Voyage en Alaska 2012 - Our trip to Alaska in 2012: À propos~About

Voyage en Alaska 2012 - Our trip to Alaska in 2012: À propos~About: Une des choses que nous aimons de notre blogue est de relire nos aventures passées et chaque page ramène tant de souvenirs incroya...





I am reading your blog after seeing the article in the RV West magazine. My husband and I also did a 10 week trip across the country in 2012. BC to NFLD and then back through the US. We may have passed each other.  We did the trip in a Rockwood 5th wheel.   I also wrote a blog, if you are interested in reading it....loriandrayrigginsblogspot.ca



We have done two trips,,,so read the first one in 2012 called Lori and Ray's Bogus Adventure.



Happy travels!

Every day "IS" a Saturday!

    Three years ago when I retired a friend said "now every day is a Saturday for you".  At the time, I thought yes indeed, every day from now on will be just like a Saturday!  Lazing around with my multiple cups of coffee.  Doing whatever I feel like.  But in reality once the novelty of not having to wake up before the birds settle into their daily routines, the days just run together like a never ending string.  One Saturday after another Saturday, after another.  I really however, do not need this many Saturdays.  Ray wakes up between 6:30 and 7:00, but I don't rise until 7:30 or 8:00.  If Ray has not done so, I put the coffee on and then reach for my iPad.  I check our emails answering any that need to be answered.  Then I catch up on Scrabble games and Trivia Crack (what an addictive weird game).  It is my right after all, having worked for so many years, to just take it easy and relax in the mornings.  That is what I tell myself each morning.  I have never been a morning person who might bound out of bed, throw on some sneakers and head off for a morning walk.  I see other people doing just that and think, why don't I do that?  If it hasn't happened yet, it is not likely going to start. Mind you, that sounds like something that I seriously should consider doing, as it might kick start my day in a different way.  Well perhaps I will do just that,,, next Saturday.

     Perhaps I need a dog?  That would certainly get me out of the house a couple of times a day.  But do I want the commitment?  We do after all have our wonderful cat, Martha Jean. She is 17 years old and I don't think she would take to kindly to having a dog in her space.  Chasing her, licking her and really just wanting to be her friend. No,,,, I can't see that happening.  Animals are a huge commitment.  If you want to travel, which we do, then you either have to hire a pet sitter,  farm the animal out or take them along with you.  Martha would not travel well at this stage of her life.  We have farmed her out to my sister in-law's house when we go on our bigger camping trips, but it is very stressful for her.  A pet/house sitter would be great but finding the right person has been a bit difficult to do.  I do love the dogs that we know.  Georgia, Cooper, Tia, Jake to name a few.  All are family dogs and are treated just like family by their owners.  And all of them are taken on various family vacations (okay, maybe not Tia)  I just do not want to be one of those people who have to take my pooch with me where ever I go.  Like this pooch who we saw sitting on the back of a Harley Davidson waiting for his "master" to take him for a ride!

So at this stage of our lives, a dog is not the way to go.  Would just not be fair to the dog.

     Over the past three years I have done a bit of volunteering.  The first and the best so far has been joining the Hospital Auxiliary where I volunteered 4 hours a week.  Four hours in the Gift Shop and then four hours the following week at the Reception Desk.   I loved the Gift Shop shifts.  It was social being able to interact with all the customers, and "selling" them things they really don't need or want.  The social aspect is really what I wanted.  Unfortunately due to health reasons, I had to let this "job" go.  Too many germs in the hospital.  I tried a couple of months volunteering at the Canadian Cancer Society.  Most of the time I was by myself in the office.  Waiting for people to come in for information or waiting for the phone to ring.  I would sweep and mop the floors and wipe down the counters and cupboards.  Then it struck me that I could be doing all of this cleaning at home, rather then volunteering to do it elsewhere.  But mostly for me, it was the lack of interaction with people that caused me to hand in my name tag.  It has been about a year now that I have not volunteered anywhere.  I did work the Federal election this past month.  

