Laguna Beach to Royal Oaks with Dad

Dad and I drove north to see my sister, Jen, and her husband, Brock, in Royal Oaks, California. It was a nice reunion as we hadn't seen each other together since my grandmother's funeral in 2013. Below are some photo highlights. 

Jen, Dad & Brock at Jen & Brock's house

Brock & Jen treated us to wonderful Chinese food

Chris & Dad (Curt) at the restaurant

Chris & Talbert (one of Jen & Brock's dog)

Dad and Jen (Rascal & Talbert)

Dad & Brock

On our way back home

     Paying our respects to my grandfather at the cemetery in Chatsworth, California

Back at Dad's

Dad's wife, Sue, telling me tales of yesteryear

Chris & step-sister, Linda, at Javier's Restaurant in Newport Beach

Visiting Family in Southern California

Rikki and I have been in San Diego for the past week visiting his mom and dad. Yesterday, I drove up to Laguna Beach to visit my dad and stepmother. Dad is doing well at 85, a bit hard of hearing, but thank goodness nothing going on medically. My stepmother, Sue, fell a few weeks ago and is not walking well, needing someone to walk with her now until she recovers.

Dad and I got away for a day at the beach today. It was awesome to spend quality time together. Sue also spent the day with her daughter, Linda.

Below are some photos from today (and one from 50+ years ago).

Curt & Chris Foley
3 May 2017
Brunch at Urth Cafe in Laguna Beach, California

Curt & Chris Foley
circa 1963
Granada Hills, California

Beautiful Spring Day
3 May 2017
Corona Del Mar, California

Our New 'Gazebo Awning'
3 May 2017
Corona Del Mar, California

Some photos from the last few weeks

My new cover photo. 

My new profile photo. I'm a cartoon. Hold your sarcasm, please.

Kayaking in Baja

Sunset in Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico

Rikki in San Diego

Our favourite campsite - Posada Concepcion in Baja Sur

Spencer likes the beach

Panorama of our campsite at Posada Concepcion, Baja Sur

Our travel map for this trip which began 3 Feb 2017

One Year Since I Decided to Retire

   

The little red RV that set my mind running . . .

One year ago I saw an ad with this photo in my Facebook feed. That's when the retirement bug hit me. Although the RV, the travel locations and our new home are different than imagined, the journey has been wonderful and rewarding and has certainly exceeded all of our expectations. As I embark on the second year of this adventure, I realize I have left out my non-Facebook friends from the journey. This includes many colleagues and several close friends and family members. This has been festering in the back of my mind. Life is casual now, but certainly not boring or filled with extra time. As a blog is double duty and one-sided (I don't get to see here how you are doing), I am experimenting with ways to post here and have the posts go to my Facebook feed as well. That may entail changing to a different blog address or seeing changes to layout and photos. Stay tuned.

If you are on Facebook and would like to connect there, please send a friend request to me at www.facebook.com/ChrisRequeFoley

I'm not trying to sell you on Facebook, just explaining what has taken place.

If you would like to subscribe to the revived blog, please go to 

http://traveling8feet.blogspot.com

Cheers, Chris (& Rikki)

The Color of Lightning, Lightning Lake in Manning Park, BC

2 MINS: Put your headphones on, take deep breaths, and just focus. I'm sending you lots of positive energy today.

Saying goodbye to friends and colleagues

We have been so excited to move on with our plans - to experience the freedom of not having to work anymore, the adventure of travel, the excitement of a new home in a new area. Ah, but there is more to life than looking forward - and as the joy of not having to work hasn't really registered yet - I have been feeling sad this week from the seperation of so many beloved friends and colleagues. 

The exchange of emotion was heartening and the separation is bittersweet. I will miss you all so much. The multiple send-off gatherings, the cards, the poems, the gifts. I am attaching a few photos below that were forwarded to me from the Cambie Team. That was an awesome send-off everyone!

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Thanks everyone. We will be checking in soon.

Heck yeah, we retired at the end of July!

Rikki and I decided to sell our Vancouver condo at a nice profit to fund my early retirement (Freedom 56!). In just the past month we bought an RV and a house in Nova Scotia. We plan to live in Nova Scotia in the summers and travel the rest of the year in our new RV. We look forward to spending more time with our families and friends in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. I look forward to planning trips and Rikki looks forward to many more hours behind the camera!