the boat so Rick was rowing when we saw them. They only caught one fish which Marg delivered to Nicole.
We stopped at the house to take some lamb chops out of the freezer and then went to town where we first had a late lunch at A&W. Then we got some groceries, stopped at the tourist center and stopped at the drugstore for more bug spray.
By the time we got back it was nearly time for happy hour. Dad spent the day building & painting a little table to set drinks on at the picnic area.
Terry & Judy brought steaks & corn so we had a great dinner again. A bit later, Terry, Terry & Judy & I took the 2 ATV’s and made a tour around the farm.

June 28th – Tues
Terry & Judy and Rick & Pat left about 10. Marg took the boat motor to a friend to get it repaired while Terry & I removed some boards from the hay barn in preparation for the new shed. There were 2x10’s fastened on with Ardox nails (not meant to be removed) so Terry really had his work cut out for him. I don’t know how to run the tractor yet so he positioned the “scaffolding” on the forks and then climbed up to work which made him more tired as he had to keep moving it.
After lunch, Marg joined us to put on the 2x10’s which will support the trusses. They are rough-cut green boards so they are really heavy. We had to put on 2 layers with each layer secured with lag bolts. It took us all afternoon to put up 6 boards. Dad built another table for the picnic area.

June 21st to 23rd - 100 Mile

June 21st – Tues
We need to put a mark on the calendar – today was the only day that we can remember in the last month where there was no rain!
We decided to golf in the morning rather than wait for a possible afternoon rain shower. There were very few people on the course so we didn’t have to wait behind anyone and we had a nice round and tied again – from the blue tees. We had told Dad to make himself lunch so we stopped for a burger on the way home.
Terry built the door for the outhouse and I helped Dad fix the wagon which broke when it slipped when he was trying to get it out the door and onto his ATV. Then I helped Terry with the door before calling it a day.
I decided to put Buck & Snow to graze a small area in front of the barn so Terry helped me put up 2 gate sections. I came out through a small gate with a hook-type latch and figured it was tough enough to latch that escape artist Buck couldn’t open it. Wrong!! I checked a couple of times and they were grazing nicely but after dinner the little gate was open, Snow was nearby and Buck was nowhere to be seen. I got grain, a halter and a rope and Terry & I took off on the ATV to find Buck. He was all the way over to the neighbors – in our field – visiting their horses. We weren’t successful in catching him. Terry finally swung the rope in frustration and Buck took off and ran all the way back to the barn and was looking innocent when we caught up. It’s amazing how much extra work I can make for us!

June 22nd – Wed
Finished door, figured out door framing, blade for painting, hair cut, carpet store, bank, liquor store, hardware store, dinner al & ceciles
We finished the outhouse door and spent quite a bit of time figuring out the framing. The door is 7 feet tall and 30 inches wide (the owner Rick is 6 ft 8 inches tall so Terry didn’t want him to have to duck and the tray for the composting toilet is 25 ½ inches wide) so it takes up most of the front of the building. Terry used the tractor to bring in a blade for the tractor that needs painting and Dad started to clean it up. He didn’t want to spray paint it so I finished the clean up and did just a bit of painting since the wind was blowing and I had no desire to become John Deere green.
Terry & I worked a bit after lunch and then went to town as I needed a haircut. He couldn’t go further without some hinges so he came with me and we went to the hardware store, the bank, the liquor store and a carpet store. Marg needs new carpet but didn’t want to get it until her old cat died which she did a couple of weeks ago. I brought home a couple of carpet samples just to get her thinking about it.
We went to dinner at Al & Cecile’s. They bravely had a barbeque and the weather was great. Also there were Nicole, Francis Green, Steve & Val and Quille. We sat out & ate outside and only moved in when mosquitoes were bothering Cecile.

June 23rd – Thurs
We finally finished the front of the outhouse. Terry brought in an old plow that sits out by the entrance gate so Dad could repaint it. We had a lot of the sand/gravel mix (that we got for concrete) left over so we had to get it out of the utility trailer. We put some in bags for Francis and for Marg and then spread the rest in a low area in front of the porch and on the driveway. Terry was worn out as he had to shovel the sand to the back of the trailer first in order to lift the hitch onto the ATV.
After lunch we put line in the gas weed eater and I started picking up sheep shit in the area where we will be building the shed. I knew this would be a problem when I let the sheep graze the area but I couldn’t see the grass going to waste. I had just gotten nicely started cleaning up when it started to hail and then poured rain. We finally made a dash for the house on the ATV. I had Terry let me off at our rig and spent some time doing an overdue cleaning. Then I came in and continued cleaning in the house. Terry was playing games on the computer and Dad was doing crosswords.
Our neighbor Ralph delivered lumber (from the store that he manages) on his trailer just before we were going to eat dinner. We will use the trailer tomorrow to pick up more lumber so Terry just had him park the trailer in the barn. After dinner, Terry went out and unloaded it.

