brentandjo's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member brentandjo on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/brentandjo en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:54:12 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com With Amanda — Victoria, British Columbia, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1255209354/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1255209354/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1255209354/tpod.html Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:54:12 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I thought I might write a bit of a summary for this years travel.
 
People often ask what was our favorite place, well its actually hard to say. 

 We like New England, but were a little disappointed with Maine, perhaps our expectations were too high. While its true that there is a huge population in the NE there are also plenty of places where you don't feel crowded.New Brunswick in Canada was depressing, it is a relatively poor Provence and many of the folks there seem to have lost the spirit to paint their houses and mow the lawns, true it didnt help that the weather was depressing, but it certainly is a sharp contrast to New England.We loved PEI and Nova Scotia, and felt we could have stayed longer, had we not been in a hurry to get to Ottawa for Jo's high school reunion.
 Quebec was pleasant but it was frustrating not been able to read the road signs, "what do you means its one way??". However the fantastic wine shops almost made up for the signage. Ottawa is a great city, but you would expect that as its full of politicians who have ensured that alot of money is spent there. The Thousand Islands on the St Lawrence is very nice, although we lucked out finding a waterfront campsite that wasn't crowded.
The trip around the top of Lake Superior was uneventful, it was interesting driving next to a lake that looks like an ocean, but there was only small stretches of the road that had views, and of course once again the weather was rather damp and cool, it was the coldest July on record.
 We like Wisconsin , weren't that impressed with Iowa, but really liked Nebraska. South Dakota was fantastic, the bad lands and the Black hills are worth a visit.
 We only touched Wyoming, but what we saw we liked, and Montana is a real favorite, perhaps because of the fishing, but Jo loves it too.
 We always have fun in Alberta, but as for scenery its really only the Rockies thats stand out. BC is always a pleasure but it gets pretty busy in the interior during the height of summer.

Having the rig registered in South Dakota is great and Americas mailbox  re registered the vehicles  as we werent in the state.
 In hind sight we are very happy with our choice of SD as our "home" state, and even more happy with the choice of a fifth wheel and truck as opposed to a motor home.We love the New Horizons  fifth wheel, it deserves its reputation as a great rig. And we are very happy with the Chevy Silverado, especially the 6.6 lt diesel and the Allison transmission. when you tow such a heavy rig, the brakes are really important, and the dexter disc brakes on the fifth wheel have been great, I dont think I would want to tow the fifth wheel with drum brakes.

So there you have it, another year gone by, tomorrow Amanda  runs in the Victoria marathon, and next Friday we fly back to New Zealand, its been a great trip, and I would encourage anybody thinking of such a journey to get on and do it before homeland security makes it totally impossible!!!

 
]]> End of another year — Olympia, Washington, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1255124773/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1255124773/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1255124773/tpod.html Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:15:34 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Olympia, Washington, United States

Well its been a rather busy two weeks, after leaving Colville Washington, we headed north back into Canada. Every border crossing is a challenge and in Osoyoos,  British Columbia, we were asked to deposit all fruit and vegetables in a freezer, at the border crossing. When I opened the large chest freezer it was full of fruit , vegetables and even a couple of frozen turkeys!!
We spent two nights in Osoyoos, a beautiful town right on the lake. Then it was onto to Hope for one night then a short drive to Abbotsford to see Jo's sister and mother. Next day we crossed the border again into the States. The border crossing went relatively smoothly, but the officer could not get his head around the fact that we  are traveling on Canadian passports, living in New Zealand and driving US registered vehicles. He spent a good amount of time asking us where we registered the truck and eventually as he shook his head and looked of into the distance  he said fine and returned our passports. As border crossings go these days that was relatively easy.
We then headed for Olympia, where our good friends Sam and Sig are storing our rig for us. It takes a fair bit of time to put the RV and truck to bed, so after three days it was successfully cleaned, polished and winterized, and parked in Sam's vacant lot along with two other RV's and a boat. the night before we left we had a special visitor, see the photos!!
At the end of the week, we were driven up to Seattle where we stayed the night with Robin and Paul Murphy, next morning at 7.15 am,  saw us at the Victoria Clipper ferry, en route to Victoria BC. 
Amanda picked us up in Victoria , which is just as well as we had 6 bags of luggage. We will definitely  have to leave some stuff with her  until next year.
 
]]> Visiting friends — Colville, Washington, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253462943/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253462943/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253462943/tpod.html Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:22:49 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Colville, Washington, United States

We re entered the USA , at a little boarder crossing in the mountains, nothing there except the US and Canadian customs buildings. The lady customs officer was very pleasant and didn't give us a hard time, although she didn't like our herb garden. We have have had this garden since May when we were in Vermont, so its been across a few borders, but apparently the soil is a problem, and although we explained it was US soil she insisted that I walk to the fence and empty the garden into Canada!!! 
We have friends in Colville and as they live on a hill up a winding road , they organized us to park the rig in a construction companies yard, next to a church and a school bus parking lot. Its actually very pleasant, we have water, electricity and even the Internet, although we suspect the buses maybe a little loud on Monday morning as they prepare to go and pick up the kids.
  
