We RETIRED but...we planned to jump right into a transition of travel which we enjoy so much.  February 8, 2008 we left for the destinations North and West.  First we stopped around Amarillo, TX for the first night on the road.  The next morning we drove across the country but were drawn by curiosity to Vail valley in the town of Avon, CO where we own a timeshare.  That put us behind by about three hours but "so what".  The Vail pass was sort of sloppy and provided a limited visibility, sometimes stressful drive.  That eventually cleared in the lower elevations and we spent the night in Grand Junction, CO instead of making it further north and west.  It all worked out since the view and weather provided stunning views and scenery as we drove through Salt Lake City, Utah and Idaho on the way up to Seattle.  We actually stopped short of Seattle in Chehalis, WA so we could visit Mt. St. Helens.  The peak was snowed into closure about eight miles from the closest lookout.  The views were still good but it seems we will have to come back when the weather is a bit warmer.  The next day we left for Jeff and Laura's home in Edmonds, WA where we visited one evening over a pizza.  The next day we headed north across the border and customs.  We made it up to the ferry crossing over to Vancouver Island mid-day and then to the Rosewood Inn in Victoria.  We walked around Victoria (since most people did that around the area) and enjoyed the parks along with all the buildings and maritime visuals.  We checked out the two gardens Abkhazi and Butchart Gardens which were very nice to see but not in their full glory.  Again we will have to return to see the place when everything is in bloom. It became time to leave Victoria and we left on a two hour trip north on the island to Nanoose Bay to a resort named Pacific Shores.  This was located right on the water and was very beautiful along with being very roomy.  We will have to keep that one in case we ever return to the area. 

The next day we left for Whistler and made another ferry trip across to the main land just above Vancouver.  We arrived here and checked out the upper village shopping and dining around.  We walked over to the lower Whistler village and revisited the areas we were so familiar with from last year.  There is so much here to offer a visitor and skier.  It is so unique.  We skied Sunday and Monday on both Blackcomb and Whistler with the nod going to Blackcomb from us both.  The ski area here is the largest on North America.  We dropped down to Sonoma and Napa to pick up several cases of wine (36 bottles of very good stuff).  It was good for three days and then we left for Phoenix by way of I-10 just north of Los Angeles.  We spent an enjoyable evening with a friend there and took off to see my sister in El Paso.  The next day we went to Houston to visit Dawn’s brother.  We made it home Sunday and have been resting.  Well the grass did need cutting and we have partially unpacked…but other than that we are resting.  That was the longest trip we have ever done but have to say that neither of us got homesick.  It was just very enjoyable indeed.