Tag Archives: Canada

Exploring the Northwest: Travels and House-Sitting

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I have not been very faithful to this blog lately. I have been traveling and enjoying experiences. Lately, people ask me where I am. I decided that it is time to let you in on my current spring and summer plans.

I drove north through Oregon and Washington, visiting friends along the way. It was nice to catch up with friends as I continued to Whidbey Island, WA.

I spent two summers house sitting for good friends on Whidbey. They went off camp hosting in the beautiful wilds of this country. I took care of their lovely home overlooking Puget Sound. Night after night the sunsets never let me down.

I met this little brown song sparrow while I was there, Birdy Boy. We have maintained a friendship over time and distance. We met on the deck in 2021. I have never had a friendship with a bird before. I returned in 2022. There he was, still waiting to resume our friendship. We picked up where it had left off the year before. Two years later, 2024 I returned and there he was just like I had never left. This year I spent two nights with Sandy and Jim and, yes, Birdy Boy. He greeted me with singing. He hopped onto my feet, knees, arms, and hands. He sang away and caught me up on the past year. I am amazed that this has persisted over time and distance. My heart delights in this unique friendship.

Oh Canada

May 20th I crossed the border into Canada. It was a quick and clear crossover. I was welcomed. Then, I set off to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. I will be spending the next few months here. First stop was a beautiful campground near Victoria, Pedder Cove. I managed to slip into the water and kayak in this beautiful bay. I love all the hidden bays of the northwest.

Two days later I met up with 40 other Roadtreks at Sooke River Campground. Not a Rally, a Meetup ensued. For three nights and four days we gathered as a group and enjoyed each others company. I even found people to kayak with. It was fun to be around all the positive energy of a group of people. I reconnected with those I had met before and met new friends along the way. It was a good weekend and I am glad I encouraged myself to join up with this group of people.

Since the weekend I have been island hopping in the South Gulf Islands. Pender Island was a small outdoorsy island. When you go to Pender you look for things to do outdoors. I planned to put the kayak in the water. Instead, I hiked to the high summits on North and South Pender. Neither hike was long. Sometimes distance doesn’t matter, incline does. It is nice to know I still can do these climbs. I am thrilled to see the wonders at the end of the ascent.

My campground on Salt Sorings Island.

Salt Springs Island. was a much larger island. There are more people here, including many artists. People come to this island for the art. I managed to attend the Saturday Market. It was not a farmers market as much as it was an arts and crafts market. Did I find things to buy? Yes.

This past year I joined an organization, Trusted Housesitters. Starting this week, I will be taking care of two kitties, Stanley and Sitka. I’m house-sitting near Qualicum Beach, close to halfway up the island on the east side. It is a beautiful area. The best part is that I have a good friend who is a fellow photographer and lives there. Guess what we will be doing?

I am still new to this idea of house-sitting for people I don’t know. So the jury is still out on how much I will be choosing to do this. I am still deciding if this is a good fit for me. I like the idea of staying in one area for a more extended time. This way, I can explore more in depth and get to know the area. Maybe I will join a yoga class and have other opportunities to explore the local area.

Some of you have asked where I am. If you have been wondering, this is my current update on my spring and early summer plans. I followed the weather north. I enjoy meeting up with friends and like minded travelers. I like exploring the unknown.

Today I will meet up with the family that I will be cat sitting. The next day the owners leave for a cross Canada trip. I get the kitties and a home to nestle in for a few weeks.

I am thankful for my continuing adventurous spirit. I am thankful that I push myself to explore the unknown. I am thankful for family and friends. Even if they question my sanity, they continue to support me and my life choices.

Today I am Thankful.

Exploring the Pacific Northwest: Into the Unknown

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Have you ever looked at the calendar and thought, “Whoa! Where did the last month and a half go?” I am in that state right now.

Wednesday, that is tomorrow, EmmyLou and I are on the move. We are heading north for the spring and summer with a few extra visits back to San Diego in August (more dental work).

Wait a minute, didn’t I just return from Hawaii? Well, no, I have been back for almost two months. How did that happen? I don’t know. I just really don’t know.

