We arrived very late into Grand Falls and could not find an open campground so we parked our bus on a quiet street that looked to be a farming road. We slept in until eight-thirty and were surprised the kids were all sleeping still. After looking at our watches we realized we had passed into another time zone and lost an hour again. We drove down the Trans Canada until we came to Grand Falls which is along the St. John river. We stopped into find the falls and came across a deserted park . All the kids explored the lovely rapids from above and then upon returning to use the bathrooms we noticed a shower. Everyone took turns and we felt refreshed for the day.

Covered Bridge and 1800's Village
We drove to Hartland and stretched our legs at the worlds longest covered old bridge. At 1,282 feet it made a nice release of energy before heading on to Kings Landing. The kids loved the Upper Canada Village so much that we decided to explore this enchanting recreation of a Loyalist Town from the 1800s. It was fascinating to see that these houses were moved in the 60s from their original sites and rebuilt stone by stone up on higher ground. We loved taking horse drawn wagon rides and buying old fashioned candy sticks from the general store. Alyssa and I were enthralled with the village ladies who were busy making gorgeous crazy quilts. I love to see these old ovens that baked such amazing bread without electricity. I think the boys were most taken with actual water powered saw mill and flour mill. Orin was ready to join a young boy in britches hammering away in the field with his dad. For little Teyauna her favourite part was dancing to the Irish singers as they acted out their ballads at the old Kings Landing Inn. This was a wonderful and relaxing way to spend most of the day and give us yet a deeper look into a part of Canada's past.

Waterslide at the Hampton Inn and Suites, Moncton, NB
We were quite tired and felt like finding a campsite with a pool. We thought a nice warm fire would be the perfect ending to our day and the kids were looking forward to making smores. We tried a couple of places and almost checked into one but upon arrival we learned that the pool was closed and we could not make a fire so we headed back on the road. As we were turning toward the highway we noticed a new looking Hampton Inn and Suites hotel right in front of us. We could see a big twirly water slide and pool at one end and decided to stop in. This more than made up for the lack of smores. The rooms were perfect and very spacious and the kids were thrilled with the pool. After playing on the waterslide and a refreshing dip in the pool we settled in for a peaceful nights rest. Norm stayed up late and worked on his website and got lots done. In the morning of course the kids were up early and we all went down stairs for their complimentary breakfast. It was very filling and everyone found something delicious. Before we checked out we spent another hour or so in the pool and on the waterslide. We probably made too much mess and too much noise but no one seemed to mind. The staff kept smiling at us and offering to get us anything we needed. It was a very family friendly place.

June 23, 2009
We were dismayed on our way up to see the Saguenay Fjords to find plenty of road work under way. After traveling for an hour we hit hot dusty roads. Luckily we got behind a water truck that was spraying the roads down to keep the dust clouds at bay, we definitely wanted to avoid a repeat of our interior being covered in dust as happened in Saskatchewan. The drive to Baie-Sainte-Catherine was very picturesque with quaint little villages, darling cottages and neat houses all along the road side. Although it was windy and hilly it was worth the drive.

We were really wanting to see both the fjords and the whales of the St. Lawerence. With Teyauna being so little we knew we could not take the ever popular Zodiak tours so we went with AML Cruises that also offer a small ferry like ship that takes people into the fjords and also promises an incredible marine life experience. I tried not to get my hopes up and told myself even if we do not see whales up close it will still be fun to see the fjords.
Not long into our cruise I knew this would be a special day. We saw minkes, belugas and even humpbacks whales. These are quite rare to spot and the naturalist on board gave some interesting information about all the mammals we were seeing. I was in heaven and could not believe how close they came to our boat. Norm got some amazing footage and everyone on board except Teyauna seemed awed by the whole experience. Teyauna just ran around the boat making friends with anyone who glance her way. We spent so long with the whales that we did not get to go up the fjords as far as we had hoped. It was gorgeous at the mouth of the Saguenay fjord and again we got some beautiful pictures.

After spending the morning in Thunder Bay doing school work and blogging we were off to a late start.
The kids were looking forward to seeing the spot where Terry Fox finished his historical run. As we turned on to the road that led up to the monument we noticed a young man thumbing it on the side of the highway.

We waved and kept going on to a beautiful and peaceful spot overlooking the city. We walked around took pictures and talked about what Terry Fox stood for.

