July 7, Lancaster, Ontario

Weather  Humid, stormy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon, warm 84 d/27c
We didn't have too much stress going through Toronto, we stayed on 401 and took our time.  Stopped at the last campground in Ontario at Lancaster Park Outdoor Resort.  Huge park but watch out with a big rig.... narrow roads in and out and the strangest site we have had yet - and the amenities are???   Camping is much more "rustic"  in "the North"; oh yes and also twice as much $'s with half the amenities.  Amenities for RV'ers are hookups - sewer at your site, water, electricity for 50 amp or 30 amp at a minimum.  Well it's an adventure right? 

Our site was a HUGE pull thru grass site.  We pulled up to the front and Don and Annie pulled in behind us.  We are 56', they are 54' and we still had about 40' left in the front and back and in between us.  Wow 150' site!!!    There was water for both of us, no sewers and one 30 amp that worked and ours kept blowing the breaker so we turned off as much as possible and kept our fridge on propane.  Ah yes "roughing it"  and $45 a night!   Oh boy you have to love Ontario camping.  
We puppy sat Buddy at supper and he found a wonderful spot in our basement to have a nap!  What cutie.

There was a nice waterfront in the park on the St. Lawrence River though and you could see the Adirondack's in the distance.  

July 6 On the Road Again - Destination Atlantic Canada

Weather - HOT, Hot, Hotter!!! 95 degrees/35 c
I guess we are just lucky picking the hottest day to leave on our trip to Atlantic Canada.   

We stopped at our mechanics to get a grease job, then some Diesel fuel and we were on our way.  This morning was a little bumpy leaving; we are a bit rusty sitting for two months.  Nothing serious but we missed a couple things on the checklist.....  grrr! ha ha we definitely should know better but that is why you must follow the checklist step by step.  Since it is Friday we planned to stop outside Toronto at the last campground so we can make the jump through on Saturday morning when traffic should be somewhat acceptable.  We stayed at the Milton KOA.  We find when you are on the move the KOA's are pretty consistent in what you get and we want an easy in and out with a good long pull through and hookups.  

The road into this one was a bit amusing; it reminded us of channel we used to run in on the boat when going to Harsen's Island Golf Course.   Billy used to hit it and hope we did not have to meet another boat because there wasn't any room and this was the same thing only with the Motorhome!!!
This trip we are traveling with another RV - our friends also love to ride motorcycles and have a motorhome :)

July 1 Happy Canada Day

Point Pelee National Park at the 42 parallel is the southern most mainland Canada spot.

42 parallel

To celebrate the park was open to everyone today so we had our motorcycles and rode in and took the shuttle to the end then walked the path to the Tip.   We had our dear friends Les & Barb with us - just a beautiful Canadian summer  day!

The Bike Gang!

The Tip

The Plain Facts

June 27/2012
It's funny we have been planning our next adventure to the East Coast and I realized I hadn't summarized our last fall to spring excursion.   The rough data was put together but missed the blog.... so here we go.   It's definitely interesting for those RV'ers or any thinking of going on the road.
Total Motorhome Mileage = 5,964 miles
Longest day = 510 miles  Shortest day = 82 miles  Our comfortable average day we like to drive = 250 to 320 miles
Total Motorcycle Mileage =  6,670 miles  (enough to warrant new front and back tire and full mtce when we got home)
$'s spent on Diesel Fuel = $2510 usf   = 10 miles to the gallon :) we are very happy with that  since we weigh 32,800 lbs.
Fuel prices in US increased $.36 per gallon in the 6 months.  Some states were as low as $3.73 in the fall and on the way home as high as $4.17. 
Camping Fees = $3761 = an average of $25.41 usf per night
In US for 148 days total; Oct 26 to Apr 13.  In a 12 month timeframe the US allows you to stay 6 months or 180 days.  OHIP allows you to be out of the province each calendar year for 212 days.  So this will allow us to visit a bit in the summer  on the US side, 32 days.
We flew home Dec 8 to Jan 4.  This worked out great since were we able to refresh our out of country medical plan and start over at day one when we flew back in January.   Eventually we did run out and had to buy top up insurance that had forms necessary from the Dr. for Billy's heart condition~ we were just happy they came back for full coverage and no exclusions.   $612 for Billy + $94 for Rosey.   An average of free + cost is $4.77 per day and definitely equals peace of mind for coverage of $5,000,000.00 for each of us.

