Intermittently doing 53 in a 55 zone

*** Written on March 17, 2018 at the RV resort and not published... but as it was being 'sorted' I didn't post it. It was one of those 'background events' that just doesn't get published. ***

Anyone who has driven this section of California Highway 79 will tell you that it is long, windy and hilly and there are no 'pull out' sections.

Yesterday, Brad and I went to Temecula to get a few groceries. We were finally enjoying a day out after a couple of weeks of being cooped up while Brad was recouping from the final reduction of his current PTSD medication. It was so nice to see him out and about - while not quite fully recovered, at least recovered enough that he could be in public. He has been having a very difficult time with this final reduction and has basically been secluded inside the RV as his temperament has been very volatile.

We drove home after getting everything we needed and as we pulled into our driveway, suddenly there was a guy on our lot. He explained that he had followed us from Temecula and wanted us to know that our speedometer might be broken because we were intermittently doing 53mph on a 55mph road... he explained that there are apps which will tell you how fast you are going....  Immediately, I was concerned that Brad would go half cocked at this guy, but was pleasantly surprised when he just let it go.

I mean what can you say to that anyway? Gee I'm terribly sorry I wasn't speeding?

The guy left and we carried on putting groceries away, etc. Then I noticed Brad was gone. Whaaa.... He had decided to take the Golf Cart and go find out where this guy lived in the park and let Security know so that they could have a word with him about going on people's property. When Brad couldn't find the truck, he went to Security who then advised him (it was a new guard - 1st day apparently) that the truck had left. The assumption being that it wasn't a resident but someone who just followed us in to the resort, slipping in behind us before the owner's gate closed.

Concerned for the safety issue this gap at the gate creates, Brad posted the event on the owner's FaceBook page noting that the Board should look into this.

About 10 minutes later, the guy shows up at our lot. All bravado and attitude. Brad immediately tells him to get off our property, which he does. Standing at the edge of the road he proceeds to start a massive argument with Brad. Well, Brad is never one to step down from a fight and things were getting extremely heated.

I was trying to diffuse the situation by telling this guy that Brad had recently reduced his medication and was a little on edge. What I didn't know was that Brad had already told him, first thing, before I even had an opportunity to exit the RV. The guys response? Your not the only guy who's ever reduced PTSD medication..... not the brightest response, but...

Anyway, finally the guy gets in his Golf Cart and tells brad, 'get out of the way or I'll run you over', not a second later he hits Brad with his Golf Cart!

Holy mother of God! Brad lost it. Yelling at me to call Security and the Cops. Incredibly, neither of them had laid a hand on each other except for this golf cart incident. Security arrives, 2 of the HOA board members arrive (having seen the Facebook post) and the Cops arrive.

What a hullabaloo! Our neighbours who just lost a close family member within the week watched the whole thing. Likely the last thing they needed at this time in their lives. Later, I went over to apologize if the event caused them any undo stress.

The situation was finally diffused and while it took a while for me to calm down, we managed to get to bed at a reasonable hour.

All that over 2 miles an hour. Who cares?! We did learn that the law states that if you are going slow and there are 5 cars behind you, you are required to pull into a 'pull out' and let them pass. However, we were doing 2mph below the speed limit and this stretch of 79 does not have any 'pull outs'. The police advised us that we did not do anything wrong and the guy has been warned to stay away from us.

Turns out he is an owner here at the resort and the HOA will be bringing him in for a 'chat'. I mean, I still can't even believe this happened. Wow.

Huge Kudo's to Brad for managing to maintain control during all of this, I know I wouldn't have had it in me if I was in his position. I would have absolutely 'Gone Postal' on this guy's ass. The amount of restraint and self control that must have taken is beyond my comprehension, I can assure you of that!

The entire thing just boggles the mind.

Well 2018 didn't go as planned...

This time last year we were buying a spot in a schwanky resort in California where we spent the winter, leaving April 6th to head home to Canada.

Rancho RV Resort

The plan was simple: We had rented an RV site in Alberta for the summer from readers we had met along the way. (Still feel terrible about that whole mess, we haven't heard from them since.) We would drive the (Yellow) Jeep out to Saskatoon to see family every few weeks or so before heading south again in November to the Resort.

Easy, Simple, Sorted.

NOT.

