Jan 2 - 8 2013 - Hanging out for a few days

January 2 - 8 2013 - Relaxing and general settling in.

The last six days we have spent relaxing, starting exercising in the resort gym, and exploring the general area, laundry, and more organizing of our living area. 
We did go into San Antonio for one day to go to an RV show... just to see what's around and have a look at some different RVs. It was a great day and we saw some amazing RVs.. motorhomes at $370,000.... but thankfully, we saw nothing we would trade ours for. We actually found that, although this is our first RV,  we chose well for our taste and lifestyle.  Although..... we did see some reasonably priced units that had a TUB.... I think this may be a non-negotiable for our next RV... if we decide to switch!!!! 
Also went to a Camping World RV superstore just East of San Antonio and picked up neat little 'bits' to make life a little more convenient. 
Drove into Austin for one day and got all the information we could handle from the information centre downtown. It is a medium sized city of 870,000, very focused on its music scene, lots of live performance etc. We have booked tickets to go to Austin City Limits on January 17^th to see a British  band called Keane. Looking forward to that.
Janice’s back has been a bit of a problem, causing some generalized pain that is …. a pain!!!  Derek set up the Apple TV box he got from Santa and it works great. 
We have yet to go swimming. They keep the pool in the high 80's and the whirlpool at 110, but because it is cool outside, we haven't had much of an urge to jump in yet .... getting out would be just too daunting. BRRRRR!!!  Maybe tomorrow!!!! Maybe not. Been raining for a couple of days, delaying our explorations.  More to follow. 

'Our Street' at La Hacienda RV Resort

Pool Area 

Pool Area

HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY

New Year's Day was amazing. This RV park (La Hacienda) used to be where Freddy Powers lived when he wasn't on the road......he used to play with Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and others with his band ("Stop the Truck"). Actually, Freddy is an unsung hero having penned over 30 country hits and even showed Ray Charles how to play some of his songs. Well, for a few years now, La Hacienda RV Park have hosted an all-day, New years day, jam session. Artists from all over Austin, Tennessee and Texas coming to pay tribute and join Freddy. 

The session started at 2 pm and went through till 11pm nobody did more than 3 songs, so you can imagine how many artists/bands there were.  What a talent show..bluegrass, folk, country, blues. Big double basses, all types of acoustic some electric guitars, all types of singers....some solo, some duet, some groups, all quality and entertaining. It was so good Derek decided he couldn't even consider bringing out his guitar!!!! Freddy who is now 81 was there for the whole piece. He suffers from advanced Parkinson's, is confined to a wheelchair and looks very frail. he is only a shadow of his former self. Yet despite all this, and only a few days since his last stint in hospital, at about 10:30pm he was taken to the stage area to join his old band and he managed to whisper out a verse on one of this big songs, gasping but remarkably in key and on pitch. I'll tell you hardly a dry eye in the 150 or so crowd. Incredible! So look up to see who Freddy is and be amazed.
Apart form the music, the food was amazing. the whole shindig was called a "pickin' party". The RV park provided black-eyed peas, cabbage, ham and beef brisket, and everyone brought something to share.... what a spread.. we ate all day, met lots of people and enjoyed the roaring fire. A great start to 2013. 

NEW YEARS EVE

Monday Dec 31st - Bye Bye 2012

Well what a year. When it began we had no notion of where we would be at the end of the year. It has been a big and eventful year for us. When it began Derek was still working, we had not even thought about buying a Fifth Wheel trailer yet and we had not considered the timing for selling our home. The ball started rolling in February when we saw an ad in Kijiji for a used 5th Wheel trailer and a pickup truck combination. We didn't buy it, but it started us on the journey to investigate the market... the rest is history. So this year brought retirement, Janice's 60th, the purchase of a truck and 5th wheel, the sale of our house after 35 years, and finally leaving on our adventure, which is the focus of this blog.
So the last day of the year was spent unpacking, and buying supplies for an evening at home, Champagne, snacks etc.
We thought we'd settle for an early night but Travis next door called at 5 and said that a bunch of folks from the park we going to the Mexican restaurant across the road at 7 and he had seats of us. More great food, a pitcher of Margarita shared by Travis, a bottle of wine that turned out to be 1.5 litres, 3 courses (Derek had shrimp, lamb and Creme brûlée, Janice had crab cakes, Lobster tails with shrimp and Creme Brûlée) all for $100 incl. tax and tip for two of us!!!!!! Back at the 'condo' at about 10:30pm we watched New Years on tv from Toronto, New York and then an hour later New Orleans. Sorry no photos taken today. 
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!!!

A Vancouver Christmas CONTINUED

Sunday Dec 23^h to Dec 30^th – Vancouver BC

Two weeks went by so fast. The first was a blur of visiting good friends … thanks Dave and Mark for a fabulous evening of great conversation and wine and Thai… Love your home. (how long have we known each other????) Our other adventures included a trip to Granville Island while Evan’s car was in the service centre at the dealer,  (amazing Fish ‘n Chips with Granville Island Brewery Winter Beer), and a memorable trip to the Vancouver Christmas market (Mostly German theme) … loved the spiced wine…. Yum!!! 

No Caption needed!!!!!

What a cute couple!!!!

