Happy 100th Birthday, Smithers, BC

"In 1913 a new community was in design. Surveyors working for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad were laying out the streets that we in Smithers walk and drive upon today! January 1, 2013 we will begin our centennial celebration."

In 1913, John & Anna Lapadat, formerly of Romania, Oregon, Vancouver, moved to Smithers, BC. John, a brick layer by trade, had been hired to help build the Round House for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, thus the reason for moving to this new town. When the job was done, it was usual for John to pack up his family and move to the next job in the next town, but not this time.  This time the Lapadats decided to put down roots in the beautiful Bulkley Valley. This time, they decided to become farmers in the Smithers area.

As the years passed, John & Anna added to their family of 4 that had moved to Smithers.  The first child they had in this new home was a boy who was the first white boy, possibly the first white baby, born in Smithers, though a little girl was also born around that time and it is uncertain, at least to my knowledge, which was born first. This baby boy was named George Smithers Lapadat.

In 1923, already having several children, Anna gave birth to another girl, naming this one Annie.  This little girl was to grow up and marry a man named Jesse James (Jim) Price.  This little girl was to become the mother of 6 children, though sadly only raising 5 of them. This little girl was to see both of her parents and her first born son (second born child) buried in the Smithers Cemetery. 

In 1968, Annie & Jim, having sold their farm just west of Smithers, packed up the 4 children still living at home and moved south, to the small community of Mara, BC where they lived for 2 years before moving to Enderby where Jim's ashes are buried in the Enderby Cemetery and Annie, at 89 years young, still lives on her own in a nice little condo.

This post did not start out to be this long.... yet it flowed through the fingers on the keyboard.  It could be longer, so you can be grateful, haha.  Yes, this is the story of my roots.  I still have relatives that live in Smithers, 100 years after our grandparents settled there.  Sadly, my uncle, John Lapadat, passed away in January 2001, yet his loving wife Lois and 2 of their 4 children, Ron and Tony are still "Smithereens".

I hope to make it up to Smithers this summer, August 2nd to 10th, for the Centennial Celebration that is planned.  Since I have pets, it will depend on me having someone to care for them while I am gone. I don't know anyone there anymore, other than my relatives, yet it would be fun to go back again. Who knows, maybe someone I used to know will also go back, or someone I am supposed to meet will be there.  I know that if I am meant to be there, all will come into place and I will go. 

 The Sleeping Beauty atop the Kathlyn Glacier on the Hudson Bay Mountain, over looking the town of Smithers, and surrounding area, including the farm I was raised on.

Railway Station.  

My Dad worked here, for the Canadian National Railroad, 

so this building holds a lot of memories for me.

(Photos from Google Images)

Sister's Travels

I am so glad I asked my sister Marcy to include me on her mailing list where she sends information on what her and husband Randy have been doing and experiencing on their holiday.  She writes a short description of the towns and cities they visit, and of the old mansions or plantations they go see.  They left home in August, driving their truck and pulling the RV trailer behind them.  They crossed Canada and are now down in the US.  Each email she sends also includes several photos of what they see along the way.  Photos of city streets, of plantation houses including slave quarters, of trees, water, gardens, etc. I don't know if they saw any swing sets raleigh nc, but I know they saw and enjoyed many other things in NC, SC, and several other states.  I sure wish I could go along.  I am  happy for them as I know they are having an awesome time.

Dare to Dream BIG!!

The last several days I've been staying home.  This is very unusual for me as I am most often everywhere but home. All summer long I am away every day and sometimes for days at a time, off riding my trike somewhere.  I totally love riding my trike (3 wheel motorcycle).  Now that the weather is too cold to ride, I am again driving my truck, which I also love.  However, oddly enough I am going through some kind of phase where I don't have any desire to go anywhere, I just want to stay home.  Mostly I sit in my chair watching TV and doing 'stuff' on my computer.  I play way too much Spider Solitaire and MahJong, as well as spend time on Facebook.  I also surf the net, reading recipes, health related articles, inspirational things, and various other web sites.  Some of the various other web sites are things of interest to my current life, and some are all about dreaming about my hopefully future life.  Some examples are looking at kitchens, cupboards or appliances; today, even though I don't have a basement in this home, I looked at flooring for basements;  I often look at web sites to do with trikes as I would love to upgrade mine or to get a new one built; and I plan to go to Arizona and/or New Mexico one day, during winter months.  My mother calls me a dreamer like it is a bad thing, yet I believe that you must dream in order to do anything important in life. My current trike was just a dream for many years before it became a reality, as was my 2008 Ford Ranger pick up truck. I say, Dare to Dream BIG!!

Kootenay Trip - Day 2

Kootenay Trip - Day 1

I woke about 7:30am and started the second day of my trip. Someone had gone through the campgrounds during the night and had stolen people's coolers and such. They had been in my trike and stolen things from me too, though thankfully all my stuff was found here and there, the only things still gone were Kettle Corn I bought at the Jazz Festival the night before and some fruit I'd taken with me from home. After cooking breakfast at the site, I rode my trike to the far side of town and was able to find a parking spot not too far from the Festival site, walking less than 1/2 a mile.  I signed in to do my volunteer work and went to the Beer Gardens to again sell drink tickets. Another volunteer came along and insisted that I had been moved to another job, that her friend was working with her because she has her period and can't stand up.  I told her that I had been assigned this job because I too can not stand due to back problems and was indeed working here. She said I best talk to Patrick who was in charge of the Beer Gardens. In retrospect, I should have told her I was not leaving my post, but I did go seek out Patrick who knew nothing about it except that  now 5 of his 6 volunteers wanted/needed to have sitting jobs. I pointed out that when I contacted them to volunteer, I had specified I need to sit due to back problems. I ended up spending my entire shift sitting in the Volunteer Tent doing nothing but getting bored and frustrated.

