Home, Burnaby, BC, Canada and the Thor Hurricane

Home, Burnaby.BC Canada

It’s 6 am.  Daylight saving time is ending. We’ll not be moving the clocks forward or backwards anymore.

I’m sitting in my Thor Hurricane Motorhome, very grateful.  

I completed the inaugural run and passage with the Thor. Last year I bought it late spring. Then I took the Ford 350 Truck and Adventurer Camper I’d driven south for the winter and drove off to see my nephews.  Maizy hadn’t been born yet but I met her in her mommy home.  Alana and Meagan were wonderful. It was special to see Andrew and Tanya and the boys.  Adell and Graeme and the dogs were a great visit in Napanee.  I returned to take the Thor out on weekends romps. But the big deal was driving south. Thanks to Larry and Peter who do this every year I had the knowledge of routes and encouragement.

Now I’ve driven south to LA in early December and after weeks at Hollywood RV Parkvisiting galleries with Laura and a reantal car we saw her off at the airport while Madigan and I continued to Fountain of Youth RV resort .  I loved being back there especially the meetings. Also I enjoyed visiting Bombay Beach Cafee and and Pastor Jack at the Beach Church. They were were on to Sleepy Hollow RV Park in Winterhaven for a few weeks.  Walking across the border at Algadones I had my St. Thomas dental check up, bought more glasses from SOL, along with purses for Christmas gifts for the girls. Then I was headed back to Fountain of Youth.  Every stop and passage I gained knowledge of driving the big motorhome. It was wider and longer than nayhting I’d driven and I just kept on with the steep learning curve.  Cars honked on the way down and then they didn’t. I’d learned to keep in my lane and better handle the 12 lane 70mph freeways.  I even succeeded slowly to learn to back into a space.

I had a variety of repairs. First the knocking off the mirror at the Nexus border crossing.  Thanks to mobile RV tech’s each of these repairs went really well with the best of people being recommended each time by the RV campsite office.  In Orange grove I finally had my furnace repaired. I’d just worn shoes and sweaters.  In Hollywood RV I had the first inkling of slide difficulties as the slide sheered off the outlets pipe to the gray water tank. Again a mobile tech came out and did a skookum job of repair.  After Fountain of Youth I went on to Palm Springs with the idea that another year Laura could fly into Palm Springs for a visit as there was an airport there.  I’d dinged the awning parking in the town by the market and that was rrepaired by a fine fellow there.  

It was in Palm Sprngs I became very sick with sinusitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and that terrible sense that I might possibly die.  Pneumonia, the old man’s friend. I was miserable but Madigan walked me. I couldn’t keep up with work. 350 emails in the week.  Lots of calls and cancellations. Thankfully Mary Lou at Docside managed the clinic.  I really don’t get sick often. It always seems to be a URI.  I didn’t take antibiotics this time.  I managed and slowly got better. I always think that ‘sickness’ is my body’s way of aaying it was overworked. I felt overwhelmed with all the new intakes, demands for forms and that aggressive entitlement that plagues medicine these days.

I didn’t like the news.  Carney a Neo communist was allying with China for the NWO and alienating the USA.  I was in the US reading the misinformation and propaganda of CBC.  It was all so disappointing.  I felt like I was living in the invasion of the body snatchers.  

While driving and travelling alone I have memories and more memories passing through while I’m praying to God to keep us safe. It was especially hard to carry on because the illness left me fatigued and brain fogged. I had a couple of thousand km’s to go but could only make a couple of hours of driving to start. It wasn’t until I was north of San Francisco and out of the major freeway shoots that I began to feel alive again and enjoy the journey.  I was so grateful to God to have carried me. I had to get back to Canada because my travel insurance was going to be up and I didn’t want to be sick alone in the US.  I needn’t of worried since each day I was feeling better and travelling more miles north. I really loved reaching the Oregon Beaches and again stamping at the Oceanside RV park in Gold Beach.  I felt growing Hope each day.  Then I was hitting the mirror returning but this time not having the mirror knocked off just turned.  A lovely border crossing guard and then back at Burnaby .

When  I was in a peacock populated KOA when I couldn’t ‘t get the Slide back in. That’s when the ex LAPD lt came to rescue and was able to get the slide in and secure.  I drove home with it that way.  I

I was reminded of sailing/crusing when we call it ‘doing boat work in exotic places’.  I truly felt that I was exorcising the demons . The previous owner had had the slide problem too.

