August 9 - to Saskatoon
We had a fairly long trip to Saskatoon because we took the secondary roads, which were in good shape.  We were heading to Louie and Carol's place, south of Saskatoon.  They live near Blackstrap Provincial Park.  The day was beautiful, hot and sunny.  We arrived at dinnertime, trust the Hagells to make it for meals. 

Dalton worked for Louie when he was in Prince George.  They also have a new baby girl which was one week old the day after we arrived.  Louie thinks we came to see him, but we actually came to see the new addition to the family.  I had never met the other children before so that was an additional treat. 

After dinner Dalton and Louie took the Matthew and Ericka out to pose on a hay bale in their yard.

Ericka, Matthew and Louie

The next day, Dalton and I drove into Saskatoon, took a stroll around the park, didn't take any pictures.  We went to Costco and to the Casino.  I contributed to the native fund but Dalton bailed me out again as well as bringing home enough for a couple of dinners out.

When we got home Matthew and Ericka came to the RV for a visit, I put them on the vibration machine, they liked it.  I also got some pictures of the baby and her parents.

Matthew and Ericka getting their exercise

Isabel doesn't have her eyes open much, she sleeps quite a lot

Isn't she darling!!!

Mom and Dad are OK too!!

Great sunset!

Erick and Dad on the ATV, looks like they are enjoying themselves

CrossIron Mills and Drumheller
August 6 - To CrossIron Mills (large shopping centre North of Calgary)
We left the reunion Monday morning and had a slow leisurely drive, bypassing Calgary and all the traffic.  We arrived at CrossIron Mills at 4:00, Pat and Lloyd were meeting us there at 6:00, so we had some time to look around.  Sherry and Albin (my cousins) arrived around 5:30 for a visit.  The Mall is really nice, the Bass Outlet was really different from anything we had ever seen before, and the place was really busy.

Sherry Robi and Albin

Robi and Friend at the Bass Outlet

You just don't expect to see this in a store

Pat and Lloyd took us to dinner at a really neat place north of Calgary, can't remember the name, but the food was really good, it was really nice to be able to spend more time with them.

August 7 - to Drumheller
We left Calgary fairly early and headed to Drumheller, it was quite shocking to see what the area looks like if you haven't been there before.  We got all set up at the Dinosaur Trail RV Park then drove to town to look around.  On the way back we found "The Long Branch Saloon"

Dalton waiving a greeting to all

The people inside were really friendly so we stayed for awhile, it was noon, thought we could have lunch but they don't serve food.  As we were starving we moved on to the Golf Course to check it out and have a bite to eat.  The food was good, the course looked really nice and the man in the Pro Shop talked us into getting the clubs and coming back for 9 holes.  There was a tournament on but Dalton was able to do the back nine.  You would have to see for yourself what the terrain was like, true target golf, the Scotsman who invented the game would be proud.  The game was going fairly slow so after the second hole we met up with a couple from Regina, it was more fun but it took as long to play 9 holes as it normally would to play 18, some drunk females were holding up the works.

Scenery was lovely, but glad I wasn't playing

Dalton getting ready

Look at all the Hoo Doos!

I was glad I didn't have to drive the cart, I thought we were going to tip a couple of times.  They didn't need signs to keep you on the path

We went back to the Long Branch after the game, didn't want to stay at the club house as everyone was pissed at the women holding us up, they were too plastered to notice.  One of the husbands came up to us on about the 4th hole and asked us to back off as the shots were getting too close to their ladies...we should have told them to pick up the pace.  Slowing down was really interfering with the golf game, however, I think it was the course that was interfering more than anything. 

The next morning we got up early to go to the Royal Tyrrell Museum.  That is an experience everyone should have.  It should be mandatory for school kids.  What an awesome place.

Dalton and friend on the way in

It would be interesting to see how they got this in the museum

A giant mammoth, I did get a few more pictures but they were too dark to really be useful

Even the building is impressive

We took a little ferry ride

I did say little

We found a neat little pub

Went in for a beer, got served in Mason Jars

look what was on the ceiling, I don't think my Dad ever say those kind of snowshoes

July 30 and 31
We left Vernon and had a very pleasant trip to Golden where we stayed at the Golf Course so Dalton could get a game in.  The spot was one that we had stayed at before, now they have about 20 spots with only a few in use.  Weather was great so there should have been no complaining, however, there are always mosquitoes.

