5C's Que Pasa

In fact we have been back since Thursday evening.  I apologize for not posting sooner but things are a bit hectic around here.  I am in the midst of preparing for a big date next week!   Please be patient with me as over the next few days I get you all caught up on our ‘Que Pasa’!

We did in fact leave at 8:30AM on Wednesday.  I still can’t believe that I was so spontaneous and got ready on such short notice.

The girls got fed but not us so first stop after fuelling up at $1.25/litre was an Egg McMuffin from you know where. Carmeh seems to have forgotten that she had already eaten!

I spotted a fellow on a tractor all dressed in white and wearing a mask.  He was pulling a huge cylindrical thing behind him which seemed to contain chemicals as it was spewing a white fog all thru the apple orchard.  I know that this is a common practice but it does make you think twice about not buying organic!!

The weather was spectacular with more snow than normal still on the mountains. There are many Rvers from Europe (they fly in and rent RV's for a few weeks) who travel here each summer and it is nice to see the beauty they travel here for.

Oh how I miss travelling in our RV.  Our first pit stop was at the rest area just west of Hope where I was attacked.  It’s true, the washroom was full of mosquitoes who started biting as soon as I sat down.  I got five bites!!  Did I mention how much I miss our RV.  Not just for the washroom convenience but the ease of getting a snack or just having space and being higher up to see the view!!  I honestly can’t remember the last time I did a road trip in a car.  It must be at least 8 years when we were moving here to Kelowna.

We were on our way to the Seattle area, in particular Everett, Washington in order for Colin to see a chiropractor.  Colin has been seeing this fellow for over 27 years and he has helped him in many ways.  Right now the plan is to get rid of the tinnitus that has been bothering Colin for about a year now.  So many people accept tinnitus as being something you have to learn to live with,  but not my guy, he is trying everything he can to get rid of it.  It was a great day for a ‘long’ drive and the girls do so love travelling but like us prefer the RV.  We got there in about 6.5 hours, Colin had his treatment and then we started looking for a hotel.  Colin travels a few times per year for jobs and to Winnipeg to see his Mom so he is use to just finding a room somewhere.  A bit different with myself and the girls along.  We did find a place that allowed pets, had a mini kitchen, a king bed, wifi (but I was too tired to use it) and was non smoking.  With a bit of discussion I got the rate down from 125.00/nite to 99.00/nite.  So then Colin carried everything inside.  Oh how I miss our RV.  Everyone got fed and that was when I crashed.  It was a long 500 kms.

I don't think I've been in a hotel since Mexico City, about 4 years ago. So the eco friendly soap dispenser caught my eye. Good idea. I still miss my own bed and did I mention it, my RV!!

The next morning Colin did have a second appointment at 8:15AM so the girls and I stayed behind.  It was nice not having to pack up and rush out the door.  When Colin got back we had breakfast, which was provided with our room and then left to head back home.  We hit the road about 11AM and both wished that we were actually on the road to somewhere  like Long Beach, WA.

This unique mailbox caught my eye as we passed through the outskirts of Bellingham. Sorry to all our friends who live in the area but it was a whirlwind trip with no time to stop in for a visit. The cost of fuel here was between $3.83 and $3.89 per US gallon.

We crossed at the Sumas border with no problems at all.  In fact I was annoyed that they asked nothing about the dogs or their food.  When we travel in the RV we are always checked ( almost harassed) about where the dog food is purchased in crossing the US border.  No food questions nor any dog questions.  Are there different rules as to the type of vehicle you drive??

Once we past Merritt the weather changed.  We later found out that there had been a huge storm pass through the Okanagan & that several fires had been started because of lightening strikes.

Not easy driving...

..I was suppose to drive this section but Colin wouldn't let me.

So I dozed.

Double decker dogs, Caeli is on the bottom.

As we got into Kelowna the storm was abating but this Jeep load was rather wet.

Those in front had the better seats!

Made a quick stop at Costco and then picked up a pizza and headed home.  By the time we unloaded, fed the kids, heated the pizza and opened the wine and watched 1/2 a movie it was bedtime for me.  It was a quick 1060 kilometres ( 658 miles ) but I would do it again.  In my RV…….

At 1:00AM this morning we spontaneously decided that the entire family would leave this morning and head to Seattle.  Colin was already going but after his 16 hour day yesterday I missed him and didn’t want to be alone for another 2 days, so off we go.

So much happened yesterday, from hot air balloons to float plane stories.  Tune in over the next few days for the Que Pasa in our life!

Our house, our RV and Colin in that white thing in the sky.....que pasa??

Gotta go or he’ll leave without me….back tomorrow evening.  Adios amigos!

It’s true.  Here in British Columbia ( Ontario also does refunds ) we are able to apply for a refund to our  Canadian vehicle insurance for the portion of time that the same vehicles were insured by Mexican insurance.  In our case we always make money on the refund but this year we hit the jackpot!!  Lets me start at the beginning.

Our tow vehicle, a 2006 HHR Chevy  cost us $275.84USD for 6 months of Mexican insurance.

Our Canadian refund for the actual 150 nights we spent in Mexico was $519.00CAD.  A profit of $243.00CAD.

Our motorhome, to be insured to the maximum amount cost us $752.03USD for 6 months of Mexican insurance.

Our Canadian refund for the actual 150 nights we spent in Mexico was $896.00CAD.  A profit of $143.97CAD.

A total profit of $386.97CAD. We came out way ahead.

So I took it one step further.  I subtracted our toll road expenses coming and going, –$294.00CAD.

We still have a profit of $92.97CAD, which covers our electric for several weeks.   It pays to travel to Mexico.

The USD vs the CAD dollar is so close that it is negligent.  I know what the next question will be so here is the answer.  We use Bob Acosta from San Xavier Mexico Insurance.

Tags: insurance, Mexico, money

To all of our American friends, Happy Fourth of July!   May you all enjoy your parades, picnics, barbecues and fireworks.

So yesterday while Colin worked I made a concerted effort to spend, spend and spend!

Just had to get my hair done..

Then a visit to this place for some estethics.

The best part was being able to drive my car with the roof down. It was a long drive as my hair salon is in Vernon. I loved it. This was the very first time since I got the car last August that I have driven it alone with the roof down. Fun, fun, fun!!

The only unfun thing is the price of fuel.  While regular fuel here varies from 1.25 to 1.28 per litre, my car takes premium fuel at 1.42/litre.  Good thing it doesn’t get driven too much.  But like I said Colin was making the money while I was spending it 🙂

Unfortunately the clouds did come in during the afternoon which called a halt to anymore photography so we had a pizza & movie night.  Bonus evening together.  Now it is a waiting game for the weather to clear and there are many jobs waiting.  In fact, despite being 9:50AM Sunday morning, a client called requesting aerial photography.  We never close, just wait on the weather.  Hmmm, what is it going to do…….life revolves around the sun.

Hour by hour we wait and watch! So different that yesterday's forecast.

Are you still checking out my Spanish word of the day.  I love today’s, “comamos”,  ‘let’s eat’!