After my shift I just hung around the festival listening to music, talking to people and killing time until my next shift about 2 1/2 hours later. Having talked to Helene, volunteer coordinator, I knew I would be working in the Beer Gardens pouring wine which was a sitting job. I felt much better knowing I would be doing something this time. Pouring the wine turned out to also be a very fun job.

At the end of this shift, I stayed in the Beer Gardens watching Glen the Balloon Guy making all sorts of things out of balloons. I had been watching him as I worked and now moved to his table and got involved in the fun. He had made someone a princess, a fellow a motorcycle with the Pink Panther riding it, a lady a sheep and another lady a bouquet of flowers with a heart and swan.  I challenged him to make something he'd never made before... a trike!!! It took him awhile to create this new piece of balloon art, yet he did do it. I had such a good time walking around the festival with that trike, people looking, taking photos, asking about it.  After a while, I walked back to my trike, tied the balloon trike on and rode back to the campground before 10pm as the manager of the campground had stated that I was not to ride in/out after 10pm.

I sat near the showers, on a bench where there was light and read my book.  Again it was about 11:30pm when I crawled in and went to sleep. I knew my friends would be at the pub and that they expected me to join them, yet I decided not to.  At one time I was in the bars dancing about 5 or 6 nights every week.  I loved it, then I got tired of it and now have no interest in going to bars/pubs.

I usually wake off and on during the night, yet this night as last night, I slept in my tiny tent without waking even once and without hearing any of the noises I was later told about, including guys fighting and police coming to break them up.

Kootenay Trip - Day 1

I've been doing a fair bit of riding on my trike this summer and, as always, loving it. In a previous post, I told you about the trip I took July 28/29 and before that I told in a post about the July 21 ride with the Brothers of the Third Wheel, another post about the July 22 ride with The BC Lone Wolves.  This post is about my most recent ride with the Vernon BC Chapter of the All Canadian Riders Club... well, some of the club members anyway.

Shane rode alone to Kaslo, BC on Thursday August 2nd, then on Friday August 3rd Hammer & Melody on their bike and I on my trike rode down to meet Shane. On the ride there, we stopped to fuel up in Cherryville where we met another rider on his way to the Kootenays too. Alex was a very nice guy and we invited him to ride with us.  He lives in Calgary with his wife and kids, on a bit of a vacation to celebrate his birthday, then going home before the real day of his birthday to spend it with his family. We were riding through the Monashee Mountains with Melody & Hammer in front, me behind them and Alex behind me.  Going down a steep hill as we went around a sharp corner I guess I took it a little faster than I should have, but my front wheel hit something (pothole? frost heave?) and  before I knew it I was sliding sideways. I went off the road and into weeds, thankfully rather than doing down into a ditch or over a bank, there was a bit of an uphill that I went up, bringing the trike around just narrowly missing a tree, back down onto the road and continued on with my heart thudding wildly in my chest. I rode the corners slower after that. When we got the the Needles Ferry, Alex pulled up beside me and said "You scared the heck out of me on that corner back there!" or something like that. I told him I'd scared myself pretty badly too!! He said "Good recovery though! Really good recovery!"  Hammer & Melody asked what we were talking about, they hadn't even noticed a thing.

We crossed the Upper Arrow Lake on the ferry then rode on.  About 8 kilometers out of Nakusp I was hit in the eye by something I figured was a bug.  I was wearing my glasses and my sunglasses on top of them and still the bug got in.  I think it grazed off my nose and came into the eye. I rode the 8 km  with my eye closed, burning a bit though not too  bad to ride.  When we pulled into the gas station in Nakusp I took off my glasses and they young gal that came out to serve us said "Oh my GOD, you have a BEE in your eye!!! It's a bumble bee and it's still alive!!"  She picked it out of my eye for me and filled my gas tank while I went to the washroom and washed out my eye as well as washed the 'bee blood??' off my glasses.  We said goodbye to Alex and rode on.

The rest of the ride to Kaslo was uneventful, until we stopped at a STOP sign entering the town and my trike stalled. I changed my gas tank over to 'reserve' and tried to start the trike with no luck. Not knowing I was having issues, Hammer & Melody rode on.  A car pulled past me and another one stopped beside me to ask if I was okay. Just then the trike did start and, thanking the guy I rode on. Just down the street, Hammer & Melody were coming back. The people in the car that passed me told them their friend was having trouble... nice people there.  We went straight to the camp site to meet Shane and get our camp spots set up.

We were all volunteering at the Kaslo Jazz Festival, so we quickly headed off to the Festival Site to the 4:30pm Volunteer Orientation, then we each did our Friday evening 'shift'. I worked in the Beer Gardens, selling drink tickets.  I had so much fun and was still able to listen to the music, then when off shift I sat on a picnic table where I could see the stage and so enjoyed Taj Mahal Trio. With so many people there and in the dark, there was no way I could find my friends there, so I just 'went with the flow' of people and walked back to the camp ground.  Unfortunately there was no parking at the Festival Site so people had to find what they could in the town or walk from the camp grounds which was about a mile away. My friends didn't show up, so I crawled into my tent and went to sleep around 11:30pm figuring they went to the bar for more music.

