Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 14, 15 and 16, 2016 (Fort Camping, Brae Island Regional Park, Fort Langley, BC)

We enjoyed our usual start to the day relaxing in our recliners with our coffee, busy on our 'devices'... nice to have internet! A couple of hours later, we decided we'd sloughed off enough and it was time to get on with our resistance exercises...and our day.

After breakfast and showers, we got out for a good 3 mile power walk...one of the reasons we love this area. Great walking/biking trails! It was a beautiful day!

By the time we were back, it was noon! Steve received a phone call from Dave at Gold Key Isuzu...an update on the truck...it won't be ready today. The engineers at Isuzu in LA were trying to come up with a solution as to why our truck keeps blowing gaskets between the EGR Cooler and the exhaust manifold. Apparently we're the only ones on planet Earth having this problem!

I spent the afternoon researching our accommodation options in France...comparing hotels vs AirBnB, while Steve went to visit John down the road. When he got back, he joined me in front of the laptop. We decided on a great looking bed and breakfast in Bayeux that we found on AirBnB...so we took a big step, and booked it. So we are slowly getting the Amsterdam/France part of our trip finalized. We have confirmed the train reservations between Paris and Bayeux, our car rental and accommodation in Amsterdam...now Bayeux is done. We just have Paris to take care of.

At 4:00 we walked down to visit folks that had been our neighbours across the road last spring. John and Pat are from Calgary, Alberta and stay here when they visit their daughter. We enjoyed a couple of hours chatting with them about their travels and our impending trip.

Dinner was ready when we got home...I had put a small roast in the crock pot this morning. Nice and easy...my type of meal prep! After dinner, we settled in to watch 'Americas Got Talent'...it was the finale. Such talent on this year's contest....but Steve and I were both very shocked and disappointed with the outcome...oh well...

Thursday we re-connected with our good friends, Deb and Ray. They had an appointment to take Freya to the vet in Fort Langley, so combined it with a visit. They arrived shortly after 11:00 and after sitting and chatting for a few minutes, we headed off to Beatniks Bistro for lunch...

After a delicious lunch (no wonder there is always a lineup to get in), we went back to our place to continue our visit...

It was around 2:30 when they headed off. So wondeful catching up with you both...looking forward to seeing you again before you start your winter adventures south.

I had been putting off washing my runners...so I filled the plastic dish pan with soapy water and proceeded to scrub them outside on the picnic table. I didn't want to chance putting them in the washing machine...but now, with the weather forecast scheduled to change to rain come late tomorrow afternoon, I wonder if they are ever going to air dry. I guess I should have tackled the job a little earlier in the week when the weather was warm and sunny...sheesh!

While I was doing that, Steve decided to off-load the bicycles and go for a bike ride. He ended up riding along the river all the way down to the Edgewater Campground in Derby Reach Regional Park...a spot we have ridden to many times.

Mount Baker (in Washington State) views have been magnificent this week...

Views of the Fraser River from the Edgewater Campground...

"The Lions" mountains...

This log boom was so long the end was out of view...

Friday morning I wanted to get out for some exercise, so rather than a walk, Steve decided to brave another bike ride...back down to Derby Reach. More pictures were taken today...however there are more of the actual trail this time...

The campground has great sites along the Fraser River but few would fit us....

We stopped for a water break at an empty campsite...

And then it was time to head back...

There is a sign at the top of this hill before going down..."Caution Steep Grade Ahead"...

Earlier when we were heading out on our ride, Steve had received a phone call from Dave at Gold Key Isuzu...our truck would not be ready today so they would give us a rental car.  We had just gotten home from our bike ride when John and Pat drove by...they were heading into town so offered to give us a ride to Gold Key. Perfect! Thanks guys!

Dave said the engineers at Isuzu had wondered if we were overloaded which we aren't. Fully loaded, truck and trailer in tow we're 34,300 lbs. and the truck is rated for 45,000 lbs. They seem to be at a loss and have recommended having a custom copper gasket made similar to whats used in race cars. So we're waiting to have that gasket laser cut and see if that works.

As it turned out, we ended up getting a courtesy car, so we drove out in a nice little VW Jetta...awesome! After a stop at Costco, we headed back home...here I am loving a little vehicle to drive! As far as I am concerned, they can keep the truck until we need it to tow again...as long as I can drive this!

This time it was Steve taking pictures as we drove...Mt Baker...

When we got home, I had a quick shower and was ready for happy hour...and John and Pat. We enjoyed another visit with them...tomorrow they have offered to take us to the quaint little community of Steveston. Sure hope the weather co-operates...a major rain storm is forecast to arrive tonight, so it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. Hmmm....we'll have to see if they are right...