April 28 to 30, 2012; End of another month in Lee Creek

APR  28, Saturday, Lee Creek, BC
Our first morning in Gateway Park, Lee Creek!  We spent the day getting things ready on the lot, putting out toys and decorations.  We drove to Chase to pick up some grocery and banking which was closed due to a robbery that happened this past week!!!!  We then drove to Sorrento to get my refund on the truck insurance due to being 65.  We got $30 back for 3 months.
We came back to our lot and it was time to go to Marcel and Donna’s lot as they were celebrating her birthday.  Their family was there and most of the people from the park.  It was good to see everyone and catch up to all the news.  The party lasted until 8 pm when everyone went home.  We were in bed by 10 pm.  It was sunny all day but cool from what we were used to.
As a foot note and because I forgot to put it in, here is one more stat; we travelled a total of 15 454 Km or 9 603 miles on this past trip.

APR  29, Sunday, sunny
We were up early under a sunny sky.  We were soon working around the yard; Val did her thing in her garden and I got the car ready to move it in the compound then changed the air filter and fuel filter on the truck.  I then worked around the yard getting more things clean and ready to use for our short time here.  In the afternoon, Val went to do some tai-Chi with Gail, Donna and another lady.  She was gone for over an hour and really enjoyed her time.  At 4 pm, we went to Bob & Gail for happy hour then for dinner, I BBQ’ed some pork chops and Val made a delicious salad and green beans.

APR  30, Monday,
It rained overnight and all morning, welcome to BC!  Actually it is nice to see, smell and hear I have to admit!  More chores today!  We went to Chase, made an appointment with the bank manager, did the laundry and bottled wine that we had ordered last fall.  Right now we just got back from a walk around the Park and enjoy a clear but frisky evening.  Tomorrow, we are going in to Salmon arm for more business.

April 27/12; To HOME in Lee Creek, BC!

APR  27, Friday, Oroville, Washington to Lee Creek, BC

I was up at 6 am and Val at 6:30.  We looked at each other and decided to head out so...after dressing and brushing our teeth, we left and were across the border by 7:30 am.  We had no hassles at the border and were heading north on Hwy 97 within a couple minutes.  We stopped in Penticton at a “TIM HORTON” for breakfast then again at Salmon Arm for lunch after picking up our mail at the UPS Store.  We were at our site in Gateway, Lee Creek by 1 pm.  The first thing was to clean our pad from the fall-out from all the cotton trees.  We visited with neighbour Ruth and Marcel and Donna.  It’s good to be home!  We called all the kids to let them know we are here!

We drove 300 Km for a total time of 4.5 hrs, including stops!

TOTAL EXPENSES BREAK DOWN  (Oct 18/11 to Apr 27/12):

          Camping cost         $2745.49 or (457.58/mth)
          Fuel                       $ 3464.43 or (577.4/mth)
          Other Expenses    $6207.89 or (1034.65/mth)

April 26, 2012; to Oroville, Washington for our last day in the USA

APR  26, Thursday, Our last day in the USA and a night in Oroville, Wash.
RAIN!!!  It is actually raining!  We haven’t had a good rain fall in over 4 months so this is quite an event.  We slept in as we are only travelling about 175 miles to the border where we will do some last minute grocery shopping.  We left at 9:25 am and headed north on Hwy 17.  We reached Hwy 97, our final leg to the border, it rained the whole way.  We stopped for a quick bite to eat at a “Subway” and had a sandwich then continued on to Oroville, just south of the border and Osoyoos.  We went to Prince Market and stocked up on items that we are allowed to bring across and which is much cheaper than BC.  We are also staying in the Parking Lot for the night and have power.  We organized all our food and booze, made a list, charged up the Canadian phone, put our US money away and got our Canadian money out (about 2 lbs of loonies and toonies, so it feels like) and our passports.  We will be home in Lee Creek tomorrow!

N  48* 56.974

W 119* 26. 246
Alt: 985 feet

We drove 178 miles in 3 hrs and 45 minutes @ an average 47 MPH. We stopped for a total one hour.

We fuelled in Moses Lake @ $4.48/gal & Oroville @ $4.48/gal.