     I have not been totally idle.  On one of my Saturday's I decided that I should take up crocheting.  Not wanting to start out making dish clothes or something that small, I wanted to jump in and make something like those infinity scarves everyone is wearing.  My sister gave me the name of a Website which had some easy scarf patterns.  the website worked great and even had some "simple" hats.  Unfortunately for all my friends and female family members, they all received handmade hats or scarves for Christmas.  They graciously accepted the gifts, but to this day I have not seen anyone wearing them.  My feelings truly are not hurt at all!  Tanya took a photo of her wearing the one I made her, which happened to be my 2nd project.  

     Anyone who knows me really well, knows that I am not a cook.  I don't like to cook, never have and probably never will.  Nothing I ever makes turns out very well.  So one Saturday I decided that it was time to take meal preparation seriously.  I have made some interesting meals, soups and even some homemade granola.  I have stayed away from baking, as I do not need that in the house.  I have found that my cooking skills are improving but saying that, I think I will let Ray make Christmas dinner!

     Weather permitting, we are either camping or we are riding our bikes.  We have been across Canada twice (previous Blogs tell those stories), but mostly we camp locally at Derby's Reach on the Fraser River.  It is a beautiful peaceful spot, with tug boats pulling their loads up and down the river.

Ray's bike is a Harley Dyna Custom Glide, while I ride a Harley Trike which my friend Nancy had the joy of riding on the back when she was visiting us last Fall.  

This year we did two rides up to Whistler.  That has to be the most beautiful highway in our Province!  Riding along the ocean is breathtaking for sure!  In the past three years on a few of those many Saturdays we have had two daughters get married and the birth of one of our grand daughters (who is now 2 years old).  We have another one on the way next summer.  That will bring joy to our lives again!!

     I am now in my comfort zone of NOT doing any volunteering, and am happy within my space.  If you can't find me at home, you can always catch me down at the local Starbucks partaking in one of my favourite beverages!

Finally after three years, I am happy with all my Saturday's! .

The arrival of Fall

Today it is raining and it is gloomy and grey.  If not for the leaves changing color it would truly be dreary.  Where has summer gone?  It was here one minute and then not the next.  Well at least that is the way it seems to be.  July was one of the hottest on record for heat here in the Lower Mainland.  August brought showers.  September which can be beautifully hot or cool, seemed to just blend into August.

With the arrival of Fall, I am reflecting on the past year.  This time last year we were on our Bogus Adventure and would have been in Albuquerque.  It was the week of the Hot Air Balloon Festival, which we had wanted to see, but my lungs were rather uncooperative with the high altitude.  Our Bogus Adventure ended as we arrived home a little earlier than we had originally thought we might.  

When we were on the ferry returning from Newfoundland last year, we met a young fellow named Danny.  Danny had ridden his bike all the way from Sault Ste Marie Ontario (where he lives), to Newfoundland.  He was travelling on his own so we had invited him to join us for dinner.  Throughout the visit, Danny had said the he would like to travel to BC.  So Ray of course invited him to come and stay with us.  Lo and behold, he came for a visit!

Danny rode out from the "Soo" arriving in BC around the 26th of July.  Ray and Ed rode up to Salmon Arm to meet Danny and ride with him through the beautiful Fraser Canyon and eventually to our place.  Ray and Danny were going to be hanging around here for about a week and then they were heading to Sturgis South Dakota for the big motorcycle rally.  This apparently was something on Ray's Bucket list.   I am trying to make this a reasonably short post, so will shorten up their tale of Sturgis somewhat.

