Saturday 11th July 2009…as they say in good ole Blighty..a “smashing day”

Up at 7.30am and it was sunny and hot already and I went for a long walk.  Came across a garage sale and what luck,  I was in the market to buy a small air compressor for the air bags in Ramona and had priced one out at a local store yesterday for 21 dollars.  At the garage sale found one much better with a light and a hazard light, in the box, brand new for FIVE DOLLARS!!!

Came back to the usual welcoming committee…Kirby almost touched this one… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo is for the ladies in my fan club!!!!!!

In the afternoon took Eileen and Irene to a British festival, lots of items and booths from the old country including this London taxi.

When I lived those 10 years in Bermuda I was lucky enough to the owner of this kind of car mine was yellow.

After watching Alex play baseball came home to find these two photographs waiting for me…

Paola

 

 

 

 

 

                          Daniela…

I regularly send the girls post cards so I am happy to see that they arrive and that they enjoy them, they are both getting taller.

Hope you had a great day and a good one tomorrow….

Friday 10th July 2009…..a hot sunny day

This was sent to me by my friend Robin in San Miguel de Allende,  Mexico.  It was taken at Santa Julia where my girls Paola and Daniela live.

Paola is seated in the bottom left hand corner and I think that is Daniela in the middle with a drink in her hand.

Great sunny hot day and the same for the weekend…..have a great safe time.

Thursday 9th July 2009…these photos were all taken with in 5 minutes walk of where I am staying!!!!

Hope you enjoy….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you look really close at the above photo and notice how long the eye lashes are I never knew that they were that long!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a bad town to live in is it????

Tuesday 6th July 2009…new addition

The last few weeks I have been internet and store browsing looking for the perfect scooter for the back of Ramona and I have think I have found the right one.

It is a Yamaha BW 50cc scooter it is equipped with everything I need and the tires are bigger,  better for those cobbled streets of Mexico.

Will probably make the purchase next week.  I have a ramp hitch ordered through the States which has a ramp to wheel up the scooter.  That I hopefully can pick up on my next trip south in August.

So things are coming together I did promise myself that I would get the ramp, scooter and solar panel this summer.

Raining cats and dogs today but people tell me we need the water….OK I suppose so, have a great evening….Les

Monday 6th July 2009…the rain came back

It is impossible to walk or drive through this neighbourhood where I am staying without seeing

everywhere.

These are my buddies that I am taking care of

they are very active and a lot of fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So ends another day hope it was a good one for you….

Sunday 5th July 2009….Happy Birthday RAMONA!!!!

It is two years ago since I made the trip down to the States and came back with Ramona!!!!!

31000 miles and over 365 days of staying with her later,  I am so happy to say they have been two great years.  She never let me down once and apart from my condo the best purchase I ever made.

Happy birthday to a great girl!!!!!

Saturday 4th July 2009….Happy Independence Day

 

Best wishes to all my American friends…have a wonderful happy and safe day!!

Thursday 2nd July 2009…a slow day

Have been taking things easy the last couple of days and I feel better today and recuperated from my busy weekend.

These colourful flags are prominent throughout the city.

When I left this morning to do some errands these following photos were all taken within 500 yards of the house!!!!  Croft shall I send them to you in Campbell River !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight`s sunset from the back deck!!!!

Have a great evening…..

Wednesday 1st July 2009…HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!!!!!!

 

Have a great day and enjoy it all….

Tuesday 30th June 2009…last day of June!!

I have spent the last day and a half taking it easy and recuperating from my hectic weekend soccer schedule and still fuming over that horrid female driver and how close to destruction I came.  It just reaffirms my believe in doing things now and how quickly your life can change.

Spent a lot of time on the deck at the house looking at this peaceful and beautiful vista. 

My friend Larry sent me this Mexican joke and those of you knowing the Mexican culture hopefully will enjoy this.

Alice and Frank were Bungee jumping one day.
Alice says to Frank, 'You know we could make a lot of money running our
own Bungee-jumping business in Mexico .
Frank thinks this is a great idea, so they pool their money and
buy everything they need: a tower, an elastic cord, insurance, etc.
They  travel to Mexico and begin to set up on the square. As they are
constructing the tower, a crowd begins to assemble. Slowly,
more and more people gather to watch them at work. When they had
finished, there was such a crowd, they  thought it would be a good idea to
give a demonstration, so Alice jumps.  She bounces at the end of the cord,
but when she comes back up, Frank  notices  that she has a few cuts and
scratches. Unfortunately, Frank isn't able  to  catch her and she falls
again, bounces, and comes back up again. This time, she is bruised and
bleeding. Again, Frank misses her. Alice falls  again and bounces back up.
This time, she comes back pretty messed  up -- she's got a couple of broken
bones and is almost unconscious.
Luckily, Frank finally catches her this time and says,  'What  happened?
Was the cord too long?'
Barely able to speak, Alice gasps,  'No, the Bungee cord was fine ... it was
the crowd!  What the heck is a PINATA??????

