December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas from our home to yours 

Wishing you all a very Blessed Christmas, filled with family and friends, love and laughter.

Brunch this morning with friends at the home of Jerry and Michelle in Desert Oasis RV Park. 

(l to r: Tony, Maureen, Jerry, Michelle, Ray, Marg, Myself, Michel)

November 30, 2019

We spent the last two days of November in Anza Borrego State Park. With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the Colorado Desert. 




The top thing to do in this park is hike, but we weren't there long enough to experience very much. Michel did walk to the top of what is known as Ghost Mountain. 3,215 ft above sea level sits the remnants of an abandoned homestead built in the 30's and 40's by author Marshall South. Here he and his wife raised 3 children. He described the hilltop as the "Roof of the World". Not much remains up there, but it is easy to see that life wasn't easy for him or his family.



Desert Palm trees and rocks everywhere on the flats. 











Into Borrego Springs for dinner and an up close look at the sculptors that are scattered everywhere in the desert in the area surrounding Borrego Springs.
The creator of this whimsical collection, spread out on three square miles of non-contiguous desert land surrounding Borrego Springs, is Ricardo Breceda, a gifted artist who ten years ago never knew that one day he would have the talent and skill to build these remarkable sculptures.

Read more: https://www.desertusa.com/borrego/Borrego-metal-sculptures.html#ixzz67BVC8000

November 29, 2019.

November 16th we moved on to Yuma. Had business to take care of in Los Algodonas, Mexico. Dental and Medical.  We spent a couple of days in the parking lot at the Q Casino and went back and forth for appointments and tacos, but moved to the VFW and the BLM land for 10 days or so. We landed there on a Wednesday and lucked into their weekly Meat Draw. Low and behold, I won the first draw. This was my take. They were pretty darn good .... as good as they look that is for sure!!









We did not really know about this VFW until we met this couple (Dan and Wanda) from Merritt, BC in Quartsite. A very nice couple who travel with their big motorhome down to Mazatlan every year. We had some good laughs and a few drinks and a good time!!






Bands play at the VFW 4 days a week, so we had our happy hour there just about every day. We even got in on a dance lesson - the Country Cha Cha - more like the Country Ha Ha - - we never did even come close to learning it!

They put on a wonderful Turkey dinner for Thanksgiving (pot luck) so all we had to do was bring a dish.




Michel went for a long hike up Telegraph Hill and my cousin Lou and Grace drove over to spend some time with us. We were quite busy!










We met two couples at the Meat Draw who took us out to see Fortuna Pond, just north of Yuma. We didn't know this place existed. More free camping...rigs camped right close to the water. Lovely place, quiet and secluded, if that is what you want.








Another place they took us to was Mittry Lake. Who knew there was so much water in Arizona?? Free camping here as well. Both these places are accessed by very well kept dirt roads. So if you are looking for a nice little oasis in the middle of the desert, well... this could be it!

Just another beautiful Desert Sunset!!

November 16, 2019

We left for southern climates on October 30th, a little later than usual, but nonetheless we headed out in sunshine and experienced beautiful weather the entire drive down. We met up with Rich and Tina in Laughlin for a few days and then they carried on. We stayed on for a week. I had some luck playing Bingo, winning a total of $400 for the week. 

By the 12th of the month we packed up for the next short leg of our journey. Met up again with Rich and Tina, as well as Deb and Wayne in Quartsite. We had lunch at Silly Al's Pizza the first night, could hardly wait to get there... it's the best pizza ANYWHERE!

We also tried out the Yatcht Club for dinner. Good food there too! It is funny to see a Yatcht Club in the middle of the desert~

We dry camped for a couple of nights, then moved into an RV Park in town. Crazy place.... at the Pitstop (the place to dump and fill) they wanted $15.00 to do that, but the RV park directly across the street was offering 3 nights (maximum) for $15.99/night. Helloooo..... a no brainer. We spent one more night in Quartsite. 

September 02, 2019

(L to R: Suzanne, Michel, Lise)

After the wedding fun we stopped at Calgary for the night and spent the evening and night at Suzanne's (Michel's sister). His youngest sister Lise and her husband Pat also came over. We had a wonderful dinner and visit. 

August 31, 2019

August 29, 2019
Spa Day for the Girls!!

Tammy treated all of us girls to a spa day.
We all got our fingernails and our toenails painted. It was a very fun way to spend the morning, complete with mamosas and snackies!!

The little girls getting their toes done!

Melody's turn to get her nails painted

Violet giggling while she's getting her feet massaged!

Gerri Ann was Tammy's Matron of Honor

Heather, Tammy's bridesmaid, is Rob's sister, and Tammy and Heather spent a lot of time together growing up. 