Anyone who knows Ray well, knows that he is strictly a "fair weather" riding kind of dude.  He does not like to get his bike dirty.  And he does not like to get wet himself!  He had borrowed some rain type gear from our friend Kelly.  The guys set off on their adventure on a overcast morning.  Well they were rained on so badly that I am surprised that Ray did not turn around and come home.  Bucket List, or not!  But they persevered and rode into Sturgis a few days later.  Tired, wet and dirty.  It was a "show" that Ray will likely never forget.  Thousands of bikes.  Thousands of people.  Woman with "pasties" on their "you know what"!  The guys actually only spent two nights in the Sturgis area before heading for home.  Danny headed to Ontario.  Another riding buddy of Ray's had ridden down with them, so Ray was not totally alone riding home.  Tom and Ray took a couple of days to get home. Riding through rain, wind and muddy construction zones.  When Ray finally pulled into our driveway he looked like a drowned rat!  He is glad that he went to Sturgis, but has no desire to return.  I think had the weather been better, he might be wanting to go next year!

In June this year I got myself a Harley Trike.  It is something that I never thought that I would own.  Mostly because I never thought that I would ride a motorcycle again of any kind and also because they are so over priced it is ridiculous!  But it is a used Trike.  A 2009 in very good condition and is fully loaded, or at least in my eyes it is!  It has two huge trunks, so if we ever go on a road trip I will have lots of space to put my multiple pairs of shoes!

So here it is almost Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for in every aspect of our lives.  It is a busy month this year.  Tanya and Dead will be home for Thanksgiving this weekend and we will have dinner at Shannon and Paula's.  I have a yoga retreat to go to next weekend.  And Riki and Brad are having a baby next week!  I will be flying down there at the end of the month to visit with the new little grand daughter and will take Alisha trick or treating.

Here it is October and what I have noticed this morning while glancing out the bedroom window, is how lovely the neighbours tree is.  It is a golden yellow, almost orange.  It is filled with tiny birds which I cannot see but definitely can hear.  Thank goodness for me, these little critters do not start their sing song while it is still dark out.  I am not really a morning person, so the later the birds sleep, the later I can sleep.  And I do need my beauty sleep!

Ahhh the arrival of Fall is like a new beginning......

Goodbye to a wonderful Lady

Today is Boxing Day.  The crazy day after Christmas Day when all the sales are on.  The "everything I didn't get for Christmas, is on sale now" day!  This is traditionally a day that we do not venture out to any stores with the exception of groceries and only if we are desperate for something to add to the turkey soup we are cooking up!  It has been somewhat quiet this year for us here in the Riggins house.  The girls are all staying home this year.  With their own kids getting older, it is nice for them to spend Christmas morning at home in their own homes.  Tanya who actually lives the closest to us, has to work through the holidays, but we will see her on the 30th.

We have been home from our great adventure almost as long at we were away from home!  We arrived home on October the 26th.  So much has happened since our arrival home. The day after we got home we surprised Ray's Mom, Skip, with a visit.  As we were home 4 days early, she was not expecting us and she was beside herself with joy.  She was so happy to her her boy back home!  She said that she was so worried that something would happen while we were away and she would not get to see us again.  I thought she was thinking that we might have a terrible accident or something. 

On Novemeber 2nd we celebrated Skip's 92nd birthday.  92 years old!  What a great long life she has lived!  She was somewhat tired waiting for dinner that night and had a wee little nap on the sofa.  After dinner, she beamed as she blew out her candles on her birthday "pie" that Ray had made for her.  She absolutley loved it when he baked a pie!  Over the next 12 days, we had many short visits with her at the Cedars where she lived.  On Friday November 9th Ray and I joined Skip at the Cedars for their Happy Hour and visited with all the residents.  Happy Hour is from 3:00-4:30 and sometimes would go on until 5:00.  At about 4:30 Ray told his Mom we had to go as we had guests coming for dinner and we would not see her over the weekend as we were going up to Kamloops to spend a couple of days with Tanya and Dean.  As we hurried off, Ray turned back to wave goodbye to his Mom.  She was drinking back her glass of wine and grinning at him while waving at the same time.

That is the memory Ray will always have of his Mom.  Skip passed away in her sleep on November the 14th.