I am heading towards the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia for my summer. I love it up there and look forward to my return each year. As I move north, I hope to meet up with friends. That means you, Mary, Sandy, Mandy, Pat, Melissa and so many more.

Tomorrow, my friend Tina and I are climbing into EmmyLou and heading for Cambria on the Central Coast of California. We are on a mission and an adventure, which I look forward to. After five days, I leave Tina at the train station and will spend some time near Santa Barbara while EmmyLou gets her health check for the year.

Look out, my West Coast friends. I am heading your way. I love the trip north; it is such a beautiful drive. I find all these little side roads to explore. The ocean is amazing, and the Coast Mountain Range is gorgeous. The Redwoods are impressive. And I do know that by May 22nd, I need to be at the Sooke Campground on Vancouver Island. I am going to a rally. The Roadtreks are gathering. EmmyLou can’t wait to see her brethren. I am looking forward to meeting new people and seeing friends.

I have joined Trusted Housesitters, a pet and house-sitting service. I hope to get a few pet sits in as I travel. Trusted Housesitters lists places worldwide where people are looking for someone to take care of pets and houses while the owners travel. So far, I have had three sits in the San Diego area. You met two of them in former posts, Max and Riot. Here are all three.

Maddie
Max
Riot

Please don’t ask me of my plans because I am taking it a moment at a time currently. I had to plan Hawaii and so I decided not to plan too much fo my summer. I still remember I planned last summer and then it all changed so this summer forget plans and just head out.

I hope you will come along on my travels and lets see what I can find to share with you. I am ready to move.

Today I am thankful for the unknown waiting for me to find it.

How I Made it to the TransLabrador Highway-Part I

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How did I get to the TransLabrador Highway? After speaking with a friend of mine I realized I have some catching up to do. I have been busy and enjoying exploring places I have never been before.

After the Roadtrek Gathering in Nova Scotia, I returned to Halifax to explore the area just north of the city with my friend Cynthia from San Diego. We went to Cow Bay because well, why not? What is Cow Bay known for? There is a giant sculpture of a Moose that people like to go and see.

After we wandered the beaches and had lunch we returned for an afternoon Scottish Dance.

From that moment on plans changed and they were arranged as I drove. I had an opportunity to participate in a photography workshop to photograph Puffins on the north shore of the Gulf of St Lawrence in Quebec province, Canada. It was a last-minute change. Newfoundland got put on hold and I took about a week to arrive at the workshop.

It was time to visit National Parks in Canada. Definitely a very good experience. I love National and State Parks. Wherever they are, the campsites are private and there is always something to explore. I spent two nights at Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick Canada. I had a great campsite and spending more than one night allowed me the opportunity to explore this park by bike and kayak. It was a place I could return to again for a longer stay. There was a lot to do. And the scenery is amazing.

As I continued to make my way north I spent two nights in Campbellton New Brunswick. Set along the Restigouche River and surrounded by the Appalachian Mountain Range.

The site of 16th- and 17th-century French missions and Scottish fish and lumber trading posts, it was settled by dispossessed ACADIANS in 1757, though most left with the French defeat in the 1760 naval Battle of the RESTIGOUCHE. It received its present name (for Lieutenant-Governor Sir Archibald CAMPBELL) after a post-1825 influx of Scots.

The Province of Quebec is across the river and connected to Campbellton by the J. C. Van Horne Bridge. The community is a hot spot for fly fishing for Atlantic Salmon. It was also a bike-friendly city. When traveling full time there are certain times where checking into an RV park is the best thing to do. I stayed at a lovely park right on the river. And….I got to do my laundry.

The next morning I visited the nearby towns. I could have been in Scotland. I went to McLeods in the morning to visit the Farmers Market. On the way there I passed through the towns of Dundee and Upper Dundee.

And then it was time to get on my bike and explore Campbellton. It is a small city right on the river. There are bike paths that one could travel miles on. It was fun to explore this fishing mecca. It must have not been the right time of the year for the salmon as it was quiet.

Looking down the Restigoushie River

I continued to drive north the long way around. I arrived at my second Canadian National Park in the afternoon. Forillon National Park sits at the end of the road, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. My heels have been happy so I did quite a bit of hiking at this park. There was so much to see. I loved the wildness of it. On my hike to the lighthouse (5 miles round trip) I saw whales.

