Saint Andrew and Saint Charles Episcopal Church - Choral Christmas Eve - Granada Hills, LA

What a distinctive wonderful church.  Despite the shingle architecture when we were welcomed early, several men and women were rushing about with pails and mops to address the roofs leaks following the deluges of the last couple of days. The church was definitely an ark.  It reminded me that as a child my father had fixed our Trinity Baptist roof on his weekends , volunteering his service as much for mom as for the community.   I regret how smart and clever I felt lecturing at the university onlyolder realizing the poetry of parents humble Christian service and love.

I felt good at Saint Andrew and Saint Charles Church, that sense I get when I am on hallowed ground.. This church was a marriage Episcopalian St. Andrew’s and  Methodist St. Charles Church sacramentally born in the mid 1950’s and flourishing today, as a spiritual centre.  Laura, my Catholic grandmother partner felt at home too.  Everyone was friendly.

The music was ethereal. The choir and musicians would be called ‘professional’ in other circles .The quality of sound as worthy of the grace bestowed.  No politics. No distractions.  Christmas Eve, the birth,and meaning of God born man and reborn again and again.  Songs I learned as a child “Come all ye Faithful’  ‘Born In a manger’. “Little Town of Bethlehem ‘Silent night’.  Candles and prayers together.  The Nicene creed recited .  Families joined and gathered and shared the peace.  We loved seeing these well groomed children and young adults all participating with their parents in sacred ancient rites.  Laura and I felt special as guests joining this ‘home’ and participating in the sacramental meal.  The Sermon was deeply moving and hopeful. The presence of Christ Jesus reborn this day and always.  God within. Do not be afraid.  We are no alone. 

At the end we walked out into the darkness feeling some of the light and warmth of St. Andrew and St Charles Episcopal Church came with us.

Thank you for making Christmas Eve 2025 moving and memorable for us.  

We drove back to the Hollywood RV Park where we are staying in the motorhome I drove down from Canada leaving our community Burnaby church St. Barnabus Episcopal there and so glad to have found a welcoming community here.  

Hollywood RV Park - Christmas Eve Day 2025

We awoke to heavy deluge and winds.  I’ve uprighted my Starlink and it’s working fine.  There’s a leak in the connection between the kitchen sink out outlet to the grey water tank. Flooding was warned on the news.

Laura is connected to the weather. My nephew is connected to the stars. My other nephews are connected to the baby and toddlers.

I continue to seek deeper connection with the Creator.

Today we might call the Creator, the primary programmer. Grace, the writer, who works at the front office told me ‘the law of attraction says that we attract what we are afraid of.  I’m really afraid of being a billionaire.”

I dreamed another recurring dream of shame , the incontinence and need to clean poo off my hands. Ironically I was just climbing the stairs as one who was allowed into the highest eschallon of academia. And there I was having to wipe poop off my hands.  I’m linked to the physical as I try to dove higher and seek the land for the ark. I’m carrying a leaf in my beak.

Madigan has peed on the mirror again. He piddles and marks territory at night while we sleep. It may be brought on by anxiety. He was barking and I ignored it. He takes too much delight in my responding to his alarms.

Yesterday I worked all day. A long day .  Starting at 9 am and ending at 7 pm. I worked through lunch too but caught up for my time off. The pressing concerns of patients were addressed. The pressure on Mary Lou alleviated. I have three more to see today The Starlink was knocked over in the wind and rain . I was concerned it might interfere with my work but I righted the tripod , took out one of the extensions and I’m still connected.

We found a service 15 minute away, choral Eucharist at the St. Andrew’s and Charles Episcopalian.  

Laura is up.  Hugs and kisses.  Madigan excited that something will happen.  I’ve made her coffee. I’m boiling eggs. He’s napping on the couch.  Severe weather warning.  Flooding roads. Advisory not to drive if not necessary.  I feel the unrest. I believe it’s the sailor in me. I wasn’t at all concerned about weather younger.  Also there’s the general fear and doom and gloom of media which I consume.  

And here’s its Christmas Even. I watched the Chosen and God coming into life as a baby.  Families are central to existence here. Everywhere I go I see men and women dedicated to little ones. I’m caring for my dog and for Laura who has given her life to children and also worked in health care administration.  

I don’t know what my dream means.  I climb to the highest pinnacle of success and I still shit. We watched F1 - formula 1 with Brad Pitt last night. Incredible racing car movie. I loved it. Ironically I feel like I’m flying in my vehicles. The first time was driving my Mustang at high speed. Then the Harley. Now I’m jockeying for position and totally alert in my motorhome.  This Thor is the challenge. I loved that the movie celebrated driving. There was Brad Pitt, Sonny Hayes, racing in any race or car - the Daytona, the Formula one , the Dune Buggy.  I’m enjoying the challenge of driving the motorhome but before it was cars, trucks and motorcycles and sailboats. 

I used to like long distance night driving but with my vision today I delight in the day.  