Back in Burnaby I called Traveland and was thankful they could get me in.  The repair that was planned for a day or two had me sleeping in the parking lot Monday Night, Tuesday Night, but Wedneday night I took a $70 taxi into town and retrieved my Mini.  The battery was dead and thankfully BCAA gave me a boost but the battery wouldn’t hold the charge. But thankfully I had the Charger I’d bought before leaving south. I was having to use that each time I started the battery till I got a new one at Canadian Tire.  I stayed in Surestay Hotel , working class place with higher rates.  It always seems that there are elements in Canada that charge luxury rates but don’t provide the luxury service. I’ve known both and appreciate when the rates jive.  The truth is I was thankful and that couple of nights allowed me to get to my men’s meeting and to enjoy a day of work from the hotel. I’d not been able to keep up with patients in the office that I was able to use at Traveland in the day. I could do computer work but at the hotel I had the privacy to phone and catch up.  Progress. Then amazing Service called to say Thor was ready.

Laura was coming over on Friday.  I was able to get a taxi out there and amazing.  The slide was restored.  A major task that I’d really ‘worried’ about .  I believe the law of attraction is such that my ‘fear’ attracts these events.  I think ‘worrying is wicked’ and block negativity as best as I can.  Sick I was having no peace of mind and my thinking itself was a chore.  I felt though my guardian angels and Jesus and my relatives and those who’d gone before were all around.

Then it was home. I drove my Thor from Langley to Burnaby no longer afraid of driving the ‘beast’.  I even parked okay and enjoyed levelling and putting out the slide.  It was raining and it’s rained ever since. I was however  able to get the laundry I’d dropped off. My mail hadn’t been forwarded as I paid for and ironically a CRA notice didn’t get to me because the Post office. - other government workers hadn’t forwarded the government mail.  No harm was done.  I didn’t like it.  

I was astonished how losing a week to illness backed everything up.  I’m still trying to sort it all out and feel tired.,

I had my birthday in the Parking Lot of Traveland.  My birthday dinner was a delivered pizza.  I resisted the ‘poor me’ and ‘self pity pot’. I just kept on trekking and kaloo kalay the slide was completed. The clinic managed. I didn’t die.  Madigan and I had a wonderful meal at White Spot, he had a burger and I had fish and chips with a vanilla milkshake

Laura has been a delight to have visit.  Her car is under the weather so she had to taxi.  I picked up rotisserie chicken and Choices Deli salads , quiche for breakfast and yesterday barbecued steak which we all loved. We watched new episodes of Cross and Star Trek.  

Trump of the US and Netanyahu of Israel attacked Iran bombing its nuclear facilities again but most importantly limiting its oil supply to China.  Maduro the cartel criminal of Venezuela have been arrested last month and now Iran was invade. Both provided oil to China who was threatening to invade Taiwan.  Without oil no invasion.  The Russia Ukraine war persisted but at latest Ukraine was pushing Russia back. The main problem was the corruption with Ukraine war appearing more money laundering.  The Minneapolis Muslim nursery school scam involving millions was exposed with the Somalians seeming to have taken their piracy from water to land.  The Epstein lists were released and several people have been arrested.

I’m happy to see the UN agenda 21/30. Climate Change cult and NWO with China first has been blocked by the Republicans.  The Democrats like our Liberals seem just to be into all manner of criminal activities.  The News is binary and I don’t’ really know what it ‘true’ despite reading X and FB and looking up matters that seem far fetched.  Conspiracy theories keep being exposed and government abuses like those with Jan 6 and with the Freedom Convoy seem particularly insidious.  WEF is mostl evil. 

That’s all ambiguous back ground.,

I’m back in Canada and thankful that hat my motorhome which the bank has supported my buying since they have my money in the bank is turning out to be a wonderful experience. I don’t want to move right now but I feel I can. I had the Fusion fifth wheel for years and never pulled it myself and here. I’m comfortable driving the Thor. It’s a big deal to me.

I feel like I’ve caught up.  I used the Vespa to take a run to teh local mall and bought a new Walmart Quilt I hope Madigan doesn’t chew.I left him to hump the pillow and he’s not bothered Laura as he had in the past. There’ s hope.  

