5C's Que Pasa

Thank you for checking in on me. It has been quite the year for us.

Today it was 106F and hopefully the last hot hot day of the season. Thank goodness our A/C works so well. It seemed like a very long hot drive back from the US to home here but we managed it last Tuesday the 16th. We parked for only a few hours, unloaded and Colin then moved the RV back to storage.

It really was a great break being in the US. Only wish I hadn’t broken my nose just minutes before we left. Today I still have some  eye bruising and yesterday I had to mouth breathe. But I am healing and I no longer have rib pain so I can sleep at night.

Yesterday Colin pulled out ‘” for certain ” he says the final storage bins from under the house. Turns out that two of them were full of paperwork from my mom’s passing in July 2013 and then my dad’s passing in February of 2015. So I went thru many things I had not seen previously. It was a sad and bittersweet day. I am so happy that they are together once again.

Everyday Colin and I are sorting and tossing things. It seems never ending. The day we travelled home from the the US we had a showing and again the next day after we returned home. Everyone loves our home and wants to live here but I think that the fact that we are on lease land ending in 2046 is an issue for many, of course the lease will likely be renewed in the years ahead. So Colin spoke with our builder and for between 15 – 20 K he will move this house to within one hundred miles of here. The land may not keep its value ( if the lease is not renewed ) but it is almost certain that the lease will be extended so that would not be an issue. However by 2046, our home will be worth so very much more than it is now. Hopefully this information will help people to go ahead and make an offer.

Less than 24 hours after arriving home we had some wonderful friends from Maine who actually are only a few doors down from us on the Isla visit. A short lvist but totally wonderful. Not sure I took any photos. I will have to check. We had a lovely dinner at the Greek House here in Lake Country and the next day they found the Dirty Laundry Vineyard which had produced the wine we drank at dinner.

The vet in Wenatchee was lovely – in fact they have 20 vets on staff. The girls received and tolerated their rabies vaccine ( only a one year dose ). Such a fuss with this USA CDC imposed new ruling effective August 1st requiring all dogs to have been vaccinated by a USDA approved vaccine and signed by a USDA approved vet on the paperwork. There are less than 3 in all of Washington State. We are 98% convinced that we did what was required. Sadly the rules are unclear even to the approved US vets. Both a vet and an US border agent told me that this was all because of Canadian regulation – NOT TRUE! So we are 98% certain we are good to go. No worries leaving Canada and entering Mexico. My concern is leaving the Mexico border into the USA. There is no way we will leave our girls in Mexico on their own. Fortunately we are here until early October so there will be time to hopefully sort it all out.

Sadly Carlie was not well the day we left the USA nor the next day. We had had all the blood tests once we got back here in May ( $800.00 ) which basically confirmed that she was not digesting protein and has a chronic GI Issue etc, etc and had other enzyme issues. However she was perfectly fine so we just went day by day and then wham she was sick again. So her new meds should be here by Tuesday. Check out AnimalBiome.

Meanwhile we celebrated our wedding anniversary on the 18th, last week. Even difficult for us to realize that we have been married for 37 years. that is a great deal of time together, Good thing we love each other. Cheers to us! It was a very laid back quiet night at home with Italian take out. Replies to a few of your comments. We have established that there is not enough time for me to have my  second eye surgery on Sept. 4th and give us enough time to get to Mexico to renew our temporal.

So I will speak to the medical office tomorrow. Apparently they take 3 – 4 weeks off for the summer for the entire office – lucky them. My appointments are August 28th and September 4th. My only options are for them to do me August 21 and 28th or do both ey on the 28th.

It does not work for me to come back and do the one eye. I don’t think getting one eye done here and one is Mexico is a great idea as the lenses will not be the same. So tomorrow is my only chance ( before they go on a 3 week vacation ) to plead my case. I prefer surgery on the 21st and the 28th of August. Positive thoughts you all.

