HITTING THE TRAIL TO THE ISLAND

 This is the old Notch Hill Church

Over the past few days, I helped with forming the stub walls, pouring concrete (not much work with the pumper truck) and stripping the forms.  Jim will have another nice shop when he’s finished.  We have hopefully tidied up all the loose ends in Salmon Arm for now and it is time to hit the road again.

We needed to dump our tanks today so we are parking in the mall for tonight so we don’t have much of a drive home after joining Bev and Kevin for supper.  Tomorrow bright and early (maybe) we are heading down the Okanagan hoping to have lunch with friends Bev and Carole.  From there we plan to find a quiet spot along the Old Hedley Rd for a couple of days of downtime.   We plan to get over to Vancouver  Island no later than Thursday.  We’ve had a fairly busy time here in the Shuswap and at times it got a little stressful, I guess.   

On Friday, I went to Sorrento to take a birthday card to my old friend JR.  He will be 76 on Wednesday.  I worked with him for years at the mill and he has always been a very interesting fellow.  I enjoy my visits with him.   Friday evening I visited with friends Ian and Wendy in Salmon Arm.  I gave them my entries for the Salmon Arm Fair since I don’t plan to be here in time to enter them personally.  Ian gave me lots of tips on what to see in Colorado this fall.  We played a few last games of SkipBo with Jacquie and Jim last night.

MORE RAIN

 How's this for a super sized RV?  They had a completed unit inside the shop that had been set up as an actor's lounge for on movie sets

 Here is a Class A motor home for size comparison

 We're parked in the RV pad Jim made for visiting RVs

 Our good friends Bill and Del who we helped celebrate their 57th anniversary

 An old timer parked in a field along the highway

 Mountain Lady Slippers growing wild along the roadside

 Wild Rose

 Salsify

We had friends Martin and Myrtle who brought another friend Barbara with them, come to visit yesterday afternoon.  The plan had been to sit outside but the weather decided it was time for some thunder showers so we did our visiting inside the motor home.  Aileen had made a lemon pie in the morning using some of the lemon juice she squeezed from the lemons we were given in Caliente.  Yummy!   After having a good chatty visit, I showed them my prints which are to be entered in the Salmon Arm Fall Fair this fall.  I also showed a few of our pictures from our trip south.

The rain didn’t want to quit so the yard here turned pretty muddy and we all gained some height walking in it.  This morning when we went to town we were still tossing mud off our tires kms later.  It wasn’t so bad last night when we went to town for supper at Bev and Kev’s as we were parked in a dry spot.

I had spotted some Mountain Lady Slipper flowers just around the corner from here so yesterday morning I took my camera out to gather some shots.  I thought some turned out fairly well.

We were to town this morning for Aileen to have a visit with a couple of friends.  While she was visiting, I got our new replacement air card from Telus.   I took both our computers with me and tried them with the new and old card in the store and the clerk had brought her laptop from home to compare with.   We’re wondering if Aileen’s computer needs some tech support since it was pretty pokey compared to the others.

I took a drive out to my old workplace after lunch and got to visit with a few of the guys I worked with.  Every time I go there it reinforces my decision to take early retirement four years ago.  While we have a lot less money coming in, we have a lot less in expenses other than fuel which could be as large a money pit as you want.  

POURING CEMENT

 Getting ready to pour cement

Footings are done

 I cleaned out the storage locker on Thursday and swept it as well.  I jammed the last stuff into our shed including the two rockers.  I put silicone in my 45 degree trim cuts so they look a little better and locked the shed door.  Aileen made the time to cut my hair and that felt much better as it was getting long again.

Aileen’s cousin Bill Van B from Campbell River arrived in time to have lunch but only stayed a couple hours.  From here he was heading up Hwy 5.  I took him over to see our shed when I picked up the laundry.   Bill and Del stopped by just before Bill Van B to invite us to join them for supper Saturday night in Sicamous to celebrate their 57th anniversary.  Bev stopped by just before supper as she had been to Canadian Tire.

