Day 96 Friday April 19

We started to get a little rain last night & there were some light showers in the morning.  We pulled out of Kelso Elks @ 53609 @ 10:00 and proceeded up hwy 5 in sporadic showers; I needed windshield wipers but not on full & not all the time.  I saw a lighted highway information sign that said “Secure Loose Loads   Emphasis Patrols on Now”, why the word emphasis, what does that mean?  We did a rest area lunch stop @  53776 miles, & had our leftover Red Lobster meal, from 1:35 to 2:55.  Sheila took over driving until 3:55 @ 53836 miles.  We got to the border at 4:10 and cleared by 4:15.  We arrived at storage 4:50 @ 53867 miles, unloaded a little bit and left at 6:00 for home.

Trip synopsis

Miles covered in RV               2737

Gas used by RV                      331 US Gallons ave 8.27 MPG

Trip length – days                   96

Cost of all trip expenses        US$ 6477.26

Ave per day cost                     US$ 67.47

Day 95 Thursday April 18

We pulled out of 7 Feathers at 9:50 @ 83360 miles.  Lunch stop at a rest area 12:20 – 1:15.  The dashboard temp readout says 68F outside but it feels nice & warm. Sheila took over driving after lunch & drove up into the gas station about 70 miles short of Portland, stopped 2:00 – 2:15 @ 53539 miles.  I took over to navigate through Portland, it was just after 2:30 and traffic was thick.  I try to be in a lane with only traffic on one side but that doesn’t always work well what with entrance lanes and exit lanes going on & off the highway. We made it to the Kelso Elks at 3:55 @ 83609 miles.  Got parked & hooked up and went into the lodge to do the computer stuff.  There is a Red Lobster here a cpl hundred feet or so away.  Sheila saw a special she wants to try when we were at the Red Lobster in Temecula and hopes they have it here. It turned out that everything was either not on the menu or the sale ends at 3 PM weekdays or it ends at 6 PM every day. Lots of neat dishes but not the specific ones Sheila was looking for on sale, they did have some but not at sale prices.  None the less we had a marvellous dinner and brought a lot home. We are both full so it’s veg out night tonight.  

Distance 249 miles – Time on road 4 hours 55 mins

Explanatory note

The next 2 post Aprils 16 & 17 were published today - April 18 because we had no internet service at Nancy's Airport Cafe stop in Williams CA and at Seven Feathers casino in Oregon. Today's blog entry may be tonight or tomorrow from home.  We are currently, (April 18 Thursday, late afternoon), at Kelso Elks WA.

Day 94 Wednesday April 17

It got a bit cooler at night getting down into the mid to high 50’s F.  But it warmed nicely during the day. In the morning, we discover a couple of trucks & another RV had parked sometime during the night--we never heard anything. We got up, had breakfast etc & were away by 9:30 at 53068 miles. We got to the summit of the Siskiyou’s at 12:55 just after we crossed the CA/OR state line at 12:50 PM.  We were going to stop at a rest area at the base of the mountain but it was closed for construction so we motored on. We stopped at a pilot gas stop 1:35 to 2:00, I put in 44.028 USG at $3.049 a gallon.  I have discovered that on my dashboard, instead of having a trip mile counter I can have it say mileage to empty, a much more useful number. We pulled out of the gas station at 2 PM after gassing up & buying some Subway & Taco Bell lunch goodies.  We immediately pulled into a parking lot across the hwy from the gas station for our lunch stop, 2:00 to 2:35.  Then off down the hwy to Seven Feathers where we are dry camped beside the casino at 3:50 @ 53360 miles.   We checked & they have their $9.99 buffet special on Mon. to Thurs. and tonight they have pork ribs, & beef ribs in addition to the normal buffet stuff and that it is all inclusive--nothing extra for drinks or desserts. There was a line up so one of the staff gave us a beeper disk so we could  sit in the lounge next door & listen to the entertainer while we waited for a table.  After stuffing ourselves with the buffet we returned to the lounge about 10 to 15 minutes before the next show.  It was a country singer so we didn’t know many of the tunes but she was good and had a good back up group – guitar, drums, & bass.  We stayed to the end at 10, then Sheila went to contribute money to the casino, (i.e. play video poker) while I came home.  She arrived about a half hour later having lost most of the money she won on the trip south in January.   

Distance 292 miles – Time on road 5 hrs 20 mins

Day 93 Tuesday April 16

Out Sun & Fun RV Park @ 52764 miles @ 10:05 and north bound on Hwy 99 to our gas fill-up.  Stopped at a rest area for lunch at 12:20 & out again at 1:20.  The “via Point” system on the GPS worked just as it was supposed to, it found the shortest, quickest route over to hwy 5 and we pulled off the I-5 at 2:40 @ 52950 at a Flying J station.  I filled the RV, 65.776 USG, and put gas in our car as they have the special RV filling stations there with pumps on both sides, so you can just drive in, doesn’t matter where your tank filler is, (the RV & the car have them on different sides, very inconvenient if you are towing & want to put gas in the car as well as the RV). Sheila went into the gas station and was seduced by the Cinnabon, stand so she got one.  We ate it in the RV & left the station at 3:00 heading for our night & supper stop at Nancy’s Airport café.  We pulled into Willows & parked in the large gravel lot beside Nancy’s Café at 5 pm @ 53069 miles.  They have graded the large lot and it is quite reasonable to drive on now – no potholes except at the entrance. We are here for the night so we went in for supper. After supper it is computer catch-up time & relaxing--no TV as we don’t have power & I will not run the generator just to watch TV

Distance 305 miles – Time on road 5 hours 15 mins - averaged 58 MPH

Day 92 Monday April 15

Day 1 on the road.  I got up had my coffee & frosted mini wheat’s cereal breakfast. Then I went about doing closing, storing, unhooking etc.  Sheila got up & we were ready to go by 9:50, we ran into a small snag getting the car hooked up due to the low mounted parts scraping on cement parking spacers and needing to be interchanged left to right side so the non burred side was up and I needed to spray the entrance stair joints with WD40 after not moving for 3 months & getting rained on.  All fixed & away by 10:20 AM at 52504 MILES, note that all mileages etc are going to be in miles not kilometres. The next delay was one of my making.  I had set our destination in the GPS and put in a “Via Point” so as to get us going on the correct hwy system.  Up hwy 76 to Hwy 10 and onto Hwy 10 westbound and then we came to a crawling stop in traffic--every lane was solid cars & trucks.  I got a GPS message to take a turn to Hwy 60 which didn’t seem familiar but in the middle of traffic I didn’t have much choice.  The hwy by now is 7 lanes wide in each direction and solid traffic, going only 10 to 15 MPH!  I got another change of hwy notice from the GPS & by now I’m sure I have never been on these hwys.  However, there nowhere to pull off & if I did, I would have a problem getting back on the hwy. The GPS was still counting down mileage to our destination & giving time of arrival notes so I trusted in technology and kept going.  We ended up on Hwy 5 at the north end of LA and we wanted to stop for lunch but, there were no rest areas until 2:45 PM.  4 hours after heading out of GVP, we found one & stopped.  We had only covered 161 miles in 4 ¼ hours!  We had a nice lunch and headed out again at 3:40 PM.  Now that we were clear of the LA traffic nonsense, and we made better time.  We pulled into our campground, (Fun in the Sun), at 5:20 at 52764 miles, - 100 miles in 1hr 40 mins. We got a pull-through which saves unhooking.  Sheila went to their pool, supposedly heated to 78 but did not go in because it felt too cold, but she did shower and wash her hair.  I stayed to do the journal and relax.  It was a tiring day being at the wheel for about 6 hours.  Fortunately the slow driving paid off, in that I wasn’t feeling stressed driving even when surrounded on all sides by big semi’s.  They were going as slow as me and we were both big rigs —so, no problem. Now, the reason I got into that mess of traffic is that when I turned the GPS off Sun night & on again Mon morning. It showed the route, destination, times & mileages but what I didn’t know was that the “Via Point” had disappeared, so the GSP quite properly took me on what should have been the fastest roads to I-5 & up to 99 & to our campground on Hwy 99 instead of going the route I normally drive--a light-traffic 2 to 4 lane hwy. I know for future to do my planning just before I go, set up the GPS, & leave, and check the route, which I will do for tomorrow’s run.  Besides WiFi they have TV here, so we can get our Monday night shows.  If we can watch some of our series shows here it saves time when we are home & there is a lot to do beside watch TV.

