Spring had arrived and it was time for us to make preparations for getting back to the SV Saumure The boat had been on the hard all winter at Shining Waters Marina in St Margaret’s Bay Nova Scotia.
We had gathered quite a few things for the expedition through the north west passage. Some of the things we had we couldn’t fly or ship easily across the country, like the used oil heater we had bought, or all the marine paints, our rifle and ammunition and well there seemed to be quite a bit of stuff!
Now fortunately Fiona, our Mom decided to buy a 1979 VW Bus right around this time, with the idea of using it for her felt workshops in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland this spring. So things started to fall into place and it was decided that three of us, Callum, myself and Graham, our Dad would drive the bus across the country with all our sailing gear along with our Mom’s workshop felting supplies. Fiona would fly out and meet us in Halifax
Towing Abby the VW Bus back to Salt Spring
We bought the bus from a really nice couple in Victoria. It had been named Abby somewhere along the way. The engine had been removed and wasn’t running. We found a tow bar that would fit the bus and towed Abby back to Salt Spring.
We put in the motor from our 1979 VW Westy. The motor hadn’t been running for quite a few years but was in generally good shape. After a couple of weeks of repairs and adjustments we got Abby up and in running condition. We took the bus up to the top of Vancouver Island to meet up with Finn, our brother to do a couple of days hiking along the North Coast trail. It was a good chance to do a road test in bus. It seemed to work fairly well but had a few small oil leaks.
Sorting out some electrical issues
Somehow all of this has to fit in there!
Next came the fun task of getting all the gear sorted and in the bus. Somehow it all fit in and we still had space to fit in the three of us.
The morning of May 9th we headed out at dawn to catch the first ferry from Salt Spring to Vancouver.
The Long Harbour ferry line up for Vancouver and all points east!
The bus was not happy with the early start and spluttered and coughed its way to the ferry. We made a few adjustments to the motor at the ferry terminal and boarded the Long Harbour ferry, Getting off the ferry, the engine almost stalled on the ramp, but it made it and we were off. Our first stop was California Import Parts in Surrey to pick up a pile of spare parts for the bus.
We made it all the way to Grand Forks the first day. The bus did really well climbing up over the mountain passes. There was still an oil leak but figured we would look at that the next morning.
We camped up a logging road and the bus was amazingly adept at climbing the steep dirt track.
Our campsite up a logging road outside of Grand Forks
The next morning we tackled the oil leak. I replaced the valve cover gasket which helped slow the leak.
Cianan replacing the valve cover seals
Heading over the pass to Creston the brakes started to fail. We pulled off on a logging road and I was able to readjust the rear brakes and get it all working again.
Cianan once again under the bus adjusting the brakes
One last mountain pass over the Rockies and into Alberta
Crossing the prairies
Once through the Rockies, the pace picked up and Abby was a lot happier being on level roads again.
We made it to just outside Lethbridge that night. the next morning we made an early start with the hopes of getting well into Manitoba. By the time we hit the Manitoba border the skies had blackened and there was lightning flashing in the distance. We had been really lucky with the weather up to this point with the days being warm sunny and dry. We made it to the shores of Lake Manitoba expecting it to be pouring rain, as it was black clouds all around us, high winds and lightning flashing all around. Somehow the storm passed us by, the wind dropped and we ended up having a nice dry night.
Our campsite on the shores of Lake Manitoba
The shores of Lake Manitoba
The next morning we headed into Ontario. We made a quick stop in Kenora to load up on provisions and one very giant salami!
Cianan and the giant salami
We camped outside of Nipigon that night up a logging road. We had been expecting the black flies to be fierce but we must have been just ahead of the season as we hardly got a bite.
Camping near Nipigon
The next morning we thought it would be a good idea to test out the rifle. Its an old Lee-Enfield that Callum bought used in Quesnel BC. From the gunsmithing stamps on the rifle it appears to have been a cavalry model made in 1896!. The rifle is quite compact and fairly light, which will be good for carrying around on the tundra. The rifle is mainly to be used as a bear and walrus deterrent. Apparently walruses are very territorial and have been know to sink inflatable dinghies!
Cianan testing out the Lee Enfield 303
Another roadside stop to adjust the points
The oil leak in the engine was getting steadily worse. By the time we hit Cochrane we had to make a road side stop, empty the back, and check the engine. We managed to stem most of the leaks but really needed to go have a thorough going over of the engine.
Fixing a big oil leak outside of Cochrane
The next day we rolled into Brooke Valley where our Uncle Ian and Aunt Erin live with our cousins Isla, and Simon. We spent two days there have a wonderful visit, a bit of a break from the road, and sorting out the engine. We figured out the source of the oil leak, the oil sensor had sprung a leak. We patched it up with some gasket seal and we were all good to go!
Major engine repairs at our Cousins in Brooke Valley
The next couple of days driving through Quebec and the Maritimes were happily uneventful with the engine running smoothly and no oil leaks!
We rolled into Shining Waters Marina in St Margaret’s Bay, just outside of Halifax 8 days after leaving Salt Spring Island. The SV Saumure was right where we had left her last summer seeming to have survived the winter storms quite well.
Abby and Saumure at Shining Waters Marina
Getting to Nova Scotia had been an adventure in itself!
The next couple of weeks would be spent getting everything ready for our departure north.
