Day: October 15, 2009

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And the tension is broken in Squamish…

Whew.

Total cost of the repairs was 250$ less than the estimate, including all new brakes, a new tire, an oil change, a full mechanical inspection, and a much needed wash. I pulled out of the garage at 10, gassed up, dumped, took on water, and hit the road.

There is one last hairpin turn steep descent after Pemberton. It was nothing worse than what I’ve encountered on the Alaska Highway, but my heart was in my throat. I did everything I normally do at the top of such a hill–overdrive off, gear down, pray–and away I went. I stopped a few times en route to Squamish and finally pulled over here at the Canadian Tire next to which there is a Starbucks where I knew I could get online.

No sooner had I walked into the coffee shop than I heard a familiar voice say “Rae!!!”

It was my neighbour from last winter at Pacific Border, Will Imanse, author of an ebook I helped edit, Full Time in an RV. Too, too, too funny.

I’m off to find a place to hunker down for the rest of the day and then the night seeing as the next ferry is at 3PM and I’ve decided that would put me in unfamiliar territory too close to nightfall.

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Home Sweet Coffee Shop

This could be my last time posting from the Mount Currie Coffee Shop in Pemberton. I would have spent a lot less money buying a month’s worth of wireless service from the local ISP, but computing from the car is a pain. At least the coffee shop is warm and comfortable. I’m addicted to their coffee and cranberry scones. 🙂

Last night, I found surprisingly decent Mexican food! I’m still not pleased with the state of Mexican food in Canada, but this was some of the best I’ve had north of the 49th. In Pemberton, BC, where there are practically no other restaurants, of all places! The place was quiet last night and the server let me indulge my desire to practise my Spanish. I must have done okay because at first she would reply to me in English but by the end of the evening we were conversing entirely in Spanish. It was a little surreal, especially when I discovered that I can say ‘It is getting dark’. I had no idea that I had the vocabulary for that!

The brake repairs were completed yesterday and Miranda was taken for a short road test. Today, she will undergo an oil change, a few more mechanical checks, and a longer road test. I was told to expect them to be done by about 10. The mechanic says that by the time I pull out, I can have the same confidence in Miranda’s truck components as I did when I left Ottawa. I sure hope I will. 🙂 So, will be arriving in Campbell River with the knowledge that all I’ll need to do in the spring is put air in her tires… and that her tires should be good for another BC/Yukon round trip before I need to get them reinspected. Some good news at least!

It’s super foggy out and getting worse, so I now doubt that I will be doing any mileage today. Croft’s home from his own adventure so I expect to be parked in his driveway by tomorrow night either way.

The adventure continues…