Riverhaven RV Park, Hadley

What a joy to be here!  We left at 10 am and arrived at 3 stopping at Chilliwack RV storage to pick up my trailer with the Honda 420 Rancher.

“Glad to see you, John! “ I said when I drove onto his lot. “We’re back camping.”

“It’s been so long.”

“A year and a half. Frazerway just wasted our time and gaslighted us insisting on me writing them a blank cheque, did nothing but run around and waste of time.  That’s the past. Once Kevin got involved everything was sane, and smooth and competent.  Such a good man and great character.  We really enjoyed the people at AdventurerRVCentre, not just Kevin but the whole team.  The receptionist was delightful.  We were so thankful for Kevin.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” said John, who’d recommended Kevin to me in the first place. 

“ Laura and I have  been camping a couple of weekends already. We love outdoors therapy. With what we both do in our work dealing with really sick people, getting away camping for the weekend is what it takes to recharge.  How are you your self doing taking Sunday off?” John had told me on the phone he was taking a little time off. 

“My wife thinks I’m a workaholic.” He’d told me. I’m loving not working Sunday though.   No more horns at the gate with people losing their key or coming to my door and wanting something.  I may have lost a few people but the relief is worth it.’

“Well done. I tell people I’m past retirement age, past my shelf life but I don’t smell yet. Still I have to have some self care to keep on going. I ‘m glad you’re doing that too.”  

John and his family are some of the most admirable people Laura and I know.  

His son was there, what folk would call a ‘tall strapping lad’,  a real gentleman.

Laura said, “His father’s a great role model but you can see how much love the mother gives.”

“I just feel blessed to know such fine people. Gives me hope.  When the media is portraying the future as dark I look at people like John and family and see plain goodness.”

John’s son came by to see if I needed help getting my trailer hitched.

“Thanks but I’m okay going forward with the trailer if I can find the keys and get it all hooked up. My problem is backing up with trailers. I may need your help when we come back Tuesday.”  He laughed.  

It actually wasn’t that hard.  Laura sorted out the keys and locks and I actually seated the trailer hitch on the tow ball on the third try.  When it clunks into place it’s such a satisfying sound.  

We headed out with the camper and trailer and ATV feeling great.  

We stopped at Buy Low in Hope for more groceries.  ‘The steak was perfect, mottled, thick, I couldn’t resist getting a couple more.”  I like barbecuing. Had pork chops already.  Laura had wanted more fruit and with the freezer doing well in the camper I was able to top up the ice cream bar stash.

We stopped at Macdonalds on the  way out for 1/4.pournder’s with cheese.  I’d bought at western audio book at the Esso.  “A movie in your mind”.  Madigan loved his burger patty. Laura and I love MacDonalds on the road. I like their coffee.  Driving through winding number 3 thorugh Manning Park, the great forest and high snow capped mountains we listened to tale of cowboy revenge porn.  The twist on this tale was a daughter who dressed as a man to hunt down her father’s killers.  

“I really am feeling I’m on vacation now.” I said

“Me too,” said Laura.

We’d done the old routines.  A little rusty. But this was the same as we’d done so many times.    Princeton is a favourite destination for us. It’s a half day to a day travelling and outfitting but then we have several days of downtime and bliss.   

Glamping.  That’s what everyone calls what we do.   

Riverhaven RV campground is just beyond Princeton.  The sign for Stemwinder trail then Pickard wilderness camp site we’ve often stayed at.  Then Gold campgrounds and Riverhaven.  We love Riverhaven and have come many times. We liked the old owners but the new owners are even more committed to making the place a first rate Good Same Accomodation. Mom and Dad had a Slumber Queen Motorhome they took all over Canada and the US always choosing Good Sam accommodations when they could.

“Your mom loves how clean and friendly they are.” Dad had told me.  Now here I am following them. 

Of course I had a trial backing up the trailer with the ATV so rode my Honda 420 Rancher off the trailer, unhitched the trailer and pushed it into the site.  Laura kept an eye on things while I backed the truck camper in between the trees. I really appreciate her help. With my first camper I hit overhead branches and clipped trees.  I’m a nightmare back ing up.  Embarrassing. Laura reduces the anxiety .  

With the camper in place I put out the happy jacks, hooked up the power line, water and sewer hose.  All connected.  Glamping.  I took Madigan for a walk and saw the Silmikameen river was raging. Madigan didn’t like it.  The sand beach was definitely underwater.  No swimming this weekend.  

I barbecued steaks.  They were delicious.  It’s a little community. Others coming in Friday evening.  Kids and young families and some old folk like us.  Riverhaven is well organized and quiet.  I loved the day the whole herd of deer walked through one morning.  I like that the ATV trails can be accessed across the road.  Madigan was so excited when I rode on the ATV. He’d accompanied many times hunting. . It’s obvious he remembers the good times, me shooting grouse and him finding and fetching them. His bark was more a shreak of excitement.   

“You’ll be okay here while Madigan and I go off in the morning on the ATV.”

“Of course . I’ve got my cross words and books. I’ll be okay.”   

Kelvin is putting in air conditioning the next few weeks.  Laura had found it too hot up at Whistler , unable to sleep in the heat so I aslked Kelvin of Travco as he was upgrading the Happy Jack fuse panel, if he could.  He’d done them before so said, “sure.”  I’m glad to give him more pleasant jobs after he fixed the frozen sewer pipe last winter.  I think too Madigan’s going to need air conditioning if I leave him in the camper when I’m down south. Everything is always a work in progress. That’s the joy. Being like Adam and tending the garden.  

