Harrison Hot Springs Resort

I am here again with Laura and Madigan.  I love Harrison hot springs.  I’ve been coming some 40 years. One of the best times was when I rented a cabin in the resort for my parents.   Laura and I have been coming by car, truck and motorcycle.  We’ve stayed in a half dozen of the hotels.  We loved the Bungalow cabins and see they’ve been torn down. I liked the Harrison Beach Hotel for the underground parking for m y Harley electroglide when Laura would ride on the back all over the province with me.  Gilbert my previous cockapoo came along.  He’d ride with me on the motorcycle and Mazda Miata but Laura then was relegated to my truck.  In the Miata the dogs sit on her so for a winter drive to SAN Diego I bought the Mini Cooper  to accommodate both girl and dog.    Today I have the Mini Cooper for Laura and Madigan. 

Without a dog we enjoyed dinners in the Copper Room. Before that i can remember coming for dinner and dancing in there. Since the dogs came , we’ve dined now at most of the restaurants in town that have a balcony where we can sit with a dog.  Mostly though at the Harrison Hotspring I order our meals at the Lakeside Cafe. I had their fish and chips last night. Delicious Madigan loved his burger paddy and Laura the Chicken wrap.  We topped it off with vanilla ice cream because Madigan likes a spoonful of that too.  Life revolves around the dog.  

Laura and I have now had two walk's along the lake.  It’s so beautiful. Such incredible views of lake and snow capped mountains. Blue sky and sunshine this afternoon. I was up at 8 30 and walked Madigan around the lake in a light rain  before ‘taking the waters’.  I’ve been in the adult pool twice and once in the indoor hot hot pool.  

Laura and I just returned from walking down the lake to where the hot springs are bubbling up and steaming. The water for the hotel and the public pool are taken from that point.

We’ve also come with the truck and camper and stayed at the Glencoe RV park and used the public hot spring pool .

I put a hold payment on a Thor Hurricane bus yesterday so next we will probably be bringing  that to Glencoe or another of the RV parks. There’s the provincial campground up the lake. I’ve camped along the lake and even hunted mostly grouse with my quad. There’s some wilderness hotspring up in the mountains I’ve climbed up  when. I was younger. 

Now I just love the Harrison Hot Springs resort  pool.  So meditative.  Such a gloriously beautiful place.

On the way back from my last luxurious experience I picked up cappuccino’s from the coffee shop. We get breakfast croissants there sometimes  but the cafe’s in the town make egg and bacon sandwich I bought us those this morning on my way back from the walk with Madigan. 

I love it here.  Laura loves it here.  Madigan loves it here too.  

Last night we watched a Gerald Butler movie before a peaceful sleep.  Now that we’re back from another walk time to get back down to the hot springs we can see from our window in the main building. 

God is good all of the time Thank you Jesus.   

Traveland RV Sales and Thor Hurricane 29 M Motorhome

I bought my second RV at Traveland. Years ago.  Now I’m back again.  My friends Peter .and Larry bought their Tiffin Allegra they love there.  “My Mom and Dad bought their motorhome there,” Peter told me.   

I’ve kept getting bigger and bigger outfits much like my dad and mom did .did  They progressed from pole tent to motorhome.  I’ve followed in their wake. 

I’ve had only good experience with Traveland and their service department when I bought my RV there.  

Nicolina and Ernest just bought a Thor Hurricane.  It looked so skookum from the outside. Then Nicolina seeing me drooling at I stared at their new RV, asked <“Would you like to look inside?  Would I.

It was perfect. 

The main issue for me was the size.  32 feet. My Fifth Wheel Toyhauler is 40 feet and I’ve felt overwhelmed from the day I bought it. I use a tow truck to move it about. I love it but I don’t want to be towing it. I’m horrid at backing up. I have an Adventurer Camper with F350 which I ‘ve been snowbirding with the last few years.  My Keystone Fuzion 371 stays in storage because I find it too long to haul and worry about smashing it up as I did once with an earlier RV 

Nicolina and Ernest’s Thor is just perfect.  I really believe I can drive a bus that big. It’s gas so I don’t need any extra licensing.  Not like diesel which requires air brakes training. 

Peter and Larry’s Tiffin is truly luxurious but another 4- 6 feet longer.  I don’t know what it is psychologically but I really worry about taking turns with that extra length. I’ve yet to test drive the Thor but it really does seem manageable.