June 18th to 20th - 100 Mile

June 18th – Sat
We had a slack day today as it rained all day and we accomplished nothing. If it wasn’t for the chores and walking to our rig, we wouldn’t have got even a breath of fresh – wet - air. I was playing a game on the computer (rare for me) and Terry came over and asked if we had had lunch! I asked what time it was and was very surprised when he said 1:30. Dad was napping in front of the TV so I waited a bit until he woke up and then put together a snack for lunch as I had a roast beef in the crock pot for dinner and didn’t want to totally spoil our appetites. Weird day!!

June 19th – Sun
We got going early this morning so we could place the final footing for the shed posts and then mix & pour the concrete. It all went fine. Then I decided it would be good to put the sheep on the pasture around the hay barn since we won’t be working there for a few days and won’t have to worry about opening a gate all the time. We put up temporary fence panels to close off the barn and the sheep were happy. Shortly after, I saw lambs around the post holes and sure enough, when we looked later, there were 3 little hoof prints in the wet concrete in one of the footings. We finished the morning by picking up a couple of dead trees that Terry had fallen when we were completing the new fence.
After lunch, we took the tractor, 2 fence posts and 2 bluebird houses to neighbor Reg’s place where we put in the posts to thank him for working on the tractor. When he saw how easy the posts went in, he had us put in 4 small posts so he can build a fence to keep deer out of his garden. Hopefully this is the end of putting in posts for a while so we took the pounder off the tractor and then pretty much took the rest of the day off. Dad took apart a toy buckwagon that he built a few years ago and got a new coat of paint on most of it.
We had our usual light sprinkle of rain in the evening.

June 20th – Mon
Terry was puttering around on the outhouse construction this morning so I took the opportunity to clean the fridge. Something sticky had been spilled and it was past time to get it cleaned up. The sun was nice enough that Dad was sitting in the sun and petting Sage and a cat (Uncle).
Terry & I got the roof built for the outhouse. It is a bit of a challenge building it in pieces and making sure it can all be nailed together when it is assembled on site.
After lunch, we displayed our optimism that the sunshine would last and loaded our golf clubs in the truck. But first we went to see Marg’s neighbor Ralph who is going to pick up the trusses, roofing and 6x6’s for the shed. We had rain checks for some bird seed that was on sale so we picked it up next and the salesman pointed out the rain clouds moving in. Sure enough, it started to rain. Luckily, we were sitting in the golf course parking lot waiting to see if it was going to rain. We picked up some DEF at the Chev dealer since we couldn’t get enough the last time we filled it up, went to the grocery store and then headed home. Dad hauled another load of wood this morning and then put a second coat of paint on the wagon while we were gone.

June 14th to 17th - 100 Mile

June 14th – Tues
We got half the wire stapled to the posts this morning and I cleaned up more debris before it was behind the fence. We put in the last 3 posts and then came in for lunch. Dad was busy hauling in more firewood.
After lunch we got the rest of the wire up including a section that we had to rescue from the scrap pile as we didn’t need enough to buy 2 rolls. Dad worked on the tailgate from the utility trailer that we removed a couple of days ago as it was falling apart. We had cut a new piece of plywood and Dad replaced the rotten wood and gave it a coat of paint. Once again a rain shower caused us to stop a little early which was OK as we were invited to Nicole & Francis’ for dinner and we had to shower and change clothes.
Nicole made very good pizza for dinner and we were joined by Marg’s neighbor Reg who fixed the tractor. When we were sitting & chatting after dinner, it rained really hard. It let up as we were leaving at 9 and there was a gorgeous rainbow for us to admire.

June 15th – Wed
It was cold and overcast this morning. We put up the metal gate in the new fence, cut down 2 more dead trees, unloaded gear from the ATV and decided it was too miserable to work outside. Terry played computer games while I did laundry and pulled out the sewing machine for some mending & alterations. Dad put a second coat of paint on the tailgate and made himself a new cane.
After lunch, I finished my sewing and made cookies. I haven’t made this recipe for several years and now I know why – it makes 8 dozen soft chocolate cookies that you sandwich with a cooked filling to end up with 4 dozen yummy cookies.
I called to say that I wouldn’t play golf this evening as it was just too cold and found out that ladies’ golf was canceled as too many women were wimping out or watching the final of the Stanley Cup. I had taken cabbage rolls out of the freezer for Terry to make for him & Dad so I had an easy dinner to prepare. Quille came over about 6 to watch the hockey game with us. I almost wished I was golfing in the cold rather than watching the Canucks get soundly beaten.

June 16th – Thurs
Terry & I finished a couple of jobs by putting up electrical tape on the new fence and on the remainder of a fence along the road. We are building an outhouse for Quille’s friend Rick so we cut plywood and left Dad working on the floor. We helped him finish it up and then took over the job as it is just too big for him. We have to build it in pieces and assemble it at his place as we couldn’t move the completed building. We are figuring it out as we go along so we just got one side done. We also got the new tailgate installed on the trailer which involved grinding off the screws on an old broken hinge, drilling new holes though metal and putting on a new hinge. Dad went back to hauling & stacking wood and is doing a great job of that.
When I was doing the chores this morning, I twisted my foot and hobbled around all day. It was swollen and pretty painful by the evening but I could walk on it.