I sure like having the camper back and am going to really enjoy being back on the ATV. I’ll take a rifle for target practice. It’s bear season but I only took a photo the last great shot I had.  Mostly I just enjoy riding about in the back country in wonder at God’s creation.  I love the peace I find.  Shutting off the ATV engine and having a picnic with Madigan, taking a nap out in the woods by the little machine then going off again exploring.

That’s tomorrow. Now I’m ready for bed. Laura’s already there. Madigan sleeping under the table.  I’m beginning to yawn. I love the wood smoke scentn the air.  Other campers had fires in their fire pits.  I’m going to sleep well today.  Lots of physical activity and country air.  

Thank you Jesus!. 

  

 

Harrison Lake Adventure Truck Camper Saturday Morning

Yesterday, I got the electric bicycle onto the front carrier of the truck.  No small task, finding bungee cords, keys, locks. Eric, from Starfleet RV Repairs, had finished the improvements to the camper, second battery, tv mount, level indicators, new Venetian blind, coat hook.  Special little treats that personalized the already fabulous Alp Adventurer Camper.

 Laura arrived in her red Smart Car, pulling her overnight bag like a beautiful stewardess in Birkenstock’s and jeans.  Gilbert was beside himself with doggy glee to greet her.  I remembered to winch up the stabilizing struts of the camper with the remote.  Almost makes it feel like I’m preparing for a space ship take off. Next year. I’m in the space cadet program. My camper and truck a proto flitter. Gilbert my Chewy buddy and Laura, my Barbarella are with me.  We depart.    

At Fraserway RV we picked up our new mattress. Sounds like an easy thing.  Nope.  Lots of grunting and pulling to get the old 6 inch mattress out. Then with the help of a darling warehouse girl and handsome strong young man we all shoved the new 9 inch mattress into the camper catching the factory plastic on every door handle. Laura was not pleased with the extra ‘3 inches’.

“I had trouble getting up on the bed before. Now it’s three inches more. I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”  I witnessed a very creative struggling crawling pulling bed mount by Laura later.  To be honest, it was harder for me to mount the bed despite legs 3 or 4 x the length of Laura’s.  But the bed is still heavenly.  “I love bed!”  I opined. So comfortable.  

I arranged storage in Chilliwack with John. His son was there too. The two of them are such fine men my faith in the future is restored.  Good people. Caring and helpful.  John at Chilliwack RV Storage has helped me, above and beyond, so often over the last couple of decades I’ve stored an RV or camper there. His son last year was the muscle and genius behind my getting my KTM 690 motorcycle stored safely on a rack behind the old Camper.  We have the key to the gate for the return, our return when we drop off the camper. 

At Superstore Chilliwack where the weekend crowd was competing with Walmart for best dressed awards I got the steaks for the weekend. I’ve the little propane bottles for the barbecue this weekend.  We missed the Agassiz turn off so drove up to Hope only to find too much snow and the RV campground we like there closed still.  Back to Harrison, A little sight seeing along the way. The mountains around Hope were beautiful.  We saw a water fall frozen on the side of rock, a great fluffy snowy product of a white witch’s wand.  Lovely sunset as we passed through the truly pleasant and welcoming town of Agassiz, one of my favourite places next to Rosedale. 

Sure enough Glencoe RV park in downtown Harrison had our spot from last week free and waiting.  “Gilbert will recognize this.”  Laura said. I thought given the poor little guy is blind, it really is a good thing that I balance my own drive to explore new territory with his appreciation for the similiar.

This week there are several other RV’s here. Bookings are coming in for the rest of the month though. In summer this place is booked months in advance and the whole of the town is overflowing with tourists.  

I took Gilbert for a walk leaving Laura cursing, grunting, sputtering in a fight to the death with the new mattress and the sheets.  After Gilbert had reacquainted himself and marked his territory we returned to find that Laura had indeed vanquished the mattress.  She’s was not impressed when I said,”You won’t have to go to the gym this week.”  She’s not her normal self on Friday night. A week of patients demanding and angry at the waitlists and delays steals her normal joie de vie.  It’s takes hours of Gilbert, the therapy dog,  working his magic. I made her dinner, roast chicken and potato salad while Gilbert snuggled. Paper plates.   The people at Superstore had roasted the chicken and made the salad but left me all the heavy lifting of spooning and slicing. 

I tried setting up the tv but can’t find a cable plug on the outside wall. I did get DVD and tv working.  I love getting systems up and running.  Heater, refrigerator, shore water, electricity.  I might well be docking with my sailboat, the camper so like a land version of my yacht. 

Climbing into bed I loved the mattress.  So incredibly comfortable. I believe there’s a lot to be said for 9 inches over 6 inches but Laura insists that the 6 inches is easier to handle and leaves her more room. I hope no one heard that conversation . 

Great dreams of childhood adventures with friends.  Waking in this spectacular location, white capped mountains about, blue sky, Gilbert thankful that I lift him up on the bed so Laura can scratch his tummy. I love my indoor flush toilet and the electric fan.  I’m on my second cup of java and hearing the Manhattan Transfer singing in my mind, “I love coffee, I love tea, I love the Java, Java and it loves me.”  I heard them play at the Vancouver PNE and they were terrific. 

I might be coming down with a cold, raspy throat, sinus, but it’s probably the pollen. This is the BC time of hay fever. A Reactine with the coffee. A further reason to rest and do nothing except walk the dog and maybe get on the bicycle for an electric ride.  Life is good.  The winds of mood blow through with the endearing love of fair winds and following seas. This is just that. Some time this afternoon I’m going to ‘take the healing waters’  of Harrison Hotsprings.  I love this roughing it wilderness camping in downtown Harrison’s Lake. 

.