The BC trip to Sturgess North 2011in Salmon Arm DAY ONE

This road trip will undoubtedly require multiple posts just to tell all the tales. So stay tuned as we paint the picture of our travels as we go along.

Late last fall we decided that lil Blue would make the perfect chase vehicle to go along with the bike. We bought a featherlight utility trailer, to match the equally light bike, as not to over exert ourselves as we travelled and in the off chance that Meryl could not ride due to inclement weather or a breakdown. This was a Noble and rational plan, VW Buses are reliable and NEVER break down right??? RIGHT?? But we will get to that later.
Around the same time, we decided to participate in the first annual Sturgess North motorcycle rally being held in Salmon Arm BC. Salmon Arm has been near and dear to us for several years, as we have the pleasure of family living there, so it was a natural fit that we would attend, knowing our accommodations would be looked after, not to mention help keeping the children busy.
Detailed lists categorically ranked items of importance and priority. Weight was going to be a factor, so we needed to keep it light, or at least as much on the trailer as possible. Tents, toilet, bedding, and of course the tool box had to be accounted for and meticulously packed and arranged. (yeah right) So that was the intention, what really ended up happening was a last minute dash in the eleventh hour, frantically trying to make it all fit in the pouring
rain. (that's how we roll, I've accepted it) In the end all we forgot was my bedding for Meryl
and I in the van, kids were taken care of, no biggie (this also becomes a problem later in
the story)

Couldn't sleep with excitement and anticipation so we decided to make tracks Saturday, a day earlier than planned. So off we go, early start, 7 a.m. we are out of the yard. Weather is unbelievably poor, monsoon conditions in fact. I have no recollection of such a wet summer in
recent memory. It matters not, we are on our way to warm and sunny British Columbia.

We trailer the bike south west, waiting for sunny skies, but instead it rains harder. Three
hours into our trip and there is little reprieve. It is starting to get pretty hilly around
Evansburg, but lil Blue is making good time. Oil pressure is kind of "fluttery" but we choose
to ignore it for the most part. Never should have that damn gauge in the van anyway. Meryl
decides to hop on the bike. The rain is dissipating, we are starting to see breaks in the
clouds... Time to Ride.

Our friend Darryl who is also coming out to Sturgess phones, to let us know he is in fact
behind us. Originally he had left a day earlier, but he is travelling with his three girls
ages 10, 8 and 18mos (ALONE with no help) so obviously it is taking him much longer to get
anything done than originally planned. We decide to meet in Hinton for lunch. After waiting a
brief while, we see him pull in. "Jesus" Meryl exclaims, "That trailer is bigger than his
house, how does he plan on getting that thing through the Rockies?" We just laugh at the size
of this operation, no wonder it took him so long to catch up. "Darryl, how big is that
trailer?" "46 feet, hitch to ass" Darryl replies. Yep, it's bigger than the house he
lives in. Oh dear god... This is going to be fun

Lunch is ate, kids are changed, we are ready to go. Off to Miette Hot Springs and the Pocahontas Cabins in Jasper National Park.

Katie outside of the Miette natural hot springs in Jasper National Park

The cabins are beautiful, the hot springs are packed, but fun. We enjoy the games room, heated swimming pool and a beautiful menu at the resort. Weather clears up and the kids are back in the pool by 9 a.m. A quick breakfast and the show is back on the road.

Next Stop - Kamloops.... Stay Tuned.

Road Trip BC and the Buses we saw along the way

Any chance we got to photograph the vintage buses we saw on this last weeks road trip, we took em. Apologies in advance on some of the quality, at times snapping a quick with the blackberry was the best we could do!

This one is for sale, $650 bucks.

Canada Day Weekend 2011 and the One Pound Grouch

July 1st in Canada marks the "official" kick off of summer around these parts. Traditionally good weather, long days (there is still light out at 10:30pm at night) and the first really "long" weekend of summer.
This year we started at the Athabasca Classic Cruisers car show. Both the Van and Chopper were entered this year. As usual, the crowds were big and there were plenty of cars, trucks, and one hippie van.

