Back on the Road

July 10, 2018

   Have enjoyed two camping trips this summer so far, one a group camp out at Englishman River Falls, and a second to The Living Forest and Rathtrevor Beach to introduce my eight-year-old grandson to camping. (See Campsite Reviews page).

   This week Ruby got hydraulic assists installed, which have certainly helped get the pop top UP, but which still require someone with a stronger upper body than I've got to get it DOWN. (Probably a sign that I need to get back to the gym.)

    Next up, another group camp at the Cowichan River over the BC Day long weekend.

June 2017

Ruby is back up and running, although her ride will be a little smoother by the weekend when she gets new tires all around.
It was a slow start to the season.  A faulty hazard light switch came on and stayed on while she was stored. It drained the already old battery which then needed replacement as the first expense of the year.

Last year's list of repairs and upgrades included:

• new shocks
• a coolant seal replacement
• sliding door fixed
• an Ezy Awning
• the usual oil change at the beginning of the season

This year, as well as new tires, she'll be getting:

• The windshield wiper wiring checked... right now I am only taking her on the road in dry weather as the wipers can't be relied upon to work when needed.
• Hazard light wiring checked.
• A pair of hydraulic lifts installed to make popping the pop top a little easier.
• The usual oil change
• ...other repairs to be determined....

She will be on the road all spring and summer for day-to-day use. And I already have a number of camping trips planned, which will enable me to add information to the campsite page of this blog, something I will be updating the next day or so.

At long last...

Early morning on the Quinsam River

On Friday Ruby and I made it to the Labour Day weekend campout organized by fellow members of the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo at Elk Falls Provincial Park.

The perfect set up with friends around to help with the pop top... it still takes two... and the awning. This time it took two of us, with two onlookers, about 10 mins to erect. By next week I'm expecting to be able to do it in five, now I know which pole goes where, and how.

Ruby at rest at Elk Falls Provincial Park campsite

With no power at the camp site, the fridge lasted about three days running on the auxiliary battery before it automatically shut off. But not long enough to warm up too much, or for any food to spoil. It certainly helps that with a vegan diet I'm not carrying any dairy or meat, and everything else has a pretty long shelf life.

The bed was comfy - with the additional foamy that prior owners passed on to me. I did find that sleeping on raw foam is not comfortable, and rather than just a cotton sleeping bag liner, I will take  along a double fitted sheet to cover the foam on next weekend's jaunt.

There was still loads of storage left empty after I'd equipped the van with all the supplies, equipment and groceries. I've just bought a two-burner camp stove so I don't have to cook in the van if the weather allows.

The BFG (From Roald Dahl's Book of the same name -
 (The Big Friendly Giant)

During our three days there we walked up to the top of the falls, made a short hike along the Quinsam River to the estuary, visited the chainsaw carving exhibit in Campbell River, and perhaps best of all, at twilight one evening wandered along Tyee Spit to watch the fishing pool... row boats carrying anglers hoping to land 30+lb chinook salmon. By the time we came back to where we'd parked,  the boat lamps were glinting on the water and there must have been about 100 fishers out there.

Oyster shells underfoot on the beach near Union Bay

I came home on Monday the long way, along the lovely Oceanside Route which offers so many spots to sit and savour the views between Campbell River and Parksville.  

Too late in the season to make other plans (the van comes off the road on Oct. 2), I am looking forward to Ruby's last outing next weekend to Telegraph Cove.

Enjoyed the shade of the park on a v. hot weekend

Exercises in patience

I have still not managed to get Ruby out on her maiden voyage.

Scheduling issues, family obligations, and now a repair has left her free for day trips, which have been nice, but I still have to test all systems.

The pop top will always be a challenge until I get hydraulic assists installed - I don't think my arthritis-riddled upper body will ever be strong enough to do it myself. And I have yet to test my 'maiden in distress' pout on other unsuspecting campers. For some reason I am unreasonably nervous of propane and butane, in fact anything with a flame (all those years of smoking?) so have yet to test out the stove. I still have to fill the water tank, which I will be doing tomorrow night. But I have managed to download the YouTube video demonstrating how to put the Eazy awning together, which should be helpful if I remember to take along my laptop.