Day 91 Sunday April 14

Our last full day at GVP.  Sheila couldn’t resist the call of the WVB pool; she went up for one last session.  I stayed at the RV putting stuff away & preparing for a quick getaway Monday morning, please note, a quick getaway our style is coffee, breakfast, & out by 9:30 or so – usually the “or so” part.  We will go to Winco this afternoon for last minute supplies and then hopefully just relax this evening. Sheila got back from WVB & had a great time.  They had about 8 a side, so lots of action, lots of fun--she really enjoyed it!  Sheila said she had to pick up a couple of things at the dollar store so she went out about 2:15.  Well, she got back about 4:45 and then had to unload and put her compression stockings on, so we didn’t get out to Winco till well after 5. We did pick up one of their BBQ chickens and deli salads for tonight’s supper & probably tomorrow’s lunch and/or supper.  By the time we got back, supper was a 6:30 operation & I was starved!  After supper Sheila went out again for something that Winco didn’t carry.  I’m just going to relax & watch TV. Everything is done except the morning jobs just before we get rolling, (disconnect power, TV, put sewer pipe away & putting tension bars in the Fridge & cupboards so stuff doesn’t shift or fall out etc etc).

Day 90 Saturday April 13

My last WVB day.  We got up to sun & clear skies & no wind, so far.  This year, besides the cold & rain from earlier, we have been getting a lot of wind--not strong, but gusty enough that we have rolled up the awning a few times.  It seems to start in the early afternoon until about supper, and then it’s over until the next day at noon.  In previous years we didn’t have to roll up the awning nearly as much as this year.  I’m really glad we have an electric awning, just push a button & in it comes, a one person job. After WVB we had lunch at the pool cabana where Chuey’s Mex café was preparing food.  I had the burrito, which costs $9.00 and was big enough to share with Sheila, it was a good deal.  Larry & Judy joined us for lunch and after lunch we went over to their place for a farewell game of Bridge. We played all afternoon from about 2:00 to 5:00--more or less.  We played 6 hands & then changed partners so everyone played with everyone.  I ended up with the top score.  We came back to the RV to drop me off to start organizing while Sheila went out to the Panda Express Chinese Food for an order of dinner for us using our coupon from the “Taste of the City” event earlier this year.  Then we will start organizing the inside of the RV to be ready to roll on Monday morning.  Supper was great, with our coupon it cost just $9.00 for dinner for both of us with a little left over.  I think I will not do too much tonight & get an early to bedtime so I’m rested for tomorrow.  Sheila phoned Donna’s friend Pauline for an update on how’s she’s doing.  She’s had several more tests at RCH and VGH hospitals & each time she had to stay overnight there so they could check there were no repercussions from the tests.  She still has two more to go, and then the specialists will analyze the data from the tests to determine what caused her severe headaches & the numbness in her left arm and plan treatment.  Fortunately, her son Patrick has come from Seattle and is supporting her.

Day 89 Friday April 12

We got up to another nice day, so off to WVB.  I had a better game today, lots of fun.  We went to the "Dog O Dog" hot dog stand for lunch.  I had one of their specialty hot dogs, Sheila had 2 small  tacos that were really good.  We hope that GVP has them back next year as they are really good.  After lunch, we puttered around in the RV till it was time to go up to our last Mocktails event.  We got there about 5:50 & there were lots of seats so we didn’t need our RV chairs.  We had a good time, I danced with Sheila a cpl times.  Tonight’s entertainer didn’t play any line dances so Sheila didn’t do anything on her own.  It ended at 8 & we chatted away at our table with our table friends until almost 8:30.  One was Laurie, a regular WVB player, & the other a GVP park resident we met at Mocktails several Fridays ago. Back at the RV we watched a cpl shows on TV & then turned in.

Day 88 Thursday April 11

Nice & calm in the morning & sunny with a little cloud cover so off to WVB.  I seemed to be uncoordinated today & missed a lot of balls I should have been able to get.  Sheila eventually joined the game, (just one pool today again as more people leave for home, although we did have 9 or 10 to a side still). After the game, hot tub & shower, its lunch time.  The large RV club group that’s here all week has had music & a fancy hot dog/taco stand, Dog O Dog, up all week, so we have had music the last half hour while we play.  I keep forgetting to take my wallet up as some of the hot dogs they have sound good.  After lunch we relaxed till time to go to Emilio’s for Happy Hour at 3 PM.  Sheila tried a blended Mango Margarita, but did not like it as well as their Strawberry one.  Today is the last GVP Happy Hour of the season.  We are down to 8 & some will be gone by next Thursday--us for example.  En-route back home, we stopped at the 99 cent store for some groceries.  Then its home to relax, watch TV, & I need to make a list of stuff needing to be done before we move the RV & pull out, either Mon or Tues.

Day 87 Wednesday April 10

Still windy when we got up but it calmed down enough that I went up for WVB and Sheila followed.  It gusted a lot periodically changing the path of the ball in mid flight.  It has stayed fairly windy all day.  After WVB we came home for lunch and then Sheila went out to look at the display rigs in the Tiffen RV club that came in over the last 2 days and maybe sit in the sun or go on the computers in the clubhouse.  I went outside & unhooked the SPECTRUM internet system I had installed, (rented), & bagged it for return.  Then I did a Winco shopping. I returned & Sheila was still out inspecting giant “A” Class motor homes, some with a MSRP over $400,000!   She did like one or two--too bad, she’s not getting one!  I went down to Spectrum & returned my internet equipment, no problem, then came home to have supper. After supper, we stayed around the RV, watching TV & taking life easy.  The winds died down just after supper time so hopefully the wind will be mostly gone by tomorrow morning.

Day 86 Tuesday April 9

Today is our final Breakfast Club event.  With people leaving we were down to 7 people and we usually get around a dozen or more.  We went to the Little Pantry on State St. near Menlo St. Today is propane delivery day, so I got back from breakfast about 09:45 & I’m waiting for him.  Propane truck arrived & was finished up by 11:35 so no WVB today.  We took 11.9 USG of propane, so there was about 2 USG in the tank because it holds a fraction over 14 USG when totally empty.  While waiting for him I checked our battery water levels, (2 that do the coach lights etc at 6 volts each & one engine starting battery at 12 volts), they were fine, didn’t need topping up at all.  Sheila came back from WVB & said they had one pool with 9 to 10 a side but with the wind blowing it really affects the light beach balls and they are hard to judge where they are coming down so you can hit them. Sheila went back up to the pool area after lunch to do a wash while I rested, relaxed, & read my book.  We had leftovers from our restaurant meals for supper and stayed in to watch TV, read etc. A lot of wind in the evening & into the night, the 11PM news said a lot of damage in LA from falling trees & branches, plus power outages & blown transformers.  We are in a valley so don’t get the full force but still we get 15 MPH more or less winds.

Day 85 Monday April 8

Today is forecast to be well over 80 F for, I think, the first time since we got here.  Up to WVB and Sheila followed after a bit.  We played in different pools again.  The coloured chip system they have for deciding which pool you go into is a good system & very fair to everyone but is does mean I don’t get to play with Sheila that much – luck of the draw!  They had music & a hot dog stand set up because there is a huge RV group coming into the park, around 200 units.  Sheila came back to the RV after the game & when I got back to the RV she had the main cabin A/C running – first time since we got here. We have used the bedroom A/C a cpl times to cool the bedroom when going to bed. She said it was over 88 F inside when she arrived back at the RV.  That’s over 32 degrees Centigrade for you young’uns. Sheila went up to see if there is a 1 pm game & if not, is going to look up stuff on the clubhouse computer, (air-conditioned and room to write on the left side of the computer).  There wasn’t a game so she used the computer but had to come home when she realized that she couldn’t go out to buy some supplies as she didn’t have her wallet & money with her.  Running the A/C is keeping the RV at about 84 F.  Sheila said that when she went out to the car, which had been sitting in the sun most of the morning it’s outside temperature was registering 102 F!  As she was driving, it went down to 92 F where it stayed the rest of the afternoon.  We had leftover Applebee’s food for supper & some is still left for the next day.  I relaxed around the RV inside & out and made good progress on the book “Nighthawk Crossing”.  Most of the evening games have stopped now due to the volunteer snowbirds running them leaving for home, (they come down in Oct or Nov so have been here 6 months).   

