We Made it out of Canada

Holy crow we finally made it out of the country yesterday. I took us 2 extra days living in the RV in the parking lot in New West in order to sort things out but we made it. And what a wild ride.... Had everything battened down I thought....lol not even close. Even Carl the black cat had to hide under the blankets to avoid the crash and bangs. A few broken things but luckily, I didn’t bring a lot of fine china. Sam (the black and white kitty) hid under Tyler’s feet in the passenger side as that was the safest and least bumpy ride. Going through the border took longer than I had thought it would, although it was a breeze for us. The guards asked where we going, how long, and did we have fruits or veggies (only a forgotten tomato I said). I had to laugh when he asked Tyler if he was retired too when he looked at Tyler’s passport and we were going for 3 months. We just said he was for the next 3 months and off we went. A quick stop at the local Walmart centre for mattress pads, food and a few casual shirts for Tyler (yay he says...no dress work shirts); then off to find a home for the night. But here we are sitting in a paid RV Park just outside Deception Pass State Park at 7am playing on the computers waiting for coffee to perk. The RV Park is North Whidbey RV park. Very nice host got us all settled in with electricity, water, sewer, and cable for $36.00us. I know we are going to try for the more rugged camping spots later but for now it is nice to have a all of the amenities. We had originally driven into Deception Pass State Park to stay but got instructed that the water was here, then drive to the sewage dump (that was closed) and then we could pick a spot from 330 to 365 at the Quarry pond. Which was still across the highway and away from the beach where I really wanted to go. So, we opted for a very convenient, everything included spot. Next to the showers and washrooms, a good choice for our first night on the road. We may stay here an extra day just to hike, relax and check things out.

We're in the RV!

OMG we’re in an episode of Hoarders! 

 

Well it’s not really that bad.... 

 

As mum is clearly saying “Waaaaat?”

It’s taken us a little longer to actually move into the RV. There are still a couple of stragglers left in the condo for us to pick up on the way out. But we decided to take an extra day to clean up what we’ve moved in and downsize some more a bit as we have kind of, slightly overestimated how much stuff we have. I do have to say when the Salvation Army came on Friday to take all the furniture and majority of items they did an excellent job and were really good to work with! I was surprised when I got home from work to find a very empty apartment. But for all of the donations the motorhome (Fergy as she has been named) is much smaller than we had anticipated. Even though the things we have managed to sneak in here and squirrel away is really amazing! 

Mum and  I spent last night in our new home and slept surprisingly well. I even managed a full 12 hours without getting up! Today was a busy moving and cleaning of the condo day. It took me about 40 min round trip with my cart to ferry things from the condo to Fergy. That seems like a long time but it was actually pretty quick and oh man the looks I got packing all our worldly treasures down the street. ha! OOOoooooh and a special thanks to Jen and Priscilla for the sweets! Those nibs kept me zooming along all day! Heh but now I can hardly move. 

The kitties are still really freaked but have started to settle in and are taking well to their new environment. Like all cats it’ll take a few days for them to settle in. But of course Carl found the one closed door in the whole place and was very concerned about whats on the other side:

 

Of course opening the door got the attention of Sam who also had to see what was on the other side....

 

 It’s the bathroom! Holy cow! I have no idea what they saw up there that was so fascinating but they were intrigued.

It’s been a great start to our adventure and even though it’s a slow start and we haven’t left the parking lot I’m plum happy! Well time to tidy up and downsize a bit more, again, so we can zoom on our way!

PS. On a side note we’re taking down an inventory of what we have in our RV to register at Canada customs so that when we pass back into Canada in a few months we won’t have to declare those items. Like TV, Laptop, Hurricane Lamps, Artworks, and so on.

The Local Cart Lady

The looks you get walking your cart down the street are amazing.  Now I could get in the motor home and drive it up to the condo, find a parking spot (or not) and load the few boxes I have had ready each day.  Besides needing the exercise, I have rather enjoyed my dayly trip or two to the quay each day.

I think I may have even caught the eye of one of the old cart men that hangout near the skytrain station.  After 2 weeks of making trips, yesterday he perked right up, smiled and even grunted something at me.  I smiled and kept right on walking.  He was a little too perfume for my liking.  But it did make me smile.

     The last load I took to  Furgy.

Almost everything is in Furgy (that is the RV’s name) and ready to go.  We only have 4 days before we head out onto the road.  A little more cleaning, packing and out the door.  Tomorrow the Salvation Army comes and then that’s it.