Just walked Madigan in a lull in the wind and rain. He met Abby , another little dog with her name on her jacket.  He didn’t poop but he peed and we both got a little fresh air. Some limbs from trees were knocked down  and the staff were going about in carts picking them up.  

It’s Christmas Eve day.  Laura says that the forecast is sunny and hot for the weekend.  It’s cozy here.  

Thank you Jesus. Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit.  

Hollywood RV Park - Adventure South - Laura arriving

It’s another good day in paradise.  Sunshine and warmth.  Pressed the snooze bar.  Slept in a half hour.  Laura just texted she’s boarding.  Madigan is content. He’ll be ecstatic when she sees him.

I’ve cleaned . Changed the sheets and towels.  Whiskered the floors. Stocked the fridge.  I have to walk him or take him with me. Google says he should be in a carrier. I have his therapy vest so could have him along. But he could stay and watch the home. It’s not long. He’ll be guarding Thor a few times this week.  He’s okay. I’ll walk him and leave him. One less variable to consider with traffic.  He’s not happy in the rental car because he can’t lie against me like he does in the my car and truck.

She arrives 1145 and I’m leaving here at 10 am . It’s 830 now.  It’s been a bit like NASA to me.  Getting to LA and set up to have her visit. Coming down I’d worried about damage or breakdowns and the delay interfering with my being and doing what I am today. Logistics. I’m here to accept her.  NASA we have contact!!!!  Once she’s here it’s easy street.  She’s happy with the dog, being fed and driven about. She says she has a new book. I’ll get the lawn chair out later.  I’m really looking forward to seeing her.

Last night enjoyed watching Christmas with the Chosen.  Thought about the courage and mystery of childbirth.  Remembered the hundreds deliveries I participated in. I was all all concerned about my part but knew enough from theatre training that I wasn’t the lead.  Funny how so many people upstage or try to.  In my mind though I was the assistant.  As the second son I was raised as the assistant.  In surgery I was glad to assistant.  In my private practice I’m happy to be the leader and in some areas of my speciality I really don’t know who would know more or do better than me. But in general I’m enjoying the young folk coming along reminding me of when I was the young shot , not the old elephant. 

I love the mother in the Chosen and the baby being born in the manger. Joseph and the shepherds were highlighted. It was a touching tale.

The Christian God is the God of Humility.  Not the warrior hierachal god of Superman.  Just a baby come into this life as a holy spy.  God came to earth and we crucified him. My vision in Jerusalem on the Via Doloroso was the sign saying ‘Don’t go there, they kill God.”

Now we have a whole religion that believes in killing anyone who disagrees with them.  Live and let live hasn’t made it far in the world.  Give peace a chance.  We hear all these messages but the cannibals see meat.  

I am a barbarian and enjoying reading the story of the PICTs and Scots and Roman’s at Hadrian’s wall. Civilization and invaders.  

Christmas , the birth of Christ.  There are lights up.  I liked last year being with Laura’s family.  I loved being with Adell and the kids in Napanee.  I enjoy seeing all the family pictures.  Come together, Right Now.  

I’ve had a shower. I expect it’s time to walk Madigan then I’ll dress and start out. Better to arrive early.  I’m getting excited. Just hugging Laura is a blessing. I read that Kirk has gone to Vernon. I’m glad he’ll have his family Christmas.  I like that all over people are coming together.  

Jesus taught,Love god and love your neighbour as yourself.  He said so many times ‘do not be afraid.’ Too.  Thank you Jesus.. 

Jesus means the God Saves.  I think of the goalie in hockey when I hear the word ‘saves’.  Yahweh , Ysshua Saves. 

Christ is the anointed one . He is anointed and chosen by god and the Holy Spirit. The trinity is the three person God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Christmas we celebrate the coming of God into the world.  It’s always Now and now again we celebrate rebirth and rejuvenation.  At the lowest point in the year we celebrated Christ.  Always at this time long before Jesus was born we as humans celebrated the sun’s journey.  Winter ends and spring begins.  Life.  I’m so glad Laura is joining Madigan and I so we can be together this season and she can get a good dose of sunshine before returning north. I’ve down for another month or two planning on visit Fountain of Youth , Bombay Beach, and Yuma and Algadones.  Then I’ll head back north to see her again. I got lonely last year and was so glad to return to her and friends and Vancouver and the world I have there, known and cherished.  

Thank you God for this day. Hallelujah!

LA Sunday -conversation with God

I didn’t go to church this morning.  It looked like a lovely friendly community church. I had sought dog friendly churches. Presbyterian. There was St.  Mark’s.  Perfect, except.  Except what.  I was all set to go last night. I had the same experience with my home church before I left on this trip.  The mention of the priest’s husband in the review caught my eye. I thought LGBT.  I had a knee jerk reaction.  Like because I didn’t wish to go to a Chinese restaurant rather than an Italian restaurant I was somehow at fault.  I guess it’s Christmas season and I’ve been reminiscing about my family , the father and mother and brother and aunts and grandparents and Christmas.  There was no ‘woke’.  There was no LGBT.  I wasn’t even sexual.  I’ve missed the innocence of prebuscent.

