Touchwood Lake

I had snuck away for a day to Touchwood in late August, and I convinced Wendy to head up for a day of Pike fishing on Sept 16.  I wanted to get started a little earlier and proposed we leave by 6:30 AM but she overruled me and we were on the road by 2:45 AM.  There`s a story behind that, but I`m not going to be the one to tell it.  Anyway, the fishing wasn`t as good as August but we still managed to bring a few to the boat and had a great day.

Open Creek Dam

We managed to sneak out for another camping weekend (week, actually) with Red and Diane to Open Creek Dam (52.65450 -114.70686).  We arrived the day after a major hailstorm (see the ground in the first pic) and the weather never really warmed up all week.  Nevertheless, we had a good visit and of course managed to get in a little fishin`.

Castlegar and back to Alberta

We stopped off at the Kootenay River RV Kampground (49.31492 -117.63522) for a few days.  This place has become one of our favourite campgrounds since we stopped here for a week last summer.  While in Castlegar we stopped by to see our friend Bev as well as Susan and Ken.

While in Castlegar I also got some education on diesel pushers, including learning the hard way how to best change a fuel filter.  Don`t believe everything you read on the internet or in the engine manual.  Nuff said.

From Castlegar we stopped for a night at Yahk Provincial Park (49.08136 -116.09567) and for another one at Parson (51.02716 -116.54302) before crossing back over to Alberta and back to Kathy`s driveway.  All in all a pretty good shakedown trip for the new motorhome and a good start for me in getting used to the differences between a gas coach and a diesel pusher.  I`m a lot easier on the brakes now that I have the Jake figured, and I sure as heck know how to change a fuel filter.  I also learned that I can fit the Tuscany into a lot fewer sites in provincial campgrounds than I could squeeze the Bounder into.

Homeward bound, via the Okanagan

We decided to take the longer route home, via the Okanagan Valley.  Weather forecast was a little warmer this way, plus it's fruit season so we can pig out along the way.  From Fraser Lake we spent a night at Lac la Hache (51.85845 -121.63779), then at the Superstore in Vernon (50.28545 -119.27036) and the Legion in Okanagan Falls (49.34122 -119.57271).

Highly recommend the Vernon Superstore if you`re passing through: easy access, fuel on site as well as a dump station and potable water (ask at the gas bar).  The OK Falls Legion was a good find as well, dry camping for the price of a donation.

Vernon Superstore

OK Falls Legion

Fraser Lake

The usual story at Fraser Lake: stayed at 24, visited with mom, Kathy, and Jack, Justin was there for a few days, Chris, Kelly, and Chase came out a couple weekends.  Campfires, food, a little work around the house, a little fishin'.  Made a weekend side trip to Dragon Lake at Quesnel (52.95633 -122.41939) with the bunch and got to witness a raven suicide.

Since the electric was once again acting up I finally broke down and picked up a 6 HP Merc outboard at Prince George on the way here.  BIG difference in moving the boat on the bigger water; it's nice to be able to move faster than walking speed again!

Just a couple of the nice little Rainbows at Fraser Lake.  

We discovered that flies are almost as effective as gang trolls and worms, and a lot more fun.  

Chetwynd

Had a good few days visiting with Karen, Tom and TJ at Chetwynd.  This time we decided to camp out towards Tumbler Ridge, at Gwillim Lake Provincial Park (55.35994 -121.35555).  Horrible weather, with almost constant rain and hordes of mosquitos in the brief dry spells, but what can one do?  We still found some time to visit and play tourist in Chetwynd and out at Kinuseo Falls.

More carving pictures on my blog from a couple years back, or check the Chetwynd web page.  We've not yet made it to the actual festival (2nd weekend in June) but that's on the list for one year.

Grande Cache

Started on our summer loop, which will be Chetwynd / Fraser Lake and home.  First night in the Grande Cache Municipal Campground (53.89554 -119.09977).  Spent a day touring the area as we'd never done so before.

Big Knife Provincial Park

Along with Kathy, we spent the weekend camping with Red and Diane at Big Knife (52.49249 -112.22018).  Didn't get out on the lake as my electric motor was acting up, but frequented the trout pond just north and got Red to try out fly fishing.  I think he's hooked!  Met a fellow named Richard who's an astronomer and fly fisherman and were amazed by his fishing strategy.