April 25, 2012; To Moses Lake with stop in Pendleton for lube and oil and new tire on Bear in Moses Lake

APR   25, Wednesday, to Moses Lake with lube on Beast and new tire on Bear
We can sure tell we are now in the northern parts of America; it is 9*C this morning at 7 am and the sky is cloudy.  The forecast is for some rain in these parts but hopefully, by heading north, we will miss most of it!??  We left Burns, Oregon around 8 am and continued on Hwy 395 north.  All I can say about this part of the trip is AWSOME, BEAUTIFUL SCENIC!  This was an absolute enjoyable day!  We went over 5 passes with the highest being 5500 feet and most of the climbs were long and easy but going down on the other side, it was steep and lots of switch backs and curves (See pictures in folder 85).  I would recommend this drive to anyone but only from south to north as I think it would be hard on the engine, transmission and fuel the other way although we did meet RV’s going south.  We went through some really neat villages and stopped in “John Day” village and had brunch.  A neat town!  I fuelled in Seneca where I took only $50 as it was 4.99/gallon.  In John Day, it was 4.56 and I topped up.  We arrived in Pendleton at 1 pm and I had an oil change and lube ($89) done on the truck and fuelled at 4.27/gal.  I checked all my tires and we were back on the road at 2 pm.  We took I-84 west to I-82 and finally crossed into Washington State.  From here it was back on 395 then Hwy 17 to Moses Lake where another driver advised us that we had a flat on the driver side on the trailer.  Good Grief!  We found a “Les Schwap” tire shop and bought a new tire @ $162, it has a 5 year warranty on it.  From here, it was a skip and a jump to our RV Park, Pier 4 RV Park, an ROD member and cost us $0!  Have to save somewhere, no!???
We are set up for the night and have internet.  Now we wait for “Survivor” to come on and cheer us up!

N  47* 06.131'
W 119* 19.221
Alt:  1033 feet

350 miles (556 Km) in 6 hrs and 50 minutes @ 50 Mph average.  We were stopped for 2 hours and 15 minutes for a total of 9 hours day!

April 23 & 24, 2012: Bullhead city to Burns Oregon

APR  23, Monday, Onward to Eureka, Nevada

We left Bullhead City at 8:30 am and took Hwy 163 to Hwy 95 north.  We went through Las Vegas on I- 515 with little traffic but hot...98*F.  We got on I-15 north-east and eventually reach Hwy 93 where we stopped for a break and fuel at “Love” truck stop, (4.19/gal).  We went on north on Hwy 93 and eventually turned on Hwy 318.  Just past Preston, we turned right on Hwy 6 and arrived in Ely at 3:30.  That whole area we drove on is known as the “Great Nevada Basin” and is basically just one big valley and very much like a desert.  We fuelled at 4.19/gal, had a snack and continued on to Eureka on Hwy 50.  The temperature in Ely was 83*F and Eureka 79*F, warm and comfortable.  Hwy 50 is known as the loneliest highway in North America and I can vouch for that.  (See pictures in folder 85)  Anyway, even at 6500 feet the temperature was warm.  We climbed three easy passes going as high as 7500 feet but no snow and warm temperature.  We reached Eureka at 5 pm and stopped just before the town itself.  We are staying at Silver Sky Lodge and RV for the night and paid $25 for full hook-up.  Time to relax and enjoy this wonderful weather, we are surrounded by dark threatening clouds but blue sky above us.  This is another route that I have wanted to complete and now is done.  Tomorrow, more new grounds are in the making.

N  39* 29.897’

W 115* 57.464’
Alt:  6601 feet

We travelled 418 miles (678Km) in 7.5 hrs at an average 55 MPH and stopped for one hour.

APR  24, Tuesday, to Burns, Oregon
We were on the road by 8:15 am and drove through Eureka, an old mining town and turned onto Hwy 278 north to I-80.  This part was quiet and boring; high plateau with low shrubs and prairie grass.  We went over two easy passes then turn West on I-80 and went on to Battle Mountain where I fuelled @ 4.26/gal and had a late brunch.  We went on to Winnemucca and turned north on Hwy 95 to Hwy 78.  What a boring drive.  Flat, long distance and we only had one exciting scene where we entered a canyon, went down to a small valley and climbed back up on the other side.  The only excitement in this whole day was driving on Hwy 78 when I almost ran out of fuel.  Yes, you are reading it right, I got down to the fumes almost; the needle was on empty and the fuel tank was lit up telling me I had 30 miles to go.  We finally arrived in Crane where I put in $50 of fuel @ 4.72/gal.  I honestly thought I wasn’t going to make it!!?
Anyway, we carried on and arrived in Burns, Oregon a half hour later.  This has been a looooong day!  9 hours total!  We are at Burns RV Park, a Good Sam member and paid $32. For the night.  They have WIFI but I found out it is verrrry slow!

N  43* 35.811

W 119* 02.984
Alt: 4125 feet

We drove 423 miles (685 km) @ 56 MPH average in 7.5 hours with stops of 1.5 hour.