I really am grateful for this journey and adventure. I don’t know if I will return next year. it’s a long drive . IF it do go I may just 

limit it to Palm Springs and Fountain of Youth.  I also think of going to the Island which has more sun and less rain and cold in the winter.

I want a vehicle I can dinghy tow so that’s the next hill to climb. Mostly I think of a Maverick .  I have my Camper and truck to sell.  My motorhome with a small truck would suit all my needs. I don’t have a great desire to hunt. I weight the risk of hurting myself and don’t know how I’d get a deer out of the woods on my own.  Aging is a bitch. I can still hunt grouse.  Though I remember my dad and other friends stopped hunting and moved to fishing older. I may do that.  I’m not really sure what comes next. This was the challenge and now I’m capable.  I am grateful. Thank you Jesus.  I’m working and my mother was always glad to know I was in debt because she said ‘then she knew Bill would be working’.  I certainly like working but I’d like to complete the books I want to write and to develop more spiritually.  I feel I’m at a crossroads of some sort not certain what comes next but ready and willing to continue.

Thank you Jesus for my health. Thank you for Laura and Madigan and family and friends. Thank you for Thor.  Thank you for this adventure and journey and the ability to continue to work virtually as well as in person.

Thank you Jesus. 

Traveland RV , parking lot, my birthday

I’ve arrived back from Southern California.  My slide stopped working north of LA but I was able to get back with the slide kept in with a slife lock; The beauty of the Motorhome is everything is accessible even with the slide not out.  That wasn’t the case in the RV.  Traveland was kind enough to take the Thor Motorhome in yesterday at noon but the slide repair wasn’t completed at close of day. Madigan and I spent the night in the parking lot. They had electricity and water though Madigan felt he has to bark with any sounds through the night that he deemed as threatening. I was woken three times by long barking.  Definitely a local terrorist cell. Meanwhile I got a new mattress and really did enjoy it.

This morning I had my own coffee and now am in the office they’ve provided me to wait in.

It’s my birthday. 74.

I’m very grateful . I am reeled with gratitude, thankful to be alive, knowing so many who have died in the last years. I do miss them. The older I get the greater I realize what a wonderful life I have had of so many blessings. I’m thankful today for Madigan. I’m very thankful for my dear friend Laura. I especially love my sister in law, the nephews and the great nephews and great neice.  I miss my brother.  What a blessing to have know such a great man all my life.  I have memories flash through my mind with the long drives in the motorhome and enjoy so many positive childhood memories and adult memories. I have a terrible mind that will select and pull up the few negative events and focus on them when in fact the whole has been stupendous.  My family really was exceptional, my mother so loving and accomplished, my Dad an amazing man and my aunt and grandparents and uncles all a gift.  I tool way too much for granted. I had a great school .  Dad and mom were really keen to have us live in a good neighbourhood and they really did prioritize education. Yet there was sports and I played on hockey teams and baseball teams. Every summer I was signed up for swimming lessons and life saving classes .  I was given guitar lessons and music lessons. I wanted to join the YMCA and my parents supported that so I became a member of the Gymnastics team, swimming team and Leaders Corp.  We attended the Trinity Baptist Church and later the Fort Gary United Church. I taught Sunday school and was encouraged to read the Bible and had this incredibly important moral and ethical training.

Dad loved the outdoors so weeeknds and holidays we out in the wonderful Canadian wilderness fishing and hunting.  I really had an incredible childhood . It was only when I became interested in girls as a teen that life when sideways.  Hormones. I don’t know how my poor parents and teachers didn’t kill me. I’ve a dog that is totally brain dead when pheromes hit him. That was me.  

Then there was alcohol and parties and adolescent arrogance. I was still  successful. Sports champion, and writing.  I had all these outlets. I worked at all these jobs for money. I bicycled a lot.  I was blessed with intelligent.

I had this great friend  Kirk. Lived across the lane. We did volleyball together. Walked to school with our friends Garth.  Later we’d do Jujitsu together and he and I’d both get into meditation and yoga despite our Christian background.  I had a darkroom to do pictures for the year book. His dad made beer and we had it in the basement. The family had a cottage at Minaki and I visited canoeing everywhere and hiking in the woods all day.  Best guy.  All my life I’ve been blessed to know him. Brilliant man. We talk of god together.  