Day 84 Sunday April 7

Sunny & hot & off to WVB. Both Sheila & I ended up in the same pool side by side as we had arrived close together.  After the game ended we stayed floating around in the pool talking with Judy Shaffer & another CDN couple Don & Gerri.  They are from Vancouver Island and have a trailer here 6 & 6, (that means they never move the trailer, it sits on their site all year and they can use it for 6 months and then vacate for 6 months, obviously they get a much lower rental rate when they’re not here.  It works for Canadians as we are only allowed to be in the USA for a total of 180 days in any 12 month period).  We came back to the RV for a lunch – the left-over Tilapia fish from yesterday and some Rice-a-roni.  We had arranged with Judy to go out with her & Larry for supper and a promised dessert treat on us for them.  We went to Applebee’s for supper then over to the Coldstream Creamery, (like the one we used to have at home).  We had great ice cream creations.  Larry & Judy insisted we use the $15.00 coupon they had won at GVP which just about paid for their ice creams anyway.  A good deal for us! After dessert we went back to their place for some Bridge.  We put our leftover dinners & ice-cream in their fridge. Tonight I actually came out on top after partnering with Sheila, then Judy. We all finished off our ice cream treats after the game and as it was a nice night we walked home, (equivalent distance of about 2 blocks).  Home by about 10 PM

Day 83 Saturday April 6

Up to sunny weather so off to WVB.  The park is emptying out fast as today we only had one pool playing with 10 a side.  They had a Mex restaurant, (Chuy’s) selling goodies & live music on the pool patio from 11:30 to 1:00.  We enjoyed listening to the musician in the pool while playing WVB.  At this point there was nobody at the patio tables, (it wasn’t quite even noon yet), and someone, (Gigi, Rays wife), said, lets give him a round of applause and when he finished the song he was doing at the moment and we did, lots of applause. After noon some people arrived to buy food.  After our game & hot tub we ordered two very small tacos for $3.00.  They were good but too small.  About 1:30 or so, we wandered home for R & R before the concert tonight.  We made a nice supper as Sheila had bought some Tilapia fish & asparagus.  We are going to the “Four Seasons & Frankie Vallie tribute concert, by December 63”, (the name of the group doing the show), at the Hemet Theatre starting at 7:00.  I remember them from the 60’s but wasn’t a big fan, Sheila was and really wanted to go, so of course we did, we bought tickets a month or more ago, good thing too. We got there just after 6:00 & there was a long line waiting for the 6:15 door opening, and a sign that said “Sold Out”.  We managed to get two aisle seats about 2/3’s back from the front.  Not bad, but closer would have been nicer.  It was a good show, all four guys had very good singing voices, were funny & boy could they move!  Sheila liked the second half better when they did their big hits and was up at the front dancing to most of them.  We got home about 9:30, so will watch TV, do dishes &/or relax & veg out for the rest of the evening.   

Day 82 April 5 Friday

Today started out a little cloudy but inside the RV it was in the low 60’s F when we got up so it wasn’t cold.  I went up for WVB arriving about 10:30 just as they got enough to split into 2 pools.  We had 5 a side for a bit then more people arrived & we went to 6 a side, which works really well.  Sheila arrived but got the “white” chip out of the chip holder so she was in the other pool; I was in the “blue” chip pool. It clouded over during the game but the slightly cool wind didn’t blow very hard at all, so no problem.  After the game & hot tub we came home for lunch and then relaxed for a few hours till it was time to head out to the Elks Friday Dinner Dance at 5 PM. We arrived about 5:20, got our table & ordered.  I had the ‘All You Can Eat’ soup & salad bar ($9).  It’s not a giant choice but good enough if I am not too hungry. They have a lettuce and another green mix, plus add-ins of sliced onions, beets, olives, chopped eggs, sliced mushrooms, tomatoes, sliced carrots with 3 dressings, and one was 1000 Island which I had – I managed 3 salad plates full.  Sheila ordered the New York steak with baked potato, ($14), but she wanted the mashed potato with gravy that came with the Ground Sirloin, ($12).  The Elks had just changed caterers a few days ago, so this was the first big event for them.  She was away from the table when her order came out, - you can guess, she got the ground sirloin with her mashed potatoes.  She was eating away when they brought someone else at the table’s dinner, (there were 9 people at the table).   He got the NY steak with baked potato but he had ordered the ground sirloin with mashed potato.  Too late to switch the meat as Sheila was ½ way through the ground sirloin. She went around the table to talk with him and all was OK as is.  We made sure the waitress changed our bill to $12 from $14; don’t know about the other dinner because he would have ordered the $12 dish.  There was also a complimentary dessert but with full meals only – I ended up with one, it was nice. The music was good, (Rhonda & Showdown.)  Sheila did 3 line dances & we danced to only 4 or 5 songs--I was feeling tired!  We left after the 50/50 draw around 9 & and stopped at Stater Brothers enroute home for milk & a cpl of other items.  Finally home after another busy day.  Sheila watched an hour of TV while I did the blog.

Day 81 April 4 Thursday

It was a bit cooler outside and cloudy this morning with a slight breeze blowing so I decided to skip WVB today and run some errands.  I went out to Winco then down to check the hours of Spectum which is where I have to return the internet stuff I rented back in January. I found they are open till 7 PM during the week and someone had said that they aren’t too busy around 4:30 PM.   Then, a quick shop in Wal-Mart for RV toilet paper and home.  I got back just before noon so stopped to see if Sheila needed a ride home.  She said the weather cleared to sunny and that she had a nice game. We then made a lunch of leftovers and waited for 2 PM to phone Sabrina to see how she was doing.  She has ups & downs but is persevering.  We told her we should be back by or on April 22, Erica’s Birthday, and that we would phone a day before we hit the border and once we are back in Canada. We then went out to the Happy Hour at Emilio’s.  Small group there, only 8, and it looks like next week will be the final Happy Hour get together what with everyone heading out for home or further travel in some cases.  Sheila & I shared a ½ price appetizer of nachos & cheese topped with a huge pile of shredded chicken on one half & shredded beef on the other half.  We both decided we preferred the beef to the chicken and will definitely order it the next time we go there.  It was a huge plate & filled us both up.  Back to GVP where I ordered a propane fill for next Tuesday, then we settled in for a quiet evening at home,  maybe a video & TV.  We didn’t need any supper as the appetizer we ordered at Emilio’s was big enough to feed us both.  We didn’t watch a video as TV is pretty good on Wed.—reruns of Mash + Whiskey Cavalier, a new show we both like.

Day 80 April 3 Wednesday

When I got up this morning about 8:30 or so the temperature in the rig was showing 71 F, I think that the furnace got left on last night although I didn’t hear it at night.  We didn’t use any of the propane heaters Tuesday evening so maybe it just stayed warm from yesterday’s heat.  I had an enjoyable WVB game, Sheila played as well but in the other pool.  Home for lunch & then Sheila is off to run errands etc while I read, relax & work on the computer.  We used some of our leftovers for supper then tried to watch a DVD movie.  It was a struggle getting it started, (mostly me not knowing which button to push) and then it would stop and just freeze up.  I got it going again and then it stopped again, probably quite close to the end I think, and nothing I did could start it so we just took it out & garbaged it.  It was a comedy so missing the ending was annoying but not a disaster. We’ll probably try another comedy for Thursday evening.  We watched the news & went to bed.  We don’t set the furnace to come on at all now as it stays reasonable all night and only requires a little heat in the morning as it is usually over 60 F in the RV by mid morning. 