June 17th – Fri
Dad hauled in more wood while Terry & I continued working on the outhouse. We built the 2nd side and the back and tacked it all together. After lunch, we hooked up the utility trailer and went shopping. We got some groceries, a yard of gravel/sand mix for concrete, bags of cement and paid for trusses & metal for the new shed. When we got back, we mowed the lawn in the garden area and then I talked Terry into putting 2 of the forms for footings into place for the shed.
The weather was nice today until showers late in the evening. Luckily my foot was much better this morning than last night.

June 11th to 13th - 100 Mile

June 11th – Sat
We were back to falling trees and cleaning up. Terry got a good workout cutting stumps down to ground level. In the past, too many stumps have been left and make it tough to get the tractor through some areas. Rain threatened so we stopped early for lunch. Dad had the great idea to repaint the gates at the entrance to the farm so we brought them into the carport for him to scrape and paint. He finished putting hanging brackets on the 2 feeders that he built, got in more wood and worked on the gates.
After lunch, we continued with the trees and cleanup. Ron & Steve from down the road came to pick up Steve’s boat which was stored in Marg’s barn so we visited with them for a bit. We got our daily rain about 7. At least I don’t have to spend time watering the garden.

June 12th – Sun
We had to put the fence post pounder on the tractor this morning and had a couple of problems. Marg didn’t tell us where to find the sleeves for the drawbar so Terry decided to put the new drawbar on the post pounder which is a very heavy, unwieldy piece of equipment. We managed the job with a large jack and the courage of the ignorant. Then we had to jack it up even more to hook it to the tractor. It turned out that Marg had put a retaining pin in the wrong position and the pounder settled during the winter which made it too low.
The posts actually went in quite well thanks to all the rain softening the ground. But it was a challenge for Terry to maneuver the tractor around all the stumps, trees and uneven ground to back up to the correct position for each post. In a couple of cases he had to move to the opposite side of the fence as the front wheels were in a hole and we couldn’t get the post in far enough. We can’t have things too easy!
Dad was busy too. He continued painting the gates and brought in more wood.
We got a phone call from Marg. She & Pat are in Golden and had rented bicycles for the day so they are having a good time.

June 13th – Mon
The overcast sky this morning prompted us to go to town for several errands – bird seed, liquor, groceries, metal gate and paint. By the time we got back it was too late to work on the fence before lunch so we just puttered around doing small things. Then it was back to the fencing project where we put up three braces, cleaned up more debris from the old snake fence and rolled out the wire. Rain threatened so we quit the fence and I touched up some paint on the gates that Dad was working on and put the second coat on one side of the second gate. The paint dries very quickly so we were able to hang the gate and admire another job well done.
We watched the Canucks lose again to Boston and then watched rain pour down.

June 8th to 10th - 100 Mile

June 8th – Wed
We worked on the puzzle and did a few small things this morning before we got a call saying the tractor parts arrived at Williams Lake. We quickly finished what we were doing, changed clothes, told Dad we were leaving and Marg, Terry & I headed to Williams Lake. We stopped at a feed store, a hardware store and the tractor dealer. Then to WalMart for a few items and lunch at McDonalds before stopping at the casino on the way home. Terry & I lost $20 each but Marg doubled her $40 and actually walked out with the winnings.
We stopped on the way home to drop the parts off with the neighbor who fixed the tie rod and who still had the tractor. He said he would work on it tomorrow morning.
I rushed to boil eggs & potatoes to make potato salad for Dad & Terry’s dinner and helped Marg in the greenhouse & garden while they cooked. I threw the salad together, gave Terry instructions for dinner and Marg & I went golfing. I didn’t do as well as last week but did OK. This week we had to keep track of putts and I got 14 which is pretty good. The lowest total was 12.
When we got home, we noticed tracks turning into the drive and realized it was tractor tires. Reg had fixed the power steering lines and delivered the tractor.

June 9th – Thurs
I helped Marg with some final loading of the motor home and then we made an inspection tour of the pasture to determine when the sheep had to be moved. She came back after driving a couple of miles as she remembered that she didn’t have a receiver in the MH and she will be towing Rick & Pat’s trailer.
Terry put the bucket on the tractor and we headed to the new fence location which is close to the house. We tied a string to show us the fence line and to determine which trees had to come out. One tree would have fallen into the lagoon (septic pond) so Terry lifted me in the bucket, I tied a rope to the tree, ran the rope around a tree and I pulled on the rope to redirect the tree as Terry cut it down. We didn’t get it to fall exactly where we wanted and of course it hung up in some other trees but it was nowhere near the lagoon. Oh well, we are experienced in this situation with dead trees that fall over and with our tree clearing a couple of years ago after an ice storm. The area where it fell had a lot of dead trees so we started falling & clearing them out. We had a break for lunch and continued to work until Terry’s back said STOP about 4:00. Marg plans on being gone for 10 to 14 days so we don’t have to get this done all in one day.
The sheep were grazing in the field where we were working and a gate that we would be using had to be closed so I decided to switch the sheep to a new field this afternoon rather than tomorrow. It is so fun to see them attack a new field of grass but you have to open the gate and get out of the way so you don’t get run over! This also allows us to open a gate from the main road which has been a pain to open & close every time you go anywhere.
The weather was beautiful today. The wind came up a bit later in the evening and there was a very brief hail storm but all is quiet again.

