Broke down in Rainbow 🌈 Lake Alberta

Came to camp and visit with our son Chris and his girlfriend Ciara for a week or so. Also reconnect with Polly's Cousin Juliette Moore & met her husband Gerome Lanou.

All went good, many good dinner's and much to yak about, even the bugs are well fed lol. The sights are interesting here, with many a road to go down. Lakes and beaver ponds abound here. 

One day I took a good look at our tires, and after the wheel bearing fail roadside I thought, I'm going to see if I can get the trailer in for new tires and repack the wheel bearings. 

I went to a shop here that had very good recommendations on the internet and asked the owner Don if he could get tires and repack the wheel bearings. He had time and was able to get the tires by Friday. So yes it's a go so we packed up Friday morning and brought the trailer in and left it. Later I get a call, come look at this. 

      One half of the bracket left attached

            Both broken at the weld here

Ahh crap was my response, then I ask how long to fix? Ordering parts, should be here for Monday install. Then next Tuesday, now today it's "the parts place didn't order the parts." So now to another supplier. Still no sure date fixed. Small Town, away from city makes for difficulty in getting what we need. I shake my head many times. 

Patience is not my strong point now, I feel like getting a welder and going to work on this. 😡 But I hold my patience and wait for information as Don changes the tires and repacks the wheel bearings and readys the axel for the welder. 

I'm sure he will get something to work soon. He is a busy guy, and has put us up here at the shop with power and water making it best he can. 

Polly makes cookies and gives a plate to Don and the guys in the shop, she knows how to get positive attention 🤣🤣🤣

She also stuffs a moose roast Juliette gave us yesterday with garlic, and marinades it ready for dinner tonight 😄

Life is still good, even if broke down🤗♥️

Blog, short for "Web Log" from my laptop today

                Mount Athabasca

Has been a long time since I wrote on this cumbersum piece of equipment. Using the cell phone is just so much easier as I now take most photos with the phone too. I took some pictures with my Nikon camera in the last few days, so I download them off the SD card onto my laptop, and now this is how I'll produce todays blog.

One thing I notice right away is no prompts for words, or emoticons, or emoji's 👦 If I want them here I have to prompt myself.

Like much we get used to as our technical advancments change how we operate, we just don't know how we have changed how we do things, until we take a step back. Is a good education doing this, almost feels like going to a rotary dial phone after using a push button one for a long time.

I'll move on.

Going on our trip this time I said to Polly I wanted to take the camera out of hiding and keep it close, as there will be times I will use it. That didn't happen untill we got to Jasper.

We pulled into Wilcox Creek Campsite after a somewhat long day traveling, and picked our site and setup. After a short time I took a walk with Bosco as per usual. I met the neighbours, and had a yak with them, then the next neighbour, who I had met while filling out our slip for paying for the campsite. Then a little further down the road I met a couple guys that tell me the beautiful mountian I had stopped to admire was what they were going to climb, starting out at 1:30am.

Well that kinda set me back, just the thought of starting out then makes me thing, holly crap, I would not be up for that. They told me they have 2 guides, and they told them that they expect to make the sumit at about 7am. Was hard for me to believe they would start then, dark and just not my cup of tea. I love early mornings, but at 10pm I'm not to good for much anymore LOL.

After a little more talk I tell them I'll photograph them as they walk across the ridge, and see what I can get. I have a 300mm lens so should be able to get some kind of image that we could make out of them on top. They like the idea of this and tell me they expect to be back by noon or so, and I let them know we will be outta here by then, so I give them my cell# and ask them to send a text then we would be connected. We part company as they have to go to sleep. Just as we are saying bye, a girl pops outta the tent, I say Hi, and I walk away. As I do I hear them telling her that I will be taking the pictures in the morning. They all sound happy at this thought.

I tell Polly when I get home, and she is also surprised at 1:30am start hike time. I now have a project.

I get the Tripod out from under the back seat and dust it off, haven't used this in like, gee 3 years I guess. I get the camera out of the cupboard and make sure its working ok. Setting up the tripod, I remember much of my training from the days in the camera club in Ladysmith. I notice the dust is thick on the tripod. After I extend it, and level it I attach the tripod connector to the camera, and make sure it's tight. Then I snap the camera on the tripod, and set it up to shoot the exact spot on the mountian where he told me they would walk. I try the remote but dead battery, darn it'll be hard to get a clear steady shot now. 

