Walking in the Rain

Good Morning! Another glorious day and Ziggy and I took a long walk in the grassy field. Jeff slept in and we finally got our act together around 11am. First stop was the RV store to pick up a few things. Next we scouted out a few GM dealers trying to find a lug nut with no success. So we drove through an historic area of Edmonton and declared it a really nice city. The people we’ve met are also nice, friendly and very kind to strangers. They offer to help with directions and where to find things and are just a pleasure.

Our destination today was Fort Edmonton Park. This is a living history park built on the site of the original fur trading fort of the Hudson Bay Company. The park today is 158 acres and after entering we took the old steam train to the 1846 fort complex. Next we walked to the 1885 street and then the 1905 street. A 1920 street is the final set all of which had actual homes and businesses from Edmonton as well as staff members dressed in costume posing as townspeople from that era. Along the way there were stagecoach and wagon rides and a real streetcar. We were able to shop in the old general store and get cones in an ice cream parlor. The place was very well done and really let you experience how things changed in history. For fun there was miniature golf, a shooting arcade and the end was a amusement area circa 1920. Jeff and I rode on the beautiful carousel and then got caught in a downpour which left us soaked as we ran to the parking lot.

Dripping wet we drove to the west Edmonton Mall. They call this the greatest indoor show on earth and I must say I am impressed. The Mall of America seems shabby compared to this mega mall which we are told is the largest in the world. Someone told us there are 56 entrances and I must say they are very well marked as are the covered parking areas. The mall is two levels and we found it refreshing that most of the stores are not ones in the US malls. Special attractions are an ice skating rink, arcade, miniature golf, Deep Sea Adventure with a sea lion show, bumper boats and full size boat which is a replica of Columbus’s Santa Maria. People were actually getting married on the boat. The best was the World Waterpark – a huge wave pool with beach areas and water slides. Yes folks in bathing suits were lounging on beach chairs on the tan concrete beach and then riding the surf on inner tubes. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.

We had dinner in the restaurant zone and then headed to Home Depot and back to the campground. Ziggy was ecstatic to see us and we settled in for a relaxing night before we pack up and move in the morning.

O Canada

We awake in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan amid shady trees and rows of fragrant lilac bushes. The lilacs are in full bloom here and in their purple glory. By 8am we are across town having our oil changed in Harvey, the RV, and leave by 11am. We are back on 16 West heading for Edmonton. I am relieved to know that this highway, called the Yellow Head, is not named for a huge pimple, but a scout for the fur trading companies known as tete jaune, yellow head, probably a blonde.

We pass through more gorgeous country and start to see hills and valleys as we near the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. We are now in Alberta and see huge farms and cooperative grain processing centers. These areas consist of immense grain elevators with railroad sidings. The agricultural equipment in the fields is very high tech and expensive. Farming is big business today and it takes much labor and know-how to bring all the food to our dinner tables. This is also cattle country and spring is calving time and we see so many cute babies in the fields. Alberta is the geographic center of Canada and the main flyway for migratory birds and we are able to view lots of birds and water fowl.

Lunch is at an Indian casino and we finally arrive at our campground around 6pm. Glowing Embers is west of the city and a huge place. We are lucky to get a shaded site backing up to a field. The bad news is that I moved the picnic table to, a bad place while Jeff was backing in and caused some damage when he put out the slide. So after some repair work to the storage unit and a few curses we are almost as good as new.

Let me explain about Harvey, the RV. He is 33’ long and over 50’ with the car in tow. You have to be very careful turning and pulling up to gas pumps. On the highway he drives easily and it is fun sitting up high with wall to wall windows to take in the views. Jeff and I sit in comfy leather chairs and behind us is the living room area. We have a swivel rocking chair and a three seat couch which converts to a sleeper. Behind the couch is a booth for eating or using the table with storage under the seats. The couch and booth are on a slide which means that we can move the room out 3’ when stopped giving us lots of extra floor space. Across from the booth is the kitchen with a double sink, 3 burner stove, microwave/convection oven, regular oven and refrigerator/freezer. There is lots of counter and drawer space and 2 slide out pantries for more storage. Windows cover most of the wall space and above them are cabinets. All the windows have honeycomb shades and blackout shades too.

Behind the kitchen is the bath area and bedroom with a stall shower, sink/vanity and across a toilet room with comfort height john and window. The queen bed is in the back and on a slide which gives us ample floor space. We have a triple closet with drawers underneath and more storage over the bed. Again there are windows everywhere for good ventilation. Harvey has large storage units underneath for bigger items like chairs, BBQ, tools and firewood.

This is very luxurious and I think much better than cheesy motels along the road. The best part of camping is being in nature and meeting interesting people.

Back to the campground we had dinner at their restaurant and slept great in the cool air. At 11pm the sky wasn’t completely dark and we are still moving further north.

It's A Grand Old Flag

Today is flag day in the US and here we are in the middle of Canada. We are travelling west and passed out of Manitoba into Saskatchewan. This is beautiful country with wheat fields and ponds and lakes. So many ducks and birds. We enjoy the flying antics of the red tailed blackbid and the dramatic beauty of the lark bunting with his white tail and wings.

Lunch today was a real treat. Cafe 54 is in a teeny town called Wynyard and shares a shabby roadside building with a laundromat. Inside it is gourmet. I had the best eggs and hash browns ever and toast homemade from bread full of grains, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. I bought a loaf of bread to take with me and will put my newly acquired Saskatoon jelly on it.

Oh yes we are staying in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan tonight. The Saskatoon berry is made into jellies and pies and tastes real sweet. The city is a little larger than Winnipeg and our campground is lush and lovely. I did laundry this afternoon and met four women all on their way to Alaska. Lots of travelling folks out here. There is also a caravan (convention) here and they had an Elvis impersonator entertain in a huge tent in the rear of the campground.

