June 25th to 30th - to White Rock

June 25^nd – Wed

We joined Bob for coffee & toast and I finished posting an album of pictures that died halfway through last night.  We enjoyed driving the sea to sky highway as we have not been on it since it was improved for the winter Olympics in Whistler.  The scenery was great as usual but unfortunately the battery on the camera gave up.

We went over the new Port Mann bridge which is now a toll bridge but there are no collection stations.  I guess we can expect a notice in the mail to pay the toll as they take a picture of your license plate if you don’t have a prepaid account.

We arrived at Pacific Border RV park just before noon and waved to Laverne before we checked in.  When we walked back out of the office, we saw Bob & Gail on their way to play golf and Don & Debbie drove up & stopped for hugs.  We got a drive thru site that is just long enough for the truck & trailer and it has a spot at the side for the bike.

We took the motorcycle to Ron & Terri’s for dinner.  Also there were Bob & Dar, Brian & Bev and Bill & Beth who are visiting from Mesa.  We had a great dinner and tons of laughs. 

June 26^th – Thurs

We did the lazy morning thing with coffee & computer games. We cannot get on the park wifi with our PC so we went to the office to use their computer to make a reservation for the ferry to Vancouver Island.  There is a special right now on Wed & Sat after 4:00 pm that reduces the rate for oversize vehicles to $2 rather than $6.10 for each foot over 20 feet.  We wanted to go to Nanaimo but the ferries on Wed after 4 would not accept reservations.  So we looked at the sailings to Victoria (Swartz Bay) and made a reservation for 5:00 pm.  It changed the cost from $300 to $165.  I think we can drive from Victoria to Nanaimo for that much!

We went for lunch & a beer at a restaurant very close to the park with Ron & Terri, Bill & Beth and Brian & Bev.  When we got back, we stopped to visit with Jaime (he & Lorraine were in Mesa a couple of years ago) and then Bob & Gail joined us and Lorraine arrived home.

Back to our rig for dinner.

 June 27^th – Fri

We finally had to unhook the trailer so we could use the truck rather than ride the bike in the rain that started last night.  I made a late breakfast and we went to Fraser Downs casino which, as everyone knows, is our favorite thing to do in bad weather.  Luckily Terry covered my losses again and we came out a few dollars ahead.

From there we went to Bob & Dar’s for dinner along with Ron & Terri and Rick & Vi.  Once again it was super food & friends.   

June 28^th – Sat

We got up a little later this morning and goofed around until suddenly we just had time stop for lunch and get to Ron & Terri’s.  But the truck had a different idea.  Yesterday we got a message “cleaning exhaust system, drive until the message goes away” three times.  Each time, the message went away.  We got the same message today and it went away.  A couple of miles further, we got a more serious message - “engine power reduced” – and it wasn’t kidding!  We stopped for diesel, grabbed a burger and limped to Ron & Terri’s where we met Bob & Dar to go to Cirque du Soleil.  We couldn’t do anything about the truck so off we went.

We took a bus and the sky train to get to downtown Vancouver.  This was a whole new experience for us & Bob & Dar.  Luckily Terri was our experienced tour guide.  We had allowed enough time to go to the casino near Canada Place which was a short walk from the train and we didn’t get too wet.  I am getting used to Terry winning enough to cover me!

The Cirque du Soleil show – Totem – was in a “big top” set up near Canada Place.  Terri got our tickets online on Wednesday and had seen that the story line of the show was the evolution of man. 

We had great seats location-wise – all seats were pretty narrow and tight for people to get past others already seated.  The show was great.  It is incredible to see circus acts that are all so different and done soooo well – including comedic acts that are not “clowns”.  Costuming & makeup are totally amazing.  The show started at 4:30 and ended around 7 which included a 30 minute intermission.

Our train showed up a short time after we arrived at the station and the bus was right on our heels as we walked to the stop.  Ron estimated that it was about 30 miles each way and the mass transit took us less time than taking a car.  It cost $1.75 for seniors and $2.75 for adults each way for the bus & train.  Fuel & parking would have cost more than our fares.

When we got back to Ron & Terri’s, Ron & Terry went to a WalMart to get DEF to see if that would help the truck problem.  Too bad the WalMart didn’t carry DEF!  Terri looked up a number and Dar called another WalMart that did have DEF so we left the truck parked at Ron & Terri’s and Bob & Dar drove us to the RV park with a stop at the WalMart for DEF – (can you say “carry-on sentence!!).  Oh yes, on the way back Ron & Terry stopped to say goodbye to Bill & Beth which the rest of us to finish our drinks. 

June 29^th – Sun

We rode the motorcycle  - little spits of rain on the way - to Ron & Terri’s where Terry put DEF in the truck to see if it would make a difference.  We didn’t hold out much hope and we were right – no change.  Terry followed Ron to a Chev dealer (where of course the service department was not open on Sunday) and deposited the keys & description of the problem through the key drop.  Terri & I enjoyed a cup of coffee and a nice chat while they were gone.

We went to the casino and had a nice breakfast before donating some money to the slots.  Back at the park, we relaxed & played computer games.  Terri came by after having lunch nearby with her daughter to pick up our golf clubs.  We are golfing tomorrow morning and it would be hard to carry them on the bike.  We found a WalMart for some groceries, had dinner and then visited Bob & Gail.

June 30^th – Mon

Terry went to the Chev dealer at 7:15 to talk to the service manager.  When he got back he said the truck would be fixed today and probably be under warranty!

We joined Ron & Terri and Dar at Sunshine Woods golf course for a 12:45 tee time.  When we arrived, Ron said our tee times were moved up so we grabbed our gear and headed to the first tee.  It is an 18 hole par 3 course without too much water.  I was very pleased with my game and even tied Ron.  The guys played ahead of the women and they had to wait just a bit on most holes but we moved right along.

Terry got a call saying the truck was done so he & I went right from the golf course to pick it up.  We had to wait a bit for the paperwork and were delighted to find that the $356 repair was indeed covered by the warranty.  It was a problem with the injector that allows the exhaust tank to clean itself.  They also loaded a new program as this problem is not uncommon in 2011 diesels.

We met Ron & Terri at the Tudor restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner.  We sat outside again and had a nice meal.  Now we were ready to kick back & relax.