Day 79 April 2 Tuesday

Up & off to Polly’s Pies for our weekly Breakfast Club meeting. Besides breakfast Polly’s pies is famous for cinnamon buns & pies.  Sheila ordered a breakfast that came with a cinnamon bun and brought over half of it home, (they are about 8 inches across & thick).  We came back home, changed & went up for WVB.  After the game I hot tubbed for a short time then Sheila & I came home & she changed to go up for the 1 PM game while I went to play in Judy’s Tuesday afternoon Bridge game/lessons.  I stayed till about 3:30.  The last hand is worth mentioning Judy & Sue bid 7 No-trump and playing against Larry & me, they made it.  They had 36 points between them, all Larry & I had were 2 Jacks & 1 Queen.  Back at the RV, I found out that Sheila had not played in the afternoon WVB game cuz only 2 other people showed up--there was a variable breeze blowing that would have been troublesome.  It had been building and did affect the morning game a bit, but it was stronger in the afternoon.  As it was now about 4:30 we decided that seeing as today was Taco Tuesday we would go to the Elks where we could also check on Friday’s Dinner Dance.  We made reservations for Fri evening, had our Tacos & delicious dessert cake, and then came home.  The Karaoke seems to be going downhill.  There are some really bad singers and they keep coming, but most of the good singers of previous events seem to have disappeared except for one woman who sang “The Power of Love”.  Sheila said she was very good because it’s a difficult song to sing and she did it very well.  Back at the RV I spent the evening working on blogs, computer files, reading & watching TV while Sheila soaked her feet, applied ointment to her itchy legs, and did her totalling of calories eaten and daily activity during the TV commercials

Day 78 April 1 Monday

Up & away to WVB again on another nice sunny day. Sheila is sleeping in and wants to go to the afternoon game that she likes because there are usually way less people playing, (one pool, 5 or 6 to a side), and she gets more plays on the ball.  I came back for lunch & she left to play WVB.  I did a small grocery shop and then relaxed at the RV reading a book, (“Nighthawk Crossing” about a US Border Patrol incident in central BC near Osoyoos that expanded into international intrigue involving Canadian & American agencies),  that one of the water volleyballers, Jim, gave me.  We made supper & relaxed at home, (there are a cpl of TV shows we watch at home available here so we will probably watch them).  Sheila phoned Donna’s friend Pauline to get an update on Donna’s health and was told Donna was back in hospital, Eagle Ridge this time, and the reason for the severe headaches was very, very bad—terminal brain cancer!  Needless to say, Sheila was quite distracted the rest of the evening.  She also phoned Ken to ask him to look in on her from time to time and update her if Donna is moved to an hospice care place or sent home.

Day 77 March 31 Sunday

Sunny & warm to hot, it is already at 58 F by 10 to 9 AM.  Clear skies, no cloud at all.  I’m off to WVB, I don’t know Sheila’s plans.  She showed up at the end almost of the morning game, she wanted to find out if there was a 1 PM game which she would then play.  After Hot tub time I came back to RV for lunch with Sheila, & about 1:15, Sheila left for the 1 pm WVB game. They were full & playing with even numbers so Sheila went out for some 99 cent store items, and when she got back to the pool at 2:30, someone was just leaving so she replaced them.  Today is Bridge club night but no one had signed up, so we talked to Judy & decided to just go their house & play.  We made supper at our place for us, then Sheila washed, cored & cut up some fresh strawberries to take for dessert after the Bridge game--Judy has ice cream.  We had a pleasant evening. We played 5 hands & then switched partners.  Judy keeps the score & adds up at the end to see what order we are in.  Sheila & Judy quite often come out on top, 1^st & 2^nd, but tonight I had the top score. 

Day 76 March 30 Saturday

I got up to sunny weather, Sheila is sleeping in today, (as usual, what’s new about that!!!).  I’m off to WVB. We had a good game, Sheila showed up after the game when I was in the hot tub.  She was planning on playing in the 1 PM game and wanted to have some lunch at the patio, (Chuey’s Mexican Restaurant was there) and listen to the music.  They had the musician from last night playing--he has a really good voice, has researched the songs he sings & often gives lots if interesting info on the song and the singer who made it popular.   Sheila had a fish taco and when I arrived I had the Chilli Relleno dish.  It was good.  After Sheila went to play WVB I sat & listened to the music till it finished at 1:30.  Then I changed to a seat in the pool area so I could watch Sheila play. I just relaxed in the sun till the game finished about 3 PM and waited for Sheila to have her shower & dress, and then we went home.  We didn’t feel like making a supper so went out to the nearby KFC to see if they were still offering a buffet.  Yes, they are.  Seniors are only $7.79 including drinks and they have even more extras over & above chicken than they had a year ago..  I concentrated on chicken.  But I am sad to say my body is betraying me I had ONLY 4 pieces of chicken and very little else, (4 pieces of jello, a spoon of nibblets corn & a spoonful of the chicken Lasagne, with a cup of Root Beer),  and I was full.  Sheila had only one large piece of chicken, so she had salad, coleslaw, chicken stew, mashed potatoes, a spoonful of chicken pot pie, cherry cobbler & some canned peaches for dessert!  We came back to the RV, Sheila went to look stuff up on the clubhouse computers & I worked on the blog.   Sheila came back and we checked movies on TV.  On the PBS channel she saw “Of Mice & Men”, a Steinbeck classic 1939 movie listed, so we turned it on, not my kind of movie though, so I stopped watching it about ¾ thru.  Sheila watched it to the end, but was not impressed with the ending, as it just stopped without showing what happened to the main character, much like many modern movies are doing!

Day 75 March 29 Friday

We are back to “normal” weather here, sunny & warm days.  It’s usually in the low 60’s or maybe 59 F in the RV when I wake up so a short shot of the furnace & we are up to 70 degrees F quite quickly.  Then that’s it for heat for the rest of the day until well into the evening and then our propane heater & a little of the electric heater is all we need till bedtime.  Sheila definitely feels the cold & heat faster than I do, she’s either gets a bit too cool or a bit too warm while I am fine.  I went up for WVB and Sheila arrived about ½ hour or so before the end.  I sat in the hot tub but she went back to the RV for lunch & to get changed & back for the 1 PM game if enough people show up.  She likes the 1 PM game because there are usually only 4, 5, or 6 to a side & she gets lots of play action.  While she played I had my lunch, (the leftover from the Hawaiian BBQ), and then I went out for a small grocery trip.  I got back at about 3 PM & no Sheila yet, so she must have gotten into a game.   She did, & got home around 3:30 or so. We lazed around & then I loaded the chairs in the car & drove up to the Mocktails Friday evening event, (6 to 8), at the pool plaza patio.  I got a front seat table, held one seat for Sheila and as people asked I said sure join us.  I think we ended up with a table of us plus 6. The music was great as usual & we danced a few numbers.  Sheila also went up for a few line dance numbers.  She picks up the dance steps quickly so looks like an expert very fast.  I came back home about 8:30, Sheila stayed to look some stuff up on the computer at the clubhouse where she has room to write stuff down on her left side. She arrived home just for the start of “Blacklist” at 9:00.  Then we watched the news.  With L.A. being such a car orientated city a lot of news is often about traffic problems.  Last night a multi car crash on the I-5 freeway blocked both north & south lanes for hours resulting in huge line ups of cars, the crash was only on one side but the emergency vehicles, (police etc), were on the other side of the median so that side was blocked as well.  I would not want to live here where I had to commute in & out of the city daily. In the past I have driven the I-5 through L.A. on route to San Diego and it is not fun!

Day 74 March 28 Thursday

Nice & sunny weather so I went off to WVB.  Sheila stayed to do some things she was working on & to look into the Movies on at our local theatre.  She talked with Larry & found one movie, “Five Feet Apart” that looked reasonable. So we went for the 2:30 show and it was OK.  After we got home, (Larry was driving us all), Sheila said that she would like to go to the “Ono Hawaiian BBQ”, so we went and it was quite good & we got a lot of food for a reasonable price, and we brought ½ of it home.  Then it was time to go up to the Clubhouse for the Mexican Trains games tonight.  We had fun but lost our quarters.  Finally home for the evening around 9:30, watched a bit of TV & bedtime.   

Day 73 March 27 Wednesday

I got up as usual for my morning coffee & breakfast, (usually cold cereal with milk on the warm mornings), and got ready to go to WVB.  Sheila got up early as well to try her newfound permission to play WVB.  When I got up to the pool I saw that they were only playing in one pool with a couple of people sitting out on the entrance steps.  The second pool had no heat on & was cold.  So the set up is you rotate as usual then after your turn serving the other side serves & when they lose the serve, you rotate out & you sit out on the entrance steps & one person on the steps comes into the game in your place.  This happens every time you serve as soon as the other side loses the serve you sit out and someone comes into the game in your position while the new server rotates into the serving position.  So you are never sitting out long, just the length of two sets of servings. I hope that makes sense.  It was slightly overcast & a bit cooler in the morning but brightened up & was sunny & warm for the afternoon.  After the morning session ended at noon we hit the hot tub, but Sheila wanted to play in the 1 PM game so we came home, made a quick lunch & Sheila went back up to the pool.  She said she had a fun time and enjoyed it even more than the a.m. because it was sunnier and she got more play because there were fewer players.  I went out to get milk & returned to the RV for R & R & computer work, (looking up what’s on TV this evening as well as blog writing).  We had set up a dinner out with Judy & Larry and they said they were happy with “The Steer & Stein”, my favourite restaurant with the 16 ounce steaks.  We arrived got out table & ordered dinners.  The place filled up rapidly and we had a nice time eating.  I gave Sheila a slice of my steak and finished the rest with only about ½ the baked potato to take home.  I also ate all the salad that came with the meal.  At the end of the meal we had a problem getting out bill.  The waitress seemed to be extremely busy and took forever to get us the bill & then never returned to take our credit cards.  We finally got our bill paid & left.  We went over to Larry & Judy’s Park Model for some hands of Bridge before returning home where we watched a little TV then bedtime.

