Traveland RV Sales and Thor Hurricane 29 M Motorhome

I bought my second RV at Traveland. Years ago.  Now I’m back again.  My friends Peter .and Larry bought their Tiffin Allegra they love there.  “My Mom and Dad bought their motorhome there,” Peter told me.   

I’ve kept getting bigger and bigger outfits much like my dad and mom did .did  They progressed from pole tent to motorhome.  I’ve followed in their wake. 

I’ve had only good experience with Traveland and their service department when I bought my RV there.  

Nicolina and Ernest just bought a Thor Hurricane.  It looked so skookum from the outside. Then Nicolina seeing me drooling at I stared at their new RV, asked <“Would you like to look inside?  Would I.

It was perfect. 

The main issue for me was the size.  32 feet. My Fifth Wheel Toyhauler is 40 feet and I’ve felt overwhelmed from the day I bought it. I use a tow truck to move it about. I love it but I don’t want to be towing it. I’m horrid at backing up. I have an Adventurer Camper with F350 which I ‘ve been snowbirding with the last few years.  My Keystone Fuzion 371 stays in storage because I find it too long to haul and worry about smashing it up as I did once with an earlier RV 

Nicolina and Ernest’s Thor is just perfect.  I really believe I can drive a bus that big. It’s gas so I don’t need any extra licensing.  Not like diesel which requires air brakes training. 

Peter and Larry’s Tiffin is truly luxurious but another 4- 6 feet longer.  I don’t know what it is psychologically but I really worry about taking turns with that extra length. I’ve yet to test drive the Thor but it really does seem manageable.

I’m taking Laura to Harrison’s Hot Spring this weekend so asked if she’d mind stopping by and looking at the buses in Traveland.  I really wanted to buy from them again.  I did  well with Meridian buying the Fuzion but the whole process of financing wore me out. It was a half day of delays and by the time the papers were signed the joy of the sale had gone. I really did consider going back then though because they are a good company and had excellent service.  My memory of Traveland and Peter’s endorsement had me going there first. 

Laura said she’d love to come along.  

Traveland is a 10 minute easy to get to drive off the number one.  She immediately remembered it fondly from before. “You bought the RV here the year you took me to Italy.”  She said.  I’d had a medical conference in Milan, IDAA with Dr. Nady El Guebaly. A superb conference all round. Laura and I loved Milan and I’d taken an extra week so we could visit Rome.  I’d rented a Vespa there and Laura and I not only visited the Vatican but rode the Vespa around Rome visiting the other famous cathedral’s.  On return to Canada we so enjoyed the new RV. 

Kenny was the salesman the two beautiful receptionists at the front of Traveland  called out for us.  He was thoroughly delightful .  Asked all the right questions and took me directly to a Thor Hurricane, “That’s just come in and fits your budget and I think is what you’re looking for.’  It sure was.  Second hand 2022 but only 20,000 KM on it 

“Laura,” I asked, “What do you thiink of it?” 

“I love it.” She said, Big smile. 

I loved sitting in the driver’s seat. Panoramic view.  Back up camera display.  There was a couch with seats and a dinette table.  The kitchen, sinks, microwave, and fridge were all just fine with lots of counter space for my cooking. What was a real treat was an outdoor kitchen with little fridge and sink and propane for a barbecue. I ‘m always barbecuing.  There’s an outdoor tv but I ‘d rather be inside  on the couch, watching  the really big screen tv. Laura had a couple of places she could sit too. We like to watch shows together while having dinner.  Vera, Yellowstone, Reacher, Bosch.   Most importantly Laura liked the spacious washroom. She ‘s particular about washrooms wanting space and spending an hour in there every morning. I might get a portapotty for relief. . The attraction of bigger RV’’s like the luxurious Tiffin is that they have an extra toilet like my fifth wheel does.  I’ve occasionally used it but I think we can make a solo toilet work. We’ve done it in apartments and hotels and the camper. In the camper we’ve been more often in the wilderness,   I’ve just gone outside with Madigan if she was holds things up inside . Older I don’t seem to have the capacity to hold it like I did younger.

Kenny showed us the Tiffin and it really was luxurious but I just felt it was too great a challenge for me to drive. I liked the slightly shorter Thor and felt I could maneuver it more safely with garter confidence .

All the way to Harrison’s Hot Springs. I was talking to Laura about it. All the pros and cons. I’ve been thinking of a bus since I was in the south this last winter and wanting to have one for next winter’s snow bird month.  As well I’d like to be able to just pick up and go camping in the summer with Laura. With the fifth wheel there’s the whole hitch and hydraulics and slides . The Hurricane only has one slide. With the camper there’s the loading and unloading and the happy jacks. It’s an hour to pick it up in the truck and an hour to leave it at the storage each trip. With the bus, like my sailboat, I can be heading out in a half hour . Peter told me that’s how long it takes him and Larry to come and go. 

I phoned Anil Auluck, my accountant to run it by him. I’d already talked weeks back to my wise friend, George. He’d just bought himself a new Buick and when I saw him last at Burnaby men’s he’d said, “so did you buy it”.  I’d discussed deisel versus gas with him and Kenny and Peter. Peter’s Tiffin came with choice of gas or diesel, the diesel more expensive . “Ive never regretted getting gas.”  Peter said.  George thought the diesel lasts longer but said as Kenny said,   I wouldn’t be putting the hours on the engine in a motorhome that a truck or commercial vehicle .  Longevity doesn’t count when you’ re not putting on the miles. The Class A diesel pushers are clearly the best especially new as they hold their value but the fact for me is I’m older and am only planning to motorhome the next 10 years. .  I see myself continuing to work virtually for 5 to 10 years but after that I don’t know. My Dad lived to 94.  Mom and he enjoyed their motorhome until mid 80’s when his eyes and energy gave out.  So I think the gas is fine for me. 

Actually I liked everything about the Thor Hurricane just as Ernest and Nicolina did. . Kevin Oh at TD gave me really useful information about financing because I didn’t want to face unnecessary loss taking out RRSP”s or mutual funds and such. I have the money in the bank but there’s good and better ways to take it out without penalty or the rapacious government wanting more .   Both he and Anil and Kenny all ex;planned how I could do it wisely.  I put $2000 down and now will be talking on Monday with Kenny moving forward.  I will have a test drive next Friday.

Again I love Traveland.  I also like that I’m  blessed to know all these wonderful people I  trust and can rely on for good advice.  I tell them if they have a head wound or develop schizophrenia I’d be there for them too. .  

