*WEDDING TIME* Burnaby, BC

Burnaby Caribou RV
Site #92 - $205 week rate (x2) Note: $42/night

The 'Valet Parking' is a welcome bonus as the sites are pretty tight. Each site is paved with small patch of grass and cedar dividers that have 'cut-outs' for neighbours slide. So yes... cozy! We set up camp and Kari and the kids came for supper.



On Thursday we did some biking and picked up a few groceries and Friday was spent at Dave and Elizabeth's for back yard wedding preparations.



And Saturday was the 'Big Day'.





We dropped by Dave on Sunday, then headed to Kari and Gerry's for barbecued salmon with Doris, Smitty, Mike, Darryl and Deanne.





On Monday we wandered around the New West Quay shopping area and went for a walk around Burnaby Lake on the approximate 4 km trail. Such a great wooded park area that helps you forget you are actually smack dab in the middle of a huge city.

We did some shopping at Metro Town Mall on Tuesday then headed to Kari's for a few hours. Back at the RV we had shrimp stirfry and went for a soak in the hot tub.

On Wednesday, Kari and the kids came for lunch and supper. (Gerry sky-trained out after work.) It was a day of crafts, walks and time at the playground.





Our digital camera had suffered some damage when Ron tried to put in a new memory card at Dave's wedding. Luckily there was a repair shop near Gerry's office and he dropped it off for us earlier in the week. It was ready for pick Thursday. We visited Gerry at the office, picked up the camera, went for lunch and wandered around Granville Island shops. We enjoyed a roast beef dinner with Dave and Elizabeth.



Friday was lunch and a visit with Uncle Walter. We shopped Ikea then headed home for supper. After supper we sat with the kids while Kari and Gerry had dinner and an evening out.

After lunch on Saturday, Doug and Rina came to the campground for a swim then we all went to Kari's for barbecued burgers.



Sunday was rainy and we headed to Richard's for barbecued salmon.

On Monday, we once again hiked around Burnaby Regional Park with Kari and the kids and spent time at the campground. Off to Dave's for seafood pasta.



We shopped Superstore and Walmart on Tuesday and Kari and kids were back out for a visit. Again, Gerry took the train and Dave came by after work. We had chicken kebabs for dinner. Eliz was busy with work negotiations so wasn't able to join us.

We said our good-byes to all and left the park by 10 am. In the wind. Highway 3 was a little rough and we encountered a few steep climbs.

Merritt, BC

Claybanks RV Park
Site #33 - $23 p/w/s

This is the town campground so it is nothing special and no fires are allowed. We went for a walk to the town centre and along the mainstreet. We picked up a few groceries and went for a bike ride.

Our neighbour had to be towed in to the campground with vehicle transmission problems.

Salmon Arm, BC

Herald Lake Prov Park
Site #89 - $22.

Of course all the 'best' sites are the R or Reserve sites. The 'first come' sites not so great. Today's campgrounds are always on the look out to take more $$ from the campers.  Our site wasn't bad except it was a bit open and there was little to no shade available. It was hot.

We hiked to Margaret Falls and along the creek path.





Barbecued chicken was on our menu and we enjoyed an evening fire.

Golden, BC

Whispering Spruce
Site #10 - $25 p/w

We arrived at 5 pm and it was 29C. Beer time!
We did manage a short walk before barbecuing burgers for supper.  Found this 'modern day tenter' rather amusing!  He had a large TV set up in his tent and he sat at the door on his lawn chair.



We enjoyed our evening fire and were on the road at 9:45 am.  Lunch was on a picnic table overlooking the Shuswap Lake.

Mazenod, SK

Field camping
Power from nearby pumphouse (x2 nights)

We parked behind the old schoolhouse. Just down the way from Ron's old home. The breaker kept blowing the first evening but it was okay after that. It was HOT HOT at 30C. And mosquitoes.

Larry and Phyllis arrived with steaks for dinner and spent the two nights with us.



We spent much time visiting. There were picture displays in the old schoolhouse and in the town hall.  It was a fun weekend with entertainment, a small parade, catered meals and a great fireworks display.

We were back on the *ahem* rough rough roads and headed home on Sunday.

Post Reunion, Gull Lake, AB

Lakeview Aspen Beach
Site #72, p only - $29. first then $23. (4 nights)

Decent site for 'open stalls' as some bushes and trees. Complaints re showers (distance, pressure and temps) plus the cancellation policy 48 hrs prior to check-in caused some grief. Paid extra nights for some early checkouts.



"Next generation" did the meal planning, shopping, prep and cooking, so that was great! Cooked steaks on the open fire one night.



 Lots of bocci, cribbage, tree climbing and campfires.



We drove Greg and Kim to Edmonton for a car rental so the final night was pretty quiet for us.





We left 11 am on Thursday and headed for a night home to do some laundry and shopping.  A quick turn around and we were off to Mazenod on Friday.

FAMILY REUNION Pigeon Lake, AB

Wednesday to Sunday. Busy busy time with the Kesslar's in charge.

It was pretty stressful beginnings with the set up and registration as not a lot of help in place at the start.  Assigning rooms was a nightmare as beds had been moved and layouts had changed from when our original 'maps' had been drawn up.

However, we survived and it appeared that fun was had by all.

*Reunion Planning* Beaumont, AB

Michaud acreage (3 nights, Sun to Tues.)
power outlet available

We parked beside Bob home alongside Ed & Marie Schmidt (Bob's sister) to finalise the plans for the Seemann Family Reunion.

We had supper at Jim and Jan's on Sunday and at Larry/Phyllis on Monday eve.  Lots of running around and last minute prep work included photocopying, renting and picking up a supply trailer, then loading up groceries and supplies from Jim and Jan's garage.

Wednesday it was on to Pigeon Lake. Ready or not!

Moose Jaw, SK

Prairie Oasis Campground

Site #2 - $23 p/w, Good Sam price

Temp 18C

We arrived in Moose Jaw mid afternoon.

In the morning we headed out in the rain. The truck seemed to be lacking power so we ended up pulling in to Besant campground where we unhooked and left the 5th wheel then headed back to the Moose Jaw Chrysler dealership.  They replaced the fuel filter. It seemed to work better but there was still some pulsating.

Back at Besant we had lunch in the trailer, hooked up and continued home.

Spruce Woods Prov Pk, Brandon, Man

Kiche Manitou Campground
Site #I-10, $17+$5 park fee, p only (x3)
Free wood

This is a beautiful camp spot. It is a very sandy area throughout the park and the sites were sandy and soft. It took us a few tries to level out and be clear to open the slide.  We were more than ready for that beer!

After supper we biked about the park.

On Saturday, we went to Glenboro for a few groceries and more beer!  We spent the day hiking and biking and had our evening fire.

We did a 7.2 km hike on Sunday to the "Spirit Sand Dunes" and the "Punch Bowl".  It took us approximately 2 hr 20 minutes.  Hiking in the sand is extremely tiring! It's good the weather wasn't too hot.  Still found some energy for more biking.

All but 6 units left on Sunday evening.  We hit the road at 9:30 am Monday.