Day 72 March 26 Tuesday

I was up having my coffee when a call came in for Sheila. It was Medipac asking about her medical well being.  She wanted to go back to the Dr. she had seen previously with some questions & they, (Medipac) agreed.  So she phoned the health clinic & got a time to go, (early afternoon). I went off to WVB and when I got there Judy Schaffer said, “We missed you at breakfast”, we had completely forgotten about the Tuesday Breakfast Club.  When I came back to the RV after WVB, Sheila was getting ready to go to her appointment and we were talking about it when the phone rang.  It was Judy wondering if I was coming up for Tuesday afternoon Bridge, I had completely forgotten about that too! Sheila dropped me off on her route out to the clinic.  Frank & Doreen were there, they are a cpl who live in Port Coquitlam that we have played bridge with several times at the Sunday night & the Tuesday afternoon sessions.  We got their phone number for possible future bridge get togethers at home.  Back at the RV, but Sheila not home yet which is good, they may be treating her at the clinic.  She has the phone so she can’t contact me so I just assume all is well. Sheila arrived home late afternoon & talked about the clinic visit.  Nothing urgent but Dr. wants her on the antibiotic for another week but did give her permission to go into the pool for WVB.  About this point, (around 4:45), we remembered that we were supposed to be going to the Elks for Taco Tuesday & Karaoke Night so we got away as fast as we could & got there before they stopped selling Tacos at 6 PM.  Several of the Elks ladies bake cakes, ice them & sell them for $1.00 a piece for a good sized piece—a real bargain!  I ended up having 2 pieces, and they were good.  And there are usually 4 or more types of cake so you can pick your favourite type.  The singing was not good, Sheila thought some weren’t too bad, I thought most of them were quite bad.  Home afterwards to watch TV--“The Rookie” is on tonight. 

Day 71 March 25 Monday

Up to another glorious sunny day.  I’m off to WVB while Sheila sleeps in.  I had a reasonable game, didn’t miss too many passes & balls coming over the net.  After hot tubbing I came home for a nice lunch which Sheila had prepared.  She is going out this afternoon for something, not sure what.  Then we have dinner out planned for tonight at Angie’s restaurant.  Sheila wants to try the ribs there so she ordered a full rack even though she was sure she wouldn’t finish it but a full rack is only $3.00 more than a half rack.  I had a cpl ribs with my supper and we brought the rest home for tomorrow’s supper, almost a full ½ rack. I figured out how to play a disc in the DVD so we watched an old, (1942), movie called “The Spoilers” with John Wayne & Randolph Scott, two of my favourite western movie actors & also Marlene Dietrich then a cpl episodes of “Barney Miller” that we had on a DVD.

Day 70 March 24 Sunday

Nice & sunny, no overcast & no wind.  I went up for WVB and had a good game.  After the hot tub I just sat in a lounge chair in the sun, it was lovely & warm.  On route home I stopped at the weight/exercise room where they have a scale, I am 208 lbs or 94.5 kg., I think I have gained weight since getting here.  Back at the RV, we had lunch then I was feeling tired so I lay down and Sheila went out to get some groceries.  She had set up the supper menu which I was to assemble for when she got back.  Her timing was perfect; she arrived just as everything was being put out on the table.  After a nice supper we went up to the clubhouse for the Sunday evening Bridge game.  We came in 4^th out of 8 couples and Sheila got to play some very interesting hands, one of which was 5 Clubs doubled!  She was very pleased that her aggressive bid was correct and she made it despite the opposition biding up to 4 Spades.   We returned to the RV just before 10 pm for what we thought were going to be BBT episodes but discovered the schedule was listing a different channel at that number so it was playing some other show we weren’t interested in.  Sigh!  It will be nice to get home to reliable TV listings! The trouble is that GVP prints a list of channels available on the cable but the internet schedule for Hemet also includes 2 or 3 other local cities and the channel numbers on some stations do not match the channel of the same number on our TV set, if that makes sense!

Day 69 March 23 Saturday

Heavy overcast this morning but no wind so I’m off to WVB.  At the end of the game (noon), I went into the hot tub & the clouds cleared.  They had a musician playing at the seating area where a local Mex restaurant was selling tacos etc. The music was nice to listen to while playing but I didn’t stay after showering.  Back at the RV I made lunch and Sheila went off to the computers at the clubhouse because at our computer cubby there is hardly any table space if you want to write anything down and it’s on the right side—not great for a left-hander!  Sheila wanted to look up a bunch of information on the internet so needed table space.  I will just veg out in a chair in the sun. Well, there was a breeze came up & it was just a fraction cool so I returned inside.  Now, let me say this first, I am glad we are down here & are not at home.  The weather in Calif has been terrible compared to their normal, but it is still miles better that what we had at home.  But if it continues to be overcast, sprinkley, coolish, it will wear out its welcome & it might be better to be home in south western BC.   To make ourselves feel better we went out to the Sizzler for supper, (an excuse is an excuse).  I wanted to try their super salad bar as a meal.  For seniors it’s $13.49 for unlimited trips and it is huge.  They had 5 soups, (I had clam chowder, really good), plus they had deep fried chicken wings, chicken fajitas, mac & cheese, a dessert bar, & a soft serve ice cream bar with toppings.  All that plus a huge oval salad bar with all the trimmings you could want including some real blue cheese with the dressings.  And the senior’s price includes your drink, (coffee, tea, soft drink etc).  For the hot foods they had warmed plates & for the cold salads they had nice cold plates.  After that, (feeling very full), we came home to relax, maybe watch TV.  

Day 68 March 22 Friday

Up, up, & away to WVB.  It’s a nice day, a little cloud. After the game I came back to the RV for lunch.  Then out for supplies at Winco for me & some laundry work for Sheila.  Tonight is Mocktails night so its time for nachos.  With hot cheese and with all the trimmings they have I can make supper out of it, - I did.  Sheila followed in about a ½ hour or so and we spent a nice evening.  The 2 couples we were sitting with were from Calgary & Langley.  Murray from Langley is in a wheelchair from some accident about 4 years ago.  They travel in a 38 foot Class A that Murray did a lot of customising on.  They tow a car set up for him as well.  There was another man there in a motorized wheelchair and he had a service animal with him that was a giant dog.  I don’t know what breed, but it was way bigger that a lab and with smooth hair so not a Newfoundlander, & not a Great Dane, I didn’t know service dogs came in such large breeds.  After the event ended at about 8 we came back to the RV, watched “Blacklist” and had some California strawberries.  They were the same California strawberries we get at home but these ones were red all the way through and very tasty, not like the mostly white bland things we get at home. 

Day 67 March 21 Thursday

The day still looked a bit overcast but there was sun breaking through so I went up for WVB.  The sun periodically came & went & I had a good game.  Sheila stayed home again because her cyst has not yet healed and she’s not supposed to return to the pool until it does.  I walked back to the RV & got there just as it started to rain a bit.  It slowed after an hour & a ½.   I made myself lunch of last nights leftovers.  Sheila went up to do laundry. I looked up tonight’s TV options.  When Sheila came back we went out to Emilio’s for Happy Hour, (It runs 3 to 6 offering ½ price $3.50 margarita’s - although my root beer is $3.25 – and ½ price appetizers that are really good and one plate is enough for 2 of us).  We drove back home & Sheila stopped for ice cream to top off a frozen dessert tart we had.  Also we finished off the supper leftovers from yesterday.  Then it’s up to the clubhouse for Mexican Trains, followed by one of our TV shows “For the People” if we are back in time.  We had lots of fun at Mex Trains although we both lost our quarter, there were a lot of people there and we got back in time for our TV show.