May 14 GMC Heritage Cruisers at our park

Well it's been a month since we have been in the home area and I think we have a couple more weeks and then our "to do appointments" and "family/friends to see list" will be whittled down.
This posting is for our motorhome guru Ray, he knows everything about any motorhome you ask him!   This past weekend in our park here in Leamington there were about 20 classic GMC  motorhomes in for a club rally - GMC Heritage Cruisers.  Take a look at cool retro paint jobs and unique toads too.  Thought you might find a few pics interesting.  Billy especially liked the Triumph, thought it was the coolest toad(towable) we have seen yet.

April 13 Friday Home Today

Weather:  Sunny but cool about 60 and close to 39 at night.

The Bluewater Bridge at Port Huron was a breeze.   As we got closer on I94 there were more and more Snowbirds coming to the border.   We just fell in line with them and Billy was so happy that there were 3 big sized lanes crossing.  No construction!  Our Canadian Customs officer only asked a couple of questions.....  How long away?  Did we have any "unopened liquor" or tobacco?  We had open bottles but he was not interested in that.   What was the value of our purchases?   Then "Have a nice Day" and away we went. :)

We camped out at the farm for the weekend in the driveway and looked for a campground that we could take for the season.   Then we can have a place to come and go from.   Turns out there were really only 2 places worth thinking about.   Leamington had Sturgeon Woods Campground & Marina and Rondeau Shores had Wildwood.   There were many more pro's for us to go to Leamington and financially it was a better place too!!!   Gotta love that.

new campsite @ Sturgeon Woods

 Had a few friends and family already pop out to see us.  That part of home is great.   

My brother came to visit - don't we look alike?

April 10, 11, 12 East and Northward Bound

Weather 75, 66, 55 and 20 less at night - You can tell we are getting closer to home!
Left the Ozarks sadly but all good things come to an end.  As well our out of country medical insurance runs out April 15 so we need to get home this week or call and get it topped up.   Interesting enough we have met some Canadians that leave without insurance beyond their OHIP.   Heaven help them if something happens.
Anyways we find the longer we are on the road the less we travel in a day.   About 300 miles is fine for us now and it might take us 6 hours to do it.  Usually we have a few stops at a rest center and for diesel fuel and a bite of lunch in the coach. 
So Tuesday night we stay in West Memphis, Arkansas at the KOA, Wednesday we move north on I55 and across the Western Kentucky Parkway to Elizabethtown Crossroads Campground and tonight in Van Buren, Ohio at Pleasantview Campgrounds.   When in Ohio call ahead as camping opens around March 15 to April 15 but check before you count it being open.
Tomorrow we will be home at the Farm.  Taking the BlueWater Bridge as Billy is still haunted of our crossing last October on the Ambassador Bridge and refuses to take it.... ha ha; I don't blame him.  Not sure where we will be camping for the next little while.... stay tuned!

March 30 - Apr 9, Ozarks, Arkansas

Weather Warm 88 to 76, only 60/50 at night
Every road here in the north west quadrant of Arkansas which is Ozark country is great riding.  It winds back and forth and up and down and twists and winds, but the elevation is never more than 2300 feet.  It seems they do not have straight roads!  Billy was in heaven and we both cannot wait to come back.   This is the first time we have road almost everyday and saw so many motorcycle on the road, every where!  There is no end to the rides and the sites are beautiful.

On top of Mount Nebo

Sunrise View Mount Nebo

Dogwoods blooming on every road

From on top of Mount Magazine

Cliff House at Arkansas Grand Canyon, Jasper

Road to Mount Judea

Falls at Petit Jean State Park

March 26, 27, 28 Heading East

Weather High 70's low 50's at night - Good travel weather
Left Camp Verde and went up to Flagstaff then caught I40 East. 

amazing view from interstate 17 entering Flagstaff

Stayed first night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, nice transient rv site at American RV Resort.  Second night in a KOA on Route 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma. 

old signage on route 66

Third night arrived in Russellville, Arkansas.  We stopped at the Welcome Center coming into Arkansas and they suggested a nice little state park on a lake, so away we went.  Lake Dardanelle State Park.  Staying here till April 9 after Easter to ride in the Ozark Mountains.

fed the blue jays every morning

Beautiful spot but only have internet access at Rangers Office.  Blogging will have to wait for now :(   Turns out we fall in love with this place and stay for 2 weeks and can't wait to come back.