I am really hoping that the fog we are having right now is gone by then.  I’ve always disliked driving in the fog and it is really hard to site see with it all socked in .

Crazy crazy crazy

This must be one of the hardest things I have had to do in a long time. Trying to make arrangements that are both affordable and convenient. After having a moving company come in to tell us that it was about $8.000.00 to have our things packed, stored and shipped to where-ever we land in 3+ months, we had to find alternative plans. We sat down and figured out what our furniture actually cost and decided we could just about replace everything for that amount. So, the purge continues and the decision to donate almost everything to the Salvation Army was made. They are coming on Friday to collect just about everything. I was a little saddened to make the decision that all the pictures, and personal trinkets had to go but on the other hand they are just that trinkets and pictures. All replaceable at some other date. It helped to know that most had been stored in the back closet for the last year and I had not missed them or even looked at them in the past 18 months. But then my brother cam to the rescue and is taking all the pictures home with him. He will sell most of them which is fine and I am glad that a little good will come of them. But things are coming along, the cats are registered and ready. The phones have a new number when we cross the border. Travel insurance has been purchased. The last of the condo will be cleaned on Saturday and technically we can be on the road Sunday. When we get to the first stop in Washington I am going to sleep and walk and relax for at least 3 days. ooffta

It's official!! yahoo

It is official. The offer on the condo was approved and is a signed and sealed deal.  A big sigh of relief and now what.  The poor condo is a disaster area again as everything has to go. 

We have made a few trips to the motor home which is parked in a long-term parking area about 5 blocks from the condo.  The condo has no outside parking and I will definitely not be able to fit underground. So funny as I look like one of the typical bag ladies pushing my cart.  Cap on, rain coat on, and cart all lined with plastic as it has been pouring out the last few days.

But we are going.  Tyler is giving his notice today at work and that is always stressful.  He is in great spirits as I think he was really worried the deal would not go through.

Now I get to call all the family and friends to tell them about our big new adventure, my mom is going to cry wishing she could come, my one girlfriend is going to try to talk me out of it and the rest are going to be envious. Yesterday I started cleaning out all the food jars and putting things like sugar, salt, beans, and dry goods into plastic bags to be placed in labelled plastic containers.  Everything from here on will have to fit into the smallest space I can make.  As you can imagine my kitchen is a disaster with jars waiting to go into the dishwasher to be recycled. 

 

.  I love organizing and am amazed at what you can get where.

So much to do in 13 days.  WOW.

OMG It is now reality!

An offer on the condo came through the other day, was countered, was countered again and was accepted.  This was on the same morning Tyler and I were off to see an RV we found listed in the local buy and sell.  The new owners to be wanted a quick sign so here Tyler and I are...in the middle of the last skytrain stop wishing each other good luck and a hug.  Tyler had to head back home  to sign the papers and I was off to see our new home by myself.  

I bought it.  A smaller 28’ Travelair , 2003 model in great shape.  By far the nicest I had seen and within our price limit.

 

This will be our home for the next 3 to 4 months.  Now comes the crazy part.

Tyler signed the papers and we have to be out in 17 days.  17 days!!... so glad that we have been purging and prepairing for this moment for the last 3 months as even now I am looking around and thinking  -  what are we going to do with all these things.  Life is going to be a worle wind but amazingly enough we are going to be on the road by our hoped date of Dec 15th.  Now if the weather gets all straightend out by then I’m hoping we can time it to have a pleasent  leisurely tripdown the coast.  There is a lot to see.

 

 

Try to be positive

I always try to remain positive and in many circumstances, find it is best to say nothing than to rant and rave about the fact that life is not going my way.  Definitely the case for the last few weeks.  After 2 open houses and another this Saturday it does not look good for us #momandsonteam to be heading out any time soon.  There are all sorts of reasons, wrong time of year (November, December and January are to lowest for home sales), the sky is grey and it is raining…whatever the reason the gods are not smiling upon us to start on our journey of adventure.

If the condo does not have an offer or sell in the next week or 2 (so strange that here in Vancouver that if it does not sell in a month pull the listing for a few months.  In the rural areas of BC it is not odd to have your property or home listed for a year). 

On a positive note, we may be traveling across Canada in the spring which would be beautiful. 

It also gives us more time to daydream and search the internet for the perfect reno project when we get to where we are going.And to make us smile here is a beautiful sunrise from the other day in downtown New Westminster.