The Manitoba Theatre School became a very important part of my life. I was kicked out of school for reciting a poem with the word fuck in it.  I got a job in carpentry and my life could have taken a very different turn. I liked carpentry. I used to fix cars with my brother and father.  A skill that later stood me well assisting surgery  I met my first wife dancing at Ken Mathew’s. What a creative incredible world. How blessed i was to meet this extraordinary woman . We bicycled across Europe together and lived in London working on jobs and studying dancing.  I loved the cultural and historical learning. We both loved to read.  We loved art. I played chess in coffee shops. We got as far as Morocco and then got awards dancing in London. She would go on to be a highly accomplished dancer and choreographer.  I’d got the bug for study.  I loved learned.,  

Coming home I was able to study at Univerwsity of Winnipeg again and thanks to Dr. Carl Ridd lest the theatre program, studied Christian spirituality and did pre medical studies. I loved University of Winnipeg.  Baiba has loved the dance study in London and hadn’t wanted to return to Winnipeg. She really was without teachers here and left for Toronto to pursue her dance career. I had scholarships for Manitoba and we parted.  I was heart broken but it wasn’t a bad decision. There was too much alcohol in the dance and theatre world and I really loved chemistry and electron microscopes.   Getting accepted to Univeristy of Manitoba Medical school was the very best and fondest of decision s. I’ve never regretted training as a doctor or working as a family physician and community medicine specialist.  

Psychiatry however was traumatic and though I loved the learning it changed my life in many ways including another divorce.  I was attracted to women with alcohol in their families and mine was a non alcoholic family.  They were wonderful but my life went off track with alcohol and when years later, 28 years ago to be exact I stopped drinking, my life returned to the spiritual again. I was always moved by God and beauty and reason and learning. It was a strange life. A year of surgery and taking a year off because of a tremor and that the government was limiting the surgery that grads could do.  I was moved by the missionary doctor idea and Jack Hilda’s convinced me to come north with the Northern Medical Unit. I loved that.

I regretted I didn’t spend more time with my mother and father in later years.  I was away so much I didn’t spend more time with my brother and sister in law. I was always working. I loved the learning and service.  I really was fulfilled in my life. Another marriage died. Physically surgery is demanding. Psychiatry is emotionally and mentally demanding.  I felt alone. 

I’d smoked hashish in Morocco and in Psychiatry smoked pot. I drank wine.  And left Winnipeg.  A major turn.  I got my American license but went to Vancouver and stayed with UBC. Another wife.

These women were amazing. Brilliant beautiful and so incredibly sexy but I was self centred .

I loved homesteading.  I loved the years of sailing. I think my wife’s addictions were ahead of mine but that’s the nature of addiction. The disease that says you don’t have a disease. I stopped drinking and joined recovery and embraced spirituality again.  I loved my practice helping people with trauma and later addiction. I still like my practice.

I had questions and was able to answer them and address them. 

‘I had the most incredible of friends.  George and John. Now both gone.  Bill Mewhort my hunting buddy.  I loved the advanced study in addiction medicine.  Hank was such an incredible mentor.  Art was a mensch.  Then there was Bernie and Scotty and men’s groups and round ups and more beautiful incredible women.  World travel and study in exotic place and sailing. I was blessed to know Willie Gutowski. I’d had John White as a Christian mentor and after Willie I’d be blessed with Phillip Ney.  I have had the greatest life of learning. I’ve delivered a hundred babies, helped keep a country hospital open working with the extraordinary Bob Manness then time in the north, wilderness training, igloos, fly in doctors services,  ST. Theresa Point, Island Lake. Wasagamach.  Years I’d fly north for Jack Hildes as a family medicine doctor then as a psychiatrist.  Universiy of Manitoba and University of British Columbia.

What a joy it is to learn.  I really did work m y mind.  I did family medicine, psychiatry, addiction medicine and masters in religious studies. I was bleswed to be a member of the Self Realization Fellowship, to study hypnosis, then an Anglican and study with Dr. James Houston, the most compassionate man, Regent College. I also studied at Vancouver School of Theology and St. Marks. I’ve audited so many courses in Christian spirituality ,and Hebrew and anthropology.  Last year I told an Oxford course in prehistoric religion .  I was so thankful to have my PHD friends like Aim and Adell help me complete the paper. I’d consulted for the Canadian Military and the Supreme Court and really was impressed by all the people I have had the opportunity to know, working in community hospitals, asylums and jails.