I’m taking Laura to Harrison’s Hot Spring this weekend so asked if she’d mind stopping by and looking at the buses in Traveland.  I really wanted to buy from them again.  I did  well with Meridian buying the Fuzion but the whole process of financing wore me out. It was a half day of delays and by the time the papers were signed the joy of the sale had gone. I really did consider going back then though because they are a good company and had excellent service.  My memory of Traveland and Peter’s endorsement had me going there first. 

Laura said she’d love to come along.  

Traveland is a 10 minute easy to get to drive off the number one.  She immediately remembered it fondly from before. “You bought the RV here the year you took me to Italy.”  She said.  I’d had a medical conference in Milan, IDAA with Dr. Nady El Guebaly. A superb conference all round. Laura and I loved Milan and I’d taken an extra week so we could visit Rome.  I’d rented a Vespa there and Laura and I not only visited the Vatican but rode the Vespa around Rome visiting the other famous cathedral’s.  On return to Canada we so enjoyed the new RV. 

Kenny was the salesman the two beautiful receptionists at the front of Traveland  called out for us.  He was thoroughly delightful .  Asked all the right questions and took me directly to a Thor Hurricane, “That’s just come in and fits your budget and I think is what you’re looking for.’  It sure was.  Second hand 2022 but only 20,000 KM on it 

“Laura,” I asked, “What do you thiink of it?” 

“I love it.” She said, Big smile. 

I loved sitting in the driver’s seat. Panoramic view.  Back up camera display.  There was a couch with seats and a dinette table.  The kitchen, sinks, microwave, and fridge were all just fine with lots of counter space for my cooking. What was a real treat was an outdoor kitchen with little fridge and sink and propane for a barbecue. I ‘m always barbecuing.  There’s an outdoor tv but I ‘d rather be inside  on the couch, watching  the really big screen tv. Laura had a couple of places she could sit too. We like to watch shows together while having dinner.  Vera, Yellowstone, Reacher, Bosch.   Most importantly Laura liked the spacious washroom. She ‘s particular about washrooms wanting space and spending an hour in there every morning. I might get a portapotty for relief. . The attraction of bigger RV’’s like the luxurious Tiffin is that they have an extra toilet like my fifth wheel does.  I’ve occasionally used it but I think we can make a solo toilet work. We’ve done it in apartments and hotels and the camper. In the camper we’ve been more often in the wilderness,   I’ve just gone outside with Madigan if she was holds things up inside . Older I don’t seem to have the capacity to hold it like I did younger.

Kenny showed us the Tiffin and it really was luxurious but I just felt it was too great a challenge for me to drive. I liked the slightly shorter Thor and felt I could maneuver it more safely with garter confidence .

All the way to Harrison’s Hot Springs. I was talking to Laura about it. All the pros and cons. I’ve been thinking of a bus since I was in the south this last winter and wanting to have one for next winter’s snow bird month.  As well I’d like to be able to just pick up and go camping in the summer with Laura. With the fifth wheel there’s the whole hitch and hydraulics and slides . The Hurricane only has one slide. With the camper there’s the loading and unloading and the happy jacks. It’s an hour to pick it up in the truck and an hour to leave it at the storage each trip. With the bus, like my sailboat, I can be heading out in a half hour . Peter told me that’s how long it takes him and Larry to come and go. 

I phoned Anil Auluck, my accountant to run it by him. I’d already talked weeks back to my wise friend, George. He’d just bought himself a new Buick and when I saw him last at Burnaby men’s he’d said, “so did you buy it”.  I’d discussed deisel versus gas with him and Kenny and Peter. Peter’s Tiffin came with choice of gas or diesel, the diesel more expensive . “Ive never regretted getting gas.”  Peter said.  George thought the diesel lasts longer but said as Kenny said,   I wouldn’t be putting the hours on the engine in a motorhome that a truck or commercial vehicle .  Longevity doesn’t count when you’ re not putting on the miles. The Class A diesel pushers are clearly the best especially new as they hold their value but the fact for me is I’m older and am only planning to motorhome the next 10 years. .  I see myself continuing to work virtually for 5 to 10 years but after that I don’t know. My Dad lived to 94.  Mom and he enjoyed their motorhome until mid 80’s when his eyes and energy gave out.  So I think the gas is fine for me. 