Just Thinking

With all the traveling I've been doing lately and all the events I've been going to, I meet a lot of new people. Though some of them I feel I was only meant to see and talk to for a short time, there are some I want to keep in touch with. Also, some of the I want to give information on All Canadian Riders Club (ACRC), or the Brothers of the Third Wheel (BTW) organization of trikers.  I remember a few ties when I have given out Hammer's phone number to people who want information about the ACRC.  Sometimes I think it would be a good thing to have business cards that I can give out, after all, business cards are not just for those working or running their own business.  I was looking on the net and saw some really interesting plastic printed cards that would be great for this kind of thing.  I think they would look nice, stand out among paper cards, not be harmed by water so far as I know and would, just like me, be just a bit "different", lol. This weekend I am off with friends from the ACRC to go camping and take in a big Jazz Festival.  I wonder how many people I will meet there that would like to have one of my business cards.

My Weekend ~ July 28 - 30

Well, I had a good weekend!! I left home on my trike late Saturday morning and rode to Westbank where I fueled the trike and met with friends for a very nice visit, then with 3 friends on 2 motorcycles, we left to ride to Penticton.  As we were at a stop sign just up the street, a vehicle pulled up and someone called my name... turned out to be Runningdog from BC Classic Motorcycle Club and his wife whom I had not had the honor of meeting before. I didn't get to talk to them long, but it was nice!!  When Duane, Amber, Aaron and myself got to Penticton, we stopped at a pub for lunch which I very much enjoyed. The guys were so nice... they paid the bill.  After lunch I said my goodbyes to Duane and Amber as they went off to float down the channel to the lake with other of their friends, and after I topped up my gas tank, Aaron showed me where a dollar store was.  I got crazy glue there but they didn't have ear plugs so we went across to WalMart so I could get some, then Aaron showed me the way out of town.

I rode the hour or so to Princeton, stopping at a fruit stand in Keremeos for some fresh cherries.  When I arrived in Princeton I was on my reserve gas so fueled up and asked the attendant if she knew Denise, a woman who rides a trike.  In such a small town I knew she'd stick out and sure enough, I was given directions to Denise's home and to the Coalmont Hotel about another 20 kilometers down the road as she would likely be there if not at home.  The attendant knew the mobile home park, but not the exact home, so when there I had to ask again and the right home was pointed out to me.  Denise wasn't home, so off I went in search of the little, historic village of Coalmont.

The Coalmont Hotel was throwing a big party that night to celebrate the 100th Birthday of the hotel.  The saloon is very small so the back yard was fenced off and people could go out the back door to the fenced area to sit, relax and drink their drink of choice on the hot summers day. Denise was in the back yard and saw me, calling my name, before I saw her. I guess walking in there all dressed in leather I stuck out like a sore thumb, lol.  A lot of the people that were there were not from Coalmont, but had come from many other places.  There was an Elvis impersonator who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.... he wasn't.  However, the band that played later on was 'hopping hot'!! It was a great party with the saloon shutting down shortly after 2am, then we helped with the clean up though much of it was left for the next day. This old hotel is supposedly haunted.  We spent the night there and I must admit I didn't meet any ghosts.  It was around 4:30am when I crawled into a very comfortable bed, Denise was down the hall in another room.  I was nearly asleep when I heard Denise coming down the hall: "Alice.  Alice." The door opens: "I heard some scraping noises!! Move over!"  I moved over and Denise got on top of my covers with a comforter she'd brought along from the other room.  When I awoke too few hours later, she was already gone, downstairs doing more clean up.  I had muffins and tea for breakfast, tried to get on their wifi which wouldn't let me, helped out a bit with the clean up, walked through the hotel taking photos, moved my trike to in front of the hotel, beside Denise's trike and took more photos.

That afternoon, Denise and I went riding our trikes to Tulameen where we went to see Otter Lake, then rode back to Coalmont Hotel to say goodbye and rode into Princeton.  Soon after we got to Denise's home she got a phone call and off we went to visit some friends of hers. Most of the time we were at her place the rest of that day and the next morning, she talked on the phone a LOT, different people yet always the same conversation.... while I sat there feeling totally ignored.  I spent Sunday night on her hide-a-bed but it couldn't be folded out because there was a big treadmill in there taking up too much room. Not the most comfortable bed, but I've slept on worse.  It was about noon when I climbed upon my trusty steed (got on my trike), rode down to fuel it up, and hit the road.

I decided to take a different route home than I had taken there, goin on Hwy 5A to just outside Merritt, then along Hwy 97C (called the Coquihalla Connector), back to Peachland/Westbank area, then back north along Hwy 97, the same one I'd come down on from Vernon to Penticton. It's a good thing I carry a "Jerry Can" of gas with me in the trike, especially on longer rides, because I had to stop at a "Brake Check" area to fuel up, then was able to make it all the way back to Vernon from there before fueling up again. I can only go a bit over 100 kilometers per tank of gas.

It was a great trip.  I still have to download the photos from my camera before I can share them here or on Facebook.

