Thursday, November 12 to Saturday, November 21, 2015 (Travel to Victoria, BC and Back to Quartzsite, AZ)

Well, what can I say...the past 10 days just slipped by in a whirlwind! We were up early on the 12th...and with everything packed up (including our suitcase),we pulled out shortly after 8:30. We dropped the fifth-wheel off at RV Lifestyles to have the leak in our grey water pipe fixed, stopped at McDonald's for a quick breakfast and were soon on our way to Phoenix...


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!
On the way back from lunch, we stopped by the pool...why didn't we bring our swim suits? Sheesh! Steve decided to catch a few rays anyways...
Ray and Deb picked us up and we went to Four Peaks Brew Pub in Tempe for dinner. We had a great time catching up on our travels. Thanks so much, guys, it was wonderful seeing you! (Also, thanks for the picture!)
Friday (the 13th) we took the shuttle to the airport, checked in for our WestJet flight, went through security...and then waited for our 11:10 flight to Victoria. All went well and we arrived on time...actually about five minutes early. When we got through Customs and through the doors to the waiting room, we were greeted by Conner along with Angie carrying Bryce. Such a wonderful greeting!

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.
Chris and Angela arrived....and just a few minutes later, Rob arrived home from work. We had a quick dinner and then Steve and I drove back to the airport to pick up his uncle and aunt...Gord and Esther were arriving from Edmonton, Alberta. Uncle Gord is a retired Minister who will be performing the funeral service for Steve's dad tomorrow.

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...
After the service, we all went next door to Royal Oak Burial Park where Steve Senior was laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Barbara. Pall bearers were Dave (Steve's brother). Chris and Rob (our sons), Mike (Steve's sister's husband), Matthew and Steve...

The ladies in the family...Amanda and Nadine (Steve's niece and sister), Cheryl (cousin) and her daughter, Nicole, Bev (cousin); and back row...Esther (aunt), me, Glenna (cousin), Kerry (Dave's finance), and Angela (Chris' wife)
Rob with Conner...saying goodbye to Great-Grandpa...
Angie with Conner...helping him spread sand on the casket...
Rob and Angie offered up their place for a gathering after the service. Great having family together.
We had platters of sandwiches, wraps and veggies...
...along with cheeses, crackers...and all sorts of "goodies"...
People in the family room....
...and people in the living/dining room...
And then the cousins from Vancouver left to catch the ferry...so very good seeing you...thanks for coming over to the island!
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!
Sunday was a pretty quiet day...spending time with close family. Chris and Angela went into Sidney for a bit while Uncle Gord, Aunt Esther, Steve and I went for a walk in the neighbourhood. It felt good to get out for some fresh air...it was a beautiful, but chilly day.

Angie cooked a lovely roast beef dinner...complete with roasted potatoes and quinoa salad. Delicious, Angie...thanks so much!
Bryce, Rob, me, Esther, Gordon, Angie and Conner...
 Bryce (hard to believe he is 6 months old already) and Rob...
Monday morning we went to the Spitfire Grill for breakfast. Conner came with us (Steve, Gordon, Esther and me) and Angie followed about a half hour later after Bryce woke up from a snooze. Conner was in his glory...the restaurant is right next to the runway at the Victoria International Airport and he LOVES airplanes. He was so excited watching the planes take off!
Here is Uncle Gord holding Bryce...
That afternoon, we met with Dave and Kerry (from Manitoba and staying at Mike and Nadine's place), Nadine and Matthew...and we all went out to Goldstream Park to watch the annual Salmon Run. It was a very cool, damp, rainy day...



 Steve, Esther, Nadine, me, Kerry, Dave, Matthew and Gordon...

 Nadine and Uncle Gord...

 Kerry and Dave...
 Matthew and me...


After a great walk, albeit in the rain, we all went back to Nadine and Mike's to warm up...and have dinner. Dave, Kerry, Matthew, Nadine, Mike, Esther, Gordon and me...
A lovely dinner...thanks so much Nadine and Mike! On our way home, we dropped Matthew off at his condo and he took us in for a tour...very nice, Matt!

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!)
That afternoon, all three kids (Steve, Nadine and Dave), along with their spouses (me, Mike and Kerry), met with Steve Senior's Financial Adviser to sign a mountain of paperwork.

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...


4 comments:

  1. Welcome back Coliababa's..welcome back!

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  2. Very 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

    ReplyDelete
  3. That was a busy week, you two better have a cocktail (or two).

    ReplyDelete