June 10th – Fri
We attacked the tree clearing again this morning. Our age & inactivity is sure showing up in this job! Dad started hauling firewood to stack in the carport since all the staining is done.
Just as we were finishing lunch, it started to pour rain. Terry had to dash out and move the ATV under the carport so everything on it wouldn’t get soaked. We started another jigsaw puzzle while we waited for the rain to stop – and it did stop so we continued falling trees.
It started to drizzle again about the time Terry’s back gave out so we changed clothes and went to town for a few items at the hardware store and at the grocery store. We got home in time for me to do chores and Terry to fix drinks. We watched the Canucks beat the Bruins (Stanley Cup) and fit dinner in at the start of the second period.

June 5th to 7th - 100 Mile

June 5th – Sun
This might be a day of rest for some people but not for us. After Marg left to go fishing with Quille (Terry emptied rain water out of the boat and put the motor back on), Terry & I added electrical tape to another section of fence. It didn’t take long as we could use the existing insulators and we ran out of tape halfway through. Then we got the gas weed-eater, added the metal blade and cleared the right of way between the road and Marg’s fence. I had some long handled limb trimmers and cut the willows & wild roses that were too close to the fence for Terry and the ones just behind the fence. We took a break for lunch and Terry’s back held out just long enough to finish the job. Dad had a request for 2 feeders that hang on a fence or barn stall so he was happy in the shop.
Chores, a couple loads of laundry and dinner finished the rest of my work day. Marg & Quille had a great day fishing and brought home 10 Kokanee & 4 trout.

June 6th – Mon – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD
We are still without the tractor and waiting for a call from Williams Lake saying that the parts are in and we can pick them up.
Terry & I went made a trip to town to pick up posts to replace rotten braces at the entrance gate and made stops at the liquor store, grocery store & service station. After lunch we replaced the braces and were just finishing when brother Bob drove in to have dinner with us for Dad’s birthday. Marg was cleaning her motor home so I helped with that and did some other quick cleaning in the house and some dinner prep.
Francis & Nichole, Al & Cecile, Quille & Gail and Toni & Micheal joined us for turkey dinner. We had a great time as usual with all these good friends. It was so nice during the day that Marg & I were wearing shorts but by the time we went to bed it was raining again.

June 7th – Tues
Breakfast was a little later as Bob had fallen back to sleep and was late getting up! He left for home (Pemberton) about 10 and we went out to get some work done before it started to rain. We had time to make calculations and place one form for footings for a side shed on the hay barn when the rain sent us inside. Terry worked on a jigsaw puzzle, Dad was in the shop and Marg & I planted baskets in the greenhouse.
We lingered over lunch and didn’t finish until nearly 2. By now a steady rain had settled in so Terry & I worked on the puzzle and Marg got things ready to load in the motor home before going for a physio appointment at 4:30.
With breakfast and then lunch being late, we didn’t eat dinner until 8 which makes the evening very short.

June 2nd to 4th - 100 Mile House

June 2nd – Thurs
Marg took the motor home in for an oil change, Terry followed in the truck so they could leave it there rather than waiting and they got the page wire for the new fence on the way home. I spent the time they were gone on the computer.
After lunch, Marg took her truck to drop Dad off for a blood test and take Terry to drive the motor home back. I stayed home and did some cleaning. Dad had to wait over an hour for his blood test so I had dinner prep done by the time they got back.

June 3rd – Fri
Marg, Terry & I went to the Farmer’s Market this morning, stopped at the grocery store & liquor store and at the lumber yard for wood to build an outhouse for Quille’s friend Rick . We had told Dad that we would be back in time for lunch but he didn’t trust us and was eating a sandwich when we returned at 12:15. I made lunch while Terry & Marg unloaded the wood.
A section of fence between Marg and her neighbors Ralph & Gina had taken a beating by their horses and Buck in the winter so that was our project this afternoon while Marg worked in the garden and Dad worked in the shop. We removed existing insulators and replaced them with insulators that will carry electric tape which can be seen – and respected – by horses & deer. We also left the electric wire as Marg discovered that the tape cannot carry the necessary load. We were severely attacked by mosquitoes but got the job done.
Marg went to Quille & Gail’s for dinner and we put hamburgers on the BBQ.

