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Pre-Bonspeil
The local radio station in Ottawa wanted to do an interview with the "Scottish Visitors" to promote Curling at Waltham in conjunction with the Bonspeil. Archie & Alice were supposed to be interviewed on air but since their flight had been delayed and their luggage still in transit we became the "super-subs". Twila Yednock & Alan Wilson (the current President) were also in the studio to give the historical and background information of Waltham Curling Club. The program went out live and everyone who listened to it said we all sounded very good, well they would, wouldn't they!. We were given a souvenir tape of the broadcast which we listened to some time later, and in all modesty it didn't sound bad at all.
Archie & Alice's luggage finally arrived, although they had to drive out to collect it, but at least they would now have familiar equipment for the Bonspeil. We could all now concentrate on the 'game' in hand - could we win a medal yet again!
Waltham Curling Club Mixed Bonspeil
As neither of us had played curling since this time last year, Linda was pleased to get the chance to skip a couple of practice games, one with the mixed team and the other with the ladies, (she was on the winning side of both games), while Wullie threw 16 stones in an hours strenuous practice time. We were both very happy with the outcome, but would it last over the weekend!.
Friday was a good day, especially in the Curling sense as we won both our games which meant that we had to win the next game or we were out of the competition. 
After Wullie's amazing run of skill/luck with the Euchre cards last year the "sharks" were out in force at the Curling club. Dale & Wullie being generous sort of guys let Charlie & Ronnie regain $10 of their heavy losses from last year, but between games Wullie was lured into a few more games where he managed break even, but unfortunately only from Ronnie, as Charlie was playing cards with the Ladies! (make your own story up?)
Saturday didn't go so well at the Curling, we lost! so it's the spectator mode for the remainder of the Bonspeil. Saturday night was the curlers Dinner-Dance which as usual was very good food, lots of raffle prizes and excellent company throughout. A good time was had by all.
Sunday afternoon we spent watching the curling finals which were very close and exciting right up to the last rock. A visit to the local hostelry (the Curl Inn) for dinner with the Wilson family and other friends was the end to a perfect weekend. We may have lost at curling but we certainly won with all the wonderful company.
Post-Bonspeil
With the muscles saying ouch! everytime we moved we persuaded the 89 year old that we should have a day in on Monday relaxing and catching up on the laundry etc. She reluctantly agreed as long as we visited the famous Duffy's Bar in Utica for supper before going to curl for Waltham in the evening.
As usual everyone wanted to take us all to some of the places of interst, the first being the Empress Casino in Joliet where we all, with the exception of Evie & Alice, lost our $20 stake. The food in the buffet was exceptional in both quality and quantity. The evening was spent in the good company of Jane & Dave Wilson's, supper, a blether, cards and pool. 
Our next trip was on a 200+ mile round trip to visit an Amish community south of Champaign Illinois. This was a super day, seeing the people of Arcola & Arthur (previously called Glasgow) riding their buggies in traditional clothes, visiting the craft shops particularly the hand made furniture and quilting shops. In a conversation with one of the Amish shopkeepers we were told that they play cheese curling on Labour day in Arthur. (For more info on the Amish people, visit the hyperlink at the end of this month).
The next trip was to a "Good Furniture Store" in Kewanee with Don & Bev Scharlan. I can hear people saying "a day out to a furniture store", well this is some store, unlike anything we have ever seen - not surprisingly it has oodles of magnificent furniture (the recliner/rocker chair section had hundreds of models to try, some remote controlled with massage and vibration etc.) The store lines both sides of the street with a covered walkway above the road, rents out Bed & Breakfast suites which are furnished with some of the best furniture from the store (Michael Jordan, the basketball superstar furnished his house from this store and lived in the bed & breakfast during his shopping spree), and perhaps best of all it also has a wonderful restaurant, where Bev & Don treated us all to a great lunch.
