Saturday (26) started off pretty darned relaxing. This little smiley boy loves standing so this holder is wonderful, especially while Mom is in the kitchen cooking. Angie made a delicious quiche for breakfast.
After breakfast Rob headed off to collect wine grapes from a friend's yard...there were 75 lbs of unwanted grapes so he thought he'd have a go at making wine. Steve and I decided to get out for another walk in the neighbourhood...there is a lovely park trail that runs behind the property...
When Rob got home, the real work began...pulling all the grapes off the vines. This ended up being a little more work than anticipated! But Angie and I helped...and so did Conner once he woke up from a nap.
Sunday morning Steve and I met our good friends, Rob and Nancy in Sidney for breakfast...and then a walk along the Sidney waterfront. It was a beautiful day even with some clouds hanging around...
We had a gathering of Steve's family Sunday evening...brother Dave and Kerry (from Thompson, Manitoba) along with Mike, sister Nadine, Amanda and Matthew came over.
First thing on the agenda...haircuts for Steve and I. Kerry gives great haircuts...thank goodness she remembered her scissors! I went first...outside on the deck...Then it was Steve's turn...
One reason Dave and Kerry visited was to bring back this 1967 Acadian Canso. Steve bought this car when he was a teenager and in 1983 sold it to his good buddy Jim. Dave eventually bought it from Jim and it ended up sitting in storage for many years after he moved to Thompson, Manitoba. Boy...if this car could talk! Dave has a friend in Victoria that has many contacts when it comes to car restoration, so they will return next summer to pick it up. The interior has already been done so the plan is to change out the engine from the 283 to a 327, body work and new paint.Monday morning Nancy picked me up bright and early to take me to an appointment in Victoria. I have been scheduled for a colonoscopy (fun...LOL) and today I was booked to attend a short education session. After that was over, we spent the rest of the day together...absolutely AWESOME being able to spend time with you Nancy! Thanks for the day!
While Nancy and I were together, Steve and Rob also got together and enjoyed lunch at Fish on Fifth...that's twice in a matter of days, Steve. Must be good!
Tuesday it was nothing but clear fluids for me all day as I prepped for my colonoscopy Wednesday morning. We met Mike and Nadine for tea/coffee at noon in Sidney and spent a delightful couple of hours chatting with them.
Dave and Kerry came out for dinner that night...I'm afraid I wasn't very sociable as I had started to drink four litres of this horrible stuff (honestly, the prep for the colonoscopy was worse than the procedure itself!)
Dave preparing fresh oysters for the barbecue.
Wednesday morning Steve had me at Saanich Peninsula Hospital at 9:15...see ya in a couple of hours! I was prepped for the procedure (scheduled for 10:15). Shortly after 11:00 Steve picked me up...he had Conner with him. They had dropped Angie and Bryce off at the library to attend an hour music program and Grampa was taking Conner to the park...well, he was surprised to get a call to pick me up!
But we still took Conner to the playground...he loves the swing!
Wednesday afternoon, we caught the 3:00 ferry back to the mainland (Vancouver). Kerry and Dave decided to take the same ferry...so we spent the time outside on the back deck of the ferry.
Thursday morning (October 1), we had a 9:00 appointment to take the fifth-wheel into RV Traveland in Langley. We needed the bearings and brakes checked. One of our grey tank dump valve lever assemblies broke and the other one has always been extremely stiff to operate, so we are changing them out to the Valterra. Our awning arms need to be adjusted and our toilet doesn't hold water. We arrived there shortly before 9:00 and after getting all unhitched, we went inside to the service desk. Tyler, the fellow we had booked the appointment with a couple of weeks ago, wasn't in yet but another fellow started to help us. But he couldn't find our appointment on the computer...wonderful, not a very good start! The fellow passed us over to Tyler when he arrived. He didn't know what had happened but assured us they could take care of us today.
We spent the rest of the morning wandering around the nearby mall. Although we hadn't planned on it, we both managed to find new swim suits...something we needed for our trip to Cabo this December.
After lunch at Montana's, we decided to go back to the campground and go for a walk. We walked the trail along the river and then took the street back into Fort Langley where we stopped at the pharmacy so I could drop off prescriptions that needed to be filled before we head south. After a stop at the liquor store for a bottle of wine for dinner, we headed back to the campground.
Deb and Ray had invited us over for an early Thanksgiving Dinner (Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend) so Deb had been cooking up a storm again! While we were sitting in the sunshine outside, we received a phone call from Tyler at Traveland...they wouldn't have the trailer ready today. So we would have to spend the night in their lot. We ended up driving back into Langley so we could get the trailer set up...then we'd be back for dinner.
While getting the trailer set up in the spot where we would be spending the night, I happened to try opening the cupboard behind the toilet. Well, they had installed a new toilet and it was just a tad higher than the old one so the cupboard wouldn't open,,,sheesh! Tyler and another fellow assessed the situation...it would have to be taken care of tomorrow.
Back out to Fort Camping...and dinner at Ray and Deb's!
As usual, dinner was delicious! Thanks so much, guys!
Friday morning we were up and out of the fifth-wheel by 8:00 and on our way out for breakfast. We made a last minute decision to go to IHOP but really wish we had kept our original plan and gone to Ricky's. Our breakfast at IHOP was terrible!
We were in limbo for the rest of the day...we had hoped to pass some time by going to our follow-up doctor's appointment but they called to reschedule our appointments for Monday. We ended up driving out to Fraserway RV in Abbotsford to see if they stocked the large Thetford Rubber Roof Cleaner Conditioner in a spray bottle and they did. After that we wandered around the mall in Langley again for a bit and then just returned to Traveland to wait for the trailer to be ready.
