AUGUST 7 & 8 2010, 12pm-5pm

New Westminster, BC -- August 7 & 8, 2010 marks the launch of New Westminster’s 7^th Annual Cultural Crawl, for the past seven years the Van Dop Gallery has lead and organized this event to shine the light on the amazing artistic talent we have living in our Royal City. This year the gallery is showcasing stunning local art by Angie Au Hemphill, Nicholas Bott and Leslie Poole in the two day city-wide Arts & Cultural experience.

Angie Au Hemphill’s art is inspired by love, life experience, and nature. “Painting for me is personal and my goal is to connect with viewers. If I can enlighten others I have succeeded” says Au Hemphill. Read more..

Nicholas Bott captures the beauty of BC’s landscape, spending many days on remote mountain slopes, some accessible only by helicopter. His work has evolved continuously to his current impressionistic style, with images both vivid and compelling. Read more...

Internationally recognized artist Leslie Poole draws on years of experience to create works of deeply felt emotion. Poole's paintings, drawings, and prints question life and art through subjects as diverse as: male and female figures, still life, landscape, and self-portraits from realist to expressionist in style. Read more...

Since 1996 the Van Dop Gallery has featured a world of contemporary fine art in a relaxing environment that envelops the senses with beauty, creativity and harmony at every turn. The gallery is thrilled to present this rare art exhibition and welcomes you to attend the Open House Event, Saturday & Sunday, from 12pm to 5pm.

For more information, contact:

Trudy Van Dop, Gallery Owner

T: 604-521-7887

E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

W: www.vandopgallery.com

Calaveras County, CA – July 20, 2010 – Twenty-five pounds of wine grapes freshly picked from the vineyard, a half wine barrel fitted with a spout, a partner and you. It’s Calaveras Grape Stomp time, celebrating its 17^th anniversary Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the historic Gold Rush town of Murphys, California, and hosted by the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance.

 Set in idyllic Murphys Park amid white gazebo, Angels Creek, picnic tables, shady oak trees and green lawns, the Calaveras Grape Stomp is the cornerstone of Calaveras events, bringing thousands of spirited stompers and gawkers to enjoy a full day of frivolity. The Stomp runs in conjunction with the Murphys Gold Rush Street Faire filling Murphys Main Street with art, crafts, and food booths.

 With team names such as Grapes of Wrath, The Grape Nuts, Crushinators, Seedless in Seattle, Livermore Lushes, Athlete Feet II, and Cluster Busters, some in creatively themed costumes, this is a day that transforms the daily grind into a wild and crazy all-out fun family adventure. “With all of the serious happenings going on around the world, the Calaveras Grape Stomp is a welcome relief and an outlet for freeing the soul,” said Anna Davies, CWA Executive Director. 

Read part 1 here
Read part 2 here

During the entire trip we had only two eight-hour driving days: one from Catavina to Guerrero Negro south, and the other Bahia de Los Angeles to Santo Tomas coming north. The normal process was to pick RV parks that provided electricity and water with an option of black water dumping. Going down it seemed we had hookups each night. Coming north the opposite in that we seemed to dry camp a great deal along Bahia Conception. Our beachfront locations, emerald blue Sea of Cortez, the company of other RVers, the sun rises and sunsets have completed a long awaited adventure for Glyn and I. In a number of dry campsites, local merchants brought us water, shrimp, fish, fruit, vegetables, tacos, propane, and on one occasion the fellow drove up with in excess of thirty 20 inch pizzas for sale.

 January 23, 2007

Playa 206 RV Park,

Cuidad Constitucion

The owner is a Brit and hails from Waymouth England. He has divided the campground into two areas and they were very specific. The rear area was reserved for large rigs and caravans, while the area closest to Mex 1 was reserved for smaller groups, single travelers, or small rigs. All sites had power, water, and sewer. The facilities were clean, and his 8-year-old son was on hand after school to answer any questions or to assist in directing you to a campsite. His English was excellent and the accent identical to his father’s.

Of note: Arrived on Thursday and it was fiesta night at the restaurant. For $10 it was dinner, music, dancing, and the Tecate (beer) was cheap. Being very responsible, Mike closed the activities down at 11 p.m. and one could only hear the passing of trucks as they left Cuidad Constitucion.

   The recent economic era will change many aspects of future RV Travel. However this nomadic RV lifestyle offers such diverse adventure – with a little planning it’s easy to find ways to enjoy the wonders of RVing.  The following info addresses concerns of all RVers – whether on a short getaway or going Fulltime – just eliminate expenses that don’t apply.

    Last winter we socialized with several new Fulltiming couples – it was an enlightening experience to watch their wonder unfold. They anticipated hitting the road long before the economy tanked – as a result, many who intended to go Fulltime didn’t change their plans. They continued to hit the road even though the economic future has become a bit erratic. One plus – due to the RV Dealers downturn, this is a perfect time to buy a new or used RV, or to upgrade your unit for a different ‘dream home on wheels’.  As we RV the country, finding ways to stretch each dollar simplifies our journey.