Surrey

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Detrenchment

Today was the first day of my last weekend here at Pacific Border and it was beautiful! Here are some of the projects I’ve accomplished:

  • Putting winter stuff away under the rig

I stored the aluminum coated bubble wrap I’d used to insulate the cab window as well as the foam blocks I’d stuffed into the skylights. I left the one in the bedroom, though, because it blocks out the light. I also put away the rest of the winter clothes and took out the summer clothes. I shifted some stuff around and got rid of a tote, freeing up room to store some items like the charger in the basement instead of the cab.

  • Resealing the entrance well

Even though I’ve had a rubber mat over the stair thread, water leaked under. There was also an unmistakable smell of eau de chat.  I washed the stairwell, sanded it, and applied three coats of sealant. I didn’t think that the results would be visually apparent, but you be the judge:

stairs1

stairs2

I used Verathane water-based ‘crystal’ sealant. I love this product–it is easy to use, inexpensive, durable, and readily available. I usually get it at the home store, but Walmart had some for 6$ for a small container.

  • Cleaning the cab carpet

After so many months on the road and a few Tabitha accidents, it was definitely time to degrime the cab floor! I was going to rent a carpet cleaner to do so, but a rental was about 40$ for a day, plus a deposit. Also, the machines were very bulky and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to get into all the nooks and crannies of the cab. I therefore spent quite some time in the vacuum cleaner aisle at Walmart and decided to instead buy a carpet cleaning machine of my own for 80$:

Even though it will mean something extra to store, I have tons of room for it and the machine will pay itself with three cleanings.

I am very impressed with it because it is so easy to use that I even cleaned the seats in the cab, the bucket chairs in the lounge, and the dinette cushions!!! The machine’s footprint is small enough that I can wedge it between one of the bucket seats and the back of the passenger seat so that it can remain handy, but out of the way. It also seems quite sturdy.

This was in no means an impulse buy; I’ve been looking for a compact carpet cleaner and this was the first model I found that seemed halfway decent. So far, so good!

I also, finally (*rolls eyes*) laid down some plastic mats in the cab.

  • Charging the truck battery and testing the starter

I have been remiss in keeping the battery at a good charge, so I trickled charged it this afternoon, then started the truck to make sure it would. It took a bit of coaxing, so first thing I will do Saturday morning is get the charger on it.

I spoke with some neighbours and was told that the Mr. Lube at 200th and the Fraser Highway in Langley will be able to accommodate Miranda, and this without an appointment. That’s right on my way north, so super convenient. If my shopping goes well tomorrow, I might head out of this area on Saturday after all!

Finally, my cats would like to start the rumour that I am the most horrible mother in the world. I would like the opportunity to respond to that. Since I was cleaning the carpets and sealing the stairs, and it was a beautiful day out, I decided to throw open all the doors to make drying easier. I therefore had to ‘lock’ the cats in the back part of the rig (LOVE having a real door!). They had fully half the rig to themselves–the dressing room and the study, with three big windows for entertainment and two skylights for air (plus the shower skylight!). They also had food, water, a litter box, and several soft places to curl up on. They therefore had no reason to be sit at the door howling to be let out!!!

For dinner, I decided to try out Chicken Bob’s Cantina in White Rock where I had their very yummy chicken enchiladas, cantina-style, and a couple of Coronas. Sure felt like a Saturday night even if it’s Sunday. 🙂

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Traveling With Miranda

I will be the first person to admit that I haven’t done much actual traveling with Miranda since October! So, I’m really, really, really pleased to announce that at least two, if not three, weeks in May will be lived September ’08-style! I’ve decided to shoot straight up to the Yukon and not try to look for work en route. I’m going to follow the weather. If it’s good, I’ll inch north. If not, I’ll stay put. Arrival in the Yukon is scheduled between May 15th and June 1st. I’m really hope to get in a lot of hiking during this time; July is coming up fast!