June 4th – Sat
Breakfast was a little later than usual this morning. Marg had to get a haircut so Terry & I loaded up the ATV, replaced 3 brace boards at the power line gate, secured the wire on 3 posts and wove lath strips into sections of page wire to tighten and straighten it. Then we went out and hooked up the power on the fence we worked on yesterday. There was only one short which didn’t take us too long to find. We were hanging up Marg’s collection of old tools on the porch (taken down a couple of years ago in anticipation of new paint which was just finished yesterday) when Marg got home and helped. This made lunch quite late as it was a bigger job than we thought trying to get everything back where it had been previously.
We worked in the garden and watered everything trying to empty a water barrel so Terry & Marg can connect 2 barrels to collect rain water and use it in the garden. Then Marg had the bright idea of going golfing to see if we could beat Terry. Didn’t take us long to change clothes and load up the clubs. The weather was perfect and Terry & I were smart enough to put on insect repellant so the mosquitoes only ate Marg. We all played from the blue (men’s) tees and Terry & I tied and beat Marg by only 2 strokes. It took us just over 1 ½ hours for the 9 holes so we were back in plenty of time to boil baby back ribs for dinner.
Francis & Nichole stopped by just as we were finishing the dishes. They brought some bedding plants for Marg and are going to take an excess rooster to become their dinner some day.

May 30th to June 1st - 100 Mile

May 30th – Mon – 100 Mile
I took a little extra time with the morning chores and started cleaning out the little barn where Buck (pony) and Snow (donkey) are hanging out when it is raining. Marg & Terry hooked up a utility trailer and went to town to run some errands. We had a phone call saying the old water pump was TU and that they had replacements in stock – oops, had to order one when they got there today but they did come back with a sensor to turn off the pump if the water runs out.
They stopped for a few groceries and got posts for the new fence.
While they were gone, I caught up the blog & email, watched the farrier trim Buck & Snow’s feet and helped Dad in the shop. Terry, Marg & I ended up finishing the first stage of the project that was frustrating Dad – another large planter.
After lunch, we all puttered around (puzzle, shop, greenhouse, laundry, baking). I filleted and deboned the Kokanee that Marg caught and we had a gourmet dinner with fish cooked on the BBQ, jasmine rice, salad and fresh beer batter bread.

May 31st – Tues – 100 Mile
Terry & I finished the jigsaw puzzle this morning and I helped Marg get the recyclables ready to go. Marg had an appointment for physiotherapy for her shoulder so she ran errands before & after. Dad had started a new project in the shop so Terry & I went to town and found the visitor center open today. Terry picked up some information for Gary, we went to the post office to mail it and then went to the grocery store.
After lunch we worked in the shop to finish the planter. We were checking Marg’s measurements of the new fence when Marg got back and joined us. She was right that it is 400 feet long – no, she doesn’t pace in metric. Then we adjusted the boat trailer. First we removed the motor, pulled the boat (12 ft aluminum) off the trailer and realized that the bunks were falling apart. So into the shop with the bunks to drill holes in metal brackets and put in new screws. We put the bunks back on in a new position, put the boat back on the trailer and started adjusting with Terry under the trailer and Marg & I lifting the boat as needed. We got it all done just as it started to rain. Marg did chores while I prepared BBQ pork for an appetizer with our drinks. Dinner was leftovers so not too much work.

June 1st – Wed – 100 Mile
Marg took her truck in for an oil change this morning. Terry decided to add guides on the boat trailer so he raided Dad’s BBQ parts stash and found perfect pieces for the job. He cut them to length, we added carpet padding and installed them with u-bolts. A precisely cut – seriously! - piece of plywood holding a swivel seat in the boat had broken so we found plywood, used the old one as a template and got it installed also.
Marg got back after lunch – her 10:00 appointment didn’t mean much – and we installed the new water pump. It only took about 4 trips on the ATV to the shop for more tools & materials. And it works! I put together a potato/onion/ham casserole for Terry & Dad’s dinner as Marg & I were going golfing. We rushed to change clothes, get my clubs & a cart out, give Terry dinner directions and get to the golf course.
A huge wind gust came up shortly after we started (shotgun start at 5:30) but the rain held off until the last hole. Marg’s whole team showed up today so she played with another team with a missing player and I played with her team as usual. The team that Marg was playing with started as a “b” group (2 teams on the hole) and was behind a hole with 2 teams so they were the last team to finish and they got quite wet. The ladies that I played with were almost done eating when we got to the restaurant. Marg bought a pie today but we hadn’t specifically told Terry & Dad that they could have some so they thought it was for something special and didn’t cut into it. We all had pie when we got home.

May 27th to 29th - 100 Mile House

May 27th – Fri – 100 Mile
It rained again this morning so we didn’t do anything constructive. Marg left about 11 to go to Williams Lake with her friend Jane. After lunch the rain quit so we changed from the bucket to the forks on the tractor and went to work removing an old snake (zig-zag) pole fence that we will replace with a page wire fence. There are a lot of trees in the area so Terry had to put his driving skills to work to maneuver the long poles through gaps that were shorter than his load. We had to get out the chain saw and cut some poles in half as they were in an area with too many trees. We got the whole fence removed just in time for chores, happy hour & dinner. We still have to clean up bark, rotten parts and accumulated debris before we put up the new fence.

