ONTARIO-2014

Howdy Y'all!

Here is an update from our travels from Texas (Late Oct.) to today Sept. 24th, 2014.

As usual we left Texas with a few $$$ in our pockets and arrive in Canada with fumes in the gas tank, this year was without exception but with a twist.

In Bowling Green, Kentucky we had to replace our inverter, (electricity conversion to battery power). We were fortunate to have found a dealer capable of taking us on as we arrived and had the necessary labour and parts to get us back on the road within four hours. We were not prepared for the $500 cost of repair. We proceeded from Pilot 'Flying J' to 'Flying J's' all the way home. We had a fuel charge card and were successful all the way home including a couple of stops in Canada.

We had a scare at the Canadian border tho! We traded in our 23' motorhome for a 29' motorhome in Texas with an out of pocket difference of $200.00 which to me, should be the amount we should pay taxes on, since we already paid taxes on the original trade-in vehicle. NOT SO...they charge 13% on the cost of the purchased vehicle, fortunately they only wanted 5% at the border and the balance of 8% when we change license plates on arrival home. We had to come up with $585 (which we didn't have) or the motorhome would be in a compound until such time  that we could pay. Four of the Canadian BP personal got together and allowed us some 'special' privileges and we were able to scape up $430, we had $20 left to get home...and we made it. The CDN BP were real angels, BUT were not to say that and tarnish their tough image.

Before we could re-license to Ontario plates we needed a safety check, in Canada, Ontario for sure, our standards are very strict and thorough. We needed a complete front end plus hubs, rotors and callipers. To bring her up to standard was another $3000. 

Fortunately Jane had her job waiting for her and I was able to pickup some handyman work, our small retirement fund is now almost dry. Hopefully we will be able to downsize in Texas and reduce our maintenance cost and budget for at least another 2 Winters in the South.

I finally got to see a surgeon and I am booked for a knee replacement on our return in May. Sure got a runaround until I found a Doc. that seemed to be sympathetic to where I was at, bone on bone?? Most are so busy, even this guy is quoting 24 months, emergencies are less, a lot less, apparently 9 months is an average wait. He gave me a cortisone shot right in his office and it has made a big difference, he said it should last at lease 3 months. I'll get another shot just before we leave.

Summer up in Canada was below normal where temperatures only once hit 31 Celsius (88 F) with cool evenings and many wet days. The weather throughout the world seems to be off the norm! Global...'Something'!

I received a call from a collection agency Re: The RGRegional Hospital bill that has not been paid ($15,000); I called the Ins. adjusters and they never even received one for that amount, I asked what did they receive and they said one for $98,000 and a bunch of small ones! Hopefully it all got resolve after a lot of phoning back and forth. One bottleneck was my Doc. not sending my medical history for over 6 months, these guys are so busy it's hard to stop and do this paper work. When I told him they were putting my account into collection he did it that day.

Don't go on vacation without Medical travelling ins., maybe it is expensive, but it's worth it.

When we arrived home everything was as we left it. The park turned on the water and cleared the lines of anti-freeze.

The extreme Winter up here cause ice build up to the point that our storage shed almost collapsed. The next door neighbour came to our rescue and cleared the roof, the mobile was undamaged. I added some extra bracing as they are calling for another bad winter. 

I put a coat of stain (Blueberry) on the new deck. I thought Jane was nuts, but it turned out to look dynamite!

Side deck

Rear deck

Some bad news about my Roadside Canteen, the new owner let the business slide, lost all my customers and abandoned the business. He still owed us ⅓ of the ownership. We will have to bit the bullet on that one. To late to repair the damage and start from scratch.

The Works-Take Out

Off and on over the Summer I have been scanning old pictures, slides and negatives into my computer.

1st job @ City of Ottawa as a Draftsman

Still have a long way to go but talk about nostalgia, memories and fun. I'll bring the remainder with me and do some down there too!

My 1934 Ford Coupe-1957 Olds Motor

On Aug. 28th we spent the day with friends from Dubai, we are Aunt and Uncle (Godparents) to their marvellous children. We had a lot of catching up to do and spent the day in Bobcaygeon, a Summer Resort area about an hour North of us. He went back to Dubai on Sept. 5 for another 3 years but left his family in Toronto. They want their children to be educated in North America. Quite the sacrifice to make to earn more money and not be with his family. He does visit his family at least twice a year tho.

I was working on my computer and this weird sound came from nowhere and up pops my friend Naresh on my screen. I have had Skype since the beginning but never used it. The picture was crystal clear as well as his voice....all the way from Dubai too!

I thought this was so cool, I called my friend in Ireland, my Sister in Victoria, BC and my Brother in Ottawa. I will be using it more often now!! Much better than Google Talk which I have been using (no picture).


Jane was able to get 4 days off so we took the motorhome to visit my family in my hometown, Ottawa, Ontario.

Beautiful Ottawa and Parliament Buildings

We also wanted to give the truck a dry run to ensure everything is okay, the round trip was 400 miles (2000 to Texas). Ottawa is very scenic and is the capital of Canada, for my US friends.

Our 1st day was spent in Brockville (1000 Islands area). We enjoyed the day and night with my sister Carol and Barry, her daughter Debby brought over her 3 year old twins....what a hoot we had with them....non-stop speed....they are so beautiful. 

Rick & Peggy's Cottage

View from the window-serinity

The next 2 days & nights were spent with Brother Rick & Peggy at their cottage in Quebec about and hour north of Ottawa (near Gracefield, QC). We had a lot of catching up to do on our lives and needless to say the wee hours of the morning came quickly. 

Lu & Ron's Cottage

On the way home we stopped at my oldest Sister's cottage in Norway, QC (Quebec). Lucille is in her early 80's and her husband Ron is probably late 80's, we had a nice long chat on what's going on and we shared the last 3 days of our trip, showed pictures of Texas and Lindsay. 

We got home around 8 PM and it had just turned from dusk to night. They were all appreciative of us taking the effort to go see them, and for us, it was oh so rewarding too!

Tomorrow I'm off to do a stress test in Orillia, Jane has an appointment at the same hospital too, good planning on our part as it is about 1 ¾ hours away. Our Doctor is very diligent on keeping us healthy and alive and we thank him for that.

I just took our motorhome "lucky" over to the compound for storage until Oct. 27th when we start our journey south once again. Jane wants to tour a cotton plantation so I guess we are stopping in Louisiana.