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Long Time Friendship

I have a long time friend that lives in Oliver, his name is Mike.  Several years in a row I went to the Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race in Omak, WA with Mike in his motorhome. Was good times. Then his girlfriend caused a lot of problems between us so I more or less ended the friendship.  I don't need that kind of grief in my life.  Well, it took him awhile, but eventually he clued in and got rid of her, then phoned me again.  At first when I saw his number come up on the phone I almost didn't answer, then decided it was time to forgive. It was a bit slow, but we started to put the friendship back together again.  Then he got a new girlfriend and though I did meet her, I didn't get to know her and I didn't hear much from Mike for some time, though did still get the odd phone call here and there from him.  Now that woman is gone, moved back to Saskatchewan to her family as she missed her two sons so much.  Now Mike phones more often and I can tell he's hurting and missing Jenny a bunch, needing what I am.... a good friend who understands.  The other day he said someone gave him a used pc, and he's going to take some lessons on how to turn it on, and use it.  I expect he soon will be emailing as well as phoning.  I know he'll be doing lots of research on buying and selling older vehicles.

Motorcycle Safety and Awareness

As I talked about in my last post,  I want to make about a 2 week ride this summer to the coast, ferry to Victoria, ride up Vancouver Island, ferry to Prince Rupert, ride back home via Hwy 16 and 97. I want to make it a ride for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness, to have lots of other riders join me, and have it widely publicized so people will see it on TV, read about it in newspapers, and hopefully think about us when they get in their cars and head off down the roads.  Here are some maps to show more about where I plan to ride.

This map shows part of British Columbia, the Canadian province I live in.

If you click on the map you will get a larger view of it.

Find Kelowna on the map... I live about an hour drive from Kelowna. 

Find Vancouver.... the plan is to ride to this area and take a ferry across to Victoria which you will see at the bottom of Vancouver Island.

In the top left corner of this map, you see Haida Gwaii, formerly called Queen Charlotte Islands.

This map shows the north end of Vancouver Island

The plan is to ride up Vancouver Island and take a ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.

 This map shows Haida Gwaii, formerly called Queen Charlotte Islands, on the left as well as many other islands and the mainland on the right.  You can see Prince Rupert on the mainland.

The ride will continue from Prince Rupert to Prince George, which you see on the 1st map, then back down to the Kelowna area.

Motorcycle Safety and Awareness

I just sent an email to British Columbia Coalition of Motorcyclists (BC COM). I want to make about a 2 week ride this summer to the coast, ferry to Victoria, ride up Vancouver Island, ferry to Prince Rupert, ride back home via Hwy 16 and 97. I want to make it a ride for Motorcycle Safety and Awareness, to have lots of other riders join me, and have it widely publicized so people will see it on TV, read about it in newspapers, and hopefully think about us when they get in their cars and head off down the roads. I have invited BC COM to be part of this event and have some other plans/thoughts to put into place.

Some things still on my 'To Do List' for this ride:
- Find sponsorship to help with costs of the trip (I was 'low income' and am currently 'no income', so need help)
       - Write to Chevron re: supplying fuel for my trike (if they say no, try other gas companies)
       - Write to BC Ferries re: free ferry rides for this trip (hey, it's worth asking, worst they can do is say no)
       - Be open to private monetary donations to help cover my expenses
       - Contact hotels/motels/campsites/friends re: places to stay along the way
- Pick a firm date for this ride to start (should I go to Boogy Bash first and leave from there, or got straight from home?)
- Contact CHBC News and invite Rick Webber to join the ride
- Get some work done on my trike so it's in top shape for hitting the road
- Take long rides to 'get in shape' for the big one
- Let lots of people know so I have lots of other riders joining me for this ride
- Get map of BC, hang on my wall and plan the route we will take.  Get tourism booklets to study, of towns along the way.

This list is just a start, I'm sure.  Other lists will be made, like what to take for food, clothing, camp gear, etc. etc. etc. This should be fun.... putting it together, then actually doing the ride.

This Too Shall Pass

I am trying to leave for a weekend in Omak at the Stampede, and everything seems to be going wrong. Last night I started having major problems with my computer and am very lucky to even be on here at all today. I think it's minute by minute until this laptop doesn't work at all. My computer tech is currently on holidays so I won't be able to get him to look at it until he and I are both back here. I was thinking about looking into rv loans, I would love to do some traveling. Now I will also have to look into buying a new computer. I'm thinking maybe get an iPad instead, but need to do more research before I do it. Also last night my cat knocked stuff over and broke things, the box on my trike broke and lost a piece of iron so I had to take it and have a new piece welded in. Sheeesh!! I hope all goes more smoothly today as I want to get out of here and on the road.

A Blip from Life!

I am so happy, content and especially tired. I have had a wonderful 3 days riding my new trike, hot off the presses!! LOL. Having just gotten home and trying to pay some bills and such, I wish I had one of those Personalized Stamps with a bunch of the information on them that I have to write multiple times. Bill paying always seems to take the fun out of an otherwise great weekend. Oh well, the main thing is that I now have my new trike on the road and have been traveling all over the North & Central Okanagan Valley. One of these days I might head over to the Kootenays, or even down to the South Okanagan, almost to the border of Canada & US. I have people to visit in both places. But first I have to build my body back up to where it can ride longer times without getting over worked and hurting. My left wrist was shattered and dislocated just under 9 months ago and I am very blessed & grateful to have the use of my hand as well as more than 50% of the range of motion in the wrist itself. Since the crash where I was injured, this is the first I've ridden, so am physically out of shape for doing it. I know, you never realized one had to be in shape to ride a motorcycle, but you really do. Also, I need to put a windshield on it to cut down on the wind pressure against my body, and to stop so many bugs from committing suicide on my face... that hurts both them and me. Anyway, I really must go finish paying the bills, then get some sleep so I can do my gardening tomorrow... and ride some more too.