I thought about Thor god of the Vikings and the idea of Hurricane. I’d not only survived three days of hurricane solo sailing the pacific in winter I’d been truly exhilarated going through the eye of the storm and coming out the other side.  Hurricane is a positive memory for me though I have to admit it was some of the most terrifying days and nights of my life. It taught me ‘surrender’ as I could only trust in God and hold on.  I did that.  Here I am again trusting in God.  I’m glad Laura loves it too.

Madigan was being a real brat barking outrageously  when I wouldn’t let him come inside and jump all over the furniture.  He didn’t understand there would be time for that only after the sale was closed. I have no doubt he’ll love it .  He likes  where he gets to be with me and Laura.   

Now we’re at Harrison Hot Springs Rsort . I’ve been in the mineral springs and we’ve walked Madigan around the duck pond.  God is good all of the time.   Thy will be done. Thank you Jesus.! 

March Spring Rains

Spring rains persist. Regular downpours and cloudy days. I am missing the sun and dessert but actually rather content to be home

The Merry Maids came today. They did a fabulous job despite Madigan supervising them with barks and growers. I took him to Macdonald’s for a burger. It allowed them into my garage office. I’d spent this weekend cleaning it up and surprisingly it just needed sorting rather than a storage locker run. I did get rid of another bag for the Diabetes foundation. Returning I was delighted by the order and cleanliness of the place.

I’ve been looking at Thor Class A motorhomes.  Ernest and Nicolina showed me there’s and I’m so impressed. It’s not as big at Peter and Larry’s Tiffany.  It about 32 feet I think, Thor Hurricane with one slide. That’s had me looking at motorhomess.  I’m seeing lots of second hand range I could afford and am sure I ‘need’ one this year.  This fifth wheel is really terrific but big and I don’t want to learn the driving skills to haul it. I’ve used tow trucks but the costs have increased.  Besides after a couple of months down south with my camper I’ve decided I’d like to be mobile. If I can’t haul this because back up into things with trailers I can get a bus and haul my mini.  I will have to find a way to put the Vespa on board though an electric bicycle will do fine.

I have an ophthalmology apt so will know if I’m likely to be driving for the next decade or so to justify getting another vehicle. I’m reminded how sad Dad was when his eyes tight went. I’m already going dreaf and am getting by in situations where I couldn’t before with the expensive hearing aids. I’m hoping this cyborg tendency will continue with the eyes and maybe better glasses will solve the problem Though it may be cataracts and more anxiety. I ‘m such a wooz when it comes to myself.  I muddle through with no choice but all I do is pray. Prayer is all I can do.

Madigan is being pretty good.  Growls at me with wagging tail.  Ripped up my new linen sheet when Laura came but really was a gentleman in church.  He was wearing his new rain coat but doesn’t like me putting it on.  

I can’t get over how much I’m liking my home again.  I’ve completely cleaned out the mouse dropping problem. It wasn’t as bad this year as when I’ve returned previous years. I got rid of any invitations and put out mouse replellants and traps though I caught none.

There’s an election in April. I’ve given money to the Federal Conservative Party, Pierre Poilevre and our local Burnaby PC candidate.  

I contacted the CMDA and asked to pay my annual dues. When they contacted me I was away so now I’ve money in the bank and time to address this. The only outstanding membership I think now is the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. My ISAM membership is on automatic pay. All the other memberships I believe are paid. I just seem to have been deluged since returning March 1.

It’s hard to believe how much I’ve done in 3 weeks.  A whole lot of patient calls, getting my home back, taking my camper in, and all the forms for Anil to do taxes and a weekend with Laura and Madigan getting groomed.  It’s been exhausting but now that it’s letting up I’m really pleased. This is the second Merry Maid visit and it’s just a joy to have the clean place and great smell of incense. I’ve also organized my clothing though I have more to take away.  I’ve been paid too so it’s been good to have the steady flow of work and money to maintain this all.

Also I’m really thankful for the upcoming election.  I’ve been so disheartened by Trudeau and then Carney was worse, elite communist globalist taxaholics.  I don’t like the Sharia innvsaion and the anti Christian anti Jewish attacks.  I’m concerned about aging. 

I really enjoyed Bruce Coburn.  This week, Friday, after the ophthalmologist , we have tickets to the VSO and Chopin. 

Thank you God for all your blessings. Thank you for the rain that so helps the plants and trees and flowers. Thanks you for cleaning ladies. Thanks you for Kevin who will fix the camper with the insurance folk.  Thank for Kelvin who keeps this unit function and will replace the toilet in the camper before I take it to Nappeanee after the first week of May. It’s only a month and some away.  Amazing. I’ve a tight schedule with the IDAA  Spokane conference in July and international AA convention here in July.

I enjoyed going to St. Barnabus Church with Madigan who was a perfect gentleman

I loved getting steaks and pork chops and sausages for Laura and me for her visit .  When she’s here next time I’ll have to order chinese or me and Ed’s’ pizza.  

I bought a bread maker and had to make three loaves before I got it right. The yeast was the issue.  All three tasted great but the third one rose and looked like a good loaf.

I’ve made a couple of pounds of roast Ethiopian beans in the roaster. I had a lot of green beans so great to get them roasted. I’ve really enjoyed the taste.  

I’ve written a couple of chapters on my Addiction book. Must continue.

I’ve walked Madigan three or four times a day. Away I was able to make 10,000 steps but back I’ve been doing 4000 steps. On the weekend we had a River walked.  Great blue heron sighting. One by the little river rapids and another standing on a blank overlooking the river. I ‘ve fasted a couple of days since return. I am overweight and must lose weight if only to ease the back pain.

I am reading King Authro series , Bernard Cornwell. Enemy of God. Last year I enjoyed his Stonehenge book. I completed the Oxford course , Archeology Prehistory, Ritual and Religion.  I actually got 10 CAT points thanks to Adell and Aim.  I was overwhelmed with court work in the course despite my trying to clear the scheduled . I plan to do another course next year on mysticism and spirituality.  I’ve no time this year but I love the learning. I’ve got the course load for the CME with IDAA and I want to do the Pacific psychopharmacology course that’s held in November. I’ve a CME Doctors of BC speciality meeting and with my mentoring I’m definitely sufficiently active despite my age. I’m doing elational work for George with the Wednesday group so not isolateing. 

I really am blessed and thankful. God is good all the time. Thank you Jesus. 

 

Burnaby Cariboo RV Park, Burnaby , BC

It was great to return home to Canada

I had a little glych at the Border Crossing. I took the Nexus lane even though the regular lane as just as long. The American’s border agent told my my Nexus had gone through as the computer had told me I was approved. I just didn’t have the card because of the Canadian postal strike before I left.  I had to stop and park my car and go to the counter.  