Actually I liked everything about the Thor Hurricane just as Ernest and Nicolina did. . Kevin Oh at TD gave me really useful information about financing because I didn’t want to face unnecessary loss taking out RRSP”s or mutual funds and such. I have the money in the bank but there’s good and better ways to take it out without penalty or the rapacious government wanting more .   Both he and Anil and Kenny all ex;planned how I could do it wisely.  I put $2000 down and now will be talking on Monday with Kenny moving forward.  I will have a test drive next Friday.

Again I love Traveland.  I also like that I’m  blessed to know all these wonderful people I  trust and can rely on for good advice.  I tell them if they have a head wound or develop schizophrenia I’d be there for them too. .  

I thought about Thor god of the Vikings and the idea of Hurricane. I’d not only survived three days of hurricane solo sailing the pacific in winter I’d been truly exhilarated going through the eye of the storm and coming out the other side.  Hurricane is a positive memory for me though I have to admit it was some of the most terrifying days and nights of my life. It taught me ‘surrender’ as I could only trust in God and hold on.  I did that.  Here I am again trusting in God.  I’m glad Laura loves it too.

Madigan was being a real brat barking outrageously  when I wouldn’t let him come inside and jump all over the furniture.  He didn’t understand there would be time for that only after the sale was closed. I have no doubt he’ll love it .  He likes  where he gets to be with me and Laura.   

Now we’re at Harrison Hot Springs Rsort . I’ve been in the mineral springs and we’ve walked Madigan around the duck pond.  God is good all of the time.   Thy will be done. Thank you Jesus.! 

Lazy Day Friday, Metro Vespa, Madigan, Commercial Drive

Since arriving back from Southern California, Arizona and Mexico I feel I’ve had a whirlwind of work and errands.  It all began to slow down with Laura’s visit last week.  I so enjoyed the VSO with Fliter playing Chopin.  I was getting ahead of myself.  Thinking too far into the future.

I’d had to ace the Opthalmologist and learn that I’m not dead.  Good news.  I actually asked if I would be able to ride my motorcycle for another 10 years and he said yes.  My dad had macular degeneration and losing his ability to drive and read was devastating for him. Mom’s deafness was easier for her. She’d heard it all and increasingly preferred her memories.  She did miss tv and loved her grand children.  Becoming bedridden did her in.  We so love motion.  

I’m considering trading in my fifth wheel for a motor home and the investment in driving and sight is on my mind.  Another eye apt in a few weeks.  Discussion of surgery and scheduling.  It’s all quite overwhelming considering that I’m humbled by lack of spiritual awareness.  But Jesus might have walked on water and raised the dead and cured the blind he still didn’t chose to change his own mission.  Now I’m glad to ask for help.  Dr. Horvath recommended the Vancouver Eye Clinic when I told him my lovely opthalmologist had retired.  It actually turned out that the excellent kind accomplished Dr. Macintosh had died.  I believe in ‘thy will be done’ which 

I saw Dr. Rob Pintwala and despite being young he was excellent.  I felt truly blessed and grateful for great physicians.  

Still I have had a gambit of emotions terror, defeat, depression, hopelessness.  It’s natural when my normally excellent coping mechanism of denial and magical thinking fail.  It’s all possibly god’s making me blind like I was told I’d be as a kid for looking at naked women or porn or any thing sexual actually.  Since the first divorce I’ve been hell bent. That’s why we say religion is for those who don’t want to go to hell and spirituality is for those who’ve been and don’t want to go back.  I want to see a decade or more longer to drive a Motorhome and motorcycle .

I’ve having an issue with Vanity. My Vespa GT Supertech 300 is just perfect for all my needs.  It was light enough that I could carry it well south on the rack on the front of my Ford Truck.  It has all the power and get up and go to handle rides on the highway and scooting about the city.  I have the Harley in storage right now. It’s joy in the country and styling in the city.  It’s heavier and last year was harder to get on and off the carrier rack.  However last year I had great long distance rides in the desert while theirs year I only did 20 minutes rides on the Harley from Mexico to Yuma.  The rest of the time I was travelling about town mostly.  Now I’m using it for shopping and errands.  I’d like to have the Harley to ride up to Whistler and do the Duffly Lake circle.  Maybe later in the summer I’ll get it out. For now except for the vanity issue I’m really enjoying the Vespa. 

The brunch here at Havana was spectacular.  Madigan loved a burger chopped up and ate that while i delighted in the taste and texture sensation of the Chorizo Hash.  Now I’m have another cafe at lait. 

People watching remans great on David.  Now that I’m among the oldest here all the men and women are girls and boys to me so people watching has decades of entertainment.  I m invisible now too.  Everyone notices Madigan but I’m merely the accessory.