I take a few shots, and see how it might look, not sure how much detail I will get, but will get up and try. I leave the tripod setup for the morning, and we have another good dinner. I'm such a lucky man, Polly's always got a plan for dinner. Polly asks if I'm leaving it outside set up, "Yep I am" going to be ready. We play cards and then we're tired from the drive, we get to sleep early.

6am Polly wakes and says, Hey Brent I think its 7am. Up I get not wanting to miss them, and look at the time as I get coffee on, I have some time before they will be there. I feel kinda tired still, but ok.

I start taking a few pictures between 6:30 and 7, making sure I get them as they start the ridge. By 7:15 I think I might not be able to see them, 7:27 I caught my first sight of them. I was happy I didn't miss them, they were about 1/2 way along the ridge.

Now I snap offten, and try to keep it still as I shoot. I shoot about 200 photos, and try to keep shooting a little each time as they progress up the ridge to the top. When they stop it looks like its not the top, but must have been the highest point.

They now stay in one place for just about 1/2 hour, then the assend along the ridge, and I take shots again as the hike down.

Was fun to do, and didn't know till I loaded to the laptop how the pics turned out. Not as good as I hoped, but not bad. I looked close, and some I'm sure they could tell who was who, and what was going on in each photo. One photo a couple jumped up and hugged, I thought that was very cool to capture, as I really couldn't tell untill I saw the photos on the laptop.

I left a note on the table at there campsite as we left, and gave my e-mail and name as we had no service on our phone. Andrew sent an email that day saying he got my note, and was happy I didn't get up for nothing. He said "Was it ever a beauty day out there. He would love to see the photos."

So I edited the best I had, by croping, and hoped I got the best. Was a fun project I didn't know I would be doing. Using my camera again, and setting up the tripod, and just pulling together all I knew to achieve something nice. Was fun.

I sent the photos, and one special one where  two were jumping up for a hug, that was so unexpected. Was nice to get an emotional photo from such a distance, even if not clear.



I asked Andrew if they could send a couple of there shots from on top to me, and he said when he got home he would. He asked for a full size Hug Photo. Made me happy to know I caught something special. What a sap hey, well thats me 😊

Jasper was really Awsome, and Wilcox Creek campsite was a great place to stay. Playing cards with Polly that night was great too, she won once in rummy and I beat her next game, we have yet to play the rubber. Polly finnished her book, I took some pictures. We both are doing just what we want as we travel through this life together.

Love this life we chose more every day.

Yesterday

When I'm 64 applies to me now, thanks for the birthday wishes everyone 🤗♥️

Today I can sing another Beatles song.             🤔 Yesterday 😁

We had a heck of a day yesterday, huge hill coming down from Rossland to Trail that Polly and I were a little concerned about. All went well though, Polly gave me koodos when we made it without the brakes heating up and smelling. Then a beauty drive up past Nelson to the Kokanee lake ferry, that we got on almost right away. 

Waiting for the ferry

Off the ferry on our way down the other side of the lake. The campsite we picked didn't work out so south we go merrily along our way. We pull over for a quick lunch by the lake, left over Pizza.

    Our view as we ate lunch

On or way again, then I see smoke coming from the left rear wheel. Luck will have it a huge pullout was right there ahead.

Looking at the smoke coming I think might need a fire extinguisher, but nope, just a brake that's tight I think. So I back up and drive ahead to the shade as this might take awhile. All tools out, jack up the trailer axel and go to loosen the wheel nuts and the tire falls to the ground.

Notice no outer bearing here, completely disingrated 🤔😳

    Spindle heated up a little, but okay.

Holly crap I think, we are so darn Lucky!
Having that all happen right at a pullout made me think dam we are Lucky.

Polly reads her Mom's Diary and Bosco sleeps as I fuss around getting things in order again. 

So no now put the trailer Jack's down, this will take longer than I thought. Called ahead to the NAPA parts store and Mike answers, I explain and he says I'll be right back. He checks at the automotive shop next door Integra tire and yes they can help, take things apart once I get there. 

So load up the parts, Polly and I had a very tough lift, tire, wheel and brake drum, ugh!