After filling up with gas and getting ready to leave the city we noticed the same young man sitting smiling with his guitar on the side of the road.
We had a good feeling about him so we stopped and offered him a lift. He was thrilled and jumped in with his gear. He had just come from BC and was traveling back to Ottawa. I am sure he had no idea what he was in for. We traveled Patrick from 3:00 in the afternoon till about 12:00 am in the morning.

We took more stops than he was used to but he did not seem to mind. I let him sit up front with Norm for a couple of hours. I tried to sleep on couch as I listened to the two of them talk about the deeper meanings of life. I was relieved when Jaeden started asking him about his guitar and he moved to the back. I was not used to being in the back and was feeling a little queasy. For the next hour we listened as this kind young man talked about his love for music and gave Jaeden some impromptu guitar lessons and tips. Around ten Teyauna started crying desperately as she was so tired. No one could console her. Patrick began singing and playing his guitar. She magically started waving her arms around and soon drifted off to sleep.
He taught us about his love for this country for the great outdoors and for all people. He told us stories and jokes about his hitchhiking adventures and showed us ways that his experience has restored his
faith in mankind. He said he met only wonderful people on his journey.
We drove together till about midnight and then separated. Norm could not drive any more and Patrick said he likes to get up with the birds so he camped on the side of the road wanting to catch an early ride in the morning. We slept in until eight and after breakfast we were back on the road. The kids all cheered when we saw Patrick again. He had actually slept in and he jumped back for another ride. The kids kept him laughing with their jokes and he had a few of his own. Around noon we dropped him off in Sault Saint Marie with promises to contact each other.

We received mixed reactions when we told people of our planned stop in Manitoba's capitol city. The typical warning I heard was that I would be surprised by the friendliness of the GIANT mosquitoes. Although these notorious creatures never seemed to materialize we did find the locals extremely friendly and felt very welcomed.

We met a local man who pointed out a quiet safe parking lot. He returned later in the night to chat with us and find out what we were doing. He was fascinated with our idea and by morning he had helped arrange two radio interviews and two TV programs.
Needless to say this media attention thrilled the kids. We are pretty relaxed so as long as the MoHo is tidy and faces are washed we don't mind having publicity. We found a place to park right down town and CTV showed up with cameras in tow. The boys were eager to show off their beds and talk about our fun trip. It felt bit strange when after the interview the camera man returned to film us making and eating lunch?!!!!
I am so happy to encourage ordinary families to do something special with their family. We are passionate about FAMILIES and we are passionate about CANADA!!! When you mix the two you make unique memories. Wandering around The Forks we saw the old Union Station that was developed by the same architects that planned New York's Grand Central Station. We spent the afternoon at the Canadian Mint which was a huge success and Orin wants to works there when he grows up making money for a living.
It was raining out so tried to do things that would be indoors and still give us the highlights of Winnipeg. The beautiful museum like Visitors center gave us some great ideas. We visited The Louis Riel home and then rushed off to VV for coats for the kids. We left Victoria when it was Hot and sunny and thought we could leave our winter gear behind but we have had some really cold wet days since we left. Everyone found something that fit and we took our new wardrobe to a glow in the dark mini golf. U Putz was so fun and even Teyauna had a blast!
I hoped the kids would be awake and happy in the morning. We tried to get everyone to bed early so we could be up at five for the CityTV Breakfast Show. Norm stayed up late and we made sure the motorhome was spotless before bed because we did not know if they were going to come in for the show. I had made the littlest boys wash up and wear clean clothes for the morning before going to bed! They did pretty good considering it was like waking up three Victoria time. The kids loved the tour of the TV station control room after the show and especially loved the fresh baked pasteries. We ended the morning at the famous skate park right outside the station and filmed Jaeden doing tricks with his longboard. We had an amazing time with the friendly residents of Winnipeg and thanks to the rainy weather we never met a single mosquito.

June 7
After a week on the road I can honestly say traveling in an RV is camping! After a few nights in various over lit parking lots and rest areas situated next to busy train stations we have started looking for quiet church parking lots.

