Friday, November 5, 2010

Milestones and Turning Points – Yeehaw!

Yesterday and today were kind of major turning points, and milestones in a new direction.

At the end of Sept, I moved out of my government house for the last time and spent most of October touring British Columbia and specifically Vancouver Island.  Then it was back to my ‘stick house’ near Sundre to finish outfitting the 5th wheel for the next major expedition, and prepare the house to be abandoned for a few months.

This involved turning the heat down and shutting off the water and draining all the water lines, just in case the heat should fail.

We left there yesterday and headed back to Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise.

There Hailey visited the vet and got her checkup, spaying, and shots updated for travel to the south.  I visited the dentist then visited my old office where I turned in my radio, phone, shotgun, first aid kits, ski gear, and other odds and ends.  I had done the major paper shredding job on the last visit, so this was the electronic version, where I nuked every e-mail I had gotten or saved in the last 15 years, and deleted hundreds of files and photos from my  work computer.  I’m sure the IT folks will be able to cancel their order for a larger storage drive now!

I picked up Hailey from the vet early in the evening, and she appears to be unfazed by the whole ordeal, except for inspecting her shaved tummy a few times!  She did appear to be relieved when she got back into the home truck and 5th wheel again.

I checked the mail for the last time and was thrilled to find that Revenue Canada (IRS for US readers), had just decided that I owe them another 3 grand from last years taxes!  Great news on top of the new tires, insurance, last propane fill at the old house, county taxes, dental fees, ferry faresto andfrom the island, and a few other huge bills that I have forgotten about.  Sent that to my tax people - ‘why do I pay you to do my taxes for this kind of surprise’?

 

Other than that, and advising the credit card company that I will be in the US a lot, Hailey and I are actually on the road for potentially our longest trip to date.  Having no job and no deadlines, and no destination in mind, we decided to pull over in the first convenient spot that came along to camp instead of driving and trying to find a good spot in the dark.  The weather has been really cooperative, with nights below freezing, but sunny and warm during the day.  I want to ‘get gone’ before the weather and road conditions make it miserable and dangerous.  Leaving this early and with this good of weather, I may be able to deviate from my usual approach of heading directly for the warm weather at the coast and following it down?  Who knows?  We’ll see!

Okay, I took some photos!

This is me parked at my stick house just prior to departure.CIMG2359

Lots and lots of deer around, and this one is checking out the area between the 5th and the garage one morning.CIMG2360 And a closer version.

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Hailey the hunting cat sitting on the front steps. CIMG2362 And, here is a photo of the late Harley sitting in the same spot – several years ago.P9240655

Hailey out looking for mice and moles, and discovering that cats can go to the bathroom outdoors as well!CIMG2364 The hacienda from a distance.

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Here’s Hailey catching a cat nap in a comfortable (?) cardboard box!CIMG2370 CIMG2371 Even though there is a cushy cat bed sitting unused right beside it!CIMG2380What’s your point, she says.CIMG2381CIMG2376

CIMG2377Out on the deck railing in the morning, surveying her domain. CIMG2378   The fifth wheel sitting outside, providing wi-fi to the house with the Internet Anywhere dish I acquired last year and have been using at home and on the road ever since. CIMG2382 CIMG2384 Hailey in the house in the one room that is not in complete chaos!CIMG2385 My chaotic office – will miss the big 22” monitor while on the road.CIMG2386 Living room with way too much furniture, and too many TV’s – it will have to wait for next year!CIMG2387   Headed out on the road at last!CIMG2388

After visiting Lake Louise, I couldn’t help but spot one of my former ‘subjects’ walking along beside the road.  In my personal truck, he didn’t recognize me and run away!

imageSo far, it is good news on the propane cure.  As you may recall, the automatic switching device refused to believe that the tank on the far side was actually full!

After getting some poor (?) advice from a few RV places (start to replace hoses), I found good advice at Triangle RV in Sidney BC.  They checked out the arrangement and declared that the far tank had an extra un-needed regulator that lowered the pressure too much so that the switching device thought that tank was empty.  The tank on the near side hooks directly to the switch, so why shouldn’t the one on the far side? So, I pulled that reg out of the system and connected it up again with a $2 connector (yes, I tested it with soapy water).  So far, it recognises that tank just fine and as soon as the near one runs low, it should change to the far tank automatically!  Keep your fingers crossed.

Had a really cute video of Hailey imitating a retriever, but it was taking too long to upload, so I will try to add it next time.

10 comments:

  1. Hey Ivan congrats to you and the 'young lady'. There is life after the PCA and unlike us other retired Feds who manage to RV it a few times a year, life on the road should be great. Look forward to reading the blog. Enjoy! Duane

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  2. Nice Stix and Brix. Love the shot of the bear.

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  3. We never used the automatic propane switch-over. We wanted to know when the tank was empty so we could go and fill it before we did not realize that it had switched over.
    Have a great winter!

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  4. We never used the automatic propane switch-over. We wanted to know when the tank was empty so we could go and fill it before we did not realize that it had switched over.
    Have a great winter!

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  5. What a great setting for your home..... NO neighbours ! Looks like there is room for us to stop and say a quick "hello" someday,,,, Hailey is so sweet...
    These are exciting times for you Ivan.... Enjoy all the way ! Kelly

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  6. What a great setting for your home..... NO neighbours ! Looks like there is room for us to stop and say a quick "hello" someday,,,, Hailey is so sweet...
    These are exciting times for you Ivan.... Enjoy all the way ! Kelly

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  7. Travel safe and hope to cross trails in the south and maybe even back home when the green gets on the hills again.

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  8. Neat "hacienda" you have there near Sundre and Congrats on making the break! Looking forward to your posts as you and Hailey tuck into your next adventures on the road! (Hailey and her antics never fail to make me smile!)

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  9. Ivan

    The guy with the hose idea was not to far off. Found out that the hose on my drivers side tank will not allow anything thru it. Took it off and tried the air compressor on it and it will only allow air thru backwards. Now looking for a new hose.


    Don

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  10. Ivan

    The guy with the hose idea was not to far off. Found out that the hose on my drivers side tank will not allow anything thru it. Took it off and tried the air compressor on it and it will only allow air thru backwards. Now looking for a new hose.


    Don

    ReplyDelete