Now it is 10pm and just getting dark. We were out walking in the cool air and have to sleep and get up early to have our oil changed before setting off.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Wednesday we have our first rain, but it clears by the afternoon. We are driving north on I-29 and pass such interesting towns as Drayton, ND, the catfish capital of the north. I didn't notice any lakes or fish farming, go figure!

We crossed the border into Canada and as usual amazed that it is so easy to move from one country to another. Drove north to Winnipeg which has a population of over 600,000. Looked like a lovely city, but we didn't do the tourist thing. I went to the Asper Jewish Community Center to do some genealogical research. I am looking for an uncle of my father who emigrated to Winnipeg in 1913. Didn't have much luck, but got a few leads. The building I was in is part of a huge campus with a day school, museum and JCC. I am very impressed. Jeff and Ziggy ran a few errands and picked me up and we immediately started our drive west.

4pm and we have travelled over 2000 miles from South Carolina. We are now on Canadian Highway 16 which is known as the Yellowhead. Very pretty and lots of green fields and birds and ducks. We spend the night camping at Lions Riverbend in Neepawa, Manitoba. This is a delightful space in a picturesque little town. The camp area has walking trails and ponds and we are able to stroll around with Ziggy and enjoy the beautiful fresh air. We are in Central Time here and it doesn't get completely dark until 10:30.

Ought to Give Iowa a Try...Wells Fargo Wagon

Monday morning we set out west on I-70 and found ourselves in Independence, MO, home of Harry Truman. We decided to spend a few hours at the Truman Presidential Library and it was time well spent. Good exhibits brought the history to life and lunch near the old courthouse was delicious.

Drove across the state to Kansas City, MO and it first appeared from a hilltop vantage point and looked like the Emerald City in Oz, except that it wasn't green. Very pretty anyway and we drove on to the Kansas side just to say we'e been there and then headed north on I-29. Drove through Council Bluffs, Iowa and saw Omaha, Nebraska across the way. We followed the Lewis & Clark trail and spent the night at a Walmart in Sioux City, Iowa.

Today is Tuesday and we want to wish a Happy Birthday to Rick Glazer! We continued driving north and took a break to visit Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is a charming old town with impressive waterfalls and a gorgeous park surrounding the falls. Best of all we found a great little diner and had a super lunch. The town has lots of sculptures along the streets and we saw a bronze replica of Michaelangelo's David and almost thought we were back in Florence. They also have huge stockyards which we passed and luckily the animals were all gone for today.

Tonight we arrived in Fargo, North Dakota and visited the Roger Maris museum. Those of you who know me well know that Maris is one of my personal heroes and his uniform number 9 is my lucky number. I think I loved him because my Dad had such a hatred for the Yankees. Anyway Jeff and I paid homage at this shrine and both can't believe that Maris has not been inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. The Yanks never retired his number either. Shame on them! We are staying at a campground north of Fargo in Hillsboro, ND. When we checked in they gave us a plastic fly swatter. Not a good sign, but no mosquito bites yet.

And back to those songs from The Music Man - the town of Fargo is named for Wells Fargo as the pony express was so important to the development of the area.

Tomorrow we cross into Canada and visit Winnipeg where I hope to do some genealogical research.

Good night.

I'm A Travelling Man...

Alright, I'm a travelling woman, but that's not the title. Anyway Jeff and I drove out of Sun City on Saturday morning and headed through Georgia to Tennessee. Passed throught some beautiful areas that we can visit another time. Spent the night at a Big W (Walmart) in Murfreesboro and today we drove past Nashville, a corner of Kentucky and north through Illinois to St. Louis. Seeing the arch across the Mississippi is still an amazing sight for me.

Tonight we are at the Lazy Day Campground in Montgomery City, MO and tomorrow we will head west to Kansas City and then north to Manitoba, Canada. We expect to spend a week getting to Dawson Creek, the beginning of the Alaska Highway, where our trek starts. We need to be there on June 21st for orientation.

We're Moving On Up...

Well we have moved. Jeff and I have lived in the same area all our lives and in our home on Hudson Drive for 29 years. But now we live in Bluffton, South Carolina and everything is new to us. We finished packing right after we returned from Japan and the van took our stuff away the next Monday. On Friday we received our stuff at the new house and started unpacking. There is so much to do and there is a steady stream of workmen and landscapers in and out of the house. Our car knows the way to Lowe's by itself as there is always something else we need.

After a few days we return to Yardley and spend a pleasant few days saying goodbye to everyone and everything we know. We had Broadway tickets with a small group to see Mary Poppins and we just loved the show. We celebrated Jeff's 60th birthday with a small dinner party with our closest friends and it was a good chance to say farewell. My Mah Jongg group had a goodbye dinner for me and I am sad to leave those gals who I enjoyed seeing every Thursday night.

Jeff and Ziggy left in the RV on Tuesday and I hung around until the weekend so I could attend my nephew Jon Liff's graduation from the University of Delaware. I enjoyed spending a few days with my sister Carol, Jon, his sister Sharon, and brother Larry and his friend Laura.

I woke up at 5am and drove all day Sunday arriving in Sun City around 5pm. I was so excited to be at the new house and finally get settled. More work and unpacking and finally we got everything put away and all our pictures hung. It actually looks wonderful! Later that week our friends Jan & Harvey came down and became our first house guests. We also attended a block party for our street and met many of our new neighbors.

Now that we are settled, we are leaving again for our summer trek. It sounds a little crazy, but the Alaska trip is a dream come true and the house will be there when we return in the end of August. So we pack up the RV which we decided to call Harvey, the RV, and we set off on Saturday morning for our Alaskan adventure.