Have a great evening…..

Monday 29th June 2009….home again

I am back with my “Family” on the bank in Nanaimo.  Heather and Kirby and the boys leave today for 8 days in their motor home and I wish them a safe and happy trip and the boys good luck in their soccer provincials in Nelson, B.C.

When I posted last I was staying in the Wal-Mart in Yakima and I had yet again another good sleep and although still stuffed up a little, felt pretty good.

My first game started at 1pm Friday afternoon and Ramona was parked at right by the soccer fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had 5 games Friday with my last game finishing at 8.45pm.

I knew it was going to be a busy weekend and it sure turned out that way.  After the game it was back to Ramona a hot shower, supper and almost time for bed because my first game Saturday was at 7.30am, yes you read it right 7.30am!!!!!

I had 7 games Saturday with my last one again finishing at 8.45pm, THAT WAS A LONG DAY!!!!!!

Guess what time my first game was Sunday morning??

Yes ……7.30am AGAIN!!!!!!   Sunday it was 5 games and at 5pm Sunday afternoon I was all finished and started on the journey home.

I know that is a lot of games but I am very happy to brag that even though I was not feeling 100% I did all my games and did a decent job I think and it was hot too…in the 90’s.  So pretty proud that my body stood up to the physical pounding.

I have been coming here to this tournament for 8 years and I know all the local referees and they treat me very well and I really enjoyed myself.

This sunset photo was taken on the way home.

I want to thank Vanessa’s Mum who gave me these Rosary beads about 20 years ago promising me a safe journey always.

Also Karen and Heather who gave me these Angels, to keep me safe on the road.

I have all of these Angels in Ramona and the next story is not melodramatic although it still seems so unbelievable.

About 20 miles from the Canadian border on Interstate 5 at 9pm and it is a lovely sunny evening and I am travelling on the inside lane with my cruise control set at 55 m.p.h. and all is well when the most incredible event occurred.  I have been driving 45 years and this is the very closest I have ever come to be involved in a serious accident. 

I was being passed by lots of cars and one car passed me and very stupidly after passing me the driver pulled into the lane in front of me and I can only imagine that the driver pulled in too sharp because the car immediately fishtailed and spun 360 degrees.  How on earth it did not flip I have no idea.  I immediately braked sharply sending everything flying forward in Ramona.  The car then in a could of braking smoke did another 360 turn and came at me sideward's.  I was able to slow and drove onto the shoulder and avoided the rear end by inches.  A quick look in my mirrors told me that the vehicles behind had seen what happened and they all stopped safely.

This next part made me so angry and I am still fuming.  The car that caused this almost incredible destruction came to rest about 40 feet behind me facing the wrong way on the opposite shoulder.  I saw in my mirror that the car turned around  so I start to move forward and the car, I know saw was driven by a young lady with three females in the passenger seats then flew past me again.  I could not believe it.  I leaned on the horn and the girls in the back seat turned round laughed and gave me the finger!!!!!!!!' 

They turned off about 500 yards later at the next exit.  They have no idea how close they came to serious injury and the cause of a multi vehicle pile up.

I was quite amazed at my calmness, I just braked like mad but controlled Ramona and she performed like the lady she is. 

I do not know who to thank but I do believe that there was some “Angel” riding along with me because this is the very closest I have ever come to disaster.

My Nexus card proved invaluable again at the Border CrossingAll the cars on the left were lined up over a mile back and my Nexus Lane to the right, empty…I was through without any problems.

My incredible run of the luck at the BC Ferry Terminals continues.  I knew I was pushing it to make the 10.45pm ferry but I arrived at the Terminal at 10.25pm and did not even turn the engine off drove straight onto the ferry.

So ends my latest journey and take away the near miss, it was a great week……blessings to all.

Thursday 25th June 2009…..an easy day

I have been fighting a bit of a cold but feel like I am winning the battle and should be fine for my games this weekend.

Had a great sleep last night and this morning drove through the mountains first in fog

then in sunshine.

I arrived around noon at this quaint town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The town reminds me of an Austrian village and the buildings are very lovely.

There is a hiking trail that runs along the river and I spent a very pleasant hour on the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I then left the mountains and trees and passed through many orchards and then onto the Yakima Canyon.

A very beautiful drive

I wanted to spend the night along this road but only found one spot and it was just too close to the highway so I drove into Yakima and I am now settled in the parking lot at Wal-Mart.  The store is open 24 hours and it is a huge store.  There are about 6 other motor homes parked for the night….so time for that tea and movie…

This will be my last post till I get back home on Monday as I shall be parked at the soccer field all weekend and will not have Internet access.

So I wish you a safe and happy weekend……Pura Vida!!