May 28th – Sat – 100 Mile
I thought a tractor tire looked odd yesterday and it turns out that a young man using the tractor bent the tie rod. Also, Marg forgot to tell us that the same young man had abused the tractor enough that the power steering hose fittings were leaking and she had ordered new parts in Williams Lake. Marg & Terry took the tractor to a neighbor who has a 500 pound press as he thinks he can straighten the tie rod.
Marg was helping with a fund raiser in town this today so I helped Dad finish the planter. After lunch, Dad put verathane on the planter while Terry & I went to town. We went to the visitor center to get some information for Terry’s brother Gary but it was closed. We made a couple of stops to find some mats for our rig to save the carpet from all the dirt we track in while we are here and then came back. Quille arrived about 3:30 with a boned, marinated, rolled leg of lamb to put on the BBQ for dinner. It was supposed to be done on the spit but Marg couldn’t find all the parts this morning. So we put a rack over a pan of water, tented the meat with foil and put it on the BBQ.
Gail and Rick (Quille & Gail’s neighbor) arrived for dinner before Marg got home. The Hospice fund raiser consisted of 15 teams of 4 competing in The Amazing Challenge which was based on The Amazing Race from TV. They started at 9 and the last team did not finish until 3 so they were all very tired. There was a minimum contribution of $200 per team so even though it took a lot of planning and volunteers, it was a good event for Hospice.
We had a thunderstorm & a downpour before the meat was done so Marg turned the BBQ around so it was under a little roof by the back door and we could continue cooking without getting soaked. Terry is not fond of lamb so we had a steak for him and we all enjoyed a great dinner and good company.

May 29th – Sun
There was a little fog this morning but it soon turned warm & sunny and stayed that way – lovely! - so Marg & Quille went fishing at Ruth Lake. We didn’t get much done in the morning but got busy after lunch. Terry & I washed the truck as you could barely see what color it was under the mud. It is amazing how heavy rain does NOT wash mud off a vehicle! Then we mowed & used the weed eater in & in front of the garden and in the picnic area in the back. We couldn’t get the self propelled lawn mower to start so we got some exercise pushing the other mower.
We helped Dad prep some boards for another planter and left him to start building it while we took an ATV for a tour around the property. We found a dead calf twisted up in the back fence so we had to open a gate to interrupt the power to the electric fence, remove the calf and restore the power. When we got back, Dad was not at the shop and his ATV was not at the house so we took another little ride to look for him. We crossed paths and he came back with Sage (Marg’s dog) who had heard him & left us.
Marg got home just after we finished dinner and right behind friends Francis & Nichole. She brought home 3 Kokenee and 1 trout from a good day fishing. Marg made some phone calls about the dead calf and got a return call a bit later. We were kind of embarrassed when the calf turned out to be a moose calf. It was a light tan color and its legs were all tangled in the wires and obviously we didn’t really look too close. It explained why a mother cow wasn’t hanging around as I thought it should be.

May 23rd to 26th - Logan Lake to 100 Mile House

May 23rd – Mon – Logan Lake
After breakfast made by Pat, I put in a load of laundry and we hung around until their grandchildren Landon & Ryleigh had been dropped off by their Dad and picked up by their Mom. Next we drove to town and went for a walk around the lake. We drove so we could stop at the grocery store on the way back – and I also had to check out the Bargain Store.
Pat made lunch and then the guys napped while Pat & I put food together for a gathering this evening. Rick had just fallen asleep when Claude & Val stopped by for a short visit. They had been in Whistler to watch their granddaughter win a dance competition and were picking up their dog Tucker from “babysitters” Lynden & Charlie.
About 5, friends Ian & Patsy and Lynden & Charlie came over for appy hour – ie “lots of snacks make up dinner”. We had our usual great time. After they left about 10 and we cleaned up, Pat wanted to play cards and Rick was nice enough to extend his bedtime for 2 hands. We will finish the game tomorrow.

May 24th – Tues – Logan Lake
We had coffee and banana/chocolate chip cake with Pat for breakfast, Terry & Rick dug out all our golf clubs and we went to Kamloops. First, Rick had a doctor’s appointment which didn’t take long. Then we went to Princess Auto to get some fencing items for Marg and went next door to check out Price Matters, a Big Lots type of store. We wanted some items but decided to come back as our list included frozen food.
While we were shopping, it started to rain so we decided to cancel the golf game and go to the casino where Pat got to play a while before losing her money but Terry & I just donated quickly. We ate the lunch we had packed, went back to Price Matters, stopped at The Superstore for diesel and a few grocery items and headed home.
We had a roast in the crock pot so Pat put veggies in to roast in the oven and we finished our card game – a win for Pat & I - and played another game where the guys were back to their good luck with wild cards and won again.
Rick taped DWTS from an eastern TV feed so we watched the “good parts” of the 3 hour finale in about half an hour. Then we watched the end of “Idol” and called it a night.

