JANUARY
We started the year in Kissimmee Florida with heat and sunshine.We moved to another resort Wyndham Cypress Palms Resort after lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.
The resort had crazy squirrels making nests outside our screened in balcony.
We enjoyed an afternoon at Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney.
We spent an incredible afternoon at Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens which also featured a chapel fodder for my church collection.
John played Championsgate Course Omni Resort in Davenport, game 1 of 2017.
John played Championsgate Course Omni Resort in Davenport, game 1 of 2017.
He also played Falcon's Fire - 2 games in 2017.
Great gluten free meal at P.F. Chang's.
Week 2 was the start of our westward trip to Las Vegas. The weather just got cooler as we went. We spent the first night in Panama City Beach and it was freezing for the two days we were there. We stayed at Wyndham Panama City Beach timeshare.
From there we drove to LaFayette Louisiana. It was 41 F or 5 C when we headed out.
After Louisiana we spent a few nights in Texas, first stop was two nights in San Antonio.
Check it out here. And of course there would be a church or two...
San Fernando
St. Joseph
After Louisiana we spent a few nights in Texas, first stop was two nights in San Antonio.
Check it out here. And of course there would be a church or two...
San Fernando
St. Joseph
Still in Texas we stop for the night in Van Horn.Then we cross into New Mexico and Arizona where we spend a night in Tucson.
WEEK 3 sees us heading to Las Vegas for 15 days at the Wyndham Grand Desert.
We checked out the Chinese New Year decorations at Bellagio, always a must-see for me.
Caught a few movies Hidden Figures and Sleepless.
John golfed at Stallion Mountain game 3 in 2017.
And of course we went to lunch at Gordon Ramsay's Pub and Grill.
WEEK 4
Trippin' the Light Fantastic
More Vegas Opulance
Checked out a new casino Lucky Dragon, not very impressive and location isn't great.
It was a gorgeous day so we went downtown to find some murals.
Some Vegas murals.
Some interestingjunk. memorabilia.
It was the day of the Women's March and it was crowded. We had a drink at the Container Park and enjoyed the sunshine.
In honour of the parade the High Roller, which normally changes colour, stayed pink all night.
Some more movies at $5 who can resist, Live by Night and XXX The Return of Xander.
Dinner at Mon Bon Ami in Paris, dinner at P.F. Chang's in Planet Hollywood.
John golfed with a buddy at Tuscany game 4/2017.
He also lunch with 2 buddies and I went to Gordon Ramsey's new fish and chip shop as well as In N Out Burger, both at the Linq.
Several walks along the Strip and checked out Wynn and Palazzo Chinese New Year decorations.
Several factory outlet shopping sprees.
Dinner at Ellis Island Casino where we actually spent and lost $5 each but it got us our drinks.
WEEK 3 sees us heading to Las Vegas for 15 days at the Wyndham Grand Desert.
We checked out the Chinese New Year decorations at Bellagio, always a must-see for me.
Caught a few movies Hidden Figures and Sleepless.
John golfed at Stallion Mountain game 3 in 2017.
And of course we went to lunch at Gordon Ramsay's Pub and Grill.
WEEK 4
Trippin' the Light Fantastic
More Vegas Opulance
Checked out a new casino Lucky Dragon, not very impressive and location isn't great.
It was a gorgeous day so we went downtown to find some murals.
Some Vegas murals.
Some interesting
It was the day of the Women's March and it was crowded. We had a drink at the Container Park and enjoyed the sunshine.
In honour of the parade the High Roller, which normally changes colour, stayed pink all night.
Some more movies at $5 who can resist, Live by Night and XXX The Return of Xander.
Dinner at Mon Bon Ami in Paris, dinner at P.F. Chang's in Planet Hollywood.
John golfed with a buddy at Tuscany game 4/2017.
He also lunch with 2 buddies and I went to Gordon Ramsey's new fish and chip shop as well as In N Out Burger, both at the Linq.
Several walks along the Strip and checked out Wynn and Palazzo Chinese New Year decorations.
Several factory outlet shopping sprees.
Dinner at Ellis Island Casino where we actually spent and lost $5 each but it got us our drinks.
FEBRUARY
WEEK 1 we ended January in Las Vegas where we visited some old haunts on the Strip and found a new one, The Park.
On the 30th we flew to Mazatlan for six weeks.
We were booked for 4 weeks at Royal Villas in the Golden Zone. Once we checked in we changed that to 2 weeks as we didn't want to do 4 weeks of all-inclusive.
We've been to Mazatlan a few times so we relaxed quite a bit. But I went for a haircut and we both had pedicures.
