May 9, 2013 - Inland Lake Provincial Park Camping

Here on the west coast of BC we have been enjoying summer like weather so we decided to have one last Powell River camping trip before we leave. Our friend Juhli has a cute 15 ft Airstream trailer she calls Miss. Perception that she pulled into the same spot. We're not the only ones who name their vehicles. Our motor-home is "Paliwagon" for our little pooch. The weekend also became a going away party with our fellow Toastmasters. What a blast! The rest of the time we took long walks along the 13 km wheelchair accessible trail around the...

Apr 20, 2013 - Newfoundland or Bust?

It's hard to believe it's been two years since we were on the last trip and some of you were following us around Western Canada in a motor home that broke down more than it went smoothly. Now the story about that trip is out, "RV Canada and the Polar Bear Dream," and we'll be off on another cross Canada adventure starting May 16. This time the "Big Hairy Audacious Dream" is to get to Cape Spear, NL for the first sunrise in NA. Yes, it's big a scary because it's going to cost almost $1200 just to be on that ferry but we have faith miracles...

Mar 23, 2012 - Spring has Sprung. The Grass has Riz!

For all my kids lives,every spring they heard this British ditty, "Spring has sprung, the grass has riz. The boid is on the wing. That's absoid, I thought the wing was on the boid." Fun and put a smile on our faces. Here on the Sunshine Coast, the calendar may say it is spring, but Mother Nature appears to be going through menopause. She can't decide what to do about the weather. We had a one hour blizzard on the first day of spring. High winds,and cold rainy days have been her method of taunting us. In the meantime out east in Winnipeg and...

Dec 24, 2011 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Barb,Dave and Pali! It's been quite the year but it's ending on a high note as we celebrate Christmas in Powell River with my Dad, then on the 27th will go down to Vancouver to celebrate with Brent and Kim. We are back to work; Dave night shift at Walmart and I'm teaching speech craft and customer service. It's great to be home again. Of course we are already planning two years away for the next big book tour. In 2013 we will launch the 4th RV Canada book and go back across Canada for the third...

Nov 13, 2011 - Day 67 for Brent

I've been remiss in keeping you up to date on Brent's progress and what has been happening with us. Today is day 67 since his accident and he is doing very well considering the severity of his accident. It's been a long haul with bad days like when he was hooked back up to the ventilator because he had pneumonia again. He's not a patient person and like me just wants to get it done. He is so used to saying he would be on the job on such a day and it would be done. He's spent weeks looking at the ceiling, with little control over what was...

Sep 26, 2011 - Miracles

Day 21 since our son Brent was in the car accident. Thanks to the thousands of prayers circling the globe we are seeing miracles unfolding. It doesn't matter who you pray to or how you do it, the important thing is you are asking the universe or a higher power for help and that creates positive energy. Today is Monday, and last Thursday Brent was still on 50% oxygen and his PEEPs(pressure from the ventilator) was at 10. We went to Abbotsford for 2 days of a Metis provincial AGM I needed to attend and while we were away the first miracle...

Sep 18, 2011 - The Summer that was Book-ended by Sorrow

This has been a summer book-ended by sorrow. We started with fire and ended with tragedy but in between had wonderful experiences, met amazing people and made dreams come true. There is always something to be grateful for. My son's accident reminds me again that we shouldn't put off making changes in our lives, making dreams come true or telling those around us we love them because we don't know when tragedy will hit. My son Brent James will be 44 Oct.5. He loves the outdoors, hard work, a challenge,building things, helping others,and...

Sep 6, 2011 - Saskatchewan Hospitality and History

We crossed the border into Saskatchewan Aug.31 and spent the first night by the giant Mountie at Redvers. The tourism office is in a log cabin where they serve the best Saskatoon pie. Of course we had to add another shot of Pali and a giant with the Mountie. Carlyle has been one of our favorite stops in past trips so we wanted to look up our friend Judy but unfortunately didn't get a chance to see her. Rather than pay for a campsite when we knew we were going to be camped for the long weekend, we stayed in the Bear Claw casino north of...

Aug 31, 2011 - Great Canadians Are Why We Keep Going!

People ask us why we keep going with these working holidays of ours. As a young vendor at the Arnes Farmers market generously gave us produce and herbs, we knew why. It's because Canada is made up of great people and they all have a story that needs to be told. Arnes market is unique in that it really is on a farmer's land. Dennis, a story in himself has many dreams to keep creating his own version of a farm theme park. He let us park on the property and sell off the side of the rig. Pali met bunnies, pigs, horses and cows. I am sure his...

Aug 18, 2011 - Polar Bears and Belugas Oh Yes!

The dream came true in spite of all the bumps along the way, and are we ever happy and proud we never gave up. Aug.10 we left Pali in the hands of Colleen, the campsite owner of McCreedy Campground in Thompson. Now there's a one woman band if ever I met one. She should be nominated for woman of the year for all the work she does and her passion for the area. For us, the anxious parents it broke our hearts to see him left behind, but there was no alternative if we wanted to stand in the Hudson's Bay. The train has got to be the slowest and...

Aug 9, 2011 - Thompson,MB

Greetings from Thompson, Manitoba, the wolf capital of Canada! Yes, after 2 years of planning, and 2 months of being tested we are at the jump off spot for getting to Churchill. We arrive Sunday, staying in McCreedy Campground,the only campground in Thompson. Colleen is the kind of person who makes everyone feel so welcome, can't do enough for her guests. When she heard I was a travel writer, she called Volker, the visionary behind the Spirit Way project that is putting the town on the map with wolf art and research. He toured us around...

Aug 1, 2011 - Good Saskatchewan Fun

Amazing what a couple weeks can do! Since my last post we visited family in Edmonton, and worked our way up the northerly route to sell at Bonnyville, Ab where we sold at their farmer's market. Bonnyville has the most beautiful rec centre that even includes a little kids skating rink. For a town of about 5,000 they sure provided a large centre and bring in top name bands you wouldn't expect to see in a small farming area. The day we were there Nazareth was in concert that night. From there we crossed into Saskatchewan on miles of muddy...