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

Santa Marguerite Holiday KOA Campground

The Thor is like a wounded goose with the slide closed in.  I thanked Bob from RV Rescue when he put in the slide lock.  One motor doesn’t work but the slide is in. Said good bye to the peacocks.

Long drive.  I’m still fatigued after the flu.  Headache from concentration and congestion but much better sleep.  I stopped being contagious a few days ago and today the dry cough was mostly gone.  We really enjoyed the Ventura Ranch KOA.  Good to be back on the road.  Driving is easier each day 

Today I even drove around a couple of towns looking for Propane. I filled the beast with gas.  Finally found propane.  Was able to back up and maneuver/. Madigan got a walk at a rest area.

The big event was seeing the Pacific Ocean.  Lovely views with the big screen windshield.  Fond memories of sailing past San Luis Obispo in the SV Giri the trip to Baja Mexico..  Looking at the whole expanse of blue brought back memories too of sailing across the ocean. Trade wind sailing some of the most awesome memories. Now I’m in this land barge and beginning to find my groove in the freeway rush. Just stay inside the lines.

It’s beautiful country here.  Lots of rolling green hills and black cattle.  Maybe angus. Blue skies and sunshine.  Still warm. Though cool nights. Glad to have propane . Had the furnace fixed on the way down and was chilled in the north.  Now I’m comfy. Haven’t had to use the generator for air conditioning or heating but now have more options. 

I am thankful each day and feel gratitude for progress.  It’s quite the journey.  Glad to be able to do it. Two and three hour jaunts have been fine but tomorrow it will be 4 to 5.hours like the days coming south. Gave me an appreciation of my friends Larry and Peter who do these trips several times a year and have the travel down to a science. Peter says they make sandwiches for the trip while I have made stops for Madigan .  So far haven’t had Macdonald Burger lunches like I did with the truck and camper.  It’s a challenge to find parking with the bus.  I do have a thermos of coffee and appreciate that. KOA has been great.  I’m reserved for San Franciciso North Petaluma KOA.

Tomorrow I pass through San Francisco and all the memories of previous trips and the time I lived there.  I really have had a blessed life and remember people and places so fondly now. One of the joys of aging. Letting go of the resentments and celebrating life.

Madigan’s is a great companion.  Thank you God and keep us safe on this journey.