Knox Mountian Hill Climb

Realizing that I sound like a proud papa... but Olive really did steal the show, and the hearts of many of the passers by, at the Knox Mountain Hill Climb. This event has been going on for decades in Kelowna. They block off the road that snakes it's way up to the top of Knox Mountain and cars, that are obviously the love and passion of many, who travel far to compete, race up this sidewinding road to get to the top. We had been told that VW was sponsoring this event and we should find our way here. It was a sketching morning with heavy cloud and attempts at dampness as rain drops splattered our windshield on our way to church in the morning. We met some really cool people again Sunday morning as we attended New Life Assembly in the heart of Kelowna. After the service we made our way over to the hill climb with thoughts of popping down to a car show in Peachland too. But the crowds at the hill climb thronged around our little girl and we shared our story again and again. We fondly remember our stoic security guard Frank and his many adventures in his VW bus. Hey Frank. Thanks to all who stopped by.

Peachland

It was actually Friday the 19th, when we decided to take the trip down to a place called Peachland. I was expecting farmers markets and fresh fruit carts lining some small town surrounded by orchards. Instead I was surprised to see a pretty little lakeside town, with a beautiful walkway and tidy little shops. We decided this would be a perfect place for lunch. I think you'd agree.

Scrumptous Dining

You may think were living on sandwiches and crackers. Far from it... first night with the new dishes... and we cooked up spaghetti carbonara. We still have to learn to cook for two. Loads of left overs. Hey... why not drop by for dinner? Today at lunch we made up so yummy chicken soup. Not the kind of summer fare you'd expect... but it's been kinda cool up here recently. Besides our little munchkin Haley was not feeling so good.... so mummy made her up a big bowl of soup. Oh, and we deliver too!  :) Get well Haley.

Our Campsite

Beautiful Apple Valley Orchard RV and Campsite. Don is the owner. We stayed up here a couple years ago camping. Don graciously offered us an RV slot at camping rates. We just needed a place to park after all. No power needed. Olive has 2 deep cycle batteries that when juiced up keep us powered up for over a week... unplugged.

Kal Tire

Today was an unusual day. We had purchased some new, highly touted, tires for the westy in Langley from the boys at Kal Tire. Now we have always had such great service from them ... we always go back. Well, the tires go on just great. We make the trip here to Kelowna and we had noticed a clicking sound only when you hit the brakes. Better check it out... safety first. So most of today was working from the Kelowna Kal Tire parking lot while they looked over the bus. We go back Friday to ensure all the gremlins are exercised from the vehicle.... the clicking sound remains elusive.

Ok.. .gotta 'raise the roof' for the guys at Kal Tire. Suited us up with some slick new shoes for Olive in Langley, and in Kelowna, a genius named Pierre, solved the clicking noise... 40 mins later we were on the road with a smooth sound and gentle ride. Just what the doctor ordered.

Amazing Grace

What a day today was. We had said a prayer this morning asking God to steer us where we needed to be today. We were getting water for the Bus and I knew I was going into Kelowna to seek out a shop called BowWow Motors... to look into our bus. I met a guy at the same "watering hole", filling his 5 gallon jug of water and we started talking. Olive seems to always help break the ice and start conversation. Well, won't ya know it... the owner of BowWow is his nephew and this guy I met turned out to be a mechanic. After a nice conversation and some words of wisdom from "Uncle Willy" - we go our way into town to find BowWow Motors.
We missed the turn. A wee bit lost we drive a few miles and decide to ask for directions. Unlike so many of my sex, I don't mind stopping to ask for directions, and we have been a bit lazy in using the TomTom as we should be. So we pull into a marine repairs shop.... just a little place... and ask "Larry." Turns out the owner -- that would be Larry... knows the BowWow guy... who happened to be Steve. Larry says - I am actually on my way down there to see him.... this is how you find him .... tell him I am coming.
To make a long story short... (interupt!)... no, I mean... we get there... get some more good advice and go for lunch.