There young people were being caught by the drug sniffing dog.  Madigan was left in the truck for now. I didn’t like it but I had to pee.  I’m an older man and I’d been hustling to get across the border and home before darkness. My eyes have to strain to read signs at high speed on freeways.  I have had problems at border crossing in my youth. Not as an adult.  Still I tried to hold it till I asked to use the washroom and had to remember a code to get in the washroom which I promptly forget and had to ask again. No visit from the dog. I peed. Relief. 

Then they asked permission to search my truck and camper.  I was fine with everything and pleasant on the outside.

Inside I had the normal array of crazy paranoid and psychotic thoughts.  Maybe while I was away the Communist Chinese have taken over Canada. Maybe they’re going to plan t drugs on me.  Maybe they’ve read my social media tweets suggesting Canadians Liberal leaders sodomize beavers and moose.  They were all perfectly professional and very young.  I’d held Madigan while they my stuff and I could help but think of the FBI and Melania’s panty drawers.  It’s all invasive and intrusive but I confess while I didn’t approve of the FBI searching the First Lady’s panty drawer I was fine.  It was just dark now and driving the rest of the way into the city was a strain. I thanked them and said how much I appreciated the border guard since it forced people to come through the front door.  

All my crazy thinking was for nought.  I was back in western Canada.  Space aliens may have taken over the bodes in Ottawa but not in Burnaby.  

  

It was so nice to see a friendly face and set up like I had for a couple of months .I’m quite adept with this camper and soon even had StarLink up.  I loved my site. The park is so clean and green and well laid out. I was glad the market was still open. There’s an excellent selection for RV’s . I was able to get microwaveable dinners and so enjoyed the shepherd pie.  Cola and ice cream.  Madigan loves to share ice cream. A spoonful is what he gets though he’d like the whole tub.

I’d driven up from Eugene and had been travelling from Salton Sea in Southern California.  I was really nice to be home in Canada. These two months in the southern sunshine have been exquisite. My friend George described his time in Palm Springs and how he enjoyed returning to the green of BC.  I certainly feel that in Burnaby after the brown of the dessert

It’s warm. A little chill at night.  I walked Madigan about the park again and he certainly seemed to enjoy pissing and sniffing in all his old favourite spots. I was able to have coffee and attend an online meetings still feeling thankful having completed this latest expedition.  Laura said she thought it was great I’d missed another winter. She’s been telling me about the rain and snow and flus.  Yes I’m blessed as a mobile nomad sort of person.  

Today I unloaded the Vespa. Madigan rode with me to Bosley’s where we bought his Tiki France and Greece wet food. He’s spoiled.  I took him with me when I went to the PO picking up mail and sending registered male .  

Dave and Helena were back at the place.  Helena’s son is in college and the younger one in high school. Dave;s daughters are well.  Nothing much has changed but they’ve survived the winter. The sun was out, blue sky and warm.  I left Madigan in the camper and made a run to drop off my laundry to pick up tomorrow. Madigan has been book with the vet to be groomed.  Then a trip to Full Basket my favourite butcher. I wanted to celebrate with their steaks.  Madigan agrees I also bought chickens and sausages . They’re such a difference in the quality of meat from this butcher.  Spoiling myself

I love that there are all these shops and services close to the Burnaby Cariboo RV park.  Pretty well in the city.  Such friendly people.  I am so glad to be back.  It’s a moving world of its own.  Peter and Larry who I’d spent a couple of weeks with in LA pass through here later in the year.  I did 2 months in the south whereas most of snowbirds do 3 or 4 months. 

I have a trip planned out east in a couple of months to visit my great nephews.  I like mobility. It’s a lot of work though and I never appreciated that years back when I looked at campers and trailers . I do like the lifestyle.  

Watching Reacher last night on tv I enjoyed his statement, “for thousands of years there have been people who like to stay around the campfire and others who liked to wanders. I’m sure I’m related to the wanderers. ‘. I agree and I’ve a life time of coming and going and now I really enjoy the being here but I loved being at Foutain of Youth RV park last month.  

Thank you God for keeping us safe on these travels and for providing these wonderful safe havings and stopping places .

Whistler Ridge

I’ve just come in from lying outside in the sun.  The view here is magnificent.  Laura was on one lawn chair. I on the other.  Madigan jumped between us. I’ve finished my book Seven Days of Hell chronicle of the massacre of the Black Watch on Verriere’s Ridge.  What a terrible thing war is.  Operation Spring.  So many dead and wounded.  Thanks, cannon, planes, mortars and machine guns against humans.  Sheer terror.

It was raining this morning and the mountains across the valley were shrouded in white mist.  Now there’s clouds and sun and blue sky.  Yesterday we had a fun visit from Laura’s sister Carolyn and her husband John.  Their dog Molly had to stay inside in their new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.  

I’ve attended two on line meetings Friday and Sunday. I’ve been very grateful for my 27 years and the gifts of recovery.  It’s wonderful to feel the support. 

My big exercise event was walking Madigan to dump the garbage at the entrance.  Today I walked him this morning. I didn’t bring an ATV or motorcycle or even my electric bike. I have a rifle to target practice with but instead I’ve read and looked at facebook,

I did submit my second paper to the Oxford Prehistory Religion and Ritual course I’ve been taking. I’d been waiting for the first assignment to be marked to give some direction to the second one.  The tutor apologized for being late but we’ll only get the results tomorrow and I feared other work could interfere with my submitting the paper which I’d written last weekend. It was a sense of relief that I submitted it.  Now I’ll wait to know if I pass and get a certificate of completion.  It will contribute to my CME requirements. Spiritually it completes a circle. 

This week I’ve the challenge of getting my mini to Kits BMW repair for the sky roof and new tires.  I’m also having Kelvin pick up my Camper for repair.  My 27 year cake was Wednesday but I’m taking it next Wednesday night.  Busy times.  Then IDAA conference in Baltimore.  

I’ve been toying with the idea of going to Berlin in August.  Laura can’t get time off but might be able to care for Madigan.  It’s logistics. I think it’d be one bridge too far. I’ll probably just do Vancouver things like Pride Parade in August then Laura and I would do the bow hunting weekend. Gun hunting season opens Sept 10.  Laura has a week off in October and I really ought to take a week with Madigan in September. I’m also planning on leaving for Southern California and Mexico after Christmas,  Time either rushes or slows. I’m surprised as all I’ve done and yet I feel often like I’m just marking time.

The next on my agenda is writing a book.  The dog one is the best idea and already well in progress.  Laura and I are planning a Venice trip next spring.  I continue to work doing virtual and frankly finding it okay.  I share that I have peace of mind now.  

