THIS IS FOR YOU SOPHIE

This is a special blog for our granddaughter, Sophie.



Dear Sophie,

I wanted to write you a letter, a good old-fashioned letter.  But in this day and age, letters are just that, old-fashioned.  I thought this might be a better, more techi way.

We haven't seen you for a while due to Grandpa and Gramma's different way of life.  But we think of you everyday.  Mommy keeps us up to date with your day to day life by way of pictures on Facebook.  You are growing up so fast.

When we started out on our traveling life, I was concerned that you would forget us.  After-all, you were just 2 years old.  But no, we returned, knocked on your door and you ran to us.  A little shy but still.

We come back to see you every spring and often you, your Mom and your Dad came camping at Monck Park.

The last couple of years you have enjoyed playing Dr. Mario with Grampa and I.  

And you are learning to play Scrabble.  We know how smart you are Sophie and soon we won't be able to keep up with you.

Please have Mom post lots of pictures of you at dance.  We are so proud of all your accomplishments at dance.  Keep it up.

Anyhow Soph, I just wanted you to know that we think of you all the time and we LOVE you so very much.

Here are just a few of our memories.

A LONG DRIVE - All the Way to Bagley

Our intention was to have an overnight in a parking lot somewhere near Duluth, Minnesota.  But we got going and Doug didn't want to stop.  510 miles from Madison, Wisconsin to Bagley, Minnesota.

It was raining and we needed to turn on the defroster.  We had been in so much humidity, that turning on the defroster sent up a stream of steam.  Visibility = zero.  We had to pull over on a narrow shoulder and towel dry the windshield.  But we were fine.

We arrived at son David's on Saturday suppertime.  We will spend at least two weeks here with David, his wife Stefani and their son Nickolas.  We will celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving on Sunday the 8th with extended family including granddaughter, Lizzy who now lives in Fargo.

We need this time.  This morning I baked.  Seems like ages ago that I baked.  I cleaned and organized.  I am beginning to get my energy back.

I will end with a chuckle.  I wanted to get the "Welcome to Minnesota" sign to show David and family that we were in the state.  I aimed and shot.  Do you think I could have done any better not getting the shot.

You can just see the beginning of the sign post!!

ELKHART/GOSHEN/SOUTH BEND? INDIANA OR MICHIGAN - Your Choice

What title of this blog entry means is that all those places are really the same place - the rv manufacturing capital of the world.  All the factories are here.  We are going our the factory tour for our motorhome - Thor Challenger - tomorrow afternoon.


Yesterday we crossed paths with Jan and Bill Mains again.  We last saw them in Fort MacLeod, Alberta.  Jan and Bill are here for a Montana Owners rally at the fair grounds.  Their friends Harry and Carlena are tagging along.  We met them for lunch.  Good to see them again.

Carlena and Harry

Bill and Jan

This morning we went to The RV/Motorhome Hall of Fame.  Those of you who know me well, know I don't generally do museums.  This was different. 

 

It is a very interesting walk through the history of RV's and motorhomes.  From 1913 to present day, people have been taking to the road in their vehicles.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

A few photos of some of the more interesting ones.

This was Mae West's touring home, chauffeur driven of course. 

The last four photos have quite a story.  This motorhome, a fairly recent one, was manufactured as a "party room" to go along with a motorhome.  It has no beds, and no stove.  It does have a fabulous bathroom and a wine cooler.  At a cost of $500,000, this custom made party on wheels never made it on the road because it was top heavy and he couldn't get it registered to drive.

Tomorrow is our factory tour and then we are off to David's house in Minnesota.  Two one night stops first.

NIAGARA FALLS

Doug opted to bite the bullet and drive the direct route through Toronto.  For those of you who have never experienced Toronto traffic, this is quite a feat with our 38 foot motorhome hauling our car trailer.  Kudos to my husband.

We are staying at the KOA in Niagara Falls.

  Niagara Falls is more than the falls, much more than we expected.  It is quite a large city with numerous attractions.  We have three days here.  Today we did the falls, spectacular, and Niagara Falls Floral House.

I found the falls breath-taking.  Such a natural, unbridled beauty.  We didn't do all the touristy things but we did take the Sky Tower 775 feet up.  The view was spectacular.  Lots of pictures can be taken just walking the street.

The American side

The Canadian side

Upon leaving we found The Niagara Falls Floral House.  Although it was hot and humid, we loved the flowers, inside and out.  Lots of very creative displays and a miniature village and train.  There were not the crowds there were at the falls.

Niagara Falls also has the large entertainment district with clubs, restaurants, casinos and amusement rides.  Not for us.

Tomorrow we will explore a bit more of the area.  Sunday morning we will cross the US border at Fort Erie and begin our winter travels.

LONDON: Colchester and the wedding

We were gratefully delivered to our hotel by cousin Barry and his wife Linda.  After settling in and freshening up we went out for a meal and met the charming 7 year old Maddison.

Thursday we braved the train and traveled to Colchester to visit family friend, Sayuri, her husband and daughters.  Although we got there fine, we did travel on the train ticketless until the ticket taker caught us.  We pleaded ignorance and he was very understanding.

Mayumi, Sayuri, myself and Kimi

Friday was the wedding.  We knew the English were partiers, but WOW.  Great food, loud live music, dancing and drinking.  We danced and drank but not like most of them.  We got back to the hotel after 1:00 am.

Here are a few pictures.

Ryder boys Derek, Allan, and Barry and Derek's wife Sheena

Gwen and her grandson, my 3rd cousin Daniel

The wedding cake was mostly cupcakes

The beautiful bride NATALIE

The dancing!

Doug, Barry, Daniel and his daughter Maddison

Now for the bad news.  We are not sleeping more than a few hours a night.  I am not a good sleeper at the best of times and that coupled with jet lag, a strange bed and our inexperience getting around without a car, we are exhausted.  We have cancelled Paris and are looking to fly out this week. Don't be too sad for us, we are anxious to get back to our regular traveling life.  We have had fun.

A VACATION

I know, you all think we are on a permanent vacation.  No, that's our life.  We have chores, housework, cooking, and laundry.  Yes retired, but this life takes quite a bit of work.

So today we are going on vacation.  We have left the coach in Fenelon Falls, Ontario and are in a hotel in Toronto.

Right outside the hotel window on the 10th floor

The view from our hotel window.  Notice two more planes coming in

 We drove down yesterday.  Traffic was terrible.  So today we will do a little shopping, maybe catch a movie, park the car in a long term parking facility, and get to the airport plenty of time.

We fly to London tonight.  Flying from Toronto takes 3 hours ooff the flight to London.  My cousin Barry and his wife, Linda, will be there to pick us up.

Barry and Linda

We were last in England 19 years ago.  Barry and Linda visited us in Surrey the following year. They brought Barry's mother Gwen with them.  Doug and I made a promise to Gwen that we would be back.  She is very old now but going strong.

My great aunt Gwen, the bride to be Natalie, and Linda's Mom

Friday is the wedding of Barry and Linda's daughter Natalie.  What fun it will be for us to meet dozens of relatives all in one place.

We will be in London 10 days and then we will take the Eurostar through the chunnel to Paris.  We used Airbnb and have a full apartment for a week.  We will do a few touristy things but mostly relax.  We have had a pretty tough year so far.



We fly back September 27th, pick up the motorhome and then begin our regular winter travels.

I have not brought my laptop on this vacation so i will be posting from my tablet.  Pictures may be difficult but I will blog regularly.

Bon Voyage to us!