On Friday it was time to say a fond farewell to Archie & Alice (back to work poor souls) so Evie (Lady Wilson) provided the usual Brunch so everyone could come and say good-bye for another year. Us poor retirees were persuaded (arms twisted behind the back?) to stay and attend the Curling Club's fundraising casino night on Saturday. Dale & Donna took us out on Friday night for supper at an Irish Bar/Restaurant in La Salle. Dale had Wullie eating Scotch Eggs as a starter before dinner which were very very tasty. Afterwards we visited a few of Dale's favourite bars and arrived home about 1.30 a.m.
Saturday morning we took Lady Wilson for a drive in the country calling into Troy Grove where Wild Bill Hicock was born. In the evening we all went to the Curling Club fundraiser - steak dinner, cash draw, casino style gambling - followed by a dance.
Our intention was to leave Lady Wilson's around 9.00 a.m. but when we went to get the truck from the shed the electrically operated door would not open. Dale who had come to see us off went home and changed back into work clothes and he & Alan managed to sort it and we were away before 10.00 a.m.
Once again we had a wonderful time in Triumph. Although we did not win the curling competition we were winners in terms of all the warm wonderful people we came in contact with. Let's say it again "this is the friendliest and well run Bonspeil it has been our pleasure to attend" - our heartfelt thanks go out to the committee and all the many helpers. Now what about our host? We have taken to calling her Lady Wilson in a jocular fashion, but unfortunately she has got rather fond of her "title" and in future will probably insist on it. However no one is more deserving of a title than Evie Wilson, the lady for whom the word nice was coined. "We shall Return"
The Return Trip to Carlsbad NM
Our route back is going to take in Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado & New Mexico.
The weather was cold but dry when we left Illinois but deteriorated as the day went on. Passed by the town in which Abe Lincoln lived and the town Ronald Reagan was born in, both in Illinois. We crossed both the Mississippi (Illinois/Iowa state line) & the Missouri (Iowa/Nebraska state line) rivers on the first day - both big fellers especially at this time of year. Iowa seems very similar to Illinois, quite flat and lots of farms. Herbert Hoover (past president of the USA) was born in Iowa as was one of the USA's greatest ever heroes, John Wayne (THE DUKE). He was born in De Soto but the town doesn't make a lot of it, just a small sign by the highway followed so quickly by the exit that we were past before we could take it in. Since the weather wasn't too great we didn't turn back but given more warning we would have visited. The weather was getting colder/snowier as we crossed into Nebraska and by the time we stopped for the night in Lincoln (State Capitol) ice was forming on the truck mirrors, aerial and other exterior features. After a quick trip out for our evening meal (sliding around the car park) it was into the Motel and turn up the heating - a Rum instead of a beer was called for.
We had very little snow if any during the night (most of the storm had passed over). We started the days journey in a freezing 27 degrees and as we progressed across Nebraska it warmed up gradually, the ice started dropping off the truck sometimes with a loud crack. It eventually reached a high of 55 degrees with sunshine reflecting on yesterdays snow. 
We just had to make a detour to Buffalo Bill's home (near North Platte) which was unfortunately was closed until April. We wandered through the gardens, took video/photos before continuing on our way. Nebraska was more of Illinois & Iowa flat and farmland. There were flocks of Sandhill Cranes & Canadian Geese, we have never seen so many in flight, maybe it was the warm sunshine after the past couple of very cold and snowy days. Even the Bald Eagles were out, enjoying the sunshine enhanced hunting opportunities - one sitting on an ice covered river the other looking down from a tree. We travelled Interstate 80 all the way from Illinois to the Colorado state line, approx. 830 miles. This is a relatively short distance on I-80 as it runs all the way across the USA from San Francisco to New York (work the milage out yourself?). As we entered Colorado we called into the Welcome Center and picked up lots of tourist info for our trip in the summer before settling in Fort Morgan for the night.
