Photo Log - 2016

January March3

 

The Highlight of January 2016 was our visit to the Melvin Jones Memorial in St. Thomas Arizona, where Maureen was presented with a Melvin Jones award. 

In February, we attended two Luaus and co-ordinated another successful Canada Day.  Mike and his neighbour, Gene, held a Superbowl party.

 In March Maureen’s 65th was celebrated with many friends from the park as well as brother Roy and sister-in-law Gaylene.  Maureen kept busy with golfing, scrapbooking and making tin can flowers

 

April May

 

In April, we headed back north to Vancouver Island where we enjoyed a beautiful private spot in the forest at Larry and Arleen’s near Ladysmith.  Mike made a quick trip back to Ontario to see doctors and present Matt with a Quilt of Valor that was made and donated by a lady at Palm Creek.

In May we toured some nearby places such as Chemainus, Nanaimo and Port Alberni and then took the rig to the northern part of the Island to see Port Hardy and Port McNeil.  We discovered that this part of the island is much wetter than the south.

 

June

 

June was very busy as we continued to explore the north-east part of the Island.  Our favourite spot was Bates Beach where we enjoyed a beautiful site right on the ocean.  In Comox, we spent time with Carol and Ron, who we knew from A15 Lions in Ontario.

 

July August

 

In July it was back to Ladysmith to spend time with Larry and Arleen as well as many Palm Creek friends who live on the Island

 In Duncan we toured the Forest Discovery Centre.  The summer became very expensive when we found out that we had to get a new engine in the truck.  It took two weeks to replace the engine. 

In August we spent one week with Patti and Robert at their home in Port Alberni.  They took us to many places including the McLean Mill where we learned about Forestry in its early years. 

 

September October

 

In September we took the rig back to Bates Beach and then on to Tofino and Ucluelet on the west side of the island.  On the way there we stopped in to see Robert and Patti and Chica again. 

At the Bella Pacifica Campground, the rig slipped into a ditch and scrunched some of the sheet metal.  Fortunately it was still driveable.  Once the weather cleared we enjoyed many days of exploring this remote part of the island.  Percy loved running on the beaches.  Maureen enjoyed the waves. 

When we got back to Ladysmith, Gail and Garry came for a visit.  Larry took us on his boat to Salt Spring Island for a seafood feast.  We spent Thanksgiving with Larry and Arleen.  The girls toured Gabriola Island to see the Art Exhibits. 

 

November-December

 

In late October we left beautiful Vancouver Island and headed south.  We spent four days in Salt Lake City where Maureen enjoyed doing Genealogy research at the Family History Center.  We spent one day touring the Temple Square – fascinating. 

Our bad luck seemed to follow us when a tire on the fifth wheel blew out on Interstate 15.  A very kind stranger changed the tire for us.  A few miles down the highway Mike puled into a truck stop where we were lucky to find a tire store.  The owner advised us to replace the spare.  When the tire was removed it was discovered that both shackles had completely broken off.  The other side had one broken shackle.   At that point we felt very lucky to have averted a catastrophe.  All five tires were replaced, the shackles welded back on and we were on our way again.

Arrived in Palm Creek to find the park model in good shape.   Mike resumed teaching Computer class and Maureen was back to Scrapbooking and Genealogy.  Mike cooked a wonderful Prime Rib roast for American Thanksgiving.  Arleen, Larry and Delores brought contributions to the meal. 

In December we visited Irene in Mesa and Roy and Gaylene in Apache Junction. 

This year we really decorated our Golf cart and won First Prize in the Christmas Parade.  We are holding another Christmas Eve party at our place.  Mike will prepare his “Famous” Gumbo.  Arleen is planning a Turkey feast at their place on Christmas day.  We are truly blessed to have such great friends!