TravelStream™ news feed for member ddgfraser on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ddgfraser en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:13:45 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1240258260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1240258260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1240258260/tpod.html Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:13:45 -0400 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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powell river, British Columbia, Canada

Andd so, we arrive to Powell River, after 30 months of adventure and many new friends and memories to fondly share.We will be completing the entries that lead us back here over the next few weeks, and then we begin a new adventure. Stay tuned.Dom and Diane, and the well travelled, but tired,Gillie.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1235933280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1235933280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1235933280/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:19:01 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Puerto Vallarta, Pacific Coast, Mexico

At Anthony and Lisa's house for another week yet.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1234583760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1234583760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1234583760/tpod.html Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:47:43 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Mazatlan, Pacific Coast, Mexico

Not much new, just enjoying the neighbourhood.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1228409820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1228409820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1228409820/tpod.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:35:28 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Tucson, Arizona, United States

We leave Mexico behind as we cross into the United States of America at the Nogales border. We have no idea what to expect but the friendly polite reception at the gate is a good start to the process. A thorough question and answer period was the most difficult for us because two years is a long time to remember what things might be lurking in our cupboards or what little seemingly unimportant thing to us might be an issue here. This is serious business because if they they find something which we forget to mention a heavy fine will be the penalty. Now comes the inspection of Eve and our things while we wait in a comfortable room and Gillie in a cage. She walked right into the cage as if it was her own to the amazement of the customs people. We are not inconvenienced for long when they give us the signal that all is in order. We did well and they did well with us.  With only a few things to put in place we make our way to Tucson, Arizona in search of our spot for the night. It is dark already and we are hungry and tired. We decide to do take out and at the restaurant counter I find myself speechless as I stare at the waiter. My tongue wants to sputter out spanish but my brain remembers the recent border crossing. Ah, english, now how does it work. Anyway in seconds I spat out our order and the waiter had no idea what just went on in my brain. While I wait I look around and overhear Dom speaking spanish to a clerk. He giggles, sputters and spits out the english version. We laugh together.  
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1231883880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1231883880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1231883880/tpod.html Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:34:25 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Yuma, Arizona, United States

