A Few Chores

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada
NEXT DESTINATION? South in the Fall

I did get some time to do a blog so here it is.  Today the sun shone bright and the wind was minimal.  Wind is something we are really noticing after spending all winter in a place where the most wind you get is a nice breeze.  I guess we will get used to it again, just like we have for the last 65 years!!  Because our quarantine area includes the mini golf area, we got busy cleaning up after the long winter.   Getting rid of last years dead stuff and mowing the grass really makes a difference so that is our goal for the next couple days.

Supper Delivered Again!!

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada
NEXT DESTINATION? South in the Fall

Today was a gloomy windy day so Sue and I spent most of the day going through a bag of mail that Kaitlyn had brought us.  A lot of it needs some follow and some of it just needs filing.  I always email Manitoba Health to let them know that we arrived back in Canada earlier than the date on our temporary Health Card that they issue us in the fall.  That way we can leave earlier in the fall because as soon as 152 days in Manitoba are up we are good to leave!!  Also it is time to do our Form 8840 to appease the USA's need to tax us if we spend too much time there.  With adding 5 months in Mexico this year, we will not have to do an 8840 next year.  The three year formula will see us under the 182  days total!!  Lots of things to keep up on. 

Because we are quarantined we need to have a drop off spot for all of our supplies.  So I pulled the jeep up real close to the front of the Ponderosa and put yellow tape right up to it.  The passenger side is where our daughter, (or anyone) can drop off things for us and we can retrieve them on the drivers side without getting our dirty little corona virus infested fingers all over their door handle.  Pretty smart huh???  There is even a hand sanitizer bottle on the door handle!!  And items to be picked up are in the front seat, and the stuff they deliver goes in the back seat.  How can you tell I am a bit bored.  lol

A Little Work and a Great Supper

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada
NEXT DESTINATION? South in the Fall

Today was a gloomy cool day.  Perfect day to catch up on some things.  Sent a couple emails and then got caught up on my travel day record.  I have an excel program that I use to track our travel days in the USA and Mexico as well as to keep track of the days we spend in Manitoba.  We have to spend at least 152 days in Manitoba each year to maintain our health care.  If we go over the limit without applying for an extension, we could risk having to wait 3 months to get re instated.  Also the USA has the old 182 day rule that we strive to abide by, and of course Mexico has the 182 rule as well.  The USA makes us keep track of 2 things.  Maximum 182 days in a calendar year as well as not over 182 for each trip we take.  So that's where the excel sheet comes in handy.

Our Mexican Friends.

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada
NEXT DESTINATION? South in the Fall

Well, Day 2 of the Quarantine has passed and we did a roll call this morning and we are both still alive.  We have removed all sharp or heavy objects that could be used as weapons from the Ponderosa and are so far resolving disputes with pillow fights!!  13 days to go!!

A New Grand Baby!!

WHERE ARE WE? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba Canada
NEXT DESTINATION? Head South in the fall

We finally made it back to our Ice Cream Shack in Rivers Manitoba.  The day was beautiful and we had an uneventful drive back.  We were home just in time for the birth of our newest Grandson, Lincoln.  He is the son of our son Derek and his wife Nicole and a brother to Abby, our angel Clayton, Silas, and Emma.   Around supper time we got a text saying that things were starting and by 9:15 he was here.  Nicole and Derek wanted a home birth and they opted to have him at Nicoles parents house where Nicole was raised.  I think that was a good choice.  It's kind of crappy that we won't be able to snuggle him for a while but hey, that's the way it is.  Welcome to the family Lincoln!!

We are Getting Close to Home!!

WHERE ARE WE? Rugby North Dakota
NEXT DESTINATION? Rivers Provincial Park, Rivers Manitoba

Well we are almost on the last leg of our journey back to CJ's to get the Ice Cream Summer under way.  It looks like we will be opening on May long weekend, but before we can even think about opening, we have to self isolate for 14 days to prove to the world that we are not dragging some ugly virus around with us.  We have literally been isolated for the last 3 weeks already, but that doesn't count so we will be on lockdown until around May 7th.  Here is our travels today.  We had a little longer day so we won't have far to go tomorrow, plus it was a gorgeous day today so we just kept going. 

Laundry Day Today

WHERE ARE WE? Plankinton South Dakota
NEXT DESTINATION? Rugby North Dakota


Another lazy start this morning.  We are loving the warm weather and don't want to push our luck too much.  The warmth is extending way north right now so we are free to go as far as we want but by the time we did some reading and some lolly gagging it was 11 am before we pulled out of Grand Island Nebraska and headed north on 281 highway.  281 winds and wanders and goes east for a while, then north, and then back west for a bit.   I think this route will be about 1/3 longer than  taking the interstate but what the heck.  We love to travel and travel we are doing!!

Gopher Hunting in Nebraska

WHERE ARE WE? Grand Island, Nebraska
NEXT DESTINATION? Slowly North

Like yesterday we were in no hurry to get on the road.  We have 230 kms to go today and we will end up in a Walmart parking lot.  We are going to do some shopping for home tonight.  There are some things that are cheaper even with the exchange so we will pick them up tonight.  We got on the road about 2:30 this afternoon.  The morning was lovely and we just sat around and soaked up the sun.

