We left Kamloops last Saturday feeling ready to be on the road. With packing, work, and prepping the AirBnb for guests, we were done. After camping in our friends driveway we took the long way out of BC. My daughter was due to have her baby at any moment, so we took our time so we could be in Calgary to meet the little tyke.
Our first night we spent in Penticton and caught up with old friends and my youngest brother. It was also the first attempt for a bike thief to try take our e-bikes off the back of the van. They weren't successful, but did get Mandy up (Pete is no guard dog and neither am I). They cut the rubber tie downs on my bike but couldn't get through the cable lock that came with our bike rack - way to go Rocky Mounts! Before leaving we had a quick visit with my youngest brother before leaving town.
We carried on through Oliver, picking up cherries and continued on to Osoyoos then east on Highway 3 eventually meeting up with my oldest brother at Syringa Creek Provincial Park for a couple of nights on the Arrow Lake. Catching up with family is always great, and meeting up with my niece and nephew's families were a great bonus.
The baby still wasn't ready, so we drove on through Nelson, stopping at my parents gravesite. We hadn't been there since burying my mom's ashes, so it was good to check in and have a quick visit.
We continued on to Balfour and took the Kootenay Lake Ferry to Crawford Bay, carried on to Creston (more cherries), then Cranbrook. Round about here we heard that a baby boy was born, so we headed into Alberta and up to my brother's near Sundrie to be closer to my daughter - we will be seeing them on Friday after they have had a chance to settle in with the little dude.
If feels like a real lazy start to the trip but we finally are feeling like we are on holiday. We are happy with the van, only developed a couple of new squeeks and one cabinet door that opens on any real bump. Easy adjustments. Will be doing an oil change, and scrubbing bugs off the window when we get to Calgary. After Calgary, we are on our own - we will be wandering east at our own pace.
Congrats on the baby arrival. Sounds like a great start for your many adventures, Good job on the locks.
Have a great visit in Calgary
Congratulations guys!!! So exciting 😃
Congratulations on your newest Grandbaby! What treasures you will share with him
Congratulations! We can’t wait to see pictures of you with the new little one😊. Props to the Rocky Mounts!!! That would have been a big kink in the trip if they’d been successful. Don’t worry, you and Pete are safe with Mandy around😀.
Mandy has taken up the role of Head of Security, and we have worked out where to keep keys and what to press to interrupt would-be thieves. I have picked up a new 5/8″ cable lock and replaced the cut ties to secure the bikes for the road, and will be double securing bikes at night. Pete is fine with everything so long as we don’t disturb his sleep!