I had thought to do a WPATH course but I’ll make such plans after IDAA which seems to be a time I dream my next year.  I’m winding down after my 27 years and then IDAA recharges the spiritual batteries.  

Right now I’ve been resting. Really.  So enjoying this weekend.  Canada Day.  The Trudeau calls himself post Canadian, post nationalist, a communist for sharia aetheist world government.  I’m meanwhile enjoying my celtic roots and wondering about learning more Spanish,  Years I’ve done that, so is Mexico the future .  I have no idea about retirement and when asked figure I’ll work for the next five years at least.  My back is limiting.  I really need to exercise more and do yoga and tai chi and lose weight.  At least I see the chiropractor every 2-3 weeks and am steadily improving slowly.

I love the cleaning lady visits. I love riding on my motorcycle but have a hankering for a 150 vespa.  My boat is in the sale process. That’s the big task this week.  Getting a nortary public to sigh Form 6 and getting the transfer number for acccepting Alistair’s payment for the GIRI.  I just don’t see myself solo sailing a big boat and don’t want the continued costs. I’m minimizing.  I really like the camper. I lived well in Arizona and California with only that for a couple of months last year.  It’s all I need and my RV is more than enough too.  So next year maybe I’ll get the license to tow the RV.  I still sometimes think of trading up for a bus but the costs seem prohibitive. 

I’m less interested in hunting so we’ll see in fall how important that remains.  I was disappointed to damage this camper out hunting.  I don’t like paying repairs and don’t like any of the old roughing it.  I really liked Oceanside with walks with Madigan and stopping for coffee. I’m looking forward to more travel and writing.  This is fun right now. 

I guess I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. What I’m doing is fine. I love my star link though I needed to replace the cable.  I love my apple IPad and MacBook Pro. I love my virtual work but also like the clinics and the staff and colleagues.  I love learning and had the greatest time going to museums and art galleries. The Oxford course has really been engaging.  Stonehenge and the trip to Victoria to attend the exhibit was wonderful. 

I’m blessed. It’s a good life. Laura and Madigan are great companions.   I’ve had many adventures with no great plans.  Muddling along is fine.  Peace of mind.  Even now I don’’t know if I ‘ll walk Madigan or take a rifle to target practice or have a coffee. I’ve enjoyed the sun and unwinding this weekend.  Life is good. Thank you God. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit.!

Changing

I am happy now.  All I want is here. I do consider the future, dream, maybe. Imagine living to a hundred. I like the idea of travelling about the US and Canada with my RV. I’ve taken dad’s advise and gone fifth wheel. He didn’t like losing his vehicle with his bus needed repair. Bad enough losing your home.  So I’ve got a truck and fifth wheel toyhauler. The truth is I haven’t as much interest in hunting or wilderness.  I’m happy in the campground with neighbours.  I’m becoming more civilized with age and enjoying folk in retirement. I’m walking the dog and meeting other dog walkers.  

I was looking at the 32 foot Forest River Palomino Columbus. If I could I’d trade this 40 foot toyhauler for that today. Alternatively I’d learn how to pull this big rig. I’m fully satisfied with it but can’t imagine hauling it about and trying to get it in campgrounds.  

I’m planning on working at very least  another year though I’d like to do a work-ation in the south for a month or two . I could go down and leave my unit south in the best of all worlds and come back. If my camper is ready then I’d take that and leave this.  It’s a thousand dollars storing this here for the month when hauling it south and back would be less on one hand but increase danger on the other hand .  I love that I have all I need here but don’t want to be carrying guns and motorcycles. I only need a smaller unit for travel and figure my Vespa does all I want.  So a 32 foot unit would be fine. I lose a garage and bathroom.  Laura is a big bathroom fan but has no problem stepping in and out if I need it. We’ve lived with one bathroom. I like to think of being with her.  The whole RV travel I imagine with her.  On the other hand I imagine it as a commo clad survivalist guy or an en femme Amber.  With Laura it’s easy to be an older couple doing the RV retirement life.  I guess in some way I’m following in Mom and Dad’s steps. They loved it. I’ve followed my Dad a lot.  For one so rebellious in many way I’ve seen the merit in so many of his choices.  Downsizing is a n idea.  Selling the boat seems like a way to go. Selling lots.  I’m still working and there’s not a lot of benefit selling with taxes. 

I’m not ready to travel much either. I imagine returning to Italy and seeing Venice. I want to go back to Ireland.  I would like to go to Brazil, Chile Argentina. I’d like to go to Thailand.  There’s a bucket list for a guy who wasn’t that interested in flying much. I’m happy in my RV home.  Yet if I was having to pack up and travel and back up and park night after night this is just too big a machine.  A 32 foot would be much easier for that.  I have to train and practice and would no doubt become skilled as I was with the yacht. 

This is the way my mind goes round and round.  Last year I was thinking of trading in the Electroglie Harley for a smaller lighter fat boy.  

Laura wants to go to Costco.  I’ve defrosted the fridge again hoping to stop the little leak. Kelvin thought the thermostat wasn’t responding properly so suggested a second defrot.  Now I can fill my fridge again.  

Madigan has been happy with me making us all Canadian Back Bacon.  Laura broke off little bits and hand fed him. He’s spoiled.  We are blessed. 

Hope and the Palomino Maverick Truck Camper

The guys call the camper, “Laura’s Tent”.  I can’t argue I really do appreciate the security and luxury of the camper. It’s still a steep learning curve.  Together for the first time we tried to back it into the slot.  The battery had run down because I’d obviously left something on.  That meant the electric struts had to be manually cranked up.  This took time and significant muscle power.

“I said I needed exercise, so here’s God’s gift.” I told Laura who stood by holding onto Gilbert.  She can’t even reach the switch let alone man the handcrank.

Once I had it up, with a wind blowing, I was sure the camper was going to nose dive into the back of the truck.  It didn’t.

With the help of the black line Mac had told me his Dad had used, and I’d painted on a couple of weeks before I actually had it almost aligned first time but we hadn’t accounted for the cable which needed to be under the camper to reach. This resulted in a half dozen more tries and one bang that had both Laura and I convinced that was it, both Camper and truck were toast.

Ron, who John the kind owner of Chilliwack RV had called in to help with my refrigerator problem, was still in the park working on another RV.  I asked him if he’d mind helping.

“Sure, no problem”.