I Dream of Travel

With everything that has been happening in my life I am feeling so very tempted to just pack up and leave. Go travel for a few years, go check out Central and South America. Maybe when I got back I would better appreciate our government here, or maybe I'd never come back. If I had the money to back up my dreams, I would look into rv financing, or better yet, just buy a nice travel trailer outright, one with pop-out would be great as they expand to give you more room.... though most important to me would be that it's a "toy hauler" so I can take my trike along too. Can't go without the trike. I'd buy a newer truck to pull the trailer with and off I'd go to spend life as "Trella Trash", haha. If I was a man maybe I'd just hop onto the trike with some of my belongings tied to it and off I'd go to see the world, and I was tempted to do this even being a woman, but friends helped me to see how dangerous and crazy that would be. For now, I will just keep dreaming. I can't leave just yet anyway, too many things to take care of before I can go running off. Hey, dreaming is good. First comes the dream, then the dream comes to fruition.

A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.

~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

Nothing happens unless first we dream.

~ Carl Sandburg

Thoughts & Catching Up - 2

So, what are some of the things I've been doing with my time? If you read my blog often you know I went to Omak WA for the Stampede & Suicide Race on the second weekend of August. I drove down there Friday Aug. 7th, (my nephew Denny's 43rd birthday... or is that my brother-in-law Randy's birthday? Always get those 2 mixed up, one is the 7th, the other the 10th... but I digress.) I got to the stampede grounds about supper time & found Mike at the motor home, waiting for me. I knew exactly where he would be parked as it's the same place we've parked every year for the last 5 years, lol. Usually I drive to Mike's, about 15 - 20 minutes north of the border, leave my truck there & go in the motor home. This year he went down a day early so I drove my truck right to Omak. I really enjoyed that, actually. This night, Mike cooked dinner for us rather than going to a restaurant as we so often do, then we walked over to 'vendor row' as I call it, to have a look around and to let Jerry know I had arrived. Mike had already told Jerry I was coming down. It was really cool to see how happy Jerry was to see me when I got there. He is a friend that runs a lemonade & kettle corn stand at various functions, including the stampede. I usually leave Omak on Sunday morning, right after the parade, though this time I saw Mike off then went to say good-bye to Jerry & some other friends I've met through him, Robin & Marnie. Well, I got talked into staying an extra day... ya, okay, my rubber arm got twisted, lol. It was a wonderful trip & I still think of it often. I am already looking forward to going again next year... and to think I almost didn't go this year, sheeesh! I had some US money left from my earlier trip to the US, so had spending money, though gas money was an issue. At the last minute Mom gave me $60 for painting her railing for her, so I went. As I'd been driving up there, I had told the Universe that if I 'found' $50-60 for gas I'd go to Omak. I took it as a sign, and I went. I will make sure to save some up this year so there will be no doubt come next summer, and I will drive my truck all the way to Omak on Thursday where I will spend then entire weekend in Jerry's motor home. Mike said he doesn't think he'll bother going next year, and I'd already decided I won't be going on any more trips with him. He is just getting harder & harder to get along with, always so negative and getting nasty. It's just not worth the stress, especially when I could be somewhere I'm happy, with someone who I enjoy spending time with. I might even work in the booth next year and make some $$ if I'm going to be hanging out there anyway.

I took loads of photos, including some of Jerry and of Robin & Marnie. Then when I was downloading them from camera to computer I somehow messed up and deleted most of what was on the camera. I was very upset for awhile, though life goes on and so do I.

I'm Out a Here!

Sheeesh.... I must be running on Hawaiian Time, I'm hours behind in Pacific Time. I am finally all done my chores, the truck is clean & loaded, I am showered & dressed. Now hitting the road!! I'm leaving my laptop at home (nail biting experience) and will see you all on Sunday.

Celebrations & Trips

Once again, it's that time of year when Canadians celebrate Canada Day (July 1st) & Americans celebrate 4th of July, their Independence Day. This year, I will be celebrating here on July 1st, then July 2nd I will be leaving for a weekend away. I drive to Oliver, BC Thursday morning where my friend Mike will change the ignition in my truck (bought one at auto recyclers a month or so ago and have been waiting for this trip to get it done), he will load a steel rack on that he's selling me for a good deal, and some 'spare parts' that he's giving to me. He had a Ford Ranger just a few years older than mine, and recently he sold it, keeping some things for me. I'll get a tailgate in better shape than mine, a visor for over the windshield, and 2 brand new doors. My passenger door is good, though my driver's door has a small rust hole in it that I can put my finger through and the tailgate has some rust though not too serious. The biggest problem with my truck is the box... the driver's side wheel well has a big rust hole above it, though the rest of the box is fine. One day I will have to do something about that... hmmmm.

But I digress... So, Friday morning Mike & I will get into his motorhome & drive south to the USA. We have a friend, Stacey, who lives near a town called Chesaw, WA, so we will visit her, help her make cob for building a home, and then on Saturday, 4th of July, we go to the Chesaw rodeo which we've heard is a big deal. One place on the internet says this about the rodeo: The Annual Chesaw Rodeo, Family Games and Parade have taken place without fail every 4th of July since 1942. Come as a spectator or sign up to play or ride. Walk in some American history and come to the Old Fashioned Family Rodeo Dance.

