A few days in Kelowna and a truck repair.

Needless to say when we arrived in Kelowna on Saturday afternoon we were both exhausted.  It was an early night and Eric was dead on his feet.  Sunday was a better day and I was off to visit my sister Anne for a good blab.  

Eric called LordCo on Monday morning and the part for the truck was in!  He and brother Ian went off to pick it up and Linda and I went shopping at Costco.  We take a fair whack of vitamins and lots of them are much cheaper at Costco.  When Eric and Ian arrived home it was time to repair the truck and Linda and I were off to have happy hour with her golf buddies.  I think I'm having more fun than Eric😁  When we came home at 5pm the new fuel filter housing was installed along with a new air filter and fuel filter just in case.  One glitch as the new fuel filter housing came with the wrong O ring to seat it.  Ian had one that was a bit small but did the job and Eric kept the old O ring as well.  Pretty bad to get a $300 part that doesn't have the right O ring.  

Today was a quiet day for Eric other than fueling up to hit the road tomorrow.  The weather is supposed to okay and we'll stop in Goldendale, Wa the first night and make sure we don't miss the bridge turn at Vantage to get there.  Thursday we are off to Coos Bay Oregon to visit our good friends Connie and Manny and of course dog Mitzi.  Connie and Manny were part of the three couple we met our second night heading south to Mazatlan back in 2009.  We've been good friends ever since.  

Today I was out with sister Anne for lunch and a goodbye.  A little shopping and lunch at Mon Thong a local Thai restaurant.  We usually eat there when I come through as we both enjoy the food and atmosphere.  

An okay selfie of Anne and I.

Anne picked me up and came in to give her brother in law a hug.  

Pizza for dinner and we're on the road in the morning.....wish us luck!

On the road again and day one was a doozie!!

 

This was a few days ago when it wasn't raining!

Late in the afternoon on Thursday, in between the monsoons and Eric managed to hook up.

We were on the road just before 8am on Friday and it was foggy.

The fog left us for awhile when we were coming into Smithers. 

A beautiful old building in Smithers.  Eric was born in Smithers and his grandparents immigrated from Sweden back at the beginning of the 1900's.  

And then things got interesting and not in a good way.  We were heading up the very long Hungry hill just south of Smithers and were in the fast lane heading up the hill.  Eric hit the accelerator and the truck went into limp mode.  No power, running rough and slow speed.  Into the slow lane, flashers on and we managed to get to the rest stop part way up the hill.  Now what?  Five years ago the truck wouldn't start in a motel parking lot in Moses Lake, Wa and Eric had it towed to a shop where the mechanic opened the hood, pumped the fuel filter pump and it started and ran fine all the way home.  Eric rebuilt the fuel filter housing and it's been fine since.  So....he pumped the fuel filter housing and we were back on the road.  No more than 100kph  or  60 mph.  Just before Burns Lake another pass and the same thing.  Stopped for lunch, pumped it again and onward....slowly.  I called Kelowna GMC to see if they could see us Monday morning but they were too busy to help.  It's tire season and they are overbooked.  Disappointing to say the least.  We were booked for Quesnel for the night so I called the Quesnel GMC and she said they closed at 5pm but they were happy to have a look.  Onward and we made it by 4:15.  All three mechanics came out to look and the consensus was that it was the fuel filter housing that was leaking.  They didn't have the part and don't work Saturday but the girl on the parts desk got us the part number, said there were some in Port Coquitlam and that Lordco in Kelowna could order it on over night delivery.  They were more than helpful, cheerful and ....no charge!  I wrote a very good Google review.  

Burns Lake B.C. and were limping along.  No passing and a steady speed. 

Up ahead Prince George and the rain finally stopped. Sixty miles south was Quesnel where we saw the dealer and then onward to our motel room.  Exhausted, stressed but we made it.  A really nice room in the Sandman Motel, beer, a shower,  the fantastic Blue Jays game, a frozen dinner from home and bed.  

A fitful nights sleep and we were on the road at 8am wondering if the truck would die again but it ran like there had never been an issue.  What the heck.  110 kmp but no passing except downhill.  Lots of huge hills...no problem and the weather was perfect.

Just north of Williams Lake and the Fraser River is down below. 

Williams Lake and heading south. 

South of 100 Mile house and we're in historic Clinton. 

Heading down to Cache Creek where we got fuel and had a pee break. 

The grass is still green and the hills look like velvet. 

The forage corn hasn't been cut yet. 

South of Cache Creek and heading to Kamloops and the Thompson River.  If you have water here you can grow hay and lots of it. We stopped overlooking Kamloops Lake for lunch and Eric called Lordco in Kelowna and ordered a new fuel filter housing.  We had the right part number thanks to the Quesnel parts lady and the part will arrive Monday or Tuesday. 

Coming through the Falkland Valley and it's picturesque. 

Lovely colors.  

Green here but the valley has a huge amount of forest fires over the past few years. 

Coming into the very old town of Vernon north of Kelowna. 

A beautiful old building.  I have a cousin who lives in Vernon....hello Barbara!

One of the many lakes in Lake Country.  

We rolled into Kelowna just after 3pm after a perfect but nerve wracking day on the road.  We'll stay with Eric's brother Ian and wife Linda for a few days and regroup. I unloaded what I had to and it was time for happy hour.  Linda made a lovely Thanksgiving meal and then the ball game.  The Blue Jays lost but not badly.  Next game in LA....fingers crossed.  Off the bed early as neithe of us had slept the night before and today is a new day.  We'll rest up and visit and I'll do an update in a day or two.  

Garden Meeting at Trudy's

This month's meeting was at my good friend Trudy's.  Trudy and i have been friends since we were both young mothers so...a very long time. Trudy and her late husband Eugene lived together on a beautiful rural property north of Terrace. We always had lots of common interests which included 4H for our kids and both of our young families farmed and that included sheep.  Eric sheared, carded and spun many of our fleeces.  Too bad his wife didn't knit!  Trudy on the other hand is proficient in many of the wool arts including weaving and dyeing wool.  When Eugene passed away Trudy decided to stay on their acreage and carry on. Eugene was one of our most favorite people...a real shame😪  Trudy's very resourceful and so far she's done just fine and she is part of the very large Hamer family here in Terrace so she does have some limited help.  She is also a very good gardener with a special talent for vegetables grown in her greenhouse. Especially tomatoes which she doesn't eat unless they are processed.😁

Kaye,  Trudy and Brenda who I caught in mid jacket removal! Sorry!

Marj and Lovina.  It was a beautiful morning and we were all sitting outside.

Barb and Marie. Direct sunlight is a problem for Barb so she's covered up.

Aveline, Trudy and Marj.  Trudy spoiled us with fresh home made cinnamon buns and an assortment of home made cookies.

This is Lily.  She is Trudy's Kuvasz guardian dog and although she was a little standoffish to start  she warmed up quickly.  No treats for Lily and she was told to move away and not mooch😁

Here we're wandering the very extensive gardens.

Trudy has a large property and there was lots to see.

The log house.  Every year Trudy faithfully washes all the logs to keep the finish in tip top shape.

Trudy and Brenda having a chat.

Marie and Lovina. 

Marj and Kaye are good friends.

Trudy grabbed my phone so I'd be in a picture too!

Lily likes lots of pats.  Look at that beautiful smoke  bush behind us and behind that a stunning weeping Beech.

I brought a couple of pepper plants back from Kelowna on our way home and Trudy has been raising them.  One has peppers that look like poblanos which are our favorite Mexican pepper. 

I told you she could grow tomatoes! 

Look at the size of the red peppers! 

 

A really lovely morning and meeting...thanks Trudy!