We did stop along the way to take a few pictures:

Mt. Norquay

What a nice looking RV

Wonder who the guy is in the middle of my scenery shot

We rushed to get to Lethbridge before everyone left, our delay in getting started threw a monkey wrench in the works.  We made it around late afternoon, pulled into the Campground in the River valley.  We had 2 free nights courtesy of Arbutus RV Sales.  Our spot was 4 spaces away from Bill and Carol-Leah.   They had tickets to Cirque d' Solet (sp) so Barry Fritz offered to babysit us for the evening.  It was a good thing he offered as we wouldn't have seen them this trip as they were heading to Edmonton to see their grandchildren.

Karen and Barry Fritz

I had never seen black petunias and Karen's gardens are so lovely

August 3 - 6
We were invited to join the Ell Family Reunion...Carol-Leah's mother's family.  Everyone was camping at Enchant Park and as I know most of them we decided to take them up on their offer.  We had a blast.  All the RVs parked in a circle, there were picnic table in the middle.  There were swimming pools blown up for the kids to play in.  There was no water really close by so everyone donated a hose which Bill joined together so they didn't have to haul it in buckets.  Each night we had a campfire with marshmallow and hot dog roasting as well as guitar playing and we were serenaded by Lori's husband Darrel and Tracy's husband Allan.  Much fun was had by all.

They put up tents to shade to pools but it was still 34 degrees

Even the neighbours lent hoses

Bill and Carol-Leah enjoying the shade

Carol(Carol-Leah's Mom) and Aunty Kay also enjoying the shade and the conversation

Pat and Lloyd came out for one evening, they stayed with us, wish they could have stayed longer

Tracy in her infinite wisdom, purchased a whole bunch of water guns, the fight was on, some of us adults were able to stay away from the fracus, however, many did not.  She also purchased a slip and slid along with numerous cans of shaving cream...this is the result...

They seemed to have a lot of fun.  Dalton thought the slide should have been longer

Lucky there was still water in the pool to clean them off.

I guess I didn't get any pictures of the water fight, I know I was trying to stay under the radar.

We really had a wonderful time, we must have behaved ourselves as Janie invited us to the one next year.  Don't know if we have the stamina for that. We were really sad to leave but new adventures are on the horizon.

July 21
We made our way to Osoyoos arriving about 4:00 and of course all of the campgrounds that we have listed in our books are booked up.  We decided to see if there was overflow parking so we found a really nice smaller RV Park called Desert Lake it was at one end of a small lake and right beside a golf course, couldn't be more perfect.  We pulled in to check on the site situation and they had a spot for us, we stayed 5 nights.  The first evening we just spent relaxing after our drive, short though it might be, the weather was really hot so we just wanted to set up and relax.  Next day we spent with Al and Bonnie White, catching up on everything since our last visit. They have a beautiful spot overlooking a valley of grape vines and orchards.  Nowadays there are more grape vines than orchards.  We had a really nice visit, got home late as usual.

July 23
Today we drove over to Grand Forks to see Dalton's Dad and Betty.  Betty's daughter, Ginger was there which was an extra bonus.  Barney had come to the house for the day which was really nice.  He is bound to a wheelchair but he was looking good and it was nice to see him in his own surroundings. Barney was picked up at 2:00, after he was gone Dalton helped Ginger lay the new floor in the utility room. Later we went to see Barney to inspect his new digs, it is really is quite nice, very bright.  We went out for dinner at a little pub downtown and then Dalton and I drove back to Oliver.

Barney, Betty and Dalton

On the trip back we stopped in Greenwood to see a couple we met in Palm Springs earlier this year, Curtis, Julie and their cute little dog Brody.  We visited for about an hour and then we continued back to Oliver arrived home about 10:00

Brody and Robi

Brody, Robi, Julie & Curtis

The one with me and Brody was emailed to Carol-Leah to make her jealous....thought I would add just because...