A Little Bit of Limestone

WHERE ARE WE? Luray Kansas
NEXT DESTINATION? Slowly north

Because we are waiting for the Great White North to thaw out and warm up a little, we are in no hurry to get going in the mornings.  Today was no different and we didn't get on the road until nearly 11 am.   Today we are going to Luray Kansas because they have a nice little park on the east side of town.  We are going to follow Highway 281 all the way north to the Canadian border,  just because we can.  It is a nice smooth two lane highway but does have areas where there is no shoulder.  We are just cruising along about 50 mph so who cares!!

From Oklahoma to Kansas

WHERE ARE WE? Medicine Lodge Kansas
NEXT DESTINATION? Slowly North

When we woke up today it was a lot nicer day than yesterday.  The wind had gone down a lot and the sun was shining.  We took our time getting going this morning and found ourselves doing a morning happy hour with Doug before we all packed up our things to hit the road.  Doug is going to be heading east and we are going north today.  We have enjoyed our time with Doug and Yuma for a couple days.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

WHERE ARE WE? Hinton Oklahoma
NEXT DESTINATION? Moving North tomorrow

Well it has finally happened.  I am officially a senior in all aspects of the word.  When I turned 55 I was considered a senior for some things.  Then at 60 I was considered a senior for CPP and a few more perks and that is when I retired.  But now that I have turned 65, I can get most anything for free I think.  Isn't that how being a senior citizen works??  I sure hope so.   I am really looking forward to being a member of the brown envelope club.

A Friend drops by!

WHERE ARE WE? Hinton, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? North on Saturday

We had a nice leisurely morning.  Some coffee and check on some bloggers.  Then a little roam around facebook, nope don't need that.  Sue has been bugging me to help her do highlights in her hair.  I guess it is no secret, but I am her on the road hairdresser when it comes to highlights.  It doesn't take a lot of talent on my part but it does require a thick skin on my part because every time I poke her with the little pick thingy she lets me have it verbally!!!!  I just snicker a wee bit and carry on!!

Made it to Oklahoma

WHERE ARE WE? Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton, Oklahoma
NEXT DESTINATION? Here for a couple days

When you own an RV (and sometimes a house too) there is never an end to little problems.  Just when you lean back and relax, something goes on the fritz.  Well for the past couple weeks our water pump has been cycling intermittently and at first I wasn't sure why.  I checked everywhere a water line runs and there were no leaks.  After You Tubing about what might be wrong with the pump, my thought was that it was just old and tired and wore out just like me.  I decided I would ignore it unless it got worse.  Well today it got worse.  It started to leak around the pump seal which is a bit of a problem when we are doing lots of dry camping, because water conservation is our #1 priority.   I don't believe it will get a lot worse anytime soon, but I will have to find out where I can get a new one somewhere along the road home.

On the Road Again and a Travel Schedule

WHERE ARE WE? Weatherford, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? North

Well today was the start of some better weather to start heading north again.  We have to be careful and not get in a hurry because old man winter is still clutching on to winter back in Rivers.  I know everyone there says its spring weather, but not for me.  It's frickin winter!!!   Here was our route today.

Baby its Cold Outside!!

WHERE ARE WE? Waco, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? North soon!!

Woke up to temperatures in the high single digits.  I think the low was 5C so it was a big shock to me.  The last time I wore blue jeans was in mid October and I had hoped I could hold off a few days more but nope.  I was cold today!!!

A Quiet Easter

WHERE ARE WE? Waco, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? North soon.

Happy Easter Everyone.  Charlie was wondering if there was food involved?  Of course there is Charlie, just wait and see.

Waco Siege Tour

WHERE ARE WE? Waco, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? North after the rain and snow quit

This morning we looked out our window and people were starting to gather on the back side of Sam's Club.  I'm not sure what was going on but I know the store opens at 9 and this was shortly after 8.  I asked a couple people what the deal was and they just said they were coming to shop.  As soon as 9 came along the line disappeared and it never came back all day.  The store is huge an I bet 500 people would not even be noticeable in there but why they wanted to stand in line for almost an hour baffles my mind. 

Finding cooler Weather

WHERE ARE WE? Waco, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? A bit north

Well we moved about 400 kms north today and we are sure glad we did.  With all the rain etc in the south the high temps and the humidity were killing us.  So we decided today to go to Waco Texas where the temp is 22C with about 60% humidity.  I can handle that.

Finding Diesel

WHERE ARE WE? Port Lavaca, Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? Waco, Texas maybe

Charlie always senses when it is moving day.  He either crawls up on the couch or he watches me doing all my outside chores from up on the dash.  He definitely knew we were pulling out this morning.

A Drive to Nowhere.