We went to Vernon on Friday.  First stop was the Access BC Center for Aileen to renew her driver’s licence.  No problem so she was pleased.   I dropped her at Pennington’s and went to Walmart for a couple things for Bev.  We went to Temptasian for lunch and Aileen enjoyed her gluten free curry stirfry.   Aileen picked up her face creams at the Bay then we headed homeward. 

We went via Deep Creek, picking up 5 pounds of asparagus at the farm for $2.50 per pound.  We stopped at the SPCA so Aileen could do Reiki on the dog which she has done several times.  Bev had the dog home for the three days she had off.  Jacquie called to say Jim had made us a parking spot so we decided to head out that night.

Aileen went to Bev’s for her planned Epson salt bath while I took the motor home for propane and a wash to get the tree sap off.  I dumped the tanks then took Mitzy for another walk.  On the walk before supper, I was talking to Peter Page as he was picking up his wife at Piccadilly Care.  He invited us to park in his field anytime, just contact him and he would give us a key.

Jim had made us a nice level spot to park and we are higher up than before.  The driver’s side needed ramping up so the step is nice and low.  Jim packed our patio boards over too so it will keep the mud away if it rains.   The mosquitos are back again.   It is nice having our big slide out again after a week of keeping it in.  Aileen was getting pretty tired of the mall while I thought it was great as I could wander into the mall and everything was close by.

On Saturday I helped Jim squaring up the shop layout for a bit.  I had sat in the sun a couple times, looked through pictures for suitable Fall Fair entries and other general puttering.  I had to have a shower before going to Haviland’s.  We met at Bill’s and visited for awhile with drinks and appies.  Del’s 90 something year old buddy, Joyce, and Haviland’s daughter Jan were also in the group.   After that, we drove to Sicamous for supper at the Anchor Pub.  The food was fairly good and we sat outside.  There was live music for us for part of the time – two guys on guitars with some vocal thrown in.

Sunday morning  I dug around in storage and found the Salo Rd pic which I dropped off for Jan on the way home.  I was going to turf it the other day then thought maybe Jan and Neil would like it.  I also grabbed some off colour matboard to glue my Fair entries on.

I got some groceries at Askew’s then took Mitzy for a walk at the waterfront.   Aileen came after church and we had our lunch there.  I headed homeward after.    Aileen went to Bev’s to do Reiki on the little dog then she was home for a nap.

I printed several pictures suitable for entry in our local Fair.  I put in photo magenta and photo cyan inks from 123 Ink (which I had ordered online) and my colours went really wonky;  I wrecked three 13x19!  Fortunately I had one each in Canon brand and when I put them in the colour came correct again.  What a rip off!  Suckered again.

I cleaned the outside windows and what an easier job it is with Aileen’s homemade concoction.  There’s no streaking or grime and just one pass and it’s clean.  Clarence and Grace came to Jordan’s after supper and we all played Mexican Train.  Jacquie won followed by Jim, me, Aileen, Grace and Clarence. 

I printed one more Fair picture this morning then cut mat board for backing and used two sided tape to attach the pictures.  I was working away when all of a sudden the pumper truck showed up and I hadn’t had lunch yet.  Fortunately the cement truck didn’t arrive until the scheduled 1 pm so I had time to eat and finish my mounting.   Aileen arrived just before one.  She’d been for a treatment and a few things in town.

I helped with the pour and tidying up after.  Those pumpers sure make short work of pouring concrete.  Jim said we did 135 feet of footings.  I puttered at various things the rest of the afternoon.  We tried using the air conditioner but they wouldn’t start.  I guess too long a cord.  I filled out the Fall Fair entry form and emailed 123 Ink requesting a full refund.

Bev and her two pups came for a visit tonight.

THE SHED IS FINISHED AND VERY FULL

Here is the completed shed.  It was great to have Kevin helping so there were far fewer mistakes made and the process went much faster.

With a little help from Jim last Wednesday morning, I installed the new bedroom window. Aileen is now happy to have an opening window for cross ventilation. We went to town mid morning and did some more sorting at the storage compound. We took a load to the new shed and a carload to Eleanor’s for the yard sale. Later, Kevin came along with his truck and we got two loads of bigger and heavier stuff. Aileen had another carload for Eleanor’s.

