Adventure - Vancouver Ottawa

I had my last day in the clinic yesterday. I’ll be vitual now. The plan is drive three days stop three days to do virtual work and then drive three days. The distance is 4500 km .  I do 6 hours a day at most 8 hours a days and that’s 100 km an hour reckoning.  So it’s 8 days driving so a couple of weeks to get there all going well.  I’ll have a week or two down there also visitting Napanee and Hay Bay then coming back.  5- 6 weeks . The cherry on the cake is seeing the new addition to the family , along with his brother, the great nephews and seeing mother to be of my other nephew. Seeing my nephews and sister in law will be great as this is the first time since Covid disruption I’ve seen family. But I’ll also be returning with my outboard motor boat and trailer envisioning more fishing in the future.  

That’s the plan.  I remember sailing to Hawaii, weeks at sea in winter through hurricanes and at the end while I was aiming for Honolulu I underestimated the current that runs down the east of the islands. I made it to Kona concerned about fuel and winds making that the best landfall.  Bicycling across Europe with Barba in my 20’s I remember the plan was to go through the mountain passes to Italy but early snow closed that route so we headed south to Spain and ended in Morocco.  That’s the nature of adventure.  The fun is in the journey.  I’d like to have more time but I’m attending the Spokane IDAA conference in July and the Intenrational AA conference is in July in Vancouver.  So the plan is to be home end of June.

I’ll miss Laura.  Madigan will too.

The Ford F350 and Camper are at Coastal Ford.  I’m having the front brakes done before heading out tomorrow.  I banged the top of the camper at the entrance.  Not paying attention. I’ve phoned Kelvin of Travco and he’ll be able to drop by late today to add some ‘goop’ ,  The Agile adjuster and insurance people were out this week as the happy jack by the water outlet is weakened by a leak. I’ve pnot taken it of the truck since that occurred at Long Beach LA January this year.  I’m hoping this is just cosmetic and a matter of checking and adding to the seal.  I don’t want another claim.  Kevin from Chilliwack RV will be doing  the structural repair this summer so the camper will be ready for fall hunting.  

I have this new Thor Hurricane motorhome and hope to take Laura out weekend camping in August. 

My spiritual aim is to be in the present.  One day at a time.  God is now.  Meanwhile I’m aware of the whirlwind of activity with return from the south, trading my big fifth wheel in for the Thor , transferring and storing , potlaching and purging,  along with continuing work and getting taxes done. It’s been a whirlwind.  

I’m content.  Really.  

Right now i”m in the Thor and feel at peace.  

I like journey’s and expeditions though driving long hours is tedious.  I need a lot of coffee and have the occasional power drink.  Madigan likes the frequent brakes.  It’s a bit like when I drove the 5000 km Sturges trip on my Harley Electroglyde. I didn’t realize how tiring it was. I’d driven night and day from Winnipeg to San Francisco in my Mustang but part of the trip I had company like the times I drove from Winnipeg to Vancouver or Vancouver to Toronto. We drove Winnipeg to Halifax another time in the Toyota and one other time in the Toyota truck from Yuma to Vancouver and several trips to Mexico and back.  I guess I’m getting old.

I was glad to learn that my eyes were still fine for driving and that the mild macular degeneration and mild cataracts would only need to be reviewed in November. If they weren’t progressing or getting better nothing would be done but if there was any deterioration surgery could be planned for spring after I returned from next winter’s sojourn south. I want to return to Long Beach where Peter and Larry, Luca and Bella winter.  I spent a couple of weeks there this January but now I’d like to return for longer and have Laura join me so we could visit Art Galleries and Museums.  

Today I’m going to ride my Vespa to pick up my laundry. I’ve another load I gathered from cleaning the camper.  I actually stripped and made the bed last night. That laundry will have to wait for my return when I’ll have more laundry for sure though I’ll be able to do the outward bound laundry at Adell’s.  The benefits for relatives with laundry facilities. They have them in RV parks and I could have bought a motorhome with a laundry. The fact is I like dropping off my laundry, an executive luxury and don’t really mind doing laundry when I’m travelling with the camper. The laundry becomes an ‘event’ then rather than a chore. I rather enjoyed doing my laundry when I was having my teeth done in Algadones and was staying at the Sleepy Hollow campground run by the local tribe.  

Time to make a Vespa laundry pick up run.  Madigan can guard the Thor and when I get back I can take him for a walk. I’ll be able to make a meeting today as well as return some work calls.  I can’t do much else till the Camper is back. I’ve packed my bags and just have to transfer them and the generator and Starlink and computers.  I’ll miss the Thor but I’d not be comfortable driving it for the distance. I want to have some shorter weekend trips with Laura this summer and fall before I head south for the long winter so journ.  This Thor is a motorhome.  I was fine travelling with the Camper but when I was settled in at Long Beach and later at Fountain of Youth Hotspring and Spa I felt cramped.  I really appreciate the space I have here now.  I confess I like the big tv and couch a lot.  

I’m excited a bit .  The day before an expedition/adventure/journey ROAD TRIP!