Happy new year!!!!!

So today was just kinda a runaround day. I officially have my nursing license which only took about 2 hours. I had my first expereince with Target - LOVE IT!!!!! The trailer is super clean including roof, tires, slide underbelly and paint touch ups on the steps - hehehe - no thats thorough. We found a truck wash so now we are a little cleaner all around. Off to supper to ring in the new year. Colin has reservations for 5 course meal (with fois gras main course) at 9pm tonight and that includes champainge at midnight. Colin thinks it feel like playing crazy taxi (a video game from his youth) while driving - quick turns, dodging obstacles, high speeds etc etc.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

Yay PALMTREES!!!!!!!

Sorry for no post last night - no Internet till this a.m.

Well yesterday morning found us snug in our trailer bed in Elko -had wonderful nights sleep (that's whats so good about your trailer its like home - so comfortable). The bliss lasted until I got up to wash my face and the water flow slowed to trickle - that prompted the ever-famous question "whats the temperature outside??" Oh yes -10 yikes! While much warmer than our recent Saskatchewan life - much to cold for the trailer water lines without insulation. So out came the kettle of boiling distilled water to unfreeze the necessary connections. Then we thought ahhh breakfast - but alas we had propane flow issues and there was no breakfast to be had. our initial though "lets pack up and get the heck out of here". So away we scurried to do the needed tucking and packing to get our "rig" back on the road - only had one minor delay as Colin had to manually push the frozen slide out back in! Oh yes we looked Cool!!!

The rest of the day was filled with endless driving in the snow covered Nevada desert - And people say Saskatchewan is boring to drive through, be rest-assured that the dessert scenery looses its novelty mighty fast.The funniest thing about Nevada is the tiniest of towns are loaded with HUGE hotes and Casinos, and no residential areas - it is so strange. Who travels to no-where Nevada to gamble????

We finally arrived in Reno with myself at the controls, which normally is okay as long as there is not to many turns etc, however I got to tackle a round-about while pulling the trailer. OH MY WORD, this is not easy and it resulted in Colin slightly yelling WIDER WIDER WIDER and me hitting the meridian only once, but cutting off god knows how many vehicles. Colin drove the rest of the leg that day!!!!

In the Reno he temperature was warmer @ +9 and there not to much snow. After Reno you immediately enter the last mountain pass of our trip which spits you out in California. The roads on the pass were dry but it was like driving in the mountains in Canada only with 3 lanes of traffic and going as fast as you can - a tad stressful! But the best part is as you enter a down grade the signs tell you how steep it will be and to check your breaks - so we did - guess what NO BREAKS!!! Thats right somewhere we cam unhooked. So imagine screaming down a mountain in three lanes of traffic with no breaks looking desperately for an exit - LOL we found one and it was all good! Now that we could focus on the scenery it was stunning - we kept saying its like driving through the Rockies at home!

Then into California with palm trees the temp +13 and the a/c on in the truck with the sun roof open - OH YA!!!

So navigating through Sacramento with the trailer - INTERESTING!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE GPS. We wonder how people got around without them. 5 lanes of traffic 130km/hr - you get the picture but we made it. We are currently in the KOA Sacramento rv resort with a view of a lake surrounded by palm trees. We are looking a bit shabby though as the wears of our travels are evident by the filth on the truck and trailer. But problem solved . . .as the mobile "rig scrub and shine" is booked to come and clean us up. We are lucky to have gotten a spot because the California chapter of the American Motor coach association is having its conference here this week - so we are nestled in amongst some pretty impressive "rigs", ones which actually deserve the title "rig".

So off the California board of nursing today to obtain my license and out to celebrate the new year tonight.

Will post some better pics later!

We are on our way!!!!! Night 2 already

Hello everyone, can't hardly believe that I am posting for night number 2 - how time passes.
We had a very rushed and tiresome Christmas but over the month of December we were able to fit both families and even some friends in, and had a wonderful time doing so. I worked nights over Christmas and Colin tended to the family get togethers.
We spent the 27th doing the final packing and arranging for our winter and left the morning of the 28th very exhausted. We have had a relatively uneventful trip but have learned a few very key things on our journeys. We traveled approx 800km yesterday and made it to Helena Montanan. it was this leg of our journey that we learned our first two lessons.

#1 bikes on a bike rack do not travel well attached to the bumper of a fifth wheel. we found ourselves just passed Oyen with Colin sweating bullets watching the bikes diligently swing wildly back on forth from the rear view mirror. We then were stopped under a street light in Acadia Valley removing the bikes from the partly dismantled bike rack, taking the tires off the bikes and trying desperately to prop them in a safe spot for the rest of the journey.

#2 One who is working in the U.S. can not pass the border before 10 days prior to there start date - I start on the 12th and we were five days early. This translated into Colin trying to calm me down at the border crossing while waiting for the managers ruling relating to the same. . . . they let us through I am sure only on Gods good graces (thanks again).

It was at the border that we found ourselves amongst the huge caravan of snowbird's heading south - each looking at us twice as they drove passed I am sure thinking "are they not a little young"!!!!

Helena we stopped and settled into a hotel were we promptly ate supper and crashed in front of the t.v.

This a.m. we started off and have traveled about 1000km. The lessons we learned today are

#4 even though sunny and warm Monita pass can be grueling - with solid ice covered roads and blowing snow. Again we found ourselves in a long line of snowbirds - we stayed behind the caravan allowing there experience guide us.

#5 Superstore walmarts and flying J fuel/service plazas ROCK and they are EVERYWHERE even the smallest towns.

#6 We are no longer called a travel fifthwheel but a "RIG"!! Doesn't that sound important, I assure we are not but its fun for now.

Well now we reside in Elko Nevada in a snow covered R.V. lot - drinking a $4 bottle of wine (yes thats right booze and fuel - SUPER CHEAP!!!) and you can get booze at the gas station - LOL - this could be fun!

Anyway ta ta for now. Keep posted for the Zimmer Rig adventures!!!

The Zimmers prepare for a Winter in the Sun!

Hello everyone - this is the start of my/our blog and I'm nervous,why? well I have read other blogs and I know that I am unable to speak with the vocabulary skills and eloquence that others do. Well I will learn I guess.

Well thats right FINALLY (my nursing school friends will really apreciate this) I am off to nurse in the U.S. it has taken me all year to study, write the NCLEX, and do the required papework - believe me there is a lot. I continue to be bombarded with the paperwork and am hoping I get it all done in time. I know what you are thinking "just fill it out and send it in" because I am thinking the same thing, but for some reason it is never that easy. I really hope others offices look like mine - piles of bills, reciepts, mail and paperwork that have yet to be delt with. Every once in a while I burry myself in it and somehow sort it out and think - phew! glad thats done but then within what seems like hours the pile returns and I look at it in defeat.
I guess I really rambled there about paperwork -sorry.

Colin and I will be leaving for San Jose California the end of December and returning the end of April. I am excited and nervous as well – I really want work to go well and be a happy place it is to stressful to cry after every shift; and there is the threat of alcoholism as the only way Colin can usually get me stop crying is with a glass of wine. If that is the case we are only 1.5 hrs from Napa Valley – so that area is covered. Anyway we are going to San Jose and hope to take in everything possible that there is to do around that area – Vegas, L.A. (Disney Land) etc, Lake Havasue, Napa Valley, San Francisco, and much more I hope. When you can travel like a turtle with your house on your back there is no excuse for us to be in the same place on my days off. I am so excited – I love my trailer and my winter depression is only half on this winter with the end coming more near everyday – YAY!!!

Andrea