I don't think we'll get any Cyber Monday shopping in, we're leaving Chesaw on Sunday to return home. I am sure I will love every minute of this trip... and that I will be happy to get home to my "babies". I will be giving all my critters LOTS of food & water, way more than they'd use when I'm home, and leaving them on their own for the weekend. It's always hard for me to leave them behind, even knowing they'll be okay. I do have a fellow living in my yard in a travel trailer and this is nice, having someone living here almost with me, lol. And Reba keeps an eye on things, barking if people come around, and neighbors that know I'm gone, so I know all will be well... and still I have separation anxiety. Sheeeeesh!

Happy Celebrating, Canadians & Americans!!

Another Tuesday

Today, among other things, I wrote a letter & faxed it, read emails as usual, other everyday stuff. Then Dan came over and while he was here I said that I need to raise my arm chair about 4" to make it easier for me to get out of. He went outside to my wood pile and made me one, just like that, haha. He didn't even have any of his saws with him, so had to do the work with one of my hand saws. He used 2x4s to make a frame, then attached a piece of plywood. Exactly what I had in mind. It really helps a lot!! I now have a lot less pain in back and knees when getting into and especially out of my chair. Now if only he could do that with the toilet, lol. It can be very painful to get onto and off of the toilet, something one would never think of until they have back problems.

I went this evening to Toastmasters in that town a little north of here. It was a very nice evening and I had a good time. I officially applied for membership in this club, so that will be voted on next week. Toastmasters International says every member must be voted in by the club. So, next week I'll see if I get in or not. I see no reason why not, but.... Both times I've visited this club, there has been snacks for during the break, and I love food!! The way I've been 'porking out' lately, maybe I should just join the bacon of the month club.

When I was getting ready to go out to Toastmasters, the phone rang, but I was just out of the shower and in a hurry, so I didn't bother to run and answer it. No message was left on the machine. Then the cell phone started to ring. Must be someone fairly close to me to call the home phone then the cell, so I ran for that one. It could be important, especially now with Mom not feeling well. It was Mike, my friend who lives 'down valley', the one I go to the Omak Stampede with every August. He drives truck and his boss just bought a new/newer truck down in Florida. These are not pickup trucks, but 'big' trucks. I don't know the exact details on this truck, but I do know that 'Boss' wants Mike to go to Florida and drive it home. Mike is going to ask him if he can take someone along to keep him company, cuz he's "too old to make that trip alone". Oh, he knows he 'can' take someone along, but he's going to see if that 'someone' will have expenses paid like he will, haha. If he can get his boss to pay MY way, and if I can get someone to stay at my home and look after my critters for a couple weeks, I'm off!! Mind you, it comes at not a great time, but I've never travelled much or far, so this would be an awesome oportunity.

1- Mom has not been well lately, she's 85 and needs help and company. My sister M lives in the same town as Mom, so has been spending more time with her lately, and cooking for her, but M & R are going "out of country" from Nov. 14 - 25, then will be gone to her daughters place in Calgary Dec. 3 - 11. Sister A is going "out of country" Nov. 18 - 28. Brother B was just out here to visit, but lives north of Edmonton, Alberta. Brother T lives "at the coast" so is also several hours away from here. M set up with some co-workers that Mom will call them if she needs anything and they will check on her sometimes. One was given my home and cell numbers in case I am needed. Also, I will go up to visit her on Tuesdays before I go to Toastmasters, if not more than that. So... this makes me pretty much the only one available to Mom for this next while.
2- At this time of the year it's harder to go away due to the colder weather. In warmer weather I can leave the animals for a few days and they are okay, but this time of the year I can't just leave Reba outside in case her water freezes and she has nothing to drink. Also, in warmer weather I don't need to worry about heat in the house, now I run a pellet stove that needs to be fed every day. The parrot and rat both need to be fed every day, the rat 2x a day in fact, so they need to 'go out' or have someone 'come in' to care for them.
3- November 28 is Pasta Productions!! I have been planning and co-ordinating this and will be preforming in it as well as being the MC for the evening. I am the Production Manager for Pasta Productions. What is Pasta Productions? A delicious Pasta Dinner, followed by an evening of Talent. From a 5 year old on piano to a professional singer/song writer, a former pro juggler will do a juggling show for us, a flute preformance, etc etc etc. It will be a great evening.
4- Judge Thomas Troward class. I will have to get someone to record the class or two I will miss, but no problem I'm sure. I'll leave my recorder and tapes and even Rev. Dale will record for me, I'm sure.

Soooo, I sure hope the trip to Florida will happen... and not until after November 28, and with someone I can trust to be here and 'critter sit' for me. Lots to think about. If 'Boss' says he won't pay my way I will either have to stay home or figure a way to pay for my part of it myself. That would be a trip to Oliver (gas in my truck), then I'd travel to the US with Mike and 'Boss' and fly down from Washington state to Florida (I'd have to pay that flight). I'd have to pay my own food most of the time, though if Mike has to have a hotel room and I share it with him my expense wouldn't be too big for that. He said something about coming back across southern US, then up the Pacific Coast, stop at Disney in California... hey, maybe in Florida too and compare the two, haha.

Well, enough dreaming for now. I must get busy. I have a lot to do yet.

Sandon, BC Canada

I figured you might enjoy seeing some of the other photos I took at Sandon, the ghost town I told you about in the last post, where I took the photo of the foot bridge.

Sandon Museum & Visitor's Centre
Get a load of some of this old stuff outside. I'd love to have a wheelbarrow like that... no flat tire on that one (unlike my fancy new one), and I love that gas pump. I know that at that time it was gallons, not litres, and I wonder how much per gallon gas was. Not much I'd bet.

