My shift was busier than the evening shift I worked last week...before I knew it, Sue was in! And Steve...well, he was very busy! As the early guy he has 12 bathrooms to clean plus all the garbage and recycling to do. It was Sunday and time for 90% of the campers to head out, so he, Gord, and Doug were busy cleaning 60+ sites.
After dinner, I decided to get out for a little exercise and take Tucker for a walk around the campground...After my walk, I decided to treat myself to my very first Magnum ice cream bar...very tasty! No, I'm not sharing, Tucker!
Monday was another very busy day for Steve...with Gord off today and Doug B not on until 2 this afternoon, he was all on his own cleaning sites. Doug ended up coming on an hour early and helping him out. Thanks Doug!
The gatehouse was fairly steady...mainly visitors to the day-use area as a couple of schools were having their school end field trips. The view from my office window this morning...Tucker and I went for another walk after dinner. He's taking himself for a walk back up the road into the compound...too cute!
Tuesday the radio call went out...one of the campers coming in had a bit of a mishap. I guess he got all leveled off and unhitched but forgot to block the tires on his trailer...next thing he knew, it was rolling down the bank at the back of his site...Luckily the trailer got hung up on some large rocks...
Later on that afternoon, we were relaxing inside the trailer when I heard something outside...a deer was coming down the bank...
Wednesday evening we had company! Steve's aunt from Edmonton was driving out to visit her son in Vancouver and stopped along the way to see us. Esther arrived just in time for dinner...a long day of driving for her! We relaxed with a beverage while Steve grilled burgers for dinner. Left to right...Doug, Sue, Esther and me...
After dinner, the three of us went for a walk around the campground, showing Esther our beautiful park...
Thursday morning, we were up bright and early for work...sorry for waking you Esther! Although short, we had had a really nice visit. So good spending time with you, Esther, looking forward to seeing you again this December...in Mexico!
Our day shifts went well today...we seem to be "getting into the groove". There are a lot of reservations coming in for the weekend...about a dozen today but over 50 tomorrow. With school out this week, families are starting their vacations, so it should be pretty steady from now on.
Steve took this picture while out on his rounds...another horrible view while at work!
We enjoyed happy hour with Sue and Doug and then after dinner, they invited us over for dessert. Sue made the most delicious dessert...Sex In a Pan! Wow! It was awesome! Thanks guys!
Friday...our day off! Doug and Sue are on days, but with some banked hours to use, Doug only worked a few hours and then he and Steve loaded their fishing gear and tubes into Doug's truck and they headed off to Blue Lake for a day of fishing. It was shortly after 10:00 when they drove by the gatehouse, told Sue they'd see us tonight...and were off.
Here are pictures Steve took of their day...
Blue Lake...don't know why it's not named Green Lake :-)Doug launching off...
and patiently waiting...
Fish on! These guys were camping here for the weekend and having more luck then us...
This fish was too big for Steve's 16" net...it kept jumping out. A nice 20" rainbow trout.
Next stop Little Peter Hope Lake. This was a nasty spot to put in. We spooked a bunch of geese from here so the ground was like a mine field, and the shore was very muddy and weedy.
Doug caught 3 here and Steve one. They had a couple of bets, a loonie ($1.00) for biggest fish and another for the most fish. Steve got the biggest and Doug the most so nobody had to pay up. It was a very hot day and the fishing was slow. Our legs got an 8 hour workout!
After Sue got off shift, we sat outside in the shade...it was a very hot day with temps into the 30's C (high 80's F). I was surprised when the guys weren't home in time for happy hour...and really surprised when they weren't home by 7:00. By this time, Sue asked me if I'd like to join her for dinner, so she made Caesar Salad and prawns...yum, thanks Sue!
It was going on 9:00 when Sue and I decided to wander down to the gatehouse and see how Toni was doing. It was a busy Friday night with lots of campers coming in. After chatting for a bit, we were about to go for a walk around the campground when a familiar truck came down the hill...Doug and Steve were finally home! As you can see from the pictures above, they had a great day!
It's hard to believe...but five years ago, June 25th was our last day of work, the end of our professional lives! And June 26th marks five years since we left Vancouver Island and started this amazing lifestyle...life on the road. Time to move on into another phase of our life...retirement! In those 5 years we've visited some awesome places and met a lot of fabulous people. We've become good friends with many of them...meeting up with each other time and again on both sides of the border. What a life we lead!
First of all, Steve set out his fishing paraphernalia to dry after washing all the mud off...Then he changed the water filters. Good thing he double filters! The water here is not very good...it is apparently "safe" but we don't drink it, instead we buy bottled water. The water, after filtered into our tank, is fine for showering and dishes. This is the secondary filter. On the left is a new one and the one on the right is the old one after 2 months of use. In the 5 years of using these filters Steve said he has never had one look this bad. They usually still look like the new one when replaced.
It was going on 11:30 when we fired up Buster and headed off...we don't drive him much, only once a week when we go out to Merritt for provisions. Today, though, we are going out for lunch before going into Merritt.
We drove along the other side of the lake on highway 5A...It's another gorgeous day...and it's a hot one! Temps are expected to go well into the 30's...
This is the golf course adjacent to the Quilchena Hotel...Our destination for lunch today...the Quilchena Hotel...
We chose the Saloon to have our lunch in rather than the dining room. Yep...that's water!
Steve decided to splurge and ordered the Steak Sandwich...after all, the Quilchena Hotel is owned by the Douglas Lake Ranch...where prime cattle are raised. Well, he ended up sending it back because it was like chewing rubber...such a disappointment! He had a burger instead that was delicious. I had Ginger Beef Lettuce Wraps...very messy to eat, but very tasty!
Afterwards we wandered over and checked out the General Store...
There is also a Sports Bar and Restaurant on the Golf Course (same menu as the Saloon)....
After lunch and wandering around, it was time to get our shopping and errands over with. Another great view as we drive west towards Merritt...Nicola Lake is quite stunning, especially with clear blue sky!
We were back home just after 4:00. It was 34C/94F outside, so we hunkered down inside the trailer where the AC was blasting away try to keep that heat out. We had it set for 23C/74F but with only one AC unit it could only maintain 27C/80F
That pretty well sums up the past week. Tomorrow we start a week of afternoon/evenings...stay tuned next week for another update....
