Wednesday 13 March 2024

Lots of Things to Do Today

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Manitoba Canada

While I am in Rivers Susan is still back in La Penita, but seeing as I write the blog, I get to change the location to where I am I guess.  Today I have a fairly heavy schedule of things to do.  First thing is a meeting with a rep from Manitoba Housing.  We do contract caretaking of their facilities here in town and we have to update our training sometimes.  So I met him at 9:45 for a half hour meeting.  Then it was off to my Dr. appointment.  I am on a new medication which requires blood testing every 3 months so I thought I may as well see Doc Sawbones while I was at it.  He said I was in good health for an old fellow like me and sent me on my way.  


Then down to the Drug Store to pick up my prescription meds.  For some reason I was about a month short this year so I need them to see me through.


Then over to Cj's to hang out with Sheri for a couple hours.  Dani and Donovan were hanging around as well.  




And because I am President of Friends of Rivers Lake, we had a quick catch up meeting.  Its fortunate that we have a good Vice President who takes over for the winter months.  We have been awarded a large grant for a new dock on our lake and today we had to get our ducks in a row, ready to begin construction.  I think we are ready to go now.   I'm staying at our daughter Kaitlyns and one of the things she does for me every once in a while is invite me for spaghetti!  Susan doesn't like spagetti so Kaitlyn knows I like it and gets me a fill of it once in a while.  She does a real good job of it.  Thanks Kaitlyn.



Then some more time at Cj's and then to Sheri's for some games.  We had a lot of laughs.



Then they got a picture of the old guy fooling around on the organ.  This is the order my kids had back when they were taking lessons.  I used to love to play it but I have got pretty rusty.  That was it for my day.  Good Nite!!









Tuesday 12 March 2024

Calgary to Rivers

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Manitoba Canada

So we got to bed about 12 last night and were up at 6:30 this morning and into the "right" shuttle and off to the airport.  We went nice and early to make sure we didn't get caught in a security line up like they sometimes are at this time of day.


Actually there were not many flights going out of our gate area this morning and so security took 10 minutes maximum.  The kids loved the walking escalators as they called them and took a few strolls on them.  We found our gate quickly and spent the next couple hours just hanging out.




And on to the plane bound for Winnipeg and we were off!!  They even managed some smiles from those baggy eyes and that scraggly hair but hey, they were both still with me!!!


It wasn't long at all and we saw the flaps go down and felt the wheels clunk into place and we were on the runway.



We headed down the stairs and Greg (Dad) was there to greet them.  He drew the short straw and had to come pick us up in Winnipeg.  Thanks Greg


Some good old McDonalds and a play on the play structure and we were off on our 2 1/2 hour trip home.  We actually flew from Calgary faster than our trip from Winnipeg to Rivers!!



As we got close to Rivers, the amount of snow in the ditches increased.  They actually have quite a bit here.  I was so happy to be here that I put away my camera and never took another picture.  I hung around Cj's on Ice for a while and then headed to Kaitlyns for the night.  Good Nite!




Monday 11 March 2024

Puerto Vallarta to Calgary

WHERE ARE WE? Holiday Inn Express, Calgary Alberta

We headed into PV this morning to catch a flight from PV to Calgary later this afternoon.  You can never tell how congested the roads might be, so we always leave lots of time.  Also, Kenia and Sue are going shopping in Costco after they drop us off and they want to be home before dark.  We got to the airport in jig time with no delays at all.  The question was, can Grampa Lorne get these kids safely back to their parents without incident.  Stay tuned!  Kenia and Sue said their goodbye's and we were off.





We were whisked through security in about 5 minutes total and the first words out of Max's mouth were, "I'm hungry"!!  Well airport food is not cheap in Mexico and especially if it is imported from Kentucky Fried Chicken. We did some chicken thingies which filled the void.



Kenia and Sue sent us verification of their Costco shopping trip!!


Here is our flight route and times.  We will arrive late in Calgary it seems.  We spent some time looking at planes because we had lots of time to kill.




Finally on board and off we go into the wild blue yonder.  Yup I still have 2 kids with me.  


We got to see a little different sunset tonight somewhere over Wyoming.  Grace was catching up on her journal as well.  It is part of her homework to write about her trip.




Our first look at Calgary lights as we hit the runway.  Made the first leg of the journey!!


Good to be back in the land of the carbon tax.  Is that guy still around?  Oh well, its good to be back on Canadian soil.


It was 8C in Calgary so we didn't mind waiting for the shuttle bus.  We kind of got on the wrong one first and went for a little tour around the north side of the airport and had to go back to the airport to find the right bus. Of course the kids were loudly announcing to everyone that we were on the wrong bus!!  I spent the time cringing in the corner.  If ever the kids were going to go missing, right now would have been a good time!!! lol


It was about 11:30 when we got into our room and of course everyone was hungry again!!  So I ordered a Denny's sampler which we devoured in no time.  It took those poor kids about 2 minutes to fall asleep when we were done eating.   They are about the best little travelers ever.  We will get some shut eye an do leg 2 of our journey tomorrow!!  Good Nite!!




Sunday 10 March 2024

Getting Caught up and Preparing for Travel

WHERE ARE WE? Numero UNO RV Park, La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Today I decided to go to Abuela's for Birria again.  I have been there on two other occasions this year and she has been sold out.  The first time I went for lunch, but I found out Birria is not really lunch food so the next time I went for 10:30 and both times she was sold out.  So this morning I thought I would go for 9 am and see if there was any left.  I did sleep in a bit but got on the trail by 9:10.  And I can't blame anything on moving the clocks, because here in Mexico they don't do that.  


Lena and Drew came with me and we arrived about 9:30 at Abuela's.  We were three of the last customers that got Birria so we were lucky.  I just can't get my head around having beef stew at 7 am, but that is what they do.  Get the body full of protein and off they go until 2 pm or so.  Anyway it was so good.  Drew and Lena had Birria taco's and I had the stew in a bowl.  




So I was set for the day.  All proteined up and nothing to do!!  While I was gone, Max and Gramma built a fort for him.  He used every blanket in the house it seemed.  He loved it and laid in there for the longest time.



The kids spent some time in the ocean because this is their last chance before they head home.


I was busy this afternoon getting all our boarding passes done and making sure we were ready to travel to Calgary tomorrow.  Gramma went to get them 2 weeks ago, and I get to take them home tomorrow.  In order to get a cheap flight, we have to stay over in Calgary before travelling on to Winnipeg the next day.  Even with the hotel involved, it was about $1000 difference.  It will be a long day for the kids tomorrow, but they travel well so I am not worried. 


After that I had 4 blog posts to catch up on.  I don't know how I get so far behind so quickly.  As we say in Canada "Sorry!"


Then I had to write my weekly story for Storyworth.  This week was a bit tough to write a lot about.  This is my 10th week already, and I am enjoying it a lot.


The sun sunk in the west today and it was long gone by the time I got out to take a picture.  That means another day is gone.  Good Nite!!