In church we talked of Jesus.  Castrated maybe.  He probably was cavorting with Mary Magdalene or Peter or whatever. I always thought they were celibate monks.  When I trained spiritually I was celibate a month. The idea was to focus on the divine not he mundane. I fasted too.  I was stoic.  Later I’d indulge in hedonism. I’ve not eschewed pleasure. I’d done my time in better living through chemistry.

I don’t want to be distracted. The gay church is sexual.  The LGBT community of which I’m a part identifies with eroticism.  The body as temple. I miss the Christian family church.  Not because of heterosexuality but because I was part of this blood group and part of this community. And yes we were white and we were tribal and the LGBT folk were present but they weren’t family. The home of my child revolved around raising children , around mom and dad and us kids serving here. It was Rockwellian.  I didn’t think of it as superior. I didn’t think of it much but rather lived it, family and  community.

I wasn’t predjudiced or racist or any of those names uncreative people call people today. That was my home. That was my community.  There were blacks and Jews and even Catholics but they were a minority. I was WASP. The focus of the community was Christian and White and bit British Empire and Métis.  Canadian. There were Poles and Swedes and Ukrainians. It was a multi ethnic neighborhood.   I was Irish and Scottish.  We were all Canadian first though.  Jesus was Jewish and we didn’t hate the Jews.  We didn’t think the Jews killed Jesus.  We read scripture and the story of the Bible was Everyman.

God was all of us.  Jesus was the child within and the journey and the salvation. I was a child of God and I was on the path of righteousness trying to be the best person I could be. I went on to work as a doctor and servant of my people. I saw the washing of the feet of the disciples at crucial.  I studied the Bible in Sunday school and later at university and in theology school. I study comparative religions and philosophy and psychology and eventually psychiatry and addiction medicine. I liked delivering babies and suturing wounds. I like healing. I liked teaching. I felt all I did was Christian. 

A beautiful young woman walked by in pirates white long sleeved cream blouse and wide maroon gaucho pants with black ballet slippers.  When I was younger I’d be distracted by her more than a sentence of writing.

Younger I was always distracted by women. Now I am thankful I don’t have that drive to reproduce or a desire for intimacy with strangers. I’m happy with the conventions, the nods and smiles and waves. That’s enough. With other dog folk we let our dogs greet and meet but we have no desire to sniff each others butts and genitals.  We’re a proper people.

I’m here thinking about God and my relationship. There’s a sense of the holy. A feeling of being in the ‘flow’.  There’s transcendence. There’s spiritual experiences.  I live for those. I call it playing peek a boo with Jesus. Right now I’m waiting for my second coffee.  I loved walking the dog and picking up his poop and depositing it in the waste. I liked the air and the exotic. I’m in a different city and place with my Thor Hurricane Motorhome as base.  I’ve rented a car and driven about the hectic streets.  It’s a busy intense active place.  I miss the wilderness. I’ll be in the desert next month.  Now I’m with people and God acts through people. God is all and God is Good.  My God is a loving God.  Thank you God.  

Laura is coming tomorrow and I’ll pick her up at LAX at 1145 am at the arrival terminal.   She is my friend.  We’ve been intimate on occasion. Ours was a relationship of friendship and respect and caring . I like that I care for her and we care for Madigan together. She has a large family with three children and 5 grandchildren or maybe 7 and her sister and brother in law and their extended family. I have family out east and visited them last year. I’ve hoped to visit my father’s family in the north. I remember Dad and Mom when he retired liked to visit old neighbours and family and friends.

My friend once asked his 96 year old mother what kept her going. “Watching the family,” she said. I’m always curious to know what happens next.”  Life as a captivating soap opera.  Laura is like that. She’s entertained by the stories of her children. We all enjoy the pictures and videos of the youngest. I’m fascinated by my great nieces and nephews. The nephews sliding down a hill took me back to their grandfather , my brother and I sliding down hills on toboggans and sleds.  Chopping trees with dad and mom. The rituals of the season.  Parkas and snowshoes.  Ice Fishing. I don’t think we caught any at all but dad built the hut and we sat around a hole with a heat and waited.  Dad meditated but it was a wild hunters Canadian way of meditation. No incense sticks except maybe pine bows wood smoke.  I like seeing social media clips of the god children helping their parents prepare wild meat for dinner.  Great venison and bear stews. 

Thank you God for this day.  Madigan is watching the door. He’s like an old European grandmother keeping a look out on the neighborhood. He’s keen to see another dog first. On the lane one over there’s a dog sitting in the window of their motorhome , watching.  I have no idea what they communicate in their barks of territory and greeting and alarm.  It’s all community though. We grew up with dogs and dogs were apart of our neighbourhood and football games and bike rides and walks by the river.  

I’ve made another cup of coffee. The Ethiopian Yergicheffe beans I’ve just roasted  will be added to the communal coffee can making the mix more holy.  Laura will have the best of coffee when she arrives.  I’ve already bought steaks from the the Carne butcher.  Mexican love their beef.  Rancheros. I loved living in Mexico and look forward to visiting in the new year. 

