Hemet,California--Jan.18th-Jan.24th

Hemet,California--- Jan. 18th to Jan. 24th

Jan. 18th

We drove 1/2 hour to Diamond Valley Lake-a man made reservoir 21 miles around supplying emergency water to 18 million people in southern California. It had a great panoramic view of the valley,lake and mountains. We had lunch at a local bar. The 4 of us enjoyed a free wine and cheese reception at our resort. The resort is lovely and so convenient to everything we decided to stay another month till Feb.20th. We had a good meal at a Mexican restaurant in the evening.

Jan. 19th

Another beautiful day 22 Deg.C. We spent the afternoon at the swimming pool and hot tub. (living the life of Riley especially after hearing that Calgary had snow and -25 Deg. C).Karilee e-mailed us. After 24 hours on the plane she arrived in Sydney, Australia-- safe and sound and very hot weather.

Jan. 20th

In the morning we drove a hour to Palm Springs. We passed hundreds of windmills for generating power. 25 Deg. C. We had a good time shopping at the College of the Desert Street Fair.Great shopping but some things a bit pricey.We had lunch and took a different route back to Hemet. Switch back highway through the mountains-- a bit scary but beautiful scenery. Terrific view of Palms Springs golf courses from the top of the mountain. Idykweiss had some snow at the 5200 foot level.

Jan. 21st

Rainy,cloudy and a cool 14 Deg. C.--laundry and grocery shopping were the order of the day.Gerald and Bev ( friends of John and Lynda's arrived). We all went for cocktails (byob) and spaghetti dinner $6.00 in the resort ballroom (it was good).

Jan. 22nd

It rained throughout the night. We drove to the Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology Museum near Diamond Valley Lake(similar to the Drumheller's Tyrrell museum). Fossils,dinosaur bones and items were collected when they dug the Diamond Valley Lake. There was also a exhibit on the Ancient Treasures from the Middle East on display.It was all very interesting. We toured the Winchester Cheese Factory and bought some gouda cheese. We invited John,Lynda,Gerald and Bev for happy hour and listened to Newfie music.

Jan. 23rd

Lynda,Bev and I walked to the Target store and did some shopping. At 5:30 we went lto a wine tasting and a theater production"Love Letters" $5.00 each in the ballroom.The wine was great but we left at intermission from the play.Not so good!

Jan. 24th

Rainy and cool 10 Deg. C. We did some shopping at Wal-Mart and Pay Less Shoes.Ralph put up a bird feeder in our tree--dozens of different species come to the feeder. John's and Ralph's hummingbird feeders are attracting the little ones too. I am getting a cold/flu again. I went to bed and the rest of the crew went to play shuffleboard.

2:42:00 PM
by Ralph and Marie

Las Vegas to California Jan. 12th to 17th

Jan. 12th

We toured the south end of the Las Vegas strip. We saw the lions at MGM Grand, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the roller coaster and the Statue of Liberty at New York-New York Hotel. The M&M candy store and the Coke store were neat. We gambled at the Tropicana and other casinos along the way. We enjoyed the buffet at Sam's Town. Lost some money but had a great time.

Jan 13th

We left Sam's Town Las Vegas before 9am and traveled through desert (lots of cacti) and over mountains to the beautiful city of Hemet, California (67 thousand people) in the San Jacinta Valley.
We missed a turn off and and were headed to Los Angeles (1/2 hour detour). We arrived at the Golden Village Resort Hemet at 3 pm (23 Deg. C). The Santa Ana Mountains are in the background.

Jan. 14th

The 1020 campsite resort is lovely. Palm trees surround the 3 pools and hot tubs, billiards room, exercise room, meeting and games room, banquet hall, modern laundry room etc.
The campsites are large with hedges and trees separating each site. Flowers including birds of paradise are throughout the resort.
We got ourselves settled in-- we went grocery shopping at Wal Mart and did 2 weeks of laundry.
After barbecuing our first dinner we had special coffee before lights out.

Jan. 15th

Another warm day of 23 Deg C . The evenings really cool down. An orange and grapefruit tree is growing in our neighbours yard. There are lots of birds especially hummingbirds. We set up a humming bird feeder outside our window. Ron and Marlene Annala (neighbours in Calgary who told us about Hemet) visited out site. We enjoyed a swim in the pool and hot tub. Lynda and I watched square dancing (trying to sign Ralph and John up for lessons) while the guys played pool. Afterwards the 4 of us played floor shuffleboard for the first time. It was great fun.