The rain started in earnest about 8 am Thursday and continued all day. I finally gave up about ten and started packing up in the rain as that was the day we needed to move into town. Aileen had lots of mud on her shoes before she had me backed out to the road. I took the motor home for a $2 wash to get the grime off before parking at Piccadilly Mall.

We took laundry to Bev’s and picked up the truck then came back for lunch. Aileen tended the laundry and napped after lunch while I went to storage and did some sorting inside. I turfed 2/3 of my matted 11x14 in 16x20 mats (the stack that left was about two feet thick!) and over 2/3 of the loose prints, I think. I didn’t really want them and nobody else seemed to either so - gone! I tried to organize some of the other stuff before moving it.

On Friday I took the motor home to the RV shop and had four new 6 volt batteries installed replacing the two that came with the coach.

We were up really early (ugh!) Saturday morning. I took Mitzy for her walk before my breakfast. We went off to Eleanor’s well before 7:30. We didn’t sell the TVs or TV cabinet but did get rid of a fair pile. We took in about $70 and I made another $10 cutting three mats for a neighbour lady. I went to the motor home for my mat cutter late morning and had a $2 hot dog at a fundraiser in the Centenoka Mall. Aileen went later for her lunch and decided to have a lay down. She woke up an hour or more later. I was marooned at the sale but did manage to get rid of a few more items as well as sitting in the hazy sun that did have some warmth to it.

When I was walking Mitzy before supper, we met Bill Haviland loading Del into the van. He invited us to join them for supper so I hustled back to check with Aileen. She had just turned on the stir fries but said she could turn them off. We went out to Sunset Cove Campground and Restaurant Blind Bay.

Sunday morning we were awakened by a couple noisy ladies setting up the Lady Striders charity walk/run right across the street. At least it dawned sunny for a change and it was nice most of the day. We went to Bev’s after buying some groceries in SaveOn. Aileen did laundry then went to church while I painted boards then did some sorting in the shed. I managed to toss quite a bit of old printed material mostly relating to film or outdated equipment. Later I crammed more stuff into the shed, moving up in to the rafter zone. Somewhere along there, not sure what day, we took a bunch more stuff to the thrift store.

I took Mitzy for her big stroll around Blackburn Park before breakfast Monday. After eating, it was back to work again. I put gas in the truck then went to storage for a big load, mostly framed prints, mat board, glass and other photo related items. Next stop before Bev’s was for Tim Horton’s coffee for Bev, Kev and Danny.

Danny was my man for the day so we hit the moving hard. The AAA storage shed is nearly empty and the new shed is overflowing. It was getting discouraging trying to get it all in and keep some semblance of order and access. I had Danny for six hours and we got a lot accomplished.

I bought three eight foot 2x4s and built another platform for the guest room box spring as there wasn’t space in the attic on top of the other mattresses. Then I had to prop it up a couple inches so the door could close. I also installed the new slides for the bottom drawer in the filing cabinet which I had broken when moving. I then put casters on it so it can more easily be moved. I even remembered camera club and made it to their last meeting of the season after supper.

Yesterday was more moving stuff and puttering on the shed trim. Mitzy went for a trim by Bev at the SPCA. Today I finished up the shed trim and did a little more organizing inside . I went to the Telus Store in town this morning and whined about my poor internet service and how it takes me an hour to do ten minutes of internet. The lady took my air card and is sending it back for a replacement and gave me an upgraded loaner which works much better. Aileen is still suffering with her back spasms and general malaise which we think is MS related.

NEARLY FINISHED THE SHED

 Mitzy says Hi

 Steller's Jay

Jacquie called me one morning to come look out the window at all the Grosbeaks 

Kevin and I put in some pretty long days working on our new storage shed and we are finished except for the final trim.  Aileen and I started moving stuff in yesterday with Bev’s help.  We are sorting harder as we take stuff out of the old storage complex and gathering stuff for a garage sale this Saturday.  Our old storage was 12x16 feet and our new one is 10x16.  We want to have more space around things so since our last shed was stuffed to the ceiling, we need to purge more.

