Saturday, September 19 to Friday, September 25, 2015 (Fort Langley and North Saanich, BC)

Saturday was pretty much a good for nothin' kind of day...rain had settled in and it poured all day. For the most part, we hunkered down inside...Steve watching TV and me crocheting.

At 3:30 we joined Ray and Deb at their place...enjoying cocktails and snacks. After a couple of hours, we headed home to let them get on with their dinner...and to prepare ours.

We woke to find our power out Sunday morning but at least it wasn't off too long, coming back on shortly after 8:00. All I can say is thank goodness for our Coleman propane coffee maker...I just pulled it out and was able to make our morning coffee!

The day started off much like yesterday and we thought it was going to be a total repeat but the rain actually subsided and we were able to get out for a bit of a walk around the campground.

Chris and Angela were coming out for a visit and dinner, so I prepared veggies to roast...I had put ribs in the oven first thing this morning to slow cook all day. Yes, that meant having the propane oven on but at least it was on a very low setting.

It was shortly after 2:30 when Chris and Angela arrived. We actually managed to sit outside for a bit...until the wind and rain started up again, then we retreated inside to continue our visit.

Dinner time! Fall off the bone ribs, roasted veggies and corn-on-the-cob...


After dinner, Steve went out to to help a fellow who was having trouble finding a satellite signal. He had stopped by while we were having dinner and since we have the same system, asked if Steve could help.

Once back, we had dessert...and then it was time for Chris and Angela to head off. So good seeing them!


Monday's weather had greatly improved from the past two days. We enjoyed a relaxing start to the day and then got ready to go out for lunch with Deb and Ray. We left shortly after 11:00 and after a stop at Best Buy in Langley, we continued onto Big Ridge Brewing Co. They have a Burger and Beer special on Mondays...11 Bucks...a good deal for a delicious lunch (it's an extra 2 bucks if you want cheese and bacon...still a good deal!)


Once home from lunch, Deb and I dropped the guys off and then went into Fort Langley to do a little wandering around. Deb had an idea of something she wanted to get to hang on a wall in the motorhome...we didn't find anything but at least picked up a few ideas. While we were gone, Steve scrubbed and washed last summers grasshoppers off the front of the truck, then washed the cab and box roof...a start on a big job.

Tuesday morning we were up and out to the lab for our annual blood tests as ordered by the doctor. No coffee or breakfast this morning...so by the time we were finished there we were starving! It was almost noon by the time we got home. The first thing I did was get some food cooking...we decided to have a big breakfast for lunch...ham, eggs and blueberry pancakes!

After we had some sustenance in us, we both had a working afternoon...Steve finished washing the truck while I did laundry.

With the work done, we sat outside enjoying happy hour with Ray and Deb. Next thing we knew, we were being invited for dinner...sweet! But there was a catch...I was to be Deb's helper in training. She's bound and determined to make a cook out of me yet! Well...it's not that I don't know how to cook, I just don't enjoy it as much as she does! Having said that, I did learn lots of little tips and tricks as she showed me how to make Jaeger Schnitzel. A fairly easy dish...see Di...you could do it all by yourself! LOL.
The finished product...served over rice along with corn-on-the-cob...it was yummy!


Time to relax after a delicious dinner!



It was just before 7:30 when we thanked our hosts for a lovely dinner and headed home.

Wednesday we packed a suitcase, put away a couple of things outside, put the awning up and then said goodbye to Deb (Ray was out at a dental appointment)...and we were off to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to catch a ferry over to Vancouver Island. It's time to visit Rob, Angie, Conner and Bryce...along with other family over there! Oh yeah...we also have other fun things to do like dental appointments and all sorts of odds and ends to take care of.

We caught the 1:00 ferry which arrived at Swartz Bay at 2:45. We were supposed to be picked up by Angie but she was not having a good afternoon...she lost the FOB to her car so it wouldn't start. She eventually found it by calling a friend and retracing her route...but not until after a stressful couple of hours! No big deal for us...we just took a taxi to the house and were waiting for her when she got home.

Steve with a very smiley little Bryce...
Angie, me and Steve...along with a couple of silly kids that really didn't want to pose for the camera! Conner is upside down...and Steve is holding Bryce...

Thursday morning, Steve was up at 5:45 so he could go with Rob to work, drop him off and have the use of his truck. On his way home, he stopped by his old office for a coffee and visit and then went to Peninsula Eyecare in Sidney to see if they could fix his glasses...the nose-piece had come off. As it turned out, they couldn't fix it and a new piece was going to cost $110 along with a few weeks wait...um, nope, that's not going to work! So she told Steve to leave the glasses with her and she would see if she could find a piece in the box of donated eyeglasses that would work.

