5C's Que Pasa

The twins were not too concerned about the prep with us going back & forth loading.

This was taken either this past Tuesday or Friday.

If you look at the previous photo and to the left of the 3 tall windows you will see the three tiny window opening.  Perfect for doxies, this is Carlie.

They were so relaxed that we had to step over them to get to the steps. We were late leaving, not that we had a fixed schedule but for the first time the girls did not get us up shortly after 6AM. We are figuring out how to travel with two puppies and everything is taking longer than anticipated.

The girls refused to pee before we left – finally we just decided to go.  We were hooked up and driving out the gate at 10AM. Here is our first stop about a mile down the road for a red light.

As you can see they are losing teeth rapidly.

Colin set up with a pee pad behind the ramp within a pen so that if they had to go they could. Our first stop was at 10:15 just as we got onto the highway. Fortunately there was a bus stop right there to pull over into. Something was beeping from the car tow brake. Easy fix and so we got under way again. We also discovered that the bedroom Fantastic fan that Colin had just repaired was not working. It became obvious that Carlie was unsettled and became more so. I figured she needed to pee. So we kept an eye for a place to stop that has grass and space for us to turn around, not an easy task. We pulled over at 10:40 and it took forever before she peed and then Ciela went right away. Finally on the road again at 11:00, we had progressed to West Kelowna.

Next stop was at 11:20AM – as you can see we weren’t getting anywhere fast. This stop at the Trepannier Road exit was to check the RV engine. Colin had a concern with it getting so hot so fast.  We hadn’t yet even started the ascent to that first big hill on 97C. That also got sorted and finally we were really driving by 11:30 AM. The road to Brenda Mine was as bad as a Mexican road can be.

These wind turbines were near the Pennask Summit ( 5660 feet ).  New to us.

I image that this has something to do with these turbines. Difficult to see but they are on the top of the highest hill to the left of centre.

They were sound asleep by 11:45. We drove through Merrit at 12:35PM and found that the rest area is closed, likely due to Covid.

This is the big rest area about an hour further heading west. Of course they did not want to pee even though it had been three hours since their last pee stop. They did want lunch and a few frozen carrots. We are on the road after a 25 minute stop.

Beautiful drive but the girls did not like the snowshed tunnel, just around the bend.  They both cringed and ducked their heads.

We got to Hope around 2:25 and were hoping to get here at the RV park in Fort Langley no later than 4PM. In the end it was right on 4:30PM before we pulled in. It was only a 235  mile drive but it seemed like it took forever.  We slowed right down just before Chilliwack, in fact we spent the last 90 minutes driving between 20 – 30kph. Traffic has become insane. Glad we moved away from the lower mainland in 2003. There were a few fender benders plus the fact that it was Father’s Day which may have had an effect. As we were inching down the road I realized that we would come to a rest area.  As it was almost 4PM we stopped to pee the girls. It had been six hours and fortunately they both did what needed to be done.

The Bradner rest area looked very rough as we drove in, even the roads were falling apart. I counted 2 -3 tents and at least 12 RV’s who are very much living there despite the sign that says no overnight. This RV and his trailer had stuff, a generator and so much other junk on the pavement between the two vehicles. There were numerous cars parked in the shade as well. Colin was concerned taking the girls out. Obviously a Sunday drug exchange location.

Finally we were just a few blocks from the turn off to Fort Camping on Brea Island.

You can click here to see where we are camping. We are in site E ( eagle ) 30, top left the dark purple,

Click here to see the campground map.

There are even bunnies to tease the girls.

It was very hot, 30C/86F  with 40% humidity when we arrived. We were in full sun until about 7:30PM when this was taken. It was too hot to do much of a set up earlier.

The grass and clover are always sweeter on the other side of the fence.

6.5 hours to drive 235 miles. It would normally take 4 hours in a car and we figured 5 hours in the RV but the extra 90 minutes was a bit much.  However we are happy to be here. More adventures to come.

We are off early ( hopefully ) this morning enroute to Fort Langley  where will will spend four nights. Our challenge will be to see how the twins manage this longer drive.

Everyday is a new adventure which mostly involves the girls. We have no control over what the adventure is going to be or how long it will take. We have noticed that since the last camping trip to Bear Creek Park some things have stayed with them. They don’t bark so much plus they listen more to our commands. Such as in the last minute I had to say ‘no or off ‘ three times about different items and they left them and moved on immediately. So poco a poco they are learning. They are even walking better on leash with not quite so much pulling.

Sweet chocolate donuts.