August 31, 2019

Melody

This is the day my daughter Tammy got married to her best friend Rob Coates.

She shares this anniversary with her grandmother (my mother), who is no longer with us, born on this day in 1921. 


We all got our hair done on the morning of the wedding. 

Violet

Tammy

Then is was on to the wedding venue, where the girls got dressed and had make up applied. 

The Bridesmaids!
(l to r) Gerri Ann, Melody, Heather
and Violet

The inside Wedding Venue

Although the weather was a bit uncooperative, it was a wonderful day filled with friends and family, and lots and lots of love, laughter and tears.... oh yes, don't forget the tears!!  

My beautiful little granddaughters (my son's girls)
Melody (12) and  Violet (4) served as Junior Bridesmaid and Flower Girl.  

My beautiful daughter, the bride as she is escorted down the aisle by her son (my grandson) Tristan (22) It was a proud moment!  😂😂

The bride.... Tammy (gorgeous!!)

The Bride and Groom
Mr and Mrs Coates

The head table.... (L-R)
Heather Coates, Gerri Ann Murphy, Tammy and Rob, Ken Quinny, Al Wearden

First Dance as Mr and Mrs Coates

Tristan, dancing with his momma!
💝💝

My two little girls..... so cute!!

Tammy and friends
Jo is on the left and Gerri Ann on the right.
Jo was Tammy's wedding planner, hairdresser, as well as very good friend!

Farren (my son) and his two girls.
💖💖

August 25, 2019

On our way to Alberta for my daughters wedding.....😍😂💗

Stopped for a two night-stay at Dennis and Nolas (our good friends' home in Spillimacheen) along the way.

We are always thankful for their hospitality. This is a picture from their sun deck overlooking the Columbia River. 

 
Nola is a partner in the newly opened (a couple of years ago now) Spilli Cafe.
This is where she and Nancy put in their time. It is a great cafe, always busy, so that must mean that the food is great. 








We haven't had the pleasure of eating there because Nola always cooks for us at her home. This is a picture of the outside of the cafe. 

And this is Nola, the chief cook and bottle washer!!

We took a little trip into Golden this time, toured the little city and had lunch. I haven't been to Golden in many, many moons!!



Thank you again for your hospitality and a great visit!!

August 05, 2019

Thursday, August 1st we packed a suitcase and headed south to Rainier, WA to visit our good friends Rich and Tina. It goes without saying, we had a wonderful time! It was a long drive (about 10 hours) to get down there, thanks to backed up traffic on both the the Interstate 5 and the 405. The trip home only took 8. But we did arrive safe and only a bit frazzled. Nothing that a G & T with good friends didn't fix. 








Above is a picture of their house. Yes it is a tree house and they both designed and built it. Pictured left is Rich and Tina on the large deck out back that overlooks the Creek. 

She has a wonderful flair for decor; their place is warm and inviting. We stayed in their Southwind (motorhome) parked out back on their acre or so of land. They have 4 or 5 hookups, so there is lots of room if they get a lot of motorhomers come to visit. 









So this is their summer holiday home ... a 34 Foot Bayliner which they bought a year ago. We left with them Friday afternoon for the coast, as this was the plan, to spend a couple of nights on the water in their new boat. 

Captain Rich backing the boat out of their boathouse at the marina in Tacoma, WA














Here we go, under the Narrows Bridge and out to sea! 
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a pair of twin suspension bridges that span the Tacoma Narrows strait of Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington. The bridges connect the city of Tacoma with the Kitsap Peninsula.

 

We spent the first night anchored at Gig Harbor, which only took a couple of hours to get there.

Our first happy hour aboard the Forty Forty Nine.











The next morning we motored for a few hours to Poulsbo Marina where we hooked up to the pier and enjoyed the town amenities. What a lovely little community. This is where Tina was born and raised. She still has family living in the area.  This picture to the right  is of the restaurant and bar (there are actually three of them in there) right on the malecon. 








The town is very touristy now with shops and art galleries that line the streets and we spent a good part of the day wandering in and out  and around. 

Even found an excellent Mexican Restaurant for dinner down an alley and out of the way.  









This photo to the left is the marina. You can't see Rich and Tina's boat from this angle, they are over more to the left....









Sunday late morning we motored out and began our journey back. We stopped along the way to cast a couple of fishing lines, but we didn't catch anything. We had a really good time. But as is said, all good things must come to an end.... and we had to get back so Michel and I could begin our trip back home this morning. 

Thank you so much Rich and Tina for the fun filled weekend, and for giving us permission to "come aboard" Any time my friends, we would do this again any time!!