Philomena Cunk the comedian describedour relationship with God the almighty as ‘collective groveling’.  I know that. Phillips book, Your god is too small resonates. I’m often praying to God like a 911 telephone I carry in my pocket.  I fear punishment. I know God is love but I’m on guard.  Life has been a series of trials and challenges.  I liked learning that God made the Garden of Eden such that he needed Adam to be there for pruning, watering and such. I’m necessary.  I’m doing my part.   Intellectually I perceive spiritual laws and find that when I’m doing good good happens.  Moderation is good.  Love and kindness are good.  Jesus said the key was to ‘love God and love your neighbour as yourself.’   I’m doing that but the ‘devil is in the details’.  We talk of addiction and compulsion and care and self care.  

After the coffee and a cookie I’ll make a run to Home Depot to get new sewage hose.  Then I’ll drive to pick up laundry.  That’s as far ahead as I’ve gone with planning today.   

Thank  you Jesus. Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit

 

Hollywood RV Park, LA - Dec. 19, 2025. 820 am

I’m enjoying the morning sunshine.  I’ve prayed and meditated.  I’m ambivalent about going to church this morning.  There’s a service at St. Mark’s Episcopalean at 10 am that welcomes dogs.  Yet my desire seems to be to lie on the couch some more.  My backs hurts is the best excuse.  I have been busy since I arrived and the days coming down. A day of rest would be desirable.  I’ll be going to church for Christmas.  I’m not sure about community.  I like the Hollywood RV Park.  A real mix of people with some obvious eccentrics.  I could see a movie being made here .  Trailer Park Geezers, maybe.  The dogs are a hoot.  I’m looking forward to the Fortune of youth hotsprings and the little dog park.

Laura is coming tomorrow. We’re excited.  I pick her up at LAX at 1145.  I leave here at 10 as it says it’s an hour or so drive. 

Today I have two errands, to pick up my laundry and to go to Home Depot to pick up a new sewer hose. I changed the sheets and pillow cases and put out fresh towels for Laura. I’ve filled the freezer and fridge and put out the barbecue on the table. 

Our plan is the Griffith, LACounty Artmuseum, the GETTY, and Stanta Monica Pier ,Rodeo Drive and Hollywood central.  We’ve three weeks so that’s sufficient.  I’ll see what else Laura wants to do.  There’s the little dog walk here that’s part of our daily adventure. So far he’s pooped regularly, yesterday morning and evening.  There’s lots of great smells for him.  He didn’’t like the drive to Sim Valley and I wasn’t pleased when their RV parts store wasn’t open.  HE was panting I think because he was anxious and I wouldn’t let him sit on my lap. The same occurs in the Motorhome. In the camper and truck he could lead against and that must have stilled his anxiety. The touch.  Now he pants. I pet him and he settles but I have to keep him always from my ‘cockpit’ since I’m concerned about our safety. He’ll be pleased to have Laura visit.  She spoils him and he’s comforted when we are together. I am too.  Older I’m feeling more lonely and vulnerable. I resisted sliding down that slippery slope.  I liked Clint Eastwood on aging saying “I refuse to let the old man in”.

Madigan is up on the table again.  He got up to see a neighbour going to their car and leaving. Then he stayed. He likes to be close.  

I am grateful for him.  He’s good company.  I like that he gets me out walking each day.  I’ve been talking to him more.  He seems like a little kid but he’s a middle age dog and that comes out with his grumbling. I do like his enthusiasm.,

A couple of the young girls have walked by in white t shirts and shorts .  One got in her Fiat and drove away. That woke up Madigan.  I think she’s in the Class C motorhome beside me.  The other girl walked by looking like she was trying to find a better signal for her cell phone. Earlier a kind of older hippy like woman with long hair and flowing multihued clothes walked by.  The Ladies is a cross from me.  That’s a draw.  The men that have walked by have been older were characteristic slants from former back or limb injuries.  We are not ‘spry’.  I middle aged robust bearded man walked by.  I don’t even have all my curtains up and it’s a lot to see.  I like the wakening.

I had a shower.  May have another cup of coffee. I put liniment on my back and am using it as an excuse to consider the couch. I’m also thinking the vibrator pillow could improve on that idea.  I have loved lying on couches reading since I was a child. My father’s favourite place to.  Watching tv.  Then mom got them the reclining chairs and they both took up station in the evening watching tv with tv trays. My brother other I would then get the couch , both of us or one of us would sit on the carpeted floor with a pillow watching NHL.  We watched hockey as a family.  Mom made pop corn. It was a winter tradition

Madigan is very interested in the Fiat that has returned . The girl is wearing a white hat and bulk grey sweater with Nike black shorts and running shoes. Madigan jumped up on the table to watch her walk from the car to the Class C.  I am a Class A motorhome. When Iwas buying mine I learned that Class A referred to the big window versus the regular truck window on the Class C. I do love my Class A windscreen which makes driving feel like I’m in a movie theater.  I just Madigan’s picture when he looked back at me.

