Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year.....

the Fall season

We have been busy yet again, mostly visiting with friends and family.  We made a trip to the interior (Merritt and Kelowna) to catch up with family and friends,  We also had our long time friends Eric and Jan spend some time with us here before they departed to start their new life in New Zealand....we're going to miss them!  We were able to do a lot of last time in Canada activities including some boating, hiking, sightseeing,

Here we are at the Kinsol Trestle -

and hiking on our favorite Island.

and of course one last trip to Victoria Inner Harbour

This is Eric & Jan with a picnic lunch at the dock on Wallace Island.....

Now back to work!  John has a new toy......so the yard work will be easier ha ha ha.

Summer Cruising aboard Puffin

Summer cruise to northern waters...well... not too far north.  We were 32 days, 475 miles aboard Puffin.  First stop was Pirates Cove, and then we traveled to Princess Louisa Inlet, Sechelt Inlet, Desolation Sound and back to  Nanaimo for a few days of fun with friends.

Stern tie at Pirates Cove

Chatter Box Falls, Princess Louisa Inlet

One of the many waterfalls in Princess Louisa Inlet

Puffin at anchor in Narrows Inlet (a long narrow inlet off of Sechelt Inlet)

John relaxing with morning coffee at Tenedos Bay in Desolation Sound

John completed the 'challenging hike' 6 miles up the mountainside out of Rosco Bay.  Here is the awesome view he was rewarded with.  Black Lake in the foreground, looking out toward Sarah Point.

The mountains surrounding Desolation Sound

Playing on the beaches at Newcastle Island, Nanaimo

Spring and Summer

We've been on a couple of boat trips this spring, a weekend at friends in Vancouver (to attend a high school reunion) and the usual at home time........

At the FOG Rendezvous!

A special day with the whole family!..........

....celebrating a year's worth of birthdays.

It is so nice......

Ah, it is so nice to be home.  Don't get me wrong, beach life is great!  But, home has some really great amenities like - running water (hot and cold, as much as you want whenever you want), counter space, cupboards with an assortment of dishes (glass and; ceramic, not plastic) clothes hanging on hanger in a closet instead of a pile in a corner or somewhere??? walking on floors without sandy grit, well, maybe a little.......you know how it is.

Of course there are chores too, mow the lawn, tend the garden, hhmm... what else?

 There must be room in a cupboard somewhere to put this all away.   I am sure all of this food and sutff ?? used to be in this kitchen!

 Sort through the stack of mail.....that shouldn't take long.

 John says - first things first!  fill the hot tub; it's still too cold here!

 

Flowers in the sunshine - yes, sunshine, it is sunny here now that we are back.  Real flowers are a little more work to tend than the sandy shell garden at the beach.

Coming Home

 Morning Coffee on the sunny shores of Topaz Lake.  This was an overnight stop just south of Reno, we didn't want to arrive in Reno in the dark, trying to find a place to stay.  This was a nice quiet (even if it was on the side of the highway) RV park. 

 Reno from a lookout on the road to Virginia City.   A bit of a change since I was there 36 + years ago.....

Virginia city - now this hasn't changed a bit, still the wooden sidewalks and tourist trinket shops.

Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe - great skiing this year, still lots of snow.  We took a quick ride up the gondola to have a look around at mid-station....skiers and boarders everywhere.  Too bad we didn't bring our skis!

   of course there is always the lunch stop. Nice little Irish Pub!  Potato Leak Soup and CURRY fries
                               yum yum...

 As we get farther north, it is getting colder, burrrr.  As you can see we are not the only ones headed north now.  RV parking at 7 Feathers Casino was full.

 Another Casino for the night - real campsites here at Northern Lights, Anacortes.  Yes, those are puddles you see, and they are very deep!  and it's still raining.   We just did two very long driving days - today was in the rain through Portland and Seattle - whew! we made it.

 

Yeah, springtime is here.

Death Valley

Two days in Death Valley was not nearly enough to see all there is to see, but again two days in the hot, dry, desert was plenty.

The most amazing scenery.

Playing around in the salt flats 282 feet below sea level, the lowest spot in the western hemisphere.

More amazing mountains, rocks, minerals.

Another day in the desert.

Not without trouble!

Well I guess I had better confess to the small trouble on the way north.  Our first day in California, awoke to low cloud and mist - we west coasters call it fog rain!  So off we go toward El Centro - all's well, the cloud is lifting and we are on dry pavement when.............thump, thump, thump, wiggle wiggle wiggle!! what the heck?? pullover to the side of the highway and guess what? Flat tire on the trailer - the only one that we hadn't replaced yet..

The traffic keeps on flying by as we change the tire!

Joshua Tree

We planned a little trip to Joshua Tree National park to take a few more pictures - to replace the ones we lost last year.  This is such a beautiful place almost magical.

So much to see!

Small Joshua Tree in foreground.

Unusual rock formations.

More old memories

I have some mouth watering images of our meals!

Some home cooking at the beach.

 These two are breakfast at Bertha's - huevos ranchero and chilliquillas

This burger was our treat after the last backroad adventure.  After a couple of months of fish and tortillas a good old burger is the best!

 Yummy Mexican plate - Wednesday night special at Bertha's.  Notice the margarita in the background!

Chips and Beer!  anywhere - everyday!

Homeward Bound

Here are a couple of reasons to be headed home!

I have used the US terms for both of the photos above.  Hopefully our dollar is close! and the metric temperature is about 36'. 

Old Stuff, seems like so long ago!

We left the beach on March 21 and it's already March 31 - wow!  Here are a couple of old items.

Pre-dinner happy hour in the orange grove.  The restaurant is Ray's in the valley behind Mulege.

This is the view from the top of the zig zag trail.  Our beach is the one at the top.

Laundry day at the beach.

 Our front yard..............

Hooded Oriole

Northern Mockingbird

My handiwork - this one is a gourd all cleaned, coloured and decorated.

basket weaving in progress.....

 

and basket weaving end result....lots of fun.

 Quite a variety of activities to keep us amused.  aahhh - the beach life.