Sadly they are at the height of teething and we are finding lost teeth daily. I can smell that metallic door of blood. Today was very warm and they had both lost a few teeth yesterday and they chose not to eat. It was very warm at 30C/86F but we had a lovely wind so we didn’t put the A/C on, yet now at 8:15PM it is 83F.  A bit too warm now that the breeze has slowed. We are supposed to go up to 91F over the next few days.

Loving the heat of the patio.

I received a surprise email this past Monday from a good friend from 2003 and later, she mentioned that she would be in the area for the latter part of this week. Then her son decided to join us and took us out for dinner. Our first dinner in a restaurant in over a year. We went out last night to the local Greek House Restaurant. It was lovely sitting on the patio enjoying a visit with others whom we have not seen in many many years. I later discovered that Pat was staying here in the park in a condo with her friend Kit. Sadly I was so wrapped up in seeing Pat whom I have not seen in at least 16 years and her son Scott whom we met in February of 2019 ( just a month before we had to flee Mexico for Canada due to Covid ) that I neglected to take photos.

Our RV in front of our home. It just fits within our property lines. The fence line is just along the windshield.

There is enough room for another RV to pass by on the road as well as a firetruck. We are allowed to park in front for two nights loading and unloading.

Not quite backed up to the edge of the property.

The ladies also dropped by this morning for a tour of our yard and home. They were so generous in inviting us for a late happy hour but we were still working. Yes working, we pulled out the RV about noonish today. Colin has been cleaning and I have been slowly packing and loading. Our bedroom fantastic fan was working with we left Bear Creek last week, the 11th.  Today it did not work. Colin took it apart and cleaned all the corroded areas. While up on the roof he noticed that the caulking around our fans needed to be redone or we would be getting wet inside if it rained. So Colin had to dash off to get the right caulking and then get that done. Always last minute things to do. Fortunately the fan in now working.

Sunset two nights ago. Who brought Mr. Frog out?

We are off on yet another mini trip, this time to our old stomping grounds in Vancouver. Only four nights this time. I have to say that not once did the girls bark or whimper at us going back and forth from the RV to the house today. They did bark as he drove the RV up but once parked they settled down.  We brought them inside for a few minutes, then put them back in our yard. They were so good about it all, they already knew the drill of packing up.

So happy to live in paradise.

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They love each other so much.

They aren’t called long dogs for nothing. FYI Carlie only weighs one pound more than Ciela.

We worked with our flexible system and this time had us and the girls in the same pen.

This is the set up when we are stationary for a few days or more. The ramp goes almost to the top of the dash.  The girls need to jump a short distance to the dash.

We so loved out first weeny roast that we arranged  a second.

This time for dinner.

Here Colin added a cargo mat from the back of the Jeep to give the girls shade as they needed. So they scrambled from heat to shade and back again. Looks like we are starting to think like Mexicans – creative.

On our last full day, Thursday the 10th Colin took the girls for a long. uphill hike while I slowly awoke.

On our last full day, Thursday the 10th, Colin took the girls for a long uphill hike while I slowly awoke. Such a beautiful area.

The girls were obviously having a blast.

We haven’t done much short time camping since we got our first RV back in 1999. We  initially did visit Desception Pass, Cannon Beach and a winter or two at Pismo Beach in Oregon. We also visited my parents in Edmonton a few times with stops in Jasper and Banff. It was always too cold so obviously we needed to head further south to Mexico.

The girls were pretty good on the way back home but Ciela threw up twice.  She is also the one who upchucked way back when we started puppy classes. So now I know to hold back food several hours before travel. We also did have three pees over two evenings inside the RV on the carpet, once by one and twice by her sister.

I did find two teeth that the girls had lost as we were returning home. About the same size but one a tiny bit smaller. Perhaps that is what made Ciela upchuck.

We have a different set up while driving.

Here the girls go up the ramp to a stool where they jump to the right onto my seat. From the red cover on my seat they jump onto the foot rest ( covered  in a dog blanket with circles ) and onto the dash.  Can you see them here? They are wrapped in that light pink blanket just above the foot rest.

They were happy to be home but no more than enjoying the new adventures at Bear Creek.

The first shot was Carlie and this is Ciela. It took her two days to get back to her normal. I think it was the tooth or teeth she lost.  We have no idea if one pup lost both or if they each lost one. I do have the teeth.

I asked Colin what the three highlights of this mini trip were for him? He said that the beach with the girls, the  wiener roast and the overall camping experience. I said that mine were enjoying the girls on the beach, having them come up to me over and over to kiss me and tell me how happy they were with these new adventures and of course having two wonderful campfires complete with wiener roasts.

This was just the first of three camping trips this summer. The second starts in a week. Be sure to check back soon.  Of course you can always sign up so that you don’t miss a new post, each new blog will be delivered directly to your mail box.