Northern Marianas Islands was a whole other story of extrarordianry experience and learning. The people of the island the the staff were the best.  Playing gold and scuba diving with Willie Gutowski was a blessing.  I loved raising chickens and geese and turkeys and learning to be a ships captain. No small feat to sail across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii through a winter hurricane and survive. 

I’ve always felt God was with me. I’ve felt intimately that I have a guardian angel. I’ve had many incredibly spiritual experiences . None of the material world explanations could account for the transcendental world I’ve been touched by. Taht’s my friends like Kirk who lives to meditate or meditates to live are so important. I work in a world of political and ego and bean counters and materialists who are afraid and quite Scarey.

This last year though I’ve had wonderful experience. I drove my truck and camper south to Algadones last year, had Mexican deantal work then so enjoyed Bombay Beach and Fountain of Youth in Niland. I loved the recovery community there and the hotsprings .When I returned to Canada I drove my truck and camper across Canada to Ottawa to see my great nephews and the great neice still in house.  It was good to see my cousins after so many years.  I visited my brother and sister in laws home in Napanee .  It’s always good to see my amazing nephews.  My sister in law like my brother continues to be a whirlwind of activity.  I picked up my boat and drove back to Vancouver.  A lot to see and a lot to do. 

Every year I attend an international recovery conference. This year he five year convention was in Vancouver. I rode my motorcycle to the annual conference in Spokane.  It reminded me of the year I rode my elctroglide across the country to Sturges.  That bike got too heavy but I really have enjoyed the Nighster Special I took down to Arizona. I loved seeing friends at the conference, the same time next year experience enriched on by the internet cyberdoctors and western Canada doctors experienced.

Laura and I attended so many theaters and ballet and opera concerts as well as unforgettable events like Paul McCartney. 

Last year Laura and I took the motorhome with madigan out to Princeton. He and I rode around on the Honda quad, shooting and fetching grouse. It’s been a while since I  shot deer and moose and bear and elk. I shot 30 or more dear, 8 moose, elk and a few bear but mostly countless grouse and some rabbits. I sued to fish when I sailed.  Out east I fished pickerel and pike but in BC I’ve not been that successful a trout fisherman but caught so many salmon and cod in the ocean. 

I traded in the Fusion RV for the Thor Hurricane Motorhome.  In December I drove south. Steep learning curve.  In LA at the Hollywood RV Park Laura Joined me for a few weeks of visiting museums and galleries.  She’s come with me to Rome and Ireland and Scotland and Milan and enjoyed the Louvre with me. I really have been blessed incredible companions.

And the best of dogs.  Now I’ve got Madigan for 5 years and he’s such character.

I’ve driven back from the south arriving home this last week.  The slide si being repaired now and I’m here in this office on my birthday, Grateful

I’ve had an amazing life. I’d like to live to be over a hundred and do many more camping trips.  I’m not sure what the next adventure would be. I’ve three books in progress. I have to pray more and meditate more and become kinder and more caring.  I’m a work in progress but I certainly have a loving God and have been blessed. Slowly my mind is waking up to that fact.  

I’ve been bleswed to have so many patients and to be of service.  

Thabnk you Creator for another year around the sun. Thank you Jesus.

Burnaby BC, Canada

I enjoyed the drive from north of Portland.  Quite a few lanes going through Seattle. A lot of familiar sites and memories. I did a lot of weekends here on my Harley.  The freeway is known. Then the ride to the border is well known. I cleared out meat and vegetable and fruit and dairy.  

At the border I asked about wideness and the motorchome.  I’d hit my mirror coming down. Now I hit my mirror again but thankfully didn’t knock it off. I was being careful. The helpful agent told me the border crossing by the ocean has wider passages. I was happy though to be out on the east side of Burnaby cross the port Mann bridge back to Burnaby.

Great to be back in Canada. Great to see an old friend. Lots of familiarity.  A new site in a good old place. I’ve an apt with Traveland to fix the slide so I’ll be ready in a day or two. Madigan was happy to be back on the river trail.  I didn’t last long and slept early. The end of an expedition.

