We arrived at La Quinta Inn Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in Tempe at around 12:30. We were early on purpose...we wanted to ensure we found a spot to park the truck. Apparently it's NASCAR weekend and they were going to be very busy. We found a spot for Buster (well, 4 actually) and went in to see if a room was available since check-in wasn't until 3:00. No problem.
We chilled for a couple of hours in the room and then went next door to Denny's and split a sandwich...just a light lunch because we were going out for dinner with Deb and Ray. They had emailed to say they were in the area and asked if we wanted to meet for dinner...excellent!
After a stop in Sidney, we made it to the house. We no sooner got in when I got a text from Chris saying that he and Angela had made the 3:00 ferry...so they will be here just before 5:00! Awesome, considering he didn't think that they'd be on a ferry until after 5:00 since Angela had to work until 4:00, but she managed to get off work early.
You'll have to excuse the quality of some of the photos. Because we couldn't get our camera from the post office before leaving Quartzsite....I only had my finicky phone camera.
Bryce trying out his new jolly-jumper...I think he liked it! That's Conner in the background.
Steve's dad had suffered from chronic pain for many years and has had no quality of life since his wife Barbara passed in 2006, so his passing is really a blessing. If there is a positive to the passing of a loved one, like a wedding, it brings family and friends together.
Saturday, family and friends gathered at First Memorial Funeral Services in Royal Oak (on the outskirts of Victoria) for a noon service. As usual, Uncle Gord did an awesome job. Steve's nephew, Matthew, read a favourite scripture...it was very emotional for him. That's Uncle Gord and Conner in the background...
Before bedtime, Conner wanted to show us his Halloween costume he wore (or should I say, one of them)...He made such a cute (Orca) Killer Whale!
Angie cooked a lovely roast beef dinner...complete with roasted potatoes and quinoa salad. Delicious, Angie...thanks so much!
Here is Uncle Gord holding Bryce...
Tuesday morning, Steve drove Uncle Gord and Aunt Esther to the airport for their flight back to Edmonton. So very good seeing you both...looking forward to spending more time with you in a couple of weeks when we meet again in Cabo San Lucas.
Steve and I babysat Bryce while Angie dropped Conner off at playschool and then went to her exercise class. Poor Brycey is teething and feeling a little off sorts. I was having a hard time trying to get him to sleep...when Steve said he'd give Gramma a break. Well, he had him for just a few minutes when I looked over at them...Bryce was sound asleep (Steve was feeling a little smug about that!)
Dave and Kerry came out that evening to stay a few nights and spend time with us and Rob, Angie and the kids. We enjoyed a big feast of Chinese food that we ordered in.
Wednesday we had a relaxing morning and then Dave, Kerry, Steve and I went into Sidney for a short walk along the waterfront. After that we headed to Brentwood Pub in the Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa...lunch time!We stopped out at Mike and Nadine's for a moment, and then on our way home we picked up flowers and went to the cemetery...flowers for Steve's mom and dad, and mine.
That evening Rob and Angie went out on a date leaving the four of us to babysit. They had a lovely time...and a wonderful dinner; and were home in time to put the boys to bed.
Thursday...and our last day in Victoria. Wow, what a whirlwind week this has been!
Steve called RV Lifestyles to see how they made out with our repairs. It was done and RVZZ in Utah paid the bill. Sweet!
It was mid afternoon when Dave, Kerry, Steve and I headed up to Mill Bay...about 40 miles north of Victoria. We are going to visit dear friends of Steve and Dave's parents...Doreen and Gerry O'Neil. They also invited us for dinner. It was a wonderful few hours of chatting and reminiscing about the fun times the two families had.
Left to right...me, Dave, Kerry, Kevin, Denene, Doreen and Gerry (Denene is one of Doreen and Gerry's daughter's...Kevin is Denene's husband).It was after 8:30 when we decided it was time to head off...we had an hour's drive back to Rob and Angie's. Such a wonderful evening...so great connecting with you again, Doreen and Gerry!
Friday morning we gathered our things and got all packed up. Angie had been out for the morning with the kids and got home just in time to drive us to the airport. Our flight back to Phoenix was on time, taking off at 2:45. We landed about five minutes early and after going through Customs and getting our luggage, we called the hotel for a shuttle pickup.
After getting settled, we went next door to Denny's for a late dinner...and then settled in for the rest of the evening watching TV.
Saturday morning we were packed up and on the road heading towards Quartzsite before 9:00. We made a quick stop at Walmart in Buckeye...and at a rest area where we saw this cool desert buggy.......and arrived at RV Lifestyles to pick up our fifth-wheel shortly after noon.
After backing up in front of the trailer in prep for hitching up, Steve went to check the repair job. What he saw when he looked at the underbelly behind the wheels made him fuming mad. They had left it wide open...totally exposed. He stomped off to talk to the owner. A short while later they came out...the owner looked at it and said that he had no tech working right now to finish the work, so we would have to come back Monday. Well, Steve lost it! They had 6 days to complete the repair. To make a long story short...a tech 'happened' to come on and he fixed the hole in the underbelly of the trailer.
The trailer was fixed within the hour and after hitching up, we headed off...our next stop was Love's Tire Shop to see if Victor had found the right valve stem for the trailer tire. No luck there...Victor was off today and no one else knew anything about it. Oh well...that can wait.
Finally...La Posa South! We dumped the tanks, filled up with water and headed to our spot on the desert! Steve had marked where we had the trailer set up before so it wasn't hard ensuring we were situated east-west. We leveled off, got unhitched...and set up; so good to be back!
Enjoying the late afternoon sun with a bevy...
Welcome back Coliababa's..welcome back!
ReplyDeleteVery nice recap of a very busy week.It was great to see you guys, even if it was for a lousy occasion.Have a fabulous time in Cabo.If I win the lottery before then, I will join you.Love you guys ! Cousin Bev
ReplyDeleteThat was a busy week, you two better have a cocktail (or two).
ReplyDeleteWe like the way you think. Consider it done! :-)
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