These seem to be safe, semi dark and are usually in decent neighborhoods. We planned to camp at RV places but so far we have been driving so late that we just need to pull up and find a quick place to park in the middle of the night.
This morning Alyssa and I put our foot down and refused to step foot inside the church without our Sunday morning showers. No one minded and Norm took all the kids into the church while we spoiled ourselves and planned to come out looking like superwomen. It all started out well except that we ended up showering out of a jug of boiled water because the valve to the hot water heater had not been turned on! By the time church was over all the boys came out just in time to get nice freshly heated water for their showers.
For some reason I thought it was Fathers Day today. I knew Norm needed extra pampering since he has been so cheerful and doing so much of the driving and still working late into the night. So we snuck it to Walmart and got some special treats for him and few things from chapters at west ed mall and planned a special strawberry pancake breakfast. He laughed his head off when he told us it was not really FD -but he enjoyed the treats anyway.
Teyauna loves sleeping right next to me. She just stands up and pulls herself up to me and jumps and squeals till I nurse her and let her sleep on my face. We did find a little crib that fits in the MoHo but I wish she did not have such easy access to me all night.

After years of questions from friends and Cheap Tickets Canada customers, our family decided to take a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. Our kids never wanted to leave and my husband and I wondered why we had never taken the kids before. Not only were we greeted with the customary lei greeting but we were instantly engulfed in the balmy plumaria scented air. Despite getting our passports lost (or stolen) the locals were fantastic. Even the police welcomed us to their island when we made had to report our lost documents.

The Big Island of Hawaii has 11 different climates and three different colors of sand beaches (green, black, and white.) We were amazed at all of the free adventures that were ours to experience on this tropical island.

The Thurston Lava Tubes provided hours of fun as we explored giant tunnels left by the volcano. And no visit is complete without a visit to the famous Kilauea Volcano National Park where kids and adults can visit the interactive museum, Discovery Center and circle tour. You can even experience incredible views of the sulfur spewing crater (a bit strong smelling) and enjoy hikes, tours or visit the restaurants and gift stores.

After a day in the mountains we were ready for a local swim-hole secret, Kole Kole beach park. This unique place is both exciting and dangerous if you are not careful. Here the fresh waterfalls from the mountains rush to meet the ocean and create a refreshing freshwater swimming hole. The danger comes from flash floods due to excessive rainfall. The current can then wash you out to sea if you are not careful.

My Dream Adventure

After months of careful research I felt I had packed every possible item I would need to bring to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. We had all our immunizations and special malaria pills. We had altitude medicine for our trek to 13000 ft in the Andes mountains and of course my special hiking shoes that I had dutifully spent a month breaking in. I was very responsible and even bought every organic, biodegradable soap, shampoo, bug spray, sunscreen, and lotion on the market. I was prepared with the latest in light clothes, heavy clothes, day packs, rain gear and swim clothes. I had done my research and I was ready to take on this part of the world.

After leaving the Victoria International Airport via Air Canada I was told I could not take my precious luggage into the cabin with me as it was a bit too large. I reluctantly handed it over to the flight attendant who assured me she would take good care of it. When I arrived in Vancouver without my bag I began to panic. After an hour of searching, I had to get onto my connecting flight or I would miss our tour. I was assured that my bag would be waiting for me in Lima, Peru.

I did my best to relax on the long flight to Lima however my worst fears were realized when the baggage department in Lima had no knowledge of my carefully packed suitcase. We tried all that night to track down my bag and even had family back in Canada try to track it down. The next day when there was still was no sign of my bags I had to make a decision, do I let my frustrations ruin my trip or do I smile and begin my adventure?

I guess I wanted this once-in-a-lifetime experience too much to give up over a petty piece of critical luggage. Still wearing my traveling clothes my husband and I wandered the streets of Lima in search of the bare essentials. Our first stop was a huge garage style shop with dusty clothes piled from floor to ceiling in two huge heaps. All of the clothes were new, defective clothes from factories like Old Navy or American Eagle. There was no order to the piles, just giant heaps of light cotton clothes.

For the first time in our marriage my husband actually enjoyed shopping with me. In fact he was having more fun than I was. He simply had to reach into the pile and grab any style or colour of shirt. If it looked like it might fit me, we would buy it. Each item cost only a dollar, so he did not care if it was out of style five years ago. In this manner we wandered in and out of similar shops trying to replace what I needed. After an exhausting day, we were ready the next morning to join our group of fourteen on the first part of our tour to the Amazon Jungle.