July 24
Bonnie had to work until 6:00 so Dalton and I did some looking around the town.  We went up to the Whites where we were to have dinner that evening.  Dalton and Al had a few things to do, they put the car up on the hoist to see what was happening underneath, they putts around the garage, all the while drinking beer.  Meanwhile, I did my laundry and was able to hang it on the line, dried in no time as it was really hot that day.  By the time dinner was over and I was able to pour Dalton into the car to get him home it was 11:00 at night.

Dalton and Al in the Man Cave

Bonnie must have been really good, she was allowed in

July 25
Dalton had no desire to go anywhere so we just stayed around the park and read most of the day, we did drive around a bit, we checked out an open house just down the street, a new development is going on on the golf course, we got all the scoop and had a tour of one of the types of houses that were being built.  It was lovely and of course, we decided we should move to Oliver.  We also did a tour of the golf course, very nice.

July 26
We had a lovely drive to Summerland, not many tourists this year, the roads were fairly quiet.  We got to Richard and Bonnay Howard's at noon, they had three of their grandaughters staying with them, time goes buy really fast and you realize how much you are aging when you watch children grow up.    We sat in their back yard, which is absolutely beautiful, the weather was so nice, everything smelled so good.  After dinner we had a rousing game of charades with the girls, it was lots of fun.  We had Richard put on some music because the girls wanted to have a "dance party".  They wouldn't let any of us sit down for long.  We all had a great time.  The Howard's driveway was big enough we were able to park and open the slides so we had a very comfortable night and didn't have to drive anywhere.

Three very lovely girls, Olivia, Anaiya and Naomi Howard they are as nice as they are cute!

Bonnay & Richard Howard with Dalton - his, dare I say it oldest friends, all the way from school

Richard showing is prowess as a BBQ Chef

Dalton playing charades

Richard and Anaiya ( I believe they may be dancing)

The next morning we went to the beach with the girls and played in the water and the girls and Dalton and Richard took the kayaks out on the lake, Bonnay and I just enjoyed the beach and the conversation.  We left at 2:00 for Vernon.

Dalton and Richard in the Kayaks

Naomi is at the water's edge, Olivia is standing above a buried Anaiya

Bonnay teaching Robi how to play Backgammon while Richard looks on

July 28
We arrived in Vernon at Swan Lake Resort at about 5:30, weather was really nice, we got a lovely site, set ourselves up and I started updating the blog when the rain started coming down, it was raining so hard it sounded like Hail.  There was a bit of thunder but the lightening was really spectacular, a real light show.

July 29
We got to Mary and Trevor's about 10:00 as we wanted to see Jeffrey, Coralyn and their boys, Devon and Wyatt before they left for Calgary.  The wind from the night before had taken a section of their dock so Dalton, Jeff and Trevor ripped the dock apart to get it ready for rebuilding.  After the young Jolleys left to go home.   Trevor's sister Kathy, husband Jeff and their two, Mclean and Will, arrived just after lunch.  That gave the guys an extra helper for dock building.  Mary and I took Kathy's kids out in the kayak and by the time we got back they had the dock all repaired.  Again the weather was fantastic.  Krissy brought the girls, Shea and Rylee over for a visit.  We hadn't seen Shae since she was about 9 months old and we had never seen Rylee.  It was a zoo with all the kids running around.  I can't forget Lucy, the border collie, who could not get enough of retrieving sticks out of the water.  We all had a busy afternoon and evening playing with the kids and throwing sticks into the lake.  By the time we got home at night I was totally exhausted, I thought my arms would never move again after doing so much kayaking.

Shae and Krissy

Devon Jolleys

Rylee in Grandma's hat

The Jolleys dock, damaged from the wind the night before we arrived

Mary with Mclean and Robi with Will coming back from a kayak ride

2 Year Old Rylee swimming to Grandma Mary

The back of Krissy's house on the pool, putting green and basket ball court side

Shea on the edge of the pool with Mclean and Will in the water being watched by Kathy, Mary and Krissy