October 21 – Thursday
We headed out from Westbank fully loaded and with car in tow (complete with our new Brake Buddy). We had an easy drive down to the Lower Mainland and rain. Finally found the RV park (right next to the waterslides at the ferry terminals) – not the best place in the world but they do have somewhat dry land (most of the adjoining fields are a little sodden) and power/sewer hookups.
Connected with Carolyn and met them at their place for a bit. Emily is growing like a weed! She is a little shy about us at first but then warmed up quickly. Alex had a night school class (ESL) so the three plus baby were off for a feed of sushi. Don’t know why we don’t have more sushi at home………OH Wait…..it’s expensive!!
The dogs are a little more relaxed than they were at home……I think it’s because they know they are coming with us for the rest of the trip and are not being left at home.
October 22 – Friday
Lazy morning – coffee, first stollen of the year, listening to CBC and reading. Over to Carolyn and Alex’s place about noon and picked up Emily for an afternoon of fun………but it’s still drizzling! We thought about taking her to a mall to do some shopping but then realized we would be leaving the dogs alone for up to 9 hours. Spent some quality time with the dogs and Emily and then back to her place. Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory (in Richmond) – what a hoot. We got there about 5PM and the place was almost empty. Talking to the hostess we found out that they had had a group of 160 people for the late afternoon and they were expecting another full house for dinner. Very glad we made reservations for 5PM because by 5:30 the place was absolutely full and the line up was out the door!
Oct 23 – Saturday
Back to Emily’s place by 9:30 and then off for dim sum (we need a good dim sum place in the Okanagan) and a massive feed. Must remember to feed Ed before he grabs the order sheet and orders WAAYYY too much food!! Then to Value Village for some shoes for Emily and a quick look around. This is the best weekend for people to shop for Halloween outfits and the place was packed!! We found a few things and then off to The Gourmet Warehouse. If you like to cook you HAVE to go to the Gourmet Warehouse sometime in the future!
They have every kind of culinary gee-gaw you can imagine, tools, spices, oils and an Aga stove! Check out the website…. http://www.gourmetwarehouse.ca/
Meanwhile back at the ranch Santa put in an appearance for some early Santa photos, then back to our abode for a quick lie down and cuddle with the dogs.
We gussied up and went off to see “The Fantasticks”at the Playhouse. The run was totally sold out by the time it opened and has now been held over. That’s a success!!! Maybe one of our Many Hats productions will do the same soon. Anyway, the show was great….mind you what did we expect with major actors on stage – Jeff Hyslop as the mute, Christopher Gaze as the old actor Henry, and the ever good looking Steve Maddock as El Gallo. Man, he can sing up a storm, great actor too, and very, VERY easy on the eyes!! Also ran into three people we knew from Theatre Under the Stars – Lionel and Carol Jinks, and Sam Peerless. Great to catch up on them even if for only a few minutes.
October 24 – Sunday
Up early and over to Watermania to catch Emily at her second swim lesson. This place is immense – huge swimming pool, another pool that is a wave pool and used for water polo (not at the same time mind you), a huge kiddies pool, a smaller kiddies pool, two hot tubs, viewing areas, three slides, plus meeting rooms and weight/workout room. Decent prices too ($365/yr for seniors). Today we learned to put our faces in the water and also how to kick our legs. Great fun and lots of pics!
Back to the seafood restaurant for Dim Sum (didn’t order quite a much this time!) then down to Gourmet Warehouse. Carolyn has been wanting a yogurt maker and when we were in yesterday they were out of stock so she left her name and number. One turned up almost immediately ...a good excuse for more dim sum and a trip to Gourmet Warehouse!!
Also picked up a few Christmas presents as Santa has trouble shopping when he is at the mall working. Then discovered a Columbian coffee shop next door to Gourmet Warehouse so picked up some coffee beans and on home to Richmond.
Emily was supposed to be asleep but she was not interested in napping – too bad as we all wanted to have a nap too!! Quick cup of coffee and back home to play with the pups. Going for burgers tonight but if I am still stuffed like I am now, I may only have a salad!!
Well the burgers were too good to pass up, but only one. One last visit with Carolyn, Alex, and Emily then back to the motor home….and it’s raining.
October 25 – Monday
We say goodbye to the RV park……..and good riddance. Not a great place, but close to the kids. Over the border in pretty good time and on our way to Centralia. Weather is not great – raining, but we are making good time. Got into Centralia, filled Prince Reindeer with gas and then came back (after setting up camp) to do some serious grocery shopping.
October 25 (2 months to Christmas) - Tuesday
The rain pounded down all night sometimes sounding like we were under a fire hose. Daybreak and the rain continues in buckets. Some of the places in WA are breaking records – over 5” in 48 hours in Tillamook.
Everyone (including the pups) were pretty soggy by the time we got loaded up but it didn’t slow us down much.
We took US30 to Astoria, then 101 down the Oregon coast. Raining all the way, sometimes in torrential downpours. Incredible scenery but it would be very much better if we had some sun. Pounding surf, high winds, incredible waves, and sometimes breath taking.
We had a lunch stop at a gorgeous spot with dazzling views of crashing surf…and amazingly no rain for a few minutes anyway!
Made Lincoln City (raining still, again with some huge gusts and downpours) and settled into a very nice RV park. Had a chance to look around the town – quite a vacation spot - ++ accommodations, ++ eating places, ++ souvenir/kitsch shops – all catering to tourists but not this time of year!!! Town is long and skinny, hugging the coastline but looks quite affluent. We have gone through a few towns that are automatically on our “never move there” list but maybe not this one!!
Finally the rain is tapering off and we can only hope that everything dries out sometime this century.
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