Sunday 11th April 2010…a great day!!

I was treated to a heartyy breakfast of home made waffles, fresh strawberries and whipped cream, any comments about my new hair cut and you get the week’s blog ban!!!

We then packed up a lunch and set off for this place..

It is worth a Google visit to read all about this very interesting place…

It really was a spectacular sight especially when you go down and stand below the bridge.

We walked a lovely trail along the river

 

An interesting log….Sara’s choice Braille on a log.

I really like the above photo…

It was a lovely walk and we enjoyed seeing the amazing work on the bridge.  We came back to the car and then drove a few miles to

another beautiful park with a suspension bridge…

We stopped here and had lunch

this is a very pretty area and so close to Sara’s home!!

The next event of the day was to the local park for a knock around at tennis which we both enjoyed although lacking match practice but I think we should be ready for when we go to Wimbledon in June.

Another feast on meatloaf and there you have it another day done…..hope your day was as good!!!!

Saturday 10th April 2010…. a day of rest!!!!!

Saturday mornings…the time the time to sleep in relax and enjoy the sunny day..well we did that for the first part of the day…went to the local farmers market in Duncan.

 

We then went out of town a little ways to another market and got some great deals on fruits and vegetables.

Came home and got our walking shoes on and walked for one hour through the neighbourhood and into the fields, it was cool when we started out but soon we warmed up.

About 4pm the fun began I offered to cut the grass for the first time since last fall.  I did this because I had seen the state of Sara’s lawn mower, there was a cable not attached and I had tried to start it and not even a whimper thinking no way it would  start.  NEVER underestimate the power of the female!!!!!!  Here came Miss Fix it, tied the loose cable with dental floss and with a sway of her hips, pulled the starter cord three times and the mower started!!!!!

So now I had no choice!!!

Front and back yards were almost completed when Sara, bless her, decided that the air quality needed improving so she started to burn her dried pampas grass bush!!!!

This next photo makes me feel just a tad guilty because here is my girl in the kitchen cooking meatballs, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, carrots and turnips……I actually won a game of Backgammon and this is my prize!!!!!

Supper was really nice thank you!!!!

The evening saw us watching a good movie…..so ends yet another great day!!!

Friday 9th April 2010…sunny again

Did a repeat of yesterday morning taking Sara to the hospital then coming back to the hotel and checked out.  The gentleman that has filed my taxes the last few years lives in Comox so I took all my papers to him and he e filed my taxes, so I am all done there and expect to get 38 dollars back!!!!

I then took another route and walk and again very pretty …

I then picked up Sara at the hospital and we came back to Duncan.

So as the week closes in I get a chance to reflect back on my winter and obviously having Sara in my life and travels has made a huge difference and she has been a wonderful friend and we have travelled very well together and I want to say thank you to her.  We have a great summer planned and it should be a journey all of it’s own.

I drove close 14000km and apart from the last trouble in Vegas Ramona was again incredible.  Almost 45000 miles in three years, over 450 nights of sleep and I have enjoyed every minute.

Bonita, my scooter, was a huge asset this year and I put 2500km on her and used her almost every day in SMA.  I have now mastered taking her on and off the back of Ramona and can do it either way in 5 minutes.

I loved the inter actions with Paola and Daniela and all the other girls at Casa Hogar and glad I  was able to help out in a small way with driving the girls to school.  They are a huge part of my life and I get so much out of spending time around them.

All my great friends and special mention to Linda and Guy for letting me stay at their Casa again.  Barb and Frank are always so nice to me except when we play Mexican Train!!!  Norma and Croft again treat me so well…Gail and Larry we had a fabulous time in Rincon…..the new friends I met and hope to meet again, you are all so great,  thanks.

My family on the Bank have been and continue to be so awesome and a huge part of my life and the way they open their home to me is so special, thanks!!!

You hear so many horror stories of travelling in Mexico and I admit the border towns are bad and also some problems further south, I don’t hide my head in the sand but I have never felt unsafe and again remind everyone my scooter was attempted to be stolen in Vegas, not the 5 months I was in Mexico!!!

The local people I met, their kindness and sharing continues to amaze me…..I had such a great winter….. gone 145 days, one morning of feeling blue and sorry for myself and no days of sickness…

I have so much to be thankful for and I am….again thanks for stopping by and reading these musings, thanks for the comments and words of encouragement….

Have a great weekend….Les

Thursday 8th April 2010….a sunny day!!

The sun was shining when I dropped Sara off at the Hospital for her class.  I came back to the hotel and messed around with paperwork, computer work and of course breakfast.  This is the pool at the hotel..

