A little bit of excitement today was initiated by the sound of a siren. While wondering what was happening, and knowing that the RV Park was situated next to the Oliver airport where the siren sound seemed to be coming from, I picked up my camera and exited my motorhome. What I saw was the fire shown in the photo below.
Others did the same and we gathered outside to watch.
For the next approximately 3 hours, two water bombers and a spotter aircraft worked to bring the fire under control.
I have moved to my winter home (Desert Gem RV Resort in Oliver BC) where I plan to stay for the next 5 or 6 months. Photos are shown below. After a week of rain and camping in *mud* it is good to be here. The trip from Whitehorse took 5 travel days and covered 2,590 kilometers. That’s an average of 518 kilometers per travel day. There was only one rest day. It’s no wonder I was wasted when I arrived here yesterday.
The first photo is the entrance to Desert Gem RV Resort. The other two photos show my motorhome parked inside the gated RV Park.
A walk around Oliver today was impressive. There doesn’t seem to be any lack of services available within walking distance of the RV Park. I am looking forward to attending the “Festival of the Grape” which takes place next Sunday afternoon.
Today is an especially sad day for me.
I don’t know what makes today *so* different.
I feel *very* alone.
Aggie died 21 months ago . . .
I miss her.
My heart aches.
I remember friends we had.
They *disappeared* as new events entered our life.
They had become friends one by one.
They disappeared in groups;
*not* one by one.
As new events replaced old,
*new* friendships were made,
one by one.
They also, always disappeared in groups . . .
the same cycle,
over and over again.
I AM.
I am still *me*.
I *always* will be *me*.
The last *group* of friends disappeared
when Aggie died.
Is the cycle now finished?
Only a *few* friends remain;
always at a distance.
Will they also soon disappear . . .
as new events replace old?
I feel *very* alone.
The mornings are getting cold; below freezing. It’s time for Cisco and I to get ready to head south. This winter will be spent in Oliver BC. I hate to leave the Yukon for the winter but summer was too short to prepare another home on my property in Tagish. But I will return, with the birds, when Spring in the Yukon, calls me back. I will also, be comfortable, even though alone, in my motorhome, in Oliver. I *will* paint, and paint, and paint. And yes, I expect it will be a lonely winter. Again, another chapter in my life begins.
Late this afternoon two friends and I hiked briskly for about 5 miles along the Yukon River to Miles Canyon and back. That was more exercise than I have had for awhile, and it was great. It was nice and refreshing. Two photos are shown below.
At this point I find that I have even *less* time to do the things I would like to do, than before, when I had a job. Time goes by far to quickly. In my lifetime, my *real* jobs were not only work, but were also *fun*. I did many things and I was always fortunate to enjoy everything I did. I still enjoy life and I still can’t find enough time to do *more* of the things I would like to do. Of course now that I don’t have the security of a *real* job with a *real* pay cheque, I have to limit my time for things that are within my income. But I don’t regret anything I have done in the past and I don’t regret the money I have spent. I *continue* to be fortunate enough to enjoy my life, even though I really miss not having Aggie to enjoy it with me.
Summer has been far too short. I thank Sheila, in New Brunswick, for her company, and for having “put up with me” for 2 months, and who let me park my motorhome in her driveway. I thank Garry and Annie, in Chetwynd, for their warm welcome and hospitality. And upon returning to Tagish I thank Sandi, for her company and for again honouring me with another one of her great (and healthy) suppers. And I thank Walter, who was kind enough not only to invite me to another barbecue at his house at Bear Creek, but also for giving me one of his vehicles to use, while my motorhome is parked in the Pioneer RV Park in Whitehorse. And I thank the staff at Pioneer RV Park for their kindness.
Mornings are getting colder, and the time is coming soon, when like a snowbird I must head south, to Oliver BC for the winter. I wonder what new experiences that will introduce into my life. At this time I only know I will paint there.