A lovely sunny day made the journey to Colorado Springs very pleasant and it was nice to be back amongst the mountains at times above 6000 feet. Took our time getting acquainted with the road system in Colorado Springs (Linda thought we were lost?) but eventually managed to find the shops. Bought some hiking books and maps (main reason for shopping) for our future visit. Drove to Canon City, a real tourist town on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, and found a motel for the night. The next day we visited Royal Gorge at 6,600 ft. The bridge across the gorge is 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River - the highest in the world. The entry fee was $21 but you get access to all the attractions. Journeyed to the bottom of the gorge on the incline train - wanted to go on the aerial tram but they were not running on time and we thought we would get as good a view from the bridge. This was the first tourist attraction we have visited where some of the staff didn't seem to care (came as quite a shock!) - they announced the time of the first aerial tram and two minutes later a young man appeared and changed the notice board to say that it would be delayed 30 minutes (no announcement). When asked why he muttered something about essential safety maintenance.
Our intentions were to cross the bridge by truck and continue on the loop back to highway 50. We crossed the bridge (a very good view) but arrived at a barrier across the road with a sign saying the road was closed but not why. We recrossed the bridge and returned to Canon City to take the scenic route (highways 67 & 165) to Colorado City. It certainly lived up to it's scenic description, passing through the Rocky Mountains reaching a height of 9,350 feet at Biggalo Summit.
Purely by accident, i.e. we had no foreknowledge, we found Bishop's Castle on Colorado State route 165 in the San Isobelle National Forest. This uniquely amazing place is well worth a visit. It is quite hidden from the road, as we approached we thought it was just one of those tourist traps, but fortunately we stopped to marvel at the beauty of the place. 
Tim Bishop started building his castle single handed in June 1969 and is still at it today. All the work is done in his leisure time as he holds a full time job as a welder in Pueblo. The design is quite unusual - the main tower has a dragons head on top with spiral stairs to the other towers. The site will eventually cover 2.5 acres and the castle will have a gatehouse & moat. It is his intention to have a tunnel from the gatehouse to the castle keep. You enter the property & the castle at your own risk as this construction is taking place without planning permission i.e. no building inspection. We climbed up and walked around as did most of the other visitors (about a dozen in the short time we were there). A group of local teens complete with coolbox made use of the chairs provided to eat lunch in this wonderful setting. Apparently Tim Bishop is quite pleased to see anyone availing themselves of the facilities of the site presuming they are tidy & courteous. Weddings, and other such occasions can take place here with the owners consent. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet the Architect/Builder as he was at work but by all accounts he is an interesting guy!
Our stopping point for the night was Taos, New Mexico, which is a very popular skiing resort - with lots of new snow on the slops, just how popular we were to find out as we arrived in the late afternoon to "No Vacancy" signs at all the motels we tried. Feeling dispirited we decided to continue to Santa Fe when we came across a small motel on the outskirts of the town - we took the last non-smoking room - it was our lucky day. Taos is built in the Pueblo style, making it a very picturesque place. Wandered around the very pretty but touristy/ pricy old town the following morning before driving almost the length of New Mexico back to our home on wheels in lovely sunshine. Every few miles we travelled south the temperature rose and we arrived back in Carlsbad to 70 degrees, our round trip of 3,432 miles complete. .
Carlsbad Caverns - We descended 750 feet on a very good zig-zag path until we reached the Big Room which is estimated to be the size of 3 football stadiums - that's big! As we walked through this massive chamber it was hard to believe that caves as large as this exist. We thoroughly enjoyed the three hours this trip took, but at the end Linda still thought that the new Karchtner Caverns in Arizona are still the best she has seen (but we didn't take the Kings Palace guided tour).
Living Desert State Park - This unique Zoo & Botanical Garden allows you to experience the Chihuahuan Desert and is well worth a visit. The 1.3 mile self guided trail includes an aviary, animals which include elk, bison, mule deer, pronghorn, a black bear, mountain lion and lots of prairie dogs - a very informative reptile house and a fascinating cactus house. The views from the park, which sits high in the Ocotillo hills at the northwest edge of Carlsbad are another attraction.
Pecos River in Carlsbad - The size of the Pecos river in Carlsbad was quite surprising to us as we didn't expect that in what is basically desert. With temperatures in the 80's we strolled gently through the riverside park watching the birds and squirrels playing in and around the Pecos. We walked both sides of the river but were very careful on the west side because as everyone knows
"There's no law west of the Pecos" (other than Judge Roy Bean that is!).