Sweetie... Hiding behind the blinds !!! In case we send her out in it!!

It even snowed for us on the first Wednesday and we awoke to a winter wonderland...in Vancouver!!!

View from lounge window - what a morning surprise

An early Merry Christmas!!

Evan and Kyle were so very good to us… our room was beautiful and the house is just terrific, with lots of room,  Evan even has an office to work in. They are further out toward Burnaby but close to transportation and shopping. It was also a treat getting to see Sweetie and Mollie, our lovely calico cats that Evan and Kyle adopted from us over 18 months ago. They are very happy cats, and even with some fair rules, they are spoiled rotten… as they should be!!! We went to Langley to get Joy (Kyle's mum) on the 23rd and enjoyed a great lunch in Aldergrove with Joy's brother and his wife, Bob and Rae. Joy spent Christmas with us and it was so wonderful getting to know her and we enjoyed long conversations and shared stories. She even decided to extend her stay a few days and we had a relaxing time with TV shows and card games.

For the first time in 41 years Janice and Derek didn’t cook Christmas dinner.  In fact we were banished from the kitchen and given the hard job of relaxing while Evan and Kyle cooked up an amazing traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Lovely!!! We could get used to that treatment!!! Of course we missed home a little, and sons Braden and Grant a lot. But we were in touch with them both over the holidays, as well as family in UK, which helped ease the pangs!! Evan and Kyle also made things so special that we really felt at home and happily enjoyed a very festive day. 

All set for a fabulous Christmas Dinner

On Boxing day Evan and Kyle took us all for a special treat to see ‘Bright Nights’ at Stanley park… a magical ride on a small train to see the Christmas lights, with music and gingerbread … a good time was had by all. Janice happily embarrassed herself being the only rider wearing a Santa hat and singing all the way round, eating a gingerbread man supplied by E and K!! 

Bright Nights- Stanley Park

Disco Moose Dancing for train

Gingerbread man - RIP

Xmas Train reflected in pond 

Bright Nights - Stanley park - daytime

Bright Nights - Stanley Park - daytime

Derek - "Bird in Hand"-- on walk, playing the fool!!

Out on a walk round neighbourhood

E and K's lovely home

The 27th was Kyle' birthday and we were able to meet some of E and K's friends at the open house. Great time. Again we were ordered to relax while they did all the prep work. 

A couple of days to wind down and spend quality time with Evan and Kyle before we left Canada and returned safely to Austin on Sunday 30th. We began the travel day being up at  3.15am then travelled to Austin via Houston  on United Airways. We headed back to Texas  feeling a little lost, but were relieved that the trip home was smooth and that all was well back at the ‘condo’.

A Vancouver Christmas

Well it's been a week. Arrived in Vancouver last Sunday and have been having a fabulous time with Evan and Kyle. We have been spoiled and we are loving it. Visits by friends and visits to friends, shopping, making shortbread, wrapping gifts and eating. That about sums it up. More photos to follow. Only 2 more sleeps to Christmas. Today we are off to pick Kyle's Mum up who will be with us until Boxing Day. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE.

Dec 13-15 2012 relaxing/Texas wine tasting/packing

 We are just taking things easy, sorting out stuff we brought with us (and chucking more out!!!) Realized that we really did bring too much with us.. how many electric cords do we need... and we won't even begin to discuss clothes!!!!!
We have great neighbours, which is a bonus and we share our various equipment with each other. I am envious of his beautiful Harley!!! 
Thursday we went to a Texas wine tasting at the pavilion here.... take two bottles, one goes in for draw at end of night and one is opened for all to try. They had tons of great cheeses and snacks and a massive log fire (lit with a huge blow torch attached to a 20lb propane tank... quite impressive to watch!!)
We met many of the other 'residents' and exchanged stories from the road and recommendations for where to go and where to avoid. Had a blast.... Discovered how much they really like their guns in this area of the country.. not up for discussion.
Friday we spent around the site. 20 degree sunny weather. We are both stunned by the news of the school shooting in Newtown. There is nothing we can say. It is just too sad. The world grieves today.
Saturday we are doing a final pack of our cases to leave tomorrow morning for Vancouver and our much looked forward to Christmas with Evan and Kyle. Merry Christmas everyone... will try to update a little while we are away, but it may be put on hold for a couple of weeks. Sorry no photos to add ... couldn't find my camera for a couple of days. We are taking the truck to the airport leaving at 5am. Excited!!

12-12-12 Happy B'day Evan- Settling into Austin

Dec 12th 2012
First thoughts today are for our sweet Evan who celebrates hi birthday today.  We spent the day trying to get Internet that works. (the campground internet was not reliable ... to be complimentary!!!)
Tripped in to Austin to get a modem/router from Time Warner.... it works great.
We were surprised to see that all along the roads ...  people have decorated trees in the middle of no where.... we have no idea who does it or why... but it was particularly lovely to see. The brilliant sunshine made the decorations glisten... very festive.  Went to local Mexican restaurant for lunch... customer appreciation day.... WOW!! $7.99  for two huge Mexican meals.  The nachos and salsa they brought to begin were delicious...  (almost as good as that Mexican place in Peterborough Braden!!!)  couple of photos to follow tomorrow.