 

Yes I did. Last Wednesday July 10th. Gosh everyday before and after have been busy from sunrise to sunset ( huh, I never see sunrise but you get the drift ).

We saw the park July 1st parade here in Holiday Park and as always it was excellent. I was thinking about all my American friends on July 4th. I was tired. So much prep for the next garage sale. And we had a showing on July 1st. Lots of interest but no offers so we have dropped our selling price.

Saturday July 6th was our third and final garage sale.  Colin and I are both happy with how we have sold so many items and the house is definitely feeling lighter. Somehow I managed to sell 80% of my personal wardrobe. I was so happy on the Sunday, July 7th and that lasted for a few days. We did well on the garage sale. In fact between selling the golf cart, the two kayaks, the Lexus and the sauna and two unexpected small tax returns we will be able to live in Mexico for the next year or 2 without taking money from our savings. But between the three garage sales and my selling things online on FB Marketplace we made an additional $9,200.00. Facebook Marketplace is a ton of work as are the garage sales. But to us worth every penny. Fingers crossed that the house sells by the end of September.  If not we will be back here next spring.

Sunday, July 7th was the turning point for me ( and I think for Colin ). I was HAPPY, yes I am shouting happy. It has been a very long time since I felt so free and well – happy. We were certain that we were doing the right thing and were over the top ecstatic. Everyday I am selling something on FB. Actually I still have many new things to add. Yes we really did have a lot of stuff, but that was part of our very happy past. Now our life goal has changed and we are so looking forward to starting this new major step.

However my cataract surgery is getting in the way. Apparently I require so many weeks post surgery before I can be discharged. I knew that I had one cataract but not in both eyes which requires another full week here. We don’t have that time. I am on the waitlist for earlier surgery but it seems that the medical office is going to be on vacation and shut down for a few weeks. And surgery is only done on a Wednesday. So unless August 21st opens up, I am in trouble. Yes we can leave here earlier but we do have to be at IMSS in Mexico by a certain date the end of October or we will forfeit all we have gained towards our permanent residency and will be required to start all over in 2025. At the moment with my scrambled brains from my tumble I have no idea how to proceed but of course in time I will figure it out.

So back to last Wednesday. We had already planned to travel to Wenatchee, WA in the US in order for our girls to get the proper rabies vaccines – the proper USDA approved vaccine and more importantly to be administered by a USDA/CDC approved vet. We have been researching for many weeks. First of all there are very few certified vets to do this. In all of Washington State perhaps less than 15. And of course they require a USDA certified rabies vaccine. And then of course who is willing to take on new clients from Canada. We sorted it all or so we thought. The girls got their shots but we still need to come back before we leave the USA for Mexico to get the correct paperwork.

So last Wednesday, July 10th, we finished loading the RV. We had a plan. We had to leave the house in perfect condition for a possible showing while we were away. So I was in the RV in the storage yard putting things away in our RV while Colin dusted and vacuumed etc in the house. Very very very long story short, we were about 5 minutes away from hooking up the Jeep to the RV when Colin suggested a quick stop at our garden plot to pick up some lettuce. Not sure if I fainted ( it was over 100F ) or tripped. I ended up bleeding out for over 6 hours. The ER in Vernon was useless.

Almost 6 hours later we got back to the RV ( my nose was still bleeding ) and there was yet another problem. Something was wrong with the RV engine fan belt. . GOOD SAM was over 6 hours away. Colin called a very very very good friend in the park and he actually  left a meal with friends in Kelowna to get back to HP to help us. J fixed the problem and left to join his out of town friends  ( luv you ) and as we proceeded to hook up the tow car/Jeep there was another problem. Colin dealt with that. We left 6 hours late (stupid hospital) – in Mexico I would have been back home in an hour. The US border was quite suspicious of us arriving at 10:30PM.