BTW, our home base when we're not somewhere else is still Kathy's acreage near Ardrossan.  We've taken over a patch of driveway and are keeping busy with chores and deconstruction.  I've even managed to get some help with some of it.

Adieu, Bounder, et Merci. Bienvenue Tuscany

After 9 years and over 45,000 miles of mostly faithful service and many many many great memories, the time came to move on from the old Bounder and upgrade to something that's going to be our home for the next ___ years.  I don't know what number to put there, as who knows what the future will bring?

We had looked around in the states and found a few possible units, but shied away from them all because of the terrible (~30%) exchange premium to $US.  On a rainy day in May we popped down to Red Deer and happened across 'the one' at Woody's.  Pretty good shape, and comparable price to the US units (considering exchange), so there it was.

The new home is a 2007 Damon Tuscany 4072, with just under 42,000 miles on the odometer and 290 hours on the genny.  If you want to see pictures of the inside, Google it or email Wendy. Here's the floorplan though to give you an idea of the layout:

We wasted no time getting the new unit Bella-approved... 

we took her with us to pick it up!  

Palm Springs, Wickenburg, and Free at Last!

We got out fishing a couple times now that I was cleared to load & unload the boat, but those crafty bass still had us bamboozled.  Final score on fishing this trip was about 12 - 0 in favour of the fish.  We`ll get them figured out next trip though!

Some days it was just too warm to fish.  For Canadians anyway.  On one of those we took a spin out to Palm Springs for a distraction, saw a few roadside attractions and had a nice date shake in the date capital of the USA.

We decided to move to North Phoenix prior to my March 29th appointment, in the hopes that I`d get clearance to go home and we`d head north from there.  Tentative plan was to take a week or so to drift home at a leisurely pace via Reno and eastern Oregon & Washington.  About a week before we decided to check out the Wickenburg area as we`d seen plenty of southwestern Arizona this trip already.  $8 a nite to dry camp at Constellation Park (33.98031, -112.71360) by the rodeo grounds, not bad but there are also some good free camping spots along the Vulture Mine Road that we might take advantage of... next time. 

Of course we had to do the famous town walking tour... 

...and enjoy the flowering cacti both in town and in the surrounding desert.  TIP: If you`re goinng to walk into the desert to take pictures, either wear really good boots or watch verrry closely where you step.  Flip flops NOT recommended.  

As hoped, on March 29th I got the go-ahead to drive home.  Bubble was about 10% and should disappear soon.  My files are being sent to me and I should get a final check by an eye doctor in Canada in a few weeks.  I do love Arizona, but it`s definitely time to move.  

Unfortunately when I called to get another week on the travel medical insurance (expiring March 31), the company declined as I had seen a doctor during the coverage period (even though the eye problem occurred during the first 40 days and so was 100% covered by PSHCP).  That clause IS in the policy, so can`t really fault them.  Anyway, being the conservative Canadians we are we decided to save the leisure for another trip and get back across the Canada border tout de suite.  

Didn`t take long to get out of the heat: This is Flagstaff area.  Those white specs aren`t spots on the windshield.  

We travelled up the east side to the Grand Canyon, through Page and then up Highway 89 in Utah before rejoining I15 around Provo.  We`d touched parts of those roads before but not the whole route.  We`ll take the route again sometime though when we can enjoy some of the attractions.  

If you`re keeping track (or if I want to check back someday), overnight stops were:

March 30, shooting range North of Kanab UT  37.10144, -112.54859

March 31, rest area north og Blackfoot ID  43.30260, -112.26991

April 1, our usual rest area stop north of Great Falls MT  47.92519, -111.73043

April 2, across from Bass Pro north of Calgary AB  51.19925, -113.99291

Navajo jewelry vendors... most roadside stands were empty but there were a few hardy souls out...

Frosty morning at the Kanab stop.  

Open water in Montana means LOTS of drift boats and shore fishermen out already.  

Winter adventures are over, spring and summer yet to come.  Enjoy the warming weather everyone!