We left home Nov 14th toward Victoria, and went via Coho Ferry after spending one night in Victoria, arrived in Port Angeles Nov 15th into good weather, and off headed south. This was the first time the US Customs Officer had reminded us we couldn't work in the US, couldn't apply for welfare, or take barter services. No problem with any of that.
Had spent the previous 2 weeks in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico with Sal and Russ, had a great time and the mango margaritas were superb. We didn't take the town of Puerto Vallarta by storm this time, had a saunter around the Malacon area one evening, and popped into the Virgin de Guadalupe Church a couple of times while there.
We did a Fiesta Mexico evening, and another lovely one called Rhythms of the Night, across Banderas Bay from the town, and to Las Caletas, where there was a nice banquet in a candle lit restaurant, with a lovely show afterwards, celebrating Mexico's mythological past. It was a super show, but an extremely rough sea crossing both ways across the bay.
Stayed in the Grand Mayan, enjoyed the very spacious rooms, a self contained suite with a kitchen, and the great service poolside and in the restaurants. Had a nice tour down the coast, which also took us to a tequila factory. Very interesting. Another thing we did was had a couples massage, and Di had a neck and back massage another time.
Trip south took us 3 sleeps, one night in southern Oregon, one in Central California, and the last night in Yucca Valley, an hour north of Desert Hot Springs.
Arriving at the house in great time the following morning we found all was well with the trailer, lots to do such as removing the aluminum insulation covering the windows, turn on all the power, water and gas, and sweep out the patio area of the accumulated dust and leaves from the past 6 months. Then Lary put out the patio furniture, and we were set.
Wendy and Dave arrived shortly after us, so we got together to have a first look at their very nice new home at Ivey Golf Ranch and Country Club. Very spacious house indeed, with 2 lovely porch areas, and a view of the 2nd hole on the golf course, very good for Dave who is a keen golfer.
This year we decided to get both a cable phone and cable internet, $52 for both per month, we have a modem and we hooked it up ourselves, lightning fast internet, and a phone for $19.95 monthly with unlimited calling to the US and Canada. Wow and more wow.
Nov 19th we went to steak dinner in our clubhouse, and the following day we went to a Civil War Reenactment battle in a county park on Sunday. Very interesting.
Our golf cart isn't working, so we had it taken back to the place we bought it this past spring, hope it will be repaired soon.
Visited Annie who had invited Chip over, and arranged for flute lessons twice a month, a longer lesson each time.
Made our flight reservations for Hawaii in January, to Kona, very exciting to look forward to. Lary has adjusted his blood thinners, and will have it tested again soon. He goes to Eisenhower lab.
Had Wendy and Dave over for a happy hour a few days ago, and have enjoyed the hot tub here at our park. They had us for Happy Hour too.
A couple days before American Thanksgiving I called our aunt Penny down here in Dana Point, and she invited us there for Thanksgiving Day, their daughter Mary was getting married to Dave, a very nice young man. So off we headed that day, and had a lovely day visiting with cousins and other guests there. Mary has 2 little boys, so Dave has an instant family, but he seems able to cope happily with that.
Spent the night in a Best Western in San Juan Capistrano (of the returning swallows fame0, and the next day we went to visit a flute maker Jon Sherman in San Marcos, he made Lary a new flute from an English Walnut tree branch, it was lovely, and we had a nice visit with them. Thanksgiving Day was an easy transit, most folks were still at home I guess, and the trucks not on the road. The malls were ghost towns, though the restaurants were open. Most stores closed.
Coming back it was Black Friday down here, so of course it was super busy on the roads, everyone was on the roads and in the shops, but still not the normal business traffic volume.
Yesterday Saturday we went to Fantasy Springs for the Cabazon Band of Indians Pow Wow, it is very picturesque, and the drumming and dancing is marvellous. The festhered costumes are incredible, and the beaded items are wonderful, too. We have never seen regalia like that on our local native indians.
Today we went downtown to Palm Springs and the Art Show in Frances Stevens park. Lovely merchants, highly talented, and a marvellous warm still day, temps to 80s.