Now, we went for a little coffee first --- grab a wrap and decide to head to the park. When we get to the park, we reconsider where we are going to park the bus, three times. Deciding finally we pull in and set up shop... which is to say... hang the beach towels we used when we went to the city pool in the morning. Open up the laptops, have lunch and actually get some work done.
It isn't a few minutes until a car pulls up beside us and a fellow asks if we can break a ten dollar bill so he can have change for the meter. Yes, Kelowna charges for parking in the city park downtown. Well, we rummage about... and just decide to give him a toonie. He says, "You guys must be Christians"... we laugh... "Sure are".  He said he could just tell.  Well we end up spending the afternoon with Leonard, Mary-Ann and their daughter Lydia. What a great time of sharing we all had. I felt a real connection with them.
Shortly after they had to leave... we settle back into getting some work done. Suddenly a fellow rides up on his bike. "Hello, mind if I look at your van?" Well, that starts a whole new conversation and it turns out he is a Christian too! (Sorry... forgot his name at the moment). Anyhow, another fantastic conversation about VW's and God.... and he asks if he can pray a blessing over us! Sure! Just a super day. Invited to go kite-boarding tomorrow with him!
To top the day off, we attending a prayer meeting we were invited to. 2 hours of great music and a group of people starting an iHOP (International House of Prayer) here in Kelowna. Wonderful time of praise and prayer to call in intercessors to pray for the city. Got to meet a whole new group of great people and ... I didn't know about this until just a few minutes ago... but a very nice lady slipped a note to Tracey offering a place for us to stay for a bit should we want to stretch our legs a bit more than Olive will allow! Lol.
Now that is a blessed day! God put us on the road... we have no plans on who or where... but He does... and He is putting us in the right spot at the right time to share with the people He has for us.
 :)

The Great Climb

Thursday we headed over to Vancouver and California Imports in Langley. We needed to pick up a few more items for "Olive" before we hit the road.  It turned out that we didn't get there until late so we stopped in at a Tim Horton's, brushed our teeth and parked out front of their office and snuggled in to sleep in our new bedding... One of my main concerns was being cold but the ladies at Good Planet were right! Cozy and warm...gotta love those Alpacas : ) Up early the next morning we headed back to Tim Horton's for some java and freshen up. We got over to California Imports and spoke with Gary...he was very helpful! Picked up the parts we needed and he was looking at our tires and suggested that we get something that would make the trip smoother. Thanking him for the good heads up we headed over to the friendly guys at Kal Tire, they hooked us up with 4 new black shoes (alright, tires) for Olive....lookin good! Thanks to the Kal Tire guys for the fantastic customer service!

We were now ready to make the great climb up the Coquihalla. I don't think we realize it when we are racing along in our cars how many steep hills there are along the way. We said a prayer and Olive climbed and climbed...third gear and at one point we had to drop down into second....All the way up to 4068 ft. slow and steady she rolled along. We were very happy that we made it all the way to Kelowna....but then God did pave the way.

Getting going...

We left Nanaimo, Wednesday morning, after a tearful farewell to family. We started our little Olive up and cruised away. Really unsure of the adventure that God had for us. We simply had a Word from Him to get mobile. So we are.

We arrived in Victoria without incident. Stopping on the top of the Malahat to pull over and place my hand right on the aluminum engine, cool, not hot. Nice. So we kept going into Victoria to make a very important purchase... bedding. Alpaca and believe it or not shredded rubber pillows. Well, I choose Alpaca... seemed like a logical choice to me, but Tracey opted for the rubber. Weird --- rubber. She explained it. If you can make rope from Hemp... you can make pillows from Rubber plants.... She is so right, because it's really a comfy pillow. Thanks to the good people at "The Good Earth Bedding Company" in downtown Victoria.

We thought we had all we needed and headed to Sidney. Too late we felt to catch the ferry we looked for a nice place to boondock, (Boondocking is when you simply pull over somewhere and camp in your van for the night - check out the parking lot at your local Walmart some time and you'll know what I mean), anyhow we pulled out our newly purchased bedding only to find out that we got a mattress cover rather than a much needed duvet! No way were we sleeping in a van without adequate blankets. So off to the motel with our cold bodies. The next morning we call the folks at Good Earth and headed back to Victoria. They were so nice. Had our duvet ready to go and basically paid for our room at the motel as the Duvet was $100 more than the mattress cover and they covered it. Sweet. Thanks for the blessings. Tracey actually was asking God about this before we got there.... and it was all taken care of.

The Adventure Begins...

Our adventure is about begin. Today I turn 43. We start out tomorrow morning on a trip with no plan. In a direction --- quite basic... east! Everything we want we have. Anything else we need... we can get. Debt-free and carefree we jump in out bus, our home, and just drive. If the weather is lousy, we keep driving. If the sun is shining, we stop. We have access to a new world - an inter-connected world, where anyone is an email away. Where Skype joins us to family, friends and clients. Video chatting across the globe.

It has taken 9 months to restore our bus from the dark green shell that we started with. With the help of a lot of friends, we have rebuilt our Olive to the shiny eye-popper she is today. A special shout out to the craftsman that made this possible... Ron's Autobody, Chase River Upholstery and Flesh Electric.

Kelowna for the first two months... we know that for sure. Heading up there to spend some special time with our kids and family there. Then, east... who knows. That's what makes it such a cool adventure.

But everyone is on an adventure too. My son said something profound the other day, (he is a great source for quotes from the deep), he said, "Life is a river with lots of bends and turns in it, God shaped the river, but we bob along in out little diggy, and it's the paddling, (the choices) that determines where we go."