Day 66 March 20 Wednesday

Well, the first day of spring dawned with overcast skies but the sun is trying to peek through.  It was 50 F outside at 8:45 and 64 F inside the RV when I got up, so we ran the furnace to bring it up to 71 F inside.  It’s a lazy day for me.  Sheila is off to have a shower then this afternoon she has an appointment to get her hair cut a bit. The sun is peeking out periodically.  By 12:30 it is 68 F and by 1:30 we are starting to get our forecast showers.  I drained our fresh water tank so when we leave I can put fresh water into it.  I got curious & did some research on daytime temperatures between Hemet and the Fountain of Youth RV Park by the Salton Sea.  They were lower than normal for F.o.Y., but while we were getting 55 to 58 degree day time highs in Hemet for one week  they were getting 62 to 66. They were always higher temps by 5 to 9 degrees.  That is something to think about if Hemet California seems to be headed for 50 Fahrenheit, (which is around 10 Celsius), days for next and future years.  And F.o.Y. is in eastern California which means they are dryer and have an even lower humidity which translates into the days feeling warmer even when they are the same exact temperature.   Hopefully that makes sense.  We made supper of Kraft dinner with added wieners & fresh mushrooms in the RV and stayed in tonight watching TV.   

Day 65 March 19 Tuesday

We went out for the Tuesday breakfast club at Little Angies & had a nice breakfast; we brought home ½ of Sheila’s.  Other than the toast, I ate all of mine.  I went to play WVB while Sheila phoned Vicki at home in Coquitlam.  Turns out Vicki did send Sheila a BD card with a letter in it Feb. 19^th but it was returned to her marked “Unable to deliver”.  She did forget to put our site # on it, but the rest of the address she read out was correct, so Sheila is going to check at the office to see why they didn’t look up our site #, but they do, so it was the USPS that screwed up.  Back to the RV to change & then over to the clubhouse for Judy’s afternoon bridge lessons/games session.  Sheila went out this afternoon for a nail appt.  It’s sunny & warm with a slight breeze. I got back from Bridge about 3:45, no Sheila in sight so I guess she’s still at the nail place.  I did a bit of rug cleaning with some spray stuff we got, seems to work well on dropped food etc spots.  I am going up for the Hand & Foot game in the clubhouse. Sheila arrived home in time for us to make a quick supper of Sheila’s leftover breakfast plus a few additions, and then we both went up to the clubhouse.  We played with a cpl we knew from WVB and started out OK but bogged down & couldn’t make progress, so lost the rest of the hands and the game.  We’re not sure we like the rules here for Hand & Foot, We like our rules at home better; we think it makes the game less frustrating and gives more chances & options to play cards.  We came home & watched “The Rookie” on TV before bedtime.

Day 64 March 18 Monday

The weather is improving very quickly, it hardly goes below 50 F at night & is much warmer in the morning, this morning it was 55  F at 9:15 & 60 F when I left for WVB about 10:15.  At GVP there have been some staff changes other than a new manager and they don’t seem to have the previous reliable people to work on the swimming pool temperatures.  Some days, (not every day just once in a while), one pool will be way cooler than it should be & the other one way hotter, almost approaching hot tub temp.  I am quite happy with the warm pool but don’t like the cooler ones.  After WVB I came back home for lunch, Sheila didn’t go to WVB today, she didn’t sleep well.   I think she is losing her tolerance for hot & cool temperature fluctuations in the RV, (hot in the day & cool to cold at night).  She wants the heat on and then she wants the A/C on.  She likes to have the bedroom A/C on to cool it down for sleeping. These morning we only run the furnace a short time as it is usually into the 60’s F inside the RV when we get up.  The RV holds the heat from the night before and doesn’t get down to outside temps.  We went out for supplies in the afternoon.  Having a small RV sized fridge means more grocery trips than at home.  We took a lazy day off & just stayed at the RV in the evening. 

Day 63 March 17 Sunday

Today we went up to the Elks Lodge for their Sunday brunch, (served 9 to noon).  We met Larry & Judy there at 9.  It was a very nice brunch, made to order omelettes with about a dozen choices for add-ins, one of which was crabmeat, although the imitation one it is still good.  Coffee/tea were included, OJ was the only extra, plus they had  nice warm buns, bacon, ham, an Italian sausage, hash browns, corned beef hash, 3 salads—potato, fruit and crab, fresh-baked cinnamon buns, as well as several salsa/guacamole toppings.  I only got halfway through before I was full and the cost was only $10!  Unfortunately, there’ll only be one more brunch next week as the couple that has been providing food for the Hemet Elks functions is quitting and no one seems to know what is happening in the future.   After that we came back to play WVB till noon.  I didn’t need any lunch, just a cool drink. After the “lunch” break Sheila was feeling tired & lay down for a nap.  I decided to check out my tire inflating equipment so I took it out & hooked it up. It worked perfectly and is just what I wanted for our tires. After we went out to the 99 cent store as I needed some AAA batteries and a cpl other things.  Back at the rig I had some more of out Spud night leftover potatoes with a chilli & corn mixture over them, mmm good.   We’ve been doing really well with the leftover food from the set meals we’ve been getting at events lately and it’s been mostly our own meals that we couldn’t finish.  Other food has been leftover at the event where they announced there was extra food & if anyone wanted it, help yourself. After supper I went up to the clubhouse to play Pegs & Jokers.  We had a table of 6 so we made up 2 teams for 3 games.  I was on the winning team for 2 of the games.  Then back to the RV about 9:30.  Sheila didn’t feel like playing the game so she stayed to watch TV and catch up on the blog that she proof reads for me and adds bits of her own. 

Day 62 March 16 Saturday

We got up to sun again; I think the summer has arrived here for sure.  We had a lazy morning because the Pool party is this afternoon and the pool area is closed 7 AM to 11:30 AM for set up of the stage etc.  I went up just after 11:30 and got a good seat in front of the stage across the pool.  The regulars are playing WVB while everyone else is watching & listening to the group.  They did some great music to start with; I knew all the songs & music they played.  Sheila was late arriving so missed the first ½ hour or so.  The Mexican restaurant El Patron was serving food & Sheila got a plate which was enough for us both.  It came with salsa & it was way too hot for Sheila and even I found it a bit much so I stopped having it.  I think I am losing my tolerance for highly spiced food.  What’s next? – Pabulum for all meals?  Anyway we had a great afternoon and came back to the RV to relax in the sun.  Sheila took a nap and I just vegged out in the comfy passenger side recliner chair.  Tonight after supper we tried to watch a DVD movie we brought down with us, but couldn’t get the movie to play.  All that came on was the cast & director talking about the movie, not the movie itself.  I was feeling tired so I went to bed early, (10:00 p.m.)  Sheila stayed up to watch some TV

Day 61 March 15 Friday

The sunny weather is here! It was up to 60 F before 10 AM.  I went off to the morning WVB and had lots of fun.  It was quite a gusty wind so that played tricks on the ball & added to the fun.  Hot tub after then home for lunch of the leftover Panda Express from yesterday, I was full with just my leftover half.  It’s time for R & R in the sun this afternoon then Mocktails night tonight.  As of 4 pm it is now 80 F in the RV with doors & windows open & the ceiling fan on low, wonderful!  It was a crowded evening at Mocktails as it is the first really nice weather Friday.  I was in shorts & short sleeve shirt till 8 PM & didn’t fell at all cold, mind you they did have the gas heaters out but even walking back to the car with our chair it was not the cold that we have felt at 8 PM on previous nights. We watched a movie on TV, the “Men in Black II” that was no where near as good as the first, same cast but not a good story line & not well done.  

Day 60 March 14 Thursday

Yahoo ! A sunny day again, it looks like we are back to normal weather here.  I heard some one in the WVB game saying that the news said that for the first time in 150 years LA did not have a 70 degree temperature day in the month of February.  Anyway warm weather is here now and fortunately we have enough tan to not burn, although Sheila still uses sun tan lotion.  I use it every so often but only on my face.  I came back to the RV after hot tubing and Sheila went up for the 1 PM game.  Today I had a good day in the game; I hit what came to me and I missed hardly any. Back to RV for lunch.  Sheila went up for the 1 PM game & had a good game. I relaxed in the RV on the nice warm afternoon. Sheila came home, and then we went out to get more milk.  The big 4 litre, (1 gallon down here), bottles do not fit in the fridge well – they go in but take up too much space and have to be fitted into a corner. The ½ gallon ones fit on the door which is very convenient as we take it out every day.  So, seeing as we were out & it was supper time we took our coupons for the Panda Express and got an order each. We both ended up bringing about half of it back home.  So for $20.00 we have 4 meals.  Back at the RV I checked the TV schedule and we watched about 2 hours of some on our favorite shows before bedtime.  It doesn’t really matter if we see them or miss them as they are all recording at home anyway.