“Line her up. Crank this way. All the way over this way, Now hard left,  a bit right. A couple of inches backwards. No, too far, an inch forward.  There that’s good.” The camper was perfectly seated in the back of the truck.  We’d bumped the camper lightly and whereas Laura and I had died with the bump, Ron was nonplussed. The camper’s obviously were built tougher than we imagined not that I plan to test their tolerance.

I then remember the chains for tie down.  Wow! It would have been easy to forget those.  With the bike and the generator loaded, we were off.  We’d left Burnaby at 230 pm , a slow traffic drive and an hour in the lot, we were on our way east at 6 pm.  Not bad. It felt good.  Road trip.  

Ron had also taught me how to light the propane on the refrigerator though it still didn’t work because it didn’t ‘whoosh’ to power and because the battery had died and the slide was in covering the battery box, he’d not been able to test it.  With the truck idling while I was cranking the struts I’d been able to get enough power to move the slide in and out to get the bike in. 

We were on the road, the same rolling motion of the boat, but barrelling down the highway. I’d been hankering after more wilderness camping but with the battery needing charging and Laura wanting luxury we reverted to our ‘original’ plan to go to Hope where we’d looked at a lovely river site, Telte Yet Campsite,right beside the big Frazer river. We’d have town water, electricity and charge the battery to full and even have a chance to dump the waste at the end of the weekend.  Luxury.

The people were really pleasant and helpful There was 30 amp service sites available. People tent there too. Right beside the town so I didn’t worry about not having everything.  Laura guided me out back,tentatively. 

“I was terrified when you were backing under the camper.I thought the whole thing was going to fall over and crush Gilbert and me.”  

Now I just needed binoculars to see her in the mirror. But it really wasn’t a challenge. When we’d back up the first RV in Boston Bar when I couldn’t find a ‘drive through’ ,now that had been a trial. This was just backing up a truck. Two tries and I was positioned in the site by the picnic table and hand’t driven over the pup tent in the site beside us.

Either side were retirement age folk or people who’d lived really hard and looked retirement age but were still in their youth.  The man had three women with him. One was elegant and friendly asking us where we came from. They actually turned out to be from White Rock and like us just enjoying a different view and less city.

We’d brought more ‘stuff’ to stow and had the carpet and chairs out, water and electricity and Gilbert watered and fed in about a half hour.

Leaving Laura and Gilbert I rode my Torino electric rad bicycle with a Harley Davidson chain lock to Fields.  I have the Harley Davidson state of the art lock because more people would try to steal this bicycle than they would my Harley. At Fields I bought a $24 camo back pack.  Then at the country store I proceeded to buy more supplies than I could load in the pack sack and on the bike.  I’m
surprised at my capacity for overestimating the load but still somehow managing to carry it. This is always a conversation matter when I take the motorcycle to Costco and return with a truck load of stuff ,when I just planned to get a chicken,

I had the Little Caesars for Gilbert, a bone, cold ginger ale for us, chips, Hagen daz Vanilla ice cream, the specially made ice cream for roughing it in the wild, chocolate bars, and perrier.  I normally pedal on the bike to look athletic but with the load on I just road back on the electric bike getting waves from the Harley riders passing through town.  I manage 30 km.

Laura and Gilbert were settled in when I returned, having had more exercise. 

After I remembered where I stowed the barbecue I had it going and Laura gave me the beef whiners from Costco I’d brought. She had wiener buns from Cob’s and gourmet mustard.  The fellow next door was barbecuing steaks and commented, “You’re the chef of your outfit too, I see.” There’s as a certain whimsical cynical turn of phrase as we’d both obviously done the heavy lifting bits while the ladies all looked lovely.  Laura was sporting a new purple and white sun dress and the bracelet her friend Melody had brought from the north. 

Soon enough we were sitting in the camper with hot dogs and chips looking out the window at the passing river.

“I love the quiet.  In the city in the summer, there’s just so much noise, shouting, music, cars, banging...sometimes I like it a bit but mostly I just long to be out here in the quiet. “ she said, her apartment in Vancouver’s Westend epicentre.

I have this theory of consciousness with cities being dense nodes and the further out the more our consciousness can loosely expand. I love the lightness of being feeling sailing solo and sometimes in the wilderness I’m almost there. It’s so relaxaing.  

I didn’t sleep that well, it was hot, I could have put on the air conditioner but liked the breeze. Still I woke a few times missing my CPAP. I wondered too if it was the a bit of the notorious ‘smog’ air that sometimes settles in Hope. Still I was restless for a couple of hours, my mind not settling, worrying about patients, trying to push away the frustrations of work, falling back to sleep, only to wake at 6 am to Gilbert harrumphing at the bottom of the bed. He can’t get up on his own. I let him up and he did the squirmy licky thing. Thanks to Laura being there I only got half the attention.

A little while later I got up and walked him about the camp. It was 630 am. Only one other fellow was awake.  Peaceful. Even the town wasn’t awake.  Gilbert loved the walk and blessed the ground with 4 big offerings which I duly picked up and placed in the proper cans. It really disappoints him that I don’t appreciate the effort he places in the spot he chooses and the cultural significance this all has for his canine species.

Back in the camper I lifted him up to get his morning massage from Laura while I promptly fell back to sleep.

 I woke again at 930 am and see my neighbours leisurely coming out of their trailers to sit at picnic tables or or lawn chairs cups in hand.

I’ve got a cup of Kona coffee. I loved that islands coffee when I’d anchored my sailboat there. I ground the beans. That’s probably not something I should mention in a story about roughing it.  I Think I’ll grind another cup,though.. Laura has got up. She has a cup of the Nestle’s instant she prefers.  It’s a touch demanding schedule I can envision today.  Reading and lawn chairs. The sun is wonderful with the breeze off the river.  

