January Travels and Windshield Replacement

January found us travelling in California...Bakersfield, Mountain Lakes in Lytle Creek, and San Jacinto, where we could  Fred's Celebration of Life and while we were in San Diego (more about this in another post.)
 San Jacinto was an interesting experience...it had been a run down drug haven, but with new owners and many evictions, it was purging itself of undesirables.  It was here that we met Dave and Eleanor  from Nelson BC and Ron and Joyce from Nebraska and with whom we played Pegs and Jokers.
It was here also that we had the windshield replaced by a mobile unit from Perry's Auto Repair from San Bernardino.  Old one out and new one in, in one hour...amazing!  The pictures tell the story!

Old windshield being removed with suction cups

Old one out!

New windshield in crate (came from Indiana)

Uncrated and cleaning

New one up and out of crate to be installed

Up and in...please don't let it slip or drop!

Uncle Fred

December 26th, 2014, our beloved Uncle Freddie passed away, doing what he loved to do best and that is to help his beloved  Doreen.  His heart simply gave out!
He will be so very missed by all of us....we loved him so!  He had a wonderful sense of humour and was a constant source of much fun!  I will miss most, just like the picture above, his big smily face as he tinkled the ivories, totally by ear...a very talented and gifted musician!  Below is his obituary:

Southwood, Frederick

September 4, 1934 – December 26, 2014

Fred Southwood, beloved husband of Doreen, passed away at home on December 26, 2014 at the age of 83 years.

Fred grew up in Aurora, Ontario. He had 6 brothers and one sister. He enjoyed sports, woodworking and music. He met the love of his life, Doreen when he was 18 years of age and she was 15. They were married in 1952 in Aurora and they have been inseparable since. He was a manager for Camco Inc. in Toronto, Victoria and Vancouver. In 1984, he sensed a call to ministry and was ordained in 1989 with the Baptist Union of Western Canada. He pastored in Collwood, Duncan, and Nanaimo BC. He retired in 1999 and moved to Logan Lake BC. In 2004 he moved to Strathmore Alberta to be closer to family.

He was the loving father of Timothy, Montreal, QC, Thom (Donna), Sooke, BC and Alan (Lorna), Calgary AB and will also be dearly missed by his five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Fred will also be lovingly remembered by numerous friends in Strathmore AB, Logan Lake BC and Victoria BC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alberta Lung Association PO Box 4500 Stn S., Edmonton AB T6E 6K2—www.ab.lung.ca.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Strathmore Alliance Church, 325 1 Avenue, Strathmore at 1 pm on Saturday, January 24, 2015.

 Others thought he was fun too.  These were taken at Uncle Fred and Aunt Doreen's 60th wedding anniversary!  Sitting in the back seat with Fred prompted the lipstick.
Rest in the arms of Jesus, Uncle Fred!  You have fought the good fight, good and faithful servant!  We love you and we shall miss you dearly!  We will watch over Aunt Doreen for you!  Hugs!

Travelling the Redwoods

 Will we fit????  There couldn't have been much room between us when we met!  Yes, the road is narrow, the trees are at the road's edge and we are wending our way through the Redwoods of northern California!  So majestic, so grandiose, so beautiful!  Pictures do not do justice to the immensity of these beauties.  We stayed among them in Trinidad California.  It was so dark and moist, but smelled so wonderful.  I actually walked ahead of the motorhome in the campground for fear of soft areas where we could get stuck, but all went fine.

 Notice the warning marker at the foot of the redwood below.  Just in case you get too close or can't see the tree....we wouldn't want to bump into these or drive through here at night.  Beautiful sights!

Travelling Oregon

Following Neskowin Creek and the week of flu, we travelled Oregon and yes, it continued to rain and was cold,  Portland for an oil change, Albany for an overnight, Sutherlin for two nights and then Myrtle Creek, followed by our favourite Seven Feathers, the casino campground,  in Canyonville  where we camped for 5 nights for $19.00 a night because Bill had noticed a billboard ad in Eugene.

We had come inland because of the threat of severe storms on the coast called the Pineapple Express.  Once over, we once again travelled to the coast to Coos Bay, and still the skies threatened.

After Christmas at The Mill Casino in Coos Bay, we travelled the coast of southern Oregon.  Stunning vistas had us stop here for lunch.  Too cool to eat outside, but refreshing to watch the water crash the rocks and realize the powerful force of water.

 Next stops will be in Northern California.

Flu

From November 24- December 2 both of us were  sick with the flu.  It was all we could do to get dressed to take the dogs for their three walks.  We were in Neskowin Creek near Lincoln City OR and it didn’t help  it rained day after day.  There will be no photos as we both felt like CRAP!  Aching muscles, sore throats that made us tear up to swallow, earaches that throbbed and extreme tiredness were the symptoms.  We lived on crockpots of homemade soup for days on end.  Never have I used the crockpot as frequently, but it was a literal lifesaver.  A memory that will not be forgotten, but hopefully not to be repeated.  Haven’t been this sick in a very long time!