Today I got my car but the battery was dead and BCAA jumped it for me.  I then dropped off my laundry.  Then Madigan and I drove downtown to visit Laura. What a delight having coffee with her on Davie.  Then fish and chips and milk shakes. Madigan was in heaven, out of control to see his favourite friend. I’m taken for granted. She’s special .  

Back home I faced the paper work. I couldn’t ‘think’.  I could drive. But my work was overwhelming. I felt sick when I looked at paper work.  I signed off on some prescriptions but that was pretty easy. Just had to check the notes and sign off. Anymore was overwhelming. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I really struggled with feeling positive and not doomzooming. I had my medical meeting this morening and was uplifted.  My priest had her last day but I couldn’t make it.  Still recovering . I worry about my ‘lungs’ and ‘throat’.  I’m still drinking lots of orange juice.  But I’m home.

I am relaxing.  The stress is down.  Seeing Laura was so inspiring.  Wonderful to hug.  Madigan doesn’t make room for us. He’s number one but we’re happy.  He had burger he was too excited to eat at lunch but this evening he’s devoured it.  I’m tired and going to lie down.  

I’m home. Back in Canada.

Mr Trump and Mr. Netanyahu attacked Iran and cut off the head of the snake.  I’m pleased though spiritually probably not free floating. I ‘ve just seen so many tortures victims from Iran and listened to the horrors of the refuges.  Khumeni is dead.  Ding dong the witch is dead.  Maduro in custody.  The whole New World Order thing was putting China as first and now that’s been blocked maintaining USA as number one. I don’t like communism. The religion of aetheism.  A terrible regime with the greatest murders of the last Century.  Now China depended on allies of Venezuela and Iran.  Xi Jing Ping invaded Hong Kong and made an unholy alliance with Trudeau.  Now Carney is part of the China number 1 WEF anti America and Anti west. The liberals and democrats are weird.  So far left and supporting crime and corruption. I’m just glad to see evil dictators fall and the chance now for the Persian. People to be free of the disgusting Islamic regime.  

I would like the conservatives and Pierre Poilevre to lead Canada.  Poilevre is creepy.  The whole Epstein fiasco Mel Gibson warned us about is being exposed.  Lots happening internationally and I’m just thankful to be alive and get home safely in this bus I’m becoming more comfortable and competent driving. I like it as my home too.  I’m very thankful.  

BC is god’s country.  Greatest people but so much corruption and incompetence in government.  I’m looking forward to more camping and thankful to be here with the THor Hurricane and Madigan.  

Thank you Jesus. Thank you for keeping us safe and brining us home. 

Gold Beach, Oceanside RV Park, Oregon

I love the Oregon Beach’s.  My last cockapoo, Gilbert, developed severe glaucoma and pain and needed to have his eyes removed. He was terrified by sudden blindness. A little guy who had loved to run full speed everywhere was banging into everything and terrified to move around.  Laura and I took him south. He’d sailed with me and many times been on beach’s and knew they were safe. So here were were on the Oregon Beaches and he ran and ran like he had always run before and I cried. Laura cried. It was an unforgettable time. 

Last year I stayed at Oceanside RV Paark with Madigan my cockapoo who is now 5.  Gilbert died in Covid and I was so alone until Madigan came along.  Now he’s my faithful comrade. A bit crazy./ A character for sure.  But he loved Oceanside RV Park when I stayed there in the camper. The Pacific Ocean is right there and the views are terrific. We walked on the beach beside the RV park too and loved the stay. Thankful to come back. Great owners.  

And we were on our way again .  The Thor Hurricane Motorhome continues to be the best. 

I decided to cross to I5 from the 101 at Reesport on the 38 where the herds of elk wander about. I lucked out and was able to pull over and get some pictures.  

Thank you Jesus. 

Camp Kalama RV Park, Washington

It was long day drive. I survive with thermos Coffee  and a couple of redbull a day.  I’ve been really enjoying Dan Brown’s Audio Thriller, Secrete -of Secrets.  I pray. I find my mind goes to something negative.  I’ll think of my ex wife and instead of the great times I’ll remember some terrible night.  I block these with prayer.  I remember a positive. There were far more. 10 years of marriage is 50% at least but more like 99% Addiction. Trauma.  Deaths.  But I know I’ve had a life full of blessings. I am truly blessed. It’s been a n incredible experience. Just studying Medicine was a joy.  Helping people. Studying and learning.  Camping and dogs and love and friendship. I distract myself. 