An Otherwise Shitty Weekend

It was definitely a shitty weekend. The valve on my black water sewage holding tank had closed shut. No one would fix it in situ because of the heat and tourist season.  Because of an obvious design flaw when these valves crap out, if they crap out in the closed position ,there is no way to get the crap out in the normal way. Further, when the old valve is to be removed, there is necessarily going to be some spillage before the new valve can be installed.
My friend Tom had siphoned out the tank through toilet itself.  This procedure caused an evacuation of our sweet neighbour next to us. Who would have known she had a severe respiratory condition?One whiff and apparently she turned purple and blue wheezing,choking and coughing. Tom was very apologetic. The ambulance crew was friendly enough.  That was just a whiff portend of the future.  Birds flying over died in flight  but suddenly came alive again on the ground as zombie birds that attacked  children and small animals.  The park management hinted that it would be best if l solved my leakage problem elsewhere.  There are no "Depends" for RV’s.
The last time I moved the RV was a couple of years ago when I caused such damage that it was in the shop a couple of months.  I love my Keystone Energy RV and felt such guilt for catching her slide on that nasty cement wall as I turned just a little too tightly around that very inconsiderate corner.
When we hit the highway, naturally there were high winds.  The trailer began fishtailing just like my first trailer did before it did that 360 turn  on the freeway taking us with it  before flopping over dead in the ditch and pulling my new Ranger truck into the grave with it .  Laura had been screaming "We're going to die! We're going to die!" and I hadn't thought so since I'd crashed other vehicles at higher speeds and lived through those.  Laura wasn't nearly as experienced with high speed crashing before she met me but that trailer truck event really moved her along.
Both trailer and truck were write offs . I was very thankful for having bought the best insurance.  It turned out that the second hand trailer had  been sold to me with a faulty brake system and I was exonerated for once.  That's when I began buying trailers from Travelhome and have ever been thankful. When this trailer began fish tailing I slowed right down happy that the brakes were working at very least.
I pulled into Travel Home RV in Abbotsford.   As is my normal response,  I was considering trading the trailer in for a 5th wheel.  Thankfully they had no fifth wheel toy hauler in stock.  I might have stayed married in the past if there'd been no trade ins in stock.
What they did have and suggested was a better hitch.  Again I might have stayed married one of the times if some one had suggested such an original idea.  Keeps the wife. Get a better hitch!. They really are the best at Travel Home.   For less than a $1000 I had a 4th way state of the art hitch for a much heavier trailer installed while we waited.  What a difference!  No more fish tailing and no more lurching.  No more shame about having overloaded my trailer either.
Heading up to the Coquahalla is when the truck died. It didn't suddenly die.  It just suddenly lost power.  An evil wrench icon in the Hal computer communication window flashed on saying the truck was now in the possession of the truck safety police and would only 'limp' home.   It did this once before and it was a manufacturer gasget glych in this model and year of F350 Fords. The dealer was terrific and rebuilt the engine all on warranty. The truck'sbeen a trooper for the last 50,000 km until it’s been kibitzing about these last couple of weekends. Tom volunteered  to take it to a Diesel sub-specialist who charges more than neuro surgeons. It was supposed to be perfect after they do a mechanic's voodoo dance and replaced a random part of the turbo charger.   I asked Tom if he'd checked whether the fellow voted Justin Trudeau before letting him work on my very conservative Harley Davidson edition truck.
At 60 km/hr  we made it almost to Princeton, way out  in the boonies.  We pulled off the highway at  a place where it looked like others had been dumping a variety of shit. We hoped our discharge would be minor..  The tank was sucked clean but apparently, according to the instructions, you’re not supposed to leave your valve open  for long sits because solid collects and the wet  flows over.  We thought there might be some kind of crystalline science fiction monster lurking still.
Tom got under the truck. He’d come equipped with overalls but I noticed he used my wrenches. I didn’t mind.  I was literally catatonic with the thought of reacquaintance with my own shit of perhaps 2 years previous.  What would we  say to each other? What was the etiquette? I shone the light on matter.  There were only 2 nuts that needed removing, not a particularly reassuring thought.
Tom opened the pipe and yes there was a gushing moment, that adolescent instant of blushing release. It wasn’t a whole lot in terms of sludge but the odour was noteworthy.  The paint on the RV peeled and nearby trees wilted.  Squirrels developed rasping voices.
While Tom was swiftly putting in the new valve,  more birds fell from the sky.  Much to our amazement little creatures and insects descended en mass on the  discrete effluence, this purified treated and conditioned human waste.  I’d added all manner of enzyme and  RV treatment to it  hoping that might help appease the pouting valve..  These little creatures r began instantly consuming this exotic substance and instead of dying took on hulk like Lilliputian appearance of Olympic Russian athletes,  their little bodies steroidally swelling before our eyes.
We both washed. excessively, after the event. I had only been in splash range but no amount of soap and water seemed enough.  I was glad for the shower.  I did shit in the now functional toilet. I very much enjoyed this important throne moment in the privacy of my home. If I was Justin Trudeau I suppose I would have taken a selfie but the thought never crossed my mind.
Neither of us had much appetite after the experience.  We did feed Gilbert well if only to discourage him from his French tendency to ‘mange de merde’.  Half poodle, half cocker spaniel, we blame his rude behaviours on the French side of his nature.
That night with the RV generator supplying electricity we watched a black and white film of the Tobruk defence in WWII starring a very young Richard Burton.  Tom and I felt that in our own way we had brought the RV through a long and shitty siege and prevailed despite overwhelming odds.
 It was great to awake in the wilderness having my very own toilet to relieve myself at, no longer fearing overflow.
Tom, of course, got to use the facilities too but Gilbert was left to the outdoors.  As a connoisseur of butts we thought the previous night’s experience with the RV  would have raised his appreciation for the Keystone Energy, in his doggie mind.
Given the trip was downhill the truck engine gave little trouble on the way home. Tom amazingly parked the RV without doing major damage. I really thought that was very good of him.  He’s planning on getting the truck back to the guys to find out why it was still acting so shitty.
Now that he's gone, I think I’ll just sit on the throne.  It's not that I need to go but it feels so good.

