Moonshadow RV Park, Merritt, BC

I am so excited!!! I’m here in Merritt at the Moonshadow RV Park.  I left Burnaby Cariboo RV Park at 830 am.  Laura had left a half hour before after we spent a lovely weekend ‘hanging out’.  Nick from Traveland Mobile RV Service had installed the new jack pump on Friday. We were good to go.  I had booked in till Sunday morning so Laura drove over in her little red Smart car.  She made Madigan’s day. He loves her. I agree. She’s really good company.

I am able to work virtual but she has to work in a medical office so can’t get away.  

I’m a virtual consultant with Star Link, Mac Book Pro, and Doxy.me medical legal zoom software.  It only took me a half hour to stow and break camp, maybe an hour altogether with attaching the Excali-bar hitch H&E hitch installed so I could dinghy tow the jeep. Each time I set up and take down I get better at it.

I stopped once for gas at Hope.  

The Coquahalla is a wonderful highway. It’s cuts two hours off the previous route.  I’ve just had a few exciting times on the Coquahalla so I don’t approach the road with the love it deserves.  Once the engine on my truck went into to slow home mode and that meant a very long drive home. Another time I was coming home on my motorcycle and the brake fell off.  I’ve also come down on the motorcycle with an early snow.  The scary time was towing the 26 foot RV when the cross winds were horrendous.  This time everything was perfect.  I kept the motorhome at 80 to 90 and accepted 60 km/hr with the big trucks in the far right lane coming up one steep hill. I watched the dashboard and didn’t have the rev’s too high or overheat it.  It’s a motorcoach not a motorcycle. I was towing the Jeep Wrangler too. A train and a load. It all went well.

The scenery with the class A motorcoach windshield was magnificent. Mountains and pines and spruce.  Rushing river.  A drizzle but not too bad.  

I prayed. I’ve got my own version of St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer. Please God protect the Thor for mechanical and electrical and hydraulic demons.   Protect the engine and tires.  Protect Madigan and I from all dangers.  That and the Desesert Father’s Prayer served us well.

I was so excited to see the Moonshadow office. We had such a wonderful call booking a place on Friday.  Now I was here. They were so welcoming and so helpful. It’s almost home. I drove by the site then circled back and round and was in the drive through.  Home sweet home!!!  I love landing. Landing my motorhome for me is like docking my ship and I imagine what’s landing a plane must be like.  I love it. I’m here for 2 weeks. 

I’d arrived before noon so the trip only took a little over 3 hours.  My map sad ithe distance was 253 Km and would take 2 hours and 45 minutes. .

Now I’m here. So happy!

Getting all set up with jacks down, slide out, water lines and electricity and sewers jeep unhitched and Starlink set up with barbecue out on the picnic table - only took me an hour.  I’ve even walked Madigan along the incredibly scenic rushing river.  I love it.  Madigan is very pleased. He handled the trip in the motorhome quite well getting more relaxed each trip.  I’m very happy.  Time to take the Jeep for a ride.  

Thank you God. Thank you Jesus!!!

Adventure - Vancouver to Ottawa with F350, Vespa, Adventurer Camper and Madigan

Thanks to Coastal Ford the brakes were done on Friday. Kelvin’s of Travco came by to seal my bang, stupidity.  I hit the top of the camper , the doorway to the Ford service an inch too low. They have another door around the side.  Stupidity.  I was concerned the camper would leak as the seals were compromised.  Kelvin as usual came to the rescue.  

I texted Kevin at Adventure RV Centure in Chilliwack. He’d installed a new toilet removing more evidence of my stupidity.  The dark brown stain in the bowl wasn’t from a chili shit of mega proportion but rather the fault of me trying to pour boiling bacon grease down the toilet. 

Kelvin helped me load the Vespa on the front of the F350.  I can do it myself but it sure was easier with help.  Then it was the last of packing over what I’d need in the next weeks from my new Thor to the camper. I had bags of clothing and office materials and tech. I need an iPad and phone and MacBook pro to be a virtual doctor.  The plan is three days travel and tree days in the office.  I enjoy the office after 6-8 hours of driving.  

I was able to leave today May 10 at 9 am.  I’ hoped to leave at 8 so felt pretty good.  I left my one plant with Nicolina having seen her and Ernest the night before and asked if she’d nurse the poor thing.  Laura took other other but only hand hands for one.  They’re safe. The Thor is buttoned down with people and pest deterrents.  Dave is going to come by to check on it.  

With a myriad of moving parts for another expedition done I was off.

I had to fill up with gas in Langley and get another tie down from HoleSpot. The Vespa really is riding well.  I inputted the route to jasper as a stop on the way. I’d like to have the time to do the hot springs but maybe on the way back.  Once I get to Ottawa I’ll have a better idea of the time it will take. It’s 4500 km and I travel 6 hours a day.  With the later sunset I may make 8 hour.  

Today I stopped for gas a couple of times puttin in $150 each stop.  I topped it up too when I filled up the little tank to fill up the generator. I was considering boon docking.

At 5 I passed Clearwater and wanted to go in and check out the place where we’d been hunting.  Laura was there with her cousin.  I’d like to go back there perhaps this year. Again I thought I’d check it out on the way back.  Clearwater is roughly 500 km and 6 hours drive  I took longer. Jasper was 400 plus km beyond that.  I looked at the sunset time and it was 830 so I continued on.  

My rule is to begin looking at 3 to 5 but that was in winter.  I was tired at mid day and bought donuts and energy drinks in Kamloops. There was a terrible accident that held us all up an hour.  

At Blue River I saw the Blue River RV park and thought it attractive.  I pulled in.  Lovely friendly Chinese couple. I was concerned about getting an open space for Starlink and succeeded in doing that.

I unpacked and stowed a whole bunch. I’ll get it more organized as I go along.  It was a comfort to get the Starlink working, to find my passport and also my satellite phone.  

The ;last gas station the fellow sold us beef jerky and pepperoni.  Madigan loved the beef jerky. Today’s meal have been donuts and pepperoni and beef jerky with an A&W egg and sausage muffin for breakfast. Madigan had a couple fo sides of bacon and wanted more.

Now he’s sleeping on the floor. We died a walk of the lovely campground and came back to the camper to do a few hours of work.  Now I’m ready to watch some NCIS before bed. My nighttime story.  I’ll b be up early and hope to get away and make Jasper and the ice fields in the morning light. I’ll be glad to pass through the mountain pass and make Edmonton. It’s been chilly high up and I’m looking forward to the heat of the prairies.  I’ve had rain today too,  I listened to some CBC but had to turn it off whenever they propagandized politics.  

I enjoyed the oldie but Goldie music of a local station I passed through .  Blondie and AC DC.  A great Tragically Hip song too.  

Now I’m tired.  What a first day of expediation

The Vancouver to Blue River distance is 584.4 KM - 6 hour 13 by the internet.  I am pleased I did more than 6 hour but would like to make 8 hour days but we’ll see. I have to be safe first and foremost and this was a good day.

Thank you God. Thank you Jesus.