We got thru and into an Oroville RV park ( remember we have no generator and it was over 100F ). Long drive the next day to where we are right now, Whispering Pines RV Park in Cle Elum, WA.  Fabulous camping spot. Saw the vet Friday, the 12th and I have been recovering in the RV.

Happy to say that I finally got out for a walk today with my family. So our vacation time here has turned into a recovery time for me here in the RV. Mostly I slept but Colin got quite a bit done on creating a more cozy home environment for us here in the RV. I have so enjoyed spending the past days here in my happy place. I hope that from October 8th and on it will become my full-time home but that all depends on my eye surgery.

So tomorrow July 16th we are driving back to our lake home in Kelowna. I would be happy to stay here until fall but I must get back to my home – it needs to be sold. Thank you so much for checking in, no sense apologizing for the past two weeks of no posts but that is my life right now!

 

Sadly the Oilers lost despite playing a point on game. Life happens. There will always be next season.

Who knew that when I mentioned last January/February that we had decided on a new and totally different path in our lives, that things would have become so confusing and time consuming?

Seriously did any of you have an idea that this would have developed?

We have made millions of minute decisions, thousands upon thousands of so so decisions and hundreds of insanely serious decisions. They all take time. Even the tiniest decision  –  what should I do with this precious memento from our life together or even a physical memory from before before we even met?

I can’t count the hours, certainly not the days nor the weeks it has taken us to get to this point in time.  We have had two major garage/yard sales ( another coming July 6th ). I sold a few thousand on Facebook Market Place.

Colin and I certainly had great taste back in the day. Pretty much everything is now called vintage, expensive vintage 😮 . A few weeks ago I had an epiphany – I also am vintage 🙄  But so are the folks around me and they aren’t going to pay vintage prices.

Then there is our beloved home here on the lake. Everyday we ask each other if we should just keep on as in years past and summer here. No, no, no! We both agree that this is our time. Time to make take a different direction in our future. Perhaps only for ten years or so but we both feel the need for a change and for the freedom this will being to us.

This is where the insanely serious decisions come in. Colin will be closing down Colin Jewall Photo Studios Inc. the end of August. Colin has been a professional photographer since 1983.  His previous career was in engineering. He is firm with his decision. I graduated as a registered nurse ( RN ) in 1973. Then I moved to working for Air Canada, I needed a mental change and the perks were great as I travelled all over the world. Then Colin and I met and wed and I became involved with his company for a while ( over 35 years ) then quit Air Canada. It is now our time, our time to no longer work 20 hour days, the moment to take time for ourselves and explore our freedom.

So the major decisions have been made. We will not rent out our home. If need be we will be back next summer to sell it. However we are purging, sorting and selling as if we will not be back here to Kelowna – which is our preference.

We have had a number of showings and tomorrow morning is yet another one. Hopefully this will be the one, the buyer who loves our home as much we do.

Our future holds so many possibilities and we have several plans as to what we wish to do. They are all off the charts and we can hardly wait.

The Universe keeps tempting us. This appeared in my inbox yesterday. So wonderful and tempting but we need a few free years before we commit. Now that decision took us all day to decide that no – just not right now. But oh such a sweet deal for for one of my blog readers. Check this link out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/873553979751061/user/1157702888/

We have had so much to deal with day by day that we have both been overwhelmed. I regret not being able to share with you as often as normal. Often I fall asleep at the computer and then eat a meal Colin prepared and then go to bed,  The last few mornings I have have slept in to 10 AM.

So what we have to sell at the moment is listed online. That has taken a bit of pressure off so that I don’t have to be listing daily. We have met so many wonderful people through this selling. Yes we are selling everything as we don’t have extra room in the RV.  I was quoted $200.00 CAD for a 20 X 24 X 16 inch tall bin – PER BIN. Perhaps I am wrong but this seems like a lot to ship with a private citizen going from here to the Isla in a pick up truck.