I don’t know what the state of the world is yet. I’ve not ‘checked’ social media. The prescribed media is ICE, Climate Change, Governemnt Corruptin in Canada and the US, Anti semitism, bombing Syria ISIS, bombing Venezuelan drug boats, taking over Venezuealan assets, continued Quebec partisan milk demands yet again, the 51st state and Alberta independence, lost of free speech and Muslim war on British ‘values’.  Carnie saying Canadian values are Muslim values.  It’s all so bizarre and predictable with daily absurdities.  I like looking at Sidney Sweeney.  She’s a piece of apple pie adn ice cream.  

It’s a down day.  I could be organizing to make progress on my book but frankly I like the down day.  There’s still time to get to church but another coffee/or walking Madigan for his morning poop are more appealing.  

Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you God.

Hollywood RV Park, LA - Adventure South - Thor Hurricane - Friday Dec.19, 2025

I am so pleased to be here. The folk are so welcoming.  Grace is a beautiful writer, full lipped, bright eyes. voluptuous. Madigan fell in love with her immediately and rubbed up against her.  The kind of gal who soothes the animal soul.  She introduced me to Steve the grounds manager.  He found me a place, 87 which has some open sky for my Starlink. We talked Harleys and long hair days.  I told him I was a doctor, family physician, psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist.  I don’t have boundaries. I’m thankful I didn’t drive off a cliff or be taken out by a semi  I’m glad to be alive. It takes me a bit to come back from alone with the road and traffic to human connection. 

I left the tranquility of Orange Grove RV Bakersfield.  The hills before LA cause me anxiety.  I came here years back to do my FLEX exams.  I’d graduated paychiatry but to get the American license had to do my general medicine preparation.  Fortunately I’d practiced family medicine and public health but was anxious about the basic premed sciences  biochemistry and kidney.  I passed those exams.  

Next time coming back was Disneyland with a friends child. Fun times. I loved the holograms. Then I was back again passing through to San Diego in the mini.  I drove through with the mini at night before I knew I had cataracts and the glare was unsettling. Then I drove through in the day and it was as easy as today. Last time was the truck and camper while this time was the  first go with the new to me 2022 Thor Hurricane Motorhome

The road was so broken up it was like the corduroy logging roads but it settled out. I got in behind a big truck in the serenity lane.  I was then in the LA traffic and my passenger mirror had come loose.  I’d had to pull across 4 lanes to get to where I could stop and tighten the screw.  Then I was here.

 The place is incredible camp. Reminds me of the fellow I knew who did his condo in western Pee Wee with all the kitch accouterments.  Here they have the signs like Rodo Drive, Sunset Blvd, Route 66, pink flamingos, and antique police cars,  mannequins talking in red British phone booths. It’s incredible.  Creative. Alive. Hollywood.

She told me she wrote for movies. It had brought her from Florida.  She saw the name of my motor home was Hurricane. She’d seen a lot of those, she said. I’d told her I ‘d  solo sailing through one in winter in the pacific.  I felt blessed to have survived   so saw Hurricane as  name, positively   

She’s going to phone me an Enterprise.  They’ll come and pick me up. Just around the corner. 5 minutes. Car rental. Love it. 

Steve’s assistant , a good looking famous cop look alike from the 80’’s  guy helped me set up . They have their own sewage hoses.  I just had to pull out my water hose and 30 watt electrical connector.  He directed me into this spot.  Steve told me my neighbour was a friendly guy who ‘d done sound in the movie industry 35 years.  the woman behind me was a psychiatrist working in addiction too.  A friendly interesting place.  Reminiscent of the character in a W. Sommerset Maugham tale. 

It’s all so exciting. I’m down for a few weeks now. .  Rather than a loving God I often think I have of God as Coyote, like Cato in the Pink Panther series.  Inspector Custeau, Peter Sellers, wanted to be prepared at all times so had his assistant attack him when he least expected it.  With all the crashes in my life I’m praying daily for protection and safe passage.  And I’m here. Safe and sound. It’s always a pleasant surprise to me even if it’s more and more the normal .I’m very thankful .  LA traffic is exesssive. I’ll be glad to driving  a small car rather than this behemoth. 

I texted Laura  of my arrival. I sent a picture of the site and Thor and Madigan. She’s with her sister over the weekend then flies in to LA  830 am Monday.  I’m going to enjoy the company.  . 

I love the air conditioning here though the heat outside is perfect.  T shirt and shorts weather.  

Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus!!@!

Thor Hurricane - Adventure South - Bakersfield - Orange Grove - 1 1/2 hour to LA - Dec. 18, 2025

I’m here another day.  Waiting for the Furnace to be repaired. Miquel came by and after much examination decided the motor and blower needed to be replaced. He called someone and they could get a rush order in for hopefully noon.  

The event of the day was taking Madigan to the dog park where he peed on everything and sniffed every butt and had his butt sniffed in return.  

