The final entry to our 2009/2010 Trip

Stayed in Coeur d'Alene for 3 days, just lazing around and waiting for weather to the north to clear so we could make the final run to the border. On the second day late in the afternoon a motorhome almost identical to ours pulled in and parked near us. It is a Newmar Kountry Star. The next morning we met our neighbors next door, the ones with the Kountry Star like ours. They are Paul and Bonnie Markland from Edson Alberta. They also have place in Valemont, BC, where they have a studio, as she is an Artist. Paul is a Construction guy building houses. They just bought the motorhome in Mesa and are importing it into Canada today at Porthill, going into Creston. Their motorhome is 37 ft and a 2005. They paid $60,000 for it. A Good Deal!! They invited us over to check it out. Almost identical to ours, except the extra 2 feet allows a back window with a small computer desk and a couple of easy chairs. Very nice !! Today Denice is working on our list of purchases while we have been down here, to present at the Canadian border when we cross tomorrow. We had planned on crossing today, but is showering, and we frown apon traveling in the rain. Clear in the early afternoon. Denice completes the cross border list, a total of $2875.86. Remove the $1500 we are allowed and we will have to pay 5% on $1375.86, approx $68.79. No big deal. If we had been on the ball when we returned to Canada via the Westjet Plane from Vegas we would have brought with us $1500 worth of souvineers, with no GST applicable. However we did not even have suitcases with us on that trip, so we declared nothing. Now on returning to the States the process starts over, and now we have to declare all that we bought. So on the 23rd we arrived at Kingsgate from Coeur d'Alene. Crossed USA/ Canada border with no major issues. Just regular questions about liquor, tobacco, and firearms, and how much we are bringing back. We advised the $2875.86, so he asked us to come in and declare, which we did. Paid an addditional $68.98 GST. Once that paid we were on our way. EASY EH!! Arrived Pincher Creek at a friends yard at about 4:00PM. No RV Campgrond open in Pincher Creek at this time of the year, but luckily we have lots of friends there so just set up shop in Keith and Carols yard. He has a big yard just across the creek from the Golf Course. I tried to convice him he should be building a RV Park there, as he has all the right equipmet to do the job, but he just doesn't seem interested. Funny, how when you get our age, building new things and committing yourself to long term work, managing a new facility, does not seem to have the draw that it once did. Anyway we set up down by his shop, and then we went and had a beer with them. They had a do to go to so we then went to Shannon's and then to dinner with them at Luigi's. Home to ELTORO by 8:00PM. Next day we had planned to head home, but we are waiting for our Granddaughter, Samantha, to bless us with another Great-Grandchild. She is due today, but no luck. We elected to even stay another day, but even that did not encourage any development. Monday, decided to head on home, and wait until the big event. Arrived High River before noon, and just got right after emptying out ELTORO. Wasn't that big of a job, as we were not worried about canned goods and other stuff in the pantry freezing. I am also not winterizing it, so keeping my fingers crossed, and watching the weather for frost warnings, counting on good weather from now on. 2009/2010 Winter Vacation now over
161 days total away, not accounting for the 4 days when we flew back home for the funeral.