Off I go and get parts, some back and forth between the parts place and the garage but all worked out just before there close. Sure was lucky this happened when and where it did. Thanks to the people in parts & the man that runs Integra tire, his crew had gone home, he doesn't usually do the work anymore, but he cleaned the hub, packed the bearings with grease, put back it all together. I was so thankful.

No more pictures as I'm all gitter done now. The drive back was better than there, now put it all together. 

I was pretty exhausted when finished, Polly says, well no rib birthday dinner now, 6pm and still have to find a campsite. 

We drive to town, and find a site, back in like a pro, sun just going down as we setup, a shower, a sandwich and a beer. 

All good now 👍 

Never again will I let this happen. I'm usually good about maintenance, but this was an overlook this time, never again.

I have written about our Luck before, this is one more time I think how darn Lucky we are. What could have been catastrophy turned out to be a very good lesson. Chalk this up to I don't know, I shake my head as I tap here, darn Lucky we are.

A little tired, but still loving our life 😃

Summer road trip during covid.

Leaving the Island was exciting after 4 months in our home town. Polly's eye surgery went well, and check-up was good, had some good family and friends time well in Port Alberni, so on the road again. 

The ferry was ok, some evidence of covid with some wearing masks, even ferry workers, some on some half mast, some not at all. I used a mask going to get us a sandwich, but noticed many without. 

Camped at Harison springs campsite, not a mask to see. Our tours around this area was very laid back, and except for the shields as you came in the liquor store, and pub, and a few people with a mask going grocery shopping, there was no sign of covid. 

Off to Princeton and campsite same, no sign of people being overly concerned. The restaurant had a glass window hung at the till, and wiping down tables with disinfectant spray, but otherwise felt like normal. Gas station had plexiglass in front of the payment area. 

I'm noticing people are not so concerned as they are away. We are still cautious, distance is easier. Hand washing always keep doing. Other than this, we are feeling very good about our trip so far. 

Today we travel to Osoyoos, no reservations so hope a site available, Sunday so thinking will be ok. 

Life is good on the road with sun and warm ahead. 

Love our life🤗♥️

What's next? Where are you going next?

    Mmm another great dinner last night

Questions we get asked as we approach summer are the same questions we are thinking ourselves. 

We always have a plan for where and what's next, never really sure as we go forward until we research, make a reservation, or just make sure there's a place for us.

Having all the limitations now makes planing like driving with the brakes on before you move.

Alaska was our first plan earlier this year, now with "Corona Control" we have thrown that plan out. Next is a BC trip, see some of our own province during this pandemic, would be nice. Listening to the talk now our government is telling us to stay close to home. Still not sure, may travel here on our island? 

The part that holds us back is we have a very comfortable place here now. We have put down the plastic carpets, set up our tent beside the trailer, stretched out our awnings, attached sunscreens, planted our garden and just got real comfortable here at Arrowvale. 

Now we can plan all we want, but we wait and see what comes down the pipe as people, summer, government & Corona move forward 👣🐾👣🐾👣

Yesterday June 1st I noticed trailers being towed as Polly & I went to town for our first haircuts in 4 months.

Was nice to see people are getting out now parks are open to camping, and restaurants are going to seat people, surgeries going ahead now. Life is getting back to normal it seems. Well as normal as the controllers will let us behave in what is a new & different way. 

So moving forward we will do so with control, our own, and controls beyond our control 😁🤣🤣. Looks funny when I read it back, but that's it, "Control" is the new normal.

Not what we are used to. 

Or are we? 

How often do we break rules? 

Are we sheep? 

Do we always do as we are told? 

Hmm, I think! Now that's a new idea, thinking for ourselves🤔😳. 

Is that against the rules? 

Gee are we allowed to think for ourselves?

There are rules against this I'm sure, just look around. We have been told what to do for a long time, so much so that looking back the last few months I see we are mostly all well trained to do as we are told. Do not think about it, don't question the athorities. They know best. Just do as your told and all will be good. 

Well I'm thinking (I know I'm not allowed to think) that we will take our holiday as planned through BC and just see how it goes. Camping is open, it is our province, will explore our own back yard this year. 

Hey, did I make a decision? Am I allowed to? 🤔 Will I get into trouble? Will I get a ticket? 

The new normal is "Don't think" just do as your told. 

I'm shaking my head right now 🤪🙄🤫🤐

Life is still good, love our life! 