We walked to town, took several walks on the beach.
What we ate! And that was only 5 days!
Week 2 lots more food as we continue our all inclusive meal plan and Jose continued to surprise us.
We caught up with Carol and Bill, blogger friends we first met in 2013 and had lunch at Beach Burger.
We spent time downtown, admiring the Carnaval statues.
We went over to Deer Island, for part of a day.
And we ate lots!
Week 3
A Mexican walk in El Quelite
Mazatlan Meanderings
Another weekly recap we are certainly settled into this easy life. We found a couple of new restaurants and visited some museums.
A Mexican wedding
Weekly recap.
There is a monthly Art Walk that we always go to.
We had dinner after with Bill and Carol at Topolo.
A day out in La Noria.
Mexican Resort Hopping
MARCH
Weekly Recap
Day 1 Los Angeles
Day 2 LA to Monterey
Day 3 Monterey and area Ramada Inn Monterey
17 Mile Drive
Mission at Carmel
Lunch in Carmel
Day 4 Monterey to Solvang including Hearst Castle
Day 5 Solvang
Day 6 Solvang to Bakersfield includes San Luis Obispo
SLO
SLO Mission
BAKERSFIELD
Day 7 Bakersfield to Las Vegas
APRIL
Boron CA
Bloomin' Vegas
Week 2 on the road home to Toronto
We stayed in Gallup NM, Meteor, Route 66 Casino, Amarillo, TX, Shamrock, Groom and Fort Smith.
Week 3 recap HOME
JUNE
Doors Open was on.
Fool's Paradise
R C Harris Water Treatment Plant
St. John the Baptist Norway
A friend and I visited the Textile Museum.
A drive to Aurora to see a mural. And then to Doors Open in Stouffville.
I began a four week yoga class at the AGO.
Toronto shows its Pride.
Canadian art at the AGO
JULY
A shower, a castle, a covered bridge.
Fort Erie
University of Toronto sculptures part 1 and part 2
AUGUST
I continued on my scavenger hunt of sculptures University St. Sculptures and architecture. More University sculpture!
Some random sculptures around town!
I was busy wandering the streets downtown.
Week 1 recap.
Week 2 lunch at the Distillery and more wanderings.
Canoe Landing
Sculpture scavenging in Daviswille.
A mural
An historical stroll along King St. and sculptures on Front St.
Week 3 recap.
A trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington.
Lego display
More sculptures at the Gardens.
A lavender farm visit.
Underpass Park has hundreds of murals. And more here.
Week 4 recap
We started the week with a family wedding in Kitchener where we stayed for two nights.
We explored Stratford on Sunday.
A stop for a beer and stroll in Streetsville.
Bata Shoe Museum
Just strolling along King St.
Week 5 recap
A weekend in Montreal.
We meandered along Highway 1 on our way home.
Took a trip to African Lion Safari.
SEPTEMBER
We had been talking about this trip for a long time on and off. Then we said we'd do it in June but delayed it to September when the kids are back in school.
We always wanted to go to Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone.
We also wanted to drive across Canada, John has been to all the western provinces except Saskatchewan. I have only been to Vancover and Calgary.
We also wanted to go to the following states that we have never been to.
Bucket List
Nebraska
South Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Wyoming
Iowa
Delaware
The distance in hours does not include bathroom and lunch breaks nor sidetrips.
The time differences are nice going west, not so nice coming back.
Weekend Reflections
Day 3 - Rochester MN to Lincoln NB stops in Austin MN and Mason City IA
Shadow Shot Sunday Crazy Horse
Shadow Shot Sunday Ennis
Day 8 - Billings MT to Driggs ID
Monday Mural Medicine Hat World's Largest
Day 21 - Medicine Hat AB to Regina SK
Shadow Shot Sunday Regina
Thursday Doors
Day 22 - Regina SK to Brandon MB
Day 23 - Brandon MB to Winnipeg MB
Day 24 - Winnipeg MB to Dryden ON
inSPIREd Sunday Steinbach Mennonite Village
Mennonite Quilting Steinbach Mennonite Village
Weekly Recap
Day 25 - Dryden ON to Nipigon ON
Nipigon Murals
Friday Finds
Day 26 - Nipigon ON to Sault Ste. Marie ON
October 1 found us on Day 28 and our final leg from Sudbury to Toronto.
Here's some of the logistics of the trip.
Total kilometers 12,000 or 7,200 miles and two oil changes.
Tolls
$17 in MIchigan
Parking
Denver CO $42
Vancouver V1
Lincoln NB $20
Vancouver BC Stanley Park minimum $3.50 per hour per stop!!!!
