2005/07 Alaska and Back Again - Vancouver |
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Monday August 15th
We had a good fast run down to the airport until I took a turn too early and headed for downtown Vancouver. All I needed to do was take an exit, cross the freeway, and get back on in the other direction, but none of the exit roads would allow this, and we eventually had to stop and get out the computer to work out a strategy for getting back to the airport.
We still had plenty of time, but Vancouver Airport seems to be a bit overloaded, both in terms of parking and checking in. It seemed more like the crossroads of Asia than BC. I pointed out to John that he might get better service if he was wearing a turban. Eventually, John and Edna disappeared into the customs area, and were (we hoped) on their way to Seoul, Singapore, and Melbourne.
We heaved a sigh of relief, not because we wanted to see them go, but because the holiday worked out as well as it did. We had been really pushing our luck on making this trip with an eight year old truck, particularly one with 140000 miles on it, yet the only problem we had with it was a light switch, which we were able to work around anyway. In addition, the trailer was six years old and not the ideal vehicle for Alaska’s roads, but it nearly made it through without attention. Having driven the roads before, I expected tyre problems, and we got them! I think the trailer industry designs its vehicles for people who go to the lake a few weekends a year, not for people like us who cross the continent. I remember one dealer back in Minnesota saying “You can’t buy spare shackles. Why would you want to? They don’t wear out.” We had traveled over 7000 miles with John and Edna, and over 10000 since leaving Minnesota. We still had a couple of thousand to do to get home but now we could take our time with no airline deadline to worry about.
The Vancouver Island ferry terminal is quite close to the airport and it looked like we could make the two o’clock ferry. We screamed up the pier at five to two and were given tickets for the four o’clock sailing. Oops, surprisingly busy for a Monday. The delay gave us time for lunch and to call a company in Chilliwack and book the trailer in for some welding therapy when we returned in two weeks.
Our Alaska Story continues with part 4 dealing with our time on the Island and in Alberta, but as this is the end of John and Edna’s holiday, the ferry trip’s a good point at which to wind up part 3.
Wishing you all the best from Peter and Sandie