Great news that Maxine and Pierre healed the rift in the Conservatives increasing the potential for saner folk to evict the Liberals from leadership.  I look at the platform and it’s by far superior to what Carnie is offering but it’s a compromise.  I really am enjoying Trump and Doge and would love to see something similar here.  The Freedom folk got charged with ‘mischief’ which is a rather face saving thing for the courts and government considering the tyranny and evil of Trudeau and Liberals.  I really don’t like the Ottawa sharia communism shift and anti Christian anti Canada position. I know the Conservatives will be centre and not the extreme left wing and communist chinese apping that the Liberals WEF religions holds.  It’s’ awful seeing the direction of Britain.  Censorship and migrants coming from countries where the censorship is the worst.  

Oh well.  

It’s all above my pay grade and I’ll be very relived when the Liberals are out and Trudeau is gone. I’d be happiest if he was in jail.  

It’s a sunny day. The Cherry Trees are blossoming here. The daffodils too.  

It’s a great day to be alive .I’m alive. I have this fantastic liket dog companion. I’ve spent the week working with great staff at the clinics, have incredible patients getting better, moving forward, struggling to do their best, and I’ve had a great meal and have a home to return too.  Life is good. God is good.

Metro Vespa just called to say my Vespa is ready. Hooray.  I just need to finish this second coffee . I can use the toilet in the park across the street. I may ask here but having Madigan along makes the park toilet okay. 

I’ve been seeing the Tezla cars on the road and liking the look of them .  Well designed.  I wish Ron was alive. He loved Tezla and I’d like to see him driving one. Probably he has one in heaven.  I miss my mom and dad so maybe death is really just going home. One day the longing takes over.  

God is good all of the time.  Today is great. 

VSO at Orpheum, Chopin and Elgan

Another spectacular night at the elegant Orpheum listening to the truly amazing VSO.  Here we are so fortunate to have the world class musicians performing the greatest music of all time.  Not only that but we  have visiting guest talent of genius as well.

Alpesh Chauhan from Britain where he was awarded the OBE for his extraordinary accomplishments was captivating. .  I thoroughly enjoy Otto Tausk, the incredible Music Director of the VSO.  His conducting and originality encouraged me to attend more VSO concerts. I don’t think I’ve seen him ‘jump’ though while conducting but Alpesh Chauhan did jump while directing Elgan. Perhaps Elgans requires that.

Edward Elgan (1857 to 1934)  is the British composer from the height of the Empire, spanning the Victorian and Edwardian periods. I told Laura that I felt a desire to fix bayonet and charge the enemy while she’d better be prepared to lie back and think of England as we listened to this rousing symphony. I suspect the Starwars.theme and many other Hollywood classics have been inspired Elgan.

Argentinian solo pianist Ingrid Fliter however was more to my musical taste. I’ve never heard the piano sound so beautiful. After tonight’s performance I will forever love Chopin (1810-1849) the polish composer who loved Paris.  Fliter made his music come alive with her truly gifted piano performance weaving in and out of the accompanying sounds of VSO ,Alpesh Chauhan delicately conducting the two.  Fliter had such a standing ovation that she returned and played solo piece that touched my very heart and soul. 

What a night!. 

Laura and I felt blessed and thankful for another great evening with VSO.

March Spring Rains

Spring rains persist. Regular downpours and cloudy days. I am missing the sun and dessert but actually rather content to be home

The Merry Maids came today. They did a fabulous job despite Madigan supervising them with barks and growers. I took him to Macdonald’s for a burger. It allowed them into my garage office. I’d spent this weekend cleaning it up and surprisingly it just needed sorting rather than a storage locker run. I did get rid of another bag for the Diabetes foundation. Returning I was delighted by the order and cleanliness of the place.

I’ve been looking at Thor Class A motorhomes.  Ernest and Nicolina showed me there’s and I’m so impressed. It’s not as big at Peter and Larry’s Tiffany.  It about 32 feet I think, Thor Hurricane with one slide. That’s had me looking at motorhomess.  I’m seeing lots of second hand range I could afford and am sure I ‘need’ one this year.  This fifth wheel is really terrific but big and I don’t want to learn the driving skills to haul it. I’ve used tow trucks but the costs have increased.  Besides after a couple of months down south with my camper I’ve decided I’d like to be mobile. If I can’t haul this because back up into things with trailers I can get a bus and haul my mini.  I will have to find a way to put the Vespa on board though an electric bicycle will do fine.