Historic Cod plant
Lighthouse at the park
View from the end of the trail

After two days I arose early one morning to drive the four hours to the ferry and prepared to cross the St Lawrence Seaway. I was on my way to Puffin-land. I promise I will tell you more. It was so much fun.

Now the fog is lifting and I think I have covered a lot of territory both physically and writing-wise. I am fine out here in this big wide lonely country. Currently, I am sitting next to the beach where I spent my night. Boondocking is so much fun here.

Today I head south so I can catch my ferry for the next part of the adventure. Newfoundland.

Today I am thankful for my eyes, my ears, my heart, and my spirit that seeks out adventures great and small. It makes my life whole.

Today I am Thankful.

Bienvenue-Welcome

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Samish Bay

Summer is here and it is time to go and explore more new places. I have been working my way to the west coast since April. Yesterday I finally got to touch the Pacific Ocean at Samish Bay, Washington. I felt like I was being welcomed home.

Where have I been? I have been to some really interesting and fun places since I began the drive west, including two weeks in Alaska (without Elsie or the Roadtrek). Cruising the Inside Passage on a small ship cruise was really cool.

I have stopped in many places and all of them have been interesting. Since you have last heard of the places I have been, here is the list. I know some may be a repeat, please be patient.

  • Glacier National Park-one week on the east side and one week in the Kalispell area on the west side. Flowers and wild animals were certainly a highlight.
  • Western Montana for the 4th of July, camping on a beautiful lake with friends.
  • I revisited Idaho and had my first Boondockers Welcome experience. Boondockers is an organization RV,er’s can join. People sign up to be hosts and you can stay in their yards or driveways for 2-3 nights. I stayed with a lovely couple near Farragut State Park on Lake Pend Orielle. I camped in their tree covered yard, visited with the neighbors, visited with my hosts and rode my bike into a beautiful state park. I visited the town of Bayview and saw the floating houses. There are always so many cool things where ever I go.
  • I bicycled the Hiawatha Trail on the Montana-Idaho border. It was very good day.
  • I finally made my way out of Idaho into Washington state. I started in the middle-Cascades, visiting a good friend, Lori, who I have not see in years. It was a really good visit.

Hiking Cascade Pass

  • I arrived in the Northern Cascades and Northern Cascade National Park to spend five days exploring. Wow-that is all I can say. I hiked and walked and took photos. What an amazing place. I chose not to stop in the small towns as there were too many people and events were happening. I camped in a National Forest Campground and loved every minute of it. I hope to go back, maybe when it is not so crazy busy. You should have seen the parade of cars, RV’s, jeeps and trucks driving east along route 20 on Friday afternoon. Everyone from the greater Seattle area was leaving town, or so it seemed.

The last three days I have been in Burlington, WA. I am catching up on chores and fixing EmmyLou the rig so she is ready for tomorrow. Tires?-check. Slow leak in one tire?-check. (it was a screw) After a crazy incident all parts fixed on my rig?-check. Headlight replaced?-check. (one went out when I got here. I even changed it myself) Laundry done?-check. Pedicure done?-check (I have sparklie green toenails) Chiropractor appointment?-check. Billing done?-check. All records ready for entry into Canada tomorrow?-check, I  hope.

I did take time to drive to the coast yesterday afternoon. I visited the small town of Samish. What a pretty little town. I was able to drive to a point in Samish Bay and finally greet the ocean and Jim. (he is buried out there) The flowers are beautiful in people’s yards. It reminded me of my mom and dad, especially when I saw the giant dahlias. My parents loved to garden. It was good to return to the ocean after almost four months away.

Tomorrow I head out on a new adventure. Elsie and I are going to be taking the morning ferry from Anacortes, WA to Vancouver Island, Canada. I first visited this island as a tour director. I remember taking my group to Boutchart Gardens, worth a visit.

Two years ago Cat, my friend who bicycled the Pacific Coast, and I took the ferry from Vancouver to the Island and started south. I knew then that I would return. It is a beautiful Island and I wanted to see more. Tomorrow I get that opportunity. I plan to be there for at least a month and discover interesting and magical places and meet new people. I plan to cover the island, driving biking and walking. If it takes longer, I will stay. I am ready to go into the unknown.