 

We are all fine and that includes Carlie. Still deciding on her treatment but at the moment she is comfortable and very happy. I know because of the amount of daily face kisses and licks.

It has been an intense few weeks but good decisions have been made and we are progressing. No more showings nor offers but we have had nothing but rain and cool temps. Positive that will change soon. Still running the furnace and fireplace daily. My cataracts have worsened so I can’t drive and need to limit my computer time. I am now on a waitlist for the surgery.

I have tons of thoughts and photos to share. Coming soon. I have tried a few times but was just too tired to continue. Yesterday the to do list actually included the blog.

About to head into the bath before a great dinner planned by both of us.  The girls have been sleeping with us every night so they are comforted.

 

…..but hour by hour. I have no extra time – seriously and I won’t go into the details. So much to share BUT I /we have no free time. Get up early and “work”. We changed banks on May 15 and I am still dealing with the fall out. The weather is not good. However we did have a wonderful showing this past Monday ( they loved our home and we even have the same while leather sectional and glass coffee table) and will have another tomorrow morning. As you know we are perfectionists so will be up early before Colin has to leave for a photo shoot.

Time is of the essence is I am sharing this with you – I sent this to a friend today and it pretty much describes today.

So I got hearing aids today( trial for a few weeks) and they are making me go insane. It has been a stressful day. My new VISA card would not work and we had to wait in line at RBC for 45 minutes before we saw someone. It took so long that we just had to leave. The vet was calling us at 4:30. Got home one minute before the phone rang. Carlie is not dying but she does has a chronic problem ( took $800.00 worth of bloodwork to figure it all out.) She needs help. Basically she is unable to produce enzymes to digest protein. This leads to loose stool and weight loss. She no longer has severe pancreatitis like she did on the Isla earlier this year. That was when she was in so much pain that she could not walk and I gave her heavy duty meds to take her pain away. So now we are working on a solution which is rather gross. Details in the days to come. However we have no kitchen lights and are working to set up for a 9:30AM showing on the morning. Our kitchen lights are a big feature but the realtor is still ok with bringing his clients in. Maybe we will have two offers this weekend. We may have no kitchen lights for 1 -2 – 3 weeks waiting for a new tranformer. We can live with that. So that is my que pasa for today. Oh and Colin has a job tomorrow ( first one this year ). A friend is letting us stay in her home for 30 minutes tomorrow during the showing – so I can spy on who is looking at our home😎 Colin and I are both so very very very ready to get out of Canada and onto the Isla. More details in the days to come…….hmm think I will use this for a blog post. My readers are wondering what is happening.

And on Saturday we will be having another garage sale. Hopefully one day I will come up for air. Thanks for all of your support.

Let’s start with the girls. It finally got warm enough midday, a day or two ago and the girls began their war cry. They were informing us that they had found a snake. Only it turns out that the snake had already been passed back and forth. As it was being shaken the body and the guts were flying. Colin rushed to save the critter but it was too late. He said that it was about 3/4 of an inch thick.

Thursday morning I had another ( hopefully my last for a few weeks)  medical appointment. I have not been looking forward to this one. I may have mentioned that last September my optometrist had discovered a cataract in my right eye. So a referral was made and several months later I finally met the eye surgeon. I could not believe it when he said that I also had a cataract in the other eye as well. At the moment they were booking four months out, whether I paid to have it done at the clinic ( which includes a superior corrective lens – so that I possibly may never need to wear eyeglasses again ) or paid for by our medical care in the hospital. They found one opening in the clinic ( $$ ) on August 28th about 3.5 months away. Fortunately a second opening was found one week later on September 4th. However recovery is about 6 weeks and we are scheduled to be leave before those 6 weeks are up.

We do have to be in Mazatlan no later that a certain date in late October re our residency renewal. I am somewhat in shock. We booked those surgery dates as they likely would be gone quickly. So now we have to rethink our departure date and several other things.