Saturday Morning and the RV Holding Tank

I awoke this morning to a picture sent by Kevin at 7 am of the cutest little munchkin god kid Kendra, hands and face all covered in blueberry jam.  Gilbert thanked Kevin immediately seeing this as his opportunity to dive in with dog kisses and squirmy body.
“Since I’m awake,  I might as well take you for a walk,” I said to Gilbert.  “Yes, yes, yes, yes!” tail wagging body happy thoughts.
I dressed.  Gilbert bolted out the door. I caught up with his leash.  He swatted down the lane right next to the waste bin. I picked up this present and deposited then took him back to the trailer. I meanwhile walked to the club house where I used the facilities.  My own have been plugged for weeks.
I’ve taken this as a metaphor. I see this as reflecting my relationship with God.  Somehow my life is so full of shit I can’t let the light of joy and heaven in. I have to get rid of the shit.  I’ve called various people. All the leaders in the field. The plumbing and septic system and waste folk are all flummoxed. There’s a broken valve and if anyone attempts to fix it in the park there will be waste overflow.  We have to take it to a place where the waste leakage will not stink up the neighbours in this otherwise lovely heat.
Tom has volunteered to help.  He even bought the valve replacement. Now he’s on his way to assist me moving my RV to the country.  We’re going to spend the night in the deep woods and replace the valve.  Out in the country we expect to find a place where we can have the RV on an angle so the shit in the tank is least likely to overflow when we removed the jammed valve.  It’s a design flaw. I am certain thousands of others have encountered this problem and there are videos on you tube about replacing the valve.  But there’s did not freeze shut. Open it’s a non issue.  The tank is emptied and the valve is replaced but closed is another story.
Most people do not ‘live aboard’ their RV’s or at least are not encumbered as I am with so much ‘shit’.  The metaphor here is that I have to ‘lighten up’.  I have a need for better organization. I have a couple of activities that I do each season and literally since last year I’ve not moved the activities of one season to the storage locker as is the plan.  I’ve got last years hunting clothing and this summer’s camping gear and all my work gear and my sports and reading material and writing projects and some of the boating gear all here. My garage which is supposed to be empty so I can load my Harley or my Honda 500 Pioneer is knee deep in suitcases and guitars and motorcycle gear.
It was the same when I lived on my sailboat. The sailboat without all the clothing associated with work and some of the other activities was just perfect for travelling and crossing oceans.  This RV is the same. I really think it’s the perfect RV for a cross country trip or for hunting trips to the north.  If I’d just get the stuff to the storage locker I’d be okay.  However the storage locker is next to the boat and this RV is on the other side of the city.  The change of one part in a whole requires the reworking of the entire system.
I have had to put netting and hooks for bungees up to make this RV more mobile.  When I’m just using it for a hunting trip it’s not a big deal because I can lessen the land and stow things but now there’s simply no room for things to be stored.
I’m full of shit. It’s really temping to consider a bigger unit. I’ve had my eye on the fifth wheels for a long time. The advantage there is better separation of bedroom with the laundry facility, more storage room, not that much more but more and better space in kitchen with counter space.  I really don’t have counter space here.
But that’s the ‘2 foot itis of ‘boat world.”  For years I wanted a slightly bigger boat. Yet my yacht is big enough. Just like this RV. If I wasn’t working all the time  and my storage locker was nearer and more convenient or I was simply better organized all would be well.  I do miss having a cleaning lady too.
I just think of all the pictures and things that will fall when we actually take this baby on the road. It’s been too long entrenched. My sailboat was perfect with everything properly stowed and the boat in working order after about of a week of travelling down the coast.  if I was on the road for a week the same would hold for this RV.  It’s just not moved since 2 years ago when I tore the slide parking at the end of the last moose hunting trip when I returned so tired late at night and worried about getting up to work the next day.  It was a guaranteed disaster, the kind of thing we learned on the sailboat.  Better to wait till morning than go into a harbour late at night in poor conditions.  The same held true for this RV Park. It’s a bitch to park in. The tightest parking one will ever encounter with a motor home.  Just like some of the docking scenarios that I encountered early but now seem relatively doable.  It’s a steep learning curve with these big machines.  My yacht is 13 tons.  Docking involved wind, current, and inertia.  The RV is just an issue of watching out for 4 sides on turning and backing up. There’s no wind or current by comparison.
It’s all overwhelming.
I’m thankful for Tom’s company.  With guys it’s always good to have another person to lighten the load.  All over this park there are couples with  one person who does the driving and another who gets out and watches as an extra set of eyes to lessen the likelihood of crash. On the boat it’s the one person who steps off and ties a line to the dock to hold the boat.
I’ve done these things alone but I sure do appreciate the help.
Today the inertia is with me.  I’ve had coffee but I’d really like to just lie on the couch and read a novel. The thought of all the moving parts of hooking up this trailer and driving out of the park and then heading up the road towing tons of home is simply overwhelming.
I phoned Tom at 8 am and said we’d plan with breakfast first. White Spot.  More coffee and more mobility.  Then it will happen.
We want to take the RV up north this fall for hunting simply because it’s going to get cold soon. Tenting is fun but not in the cold.  This RV is the perfect set up.  It can go on logging roads and backwoods but we really need to know where we’re going and where we’re going to set up.  The problem with a trailer is you don’t want to get stuck because backing up is a royal hassle.  A nightmare if it’s any distance.  And certainly something you don’t want to be doing on a mountain road.  We have however found a small paved trailer car park near where we want to hunt so plan to take the trailer there and then drive the truck with ATV the 10 miles back to the hunting area.  Laura will be coming along and will like the luxury whereas Tom and I and Gilbert will rather enjoy coming back to warmth and comfort of our RV home.  I like the showers.
Now I’m going to enjoy the shitter working again.
I also know that it’s not going to be a much of a mess as I fear.  But I’d love a cleaning lady.  There will be stuff falling to the floor and I really need to get this place better organized. I do miss my cleaning lady.  It’s been a couple of months since I spent a day going through this place and really cleaning it.
I could do stuff now while I’m waiting for Tom but I’m going wait till I’m driven by having another person waiting on me and me dashing about putting dishes in sinks and bathrtumbs and such so they won’t fly about.
I’m inspired now. I think I’ll shave and shower. Then I think I’ll put the coffee on for another cup.  I’ve got to get myself in the zone to address this RV move and shitter restore equation.
It’s times like this I understand why guys never get past the couch.  I did years with the highest tech being a canoe and bicycle. The car was something . But there were mechanics and I ever learned mechanics for the maintenance of my bug. That’s when it began.  I learned the mechanics for the bug and then it was downhill from there.  Having the yacht required me to learning plumbing.  I fixed the plumbing and replaced the toilet on that boat a dozen times. Diesel mechanics courses and courses on radio and radar and electronics and bigger and bigger trucks and bigger and bigger RV’s.  Now I’m 21st century and looking longingly back on the days when I had only a pup tent a canoe and an old car that carried me and my canoe bicycle and tent.  I sometimes think that retirement will be a lessening until I am back there.  It’s one thing to have never had the Harley Davidson and another to know it’s joy and then return to the simpler cheaper less complicated bicycle. I’m not there yet and love this RV for instance when it’s working. It’s rocket science.  It’s unbelievable.  But when these high end items go wrong they sure are complicated. There’s a simple joy in Walden Pond.
We talk a lot about the simplest sailing system off shore.  All the accessories can and will go wrong so there’s a die hard group that don’t have GPS , radar or autopilots and remain luddite and safe. Like the AK47 ….a truly dependable rifle.  I’ve got the semi auto Ruger and it does jam whereas my old bolt action rifle is so simple and dependable.
Then there’s the whole world of leasing and renting.  Let some one else maintain things.  Ownership is over rated.  Hotel living at it’s finest.  Maids.  Car to Go.  There’s a lot to be said for that. I’ve given up on home ownership roof repair, plumbing costs and yard maintenance and all the other things that went with owning homes. Mostly I got tired of losing the investment because my partner and I were not able to maintain our relationship so the home became a burden and I lost my shirt every time.  I lack the fundamental ‘entitlement’ that others seem to have. I also lack the ‘spite’. I just want it over and I’ve found myself paying through the teeth just to get away from the abuse and anger.  The most beautiful people can be the most ugly .  I don’t like neighbours who are psychopaths like the guy who almost killed my cat stealing my power after I went to work and by doing so triggering the shut off on the heater.  For weeks I’d come home to a shivering cat . Then I found out this Vancouver psychopath was waiting for me to go to work so he could unplug my electricity and run it into his home to save himself the money of winter heating.  In a civilized country I’d able to get recompense but in Canada it was best to move away.  I like my mobility.  Without police protection or legal support of the working man and the government considering the middle class solely a tax grab, tis best to be able to move . If I had a home today I’d want a gated community.  I understand Trump wanting to build a wall. I laughed to see the huge wall around Clinton’s place. I remember liking the barred windows and walls in the Mexican haciendas. We’re getting that way here. Even in this park if anything is left not locked down thieves range through at night and steal.  Bicycles are forever going missing in Vancouver. It’s famous for the level of bicycle theft. Probably the highest in the world.  More and more heroin and more and more theft.
Of well, time to shave and prepare for the a shitty day.

