Holidays in Victoria, Travel in the U.S.A

Location:  Victoria, BC

Sooke Harbour, BC

We spent the holidays in Victoria, then went to the US in early January to spend time with family.  Dave met his daughter, Heather, in Las Vegas and the two of them traveled in the RV from Vegas to Austin, TX.  I flew to California to spend time with my mom and brother then flew to Austin to meet up with Dave and to spend time with the kids and grand-kids.  From there we took the RV to the farm in Alabama where we spent our time doing projects and chores and enjoying time with family and friends.  Late February we flew back to Victoria to begin preparing for the 2018 season.  The pictures below provide more details of our latest adventures.

Victoria, December 2017

Seabiscuit decorated for the holidays, Wharf Street Marina,
Victoria Inner Harbour

Float in the Victoria Christmas Parade

We took the dinghy over to Fisherman's Wharf to dispose our used engine oil

Returning from our dinghy trip to Fisherman's Wharf we followed the
Victoria Clipper (a fast ferry that travels between Seattle and Victoria)
into the Inner Harbour and watched the
Coho (a ferry that travels between Port Angeles and Victoria) depart.

Peacocks in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria

One of our winter projects - rust removal, cleaning and painting
of our HVAC units.  This is one of the drain pans.

The condenser of an HVAC unit prior to cleaning and painting.

Seal in the inner harbour waiting for some fish scraps.

My mom came to visit in late December for the Christmas holidays.  We enjoyed exploring some of the Victoria tourist attractions and holiday events including a tour of the parliament building, a visit to the Robert Bateman Center, a visit to the Gingerbread House exhibit, a visit to the BC Museum, a walk in Beacon Hill park and visits to some of the local restaurants and pubs.  Of course, we had Mom help with our boat projects including sewing covers for our "ottomans".

The Christmas tree at the BC Legislature Building

The BC Legislature Building lit up at dusk.

B and Louise (Mom) visiting the Gingerbread House exhibit.

It snowed on Christmas Eve so we had a white Christmas.

B sewing an "ottoman" cover.  Our ottomans are file boxes.

Happy New Year from Puddy.  

Early January 2018:  Dave and Heather's RV trip from Las Vegas, NV to Austin, TX

Sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

Unexpected snow on an Arizona Highway.

Heather and Dave at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.

Mid-January 2018:  Austin, TX

B and Maggie getting ready for a bike ride..

Dave and Benjamin at the neighborhood park.

Our newest grandson, Archer, was born in December.
Three generations of Herndon men, Benjamin, Ben, Archer and Dave.

Late January 2018: We drove the RV from Austin, TX to the farm in Alabama with stops in Louisiana and Mississippi.

The beach in Biloxi, MS.

Late January / February:  Sweet Pea Farm, Gantt, Alabama

Stacking wood under the barn.

A deer in front of the cabin.

Louise (Mom) sanding a rocking chair on the front porch.

Playing a friendly game of Hand and Foot.
Uncle Max, Cousin Lydia, Bud, Louise and Richard.

Dave working on the brakes of the International pickup (Big Red).

B working on the radiator.

Controlled burn in the planted pines.

Gathering scrap metal to take to the recycling center.

Rocky Creek waterfalls on the south side of the farm.

Turkeys in the green field behind the cabin.  They like to come out after the rain.

B replacing the water pump in the RV.

Turkey and a deer caught on the game camera.

Planting grass seed.

Burning on the east side of the property.

More scrap metal collecting.

Scrap metal loaded on the trailer for a trip to the scrap yard.

Late February 2018, Back to Victoria, BC.  We took a day trip to Sooke and had lunch overlooking the Sooke Harbour.  We have been doing inventory, chores and projects and are pleased to see some signs of spring. 

Until next time..