We spend three glorious weeks with our family and although our priority is to spend most of it with them we manage a few evenings away to socialize with good friends.   Eventually the time arrives for us to go back south for the remainder of winter. On Jan 7 we head west  across the rockies but at Golden the roads are closed due to avalanches with low expectations for reopening before tomorrow. We turn around and drive the four hours back to Calgary to plan an alternate route. Weather reports are painting even gloomier conditions further west. So with avalanches, mudslides and floods it seems we will not be traveling through British Colombia.  The next morning we travel south through Alberta and find good road conditions well into Montana.  With over night stops in Butte, Montana and Boise, Idaho we limp our way to Medford, Oregon where we have an appointment with a Vanagan specialist. Eve has been having hot flashes on and off and the previous remedies did not help so now there seems to be only one other concern, one or both head gaskets. In Medford,  Scott the Vanagan man (www.turbovans.com) checks the engine and it is as Dom suspects but only one gasket needs replacing and fortunately Scott has the parts we need. Scott collects Volkswagon vans and restores them to sell. He offers us one of them to stay in while Eve is in surgery. In the heated garage Scott and Dom immediately get to work and five hours later they quit for the night and continue another eight hours the next day. They also install the new front springs which turns out to be a gruesome job. Sore, bleeding, worn out hands do not hamper the joy that Dom feels at finally having Eve well again.  From here we make our way to Sacramento to pick up solar panels. The weather is warming and it seems we are finally free from the grasp of winter. We do not take the time in Sacramento to install the panels and stow them safely until we reach our desert spot where once again we will set camp and stay.  Dom excitedly gets to work installing the solar panels which is not an easy job. Once installed he spends a few days of monitoring and fine tuning to get the system performing nicely. Diane steps in as grease monkey when needed but more importantly keeps our home and social life in order which is equally important to keeping a happy vehicle. Team work is the key to the success of our happy life style on the road.  
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229375520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229375520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229375520/tpod.html Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:18:27 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Fortunately for us, an alternate route saved us from having to go through San Diego which also cut off a few miles at the same time. Unfortunately though, Los Angeles cannot be avoided on our fast track I-5. So the first big hurdle of our first day lays waiting for us and we ace it with flying colors. South of LA, around Palm Springs the weather is cold with high winds. The miles of windmills gives a clue that this is normally a windy place and today they are spinning out the green energy. Good for California. Aside from wind and gray skies the road is in good condition and we spend a long day driving. We spend our first night at a small travel center in Los Banos. Christmas music playing at the pumps all night soon get us in the Christmas spirit.  Our second day starts with gray skies again so no solar panel charging today which is fine because the engine supplies charging power for our phone and computer. Eve decides to give us problems with the engine heating up. The antifreeze is low but where did it go, oh, oh. This is not a good time Eve. Dom checks the radiator and adds fluid to the reservoir.  There are two major mountain passes to deal with today - Mt. Shasta and Mt. Siskiyou with elevations up to 4300 feet. Severe winter conditions in northern California and Oregon definitely put us in the swing of winter driving. Yesterday in southern California we we drove through vineyards and groves of fruit, walnuts and olives and here we are today threatening to use our chains to get through these mountains. The driving conditions become so bad that it is necessary to pull into a rest area south of Salem, Or. for the night. The place is full with travelers waiting for a lull in the storm. While it storms outside we make supper, do some reading then crawl into bed under our feather duvet and fleece cover for extra warmth. Gillie's fleece coat comes out of storage and she curls up in her bed on the passengers seat. It is freezing outside but we have +3 inside. We look out in the morning to a mostly empty but very icy parking lot. We walk around before starting the days drive. It is mainly sunny this morning as we begin day three. A few cars are in ditches as we make our way to Salem where we hope to find a VW parts store. Eve continues to heat up and we limp into at a Walmart parking lot where she spews antifreeze. We buy more antifreeze, refill the reservoir and continue our search for a replacement coolant tank cap which Dom thinks is causing the problem. We find one, put it in place and hope the issue is solved. We have a good day and sail smoothly through Seattle, ahead of where we thought we might be today. We make it comfortably to Burlington, Wa. for the night in a KOA campground just one hour from the Canadian border.   We are excited to be so close to home and on the morning of December 16 we go through customs where they are not prepared for us and proceed slowly and carefully. I'm sure they don't meet people like us every day who have been away so long and suddenly just come driving across their border. We answer many questions and finally get the OK.   
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1228424700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1228424700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1228424700/tpod.html Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:57:31 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Yuma, Arizona, United States

We are not taking the time to have a good look around because our mission is to be home for Christmas and with a stint in the desert to attend to the needs of Eve our time will run away like the sand in an hour glass. We reach Yuma by early afternoon to pick up the vehicle parts waiting for us and after a quick run around for items on our list and a good grocery shop we head out to our desert spot.   Our desert spot is just a spot but the few people that call it home for a time, make it special. We wandered into it by chance one day, met Rick who quickly felt we were nice people and worked his magic on us. We grew roots in the desert with these interesting folk.    Eve tries on her new springs and a few other new bits and bobs which we promised her for a job well done. Good old Eve, such a worthy companion. Finally we are ready to tackle the trek north. We say goodbye to our friends and head west to the I-5 our quickest route north to British Columbia, Canada.   
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229894220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229894220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229894220/tpod.html Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:48:19 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Colder, and colder, more and more mountains, then.... Calgary. Even though it's a real deep freeze right now, it's a warm welcome at Andrea's place. We meet a new little girl, Bridget Rae Collins, weighing in at 7 lbs and 13oz, a healthy, happy sister for Lincoln!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229029680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229029680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1229029680/tpod.html Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:12:25 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Portland, Oregon, United States

Rude, nasty, snowy, cold, miserable, stiff and cranky. Well, that's Dom, not me :) As we work our way north, we find quickly that winter has indeed arrived, and is stretching her cold talons deep down the west coast, even to Mount Shasta, and certainly here at the north end of Oregon. -6C and snow/ice everywhere. What a beautiful place never the less. We sleep in a KOA and shiver our way northward.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1227066900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1227066900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ddgfraser/evescaper/1227066900/tpod.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:26:48 -0500 South America bound Westfalia and crew in search of adventure, and decent food. Beer and wine tasting not optional. Dog on board. Don't Panic.