I finally got my butt in gear and was ready to head back into town with Steve for his 11:00 dental appointment. He's just having a cleaning...any other work required will get done down in Las Algodones, Mexico this winter.

After Steve's dentist appointment, we met with out financial advisor and then went to visit Steve's Dad at the seniors home. Dave and Kerry (Steve's brother and Fiance) are visiting from Thompson, Manitoba and were also there along with Nadine (Steve's sister). We're looking forward to a family gathering this weekend! Left to right...Nadine, Dave, Kerry, Dad, Steve and me...

We remembered (after reminding ourselves throughout the day) to pick up Rob and were waiting for him when he got off work at 4:00. We stopped back at Peninsula Eyecare in Sidney on our way home so Steve could pick up his glasses. She had managed to find a spare nose piece and fix Steve's glasses...and to top it all of it was "no charge"...Sweet!

Just finishing our evening meal...Angie, Conner, Bryce with Rob and Steve...

After dinner, Conner helped Mom make Chocolate Chip Cookies...

(They turned out delicious!)

While Grampa played with Bryce...

Friday morning was my turn to get up at 5:45 to drive Rob to work so we could use his truck...yes, more appointments and "stuff" to take care of today!

Back home, I updated the maps on our GPS so it would be ready for our trip south. Then it was time to head out and get started on the other "stuff" we had to do. Our first stop was at Peden RV...where we had purchased our Montana. After chatting with the fellow who sold us our fifth-wheel, Steve picked up a replacement magnesium anode for the hotwater tank then we continued on into Sidney...our second stop was at our bank.

I went in while Steve waited in the truck...which he had parked right outside of 'Fish on Fifth'. When I got back, he suggested we go there for lunch. In all of the years we had lived in the area, we had never been to this funky little fresh fish restaurant! We both had Halibut and Chips...delicious! We had heard how good it was...and they didn't disappoint!

We ended up getting all of the things we wanted to get done today done much earlier than we expected before picking up Rob. With a little time to kill, we decided to do a little sightseeing. First of all, we stopped at West Bay Marine Village where, in addition to a marina, they have an RV park.

There are also float homes...


These sites at the very end, backing onto the harbour would likely be the only sites we would be able to get our rig into, however just maneuvering into and around the campground would be tricky. You can't beat the views but most sites are awning to awning.

This picture is taken looking away from the water...
View of the Inner Harbour...



After walking around West Bay Marina, we jumped back in the truck and drove to Songhees Road where there are great views of Victoria's Inner Harbour...
The blue Johnson Street Bridge built in 1924 will be no longer in 2017...

Prince of Whales Whale Watching Tour boat..


That's the Fairmont Empress Hotel in the background. There are also little harbour boats that transport people to different places around the harbour...

We picked up Rob and then headed home. Friday night dance party at the Colibaba's!


After dinner....Angie gave Bryce a bath. He's such a happy little guy...it doesn't take much to get him to smile!

And there you have it...another week has gone by! We are looking forward to continuing our visit...we plan on heading back to the mainland next Wednesday.


Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 16, 17 and 18, 2015 (Fort Camping, Brae Island Regional Park, Fort Langley, BC)

It's taken no time for us to slip back into our 'retirement routine'...we're still up early but enjoy a relaxing start to the day. It was mid morning by the time we were ready to get on with our day.

We expected to be hunkered down inside due to rain today but it looks like the forecast has moved the rain back by a day or two. So Steve headed outside and started taking everything out of the trailer basement...time to clean it out and wash the deck.

After that was done, he moved on to project #2...offload the bicycles from the back of the trailer, pump up the tires...and get them ready for a ride.

It was about 11:30 when we headed off on our bikes. We crossed the bridge and rode along the river trail. Of course, we stopped along the way for some pictures. Some paddlers practicing in the river...

Our rest stop along the way...


We made it all of the way to Edgewater Bar Campground....about 5 miles west of Fort Langley...

This is a beautiful campground but all the sites are too short for our rig and kind of expensive at $24  per night for no services...

After a rest, it was time to head back...I took the lead on the way home...


We stopped at Lee's Market to pick up a couple of things needed for the dessert I was making for dinner tonight. Our neighbours, Deb and Ray, invited us over for dinner and I offered to make dessert. Deb is a fabulous cook...she finds it therapeutic, so she is trying a new recipe and "cooking up a storm" for us today. Sweet! We love being her "guinea pigs"!