Much to our surprise this year, both Meryl and I took top spots in our categories. We joked that they had to give it to us this year or they were worried we wouldn't come back next year!

With the show over, we headed down to Edmonton. Boasting the second largest fireworks display in the country, Edmonton's show was stellar, lighting up the river valley like the sun.
Katie loved the show, she had even made her own lanterns, out of a peanut butter container and LED lights.

Next day, off to Evansburg and Entwhistle, to enjoy the day along the Pembina River and visit the scenic valley within the Pembina Provincial Park.
Taking highway 16A out of town we came upon the "Little Lot" a consignment lot that has dozens of consignment vintage mobiles for sale. Like going to a miniature car show itself, the little lot had enough variety to keep us walking around for a good half hour.

Katie in the boneyard of the Little lot

Just was we were about to leave, Katie noticed something in the windows of one of the old garages. Lo and behold, was a 23 window VW, my dream bus, sitting there waiting to be restored. It was amazing to see one up here in such good shape, with so much potential. I had to look away.

Continuing on West down highway 16, we doddled along, stopping at random garage sales, and of course the Frontier Thrift shop, a curious collection of old books, clothing, housewares, antiques, tools and furniture. I have yet to understand our attraction to shops such as these. I don't know how I became such a junk hound, but here I am...

Finally, after much delay we made it to Evansburg. This is one cool little town. The Beehive Emporium was a treat, kind of a cross between vintage items, jewelry, handmade items, coffee barista and tattoo parlour, all wrapped up into one sweet confection. Strange to see it in such a small community, but the place was packed, clearly catering to the surrounding lake communities and passers by.

The Pembina River is amazing, the history and the recreation. Pembina Provincial Park was just packed with campers and rafting enthusiasts who would take the shuttle upriver and float down lazily back to the campsite. Putting that on my next "to do list".

After several hours of fun in the sun, it was time to experience the Almighty ONE POUND GROUCH BURGER. The brain child of Auntie B's Diner, this bohemoth of ground beef, stuffed with mushroom and cheese, on a home made bun, served with enough fries to feed a small village was served to us on a 12" pizza pie pan. Gravy ON THE SIDE no exceptions (too messy) Ohhh the humanity. A table of older folks were taking pictures of us like we were side show circus freaks or something as we dug into the burgers. "I want to see that boy's look on his face when he tries that first bite" one of the old guys exclaimed as Meryl got served. HILARIOUS. The home made buns... oh my, you need to try this. There is something about the dough, milk or maybe sour cream, I don't know but it was a throwback to childhood when mom used to bake bread and buns for us. I wished I had made a deal on just the buns to go... Next time.  If you do one thing when you are in this town, eat this burger. Share it if you have to, but at this point in time on our diner tour, this one takes top spot.

Here is a pic with a pop can beside it for reference. In the end, Meryl conquered where I failed. Dude even had room for home made chocolate cake!!!

Stuffed, exhausted and incredibly satisfied, we made our way home. Sun still high in the sky at 7:30 pm, we enjoyed a quiet relaxing drive home, taking the back roads and avoiding the city. As we got closer to home, we realized that the last act of the local music festival was going to take the stage, and if we hurried, we could make it. Re- energized, we dropped the hammer, gaining 5 km per hour and puttering our way to see Trooper, the last act of the Magnificent River Rats Festival in Athabasca. Arriving in record time, we sprayed down in a solid slick of bug spray and headed for the show, Katie in tow..

The expression on her face tells the story. She had a great time, and it was the perfect end to a really great weekend! Happy Canada Day.

Vw Bus Cookies at "I am a Baker"

When I come across something unique that someone is doing out there, I just have to share. Love how Twitter can bring such interesting things in my life.