There is so much literature available detailing the route that I’m going to be able to really plan my itinerary around free and cheap campsites and also make better decisions about how many kilometres I’ll do per day. I still doubt that I’ll be pushing off May 2nd, but departure day is coming up fast nonetheless and I am giddy!

There is still so much to do that it boggles the mind. 🙂 I am working tomorrow, but off Monday (my choice), which will mean a much quieter (I hope) excursion to Mountain Equipment Co-Op to get the gear I need to upgrade for the Chilkoot hike (I’ll be renting a few items I don’t anticipate needing later).

The sound track of my life right now beats to the tune of Canada’s beloved Stan Rogers. I’ve got Canol Road playing right now. 🙂

Well you could see it in his eyes as they strained against the night
And the bone-white-knuckle grip upon the wheel
Sixty-five miles into town, and a winter’s thirst to drown
A winter still with two months left to go.

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Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I’ve been hankering for a kayak for years now. It’s just never been the right time. With the Yukon before me, I began to wish that I had made it the right time at some point.

Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to check out kayak listings on the local Craigslist. If the first one matched my criteria, I would consider it fate. Said criteria were: about 16′ long (ie. open water model), lightweight, well worn in (I don’t want to be the first one to scratch the bottom!), removable keel, no more than 400$, and blue. The colour is silly, I know, but I just can’t see myself in a red kayak!

At any rate, this was the first kayak that came up:

kayak

200$ only. People wonder why I believe in fate.

Now, I just need a paddle, a life vest, a safety kit, and a waterproof bag for carrying gear. Back to Craigslist I go.

Oh, and I need a roof rack. As well as a bike rack. I’m starting to think a covered trailer will soon be in order. 🙂

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Sushi and Gelato in White Rock

Sushi

At the risk of sounding overly sushi-addicted, I cannot leave this area without recommending Taka’s Take-Out Sushi in White Rock!

This tiny, spotless gem is quite probably the place to go in the lower mainland for takeout sushi. Everything is prepared fresh to order and is beautifully presented.

Tonight I had a spicy tuna cone (big surprise) and I decided to try their ‘mango’ roll. I’m looking at the menu now and Googling ‘masago’, which I suspect is the fish eggs I’ll be picking out of my teeth for a week! Yup! This roll is really yummy, a refreshing alternative to California roll as it combines a comparable blend of textures and tastes.

The last night my friend was here, she wanted one more sushi meal but did not want to go out. I ordered two kinds of teka maki (tuna rolls), a spicy tuna cone for myself, California rolls (theirs are different, with a creamy filling), and ‘dragon’ rolls which are essentially roasted eel wrapped in avocado. We had both wanted to try eel, but were not fond of the dragon rolls; she because the eel did not tickle her taste buds and me because I’m not nuts about avocado. I’m going to have to try eel again to get a firm feel for whether or not I like it. Their miso soup is also divine and it’s very telling that I slurp it all down without frowning when I say that tons of mushrooms float in that heavenly broth and I abhor mushrooms!

What a lovely Tuesday dinnertime it was to sit at my picnic table, enjoying the warm weather and sun, listening to the birds chirping, and munching on such good grub!

Gelato

Dolce Gelato on Marine Drive (right across from the pier) offers the best ice cream I have had in my life. It is made onsite, Italian-style, and and you can just taste the quality of the ingredients. It took a few tries for me to come up with the perfect cone, but I did–bacio and coffee. I used to buy Blizzards at Dairy Queen that set me back 5$ and change for a small with two ingredients when a generous gelato from this place (please indulge in two scoops!) is just 4.95$. Gelato is denser than American-style ice cream, the perceivably smaller scoop really amounts to the same thing and feels so much more satisfying for its light richness (gelato’s wonderful oxymoron!). Other combinations I tried were coffee and hazelnut (bacio gives you that plus chocolate!) and hazelnut and white chocolate (the latter of which has little chunks in it making it feel all the more rich).