Last Wednesday we changed our personal banking from where we have been since 2003 to a new bank for us. It was recommended that we do this as our investments are with the same bank. I won’t go into detail I have had nothing but trouble since the change. It took 2 days to figure out how to get online. All kinds of new numbers with fancy names. I am used to one back account number, simplicity.The advisor at the bank was helpful but rushed us and so we left with our heads spinning. Got that sorted out yesterday but then today I found out that I can’t get into that account nor the investments accounts. Also yesterday I discovered that you need to have the new bank account for 30 days before CPP and OAP will be auto deposited.

Of course this is a long weekend so I will have to wait until to speak with the powers that be for all the banking issues. I did make a big mistake. What with so much happening all at the same I took the new banks advisor’s instructions without thinking it through. We totally closed down the first bank – all the accounts. So now there is no direct deposit going to be made month end 🙄 I guess I just love creating more work for myself.

The last few days have certainly been unexpected. I was not happy to have lost the last three business days. All I can do now is to once again start listing things for sale on FB Marketplace.

The good news is that I now know why I have been having so much trouble being on the computer, reading maps and doing taxes. It will be lovely to see clearly once again.

Looking back ( to what I can recall ) it has been an extremely full two weeks. Good thing I didn’t know how busy It would be.

Today I finished the company taxes as well as our personal taxes. Happy to boast that I balanced the company to within 3 cents. Fedex will be delivering my work ( a small not thick package ) to the accountant in Vancouver tomorrow morning for a mere $74.00CAD. Last year it was $50.00. We can’t afford to live here much longer. I have done what I can with the taxes. The accountant in Vancouver plays with the personal and company figures so that we pay the least amount tax possible. He is worth his weight in gold – well maybe quarters – or nickels 😛

How long have I been doing this for Colin? I worked it out today. This was my 32nd time. I have been doing this since 1992.  And it will be my last. I assume that when we close the company later this year that there will be more to do BUT I am done. As far as I am concerned it can be sent to Vancouver. Dare I say that I am officially retired 🙁

Yesterday I had my other leg vein treatment. For some reason it was a painful experience. She did suggest that I come back in September before we leave. My legs are so much better with these treatments – so I might, Well I will book it and then I can cancel if needed. When I left the office yesterday I asked how long I had been going there. The one ‘girl’ who I remember from day one said “forever” and rolled her eyes. Another one looked up the info online and say “oh my!!”. I have had between 3 to 2 treatments per leg per year.  Since 2009 😮 – definitely a long time.

So what have I been doing in the last 14 days, other than 22 loads of laundry 😳 As mentioned in the last post I had a successful garage sale on May 4th. Since then I have been selling larger items online including our sauna and the golf cart. We have sold many things but there are many many more to go. The only way it makes sense to me is that I say that I have paid my rent for the next 13 months 😉

We have still only had the one showing and as much as they love and want our home they have had to say no. A difficult decision for them but other things in their lives have recently changed. No worries. we continue to wait for the perfect person to fall in love with our home. We are confident that it will sell.

Sadly Carlie is not doing well again. She has not had any more episodes of not being able to walk. By the way we discovered that the reason she appeared paralyzed to us was because she was in extreme pain which totally consumed her. So her pain level I now more controlled but she is having problems. While I worked on taxes ( we always went together to a vet appointment but I could not this time ) Colin took Carlie to our local vet. First thing he said was the medication ( that we thought was working until about 5 days ago ) was only good for acid reflux 😥 Perhaps it was her kibble or this or that….we all agreed that her blood needed to be tested. Colin will take our #1 girl ( she is 2 and 1/2 hours older than her sister Ciela, whom we call the baby ) in first thing in the morning for fasting bloodwork. I get so sad and upset when she is not well.

Later tomorrow we will be opening a new bank account which will make our life much easier while living in Mexico. First of all our investment advisor can deal with that account and best of all we can do wire transfers for up to $50,000.00 CAD to one of our two banks in Mexico at no charge. At this point it is my understanding that this can be a daily process. Bur why would I need to transfer that much money that often but then why would I have that much to transfer. Perhaps once we sell the house.