So here is the link to I am a baker, complete with profile on the VW Bus cookies. Not that I am surprised someone makes the cookies, more that it has taken me this long to find them!!! Can you imagine the next summer party with these as a centrepiece?
http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/01/rainbow-bus-cookies.html

The Roof Rack

While I have seen these racks more commonly on Splittys and Pre 70's VW's, I still wanted one for Lil Blue. With carrying kids, camping gear, tools and more on our trip to BC this year, I felt is was a necessity. I love the way it looks. Meryl found it through CP1 and took the time to also buy a new locking gas cap as the old Canadian Tire one was super problematic. Also in the parcel was a cup holder contraption that fits right into the ashtray, LOVING that one...

 Pretty Cool, No?

Its all the same and thats a shame is all.

I'm not going to sit here and make it sound like all the vehicles in our yard have the iconic round "peace sign" vw logo on them. We have been loyal chevy drivers for decades, and for us, they have been solid reliable vehicles. But this year old green finally started to show her age. Built in 1993, sporting over 440,000 km on the original engine, minor issues here and there, but no major repairs, it has been a great truck for the last 6 years. I don't expect we will find another one will last as long. It has pulled our boat, trailer, moved us, took us to BC twice, was the main transporter of building materials for our cabin, house reno's and decks. Not to mention the kids, the destroyers...

Off to shop for a new(er) truck. We live on 10km of gravel roads, so a brand new pick up is not part of the equation, can't justify spending 50k on something that will perpetually give me stress as I think about the depreciation each time we drive home on rocks. Now admittedly, I am following Meryl's lead on the whole truck purchase, but like a good husband should, he consults my opinion.  We begin looking around, dealer lots, Internet, asking friends - due diligence. One thing could not escape my mind, why do these trucks all look the same? What happened here? Regardless of the model or manufacturer, they all are starting to blend together. No edge, no identity, no uniqueness. Now I am not so old that I am wishing for the days gone by (67 -72 chevy's), but in this consumer driven mass production world, I am screaming for change.
I know why it is happening, it's economics, I get it... but I don't have to like it. And bolting on all the crap and accessories from the dealer isn't helping find it in the parking lot any faster.
My challenge to manufacturers is this. Find the truth in the product. Break the mold, make it profitable but affordable and give me something to get excited about. How can I justify my consumer loyalty when I can't tell the difference between the domestic big 3??

In the end, the 2004 black  Chevy quad cab came found a new home in our yard. In a years time I expect it to be subjected to all sorts of modifications. But the way I see it, I'm giving it another 6 years for manufacturers to come back to the market with something exciting for a change, without all this canned ham. And in the mean time, I will rock Lil Blue down the highway, knowing next to the ice cream man, I am the coolest thing on the highway...

Drive In's, Diners and Dives Tour part deux

Cardiff Alberta, home of the best supported community garage sale! A smorg of garages, sea's of used treasures abound as far as the eye can see. If we didn't hit 50 houses that day, I would be shocked.

 In hind sight, a trailer would have been brilliant but how bad is that to go garage sailing with a flipping trailer towed behind you, that makes for some serious trash to treasure shopping.
LP's, fabric, assorted kitchenware for wind chime making, two surf boards, a bag of Halloween lights, cake platter, toys, crystal making science kit, rotary dial phone, vintage glass goblets, pail tool bag, car heater, pet mat, and much more, were all packed tight. The crime was all the treasures not purchased for fear of suffocating the passengers!!! Deal of the day were four wooden retro 60's wooden chairs that look like they could totally rock the tiki - luau- surfer theme. FOR FREE!!!! Yep, like I don't have enough to do...

Of course this day required some serious fuel, of the gastronomic kind. Introducing Sal's Pizza and Donair.... Oh the humanity. Located in Morinville Alberta, this little gem seats 6 and is mostly designed for take out, but let me tell you, these Boys know what they are doing....

Look at the size of this burger compared to Gail's hands!!!!! Seriously, we didn't eat for another day!

All I can say is "Hell yea", if you are looking for mammoth eats, check out Sal's in Morinville Ab.
(oh yeah, the Diet Coke is really helping there...)