Frazer Valley Sunday

I stayed the night in Harrison Hot Springs at the Ramada.  In the morning having woken late, made coffee in my room, done some work on a report, blogged, answered emails and shaved, I went upstairs for an sauna.  There I chatted with a man about my age about his kids, Kelowna, aches and pains and the relative value of arthrotec versus celebrex.  We had our opinions.  We talked of weather and snowmobile and Winnipeg and Prince George too.  When I got back to the room I showed and dressed, packed up and departed.  Gilbert was delighted when I completed my transaction with the very pleasant front desk person so he could pee on a tree.  Peeing on trees is for Gilbert right up there with sniffing bums, crotches and fetching tennis balls.  I loaded the Ford truck.

We had a long walk around the Harrison Lake beach. I took pictures. Gilbert pooped and peed. It was misty and foggy this day with a little drizzle beginning.  I stopped in Harrison Village for a lunch of Hallibut and chips. Gilbert waited outside not a little miffed at the gross discrimination his kind faces routinely but especially at restaurants.

After lunch we walked back to the truck.  I enjoyed having a heater. I headed out of Harrison Village back towards Chilliwack.  Crossing the river I thought of fishing.   An Indian woman was hitchhiking in the rain in Rosedale so I offered her a lift saying I was headed to the Bookman bookstore.  Gilbert at first barked at the dangerous intruder then spent the rest of the trip having his ears rubbed.  She was going to the coffeeshop to meet her son. I dropped her off in town.

At the Bookman I loaded up remembering I'd not finished reading the loot from my last stop here with Laura.  That didn't stop me from stocking up with more to read. I'd been in House of James in Abbotsford the day before and loaded up with CD's.  I got another Christian 'thriller' here to add to the two others I'd found at House of James. I also got some nautical fiction, science fiction, a detective novel and a western. I saw some Khalla and Patrick Taylor in the second hand favourite stand which obviously suggested someone was reading these local greats.

With a bag full of books I returned to the truck where Gilbert was glad to be on the road again.  I called Victor to get his address and stopped for our visit. He served coffee.  Gilbert was happy to visit with his female dog friend in their back yard while Victor and I talked about materialism and spirituality.  He's been told by his doctor to rest and was planning on lying on the couch watching the Superbowl according to doctor's orders.  He'd hurt his ankle. I don't think he did this on purpose either. He's not that much of a football fan.

I left with Gilbert who was thoroughly played out having a girlfriend three times his size.  He slept on the truck seat beside me while I drove onto Yarrow.

Having been sorely tempted by a Stealth Toy Hauler at the Abbotsford Earlybird RV show the day before I thought I should have a look at my RV.  Well, this was good. I'd forgotten how much I liked it and seeing the new Stealth with it's capacity to carry my motorcycle not fully appreciated how much I liked my own RV despite it's not being able to carry my motorcycle.   I wasn't keen on taking on debt either so was glad for the decision. It was raining so I decided against cleaning it up and packing what I didn't need from last season to the storage locker.  Just nice to visit.

I stopped at the Barn for produce getting fresh local honey, some sausages and perogies as well.  I love these local country markets.  Then it was back on the freeway with the windshield wipers going.  I'd been listening to Tapestry on CBC radio and thoroughly enjoying it.  A journalist who'd become a minister was being interviewed.   Great program.

Back at the boat it was a struggle to get everything down the dock in one go. I've forever trying to avoid two trips.  Good to be back on the boat.  I got the diesel stove going and before long it was cozy in here. I've actually put the laundry away and done the dishes.  Gilbert is still drying and can't understand why I won't let him lie on my chest.

It's been a great day just driving back home from Harrison's.  I've done this trip often.  Often I'll go up to pray in the Abbey.  Next month I'll probably be doing it on motorcycle and the ride up there on the Harley is pretty fine.  I'd thought to visit my friend in Fort Langley but with the rain I was happy to just head on home.

This was a restful day, with minor accomplishments, creature comfort, a visit, and time with Gilbert. Now I'll read and watch Netflix.

I'm thankful for this day, for health, for lack of war, for the very ordinariness of it.

Earlybird RV Show & Sale, Tradex, Abbotsford, BC Feb 3, 2013

I'm a creature of habit. There's the daily routines and the annual routines. I missed Robbie Burns Dinner and the Motorcycle show being in Mexico this year, but was glad to catch the RV show. This is a place of dreams. Every type of trailer was represented from the ultra light weight pull behind a car $10,000 items to the $500,000 luxury buses that would just force you to become a rock star and go on tour. The place was packed. I bought my Rockwood I love here a couple of years ago but saw a couple I'd really consider trading that in for. Now I'm looking at brochures. I did learn about a 'hitch' add on that would make coming down the Coquahala in wind less exciting. Talking motorhomes I've also learned a technique for braking better. Amazing what one can pick up. I was tempt to get more Watkins spices but I'm stocked up. I loved the satellite dishes too. Some real advances in toy haulers with extra 40 gallon gas fuel tanks for filling up the atv's and motorcycles. Pretty nifty. There's always savings at these shows. Usually in the range of $5000 of the best price at least. That's why we're all here. To see what's available. All the newer floor plans were well conceived. Then there were the motorhomes outside as well. Just a whole lot to choose from. Something for everybody's needs. Finishes tomorrow. I have to think about it but I might well go back to look some more.