As we floated down the muddy waters of the Amazon river for hours on end in a dug-out canoe I knew we were entering a new world. This world cared neither about my organic biodegradable lotions nor about my new out of style clothing. It was evening when we finally reached the soft muddy shore and all thoughts of lost luggage had long since slipped away.

Although we saw no life on our short hike to our jungle lodge we heard a music I will never forget. The music of insects chirping, animals calling and birds, bats and fireflies flying in the night. I lay awake for hours listening to this music half out of delight and half out of fear. Our beautiful lodge was more like a glorified hut. It had a roof to cover us during those terrential monsoon like showers but only three walls. My bed was facing the open jungle with all its sounds, dangers and mysteries.

Two days later I did not want to leave the jungle but the seven of us that were going to hike the Machu Pichu trail were excited to get started. We again checked for my luggage but there was no sign of it anywhere. After a flight to Cuzco our guide took us in the evening to the Black Market. This turned out to be an underground market where one can buy anything. All the big US name brand items were sold there. Where they came from or whether or not they were even authentic items were things I never considered until later.

I bought a great pair of Adidas hiking shoes very cheap. I managed to grab a bright green track suit that had to double as my light clothes, heavy clothes, sleep clothes and even rain gear. There was only time to find one or two more things and we were off. I definitely had no trouble staying under my maximum weight allowance for baggage on the trail.

Every step of the Inca trail on the first day was wonderful. My husband had generously given me his altitude medicine as he did not think he would be affected. Other than the odd tingling feeling caused by the medicine I was feeling great. After hiking all day we fell down exhausted into the food tent our porters had set up for us. I had made it a rule not to eat anything raw and I became an instant vegetarian. I only drank boiled or bottled liquids and I enjoyed the boiled lupine seeds and quinoa.

The night soon became cold and I was grateful for the fatigue which set in allowing me to sleep soundly on the hard ground. As hours turned into days we enjoyed sweeping vistas, ancient ruins from lost civilizations and even witnessed daily life of the Incas who still roam those high mountain trails.

I had been intrigued about the bathroom situation on the trail for months and no matter how much I researched, I never seemed to get answers to my questions. I soon learned what no one wanted to talk about. Needless to say I was grateful for the altitude medicine and my new veggie diet that kept me from getting the dreaded condition that seemed to affect most on the trail. Most people became grateful to pull over into a bush without any warning to take care of business.

Each day on the trail brought us higher into the mountains and deeper into an ancient world created and hidden by the Incas centuries ago. I felt sacredness within the crumbling walls of their homes and temples. Machu Picchu is a journey not a destination. With or without my luggage I would do it again in a heart beat.

West Edmonton Mall turned out to be a wonderful weekend getaway even in the winter. Although we could not get to Hawaii and back in three days, we did stay in the Fantasyland Hotel's Polynesian room. We were inside the mall and close to all of the action. With over 800 stores to chose from West Edmonton Mall is truly a shoppers dream come true with all of your favorite stores in one place.

After a day of shopping I was ready to rest and relax at the famous indoor water park. My husband and I figured it was cheaper to pay the $29.00 entrance fee to the water park than to let me shop another day. This was a super fun choice. Raging rapids was relaxing and I enjoyed the tube rides. When I attempted Nessie's Revenge I felt sick.:( As I was twisting twirling and splashing down the slides I was laughing and screaming all at the same time. I finally mustered up the courage to ride the Typhoon where the slide is partially enclosed leaving a rider in total darkness part of the time.

I was on a high after I made it down and somehow I managed to let my husband talk me into attempting a ride on the Sky Screamer. I almost lost my nerve as I climbed straight up the 78ft ladder and looked down the Sky Screamer.:eek: I felt like fainting but was too embarrassed to back down so I smiled weakly, waved to my spectators and screamed my head off. I thought I would die but I lived and even laughed when it was over. There is plenty for young and old including a kids section filled with slides, rapids and rides.

Galaxyland, the world's largest indoor amusement park, entertained me as my big kid husband lived out all his childhood memories of thrills and spills on many of the 25 fantastical rides. We never stuck around but in the evening teens can Rock and Ride from eight to midnight.

The mall also has a beautiful indoor skating rink, all kinds of educational marine adventures and even two different mini golf courses. Of course the movie theaters appeal to many and there is always something new going on at West Edmonton Mall.