Today he’s had a walk but hasn’t pooped yet but the plan is another stop at the dog park today

I had pleasant night with sweet dreams after waking once to pee at 1 am. I’d gone to bed at 10 after watching a season of Acolyte, from the Star Wars series They had witches with the ‘thread’ connecting everyone and a person could pull the thread and influence destiny . There was the Force and ‘light side’ , the realm of the Jedi and the ‘dark side’ , the realm of the 

It’s warm. I’ll watch some more. I think the problem is the move from the dark side being more light and the light side being more dark.  Disney apologetics. Woke etc.  I’ve loved all Sci Fi in the past if well made and this does challenge preconceptions.  No Princess Leah.  Good guys getting killed and bad guys living on like crotch itch.  A bit Shakespearean that with the evil little voice in the ear of the king underming the queen.  The Horror.

Dec. 18 

I’m packed up. The Furnace was completed and worked well last night. I’ve been enjoying sandwiches so will have to get more bread today. I’ve had some shopping but the task right now is to disconnect and bring in slide and level out for travel.

It’s been a great stop given Miquel of Arias RV Service fixed the furnace and I’m good to go. I’m looking forward now to Hollywood RV . It’s an hour and half by time but it’s rush hour traffic so we’ll see.

I learned that Mr. Hilton from VMC had died at 55.  He taught English and Drama and had me as a star in the Gr. 10 medieval play. The male and female leads were gender switched. I played a female and Vicki who wrote her appreciation of our teacher played a male.  She’d gone on in acting and teaching . I put a bunch of the degrees after my name to indicate ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.  I could see putting in the degrees would be fuel for the haters who’d say it was self servicing but I think Mr. Hilton would love the irony and appreciate the scholarly course.  

I did have great mentors though years later wondering if he was queer for choosing a gender fluid comedy for adolescents .  It was way ahead of its time. I never concerned myself back then or in theater or later dance. Certainly I appreciated reading of his life and love and caring for her kids.  I’m not sure if they had any of their own.  Maybe a daughter.  I liked they had a little cabin at the lake they fixed up. Certainly a life I could have had but for this Gypsy existenace and the call to serve.  I’m still trying to understand God and God’s will for me.  Right now I hope it’s to get to LA safely

Road Trip.  

Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you God.

Thor Hurricane - Adventure South - Bakersfield - Orange Groves - Wed. Dec. 17, 2025

I arrived last night at 7 pm having left in the morning at 8 am. It was approximated 600 km or roughly 400 miles.   Larry and Peter break this stretch of the journey up with another night stop half way but I decided to go straight through . A bit of mistake since I try to avoid night driving and getting lost in the dark, both of which I eventually did. 

The trip out though was very pleasant. Long stretches of highway I broke up twice with sausage egg McMuffin at Macdonald’s.  So nice to have breakfast sitting at my table.  Normally I’d drive eating but am keeping both hands on the wheel as best I can.  I also stopped at MacDonalds around 2 pm for a quarter pounder with cheese and fries. In the morning he enjoyed the side of bacon and in the afternoon his normal burger patter.  He’s still quite anxious about the whole motorhome experience but settingling in beside me on the floor.

I’ve continued to listen to Dan Brown’s Secret of Secret and the intriguing notion of non local consciousness.  Considering I’ve long held to the idea of an energy grid it’s rather enjoyable to hear the spiritual versus the material source explanation. We often share either you’re a spiritual being having a material experience or a material being in a spiritual experience.  Of course at the quantum level it’s particle and energy.  Audio books do help the drive. I remember when for years I listened to medical podcasts rather than music or news. I certainly kept up with the advances that way, in Neurology, Psychiatry and Family Medicine.

At about 4 pm I stopped in search of an RV park advertised on the road signs but I didn’t find it in the town. I decided to carry on with the map which was set for here but I thought the disstance was only a half hour or so.  It turned out be be another 2 hours with a couple of hours of driving in darkness. The two lane highway was most difficult with the oncoming lights and glare. Then I was back on the freeway and only having difficulty not missing the turns.  I had to stop and back up a half car length at one point to make a turn onto the freeway I just about missed.  Overall everyone was accomodating.  The drivers were courteous.  I think they were but a lady had responded when I said that, you’re big enough to make them that way.  Perhaps

The best part was arriving here and the Office having envelopes with available sites left out.for those without reservations.  I had resisted worrying that there would be no spaces but it turned out to be a needless concern. It’s mid week and there’s lots of spaces.  The big season for snowbirds is Jan to April. With the Canadian dollar so weak I expect many tourists are staying home.  Everyone is friendly but with the dollar on 60 cents compared to the American even the lower costs of gas here is challenging. I bought groceries when I stopped for the burger and found the cost of food comparable with Canads but the money half the value.  Because I’m continuing to work the cost is offset but I don’t think I’d be able to do this on retirement income. I’m blessed really

I turned off Dan Brown when the night came on. I pray as I’m driving.  Mostly ‘all shall be well’ to ward off panic and despair.  I’m not alone and thankful for the company.  