We’ve been having quite a bit of wet weather so the mud at our construction site has been a challenge.  On the other hand, the sun came out a couple of days and roasted us.  I have to say it has been an interesting experience as I thought I was done with any type of constructing.  Working with Kevin was fun too as he has different ideas on some techniques and he has a laid back approach.  Of course it was great to have him there to do the more difficult jobs.  His helper worked with us the day we did the roof shingles so I didn’t have to get up on the roof at all which was just fine with me; it isn’t a very big roof.

We drove down to Summerland a few days ago and picked up our new bedroom window.  Jim said he would help install it tomorrow morning.  Aileen went to the optometrist this morning and her eyesight has improved quite a bit.  In fact, so much that she needed a new prescription.  She said her vision was getting blurry and was thinking it was deteriorating so was pleased to hear the verdict this morning.

We keep waiting to get evicted from here as Jim has a contractor slated to arrive any day to start leveling the property so there won’t be a spot to park until he is finished.  We plan on moving into town

Thursday morning as Aileen had an appointment early Friday and we have arranged to have two more batteries added to the motor home, also on Friday morning.  That way we will be close to where we are having the yard sale Saturday morning.   Once again, when we move on down the road we are going to need a holiday!

WE’RE BUILDING A STORAGE SHED

 Balsam Root covers the hillsides in the semi desert dry belt north of Vernon, BC

 Looking down the Balmoral Valley toward Mt Ida and Salmon Arm.  This is less than two miles from where we are parked at Little White Lake

Our new storage shed under construction

Life continues to roar along for us with hardly a break it seems.  We have started building our storage shed with much help from son in law Kevin.  To get loose from the ongoing monthly storage fee, we made the decision to build a shed in Bev and Kevin’s back yard.  Kevin used his excavator to level a spot for it and that was fine the first two days but then it rained.  It turned into a mud bog quickly so yesterday was not a fun day with the mud balling up on our boots and creating lots of slip.  I’ve been using the air nailer, cut off saw, radial arm saw, table saw, cordless drills and the hand held jig type saw.  Lots of toys to play with. I decided to hold off on work today since the forecast is for much drier and warmer for the next few days.  I did go and buy roofing materials this afternoon.  Those bundles of asphalt shingles sure are a lot heavier than they used to be (back when I was younger!).

The weather sure has left a lot to be desired here.  We seem to get one decent day followed by blah or rainy days.  We didn’t even make 11C (52F) today but the forecast says 26C on Saturday.  It rained all night and this morning there is snow on many of the local mountains.  The road restrictions are still on which is far later than normal.  Many of the blogs I read have comments about how late Spring is in many parts of Canada and the USA. 

Sunview Windows in Summerland called today and said our new bedroom window is ready for pickup.  That’s a few days ahead of what they quoted.  We’ll have to try and slip down soon to get it as the cross ventilation it will provide will be nice when the temperatures warm up.  I will have a go at installing the window myself.  We still haven’t solved our oven issue but I do have a new oven control here to install which we hope solves the problem of why the pilot light won’t stay on.

Aileen’s back is still giving her trouble but slowly improving.  We hope she gets back to normal soon.   I’m having to think about my back when working on projects, too as it is easy to overdo things.  I have just about finished waxing the whole motor home which is a rather large venture.  Jim has ordered a gallon of ProtectAll which he used on his motor home and it goes on much faster since you don’t have the white film to wipe off after it dries.  He has offered to split the gallon with me.  I just have to come up with a spray bottle.   I’ve enjoyed several soaks in the hot tub but was in for a shock last night when I jumped in.  Kevin had turned off the breaker two days ago and forgotten to turn it back on so the water was far from warm.  I had lots of sore spots so was really looking forward to soaking.   I had to make do with a long shower but it’s just not the same as a whole body immersion. 