The location is right on the…

so I walked from the hotel to down town and then back out to the airport these are some of the scenes along the way…

I picked Sara up at 3.30pm and we had a walk, relaxed and then I thought she would need some down time so I had surprised her with tickets for a musical comedy at the local theatre tonight.

The Old house Restaurant is attached to this hotel and I have eaten there before and the food is excellent but unfortunately it is closed for renovations so I got some take out food so Sara can eat and study and then go to the play.

The show was quite good and we enjoyed ourselves, time to relax and some people should not be allowed to operate a camera!!!!!

‘

What more can I say?????

Wednesday 7th April 2010….Comox Valley

I spent the day with my family on the bank in Nanaimo and stayed the night, this is the view from my bedroom window…

It was nice to connect with everyone again and see how much the boys have grown.  I also went to visit my friend Ken, Kirby’s Father, and he is doing quite well, he has lost some weight and slowed down a little but we had a good visit.

This afternoon Sara came and picked me up and we drove the 35 miles up Island to Comox where Sara has a two day course.

We are staying in this very swanky hotel for two days..

 

so whilst Sara is in class I shall wonder around and see what trouble I can get into.  I must comment that the weather is not great, rained most of the day and cool, my tan is fading….

Will write tomorrow about how it feels to be back…..

Monday 5th April 2010…..Island home!!!!

Sara and I had a great day yesterday at her Sister’s house, I met more of the family and I think I scored a b minus in the family check him out test!!!!!!!

We had a wonderful meal and played games in the evening just a great way for us to celebrate Easter and our first night back.

This morning we left around 11am and I went to a truck wash and got all the salt and grime off Ramona and headed out for the ferry terminal.  My incredible luck at the terminal still prevailed and after we paid for our ticket we drove straight onto the 12 noon ferry and were at Sara’s house by 2.30pm.

 

So we are finally back home..Sara’s house is in Duncan about a 40 minute drive from Nanaimo, so really close.  I am going back to my lovely family on the Bank tomorrow morning and connect with Heather, Kirby, Ken and the boys and then on Wednesday Sara is picking me up and we are going to Comox for three days as she has a course there.

It feels great to be home the winter was awesome, Sara was a great travelling partner, I loved getting to know my girls and spending lots of time with them and all the friends we met along the way.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my ramblings I will keep writing so stay close…wish you all safe and happy days.

The top pin is the location of Comox.

Sunday 4th April 2010…144 days later….HOME!!!

It is now Sunday afternoon and we have just had a lovely brunch at Sara’s Sisters home in Vancouver…..

It was a bit of a long trip Ramona was not ready till 5pm Friday evening and we got on the road right away and drove 6 hours until a blinding snowstorm stopped the journey.  There was a Flying J truck stop where we pulled into and slept and woke up to

these conditions.  I started driving again 7am Saturday morning and after about 1 hour the conditions improved and this was the type of road we were on..

straight and no traffic.  Made good time and eventually after passing through Nevada and into Idaho we hit the Interstate highways.

We stopped for breaks and walks and I drove till 11pm Saturday night when we arrived at the Wal-Mart in Marysville, Washington about one hours drive from the USA and Canada border.

I felt tired but Ok and we had a great sleep, woke up to a sunny bright morning and arrived at the border this morning at 11am.

There was no line up and I was not even upset when the first word the stern lady Customs Officer said to me was “Bonjour”!!!!!!

A few questions and we were home…

We are now staying here till tomorrow when we shall head back to the Island.

An incredible winter that I shall write more about in the days to come….for now we are safe, Ramona gave me no trouble on the way home and we are with family and friends.

Happy Easter to everyone, blessings ….

Thursday 1st April 2010…delayed again!!

Last night we went to another incredible show….

The theatre was huge and sold out Sara and I had to sit in separate seats for the first half

but we managed to sit together for the second half.  The cast was superb and the sets and costumes wild, another great show!!

We had to check out of the hotel at 11am this morning, so we put a few of our belongings into a storage room and went to the Rio hotel for buffet brunch.  I have never seen such a large selection of food there was everything from Sushi, Mexican, Asian and my personal favourite mashed potatoes and roast pork and ham!!!

We came back to the Tuscany at 4pm and called the repair shop when I was told the bad news that Ramona would not be ready today.

No point in getting upset I just went and booked a room again and we got the same room

for the third time!!!

I went on the scooter to get some more supplies and clothes from Ramona, she looks so sad!!!!!!

 

We both didn’t feel like going down to the strip again so we rented a movie and got some food and will spend a quiet evening in the room.

Ramona should be ready by 11am tomorrow so we hope to be on the road then.  I will still try and keep the dinner date for Sunday afternoon at Sara’s sister, will see how it goes!!!!

This will be the last post for the weekend so I want to wish you all a very happy and safe and loving Easter!!!!