I drive for an hour or two filtering the memories focusing on the positive. I’m centred on driving. The irony is with a motorcycle when you are distracted you die. When I’m with the Thor motorhome and I’m distracted I can kill someone else.  It was easier on the smaller freeway.  4 lanes of the I5 mostly.  I’m loving the view of the forest and valleys.  I enjoy seeing the cattle and sheep. 

Portland was a challenge. I arrived in rush hour and with delays caused by a couple of accidents.  When i was past Portland I pulled into one RV spot and they didn’t take one night.  That’s when I found Camp Kalama. It was getting dark and I was tired. I”m over the worst of the sickness but I’m still fatigue. I was healthy coming back last year and didn’t struggle as much as I did this trip. The last couple of days getting better.  

Thankfully Camp Kalama had a late arrive phone line. I booked in by phone with Visa and then was parking in the dark.  Thankfully all went well.  Madigan had a little walk. I put up star link and watched a little tv only to go to bed and be thankful for the ‘bed, glorious bed!

Benbow KOA Holiday Campground

Love it here .  Beautiful site in the Redwords.  Pleasant helpful staff. A whole lot of pull throughs.  

I travelled up the 101, the Redwood Highway from Petaluma North San Francisco KOA.  It’s much more relaxed after the LA and SF 12 lane freeways. It only a 3 hour jaunt.  Lots of winding turns for the Motorhome. But also lots of pull outs and passing lanes. I was able to travel mostly at 80 - 90 km without the feeling I am holding anyone back.  There were even a couple of rest areas where I let Madigan out to pee.

In the morning there was rain but it cleared up and the day was beautiful.  Blue sky with occasional clouds.  Sunshine.  I stopped in the Leggitt Market to get some groceries as I’d been getting less variety.  My breakfasts have been good with boiled egg, yoghurt, orange juice and instant porridge. I made a coffee for the meal and another to take in a thermos.

Today I felt some more at ease I began listening to Dan Brown’s incredible book Secret of Secrets. 

There’s a restaurant here so I’m going over in an hour.  I’m tired of my own cooking. As much as Madigan likes my barbecue and cold cuts I’d really like a change.  

I’m looking forward to getting back to Canada.  Gold Beach tomorrow.  I have work and accounting waiting for me and I really want to get my slide  fixed so my home is restored.  I have put off doing laundry and am looking forward to dropping this bag off at my favourite laundromat, Tikki Poo in Burnaby.  Will be great to see Laura and next week I’ll be able to get to my men’s meeting. This Sunday there’s a western Canada doctors meeting.  

Thank you Jesus for another great day!!!

North San Francisco - Petaluma KOA Campground

It was a long 5 hour drive yesterday.  An hour of that was 12 lane freeway.  When I reached the KOA I was utterly exhausted with my mind instantly fogging. It was all I could do to check in. I believe the KOA office folk see others like me. They are so clear in their communication.  This fellow actually came out and opened the gate for me because I couldn’t figure how to work the key pad and bar.  Then I was parking in a beautiful drive through site. The action of setting up is becoming routine and grounding.  

Parking brake, level, electricity, water, sewer hose. Then Starlink WiFi.  Once that was done I walked Madigan to the play area. I love that KOA’s a standardized with laundry, pool, facilities and K9 area all Standardized. Talking with Laura who love KOA too I said it’s kind of like and advanced Macdonald’s for its standardization and reliability.  They are all clean and orderly and at the end of a long drive nothing is better.  If I wasn’t travelling I might appreciate something different.  But travelling its all about easy.

Coming up from the south was the most beautiful country. Lots of views of the Pacific Oceans then agricultureal land forever.  There was even a ‘garlic city’.  The last hour was travelling into San Francisco. I didn’t stay on the 101 but followed the GPS directions to head to Oakland.  All the way I was having memories of my first time visitting San Francisco with Baiaba in the early 70’s after the Colorado Peace and Love Festival with Kirk.  The song ‘if’s you’re going to San Francisco be sure to wear flowers in your hair.’ Baiba was the most beautiful girl in the world and wore flowers in her hair.  It was the time of Gracie Slick and Jefferson Airplane,  The Greateful Dead.  We were hitchinking up to Canada to attend the Latvian Song Fest with Baioba’s mother. And we really were dancing in the streets of San Francisco with thousands.