WHERE ARE WE? Winterhaven Resort, Brownsville TX.
NEXT DESTINATION? Magnolia Beach, Texas

Bored out of our gourd with nothing to do except get in a bunch of trouble.  Chores around the Ponderosa are all completed.  (Well there are a few left).  So we decided to drive out to Port Isabella and just drive along the highway that parallels the beach for a few miles.  We had to fill the Jeep with gas anyway so thought we could maybe burn a bit of it.  You almost want to spill a bit on the ground when it is only $1.48 a gallon.

Girls can Skip this Post

WHERE ARE WE? Winter haven Resort, Brownsville, TX
NEXT DESTINATION? Magnolia Beach, TX

Woke up to what was left of a little overnight rain.  It was humid again this morning and I am needing to find some cooler weather.   Not that cool my Manitoba friends!!!  We really need to move north a bit and get into the mid 20 temperatures.  All of the beaches around here are closed so there is no real draw to being close to the Gulf.  We can't see it anyway.  We hope we can spend a few days on the beach at Magnolia Beach which will satisfy us.  We are booked in here until Thursday morning so gotta get everything ready to roll by then.

Just Hanging Out

WHERE ARE WE? Winterhaven RV Resort, Brownsville TX
NEXT DESTINATION? Migrating north soon

We are just enjoying some good old quiet time here in southern Texas.  It is really humid in the mornings but by noon it is much better.  Actually today it spit rain off and on but hardly enough to make you go inside.  It has been very dry here so they do need the rain.  The temperatures are warming up a lot here so it is probably time to move on farther north and find another quiet spot to hang out in for a while.

Don't poop in the Pool!!!

WHERE ARE WE? Winterhaven RV Resort, Brownsville Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? Migrating north soon

Today we observed a day of rest.  Not that we don't rest everyday but today we made it official.  We did go for a short walk around part of the park and found out that it is a pretty nice place.  They have built all of the lots with canals in the back yard.  Apparently they have them stocked with fish and you can catch and release if you want.  Kinda reminds you of what you would see in Venus.  They have RV's, park models, mobile homes and regular sticks and bricks houses here.

Fixit Day

WHERE ARE WE? Winterhaven RV Resort, Brownsville TX
NEXT DESTINATION? Northern Migration soon

Today was one of those kinda drizzly days.  The rain was really nice and warm and by the looks of the brown grass here, they could use it.  We didn't really get much rain, just a shower now and again.  When I was going through my camera i realized I forgot to post this picture yesterday.   As I was waiting for Sue at Walmart yesterday, I looked over the parking lot and my heart kinda gave a lurch!! What was I seeing??  There was Jim and Marilyn's camper van sitting there.  Well at least at first glance I thought it was and I wouldn't have put it past Jim to just quietly come down here to surprise us if this world confusion wasn't going on. I had to give my head a shake and realize it wasn't them at all.   It won't be long until we will see all our park camping friends again in Rivers campground.  We don't really know when that might be but I am confident it will happen this summer at some point.

No Lineups for Me!!

WHERE ARE WE?  Winter Haven RV Resort, Brownsville TX.
NEXT DESTINATION?  Migrating North soon

Once we got here and settled in I did a little research on what may have triggered (no pun intended) the searches we were subjected to yesterday.  We were in no way accused of anything nor was there any sort of verbal interrogation at any time.  Everyone just wanted to see in the nooks and crannies of our motorhome and they were very cautious in doing it.  There were lots of M16's around and everyone was super cautious.  After reading the Brownsville Harold, it seems that some cartel big wheel is on the loose and some marines have been kidnapped and there has been a jail break of some sort, and some grenade throwing at a navy base just south of the border.   Apparently this has brought on a bigger military presence and increased attention to searching vehicles in this part of Mexico.  Although these are all unsettling things, the chances of us being involved in any of it is about the same as us winning the lottery.  I figure one is pretty safe if you just mind your own business and go on your way and thats what we did and we are fine.

So this morning when I came out of the Ponderosa I noticed a cord hanging down by the bedroom slide.  Oh oh silly me.  I had forgotten about the temporary fix I did which involved one of the bays on the slide and when we put out the bedroom slide last night it stretched the extension cord until it broke!!  Woops!!  Lucky I didn't grab the broke end of the cord because it was still hot!!  And I did look at that slide for obstructions before putting it out but didn't clue into what would happen to the cord.

Back in the USA

WHERE ARE WE? Winter Haven Resort, Winter Haven Texas
NEXT DESTINATION? Migrating North

I got a few pictures of the compound that we stayed in overnight.  There are a few of these around the country and for like 100 pesos you can stay there with a fence around you and security guards on duty all night long.  This is mainly for truckers but they will let anyone who wants to spot them a few pesos, park there.

Hasta Luego La Penita

WHERE ARE WE? Pemex Station Compound, Near Ville de Hidalgo, Mexico
NEXT DESTINATION? Winter Haven RV Park, Winter Haven, Texas

We got up and unhooked the umbilical cord, had a cinnamon bun and were ready to hit the road by 7:00 am.  It was forecast to be another beautiful day in paradise, so that would be good for travelling.  A few quick goodbyes to some folks that came to give their well wishes and we were off.  Looks like about 650 kms today which will leave us in good shape for crossing into Texas on Wednesday afternoon.