I have an ophthalmology apt so will know if I’m likely to be driving for the next decade or so to justify getting another vehicle. I’m reminded how sad Dad was when his eyes tight went. I’m already going dreaf and am getting by in situations where I couldn’t before with the expensive hearing aids. I’m hoping this cyborg tendency will continue with the eyes and maybe better glasses will solve the problem Though it may be cataracts and more anxiety. I ‘m such a wooz when it comes to myself.  I muddle through with no choice but all I do is pray. Prayer is all I can do.

Madigan is being pretty good.  Growls at me with wagging tail.  Ripped up my new linen sheet when Laura came but really was a gentleman in church.  He was wearing his new rain coat but doesn’t like me putting it on.  

I can’t get over how much I’m liking my home again.  I’ve completely cleaned out the mouse dropping problem. It wasn’t as bad this year as when I’ve returned previous years. I got rid of any invitations and put out mouse replellants and traps though I caught none.

There’s an election in April. I’ve given money to the Federal Conservative Party, Pierre Poilevre and our local Burnaby PC candidate.  

I contacted the CMDA and asked to pay my annual dues. When they contacted me I was away so now I’ve money in the bank and time to address this. The only outstanding membership I think now is the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. My ISAM membership is on automatic pay. All the other memberships I believe are paid. I just seem to have been deluged since returning March 1.

It’s hard to believe how much I’ve done in 3 weeks.  A whole lot of patient calls, getting my home back, taking my camper in, and all the forms for Anil to do taxes and a weekend with Laura and Madigan getting groomed.  It’s been exhausting but now that it’s letting up I’m really pleased. This is the second Merry Maid visit and it’s just a joy to have the clean place and great smell of incense. I’ve also organized my clothing though I have more to take away.  I’ve been paid too so it’s been good to have the steady flow of work and money to maintain this all.

Also I’m really thankful for the upcoming election.  I’ve been so disheartened by Trudeau and then Carney was worse, elite communist globalist taxaholics.  I don’t like the Sharia innvsaion and the anti Christian anti Jewish attacks.  I’m concerned about aging. 

I really enjoyed Bruce Coburn.  This week, Friday, after the ophthalmologist , we have tickets to the VSO and Chopin. 

Thank you God for all your blessings. Thank you for the rain that so helps the plants and trees and flowers. Thanks you for cleaning ladies. Thanks you for Kevin who will fix the camper with the insurance folk.  Thank for Kelvin who keeps this unit function and will replace the toilet in the camper before I take it to Nappeanee after the first week of May. It’s only a month and some away.  Amazing. I’ve a tight schedule with the IDAA  Spokane conference in July and international AA convention here in July.

I enjoyed going to St. Barnabus Church with Madigan who was a perfect gentleman

I loved getting steaks and pork chops and sausages for Laura and me for her visit .  When she’s here next time I’ll have to order chinese or me and Ed’s’ pizza.  

I bought a bread maker and had to make three loaves before I got it right. The yeast was the issue.  All three tasted great but the third one rose and looked like a good loaf.

I’ve made a couple of pounds of roast Ethiopian beans in the roaster. I had a lot of green beans so great to get them roasted. I’ve really enjoyed the taste.  

I’ve written a couple of chapters on my Addiction book. Must continue.

I’ve walked Madigan three or four times a day. Away I was able to make 10,000 steps but back I’ve been doing 4000 steps. On the weekend we had a River walked.  Great blue heron sighting. One by the little river rapids and another standing on a blank overlooking the river. I ‘ve fasted a couple of days since return. I am overweight and must lose weight if only to ease the back pain.

I am reading King Authro series , Bernard Cornwell. Enemy of God. Last year I enjoyed his Stonehenge book. I completed the Oxford course , Archeology Prehistory, Ritual and Religion.  I actually got 10 CAT points thanks to Adell and Aim.  I was overwhelmed with court work in the course despite my trying to clear the scheduled . I plan to do another course next year on mysticism and spirituality.  I’ve no time this year but I love the learning. I’ve got the course load for the CME with IDAA and I want to do the Pacific psychopharmacology course that’s held in November. I’ve a CME Doctors of BC speciality meeting and with my mentoring I’m definitely sufficiently active despite my age. I’m doing elational work for George with the Wednesday group so not isolateing. 

I really am blessed and thankful. God is good all the time. Thank you Jesus.