The pets both had a visit with the vet the other day.  Neither one thinks much of that but if they wish to live with us and go south then they need to keep their shots up.  Mitzy has lost half a pound since going off junk food.  Our daughter Bev, who is a groomer, and the vet have both said the junk food is very harmful.  Sophie the cat is still a fat cat but only gained .1kg since her last visit.  Mitzy needs to chase her around the motor home more.

Our internet is still very frustrating.  I had the air card into the Telus store the other day and she did an upgrade or two but it made no difference to our reception.  I think we will have to try getting an antenna and amplifier if I can find a cable for our air card.  Telus sells the air card but not the cable for it.

CLASSIC CARS AND DANDELIONS

 A flashy looking old Cadillac

 Did you guess an early TBird?  The view through the porthole

 1955 Chrysler Windsor

 I took these pictures this morning while Aileen was at church

I thought the first image was a little soft in the yellow so I added the poster edges filter

We’ve been back at White Lake several days and life is still rolling by at a fast rate.  We seem to be going to town nearly every day for one thing or another.  Nothing further happening to the property here since the road restrictions are still on and they can’t bring the excavator until that’s over.  We did fall a few more trees beside the house, that were right on the property line and Jim and I had a good fire getting rid of the debris.  Aileen was unable to come out and help as her back spasms are still continuing.  They are becoming a little more manageable but still very painful. 

Kevin and I have been making plans to build our storage shed in their backyard and I think we finally have nailed our plan down.  It will be fairly close to the size we currently have rented so we won’t have to dispose of as much as we were thinking we might, to make it more manageable.  We want the ability to sort through our belongings on an ongoing basis rather than having to do it all at once.

We saw several classic cars drive by this morning and since it was Mother’s Day, I guessed there was an event at the community center.  When I wandered that way after breakfast, I found it was the 30^th annual volunteer firemen’s pancake breakfast.  I grabbed a few shots of some of the cars but the location was lacking and the backgrounds were generally awful.  However, it was enjoyable looking the old cars over.  I met two of the guys I used to work with and caught up a bit on what they’ve been doing.  One retired recently but the other is still working.

I spent most of Monday morning washing the motor home.  It looks very nice.  I washed the car too but it already is dirty as I went to town and ran into heavy showers both going and returning.  I replaced the thermocouple in the oven but it didn’t fix the problem.  The oven was never used by the previous owner and I doubt we have used it six times but it won’t light.  I will try replacing the control next.  If that doesn’t fix it, I guess the extended warranty will pay for a visit to the shop. 

On Friday night Clarence and Grace, friends of Jacquie and Jim came by and the six of us played SkipBo.  The ladies won all four games shutting us guys out.  Tonight the four of us taught Maurice and Dian, my cousin Jeff’s inlaws, how to play SkipBo.  The six off us usually play Mexican Train which we haven’t played for several weeks now.

Yesterday I took Aileen to Kim’s (a lady Aileen has known for years) surprise birthday party.  She turned 45.  Aileen had good visit with several old friends.  I went to my Aunt Eleanor’s (and Ron) and showed Dad’s tribute video which they enjoyed.  I used my new HDMI cable to connect to their TV and it worked very well.  I showed various other pictures until Aileen called.  It turned out the party was running late since Kim decided to go for coffee even though no one else would go with her; it turned out they were all going to her place as a surprise, of course.  I did a couple errands and was going to sit and read in the car but got spotted and invited in.  I didn’t have any cake since both were chocolate but I did have some meat along with a few chips.  We had supper with Bev and Kev last night.  It was the Mother’s Day get together, I think.  Aileen had done a roast in the crockpot which we took half cooked and plugged in at Bev’s about noon.  Aileen used the tub and I soaked in the hot tub again. I had been earlier in the week to sit in the hot tub to help my sore joints.

We continue to get un Spring like weather for the most part although it got quite nice this afternoon.  We’ve had quite a bit of rain this week again.  The problem with these late Springs it that when it finally gets warm, it gets hot so fast you don’t get to acclimatize to it.  It’s looking like we will be remaining in this area for at least another month.  We will probably head back to Vancouver Island when we leave here.