 
]]> Priemier lake provincial park — Skookumchuck, British Columbia, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253461194/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253461194/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253461194/tpod.html Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:51:04 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Skookumchuck, British Columbia, Canada

We didn't travel far today, just down the road to a lovely provincial park set in the mountains. The road into it was dirt and in most places single lane. We were hoping that we wouldn't meet anyone, as it would be many kilometers to back up. The lake is a popular fishing location and was really beautiful. after setting up the RV, we drove down this four wheel drive track to Quartz lake, where I went fishing and Jo sat in her camp chair high up on a cliff knitting socks!!! 
]]> Soaking in the pools — Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253228536/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253228536/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253228536/tpod.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:13:06 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada

After temperatures reached 30 degrees yesterday we woke to an 11 degree morning and light rain. Time to move on, we sopped for lunch and a swim in the hot pools at Radium springs, the scenery is magnificent, although we were hoping to see some wildlife on the road, there were none. This afternoon we arrived at the Fairmont hot springs, and were informed that bears had been frequenting the campsites, now this is a normal speach that you get in most of the National parks, but apparently they have been seen recently where we are camped so lets hope they pay us a visit . The mighty Columbia River starts here, and flows all the way to Portland Oregon, but here it is about 10 feet wide and two feet deep.
]]> Banff revisited — Banff, Alberta, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253228118/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253228118/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253228118/tpod.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:02:06 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Banff, Alberta, Canada

Having said goodbye to everyone in Cochrane and Red Deer we headed west to continue our journey. The weather was fantastic and the way the autumn sun shone on the mountains and the now yellow leaves on the trees was great. We spent the evening having a great a Albertan steak, cooked to perfection, and downed with the usual bottle of red stuff.
]]> Fishing the bow river — Cochrane, Alberta, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253227574/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253227574/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253227574/tpod.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:54:47 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada

We left Fernie so we could attend a horse jumping competition at Spruce Meadows, and so I could fish again on Saturday. The Horse thing was fantastic, with Jo's cousins son doing really well against an international group of riders.
On saturday Jo went back to Spruce meadows and I along with two friends took a drift boat down the Bow river. The fishing was average, unfortunately our guide misjudged the time to do the float. after all you can only float down a river as fast as the water will take you, so by the time I got home around 10 pm , having left around 7 am I received a frosty reception!!!!! I of course was totally in the hands of others and couldnt even get a cell phone to work.
]]> Trout fishing and golf — Fernie, British Columbia, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253227212/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253227212/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1253227212/tpod.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:45:58 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Fernie, British Columbia, Canada

We are currently at Fernie, staying with a friends, we have left the Rv in Cochrane and are here with one of Jos cousins, her aunt and and assortment of cousins children. The golfing is great in this little town and fishing the Elk river is great, we caught lots of cutthroat trout.
This little town ranks right up there with our favourites. We looked at buying property here two years ago, but since the folks fron Calgary have discovered it , prices have gone thru the roof. what used to be $15000 ten years ago is more like $500000 now, crazy.
]]> We are with the tourists — Banff, Alberta, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1252279782/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1252279782/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1252279782/tpod.html Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:36:09 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Banff, Alberta, Canada

So here we are in Banff, its the day before the long labor day weekend, and its gonna get busy. We have a nice campsite at Tunnel mountain, and last night were visited by some roaming deer.
the scenery here is amazing, and although we have been before, and in Jo's case many many times it is still a beautiful place.
We drove up to Lake louise and mixed with the tourists, while a drive to sunshine ski hill was surprising, its changed in the  last 30 years or so!!!!
Amanda is still with us and we are heading back to Cochrane, for some  more horsey actrivities. Lets hope amanda doesnt get thrown from a horse again.
 
]]> Hi Cousins!!! — Cochrane, Alberta, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1251745934/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1251745934/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/brentandjo/2/1251745934/tpod.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:29:09 -0400 USA/ CANADA 2009
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada

We drove towards the Canadian border, not expecting any issues, but once we passed our passports over and explained that we live in New Zealand and the rig is registered in South Dakota , he told us to pull over to roller door number 1 and follow instructions. We drove the rig into a large building where they closed the doors and proceeded to search the RV and truck. We asked if they wanted us to unlock the storage lockers around the RV, and they said "no" not at this stage. So we waited in an adjacent room and it wasn't long before they opened the door , returned our passports and welcomed us into Canada. We suspect they had the facilities and just wanted to use them and keep busy!!!

We wanted to get the information of the old mac lap top onto the new computer we had bought, so next stop was the Apple shop in Calgary, I can tell you that driving the RV through Calgary at 4.30 pm , surrounded by kamikaze drivers was not a relaxing ordeal. Upon arrival at the apple shop we were told that it would be at least 3 days  before they could look at the computer, Jo had a mild panic and I explained that we had driven for 7 hours thru Calgary traffic to get here and he could see my stress levels as I had these large dark patches under my arm pits and down my back. He then said he would see what he could do, and to cut a long story short, it was 4 hours later at 8.30 pm when we left the store with a new hard drive in the old computer, updated software and best of all they did all the work fro free!!!
We then drove to Jo's cousins ranch near Cochrane, Reg and Sheryl live on a beautiful horse ranch and we always enjoy seeing them.

Amanda flew in to Calgary the next day and it was great to see her. We borrowed cowboy hats large buckle belts and cowboy boots and met Amanda at the airport, she was so embarrassed, personally I think Jo and I looked real good.

This will be the last post for a while as we have got a very busy schedule with family and friends.
   
 

 
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