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Bahia Kino, Northern Mexico, Mexico

In keeping with the beach scene we make our way to our next stop on the beach at Las Glorias, a motel and campground. The route is a good quality off road, hence many of the big rigs make it to this out of the way place on the beach. Disappointment greets us when we discover 3 big rigs squeezed into our favored spot close to the water with their extra vehicles also taking up good spaces. oh well, the early bird gets the worm and it seems the manager doesn't care and is not even around to help us. Instead of trying to maneuver around to fit in where we prefer, we park in the field on the opposite side away from the beach and pout. Pouting soon turns into survival as the fields population of no- see'ums take aim at the new arrivals. Our plan to stay several nights becomes a one nighter.     We are not in a real hurry and decide to go inland towards the copper canyon, not too far though because knowing us we will get lost in some paradise for days which we do not need right now. We spend one night in El Fuerte at Hotel Buganbilia with basic camping. In the morning we get local knowledge of the off roads going to Alamos and are advised not to.  Eventually we are back on the north bound super Snowbird highway to San Carlos where we settle into an RV park for a couple of nights. Snow birds in every kind of rig are slowly arriving and leaving on their trek south. This is quite a phenomenon, not unlike the humming bird in their migration south, long jaunts with days of rest and replenishing. We laugh because we too, are snow birds, (that means going to the snow, right?). Hermosillo is a big full service city, anything you want or need, they'll have it and if you can't find it, just visit the campground Senora RV north of town on the Nogales route and the owner will get you in touch with the right people. We do not need anything but stayed at the camp ground for a night. We leave the desert setting for more beach camping. Bahia de Kino is not far from Hermosillo, there is an old town which is traditional Mexican and a new town stretches along the beach where villas and campgrounds are full of gringos and snowbirds. The vehicle of choice is the ATV which surprisingly are not bothersome as the users are quite sane and respectable. We choose a special little place with just the right feel for us, not too pretentious. Saguaro Motel and RV with their own beach is the place to stay awhile and we happily go into the full unfurling mode with tables, table cloth, outside cooking station and hammock all arranged around our concrete pad and palapa.  The weather is warm and breezy except for one rain storm which breaks our 40 day no rain streak. The humming birds are whirring around us hovering over every brightly colored item we have in search of the beloved nectar, pelicans and other fishing birds demonstrate how close they must come to breaking their necks as they dive bomb for food. We watch whales play right in front of us and dolphin also live here but we haven't seen them yet. The gulf of California and the Sea of Cortez is a nursery and a fisherman's paradise. We have neighbors, not too many, a nice american man and a canadian couple from BC, just enough company for now. Soon the place will be busy. The senora owner is very nice and is getting used to the place as she just recently arrived to rescue the place from mismanagement. It has been a family owned business for 3 generations and now she and her sister have inherited it and wish to run it like their grandmother did. For Saguaros sake, we say come and stay awhile but selfishly we prefer to keep it to ourselves.  Our very thoughtful fellow Canadian neighbor upon his departure to other paradises presents us with a priceless gift. Like an olympic torch, he hands Dom a snow brush/ice scraper. We all enjoy a good laugh.  Our days are spent rummaging through the immense book selection, reading, walking, sightseeing,visiting, eating tamales and chili rellenos, watching blazing red sunsets and enjoying quiet times in the hammock dreaming, watching bees and butterflies or watching the not so obvious activities of people and critters.  Our 34th wedding anniversary at the end of November nicely winds down our stay here. To celebrate our special day, we buy prawns from a Mexican selling fish in the camp ground but since I am allergic to fish he returned with a bucket of blue prawns. We enjoy a quiet evening and cook up a pan of brandied prawns using a newly discovered recipe and finish with a can of peaches for dessert. How much better can it get. The nice Senora Tillie gave us a gift of two artisan paintings on bark paper to honor our many years together. She says "our remarkable relationship brightens her existence". No gift compares to these words.      The border is just a days drive away and we are ready to proceed, hopefully uneventfully into the next country for a very hectic run around with our list of whats and wheres.     
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