Peter had told me it was in an Orange Grove and true enough I set up beside an orange tree.  I put out the slide and settled in. It’s warmer but I’m still dependent on the electric heaters and electric blankets.. The last two nights Ive been able to enjoy my home with sweater and socks watching episodes of the original NCIS I’d missed in the past.  

This morning I can see that the RV Park is in an agricultural area with orange trees as far as the eye can see besides us.  I had a delicious organge last night taken from the ground beside the tree I’ve parked beside.  It’s lovely this morning. Madigan already pooped on his walk.

I’m going to walk over to the office and sign in an perhaps stay another night or even two. I’m here early on Wednesday, 100 miles from LA and booked in at Hollywood RV Park for Friday. Today I’m hoping to get a mobile RV repair guy to come out and fix my furnace finally,

I will definitely stay another night to have a break from driving and enjoy this lovely sight.  Now Madigan can enjoy a longer walk to where we first came in.  I just boiled eggs for breakfast too. Toast and hard boiled eggs.  Another coffee would be good but first checking in so I can phone a repairman.

Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus. 

Thor Hurricane - Rolling Hills Casino and Resort - Corning, California - Dec. 15, 25. 6 pm

I am so glad to be here.  Ginger in the office was so welcoming. I was a little stressed out driving the last half hour in the dark and gettin lost in the Resort grounds. It’s really big and I took the turn into the Casino parking lot where I stopped and found a map which told me I’d had to go further for the RV Park.  I had to take a quick sharp turn and ran over the curb with my back wheel. No damage but unsettleing for me. I pulled into the Truckers stoop at the Visitor scentre and walking Madigan looked where another RV went. I was a lane away.

Now I’m here. I’ve got water and electricity. The furnace is still not working but it was sweater weather this safternoon and now I’m Cozy with electricity and electric heater. At night I’ve had great sleeps with ceiling vent wide open and the electric blanket.

Today’s excitement was driving over Grant’s Pass.  Kirk emailed me to tell me how they’d run out of propane coming through and gliding down.  I was rather ecstatic to get through remembering how difficult it had been with a gutless old VW Bug that did 80 tops on flat and was going at 40 to get over the summit.  I’d had so many speeding tickets with my Mustang that I wrote a letter arguing that I should be able to keep my license because I’d sold the Mustang and had a VW Bug that couldn’t go fast than 80.  Very challenging time.  When it rained I’d to take the spark plugs out of the bug and dry them off first to get the car started.

This was exciting.  Lots of traffic and rain and fog. But no ice and now snow. I was happy to be over and vaguely remembered I wasn’t out of the difficulties until Medford. Sure enough Siskiyou Pass followed Grants Pass and was even higher. Then it was down hill and has continued to be easy going. Less serpentine mountain turns.  The Thor Hurricane did really well though I had to restrain the beast on the downhill. Mostly I followed professional drivers and kept under 100 km.  

In the afternoon I stopped at a Macdonald’s that was beside a shopping centre. I was able to shop for grocers and then come back and get burgers for Madigan and I.  I love MacDonalds travelling. Told the girl how much I enjoyed sitting outside the MacDonalds in Moscow’s Red Square looking at the Kremlin.  Madigan love her 1/4 pounder paddy and at a bunch of chips because they were salty. I liked my quarter pounder with cheese and made it back to the freeway.

A good day listening to Dan Brown’s Secret of Secrets audio book. Great mystery thriller set in Prague with lots of history and description of art and architecture.  

I’m here at Rolling Hills Casino and just a bit tempted to check out the casino. Maybe on the way back. I love the restaurants in the Casino but tonight I’m tired and looking forward to a shower and watching tv in the warmth after I have a meal. Madigan has already eaten a Tiki . He lay down a bit today so I think he’s becoming less anxious and enjoys the breaks. I think it’s a pscychological straining on him as it is for me.  The two of us on a steep learning curve.  I’m getting to like the Thor more each day.  

It’s incredible that I’m already in California again.. 

Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus.!!!!

Thor Hurricane - Adventure South - Myrtle Creek Oregon - 0820 Monday Dec.15, 2025

It’s a pretty morning.  There’s been some rain.  The weather reports 48 degrees. Grants Pass is an hour or two ahead and the weather report is 44 degrees going up to 54 degree.  Showers .  The good news is no snow and the wind is on 3 mph.  It should be ‘smooth sailing’.  Once I’m over the hump then it’s down hill to LA.  

Using electric heaters the temperatures was 69 degrees inside and 66 this morning. The electric blanket continues to be the Godsend. I was listening to Dan Brown Secret of Secrts driving yesterday and will again today. Last night I was reading Tomohawl Coffin by Johnstone and watched an episode of NCIS I’d not seen. I’d microwaved a can of Stag Chill and had toast with it followed by coke and a chocolate bar. Madigan enjoyed getting a slab bit of butter on a quarter price of toast

I’ve walked Madigan and he pooped. We took a trail to the trails under the bridge. What a grand old structure built to last. Now we’re back. I’ve finished the instant porridge, Read some Johnstone.  Put the thermos of coffee by the seat and really ought to roll. I’ve Canyonville entered into the map and am ready to go except for detaching hoses and bringing in Starlink.