Carlsbad to Deming NM via White Sands National Monument -
We decided to take the shorter route to White Sands National Monument although it included 16 miles of 6% downhill grade at Cloudcroft, as it would be the most scenic. White Sands NM is another of those "National" places that is well worth the visit. 
White Sands Missile Base completely surrounds the park so for safety reasons both the park and highway 70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo may be closed while tests are conducted on the missile range.
The "white sands" are actually very fine gypsum which unlike sand stays relatively cool even in hot sunshine. There is an 8 mile drive around the park with ample stopping and picnic places large enough to accommodate RV's. At the far end of the park there is a loop drive which has numerous BBQ's and tables set out for visitors. We watched children and adults climbing the high sand dunes then sliding down on plastic trays - we wished we had come prepared as it looked great fun. The glare from the dunes in 80 degree sunshine was very noticeable even with shades on. We appear to be getting more American like as we pulled the RV through the park, confident we would be able to park and manoeuvre without any problem, something we would never have dreamed of doing two years ago.
Deming NM to Stanfield AZ - The mountain ranges and the masses of bright yellow/gold and blue flowers made for a very pleasant journey. Arizona has had quite a wet winter making everything a lot greener than during our first visit last winter.
Stanfield AZ to El Centro CA - The desert alongside I-8 was like a cactus garden with Ocotillo's flowering profusely, it was a pity we could not stop for photos.
Numerous RV Resorts lined the highway into Yuma - this area only has approx. 1" of rain a year making it a very popular place for snowbirds. Filled up with petrol in Yuma just before crossing into California - pleased we did this as it is about 20 cents a gallon dearer in California. The area just inside the Californian border is a very popular location for "dune buggies". Being a Saturday all the parking areas were full of vehicles and the desert dunes covered with buggies. The temperature is rising almost as fast as the cost of petrol (gas), 90's and $1.75 as opposed to 80's and $1.25 in Carlsbad.
Salton Sea NWR - Centuries ago the Gulf of Mexico extended into this area but eventually this became a dry alkaline basin. In 1905 a break occurred in the irrigation canal (from the Colorado river) flooding the basin and recreating Salton Sea. Salton Sea covers over 380 square miles - 9/15 miles wide and 35 miles long. The depth varies to a maximum of 51 feet and the surface elevation is 227 feet below sea level. As you can imagine this "Sea" in the middle of the desert is a haven for all types of birds particularly water birds. We added Burrowing Owl and Abert's Towhee to our list. Avocets, Stilts, Grebes and Snow Geese were numerous.
El Centro to San Diego to Corona - The next few days is to be spent sorting out RV parks for our friends visit in Sept/Oct which will be spent in southern California. As we journeyed towards the coast the temperature dropped by nearly 20 degrees.
Visited the San Diego area and settled on Bernardo Shores RV park in Imperial Beach south of San Diego. Since we were in San Diego it was impossible to keep Linda out of the Holiday INN on the waterfront as she could still taste the pints of Tetleys Ale she had sampled on our last visit. Unfortunately the Tetley's was off so a sulking Englishwoman settled for Bass to accompany her lunch. The journey to Glen Ivy RV Park, Corona (near to LA) was short and all interstate driving. This site is very nicely situated amongst trees, surrounded by hills and has tennis courts so we extended our stay to 4 nights. Within walking distance there was a fresh fruit/veg market that also had a food garden - we took a stroll over, had a bite to eat before returning with arms full of fresh produce. Crossed over the LA area on the highway system to Huntington Beach and inspected the RV site. Although it is a small site it is nicely situated for LA, Long Beach, Newport Beach and is opposite Huntington State Beach which will allow quiet beachcombing days in between visits to busy LA attractions. Took the scenic route back going south on highway 1 before travelling through San Juan Canyon, over the Elsinore mountains down to Lake Elsinore.
Miles travelled this month: 3,388
Accumulative miles: 47,423
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