Oh and we have listed the Lexus for sale. There are hundreds of scammers out there and it was taking all my online time! Some very special friends hooked us up with a source that will help us with the car. Such a relief. This will save me at least 2 hours more per day. So let’s see how that works out for us.

So yes, I feel that in all honesty I can say that the past two weeks have been over the top busy.

And then the Canadian hockey season is at its peak of activity with playoffs. Many Edmonton Oiler fans on our street, they are tied 2-2. Game 5 will be Thursday in Vancouver against the Vancouver Canucks. I have lived in both cities but my heart will always be with the Oilers. I swear I could hear my Dad yelling tonight, watching from that big TV in the sky.

We are still starting out our mornings with the furnace and fireplace on. Meanwhile most of Mexico is sweltering with heat waves. Mazatlan weather appears to be just perfect for me. Only 145 sleeps until we head south permanently.

 

 

 

We arrived home a week ago today, last Tuesday, April 30th. No problems at the Canadian Border. I actually had prepared a blog post Sunday the 29th and was to publish it on the 30th but I was extremely tired. I will get back to it.

We arrived home about 1PM on the 30th. Together we carried load after load into house. I have done 19 laundry loads in this past week.

We are freezing cold here and swing both the furnace and the fireplace at times throughout each day. The girls certainly knew where they were. They chased each in our yard for almost a full 10 minutes. The were happy to be back. I think they would be happy to be wherever we are.

I had braced myself for coming into the house. I was a bit sad but realized that selling the house was the way to a new future and adventure for us.

Wednesday we listed our home for sale.

When I had a few spare moments here and there I began a pile of things to sell at the garage sale. We had so many things. I had to keep borrowing tables – in the end we had seven tables. Somehow no photos were taken. Special tanks to Cindy, Dianne and Kelly for their help.

Friday Colin moved the RV back to storage and I spent the day pricing items. Two of my friends told me that I had to be prepared to let things go at much lower prices. The first few times I was speechless and in shock to see some of my special things go for peanuts so to speak. In was a success. We made just over $1000.00 at the sale and I have since sold $500.00 of larger items on Marketplace. It’s not over I still have hundreds of items to sell.

I have been going to bed as early as 9PM. We are both exhausted. doing so much in such a short period to time. I stood from 7:30AM last Saturday until about 2PM. I could barely walk. The next morning I had trouble walking but I have lubricated the old joints and I am once again on the go.

Sunday I started listing the larger items on Marketplace. Within half an hour I was inundated with emails from people wanting to buy what I had listed. I was on the computer most of the day.

Early Monday morning it was time for my annual vein treatment. Just over 40 jabs. I do the left leg next Monday. After that I will have to get my treatments done in Mazatlan. I believe that that will be an adventure 🙁

Monday early afternoon, our realtor came by for a detailed tour. Tuesday ( today the 7th ) we had our first showing at 11AM. We spent the rest of Monday and Tuesday morning cleaning. We were trying to declutter the house. So Colin got my car from storage and we stuffed the Lexus with “stuff”.

The people loved our home but of course have to make decisions re our home and their future. Que sera sera 😉

I finally had time this afternoon to finish up the Marketplace stuff. The rush is over until we list more items and we still have a lots to sell.

Tomorrow I have no choice but to start our taxes. Both personal and the company year end. We also have to decide if we are no longer working through CJPS INC. Of course Colin has some jobs lined up. Big decisions to be made.

Both Thursday and Friday we have appointments for half the day.

As you can see I have had no option but to juggling many things right now.

Thanks for sticking with me and your many emails and comments asking me ‘que pasa’. Of course I will go back and catch up. But right now I can only deal with each day as it happens.

 

Sorry no time to check for any errors in this post.