City Hall

"Watch your step leaving the building, folks. First step is the worst!" Haha. It looks like it was in the process of getting a new coat of paint.
I think some of the old houses are being lived in, but not sure if this one is. I wouldn't be surprised, though.

Some displays of very old items.

Tin Cup Cafe
So far as I know, this cafe is in use during 'tourist season' when lots of people go to explore the ghost town.

Notice, on the photo above, up on the hill, there is 'something' there? A flick of the zoom lens and this is a closer photo of what is up there. I took another one zoomed in a bit more, but this one shows more of the area with it. I'm not sure what any of this was used for.

Need I explain this one?
Ya, I thought not, haha.

Molly Brown's Brothel

Really, lol.

Here is a front view of the Brothel so you can enlarge it (by clicking on it) and see the sign on the veranda railing.


This fire hydrant is in the field beside the brothel. You can see it out there in the first picture of the brothel.

I took all of these photos in Sandon, BC, Canada on October 2, 2006.
I was driving Mom in her car, on this flying day and a half trip, covering as much road as possible while still taking a soak in a hot spring. While in Sandon I wanted to take lots of photos, Mom was saying "We don't have time, lets go" or words to that effect, and I was snapping the shots from behind the steering wheel Never once did I get out of that car while in Sandon. One day I'd like to go back there, during their open season, and take a day or so to wander around and explore, enjoy seeing the tools, etc, that were used all those years ago in this silver mining town, once a thriving city.

If interested in more information on Sandon, check out these links:

- Sandon Historical Society
- Sandon
- Sandon, circa 1890

(Gotta love Google, haha)

Thursday 13 - Omak Stampede & Suicide Race 2008

Thursday 13

THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE THURSDAY THIRTEEN:

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. What do you do? Write Thirteen things about yourself, summarize your week in one entry, make it easy for other bloggers to get to know you on a weekly basis. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!

For my 23rd Thursday 13 post, I am going to share with you

13 things I did on my trip:

1- Thursday, I drove about 2 1/2 hours south to Oliver where I have 2 friends. Dump-truck Driver lives in a 5th Wheel in an RV Park, and Care Taker lives in a trailer in the same park. I spent the night there in Dump-truck Driver's place. He always gives me his bed and sleeps on the couch.

2 - Friday Dump-truck Driver & I got into his motor home and drove further south, across the boarder into the USA, all the way down to Omak, WA. Care Giver had already gone to the US on Thursday, to Wenatchee.

3 - Dump-truck Driver & I parked the motor home in our usual place, walked around the rodeo grounds, had lunch at one of the vendors, and then sat around at the motor home waiting for Care Giver to arrive. Then took another walk around Indian Encampment, then back to the motor home to wait some more.

4 - Once Care Giver finally arrived, we hopped into her car and drove up to Wal Mart where we all did some shopping. Groceries for the motor home, bottled water, a few clothes, stuff like that. Ate supper at the motor home.

5 - More walking around looking at vendor wares and such. It is extremely unusual for it to rain at Omak at this time of year, but this year that's exactly what is happening. Showers and down pours off and on all day.

6 - Friday evening we all went in on gas and drove out to Grand Coulee Dam where we set out our lawn chairs and waited about half an hour until the show started. It was pretty incredible (Dam it was Grand, Coulee! Haha). You see, then hold the water back until time for the show, then let it run... white water running down the face of this huge dam, then the lazer lights are projected out onto the water. As there is music playing there is a voice that narrates and tells of the history and usage of the dam while the lazer lights show pictures on the water flowing down the face of the dam. It's hard to tell... something you really must see to "get it".

7 - After the light show we went to the Grand Coulee Casino where we had a small meal and then headed back to Omak. It was pretty late by the time we got back so we all went to bed. The motorhome was so hot we had to open all the windows, and even the blinds so the air could come in... and the roof vent too. It was too stifling in there to sleep otherwise. Not that I slept much. I laid awake much of the night, listening to the loud music from the dance and to the drums from the Indian Encampment. I love listening to those drums. During the night there was a storm and none of us realized until next morning, but a lot of water came in that roof vent. Oh well.

8 - Saturday morning we ate breakfast in the motor home and lazed around in there and in our lawn chairs for most of the morning. After washing and changing clothes, another walk around the area.

9 - While at the Kettle Corn & Lemonaid stand, I was talking to Lemonaid Man. All these 4 years I've been going to Omak, he's been there and thinking I was 'with' Dump-truck Driver. This year having found out we're just friends, Lemonaid Man asked if I would like to come back later and sit around with him and his friends, other vendors, once they get off work. I said I would.

10 - In that vendor area I bought a purse, then later Care Taker & I each bought a dress at another vendor, and at Indian Encampment I bought a drum.

11 - we ate lunch down town at Magoo's, then drove in Care Takers car out to the Colville Casino and spent a few hours there gambling on the machines. This is the only time each year that I go to a casino &/or gamble, but this is an air conditioned place in which to spend what is usually a very hot afternoon.

9 - Back in Omak we changed clothes and went to the rodeo & suicide race. At 10pm, when that was over, we were all leaving in the crowd and I lost my two friends. I thought they went to the dance as that had been the plan, later found out they went back to the motor home as Dump-truck Driver wasn't feeling well. I went over to visit with Lemonaid Man as we'd planned. It was very nice. He made sure I always had lemonaid to drink, offered to add vodka to it, and offered me beer, but all I wanted was lemonaid. When her saw his smoke was floating towards me he suggested we change places, this happened 2 times. When other vendors and people he knows came by, he always introduced me to them. He was very much a gentleman and made me feel like a special person. This is something I very much enjoyed as I find it rare these days.