Winnipeg MB Museum Human Rights
FERRY
Return trip Port Angeles to Victoria
Only item lost/forgotten were the ice packs which were left in a fridge I think in Brandon MB.
HOTELS
In total we paid for 10 nights our of 27 nights.
MEALS
Breakfast
Lincoln NB as Marriot did not provide
Regina SK Sheraton not provided $30
Lunches
Rapid City SD
Jackson Hole WY
Victoria BC Sidney
Victoria BC Chinatown
Portage la Prairie SK
Steinbach SK Mennonite Village
Dinners
Only restaurant splurge was in the Fairmont Jasper National Park
Nipigon ON Sue Chef
Pizza delivery twice
Room Service
Cornhusker Marriot $38 Lincoln NB
Vancouver Original Joe's
Victoria Fish and chips
Denver CO
Spokane WA steak sandwiches
Regina SK salmon and steak
Sudbury ON Indian delivery
ATTRACTIONS cost for two
Cheyenne WY Frontier Days $18
Gothenburg NB Museum FREE
Mount Rushmore $5 annual pass per car
Crazy Horse
Little Big Horn Montana $20 a car
Yellowstone and Tetons NP $50
Victoria BC Butchart Gardens $65.10
Victoria BC carriage ride $120
Victoria BC Castle $26.50
Seattle WA Chihuly $41
Drumheller AB Museum $28
Winnipeg Museum of Human Rights $28
Winnipeg Canadian Mint FREE
Steinbach SK Mennonite Village $16
Week 1 on the road and home.
Week 2 October is Canadian Thanksgiving and my BIL hosted everybody contributing a dish. We also had other family in for a Thanksgiving meal.
The third week of October merited a trip to the Textile Museum and some home cooking.
And October is over with lots of monsters at the AGO.
Week 1 recap
We drove to Florida for our anniversary.
Day 1 Toronto to Cranberry PA
Day 2 Cranberry PA to Wytheville VA
Day 3 Wytheville VA to Savannah GA
Weekly Review
Day 4 Savannah GA to Boca Raton FL
Boca Raton Museum of Art Sculpture Garden
Boca Raton Museum of Art
Weekly Recap
Daytona Beach FL
Savannah GA
Mount Airy NC
Weekly Review
DECEMBER
The first week of December were busy with getting the condo painted.
We also went to the Christmas Market in the Distillery District.
Week two in December found us drinking mulled wine at City Hall, visiting the Gardiner Ceramics Museum and having family for dinner.
Week three was more Christmas decorations and lunch with friends. We also went to the Vikings Exhibit at the ROM and took in the Dior and Wildlife displays.
Week 4 was Christmas holidays.
TRAVELS RECAP
Google came up with this map based on my photos. It says we did 341 places but doesn't seem to have any pins on Canada?
My blog was featured in May by Nag On The lake.
Andrew in Australia mentioned me!
2017 Monthly City Themes
Dec – Gift
Nov - Rock ‘n’ Roll
Oct - Sensual
Sept - Photographing the Photographer
Aug - Young at Heart
July - Motion
June - Nature
May - Let’s Eat!
Apr - Wet
Mar - Black and white in color (images that look B+W but are really in color)
Feb - Loving life
Jan - Photo of the Year
The distance in hours does not include bathroom and lunch breaks nor sidetrips.
The time differences are nice going west, not so nice coming back.
Day 3 - Rochester MN to Lincoln NB stops in Austin MN and Mason City IA
LINCOLN
AUSTIN
MASON CITY
Six Word Saturday SPAM Museum
Weekly recap with more photos
The Curtis Hotel Denver CO funky themed floors
Weekend Reflections Mount Rushmore
Decorated Utility Boxes Rapid City
Day 7 - Rapid City SD to Billings MT Ennis, Crazy Horse and Little Big Horn
Shadow Shot Sunday Ennis
Day 8 - Billings MT to Driggs ID
Good Random Fun Jackson Hole Wort Hotel
Weekly Travel Theme NAMES
Day 12 - Spokane WA to Port Angeles WA Snoqualime
Day 13 - Port Angeles WA to Victoria BC Sidney BC
REVISED EASTBOUND MAP
Day 14 - Victoria BC
Day 13 - Port Angeles WA to Victoria BC Sidney BC
Note - the Canadian portion is in kilometres not miles.