 

Not too many comments. I guess the weekend is a bad time to publish this blog. Anyway I will continue from where I left off. Our first day in Las Vegas was discussed in my last post.

The next three days were a jumble of ordering various things on the computer. At one point we went to the UPS store to return four items from my original order. Colin did a Costco run as well as a wine run to Total Wine. Of course he only purchased what we could drink until we drive into Canada. So nice to have some good wine again. Other than their walks to the dog run area to do their business the girls were happy to just hang out in the RV. The heat did cool down and they were but to spend time outside in the new pen. We did have one day of rain and did it ever cool down. I hadn’t been looking at forecasts so it was a surprise.

Colin also visited Beaudry RV to picked up different RV plugs, such as  a new 50AMP end, male and another female end, a new 30 AMP end, a 30 to 50 and a 15 to 30 AMP. Our 30 to 50 and 50 to 50 ends are fused together. They are 23 years old and were no longer making good connections and over time they fused together. It will be nice to have all new ends moving forward. Colin was surprised at how high the bill came to. When he got back to the RV he asked me to check for the end pieces on Amazon. I ordered them and we got $100.00 plus tax back with the savings.

MacTack.  We have put a few items into play within the RV which is already making out lives more comfortable. Meanwhile I had a problem with a non Amazon order which I ordered about 16 days ahead of expected delivery. OFF the six items only one arrived. I can’t figure out why each time the order was coming from a different country such as Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Italy. I had been communicating with their customer service all week explaining that come end of day Friday I would not be there to receive the parcels. They refuse to credit my account nor refund the shipping. Now is not the time to deal with this but I will get back to it in a few weeks.

We did get the fridge vent and it fits – sort of. Colin had to cut a bit here and there to make if fit properly. No idea right now about painting the vent. At the moment it stands out like a badge of honour. Sadly the microwave replacement glass plate is smaller than the original. We had to pay an extra $50.00 air freight to get it here before we left. The thing is, is that it still works. We can adapt to the new piece.

So it all tuned out just fine but I was stuck inside dealing with the bits and pieces. It really wasn’t a hardship. Plus I was careful to compare what could be ordered on Amazon.ca instead of Amazon.com. So glad that I did that as two lamps were several dollars cheaper as well as a new system to store my dishes and a few other items.

We left Las Vegas and as we were talking the RV became distracted and went west instead east, Colin had a small problem hooking up the Jeep to the tow brake system win the morning but sorted it out. Always something to deal with. We were finally heading in the correct direction at 12:45 PM, a late departure for us. Diesel at the Sincalir in Alamo was only $3.79 per gallon. We fed and peed the girls and were driving with egg salad sandwiches. We were driving again at 3PM.

As we got closer to Ely, Nevada the air became much cooler. I checked and sure enough the forecast was for a low of 19F 😥 ( fortunately it only went down to 27F ). We pulled into the Mountain Valley View RV Park at 5:50PM for a total drive of 256 miles. Fortunately I had made a reservation and we got the last open pull through site. The sun was shining and the girls loved sleeping on the dash in the warmth of the sun. But once the sun went behind the mountains there was a distinct coolness in the air which was seeping Into the RV.

Our RV was built in California and it was not intended to be in cold climates. All of our windows are only single pain. Colin went out to get out Mr Buddy heater from the basements. The door lost its oil/hydraulic/I don’t really know what and the strut instead of staying up came crashing down on his head. It was one of our largest very heavy basements doors. I think he saw stars and his head was sore ( 24 hours later he is alright but might need to see a chiropractor ). At least we would be warm.

It seemed like  we had a very long day. The four of us had a nap and woke up in the dark at 8PM. We were warm and I used the oven to heat tuna pies for dinner which added more heat. We were all snuggled in bed by 10:30 PM.

Colin is as he says “just fine”.

Our time in Vegas was productive but not in front of a slot machine. 😎