Rain is comforting today after warm beauty days we have had lately.

Closed in comfort. 🤗

Here we are stuck inside, or if you enjoy the feeling, we are inside our warm, dry, comfortable home with TV to inform & entertain us, the very good internet connection to give us most all we need in information and entertainment. The rain has a nice sound inside the trailer as you hear it louder than inside a 🏠 house, also comforting. 

Maybe it's just how I perceive the condition of being inside in the rain? 

Not sure exactly why, but it feels comfortable right now knowing the rains are temporary & needed. 

Watching the farmers here ramp up as the weather gets warm gives me a look at how much it takes to keep this business operating especially under the restrictions now with the virus making everything different. 

Bob & Ann keep going as they have for years, just a little different than before. Cows have there young, fields continue to grow, all need to be fed, fields need to be fenced, and this year they will grow a few different crops they planned. 

Camping has changed to people needing a longer term place to stay being accommodated, and weekenders being told not now. No people hired as before, the summer looking much different. 

$9 billion dollars for students I see Trudeau announce today.  LoL 🤣 I just have to laugh as crying won't help. Everyday another giveaway, he will spend + $291 Million as well, to extend scholarship, grants +++, gee I just never knew how much he could spend. Volunteers will be paid up to $5000.00 Gee, even if you just give your time you will get a piece of the 🥧 pie. 

Now to talk about the economy when it comes roaring back. I laugh 🤣🤣🤣 

This daily talk he is having with us saying how much his government will spend that we do not have in our governments coffers telling us we will be ok. 

Then he gets questions from the press. 

Then he explains in English, with French interpretation, and over again in French with English interpretation, what he is doing, giving money away that we do not have. 

Over the many promised $$$ dollars, no explanation on where the Dollars will come from. Magic I'm guessing, poof $$$ 🤔

Listeng to the rain is pleasing, listening to our Prime Minister, 😁 not so much. 

Polly cleans the counter, I write this blog, Bosco sleep's. Are we doing our part? I think so, we are staying apart, we are being careful as we shop, Polly cooks, I Eat 😳 😁 and we wait for change. 

LoL 🤣🤣🤣 and the rain sounds even nicer as Polly asks "Have you seen enough of this?" 🤣🤣🤣 Yep! And the channel changes. A movie with quiet interludes lest me hear the rain again. Calm returns, blood pressure drops, yep got to stop watching that BS. 🤔 Life is so good 😊

Easter Sunday

I have many good memories of this day. 

Most with family & friends as well as neighbors who became friends. All have dinner, with ham, turkey, those little cabages and desert oh yeah the most amazing desert's. 😀😁 & Hugs, so many hugs & kisses 🤗🤗🤗🤗😘😘♥️♥️♥️♥️ & Eggs, so many eggs everywhere, hidden in plain view so children can find them. Such good memories😊 Oh yeah & Rain, we usually had some rain, sometimes monsoons of rain, I laugh remembering now the Toquart camping in the rains, the Cabin trips in the rain, so much rain. Funny I can laugh about it now waking up to the 🌞 sun.  

This year is different, much different. We will have no traveling, no family dinner, no hugs from family or friends, no rain & likely no desert, Well at least not like I remember. 🤔

What we will have are calls to & from family & friends, Dinner for two, desert maybe, & Sunshine all weekend. Oh & beer freshly bought from the liquor store, where I ran into a friend from my teenage years. 

Mike and I talked in the parking lot for 5-10 minutes remembering the past in our teens, when we met at summer malitia where we learned how to be soldiers if needed in the future for dollars which we needed now to make our fortune. We talked of people we remember from that time, and of where we had met down the canal, and people we know here. We covered alot of ground in a short time. 

In parting Mike said, "We should get together and have a yak about the past sometime would be fun, nice to catch up." Yes I say, knowing it likely won't happen, but is a nice thought anyway. 

So Easter this year will be different, we will have 🌞 sun, bright warm sun to help us all make the best of a different way to celebrate. We have been playing cards in the sun every afternoon lately Polly and I, Polly usually beats me, but I won yesterday 😊  It wouldn't be much fun winning unless Polly got excited about a win or a loss!!! Polly doesn't like to loose, but she loves to win. 

So this year we all have a different Easter.

Happy Easter to all our family Friends and and all the friends we have not met yet 🤗♥️