G&K

Thanks Jesse. We're all good. Still waiting for Rocel to get her Permanent Resident Visa for Canada so I'm coming back on my own for now. Sure am going to miss the Philippines. Love it here even if there are no RVs!! Geo

Thanks Jack. On a plane tomorrow morning. Its going to be a scramble to find somewhere to live and a job. Geo

I try for 7 seconds Jack as we are usually so heavy and I so don't want to be doused in liquid Nitrogen. Back in Canada on the 9th. Job hunting then. Jumped back here today to see how folks were coping with Harvey. All the best, Geo

Thanks guys!!! Good to be back. Plan on working into breakup in April, then back to the Phils to maybe September, then back here with the family for a few years split between Canada and the Phils. We have family both here and there so splitting our time seems to make sense. I am very fortunate that Essential Coil Well Service wanted me back. Lots of changes, but so far they are all good. Having fun and learning something new each and every day!! Geo

After propping my flipflops on a beach in the Philippines since April 7 2016, I find myself roping a Nitrogen tanker at 56,500kgs loaded around northern Alberta and BC again. lol What is old is new again. Unfortunately, they pretty much won't let anyone over 60 back into the Middle East after the last slowdown and I'm still a couple of years short of my pension. The boss is still in the Philippines and I miss her and being there. We hit -42*C a couple of weeks ago and this is NOT what I'm used to. lol Geo

Train wreck looking for a place to happen. Good thing you caught it!! Geo

Settled in at Milton Heights Campground near Toronto. Volvo is at Sheehans Truck Center for some love.

Well, yesterday was "interesting". I guess it goes to show that you should never present an immigration officer with anything out of the ordinary. It is always easier to say no, and probably safer from a career perspective. I'm little ticked off over the immigration process yesterday. It was pretty unpleasant, not because of any law or regulation we fell foul of, just seems like a lot depended on the personalities involved and good luck if you hit the wrong person. Rocel and I don't have the easiest case to understand because of the complication of living and working in Doha up until last month, so, as indicated in the US Immigration web site, we put the whole thing down in a one-page summary letter and added all the backup documentation to verify the truth in her application. Rocel speaks excellent English, but not natively fluent. And she was already nervous about this process as no one wants to talk to government officials that control your destiny, from ANY nation, if you don't have to. So the Consul grills her verbally, but won't look at any of the provided documentation she supplied. It was fronted by a concise one page summary letter, for crying out loud, that explained why she wanted to go the the US, how long she wanted to stay, her ties to countries outside the US to make sure she would go home at the end of the visit, and finally she explained exactly how she would pay for her visit. Would have taken less than a minute to read and digest. And the consul completely ignored all of this. As Rocel wasn't working any more in Qatar and she was on a Canadian tourist visa, end of story. Entry denied. Now in the interest of balance, the Canadian system is about as screwed up, but in the opposite direction. There, you are never allowed to speak with a human being. EVERYTHING has to be presented in writing, and if it isn't clear enough, entry denied. Took two tries to get her Canadian tourist visa as we were too casual on the first submission. Traveling the globe with Rocel has also been a very good introduction to institutional racism applied towards travelers in the modern world. As an older white male Canadian I have a free ride pretty much anywhere. Yes, sir, visa on arrival or no visa at all, how long would you like to stay sir? No problem sir. Have a nice day sir!! If you are brown and from the developing world you have the Devil of a time getting a visa into most developed countries. Even a tourist visa. The automatic assumption is that you are trying to find a job and its assumed you will overstay your visa deadline and become an illegal alien. To be fair, it does happen enough that there are good reasons behind the prejudices. But we supplied the correct paperwork to make that a non-event. It would be pleasant if the govt officials charged with a task actually did their jobs instead of just wielding a "denied" stamp. If we hadn't done the letter and provided all the supporting documents I could understand this a lot better!! The bad guys seem to be able to cruise across our porous borders with little consequence, but trying to do it up front and legally has some interesting challenges if you "aren't from these parts". lol Geo

Thanks Jack. It's nice to be home!!

Thanks Phil. It has been interesting, but everyone in this business has their tales of woe just now. I'm really glad to be back on Vancouver Island, its way over 100F in Doha already. All the best, Geo

Hi Darryl, I was in Kurdistan for 6 months, then spent the last 18 months in Qatar. It was supposed to be a 3 year contract, but the oil price got in the way. I've been home in Sidney BC since May 26th. My sea freight furniture shipment arrives (I hope) on July 8th after which I'm free to travel. Karen and I split up mid-October last year after making not quite 41 years together. Rocel and I got together in January, but because she if from the Philippines all the ease of travel we are used to is denied to her. It took two tries to get her a tourist visa to Canada, and we are sitting on the edge of our chairs waiting to see if the US will let her in. If it works out OK, we will fly Victoria - Vancouver - Orlando - Nashville and pick up the rig from JW's place in Unionville, TN sometime around mid-July. We are for sure going to come through Alberta in probably early to mid August as I have to renew my Alberta class 1 which requires my physical presence. Maybe we can finally meet up?

