Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12 and 13, 2016 (Merritt Rodeo Grounds, Merritt, BC)

Neither one of us slept all that well last night. We were woken in the wee hours of the morning by a thumping sound...at first we thought it was the mouse trap but then realized it was way too loud to have been that. Visions of a huge rat came to mind...oh yuck! Steve got up and had a look around but didn't see anything abnormal. Of course, after that all we did was lay awake listening...it's amazing how many sounds the trailer makes as it cools down while you lay there intently listening!

It was after 7:00 by the time we crawled out of bed...and we soon discovered what the sound had been. One of the new picture frames that I had recently put up using the 3M velcro strips had fallen down. Hmmm....guess I should have washed the wall first before attaching the strips :).

Today was a chore day...laundry had to be done! However, it wasn't until almost noon by the time we headed off into Merritt...I wanted to get a blog update done! Steve dropped me and the laundry off at the laundromat and went to fill a propane tank and gas containers. The laundromat in Merritt is one of the nicer ones...big with lots of machines and sorting tables...but is a tad bit on the expensive side. I also like that they have full time staff working there too.

With the laundry done and propane and gas taken care of, we made one last stop...at the liquor store...before heading back. More and more RV's are arriving each day...looks like it's going to be a good turn out!

Wednesday was quad riding day! Actually it was 9:28 when I found out that we were going on a ride that was leaving at 9:30...well okay then...I threw bottled water and snacks in the cooler bag and we were ready to go in no time. Needless to say the group didn't actually head off until closer to 10:00. There were 11 in our group...a mixture of quads and side-by-sides. Let's see if I can remember everyone's name...Zan, Dave, Matt, Gary, Stacy, Jim/Cecile, Bill/Janet, Bob, Gordie, Steve and me...all members of "our club" - Cowichan Valley ATV Club. Zan led the group and Gordie was the tail-gunner.

We're almost ready to head off...
 ...and away we go...
At our first rest stop...
were horses...





Stopped to talk to another group...

Taking another break...


Free range cattle...





Lunch at Lily Lake...
Bill...
In front of Zan the calves kept running up the road instead of moving off to the side...
The momma cows weren't too happy and gave chase behind Steve...

Dave...






The quad trail runs beside this new subdivision so they get a lot of dust...Hey, the trails were there first!
Our campground at the Merritt Rodeo Grounds...

We were back at about 3:00...a great 5 hour day/78 km ride out on the trails! After unloading the cargo boxes and things put away, Steve got himself cleaned up (he had had a shower that morning) and then I jumped into the shower. 

By this time it was time to grab a bevie and go out visiting...we started over at Ralph and Sheila's where Diane and Wes were also visiting. We had a nice chat with them and then refreshed our drinks and went over for a visit with Dave and Chris.

At 6:00 it was time to wander back home and make dinner. After eating, we relaxed a bit before going out for an evening stroll...and a chat with folks also milling around.


7 comments:

  1. I laughed about your laundromat comment. It is pretty bad when you get excited about finding a good laundromat!

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    1. Haha...yes, that is one thing I miss about my sticks and bricks home! Doing laundry in my own machines whenever I wanted to! We have come across some very very bad laundromats in our six years on the road!

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  2. Looks like you are having a blast. Hopefully the weather improves.

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    1. Raining now...I sure hope it gets it out of its system today and is nicer for the Poker Ride tomorrow!

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  3. LOL, agree with Jim & Barb on the laundromat comment, so what is Dale doing today while I work? Going to the laundromat in Puyallup WA, one of our favorite laundromats. Silly that we can be excited about finding a clean, large, staffed laundromat!!

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  4. as you know we, too have visited that lovely laundromat..it may be expensive but at least there is someone there to make 'change'!!..looks like the two of you are enjoying your time with the ATV group!..miss you both!!

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