Day 59 March 13 Wednesday

Lovely and sunny and warm.  Off to WVB but I had an off day, I couldn’t hit anything right.  Hot tub after the game then home for lunch – the leftover full meal from Mondays St Pats Dinner, (we already ate the éclairs).   Sheila went out to get some supplies at Winco & I just relaxed and did some small chores.  Then about 4:15 we headed out to spud night in the ballroom.  We had a table with some of the WVB’ers and had a nice time.  They did Karaoke after dinner starting about 6:30 or so.  Sheila went to the computer room to look up some stuff because she found the music too loud where we were sitting, I didn’t and I didn’t want to move back leaving the people at the table and go sit by ourselves.  About 7:30 or so I went to check on Sheila & she was still busy looking up stuff on the computer.  So I set up a pick up time & came back home.  I saw that a show called “Chicago Fire” was on so I thought I’d watch it.  Mistake, I changed channels ½ ways through it. Yes it was about a fire station but it seemed to be full of on-going soap opera type stories on the characters and confrontation stuff between the fire truck crew.  The fact that they periodically went out to fight fires seemed incidental to the interaction & involvement of the characters with each other.

Day 58 March 12 Tuesday

Breakfast club day so off to the J & M cafe across town, got there around 8:30. Had a nice breakfast and then back to GVP for WVB.  We played our usual game till noon then Hot Tub time and home for a light lunch before heading out to El Patron for the Tuesday Happy Hour that a few of the WVB’ers got to now.  It’s quite a ways east on Florida and as it turned out only 4 others were there.  The Margarita’s are $4.75 and pop is $2.50.  We had a good time then home for a light supper after which I went out to play Hand & Foot at the clubhouse. Sheila stayed at the RV while I had fun playing with 3 ladies and regaling them with my witty comments etc. Home after the game and early to bed.  All this fun and activity is tiring me out.

Day 57 March 11 Monday

It was very overcast this morning, there was no wind but I decided to skip WVB, so did Sheila.  (I think I’m still trying to recover from Daylight Saving Time clock roll-forward).  The mid-morning temperature is now in the upper 40’s F, (8-9 C).  We are finally getting forecast temps in the high 60’s & 70’s F, (20 +C), for later in the week.  After a trip to Winco to get a few items, we had a lunch of last night’s leftovers.  Then, we relaxed until it is time for the St Patty’s Day event tonight starting at 4:30 PM.  It is fully catered as was last night’s dinner with all beverages, beer & wine only, (no spirits), provided, I hope they have some pop. We got into out green gear and headed out. We found our table and they do have pop. so no problem. They had people telling Irish jokes & singing as entertainment. Then the M.C. called out that if you had someone at the table “over 85”, your table could go up. A couple more calls & they hit “over 79” so away our table went, (I was the only one over 79).  We had a nice meal of corned beef, potatoes, green beans, Irish soda bread (which was really good), and a salad that I didn’t take any of as it was mostly cucumbers.  For dessert, they had some chocolate éclairs that were filled with the most delicious cream.  They said there was more food if anyone wanted extra.  I was full from the main course but I could manage another éclair so I got one for me & one for Sheila, then, towards the end of the evening when they announced there were leftovers, she went up & got a half dozen pieces of the Irish soda bread & 2 éclairs which we brought home. And someone at the table couldn’t eat her éclair so I got it – nummy!  They closed with the singing of Danny Boy.  We came home about 7:30 and I worked on our expenses excel account and Blog while Sheila recorded today’s activity and calories consumed.  Then at 10 pm, we watched “Bull” on TV.

Day 56 March 10 Sunday

A lot of cloud and very little sun.  I went up for WVB, Sheila also came about an hour later. After hot tub time & changing, back at the RV we had a light lunch then went up to help decorate the hall for out Water Volley Ball Season End Dinner.  It all started about 3:30.  They had games set up, (tossing a volley ball into a basket by bouncing it off the floor, and a bean bag toss, for which you got tickets that would be drawn for prizes).  Dinner was fully catered and very good, they had lots & encouraged seconds but we were full so Sheila got a plate to bring home for tomorrow’s lunch.  There was also a very nice cake for dessert, (I was in the right place at the right time & I got a large corner piece with lots of delicious icing).  Then they drew the 25/25/25/25 draw, all the money from ticket sales was given away, I had one of the tickets & won $75.00.  They had lots of door prizes but I didn’t win any, plus they had small awards given to people. They read out Yvonne’s card to everyone & said how impressed they were by her determination to play and how she worked to do it.  In the joke category of prizes, Sheila got a small plastic trophy cup for “Most Improved”;  they also did a prize for shortest woman in the game, and ‘who spent the most time underwater’, (Joannie & Big Jim), ‘who was most helpful,’ (Jim Best won that one), and several others like that.  It was a lot of fun!  As soon as it ended about 6:00, we went across the hall to the Sunday evening Bridge game as they needed an extra couple.  For our $2.00 entry we came out with $3.00 as we had the 3^rd highest score of the 8 couples playing.  So it was a good day all round. . .  Back to the RV to relax before the next event tomorrow. 

Day 55 March 9 Saturday

Mix of cloud & sun so off to WVB followed by a short hot tub & then the pool patio where they have music playing and a portable BBQ offering hot BBQ’ed meat on a bun.  Sheila had come up for the last 15 minutes of the WVB game as her perm was OK to get wet now.  We split a bun with BBQ beef heaped on it--it was good, and listened to the musician playing music for a while.  Sheila, while sitting at the table managed to jam her right big toe against the heavy metal table leg & split her toe nail.  She went back to the RV to bandage it then came up to play in the afternoon WVB as it was a nice sunny day.  She’ll see a nail salon to see if they can fix it later but may have to go to a doctor to get it cleaned and properly bandaged up.  She seemed to be playing WVB no problem in the afternoon so maybe a simple bandage is all it needs.  It’s not hurting either.  However, the nail shop said they couldn’t fix it properly, she should see a Doctor to get the nail cut & cleaned out & bandaged properly.   She has an address for an urgent care clinic that is open Sundays.  Around 4 PM we headed out to Abby’s Café on east Florida that was recommended by Jim & Cindy of WVB.  Found it & it is quite nice, tasty food & reasonable to cheap prices, but right at the east end of Florida, so it’s a long drive. Then, it was back to the Historic Theatre for Jim Curry’s “John Denver tribute show”.  It was great!  The group was Jim Curry and his wife on guitar plus with a pianist, flute player & a mandolin/banjo player.  They did great John Denver music.  We really enjoyed it!  I bought one of his CD’s & in talking to his wife, found out that they will be in White Rock in early April, the 6^th I think.  We will still be here but, if there are any John Denver fans reading this, or your friends are, tell them it is a great show!  We also discovered a place to RV to someday.  Aspen Colorado has a John Denver Memorial garden with lyrics to his songs etc embossed on rocks.  They had a movie of it playing behind them on a screen while they performed.  We want to go there, but it will have to be summer as it is a ski resort & up in the mountains.  After the show we came back to GVP & stopped in at the Fringe Street dance going on in the ballroom to see what they were playing.  We stayed about 10-15 minutes; we weren’t impressed with their selections at the time as they had moved from 50/60’s music to disco stuff.  Then, back home to our cosy RV.

re St. Patrick's event on Monday March 11

The pictures are from Monday evening. I am behind in my posting so this is 2 days early, sorry. I have trouble getting pictures to post to the blog so when it works I need to publish. 

Sheila & I at St. Pats night

Sheila & I at St. Patrick's event

The salad, soda bread & eclairs in
the background

Day 54 March 8 Friday

A bit of sun peeking through clouds but mild so off to WVB, Sheila was still nursing her perm and fast asleep in bed.  I don’t know if the perm was an excuse to sleep in or not.  We still have enough people here to split into two pools with 12 in each pool but some of the people that come down in October or November are heading home, some to cold climates & snow.  A wind came up that was a bit gusty so I was glad Sheila was back at the RV in case the awning needed rolling up a bit.  If the wind gets too high, over 20-25 mph, it can flip your awning over the top of the RV which basically destroys the awning, an expensive fix. After the game & hot tub I came back to the RV & Sheila was up and making lunch, (I think it was breakfast for her). The sun came out in full and the wind dropped for a nice afternoon.  Tonight is Mocktails night so we are off to indulge in Taco chips with hot cheese, chili/beef sauce and any add-ins you can possibly think of, plus they have hot coffee & hot chocolate for me, Sheila has her Fireball whiskey.  They have the large heaters & fire stands & I had a large heater behind me so I could feel the heat on my head if I leaned back a little but there was a very slight breeze & I got freezing cold fingers after an hour of so.  I returned home & left Sheila to enjoy the music, it was really good, but my hands & fingers were really cold, the rest of me was OK, just fingers were freezing.  It was a clear night so the temp may have dipped quite low.  Sheila came back to the RV about an hour or so later.  She stopped to look up something in the clubhouse computers.  Back at the RV I found the special remote and finally figured out how to play a DVD on our TV so we watched a couple of episodes of “Barney Miller” as we had a DVD with the first season on it, (1974).  In talking with RV’ers that have been travelling around the south west this winter, all of southern CA as well Arizona, (Yuma), & south Nevada have been having colder weather than normal for this time of year.