May 25th – Wed – to 100 Mile House
We had coffee with Pat & Rick and headed north about 9. It rained last night and off & on today. We encountered heavy fog for a few miles before Ashcroft. We dumped our tanks in 100 Mile and continued to sister Marg’s in heavy rain. We drove into her place by the “back way” (old power line easement) so we could drive into our parking spot and not have to turn or back too much and possibly dig ruts and get stuck. It took a while to get parked as her yard requires several boards under one set of tires and a lot of extension on the front jacks to get us nearly level. We left the rest of the setting up until after lunch.
I helped Marg with a spreadsheet on her computer that she uses for her tax information and before we knew it it was time to leave for ladies’ day golf. The rain had stopped and we had not cancelled by 2:00 pm so we felt obliged to play. While we were waiting on the first hole, we huddled under a tree as a downpour passed over. Unfortunately we couldn’t hide from all the rain so we got fairly wet. It was “3 clubs & a putter” which is fun. Golf was followed by dinner & prizes – Terry got to reheat leftovers for him & Dad. Terry & Dad dumped out a jigsaw puzzle, turned over all the pieces and got a start on the edge.

May 26th – Thurs – 100 Mile House
Marg was planning on going fishing today but Quille had forgotten an appointment so they cancelled. Good thing as it rained most of the day.
The water pump at the corral had quit working so we had to pull it up. It is quite a procedure as the submersible pump is attached to the plastic hose and you pull up everything with a rope attached to the pump. Terry pulled it up with the rope, Marg guided the pipe up & over the fence and I pulled the 100 feet of pipe out into the field as it came up. We detached the pump and Marg & Terry took it to town to be tested. They did a bit of shopping and picked up a new fridge that Marg had ordered to replace one in the basement that quit. While they were gone, I worked on a large planter with Dad in the shop.
After lunch it just kept raining so we didn’t do much besides work on the jigsaw puzzle that Terry & Dad started last night. I did get a load of laundry done and ran back & forth several times to the rig to bring in stuff that we will need while we are here. Marg went to Quille’s so I made dinner for Terry, Dad & me.

May 20th to 22nd - Summerland & Logan Lake BC

May 20th – Fri – to Summerland BC
We packed up, dumped the tanks and were on our way at 8:20 under beautiful, clear skies. We stopped at the duty free store to get a couple of bottles of booze since we had left everything behind and didn’t have any problems after a 5 minute wait at the border. We did have to throw out the few veggies that I hadn’t taken to Georgia but we knew that would happen. Terry hoped that if we had a few things to throw out that we wouldn’t be subjected to any kind of search – seems like it worked.
We stopped for a hamburger for lunch and were set up in Auntie Jessie’s driveway shortly after 2. We checked out her house and were starting to catch up on everything when cousin Cheryl and her 2 daughters Ashley & Drew stopped by for a while. Then it was time to make cabbage rolls for dinner.

May 21st – Sat – Summerland
Auntie Jessie had been up for hours by the time I went in for a shower. We weren’t that late, she usually gets up very early. First I had to put on the shower head and after the shower had to wipe up the floor as the shower curtain was not installed. Auntie Jessie moved back into her house after having it rented out and there was a lot of damage and more work than she can handle in a short time. She had a shower curtain which was too big so after coffee we cut it in half and I took it to the rig to sew the raw edges so she now has 2 curtains. Terry & I made short work of putting up the rod & curtain. Next we moved one picture and hung a new one – again easy for us but not so easy for Jessie. Then it was on to the garage where we carried her winter tires and a small freezer into the basement.
Auntie Jessie had to go to a grand re-opening of the bakery in town that she & Uncle Tom used to own and we had to take her since her car was blocked by our 5th wheel. We left her to cut the cake and walked to cousin Cheryl & her husband Paul’s natural food store where cousin Terry also works so I was able to chat with her for a while.
Next on the list was shopping trip to Penticton. I won’t include the whole story but after lunch and a stop for Jessie to buy bras (!!) we finally got a mattress, box spring and a frame loaded on our truck and headed back – with a stop for produce on the way. We carried her old mattress & box spring downstairs (split entry, 2 sets of stairs), dismantled the old head/foot board and took it downstairs , carried in the new mattress and set it up on the new frame from which we had to remove the casters as the bed was too high for petite Jessie to get up on easily. Then we reassembled the head/foot board and set up the bed in the basement.
We didn’t have too much time for a short break and dinner prep before cousin Glen, cousin Kelly & wife Sam and Cheryl, Paul, Ashley, Drew and youngest daughter Adrianna arrived for dinner. We had lots of hugs – hello and goodbye - and a good dinner.

May 22nd – Sun – to Logan Lake
It poured rain last night and was cloudy this morning when we left just after 9. We parked our truck & 5th wheel in a WalMart parking lot in Westbank where Ernie & Dianne (met in Mesa) picked us up for breakfast. They are not familiar with Westbank so we drove over the bridge to Kelowna where they live and had breakfast at a De Dutch restaurant. The restaurant was very busy which was great as it gave us time to chit-chat. We were back at our truck and on our way across The Connector to Merritt at 11:20.
Cousin Pat was at a movie with daughter Morgan so Rick helped us wiggle our 5th wheel into their back driveway. Our slides are so close to the porch on one side and the fence on the other that we have to walk around to the front door rather than down the side of the rig to the back door. After Rick had a sandwich for lunch, we all went for a walk. No matter the route, you always have to come back uphill to the house so we all took a little rest to look over the town on the way back.
After drinks and a good dinner (thanks in part to Rick!) we settled down to a serious game of Hand & Foot Canasta. The guys won and I thought their luck and the women’s bad luck could not possibly last so suggested another game. You would think I would know from casinos that bad luck does last so the lack of wild cards for Pat & I meant the guys won again. Oh well, we are here for a couple more days so a rematch is possible.

