Flying Photography in Canadian Rockies.

As promised, I am uploading some of the On The Fly photography as we blazed  through the Rockies along Highway 1.  But wait, if you click now, we will add for no added cost, today's shots of our trip to Kelowna.  (Okay, we got sun crazy.  It was gorgeous, and we couldn't resist going for an outing.)

It was fun, and we had a good day.  It was still cool, but the sun made an amazing difference to the mood and atmosphere of the day.

Now, off to make dinner.  So I bid you,

Adieu

Phenomenal Cosmic Power..In A Litty Bitty Living Space:-)

Long story short, we drove 9 hours from Oliver to Calgary, got a room, slept, woke, collected the generator, fueled up, picked up 2 other minor needs free of PST, then headed home - slightly longer than 9 hours.  

I am not sure what the cause was, but our estimated return home (8:30 pm) was delayed in the same location that was plagued around the end of October - start of November by a complete road closure North of Summerland, BC.  We had a long line of vehicles stopped by road crews for about 20 minutes or more just when we were beginning to taste closure to the arduous task.

Sideline to the trip - we got to witness an unusual phenomenon much akin to one mentioned in Travels With Miranda.  There was a strange blueness in the sky that I vaguely recall from some time long ago (about 5 - 6 weeks, best guess) and something resembling a large wattage bulb style light.  Apparently, it is shy and was frightened away by the mountains of Golden where it vanished behind the familiar gray-white covering that the sky has taken an unhealthy obsession with.  

I did manage to snap some "on the fly" shots through the rockies.  I will post some tomorrow.  There may be some window smirch on some shots, but we didn't have the time for a pull-over, so they literally were "on the fly" :-)  ... but I digress...

Secondary sideline - an oops discovered.  October was a very befuddled month, with the closure of the farm sale, transfer of our stored items, prepping for the road move, closing utilities, etc.  So naturally, when the plate stickers for the trucks needed renewing in the same month we apparently slipped up somewhere.  We did pay the renewal, and got the sticker placed on the one truck, but for some distracted reason, the completion of this complicated task was beyond our ability to duplicate for the second truck.  

Naturally, the vehicle to take on an 18 hour round trip through 2 provinces would NOT be the correctly tagged one, what would Murphy say!!  No, we were good toadies to our friend Murphy, and took the other one.  Fortunately, the officer took our word and the presence of the correct paperwork as enough, and let us off on that offense. (It was only 3 months past its marking, one can't rush these things!!)

Back at home the sticker still eludes us, so some time next week we will journey again into the Alberta region to replace the lost sticker.  

But after all, it does help to alleviate cabin fever.... ... .

The generator is still in its packing crate since we arrived as the weather dipped again and the concept of hanging out in the cold doesn't appeal to us right now.  It is safe, secure, and not going anywhere easily by any would-be acquirer of unattended items.

We are quite pleased with our new addition, and look forward to a much more satisfying prospect in any future dry camp outings.

Well, time for me to bid you...

Adieu

On The Road

Well, we are bound for Calgary tomorrow.  (Without the rig).  We need a break from the weather, and the generator we decided on is in.  It is a diesel, and is supposed to be quite, so friendly for an RV park setting.

It is a DP7500RDS which should have plenty of power for the 50 amp 5th wheel, and the welders.  We should be back on the 22th.  I will bring my computer, but am not certain that I will have connection.  If not, I will be back online by Friday morning.

Until then, 

Adieu

In Other News..

Quickly, the new machine is in and running.  1200 RMP spin cycle instead of 900 on the old machine, I think the drum is slightly larger, and it states a usage of 176 Kwh/year based on 8 loads a week.  So based on 8.03 cents per Kwh, they say it would cost $15 per year to run it. That is the sticker claim.  If it is accurate, I think it is worth its investment.(Keep in mind that the 8 loads listed are only about 4-6 pounds of dry laundry.)  If the dealership coughs up any contribution to the replacement machine, I will let you know.  Otherwise, let's bury the matter.

New topic - I'm guessing that if you are tagging in regularly, you might be tiring of the washer issue - I sure am!!  :-)

We have seen the sun once in the last 2 and perhaps 3 weeks.  The temperature hovers just under or just over the 0 C or 32 F.  Nonetheless, my friend next door and I have on all but 2 days in the last 2 weeks walked 4 - 5 miles daily.  It is nice to break up the cabin fever and try to lighten the Christmas add-ons.  We had a route that took us along some lesser roads of Oliver, but we changed our route yesterday to try a local foot path.  I think it is part of the Trans-Canada Trail as it wanders up near Vaseau Lake, and down to the northern head of Osoyoos Lake.  (a significant mileage that we might brave on an extremely adventurous day when the snow is melted,the temperature warms, ....... and when a possible pick up on the end of the route might be coerced with a phone call)  It meanders alongside the channel, so is a picturesque stroll.

On the to do list is revisiting the Model Train Museum in Osoyoos, and take a first trip to the Observatory just north of Okanagan Falls.

I'm off to cook a roast - fairly adventurous for me in modern times, but it should be a nice change of pace.

So I bid you,

Adieu.

  

......