Laura has wished us well for the trip today.  

I’ve prayed.  Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus

Thor Hurricane - Adventure South - Myrtle Creek - 5 pm

I am so thankful to Peter and Larry.  There are a lot of RV parks but they had found these easy pull through sites near the I5 that were about 4 hours drive apart. I learned today that Peter said he and Larry packed lunches for the day. It took me 7 hours to do what they do in their Tiffin in 4 to 5 .The rough rule is 4 hours driving a day.  I think they go faster in their Tiffin too with all the confidence of experience.  I’ve stopped at most of the rest spots and given Madigan a walk.  I’ve also had to calm down. I’m learning. I worry I’m giving out their places and plans like a person sharing their fishing sites with you. I’ve truly thankful for their generosity. Peter is always providing thoughtful ideas and these sights with easy drive through and friendly hosts is a God send.  Thank you Peter. 

Today the excitement was mountain roads and curves. Till now I’ve had pretty straight roads except for in town.  This was a whole lot more exciting.  I am thankful to two trucks who I followed for an hour or so in the serenity lane . I figure they’re the professionals

Madigan is calming down.

I don’t remember much else. It’s a kind of blur.  Crossing the Columbia was spectacular. I remember coming up the river after surfing a sound bar a head of a hurricane.  I bounced off the sandbar but took comfort that I didn’t twist but stayed on the straight. I called ahead to warn the Coast Guard that I was coming through on low tide with concern I’d just make it best it was better than another night of hurricane in the open sea for me.  I was thankful I chose correctly. There are rules for solely sailors but they had more experience whereas I had an engineer and the incredible American Coast Guard nearby who discussed the plan with me.  I made it then motored up the Columbia to a slip where the winds were 50 knots in the Harbour.  Next day I left despite being wisely advised by a fisherman that they wait a day usually to let the sea settle after such a blow. I hit the midway buoy in the river not paying attention. Then I was out in 20 foot seas and had to climb the mast on autopilot with the mast kissing the seas on either side because the radio antennae at the top had come off and was swinging about threatening to thread the seas.  After that I was less than happy about climbing the mast but thankful that day I’d installed the steps on the advise of my sailing Kiwi friend. 

Then I was in Portland, a city I’d stop at several times passing through.  Then on to Eugene. I liked seeing the sheep and cattle in the fields

I love the Classic A motorhome window. It’s like being on the train . Such a view.  Incredible. Mountains and the sun peeking out of clouds. We had some rain but mostly just cloudy. At one Rest Stop they have a collection of trees with names and I liked that.  Nature.  Wells done. It would be an even greater sight in summer when the leaves of some of the trees would be present.  Now it was firs and spruce and holly.

Now I’m hear in Myrtle Creek. I’d never have found it on my own and so glad that Peter told me of the stop. It’s an hour from the “a bit scarey” Grant’s Pass. There had been weather warnings for flooding ent tthe route to day but nothing came of it. Grant’s Pass has had freezing and snow and I took the coast when I came through after Christmas to avoid this.  Tomorrow I’ll be glad to put it behind me. It’s challenging but I’ve done it a couple of times and just feel cautious .  It’s not something I ‘d like to do in bad weather.  I’ll be glad to do it in the morning when I’m fresh. I think Porter and Larry think of things like that so picked this place though there are more RV sites closer to the pass and back along the way in Eugene.  This is just right in a way.  

Peter and Larry have Bella, Madigan’s girlfriend, and Luka , both Havanese. Madigan liked the field and trail along it.  

I’ve still not furnace but without the slide out the two electric heaters are making the inside cozy. I had to wear three layers today driving.  I even wore socks and shoes and my feet were a little chill. I think it’s all God giving me motivations to go south.  My electric blanket is heaven at night.  Tomorrow I plan to run then generator for the pass with the little 75 heater in the front keeping us warm.  I don’t think the front heater is working but I could check that out too. I knew I didn’t have air conditioning the in the cab but I may have heat. A sweater and fleecy are fine but my feet could get chilled. I’ve think I socks and may consider those to but I like the chance to use the generator. I tried it for an hour yesterday and it was great. With it on I have electricity.  

It’s a learning curve.  Every day I’m really tired mentally and physically.  I was able to relax enough to play Secret of Secrets Dan Browns latest.  Time flies when I can listen to an audiobook and I did for an hour or so. I remember coming back last year and so enjoying Louise Penny.

I’ve electricity and water and starlink set up. Now I’ll turn off the heater and put on the microwave.  I’ve enjoyed my thermos full of coffee.  I’d hoped to make it too a Macdonald’s so I could share a burger with Madigan. That might be tomorrow’s plan. I am so grateful to god to have got me this far. It’s so exciting!

Thank you God. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus. !!!!!