May 17th to 19th - Spokane

May 17th – Tues – Spokane
The rain did not materialize today so we didn’t get any more pictures scanned. We made a trip to Costco to pick up some new contacts and have a hot dog, picked up the mail and got Terry’s new driver’s license, got a new trial contact from Shopko and dropped off our bikes to get them tuned up.
We went to Skip & Kathy’s (Terry’s brother) for dinner. We always have a good time and a good dinner with them and today was no exception. We also got to see our nephews Shane & Nick for a short time. Terry had a little bit too much fun so I got to drive home.

May 18th – Wed – Spokane
I baked muffins this morning while Terry played games on the computer. Then he went to see his brother Gary at White’s Boots and took him to lunch. I defrosted the freezers, talked for quite a while to Julie and watched TV.
When Terry got back, we went to WalMart and then picked up our bikes which we checked out with a little ride around the parking lot when we returned. It was $152 well spent. Bill & Georgia let us know that they would be later for dinner than we expected so we had time to go to the Elk’s Lodge for a drink. Except that the first time you go in for a drink, the second drink is free so of course we had 2 drinks.
Bill & Georgia came over just after 5 for dinner. I thought we would play cards but we seemed to have a lot to talk about so never got around to cards. We sent a box of booze home with them to store for us as we have too much to take into Canada.

May 19th – Thurs – Spokane
We had to get color ink for our printer this morning and then took more booze and some vegetables to Bill & Georgia. Claude told us that they had to give up all their vegetables at the border so I would prefer to give them to Georgia. We made a quick stop at Fred Meyer on the way back.
Larry & Julie (met in Mesa, live here) came over for lunch. We helped them buy a park model earlier this year when we returned to Mesa for a week. Lunch & drinks lasted until after 5. Mary stopped by to pick up a jacket that she left when they came for dinner on Saturday.
I had kept a few beers for lunch but we didn’t drink them so Terry took them to a small group that was having a pot luck dinner at a covered shelter near our rig and chatted with them for a bit.
Because of our late lunch, we had a very light dinner and relaxed with TV.

May 13th to 16th - Spokane

May 13th – Fri – back to Spokane
We packed up, dumped our tanks at the dump station, headed back to Spokane and stopped again at the 50,000 Silver $ bar for a good breakfast. We are staying at the Elks club just north of I90 & Pines. It is on a hill with quite a nice view of the city and is $95 for a week.
After we set up, we ran a couple of errands which included a grocery store as we invited friends Mike & Mary to come for dinner tomorrow. We also got an email from Neil & Robin (met in Mesa) which said they would going through Spokane on Sunday or Monday so I called to say we would be here and would love to see them. They said they should arrive late tomorrow.
The weather is lovely with a storm coming in so we put baby backs on the BBQ for dinner. Then Terry was antsy so we went to Northern Quest casino. We had been there quite a while when we ran into Mary. Anyone who knows the size of the casino knows that it is quite a coincidence to see someone there by accident.

May 14th – Sat – Spokane
I watched some cooking shows on TV this morning while Terry played games on the computer. I did some dinner prep before we found a laundromat and washed a couple of loads. I was on the phone a couple of times with Robin. They were making good time and were going to be here about 6:30 so Terry went to a grocery store for some more pork chops so they could join us for dinner.
Mike & Mary arrived right on time at 4. We showed off our home and had drinks and snacks before Neil & Robin got here at 6:30. We all enjoyed each other’s company and dinner. Mike & Mary had to leave fairly early so we played Wizard with Neil & Robin. On one of our phone calls, I had asked Robin if they would like to stay overnight with us and they said yes so we all finally went to bed about 12:30.

May 15th – Sun – Spokane
We got up fairly early and enjoyed a cup of coffee before all going to Shari’s for a good breakfast. When we got back, we taught Neil & Robin how to play Sequence – and Robin & I showed the guys how the girls win 3 out of 4 games! Neil & Robin left about 11.
It was very windy all last night and remained windy but fairly warm today. With rain in the forecast, we headed for the CDA Casino where it took us several hours to lose our allowance. We had to run through a heavy rain back to the truck.
We spent the rest of the afternoon & evening listening to the rain, watching TV and working/playing on the computer.

May 16th – Mon – Spokane
The word for the day is RAIN. I goofed off & watched TV while Terry played games on the computer this morning. In the late morning, we decided to actually do something and resumed our job of scanning pictures from our albums into the computer. We took a break for lunch and then worked all afternoon to finally finish one album – 567 pictures. It feels good to get that much done. We have 1 ½ albums left to go so if the rain continues as forecast, we may actually finish in the next couple of days.