While driving to the rented resort in Alberta, the 4X in the Jeep fell out of Neutral somehow we still don't understand and we blew the engine out of her in southern Utah! Most obvious solution: my brother. So we change routes and head to Saskatoon with her in tow. After a month of repairing her every chance he got, we thought she was fixed but she had other plans....

Jeep engine rebuild

While all of this is going on my Dad AND his wife were in and out of hospital in Ontario adding to the stress level of the entire family (they are both doing relatively okay now).

Meanwhile not knowing when we would ever get to Alberta, we decided to cancel the resort we had booked. Turned out just as well because we had to buy a new Jeep (Black), Brad's Mum went away on a couple of holidays and we house sat for her for 2 months, putting the RV in storage.

Brad's Mum's garden

Our house in Hell sold and we were ecstatic to be rid of that problem... We flew out for a few days to remove our things. Unfortunately, after we returned the deal fell through because it turned out we never had clear title of it since we purchased it in 2010.... more to come on that next year, I presume.

The house we built ourselves

Once Brad's Mum returned home, sitting around in an RV in the middle of a Saskatchewan campground in 30+C (90F) temperatures for a couple of weeks while everyone we knew was working and dealing with their own stuff was incredibly boring and expensive, so we needed something to do...

Saskatchewan campground

Bing Bang Boom before you know it we were workamping in AB for a couple of months and now here we are in BC running a 50 site campground beginning January 1st. Wish us luck.

Bow Valley Campground, Alberta

Mowhinna Creek Campground, BC

Only 7 full hookup sites, so book early (after the New Year :D )

We did manage to sell our site at the Resort because I was concerned about the all the 'Canadian' Shite Trump was spewing all summer long. Made a tidy sum on it too. At least something went our way this year.

Wow what a whirlwind. This is our life. All prayers for a better year next year are welcome :D

On the up side of this year, we were able to spend time with family, old friends and new acquaintances, in no particular order...

Brent & Lisa, California

Bob & Barb, Utah

Brad's Mum

Linda & Larry, Ontario

My good son, with his wife and my 3 Grandkids

My grandkids with my other good son 

(yes, I have only 2 sons and yes they are both the good son)

Some of the Bow Valley Crew

Brenda & Phil, Alberta

Kenny and Marla, California

Tom & Bea, British Columbia

Susan & Reuben, British Columbia

Mark, British Columbia

California friends

Ray & Deb, British Columbia

Karen & Dave, California

Big thanks to you all for helping us get through this difficult year!

Headed Home

Well the last few days have been a whirlwind getting everything ready for our return trip home to Alberta.

Karen and Dave abandoned us to go on a little holiday in Sedona...., we had to make sure all the paperwork was in order for the Jeep export, organizing the rig of what we were taking and what was staying, cleaning the rig, prepping the site and saying goodbye to all our new friends. Thank you one and all for such a great winter!

Visiting with Terri & Richard

We planned to pull out at 9am so 930am wasn't too bad, we knew it was going to be a loooong drive yesterday to get to Saint George, UT where we have an oil change booked this morning. What we didn't know was that it would be 36C in Las Vegas! Wowsers.

I managed to catch a pic at 33C

Nevada

Las Vegas

'The Strip' just off the highway

Helping Daddy drive

We had supper here at the Cracker Barrel where we spent the night and even with the highway traffic and the city ordinance issue we managed to sleep through the night. I did have to put the fantastic fan on during the night though because it was sooooo hot.

Today we are getting the oil changed in the rig and heading towards more friends - Bob & Barb, perhaps you will remember them from the Ranch a couple of months ago.

Oceanside and Earthquake

We made it to Oceanside the other day, got to splash our tootsies into the Pacific, Robbie is not keen on water. We got some shopping done for the Grandkids, too. It was a cool and relatively dreary day but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Probably more than if it had been too hot actually. We left the heat behind here at the resort and Dave & Karen were enjoying it to the fullest and rubbing it in at every opportunity via text.

Setting up for Easter service

Go Cart rentals

Plenty of people enjoying the beach

Lots of people enjoying the Ocean

"Please stand back. We are wild brown pelicans. We bite stupid people."

Priceless!!

Betty's restaurant at the end of the pier.

We went for lunch at Betty's at the end of the pier and unfortunately we were sorely disappointed after a 25 min wait. The Cod was so tough and chewy, I literally couldn't cut it with a knife. Brad complained, that tells you something - I've earned a reputation for complaining over the years and Brad fusses that I'm too picky, so I didn't say a word.