It was finally ready. Our extended warranty covered everything except the bearing and brake check and a modification to one of the grey tank dump valve assemblies. It was almost 5:00 by the time we got back to the campground. We got all set up again...and then just chilled for the rest of the evening.
Saturday was a work day for Steve...and a play day for me :). It was time to service the hot water tank. He started off by removing the anode to drain the tank.The old anode was actually still in pretty good shape but he changed it anyway.
He then decided to try out the new gray water tank gate valve that Traveland installed...only to find the sewer hose was now leaking. He spent the rest of the afternoon trying to find a replacement Rhino Flex sewer hose "only" to no avail. The only three places that carry RV parts in the area had hose kits that included the ends that we don't need.
My dear friend, Glenna, drove out from Coquitlam to pick me up at noon. We try to get together at least once a year. I had packed an overnight bag...ready for some "girl time" catching up.
We decided to go to Rocky Point Park where there is a great restaurant along with a beautiful hiking trail. So we started with lunch at The Boathouse Restaurant....This is the view from the waterside part of the restaurant...
After a brief rest, we walked back around the inlet to the car...we'd had a good walk and it felt good to have walked off our lunch! We did a little shopping at Coquitlam Centre (I got a start on my Christmas shopping for the grandkids) and then after picking up a few groceries and some wine, we settled in for an evening at Glenna's house.
Sunday morning, after coffee and breakfast, we went for another walk. This time we went to another beautiful trail that goes around Como Lake and enjoyed another walk. It was beautiful day (again!)...
It was shortly after 11:00 when Glenna dropped me off. It was early but she had some work to do this afternoon...something she wasn't looking forward to on a Sunday afternoon! It was so nice spending time with you Glenna! And thanks for coming all the way out to Fort Langley to pick me up and drop me off.
Steve was busy cleaning the roof, slide toppers, slide tops and the awning on the trailer when I got home...a big job that took him all afternoon!
Monday morning, Deb and I went shopping. I was able to get the rest of our Christmas shopping for the grand kids...yay! We'll take it with us when we go over to the island Thursday. It's nice to have that done before we head south...since we will not be home for Christmas again this year.
Steve spent the morning washing the rest of the fifth-wheel...then it was time to come in for a shower and get ready to head to our doctor's appointment.
Tuesday morning, Steve off-loaded the quads and washed them...it's been a busy few days for him,...wash, wash, wash!
I spent the morning on the phone...dealing with insurance. With that all satisfactorily taken care of, I did a load of laundry. Deb, our neighbour, invited us over for lunch...they are heading south Thursday and she "cleaned out her fridge" of all odds and ends making a great pot of chili. It was delicious, Deb...thanks!!
After lunch I walked into town to pick up our prescriptions while Steve loaded the quads back into the truck and got started on waxing the black streaks off the trailer.
Once back from town, I settled in front of my laptop and got caught up on banking (fun stuff...haha!)
Rain was the order of the day Wednesday...it pretty well poured all day. It was one of those days where it was so yucky out that you didn't feel guilty of vegging in front of the TV all day...and that's pretty much what Steve did. I did a load of laundry and then walked into town to pick up a couple of things from the market. Then I started preparing dinner...Ray and Deb are coming over tonight.
On the menu...Loaded Cauliflower, Chicken Lombardy, seasoned potatoes and Orange and Honey Glazed Carrots...
Thursday morning we drank our coffee as Ray and Deb, next door, packed up and got ready to hit the road. After big hugs and handshakes, they were off...starting their winter adventures south. Safe travel, guys...we'll see you somewhere in our travels this winter!
We had breakfast, showered and then packed an overnight case and headed off ourselves...back to the Island. It's going to be just a quick overnight visit this time though, so that I can go to an appointment with my Orthopedic Surgeon...time for my 6 month checkup and lube job (injection into it).
Angie picked us up at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal shortly before 3:00. Her parents, Brian and Linda, are also visiting from Winnipeg. Great to see them both! Left to right...Steve, me, Brian, Conner, Angie and Linda...
Although my appointment took longer than expected (he wanted x-rays of both knees) because my other knee that he had performed arthroscopic surgery on 16 years ago, was also starting to act up...oh, the joys of growing older! Likely osteoarthritis...he will take a look next at my next appointment in April 2016.
We headed into Victoria to have a quick visit with Steve's Dad and say goodbye to him...then back out to Sidney to cast our early vote in the federal election. After a frustrating 45 minute wait because they only had one polling booth open, we were finally back home shortly after 1:00...just in time for Brian to drop us off at the ferry terminal for the 2:00 p.m. ferry.
Traffic on the lower mainland as we made our way back out to Fort Langley...it's also the start of the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, making it even that much worse...
It was going on 5:30 by the time we got home. I unpacked our overnight bag and was putting things away when I took out an empty camera case from my purse...."Steve, please tell me the camera is in your coat pocket!". Nope it wasn't...we had left it at Rob and Angie's. Oh great! Don't know what we are going to do because there's not time to have it courier'd over here before we leave Monday. Sheesh!
So, that pretty well brings us up to date again...we are scheduled to leave Monday, however the weather forecast is for another big rain/wind storm to come through. We're going to try one more time to see if we can extend our stay just one more night...if not, we may leave Sunday. There seems to be a one day break in the weather.
The long awaited recap finally!!.. Nice job as always .. I see you were in our old neighbourhood!!. Love Rocky Point Park!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your last few days at Fort Langley .. Cranberry festival today?
Unfortunately, no Cranberry festival...more family time in Burnaby/Vancouver instead. Fort Langley was just a hoppin', though. Would love to have been able to go.
DeleteWow, that was a busy week! Will you get to try any of the wine that he is making?
ReplyDeleteHopefully there will be some left when we return next spring 😜
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