10 - Sunday morning we walked down town to Magoo's for breakfast, as we do every year with out lawn chairs, then sat on the street watching the parade.

11 - After walking back to the motor home, we said our good-byes to Care Giver as she was headed home separately from us, to get her dog from Doggy Daycare before they closed. Dump-truck driver & I went for one last walk about the grounds. Lemonaid Man was not at his booth, his friend was. I got my one bag a year of Kettle Corn to bring home, and a lemonaid, but Smiles & Chuckles wouldn't take any money... he said Lemonaid Man would kick his ass if he took my money. Hey, sounds good to me, haha.

12 - Dump-truck Driver & I went in the motor home to Wal Mart again. We each got some groceries and such to bring home with us. Got our receipts and such in order and headed north to the boarder. We got some of the US cheap gas (about $1.20 a gallon less than ours), crossed the boarder, and drove back to Oliver.

13 - After unloading all our stuff and putting mine in my truck, Dump-truck Driver moved the motor home and his pick-up truck out of the way so I could get my truck out. We said our good-byes, and off I drove, headed north... headed home.

There were a few things I did on the way to and from Oliver, but to tell of them would be to run over the number 13... haha. So, in a nut shell, all compressed and zipped up, there is the story of my 4 day holiday.

Happy Thursday 13!!

Omak Trek

Preparing to leave on my annual trek to the Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race in Omak, Washington, USA



Monte Dodge Photo Album

Getting ready to go (making this list as I 'check off' what I've done):

- take DW to stay with bird sitter (did this in the cool of last night... after people in her apartment building were likely to be asleep, or at least not in the common area. She lives in a bachelor suite in a seniors building and currently has a lot of company. Her daughter, son-in-law, grand daughter, dog, and Rocko the Patagonian Conure parrot are all staying there while they build their house. Landlord might flip if discovered yet another visitor, my ringneck parrot, coming to stay even for the weekend.)

Turned out light at 3:38am, laid there awhile 'til sleep came. Reba woke me to let her out about 7:50am. Usually I would go back to bed, but not today. Stay up and get ready to go.

~~ give all 29 house plants a good soaking. They needed it even if I was staying home.

~~ check email (of course)

~~ start this post

~~ make sure all animals have more than enough food and water for the next few days. The ones staying home all self feed/water so are okay for a few days, unlike the parrot who needs daily care. I put lots of cookies into Reba's bucket of food so she can pick them out while I'm gone. I worry about her as she tends to not eat while I'm gone. I keep telling myself that she won't die in 3 days so long as she drinks the water I leave for her. Dan usually comes by to check on my critters while I'm away, and hand feed Reba some cookies. This time he won't as a friend of his just offered him a ticket to Z Z Top in concert in Vancouver, so he's off to that this weekend. I don't blame him, but geeeeez. haha.

~~ put all rabbit/chinchilla pelleted food from big bag into various containers for storage.

~~ put all magnets etc for making magnetic jewelry into zip top baggies and into old purse for ease of use and safety to keep where needed. Will take these along incase I get the chance to work on some creations.

~~ add to this post :o)

~~ pack books:
* to read: The Moses Code (awesome!! Read it whenever I get a chance.)
& Creative Thought Magazine (read from this daily)
* to write in: Gratitude Journal, Day Planner, Note Book in case I want to write down thoughts, feelings, poems, ideas, etc. etc.
* also pack pens and pencil

~~ sort through purse. Take only what I'll need.

~~ pack clothes, walking shoes, hair/tooth stuff, soap, etc. etc.

~~ phoned friend Cyndi to see how she's doing before I go. She was ripped up pretty bad recently while rescuing a dog in trouble. Dog was scared and in pain or wouldn't have hurt her. Anyway, she had a young, spayed female cat that doesn't get along with other cats but is great otherwise. Doesn't hurt her birds or her ferrets or anything, just her other cats. Sooooo... I'm sure you see this one coming. Yup, I agreed to take it and she just delivered Cremello. I'll tell you more about her when I know more, haha. She'll have 3 days here to get used to the place before I get back home. With Reba outside she won't have to get used to the dog 'til I'm back, then she'll have to get used to us both. I'm not big on the name Cremello, I must admit, so may just call her Creme or something short like that.

~~ dug out Shadow's litter box and litter and food. Good thing I kept these after he passed away. Got things all set up for the arrival of my new adopted daughter.

~~ showered while waiting for Creme to be delivered. When Cyndi got here I had to go outside in pants and bra with bare feet as I wasn't dressed yet and she was honking. Her truck's park brake is not dependable enough to park on the steep hill we call my driveway.

~~dressed, did hair, etc.

~~ add more to this post

~~ check "to do" list

~~ put Reba's water and food outside where she is safe in her fenced in run

~~ let Cremello out of her travel cage, show her litter box, food, water. She's now checking the place out. Very cute tortoise shell girl.

~~ load spare tire that got taken out when Dan took the rack of for me so it can be painted. Must take with me for trip, haha.

~~ add more to this post

~~ I have lots of things to do in town too before I head south, so better run. I'm at least an hour behind where I wanted to be at this time. Have fun, boys & girls, and I will see you soon. It's now 1pm and I'm about to hit the road.