Today the van goes in to get the main sliding door repaired.

But all being well, I will get out for a group camp this weekend at Elk Falls campground near Campbell River. I have been to the falls before, and ignoring the Keep Out signs even managed to find myself a lovely place above the falls to bask and watch everyone else crossing the little suspension bridge. 



Which I'm looking forward to doing again.

Wish me luck.

It's a dubz thing

My dad and uncle drove four or five VW Beetles between them over the years. My Dad's last car was an old Polo with the alarm disabled as it freaked him out each time it went off... which was often. (My mom preferred Minis, until a collision...  the metal-edged under-dash shelf on her navy blue one just about amputated her leg.) 

Driving around the streets of Cornwall, Sussex or Hampshire my dad or uncle would wave at every passing VW. I'd forgotten all about it until I passed another VW camper this afternoon, and the driver waved at me. 

Little did I know that there is an official VW wave. Which I will be sure to use next time.

And a logo.

It feels like I've joined a cult!

(Now, if only I could find out where to get one of those logos for Ruby!)

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Undercover work

Voila!

Needing to expand covered outdoor space, I went in search of an awning. Quoted $2,000 from the local RV place, I moved on to check out Dr. Bjorn's Auto in Cobble Hill. 

Bjorn was able to provide me with an EZY Awning, at less than half the price, and this included installing a gutter to which the awning needs to be attached.  

(While I was there, I also learned a little about his primary preoccupation, converting diesel engines to use cooking oil).

Last night, with the help of my daughter and son-in-law and a good Youtube video, I did a test run of erecting the awning. (My first fear was unfounded... that there might be a part missing from the kit. Too many IKEA moments?)

First time around it took about 1/2 an hour to erect. Probably the first time I do it alone it will take me twice as long. But I expect to shorten the time once I get the knack.

Putting it together

Attaches to the roof

I've been too busy for anything more than few day trips so far. But with some individual camping trips planned, and a couple of group campouts with friends in the works, I'm hoping to really put Ruby - and the new awning - to the test over the next couple of months.

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Inaugural Camper Picnic

Cooper and I had our first official camper picnic yesterday. 

After a visit to the Qualicum First Nation Campground, where we picked out our favourite spots for future visits (#6,7, 18 0r 19), we headed to Qualicum Beach. We were too late for the weekly farmer's market which is over by noon, so we picked up lunch at Quality foods and headed back down to the beach. Found the perfect parking spot (an empty spot on our right side meant we could comfortably sit with the side door open) and enjoyed lunch with a view.

Then a wander along the beach checking out all the tiny crabs scurrying about - "Zillions of them" - and sand dollars... the first time I'd seen them in situ, although I have always loved the dried white ornamental ones. 

Qualicum Beach

One of the things I love about life on Vancouver Island is that it can be mid-day on the weekend in mid-summer and there's always lots of room on the beach for everyone.

Introducing Ruby Twosday

On Tuesday, July 2 we 'brought Ruby home'.

She's a 1993 VW Eurovan, equipped with pop top, two-burner stove, sink, sleeps 4 (if two are willing to sleep in the bunk in the pop top). 

     No awning - yet. This is a priority for me to provide covered outdoor space. But very expensive ($2,000) to buy an installed one. A post on the Vancouver Island VW Camper Facebook Page led me to Dr. Bjorn's Auto, a Cobble Hill company that is a dealer for the US company Bus Depot. They have what's called an EZY Awning, that I will be checking next week. II had thought a free-standing awning from Walmart might do in a pinch. The wheels attached to the carrying case gave it away - I'd be hard-pressed to move the thing, let alone put it up myself. And the EZY Awning promises that you can store it under a seat, which the Walmart option would not.

     Another priority is to figure out how to lift the van's pop top. It looked easy when the seller - a late-30sh woman - showed me how. Me, I near broke my back on my first try. I need a stool to give me a few extra inches, a couple of more demos, and some upper back strengthening exercises before I will be able to manage it, I fear. 

    But my grandson, and fearless traveling companion, won't wait long. He can't wait to test out that upper bunk. But until I get it figured out he will have to stay home. I've slept with him before and it's like sharing a bed with sack of coal - hard to shift and taking up more than his share of the space.

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