Wednesday, October 5 to Friday, October 14, 2022 (Vancouver Island and Peace Arch RV Park, Surrey, BC)

With the back of the car loaded with things out of the trailer that we would not need for the winter, we left to catch the 10:00 a.m. sailing on the BC Ferry from the Tsawwassen terminal...I drove the car and followed Steve who was in the truck. 

We had an uneventful trip over to Vancouver Island...well, other than a hassle Steve had with the ticket agent at the ferry terminal...they seem to think Buster is a commercial truck. The supervisor was called and Steve was told to park the truck. Years ago after many trips back and forth with no issues we were overcharged $60 on one sailing. After contacting BC Ferries head office and sending photos of the truck they admitted they made a mistake and would issue a letter (renewed yearly) to be presented to ticket agents indicating we were not to be charged commercial fare, but no credit for the overcharge would be issued! In 2018 BC Ferries said they would no longer issue the letter yearly as their staff are properly trained. Luckily Steve kept the final letter as a just in case. The supervisor was very nice and after Steve explained what we had gone through previously and taking a picture of the expired 2017 letter he was on his way to wait in line.

Of course, no one was home at Rob and Angie's when we arrived, so we chilled for the afternoon waiting for everyone to get home from work/school. We did get out for a walk on the trails behind the house...

Thursday (Oct. 6) we met our long-time friends, Rob and Nancy, for breakfast. We enjoyed a good hour and a half catching up. Steve and I had planned on going on our favourite walk along the Sidney waterfront and invited Rob and Nancy to join us. Rob couldn't because he had a company coming to service their furnace, but Nancy came. We forgot to get a picture of the 4 of us at breakfast but we got one on our walk (sorry Rob!)...

Friday (Oct. 7) morning I headed off into Victoria to run a bunch of errands and then go to my orthopedic doctor appointment. While I was gone, Steve went for a walk on the trails again and came across a very busy woodpecker... 

I was finished with my knee injection appointment just in time to meet Steve, Nadine and Mike (sister and brother-in-law) for coffee. They had gone out to pick Steve up...thanks, guys!

That evening, with the gang home, we sat out on the deck visiting and then I made a big batch of chicken wings for dinner...a great Friday night meal! Steve, Angie, Bryce, Conner and Rob...

Saturday (Oct. 8) we met my brother, Dwight, for lunch at Mary's Bleue Moon Cafe. His wife, Helen wasn't able to join us as she was busy preparing for their Thanksgiving dinner. It was great being able to catch up with Dwight, since it would be our last chance until next spring.

That afternoon, Steve went with Rob and Conner to the North Saanich Gun Range. Each Saturday they have a youth program shooting 22 rifle and pellet guns. Conner is third from the right...

With such nice fall weather, we have been able to sit out and enjoy the deck...

Today is our last day with Rob, Angie, Conner and Bryce...so we had our Thanksgiving dinner...So much to be thankful for!!

Sunday (Oct. 9) morning we gave Rob, Angie and the boys great big hugs and headed off 'up island'. Thanks for your hospitality!

Again, I was driving the car, following Steve in the truck...

Our first stop was in Cowichan Bay to visit long-time friends, Jim and Nan. Jim and our son Rob will be going on a hunting trip soon. We had a wonderful time catching up over coffee...but we didn't take any pictures! Sheesh! Great seeing you guys! 

A couple of hours later, we were at my brother, Don's, place for lunch and a quick visit with him and Rhonda. Thanks for lunch guys! So glad we were able to connect on this trip!

We arrived at Earl and Allison's at about 3:30. After unloading our suitcases from the car, we sat out on their deck enjoying drinks and catching up. The wonderful aroma of a turkey cooking in the oven was wafting through the house...we are very lucky! A second Thanksgiving Dinner...last night was ham and tonight turkey!

Their neighbour, Barb, joined us...here she is carving the turkey as Earl and Allison prepare the fixin's...(although I don't exactly know what Earl is doing, LOL)

Time to load our plates...nothing better than turkey and all the fixin's...YUM!

Monday (Oct. 10) morning it was time to get to work! Earl had graciously offered to store our car and boat for us this winter. We took the boat off the truck and put it in a perfect spot in the corner of Earl and Allison's yard. Next was the boat loader...which we have never had completely off the truck. The guys managed to disassemble it into 2 pieces and it fit perfectly against the shed...Earl even had a tarp to cover it. The bikes came off the back of the truck and were stored in a shed, along with a bunch of other 'boat' stuff that we had no intention of leaving but Earl kept suggesting we leave! We certainly lightened up the truck! 

With the truck taken care of, we headed out to Brown's Social House in Courtenay for lunch. It was good, but not quite up to par with the other restaurants in the chain we've been to. 

The only thing left to do now was to gas up the car, put fuel stabilizer in and then cover it for the winter.  And there it is...all settled in for the winter. We will be taking Buster back to the mainland tomorrow...doesn't it look different without the boat and loader on it?!

Earl made the most delicious turkey soup/stew for dinner...and Allison made her famous scones to accompany it. Absolutely delicious! After dinner, we played numerous games of Rummikub and then ended the evening watching an old episode of Seinfeld.

Tuesday (Oct. 11) morning we left around 10:00 for the roughly 2 hour drive down to the Duke Point ferry terminal. Thank you so much, Earl and Allison for your hospitality...we had a great visit! And we really appreciate you storing our car, boat, loader, bikes and other gear for the winter. We will certainly miss you in Q this winter! See you next April!

We will also miss this little girl...Cedar is such a sweetheart!

We had an uneventful ferry ride back to the mainland...but once again we had an issue with the ticket agent. Registration, ID (for seniors discount), and looking at the truck, what is it? Thankfully our expired 2017 letter saved the day along with an explanation of our previous experience. Sheesh!

View of a freighter in the bay as we leave...

The next 3 days were spent getting ready to leave Saturday. Steve washed the trailer and the truck. He also rearranged things now that there is much more room in the truck and trailer. 

We did manage our morning walks before getting started each day. One fellow in the campground really enjoys decorating for Halloween! A great job...

Tomorrow, Saturday, we hitch up the 5th wheel to the truck and start our journey south. We are looking forward to getting back on the road..."hitch-itch" has set in!