Brad is more and more himself the last 2 days, even the neighbours have noticed a difference so its not just wishful thinking on my part. Last night they invited us over to sit around their fire pit and we had a great visit with them.

Except for the EARTHQUAKE!. A 3.7 just 8 km NE of Aguanga. At first we all thought it was a vehicle hitting something, an earthquake certainly wouldn't have been MY first thought. But an Earthquake it was. Rumbling beneath our feet and everything shook. We were under Karen and Dave's buildout so it was more pronounced I think. Dave was untangling Cooper (dog) and he didn't feel it - there's just no explanation for that! 

Dave & Karen are heading out today for a few days but will be returning at the end of the week, of course we expect to be gone by then so today is goodbye until November. Sure will miss them, they have been great friends and very patient and supportive while we suffered through the hell we've been through the last 5 weeks or so. Thank you both.

I have to make some calls today and see if I can push our departure date back a couple of days. The weather at our destination in AB is just too cold and a few days will make a big difference. I have the oil change booked and our 'export date' for the vehicle is set so I need to see about changing the schedule.

Golden Girls of Aguanga

So our neighbour Roh was in a play here at the resort called The Golden Girls of Aguanga. Karen, Dave and I went to check it out. The show was a sell out - completely, and there were 2 shows... 2 weeks apart.

We had managed to get tickets to the last show which was on St. Patrick's Day, this past Saturday. We knew it was sold out but were still surprised by the size of the crowd. $5 per ticket and that included 2 beers.

The play was hilarious (Roh played Blanche Devereaux) and included scenes from 'Hollywood Squares', if your too young to remember 'Hollywood Squares' ...well I can't help you. They had an actor who played Rodney Dangerfield... anyone who remembers Rodney Dangerfield will know just how hilarious this was.

The cast did a fantastic job and Roh certainly did justice to Blanche's role.

Sophia's mic wasn't working so she was given a microphone and the cast managed to improv that whole kerfuffle into the plot on the fly which was incredibly well done.

Roh (Blanche) on the left

It was a great night out with friends and I will definitely go to next years show.

Rough week with a happy ending.

Our neighbour/friend Karen's husband Dave flies back here today after driving their truck back home. They decided to park it at home as they have no intention of moving their 5th Wheel from their site. So he drove it home and today flies back. It's been a long 3 days without him around here. They do have another car here.

Brad has had a difficult week, having reduced the last of his PTSD medication, thank God that's almost over...  He and his Dr decided to try a different medication as the side effects of his (former) current one were far too many... he has been slowly reducing since before we left home. Some of you will recall the week of hell we went through a few months ago. That was the last time he reduced and he has now (pretty much) recovered from his final dosage reduction.... Whew! 

So grateful to Karen being around during this week, I couldn't have done it without her!

We have had a couple of hot, sunny days here this week but that is over after today and the rains will be returning tomorrow for a few days- at least according to 'those in the know'... although I haven't checked the weather in 2 days... hmmm, better take another look and see what they think now.... Not having a lot of luck with my sexy legs lately!

At least when we get home I know it will be hot and sunny (eventually) and I will be able to get some colour on them, I hate disturbing the guys at NASA every time I put shorts on. We still have about 3 weeks left here so maybe I can pull it off yet, really want to have some colour on them before we get home.

The resort here has an owner's FB page so yesterday I put out a request to see if anyone had an extra golf cart cover before I ordered one off of Amazon.

Within half an hour one of the ladies here messaged that she did in fact have an extra one. Wasn't expecting that but we figured it was worth a shot and sure enough - it was. Though we offered to give her some cash for it, she declined saying it was just sitting in her 'basement' since they bought a new golf cart and she just wanted to get rid of it.

Woohoo! Bonus! It fits perfectly. When we first put it on there was a door missing so I called her to see if it could be found and after about an hour she arrived with it. They recently sold their Motorhome and bought a 5th Wheel, I guess it got lost in the shuffle but she managed to find it without too much fuss. So grateful to her for this as it's a really good rain cover and they are quite expensive.

To celebrate our golf cart coup, Robbie and I went on a date with Karen and Cooper to the dog park.

Mother and Son. I told you he gets his good looks from me!