It was about 2:00 when we got home..with legs like jelly after almost a 10 mile bike ride! I warmed up soup for a light lunch...and we watched these critters also munching away on the bird seed on the ground...


I did a little baking...trail bars and then hot fudge pie (for dessert) while Steve relaxed watching a little TV.

Then it was time to join Ray and Deb outside for happy hour...

We chatted while enjoying Deb's homemade salsa...she also presented the menu for tonight. Sounds yummy!

And then it was time to head inside their motorhome so the cook could continue with the final preparations for dinner...
Deb...in her "happy place"...
 Looking good!

She plated our dinner...looks exquisite! And it tasted wonderful! Well done, Deb, it was delicious!


After dinner...and dessert (which tasted pretty good too!), we sat chatting some more. Ray had a great selection of music so Deb and I just had to get up and have a little dance...with the dogs. They have a couple of guest dogs visiting just for the day...Kristie and Jason (Ray and Deb's daughter and son-in-law) dropped them off this morning and will be back tonight. This is Zeus and Athena...

It must have been going on 10:00 by the time we bid goodnight to our hosts and headed home. We had a wonderful evening...thanks so much Deb and Ray!

Thursday morning Steve was up, showered had breakfast and was on the road shortly before 8:00. He was taking the truck into Gold Key Isuzu (again!). I'll pass the laptop over to him to explain what transpired there...

Sometime in 2013 we very, very intermittently would occasionally hear a slight squealing noise coming from the truck when the exhaust brake would engage. By February 2014 the squealing was very apparent every time the exhaust brake engaged. Before our return to Canada we had the truck serviced in Phoenix. The dealer there suspected an exhaust leak in the exhaust manifold but had no stock, and because we were in transit and couldn't wait, decided to have it taken care of by the dealer we bought the truck from back home.
So on our return, that dealer discovered that it was the EGR Cooler gasket leaking at the exhaust manifold and coolant was leaking inside the EGR Cooler so replaced them both. Fast forward to now, I have been back to both dealers a total of seven times, had the EGR Cooler replaced twice and gaskets 5 times! On today's visit I suggested to my dealer that if all of these parts are continually replaced and only give a temporary fix it must be where the EGR Cooler bolts to the exhaust manifold. Is it warped or cracked? They inspected that area and found no defects. So they once again replaced the gasket but this time added a special hi temperature exhaust cement made by Caterpillar that costs $300 for a very small can. I have no faith in this last fix. My extended warranty expired last January but thankfully my home dealer has covered the cost the last two times, but that's not forever. According to them Isuzu doesn't want to have anything to do with this ongoing issue even though it was never resolved during my warranty period. So I decided that I was going to send an email to Isuzu Canada, explain the situation and see what they say.

While Steve was off taking care of the truck, Deb and I headed out at 10:00 for a day of shopping. We had a wonderful "pink" day...lots of poking around the stores and taking our time looking. I loved it! Before we knew it, it was after 2:00 and we hadn't had lunch yet! So we found a Chinese food spot where we happened to be...Morgan Creek, a trendy spot in south Surrey with all sorts of shops, stores and restaurants. We didn't get home until after 4:30. I had had a very successful day...new frying pans, including a wok style one plus 3 shirts/tops.

Ray and Deb came over and we had happy hour, all discussing our day. While chatting, Steve captured this picture of an antique car coming back into the park. It's from Washington State and apparently there is some kind of gathering happening in Langley this weekend.

Friday started off in our usual lazy fashion....then we did our resistance exercises; yes, we are trying to get back into the routine of regular weight training. By the time we finished that, had breakfast and showered, it was after 11:00 a.m.!

My project for today was to give the shower stall and bathroom a good cleaning. I had just finished that when the phone rang. It was our doctor's office asking if we could come in early for our appointments scheduled for this afternoon...sure, no problem, what time? 12:30, okay we'll be there! Well, I didn't realize that it was already after noon! So that gave us about 20 minutes to get into Langley...but we made it! Sadly as we approached the intersection by our doctors office there were a lot of police, fire and ambulance vehicles. Steve saw the attendant giving CPR. It appeared that a van hit a pedestrian and unfortunately that person passed away. As we left the doctors more than an hour later they still hadn't removed the body.

After enduring all that, we got home around 2:30. We spent the rest of the afternoon chilling inside...I finished a crochet project and Steve worked on his email to Isuzu Canada.