Day 53 March 7 Thursday

Paul & Yvonne are pulling our about 10 this morning and Sheila went to see them off.  I am stuck at the RV waiting for the propane truck to arrive.  Sheila arrived back at the RV about 10:40 so I left her to deal with the propane truck & went up to WVB.  It was off    & on sunny but it was a fun game.  After Hot tub I came back for lunch. No propane truck yet and Sheila was going to the movie “The Favourite” with Judy Shaffer this afternoon for the 2:40 show. Larry wasn’t interested in going.  And as I didn’t want to see it anyway, plus I had to wait for the propane truck, that all worked out fine.  After some cloud this morning the sun came out about 11:30 and it is a nice warm day.  The propane truck arrived around 3 PM & I took 11.3 USG so that’s finished and I am just waiting for Sheila to return from the movie so all 4 of us can go out to supper.  Sheila was back about 4:20 and the four of us headed out to Lil’ Angies Restaurant, (just up the street on Florida) by 4:45 pm.  Even though it’s under new management, the menu, prices, 50’s décor and food seem to be the same as last year.  I had the ½ rack of pork ribs, $13.49, —yummy as usual, and Sheila tried the Chicken Pot Pie on the Senior’s menu, $9.49.  Everyone was envious of her because it looked so good, and it tasted as good as it looked, she said.  It wasn’t the usual round pie with regular pie pastry.  It was a huge, (plate-size), ‘boat’ of fluffy, croissant pastry filled with a rich, creamy sauce containing lots of chunks of chicken, peas & carrots, she had to bring some home.  After supper, we returned to Larry & Judy’s to play 3 rounds, (12 hands of Bridge), before returning to our RV for the usual hour of TV before bedtime.  Sheila stayed up even later; (2:30 am) tonight watching sit-com re-runs as she should not play WVB tomorrow in case she gets her hair wet and weakens her perm.  So, the morning will be a ‘sleep-in’ time for her.

Day 52 March 6 Wednesday

Yup, we got rain, it started at night & kept going all night steadily, and off & on through the morning into the afternoon.  Sheila went out for a hair perm appointment at 11:30 AM so isn’t expected back for least 3 hours or so, I am back at the RV puttering around etc. and planning supper.  Tonight we have the concert at GVP “Tribute to Classic Soul & Motown”. Our seats were front row center and I loved it.  The group, “Stone Soul” were 8 men, 3 on brass, (2 sax & one trumpet), one bass guitar, one treble guitar, a double keyboard player, a drummer, & a singer.  They played solidly from 7 to almost 9 and I don’t know how the singer survived, he was movin & groovin all the time and singing very enthusiastically. It was loud up front & I could feel the music, I was in heaven, Sheila wasn’t too thrilled with the volume.  Sheila has decided that, in future, even though she really likes the music that the tribute groups GVP brings in to play, she won’t pay $40 US to have her ears assaulted even when she’s wearing sponge &/or Kleenex ear plugs!   Almost 100 % of the songs I knew and really liked, best concert I have been to in a long time, I hope they have them back next year!  Paul & Yvonne went to a movie “The Favourite” which got the Oscar for best female actress. It ran later than the concert so we didn’t see them that night to see what they thought of the movie.  I had read the synopsis of it and I didn’t think I would like it.  Sheila still wants to go. 

Day 51 March 5 Tuesday

A nice day dawned for a change, sunny & warm—i.e. high 60’s.  So we are off to the pool for a nice game of WVB.  Sheila only played a half hour in the morning, but she played again in the afternoon while she waited for our two loads of wash to dry.  There were only 4 and 5 a side, but she said it was one of the “funnest” games she’s played so far because the other players were all very good—there were lots of good rallies and she got she got to “play the ball” a lot, plus there was the usual joking and teasing amongst the players who know each other very well.  Paul & Yvonne are leaving on Thursday, (day after tomorrow). They wanted to have a nice goodbye event but with the iffy weather we have been having down here an outdoor happy hour/meal at their trailer seemed chancy.  Then Larry & Judy offered their Park Model home as an alternative so Paul planned a nice supper event and did all the cooking and prep.  We had a very nice meal together.   After supper Larry & Judy taught us the game of “Fast Track” which everyone enjoyed.  It’s a bit like “Jokers and Pegs,” but easier.  It was a fun evening of eating, playing & talking together.  It did actually sprinkle a bit in the evening so outside would not have been a good option. With the cooler weather we are using our propane heater a lot and burning through our propane supply.  We seem to go through a tank in about 3 weeks more of less, fill ups have been 10.5 to 11 USG.  The tank, bone dry, will take over 14 USG, (with the safety valve system they have on tanks now you can’t fill them to capacity which on our tank is 16 USG), but we don’t want to run out even though we have alternatives for heat, cooking etc. It is also hard to tell how much is actually left in the tank, both our fill ups have been when the gauge needle is showing on empty.  It’s not a big nuisance to fill as the truck comes to us & they just run a hose to the tank.   It only takes about 5 minutes, but I have to wait at the RV for them to come whenever they get to you, so far it has been in the mid to late morning.  Back at the RV, we watched the 11 PM news.   A major rain & lightning storm is hitting LA and should pass a bit north of us but we may get some rain from it.  The weather here is such that it is a major news item & often the lead item on the 11 PM news hour

Day 50 March 4 Monday

It was 52 F at 9:00 AM, we went up for WVB. We planned to see the movie “Green Book” and the only time that worked was the 7:45 show. After supper in the RV we picked up Paul & Yvonne & went out to the theatre.  The movie was about 2 real people & at the end they did a bit about their lives after the events of the movie.  I like that when there are real people involved, they show what happens to them after the movie events and they often have photos of the real people.  We all enjoyed the movie.  Afterwards, we all came back to our RV for dessert.  (At Sheila’s request, I had made up a fruit salad before going out to the movie.)  Other than the lousy weather we are having, it’s loads of fun down here. 

Day 49 March 3 Sunday SHEILA’S BIRTHDAY

I had a card beside Sheila’s side of the bed for her to open in the morning.  We arose to a partly cloudy day & went up for WVB.  The sun was in & out of some clouds and a breeze started up which was gusty and even though it affected the ball a lot, we kept playing till 12 o’ clock.  After the game and a short hot tub it was back to the RV to get ready to go out to Sheila’s birthday meal at Red Lobster.  We left about 1:30, picked up Larry & Judy and drove down to Red Lobster in Temecula.  We got there about 2:15.  Paul & Yvonne were already there.  We got our table and had a great time talking & eating lobster and assorted sea food dishes. It was a great meal!  Sheila brought almost ½ of hers home, it was so large—a steak, two lobster tails, a dish of chopped lobster in a sauce and green beans.  Then, she was served a free chocolate sundae with six spoons and a candle in it.  After she blew it out, we all sang her “Happy Birthday.”  Then, she passed her sundae around so everyone could have a spoonful.   Sheila got cards from Paul & Yvonne and Judy & Larry.  We finally left about 4:30, got a waitress to take our picture outside the restaurant and drove home.  We were both tired so went for a short nap.  Then just R & R at home.

Sheila at Sweet Baby Janes rib dinner with Paul & Yvonne

Pictures from Sheila's Red Lobster Dinner

Day 48 March 2 Saturday - A lazy day

Well, it rained all night so we slept in, thanks rain!  After a nice bacon & eggs breakfast I went out on errands.  I need gas in the car & money in my wallet plus assorted bits & pieces we needed.  The weather started to clear & was sunny but then a few minutes of light rain would occur, a good day to be inside relaxing.  So we did.  The temperature stayed reasonable so we didn’t need the furnace at all, we just ran the propane heater a bit.  We had grilled cheese sandwiches and Sheila’s left over soup from the Elks Dinner Dance on Friday.  The soup was called Chicken Pot Pie; it was thick & perfectly named, lots of chicken & really good.  We discovered that it is a commercially canned soup, we though it was homemade.  We will keep a lookout for it and bring some home if we find it, although it may be canned for commercial operations and sold wholesale in large quantities.