Christmas with the Wiebe family

Sunday, December 14
Being so much closer to the ocean, we have always known that the temperatures are a lot milder than what we are used to in Alberta. We recall a Christmas here in Abbotsford where it was 15 degrees C. Of course it did come with rain, but no icy roads or snow. Well, what we experience is not at all what we expected, but then the Abbotsforders (or is it Abbotsfordonians?) did not expect this either. It’s freezing here!!! You can’t even walk outside without being blown away by that icy wind. As we are having breakfast it feels like we’re on a ship, rocking back and forth with the 70 km per hour wind gusts. The RV lines are still full with antifreeze and we still have no running water, but we manage. Somehow we need to find a way to wash the dishes that have accumulated in the sink, and have a decent shower. We decide to drive around, hoping to find a truck stop or other place where we can fill our water tanks, flush out the Antifreeze and wash the sleet off the RV and car. No luck. We’re going back to the RV Park (AKA Pentecostal Church), we make some lunch and get all our stuff together, ready to be picked up again by Brian, and spend the rest of the day with the Wiebes.
We load his car with Christmas gifts, dirty dishes, shower bag and clean clothes. While I wash the dishes, Ramiro showers and then he gets to play Santa.

















We all have fun, playing a little game while unpacking gifts and snacking on cheese, nachos and chocolates.
We were spoiled as well with some wonderful gifts perfect for our travel. Even my birthday was remembered with a nice gifts.

We quickly check our e-mail and learn via Facebook that even Portland is covered with snow. That’s exactly the direction we’re heading. Is the snow following us, or what? Mandy cooks a wonderful salmon dinner with some help from Brian and we spend some time with the kids.

For those who have not met the Wiebes. Here they are: Brian, Mandy, Matthew, Alyssa, Briana and Katie (who's the youngest). They’re all wonderful and we regret that we don’t get to see them more often.
It’s time to say goodbye again. We load all our stuff back in the car and return to the RV, crank up the furnace and go to bed early. Tomorrow we’ll be heading south and cross the border into the US.