Still waiting for Spring!

We have been home for six weeks and it's still not real spring-like here in Edmonton. When it comes, as I know it eventually will, it will be sudden and dramatic, like overnight! At least they're working on cleaning the streets and all the snow we had over the winter will be good for the grass when it comes.

Enough about the weather!

Since coming home, we have installed a new floor in the kitchen and back hall (A& J), pruned and dug over the garden, painted the exterior of the garage, repaired the damage to the door of the GMC... details to follow later (Alan) & a one week trip to Vancouver (Janet).

We unpacked Kingsley in the week after getting home but it is sitting out in the backyard looking pretty forlorn...dirty inside and out and awaiting warmer weather before we get around to making it all nice and shiny again.

I was in Van to see Michelle and her new place in Kitsilano (see picture above) and to attend my 50th reunion of the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing in Harrison Hot Springs. I had a wonderful time seeing everyone again. We were a class of fifty-one nurses at graduation. Four have died in the past 50 years, leaving 47 still around but spread out all over the continent, and there were 43 at the event! Pretty amazing don't you think? On the last day on the coast, Michelle & I visited my cousin Nell in West Van. Nell is a VGH grad too, the class of 1950. so good to see her again. That's us in the picture above.

Our daughters, Barbara & Karen, came here for the weekend to celebrate Alan's 77th birthday and Mother's Day. It has become a tradition for them and we always look forward to having their undivided attention for a couple of days. I think they enjoy the break from their busy schedules too.

Life is good with the promise of spring/summer in the wind!

Highlights of the Snowbird Adventure

Arizona Desert Sunset - Mexico Caravan - Painted Canyon in CA - Overlooking Palm Springs - Utah Winter Highway

Here is an assortment of pictures from our trip these past few months. We had a wonderful time and came away with many good memories. We are planning already for next winter!

Kingsley, Alan & Janet back in home port

Well, here we are 69 days and 4975 miles later, we are back where the adventure began! And what a time it was. Our first Snowbird experience was terrific! Only problem, not long enough!
Kingsley is sitting out at the curb in front of the house because, there is four feet of packed snow on the usual resting place out back. We will be working all weekend to clear the space. And that nice clean & shiny coach is now quite filthy because of the crappy weather we travelled thru. Alan says, "Never again will we travel with Kingsley in March". It is just no fun! Actually, it was easier traveling in January this year.
Anyway, it is comforting to be home and find the house in good shape and no catastrophes while we were away. Lots of pictures to come. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for safe travels.

Spring storms on the way back home.

We are on I-15 at Pocatello, ID in an RV park attached to the Fort Hall casino. It has been an interesting couple of days on the road. We were in Ely, NV Saturday nite, American Falls Sunday nite and now, a few miles away at Pocatella all because of spring storms. Here are some pictures that really say it all. The one with the bright blue sky was taken on the 18th and the one with the side mirror, this morning, when we woke up to a blanket of snow and howling winds. Some spring,eh?

Ready for the storm in Ely, NV.

We left our friends, Milt & Carmen, in Las Vegas at noon today and decided to take a different route from the one we took coming down. We went US 93, the route the less traveled. We are at the KOA in Ely, NV and the lady at the desk says the storm is on the way and is in Reno already! Check your maps. Tomorrow we hope to make it to Twin Falls or maybe Idaho Falls. We will keep you in the loop!

Homeward Bound

Today we are packing up and leaving the 88 Shades in Quartzite, AZ. It is time to begin the trip back to our former lives after fifty-nine days away. The weather has been near perfect…we haven’t even had the A/C on since one day in Palm Springs when we tried it out. We have been here four nights and have made many friends with the people in this park the two times we have stayed here. Also, it was good to be with the GMCers, John & Hazel from Ranier, WA; Norm & Joan Engman from Olds, AB, Carol Gray from Calgary & Bernie Bartko from Edmonton area..
Now we have to decide which places we want to return to next winter. It’s going to be tough but we do think three months would be better than two. We both have tans and I think we have shed a few pounds during the past nine weeks. All the bike riding & hiking hasn’t hurt either.
We are looking at 1700 miles of travel before we reach home so wish us luck and no mishaps on the road. Oh yes, and no winter/spring storms!!

Hiking in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, AZ

I went on a five mile hike yesterday with 35 others from the RV Park where we are staying. It was really great and we all had fun. It was good to get out there and get some serious exercise.