... some degree of conclusion to the washer saga is hoped for by Monday. We have decided to get the new washer tomorrow. We are tired of the disorder that accommodated the removal of the old machine, and the last word from Majestic is that they couldn't find a repairman here, and he was going to call the dealership to inform them first hand that Majestic didn't have a repairman available to me. (And as expected, didn't get around to it. I have been repeatedly told that someone would call me back, and 3 times it was I who initiated the calls. When I called the dealership, the Majestic fellow had apparently not tagged in.)

I have given the dealership the name and direct line of the fellow to whom I have been speaking and requested that they call him Monday, and then to call me so that we can discuss what the cost sharing arrangement will be.

I heard it said once, "Never accept no from someone who doesn't have the authority to grant you a yes." I believe it, and live it.

I am often challenged by the receiver of my issues that I am "the first one to complain about it" like somehow that negates my issue. This is not a valid argument, and don't ever accept it as relevant to any issue worth discussing.

Politeness is important, but firmness and strength is also required. Also remember that if you are discussing matters of ill taste for a business, and you are talking to a subordinate, that they are only the messenger of the policy. Keep them free of personal attack, and be clear that you know it is not them personally that you are frustrated with. Having been front line for many years, I can tell you that alienating the gate keeper gets you no where...I digress.

We will install the new machine over the weekend, and I will get from the dealership what I can later, but as my husband and I have agree, even if in 2 years we are right back where we are now with the new machine, at least with it, we know we can get parts. Not so with the Majestic.

It is my hope to close this matter and get on with the rest of life. Hopefully I will post on it one more time. So for now,

Adieu

All Awash In Chaos..

Well, we went to Penticton to pick up a new washer for the gaping cavity in our rig. (the laundry is minorly behind, but $4 in coin should cure it tomorrow... but I digress...)

What transpired in Penticton was at least hopeful, though a bit delaying. We went to an RV dealership that we have come to trust with various requirements.

They told us that they had a Splendide washing dryer on hand, (and they did) but as we discussed the purchase and the problems leading to its necessity, he brought us to their installation expert to discuss it and consult with us on our plan of attack. He let us know that the set up (as per my digital camera display) was acceptable and should work. (It was somewhat of a relief, considering we were looking at cutting another hole in the rig and then trying to cover the old one.)

As we were preparing to finalize the purchase of the new machine, the gentleman we were speaking to came away from the phone and handed us a card with a contact number. He was trying to save us buying a second new machine by giving us "one last ditched effort to save the other machine".

The number was a direct line to a person at Majestic in the technical assistance department. We danced a bit with a couple gents there (I had spoken a couple months earlier with someone else with minimal affect). The long and the short of it was that they were going to give us any parts at 15% off, and would call us back (when the computer came back online) with the closest repair agent in our area.

As I had already covered the yellow pages unsuccessfully to find an appliance repair company, I accepted the wait time to see what the repair person would do - especially since I am still duking it out with the selling dealership over them accepting the responsibility of some of the cost. They will be more willing to partake of a repair cost than a replacement.

So I sit again waiting out my options coming to some form of fruition...

With any luck, we might be able to repair the Majestic after all. (Though I am not holding my breath, I figure, what the heck - it couldn't hurt, and the coin laundry is handy enough to buy some time in experimentation...)

By the way, the Majestic tech informed me that I should be vacuuming the dryer hose through the outside vent every month or so .... It would have been nice if someone had mentioned that sooner, don't you think???

Please stay tuned as the saga continues ..... :-)

But for now,

Adieu

All Awash In Chaos..

Well, we went to Penticton to pick up a new washer for the gaping cavity in our rig.  (the laundry is minorly  behind, but $4 in coin should cure it tomorrow... but I digress...)

What transpired in Penticton was at least hopeful, though a bit delaying.  We went to an RV dealership that we have come to trust with various requirements.  

They told us that they had a Splendide washing dryer on hand, (and they did) but as we discussed the purchase and the problems leading to its necessity, he brought us to their installation expert to discuss it and consult with us on our plan of attack.  He let us know that the set up (as per my digital camera display) was acceptable and should work. (Somewhat of a relief, considering we were looking at cutting another hole in the rig and then trying to cover the old one.)

As we were preparing to finalize the purchase of the new machine, the gentleman we were speaking to came away from the phone and handed us a card with a contact number.  He was trying to save us buying a second new machine by giving us "one last ditched effort to save the other machine".

The number was a direct line to a person at Majestic in the technical assistance department.  We danced a bit with a couple gents there (I had spoken a couple months earlier with someone else with minimal affect).  The long and the short of it was that they were going to give us any parts at 15% off, and would call us back (when the computer came back online) with the closest repair agent in our area.  

As I had already covered the yellow pages unsuccessfully to find an appliance repair company, I accepted the wait time to see what the repair person would do - especially since I am still duking it out with the selling dealership over them accepting the responsibility of some of the cost.  They will be more willing to partake of a repair cost than a replacement.

So I sit again waiting out my options coming to some form of fruition...

So with any luck, we might be able to repair the Majestic after all.  (Though I am not holding my breath, I figure,  what the heck - it couldn't hurt, and the coin laundry is handy enough to buy some time in experimentation...)

Please stay tuned :-)

But for now, 

Adieu