The Nomads

Left Goldstream Provincial Park, BC
Temps: 22C
Sunny

We headed out of the park by late morning and started up towards Nanaimo with intentions to go to the ferry to Powell River out of Courtenay. The drive at times had some breathtaking views from the heights of the islands and straits between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

We made it to the ferry with about ten minutes to spare. What fun you can have on a ferry!

An hour and twenty five minutes later we were driving through Powell River looking for a park that still had available campsites. It being Friday night the weekend campers had almost everything sewed up. We found the last tent site for twenty miles around in Malaspina half way to SlatteryBay and set up the tent and sleep gear, then off back to Powell River for a slide show and a bookreading/signing by author Wayne Lutz. Wayne lives on a floating cabin complete with a floating garden on Powell Lake, a fresh water glacier lake not far from the town of Powell River.

0ur campsite view....

Kilometres - Daytrip: 218km total: 24,512
Gas: $20 Ferry: $41.60
Lodging: Granite Rock RV Park $ 18

# posted by Richard and Susie @ 9:37 PM 0 Comments

Goodbye Port Angeles...

Left Port Angeles, Washington
Temps: 20C
Sunny

We were up early hoping for the best and, finally, after breakfast around nine the shop called and said everything was in and they would install them first thing so we rushed over and they had everything done by 11. Then, off to the hotel to throw all the gear on the bike and rush over to the US customs. After an anxious twenty minutes we were cleared on that side with our stamped papers to go to the Victoria ferry which happened to be right next door. I had already placed the bike in the wait line hoping for the best and so we were good to go just in time!

We had a nice smooth crossing and disembarked right in downtown Victoria. Right off the boat we were into the Canada customs to declare the bike and get the paperwork over with. Surprisingly we had managed to arrange all the proper documentation that was required for them and we were out of there in about fifteen minutes!

Victoria….What a lovely city! It was clean and pretty and had a nostalgic old time small town feel about it that charmed me from the “get-go”.

Sue had already put in a special side trip request so the first stop was, you guessed it, MEC! One pair of rain pants and a wind-stopper shirt later we were headed to Goldstream Provincial Park to camp for the night.

Showing amazing fortitude and restraint under duress, I managed to get out of there having spent under eight dollars! A first in my life! Sooo proud of me…!

Actually the fact that the new bike kind of maxed out my line of credit probably had more to do with it than any sterling qualities that I may lay claim to. (not that I don’t have many, well…. maybe a few…)

Last night was the first time Susie was comfortable (that means “I was sweating profusely”) in a tent since Mexico!

Hello Victoria !!

Kilometres - Daytrip: 131 km total: 24,294

Gas: $29 Tolls: $0

Lodging: Goldstream Provincial Park $ 24

# posted by Richard and Susie @ 9:32 PM 0 Comments

What a strange evergreen tree....

No Travel Day

Port Angeles, Washington
Temps: 20C
Sunny

I decided to call the dealership this morning to see if the parts had arrived before chancing the drive out there for no reason. I was beginning to suspect that the parts might not be there and with the transit permit expired I didn’t want to risk a large fine driving out there for nothing.

Sure enough, it would have been a useless trip out!

Turns out the crash bars and the lowers were in but there was no sign of the back rack, the most important part we needed. We can’t travel with no way to attach the large back-rack bag, especially since we now only have the small non-locking leather saddlebags with no hard rails on them to pile stuff on. We have already pared down to the bare minimum and have sent home almost sixty pounds of gear.

So it turns out that the required parts that were thrown in at dealer cost to sweeten the deal (otherwise I wouldn’t have gone for it) are now costing much more than the MSRP if I factor in the extra cost of the delays. We ordered on last Friday morning and now have to wait until tomorrow accumulating motel, travel and meal expenses for twelve days.

Hopefully tomorrow will go better and maybe we’ll be blessed with an easy transition through US and Canadian Customs……?

Kilometres - Daytrip: 0 km total: 24,330

Gas: $0 Tolls: $0

Lodging: Flagstone Motel $54

# posted by Richard and Susie @ 9:26 PM 0 Comments

View from our Hotel room....

No Travel Day

Port Angeles, Washington
Temps: 24C
Sunny

Went to the dealership early to have the parts we ordered installed and an oil change done before heading for the Ferry. We were told they would have us away in time for the noon ferry to Victoria.

When we got there, there was no work order set up for us and the salesman who was going to look after getting us away was off for the day, the mechanic who was supposed to have set up the rear shock was to install the battery charger lead and throttle lock was off sick for the day as well and the work wasn’t scheduled.

It also turns out that the back rack and crash bars were not in , had been shipped “ground” instead of “overnight” and weren’t expected to arrive until the end of the week!

When I bought the new bike it was with the express agreement that the parts would be ordered in time to install them and get us away the first thing when the shop opened after the weekend. It meant waiting an extra day because the shop is closed Mondays, but Tuesday noon was supposed to be a sure thing……not!

Now the cost of the bike is inflating by at least $100 a day while we wait and wait….

I insisted that they reorder by “overnight courier” which they did and had them check to see if the “sick” mechanic had set up the rear shock as requested. No, that wasn’t done so another mechanic was sent to do this and I asked that he do the oil change, install the battery charger lead and throttle lock while he was at it to save time Wednesday morning when the rack and bars were supposed to be installed.

Got that done and headed back to the hotel frustrated, and with a now expired transit permit (they’re only good for three days) to wait for tomorrow…..

Kilometres - Daytrip: 6 km total: 24,330

Gas: $0 Tolls: $0

Lodging: Flagstone Motel $54

# posted by Richard and Susie @ 9:20 PM 0 Comments