So stay tuned. Come along on the adventure. El and I are getting ready to roll.

 

 

Moving On With Elsie and the Roadtrek

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Elsie directing traffic

Elsie directing traffic

I just realized that it has been a while since I have posted. I think I was a bit jealous of the responses Elsie got to her post. Heh Heh.

I have been traveling. I left North Carolina about a week ago and had been steadily moving north to Kitchener, Ontario. I am here today. Yay. All issues Roadtrek are hopefully being addressed.

Before I tell you where I have been I want to tell you where I am. I am at the Roadtrek factory this morning. I have been taken on a tour and met Leo who is helping me with the issues concerning my RT. I am so happy.

This is a family run business and they are treating me well. Each concern I have they have taken seriously. I like being respected and honored for who I am, the owner of a Roadtrek.

While I am here Miss Elsie is hiding under the bed at the Radisson Hotel. At least she is safe and happy. The do not disturb sign is on the door, along with  a Cat in the Room sign. She is back in the dark. Poor baby. It does make her feel safe.

After leaving North Carolina I began to travel first west and then north. I spent a night on the Pigeon River in TN. It would have been a nice place except that the traffic noise was pretty heavy.

Camping at The Horse Farm

Camping at The Horse Farm

I have had a lot of favorite places to stay on this trip and I found another one outside Lexington, KT. It is called The Horse Farm. It is a beautiful place with beautiful horses and a bit of money. It does give one the flavor of the Bluegrass Country. Being a horsey (meaning I love horses not that I am horsey) kind of girl I really enjoyed the chance to tour the farm. I camped at the Horse Farm Campground and was able to ride my bike on beautifully kept trails over to the barns. I even watched  a dressage competition. Have I told you yet that I love horses? If it hadn’t been for the heat (93 degrees) and the humidity (75%) I would have stayed longer but I have to admit that by that day the heat and humidity was becoming old and I was ready to move on.

Dressage at The Horse Farm

Dressage at The Horse Farm

Camping at William Sterling State Park, Monroe, MI

Camping at William Sterling State Park, Monroe, MI

Next stop was William Sterling State Park, on the edge of Lake Erie, south of Detroit. After the oppressive heat further south, it was nice to be back where it was still humid but the temperature had dropped by 20 degrees.

Elsie and I were camped on the edge of the campground and El felt brave enough to come out and sniff along the edges of the tall grasses.

It was at this state park that I noticed the feeling of vacationing in my RV left me. I began to feel like I was living in my RT rather than just being on vacation. One afternoon Elsie and I laid in the back and she napped while I read. All the doors and windows were open, a breeze was blowing and the book was good. Sweet

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Eating May Flies. If you look close you can see them in the gulls mouths.

IMG_2911Have you ever heard of Mayflies? Neither had I but there was a hatching of May Flies while I was at the Park. They were everywhere. They look a little like eeny teeny tiny reptiles. I guess they are good for the fish. The seagulls loved them. It was interesting to observe the gulls behavior. I have never thought of gulls as being a group kind of bird. These gulls worked together. Every morning I would hear them calling. They would almost methodically work together in the same section of the campground eating many flies in the grass and then would fly en-mass to the next section. It was fascinating to watch. It reminds me how when almost any species works in a group, collectively, they are smart. Hmm is there something we humans can learn from this?

flying to the next section

flying to the next section

Sunday morning I drove north of Detroit and drove along Lake St Clair in the mist and fog to Marine City. I crossed over to Canada on a little ferry with 3 other cars. There was no wait time at that border crossing. A look  at my passport, a few questions and I was on my way. I rode across a river that connects Lake Huron to Lake Erie. Cool country up here.

Waiting for the Ferry

Waiting for the Ferry

On The Ferry

On The Ferry

The Ferry

The Ferry

I am in Kitchener for a few days before I head toward Niagara Falls  and New Jersey.

Where my cute RT came into being.

Where my cute RT came into being.

I am feeling grateful to my friends, today who are so lovingly watching my home. Without them being there it would be much harder for me to be here.

Feeling thankful. Really thankful.