Homeowner's Dinner and Jeep update

Last night the resort held a Homeowner's Dinner, catered by the resort's restaurant The 15th Hole. Brad was unable to go as he wasn't feeling very well and because David is away, I asked Karen if she would like to use his ticket since they hadn't picked up any tickets. Prime Rib dinner isn't something you just ignore after all.

Because it was raining alllllll day yesterday, Karen picked me up in her golf cart since hers has a rain cover and ours doesn't. We had a bit of difficulty finding somewhere to park, it was a little crowded over there, but finally found a spot and walked in the rain to get inside. The place was packed and it looked like we'd have trouble finding a table but we were called over to a table at the front which had 2 seats open. Met some friendly new people, so grateful for those seats.

The Main Club House was decorated very nicely and with some 260+ people there last night, quite a gathering. The dinner was served buffet style and it was really delicious.

The guy cutting the Prime Rib gave me a slice that was a whole lot too rare for me ( I prefer my meat dead, not walking), so Karen took that slice and he cut me another off the end. Baked potatoe, roasted veggies, bun and a solid dose of Horseradish later we were sitting at our table enjoying a fantastic meal with our new acquaintances.

The band began playing some old school tunes (an advantage to hanging with an older crowd) which I love. There was a fantastic cake for dessert and a table with bowls of a variation of candies that we just couldn't resist. As I was going over to ask the waitress to bring me a slice of cake for Brad - if there were any pieces left over once everyone had one, I saw Karen snag an extra one for him. No questions needed to ask I guess.

After dinner we high-tailed it out of there... large crowds are not my thing so I was grateful when I noted by Karen's body language that she was over the gathering too.

I checked in on Brad to make sure he was okay and then went across the creek to Karen's and we played 3 games of cribbage... she beat me every time. Clearly she was cheating, right?! LOL

So about the Jeep.... after receiving several comments and realizing that we will have 30-45 days to get the edits done once we get it to Canada, it seems like we've decided to keep her. Sure it will be a bit of a nuisance but we think she's worth it. I still have it listed but will likely take it down today, we seem to have settled on taking her home.

Somehow I had it in my head that they literally wouldn't allow us to take her in to Canada and we'd have to leave it at the border. In hindsight this is clearly ridiculous... one of those blonde moments my gray matter seems so fond of I guess.

We had several inquiries about the Jeep but nothing too serious and she is still with us, so....pretty sure we're gonna keep her and take our chances.

No longer selling, 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ / RV Toad

Currently in Aguanga, California (1 hour West of Palm Springs)

So it turns out, though we didn't know it at the time, that our Jeep has been lifted. By lifted I mean raised, not stolen. The Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) will not accept ANY vehicle which has had ANY modification. We were in the process of sorting out the paperwork for Customs and after finding out we did not need a 'Compliance Letter' except to bring a Canadian Vehicle to the USA, getting our 'Recall Letter' from Jeep, digging out our 'Certificate of Title' and the 'Bill of Sale'.... We then moved on to Modifications...

We didn't think our Jeep had had any modifications but when I was looking at 'Stock' photos of the Jeep online, I noticed they seemed to sit lower than ours. So today we drove over to a Jeep dealership and had them take a look. YUP, Lifted.

He suggested a place where we could have it lowered but also mentioned that if we had it lowered the tires would likely rub.... so we'd be looking at a $ couple grand $. Given the price of Jeep's back 'home', we have decided to try and sell her - before we leave. Not a lot of time.... So if you or someone you know is looking for a reliable Jeep by all means, Please, let us know.

All fluids changed Oct/17.

A day out Jeeping in the Arizona Desert

This Jeep is in great shape, we had all the fluids changed out the day we bought her in October and we put Brand new tires on her a week later, she also got a brand new (soft top) lid at Xmas and she has side rails.. Her power comes from a 4 cylinder, 6 speed, 2.4L engine. Sale includes tow bar for towing her behind an RV (about $3000 value). She has 72,131 miles. Jeeps were designed for towing I'm told, making this the perfect Toad.

Asking price: $12,500 obo (ono)

She is a fantastic Jeep and we had every intention of importing her to Canada but this ridiculous CBSA rule is making that too complicated.

We will be actively trying to sell her over the next few weeks, baring that - we will likely just leave her here at our site and either use it stateside only or sell it next season when we come down.

As any Jeeper will know, this has been very disappointing and upsetting to us but hopefully we can find a buyer who will keep her at her best. We will just have to buy one back 'home' when we return.

Pictures of her taken today:

March 6, 2018