REVISED EASTBOUND MAP
Day 14 - Victoria BC
Weekend Reflections Victoria
Thursday Doors Victoria
Butchart Gardens Victoria
Butchart Gardens part 2 Victoria
VICTORIA
CHINATOWN
Craigdorroch Castle Victoria
St. Andrew's Cathedral Victoria BC
Shadow Shot Sunday - Chihuly Seattle WA
Weekend Reflections Seattle WA
Weekly Travel Theme COSY Vancouver
Souvenirs BC
Thursday Doors Kamloops
Day 20 - Edmonton AB to Medicine Hat AB Drumheller AB
Monday Mural Medicine Hat World's Largest
Day 21 - Medicine Hat AB to Regina SK
Shadow Shot Sunday Regina
Thursday Doors
Day 22 - Regina SK to Brandon MB
Day 23 - Brandon MB to Winnipeg MB
Day 24 - Winnipeg MB to Dryden ON
inSPIREd Sunday Steinbach Mennonite Village
Mennonite Quilting Steinbach Mennonite Village
Weekly Recap
Day 25 - Dryden ON to Nipigon ON
Nipigon Murals
Friday Finds
Day 26 - Nipigon ON to Sault Ste. Marie ON
OCTOBER
Here's some of the logistics of the trip.
Total kilometers 12,000 or 7,200 miles and two oil changes.
Tolls
$17 in MIchigan
Parking
Denver CO $42
Vancouver V1
Lincoln NB $20
Vancouver BC Stanley Park minimum $3.50 per hour per stop!!!!
Winnipeg MB Museum Human Rights
FERRY
Return trip Port Angeles to Victoria
Only item lost/forgotten were the ice packs which were left in a fridge I think in Brandon MB.
HOTELS
In total we paid for 10 nights our of 27 nights.
Our biggest splurge was a night at the Fairmont Jasper National Park.
MEALS
Breakfast
Lincoln NB as Marriot did not provide
Regina SK Sheraton not provided $30
Lunches
Rapid City SD
Jackson Hole WY
Victoria BC Sidney
Victoria BC Chinatown
Portage la Prairie SK
Steinbach SK Mennonite Village
Dinners
Only restaurant splurge was in the Fairmont Jasper National Park
Nipigon ON Sue Chef
Pizza delivery twice
Room Service
Cornhusker Marriot $38 Lincoln NB
Vancouver Original Joe's
Victoria Fish and chips
Denver CO
Spokane WA steak sandwiches
Regina SK salmon and steak
Sudbury ON Indian delivery
ATTRACTIONS cost for two
Cheyenne WY Frontier Days $18
Gothenburg NB Museum FREE
Mount Rushmore $5 annual pass per car
Crazy Horse
Little Big Horn Montana $20 a car
Yellowstone and Tetons NP $50
Victoria BC Butchart Gardens $65.10
Victoria BC carriage ride $120
Victoria BC Castle $26.50
Seattle WA Chihuly $41
Drumheller AB Museum $28
Winnipeg Museum of Human Rights $28
Winnipeg Canadian Mint FREE
Steinbach SK Mennonite Village $16
Week 1 on the road and home.
Week 2 October is Canadian Thanksgiving and my BIL hosted everybody contributing a dish. We also had other family in for a Thanksgiving meal.
The third week of October merited a trip to the Textile Museum and some home cooking.
And October is over with lots of monsters at the AGO.
NOVEMBER
Week 1 recap
We drove to Florida for our anniversary.
Day 1 Toronto to Cranberry PA
Day 2 Cranberry PA to Wytheville VA
Day 3 Wytheville VA to Savannah GA
Weekly Review
Day 4 Savannah GA to Boca Raton FL
Boca Raton Museum of Art Sculpture Garden
Boca Raton Museum of Art
Weekly Recap
Daytona Beach FL
Savannah GA
Mount Airy NC
Weekly Review
DECEMBER
The first week of December were busy with getting the condo painted.
We also went to the Christmas Market in the Distillery District.
Week two in December found us drinking mulled wine at City Hall, visiting the Gardiner Ceramics Museum and having family for dinner.
Week three was more Christmas decorations and lunch with friends. We also went to the Vikings Exhibit at the ROM and took in the Dior and Wildlife displays.
Week 4 was Christmas holidays.
TRAVELS RECAP
Google came up with this map based on my photos. It says we did 341 places but doesn't seem to have any pins on Canada?
My blog was featured in May by Nag On The lake.
Andrew in Australia mentioned me!
2017 Monthly City Themes
Dec – Gift
Nov - Rock ‘n’ Roll
Oct - Sensual
Sept - Photographing the Photographer
Aug - Young at Heart
July - Motion
June - Nature
May - Let’s Eat!
Apr - Wet
Mar - Black and white in color (images that look B+W but are really in color)
Feb - Loving life
Jan - Photo of the Year
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