Next I was a young doctor with Mauraen and we’d planned to hike in Banff but the late snow caused us to head south.  We had my Sheepskin Sleeping Bag I’d made in Winnipeg after survival training in living in igloos in survival training in Churchill. Maureen was going into a Pediatric residency.  Camping in Napa Valley we met Warren and Gail. Warren was hilarious and brilliant.  Gail and Maureen hit it off.  We’d ride on their motorcycles to wine tastings and visit with them back their Napa home.  A year or two later they’d join us in Canada for a wilderness canoe adventure taking off from my brother Ron’s cottage in Lake of the Woods.  

Years later when I left Maureen and visited Warren I’d live with his sister Suzanne and her son.  I’d do my American exams and FLEX, get accepted to a staff position at Stanford having left my assist at professor position at University of Manitoba.  I was suffering the last year of residency  with serious trauma and betrayals and not very nice. I regret how unkind I was.  Warren was a mensch and I loved talking about gravity with him.  There was so much to learn and conversations were like the late night adolescent times when I was at the Manitoba Theatue School .  Knowledge and learning were so incredible in those days.  The girls were so beautiful. Suzanne , Warren’s sister was amazing.  Gail would leave.  Warren’s parents and grandparents and brother were all the most caring and extraordinary people. Warren as Maureen and I separated.  Such heady emotional times.

Then I was back again with Sherrie in the Vanagon driving down from Vancouver where we were living. Next I was sailing down the coast with Tom and Sherrie in the 39.9 foot steel sailboat. SV Giri.  Because Sherrie had adjusted the radar at night we went off the bow wave of a tank in the fog under Golden Gate Bridge.  Somehow we serviced and continued south where Sherrie and I spent the winter in Sea of Cortez.  

Years later I’d sail so low down the coast past the infamous Cape Mendocino and under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. I’d anchor off Sausillito to make final preparations. Then in the most memorable way I’d sail under the Golden Gate Bridge dressed in my red survival suit and continue solo in winter to the Hawaiian islands.

It was not just 12 lanes of freeway in a 29 foot Thor Hurricane Class A Motorhome with the broken slide held in by slide locks going at 70 miles an hour. I was do memory lanes with regrets about how arrogant and unkind I was with so many fears and uncertainties.  I really appreciated all the accomplishments and was blessed to know the people I did back then. What wonderful women and friends.  I really had so much but truly was an ‘egomaniac with an inferiority complex’.  We drank too much wine and smoked too much dope. But we danced and loved and share such hilarity.  Now here I was again going through San Francisco and there on my left was the Golden Gate Bridge.

Thank you God for this life. Thank you God for all the blessings.  Forgive me for being such an ass but thank you for all the good times nonetheless.  Thank you now for this day.  I am still getting better from the flu with sinuses that are stffy at times, the cough almost totally gone and yet the fatigue and brain fog persist at the end of the day. Mornings are fine and time for me to walk Madigan, gear up and hit the road again. It’s been raining all night and we’ve left the brown hills and desert and are entering the rainforest.  Soon I’ll be on the Red Wood Highway.  I once drove up here on my way to work at UBC in my beat up Baja Bug I called ‘Pendergast’.  That was some journey too.  Leaving San Francisco for Vancouver BC.  This Thor Hurricane is a far cry from that beater.  I had to adjust the points repeatedly and without a hood deal with electrical shorts in down pours.  Madigan and I are much happier in the Thor even if the slide motor has died.  I look forward to a replacement in Vancouver. Everything works just fine and I’m actually becoming more accomplished as a ‘bus driver’.  Time to go.  

Thank you God for all the love and joy.  Forgive me for my selfishness.  Help me to be a better man today.  Help get Madigan and I and Thor back to Canada safely.  Please protect us all from Communist Coporate madness of eastern Canada and the NWO Carney PM.  Help me to focus more on the serenity prayer and stash in my own lane.  As Zappa said, Politics is only the Entertainment Division of the Millitary Industrail Complex. It’s all above my pay grade.  Soon I’ll be able to work again as each day I feel my body and mind heal. Madigan and I are looking forward to seeing Laura when we return.  There’s Kim and Mac, Helena and Dave, Nicollet and Earnest, George and the men’s group. Gary and Mary Lou and all the people that are part of the Burnaby life.  Thank you