Jan. 16th

Cooler today 18 Deg C. We went to the swimming pool and had hamburgers at the Palms Cabana-music from 11 am to 3 pm. We drove around Hemet and out to the orange and grapefruit orchards. Ralph and John played pool in the evening while I read.

Jan. 17th ----- Bon Voyage Karilee

Karilee left for Australia (6-12 months) from Vancouver today. We went golfing at Echo Hills with Ron and Marlene. We enjoyed playing 9 holes on the par 4 course for $10.00 each. I did not hit a sand trap or water. It is hard to imagine playing golf in the middle of Jan. Temp. 22 Deg C. We drove with John and Lynda to Costco in Temecula, 30 miles toward the Pacific Ocean in a beautiful green valley. Played shuffleboard in the evening.

Calgary to Las Vegas Jan-2nd to Jan-11th

Happy New Year 2008 "on the road again" heading to California,Arizona and points south of the Canada-USA Border.

Jan. 2,2008

We left Calgary at 10 am with our friends John and Lynda Brooks and arrived in Great Falls, Montana about 4 pm. We hit extreme high winds south of Claresholm and Lethbridge.
We shared a hotel room with the Brooks.

Jan. 3,2008

We left before 7 a.m. trying to get ahead of the big storm coming up the Pacific Northwest.
We encountered some drifting snow through the Monida Pass,Idaho,but the roads were good.
We drove through Salt Lake City,Utah during rush hour-large city with lots of traffic. After 12 hours of driving we spent the night in our 5 th wheel in the parking lot of the Flying J gas station south of Salt Lake,7 Deg. C.

Jan.4.2008

We hit strong winds at Cedar City,Utah. It was a long downhill drive through the mountains from St. George to Mesquite,Nevada (some construction). Red cliffs,palm trees, cacti and no snow greeted us at the Oasis RV Park and Casino in Mesquite at 12:30 pm. Brian and Shirley Regan arrived at 6 pm. We had dinner and checked out the 1 cent slots. Some rain and wind.

Jan. 5th

We enjoyed a two for one breakfast for $6.99. We had fun playing the 1 cent slots and drinking free strawberry daiquiris,beer and rum. The 6 of us had a great prime rib dinner at the Virgin River Casino for $4.99. Cloudy and windy today. Temp 9 Deg.C.

Jan. 6th

Brian and Shirley left this morning for Apache Junction,Arizona. John,Ralph and Lynda
toured around while I relaxed. After dinner we went to the Oasis Casino and played the slots.
Sunny but windy - the storm seems to be passing.

Jan. 7th

Beautiful day-- sunny, no wind, temp 11 Deg. C. We left the campsite ($16.00 a night) at 11 a.m.We stopped to wash the truck and 5th wheel on the way to Vegas. We arrived at Sam's Town, Las Vegas about 1:30p.m. It is a very large complex with RV Camping. We played the 1 cent slots and went to a $8.99 Buffet dinner. 17 Deg. C today.

Jan. 8th

Cloudy and cool.We took a free shuttle bus to downtown. We toured the casinos and enjoyed the Fremont Street Experience-a covered dome over the downtown with a awesome light and sound show in the evening. The downtown has improved since we were to Vegas last.

Jan. 9th

We drove 96 miles through the desert and mountains into Laughlin,Nevada--a smaller gambling city but quite enjoyable. Temp 17 Deg. C in the valley. Had a good day touring the casinos in Laughlin. Back at Sam's Town we watched the Mystic Falls-laser light and water show.

Jan. 10th

We drove 30 miles to Hoover Dam. It was constructed in the 1930's --a engineering wonder of the world,damming the Colorado River between the mountains of Nevada and Arizona,creating the man-made Lake Mead(500 feet deep). We enjoyed the dam tour - a must see.
In the evening Ralph and I caught the free shuttle to the Las Vegas Strip. We saw the amazing performance of Cirque du Soleil "O" at the Bellagio Hotel---showcasing high divers,synchronized swimmers,acrobats,fire dancers and contortionists in a 25 ft. deep pool.

Jan. 11th

Ralph,John and Lynda toured around while I cleaned and did the journal. Sunny day 18 Deg.C
The four of us took the free shuttle to the Las Vegas strip. Wow !! it has changed. Lots of people,traffic, lights and glitter.
We went to Caesars,TreasureIsland,Bellagio,Wynns,Palasso,Venetian, etc. We did plenty of walking. Food is expensive on the strip. Lots of free shows and free drinks while gambling. The hotels and casinos are magnificient - out of this world.