Well Ladies and Gents, I'm back in civilization at bit before planned. Weatherford laid off 11,000 plus from their 65K workforce and guess who got caught in that one? lol Since my split with Karen in October last year I have found someone else. Her name is Rocel and she is here with me in Sidney, BC, Canada. Took a bit of work to get her Canadian tourist visa as she is from the Philippines. We have applied for a US tourist visa for her, and if all goes well after her interview on the 25th we will fly to Nashville and pick up the rig from JW sometime in mid-July. Then back to Ontario so I can get emissions certified and re-registered, then hopefully back to the West Coast and home in Sidney. We hope to spend some time in the southern USA visiting friends and family as far south as the Keys. If any of all y'all are around we would love to meet up. All the best to you all. Geo

It's Friday so it must be Laramie. Still sunny but colder. 75 is not good for fuel consumption or trailer tire temps, but we're well positioned for Oakley tomorrow. Geo

We're bound to hit some bad weather now, just washed the truck at the Blue Beacon in Twin Falls last night. Poor thing hadn't had a proper bath since Alberta. I need to find a place to get my wheels polished and the trailer and truck waxed. Needs the old wax stripped first, I have the correct stripper. Anywhere between Oakley KS and Atlanta GA would work. Anyone have ideas? Thx Geo

It would probably be just plain mean to mention the sun is following us south. It was another beautiful day here, about 73* going through Boise this afternoon. Ended up at Anderson's RV park in Eden!!?! Seems appropriate. With the weather in Kansas, good thing that truck is Canadian Jack and knows how to drive in snow. Geo

In transit in Oregon heading for Atlanta via Oakley, KS. Geo

At Schwarz Bay ferry terminal on Vancouver Island. Headed back to work in Red Deer, should be there tomorrow night if all goes well. Not a great start, BC Ferries cancelled the 10 am I was booked on, but at least they had the courtesy to call and advise. Geo

Just arrived in Anacortes, WA. Going to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island tomorrow early. Weather is fantastic, the trip was simply amazing with bright sunny conditions the whole way through the Canadian Rockies. Lots of snow beside the road in the high passes. We are still early in the season. Got attitude at the border which is unusual for us. Had to justify why we were coming to the US to spend our money. Quite odd. Also got earache over taking my RV through the RV lane. Explained nicely that my 65' (or so) was much easier to maneuver than a 45' motorhome, but it just seemed today the guardians of the wild frontier wanted none of it. Like, yeah, right, next time I'm going on the commercial side so they can b***h instead. Some days... They asked about people hiding in the fiver but at least didn't want to look. I may have to add Sumas to my very small list of places not to cross at when you have an easy alternative. Geo

Finally in Red Deer, Alberta today with all the various units and people and animals that make up Desolation Roe on the road. A scramble tomorrow to get ready to launch Saturday morning for Vancouver ISland and K's summer quarters. Once that is accomplished I am back to Alberta and back to work. Sometime, meantime we will buIld a bed for the Volvo this summer. It will be a labour of love. Or something! Geo

This is too funny, or at least it is if you have a warped sense of humor. Paid callout and after hours fees on the fan clutch job last night so I could get to Red Deer tonight. Instead am sitting on the side of the road 2.3 miles on the Canadian side of the border because the mechanic didn't look at the rad hoses last night and one was worn nearly through from the wobbly fan blade. Looks like a tow into Lethbridge where I will improvise a hose. Volvo has no stock and it will be Tuesday otherwise. Coachnet is being helpful so far which is a positive. Hmmm.

No trans problems yet, but spent yesterday evening at the Volvo dealer in Billings having the fan clutch assembly replaced. Heading to Red Deer today after some battery charge time currently but the weather is not primo. High winds and some rain. Snow forecast this afternoon for Red Deer. Interesting after Junction City in the 90s. Geo

Thanks Don, that's very kind. Need to boot it north this time as we have customs to deal with tomorrow over the trailer mods. I think Great Falls is the more conservative option this time. Would love to take you up next trip south tho. Geo

Just leaving Loveland, Colorado after a very pleasant visit with Jack and Dianne and Roger and Debbie at the New Horizons factory in Junction City, Kansas on Tuesday. Niiice toys and Jack and Danielle's new rig is wonderful. Heading for Great Falls, Montana in a few minutes which is going to make for a long day at over 700 miles, then on to Red Deer, Alberta tomorrow which should be a little better. At least the weather is cooperating so far... Geo

As much as we desperately want to be there, don't bet on it Jack. Paul and Kay are saying tomorrow night for completion, but I'm not fully convinced based on my experience. This was a huge reno project and like all big projects has somewhat flexible end times plus we have to run some acceptance trials to make sure it all works. But it sure does look nice to my eyes so far. I think we will likely be there on Sat or Sun, and would love to see the factory Monday. Will touch base in an email. Geo

Sitting in line at the Sidney-Anacortes ferry terminal waiting to board. Its been a month in Sidney I would mostly rather forget, so its great to be back on the road finally. K and the mutts flew home on the 16th already so I'm on my own this time. Planning on heading from WA down to SLC, then across I-80 to Indiana. Drop the trailer there for some work and then head home bobtail. Really sorry we missed the rally, but next year for sure. Geo