Sunset from our campground

scenic campsites right on the lake

March 22 The Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona

Weather 60 Sunny and snow on the ground
Grand Canyon National Park
277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep

Watch Tower

 The vastness of this natural wonder is hard to put into words.  It has been a place I have wanted to see since childhood.  Timeless. 
Tip: There is an East and West entrance into the Park.   We started at the East entrance and the first scenic view is the Watch Tower.  As you continue the 25 miles headed west and you stop at each lookout point if you view back along the Rim you will see what looks like a thimble.  After the second or third stop we realized what we could see was the Watch Tower, which is very cool.  In fact you can see it when you get all the way to the other side at the Grand Canyon Village!!!   Also you will be able to see across to the North Rim at points that are 90 miles away.  We have picked out a few pictures to post but they almost look unreal - again like postcards.  Another Tip:  At the Village you need to take the Shuttle Bus to see the Hermit Road - no cars are allowed.  It's free.

Colorado River

Mount Humphries 12633 feet in Flagstaff

Mar 19, 20 Biggest Winter Storm in Arizona this Year

Weather   ~ Oh you bet!!!!  43 during the day and 19 low at night
They were predicting the biggest storm this winter to hit Northern Arizona; and it did. 
We are at about 3200 feet in Camp Verde which is in a valley about 1 hour due south from Flagstaff.  On Monday it started to rain then sleet then huge wet snowflakes.

The days leading up to this were above normal, so it almost seems like it just can't happen.   So we hunkered down and put on our new favorite purchase; a heater/fireplace with a thermostat. (it's on wheels and doubles as an end table).  The motorhome has a furnace and heat pumps but this is so quiet you don't hear it run so it is our favorite.  Tip: always use electric if it is included in your site cost, why pay for the furnace to run on propane which you will have to pay to refill yourself.

As well I got out the bread maker and made some Chelsea Buns and we put on the coffee pot with a new bottle of Bailey's; might as well enjoy it.
At night when we went to bed we did unhook the water and put the hose inside the basement, chances are it will freeze overnight.    Either you unhook or let water drip all night so you don't freeze up.
In the morning the views of the mountains from our window were so nice.    Flagstaff did get 2 feet of snow and the roads were closed in and out for a good part of the day.

If you come to Arizona in a motor home you need to be prepared for the extremes.  We have an electric blanket and many we talk to have an electric mattress pad or heated bed.   Whichever you choose you will be glad you did!!!  

Mar 14, 15 Sedona, Arizona

Weather 82 Sunny, night 52
Frank Lloyd Wright viewed this area and said it is so beautiful that "nothing should ever be built here".  We agree.  Words cannot describe the natural beauty and pictures do not do it justice.   The Red Rock and layers of white limestone and creamy sandstone are are postcard.  We feel like we are riding inside the postcard.  Take a look; there is a Native American Prayer that says it all.  "May you walk in beauty above you, beauty below you, beauty behind you, beauty surrounding you".

Mar 13 Jerome, Arizona

Weather 80 sunny, night time 48
Jerome is a very cool artsy ghost town that sides on the side of Cleopatra mountain.  It is a mile high about 5200 feet and you have to climb serpentine roads to get there and each street level is perched on levels between a higher street and stairways to get there.   Lots of art stores, restaurants and memorabilia. We had a horrible time time trying to park the bike without being on a very steep slope up or down.  After we drove to Prescott on the winding scenic 89A road.  the day was so gorgeous and the view was great.... oh yes and this was a first for us in our motorcycle riding ~ SNOW!  Not on the highway but on the sides of the road, it as about 7500 feet. 

Billy was teasing me about my Belgian heritage!!!  In the 1800's there was a Bordello here run by a this lady, well maybe not a lady???

Mar 12 Camp Verde

Weather 80 Hot and Sunny, 50 at night

We moved north to a new site for a couple of weeks so we can ride the northern Arizona area.  Great RV resort in the valley called Distant Drums.   

 It is busy in all the campgrounds now since March break is happening.   This is the first time we had to reserve sites.  Some beautiful rigs here from Texas and California!!!  Found a great cartoon on the back of one depicting how he could afford the rig.

 Beautiful rig,,,, puts us to shame!!!  Foretravel motorcoach - wow just like the Prevost!