2022 Mar 13-31
We flew into Montréal (YUL) and connected to our flight to Vancouver (YVR); both flights were during the day, and not too long (5-1/2 and 4-1/2 hours), even though it’s a long day in face masks. Immigration was simple enough at YUL, however, because checked bags have to go through Customs and there’s no airside recheck capability, you have to leave arrivals, recheck bags at the usual check-in desks, and then go through security all over again!. We arrived in Vancouver in the rain (no surprise) and found our way to our BnB.
The first 2 weeks of our time in Canada were in Vancouver, catching up with family after a gap of over 3 years, having spent most of 2019 in Australia and 2020 and 2021 in pandemic restrictions. We achieved our trip goals during the same fortnight, buying a vehicle and building a bed frame in it.
The vehicle:
- 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Limited LWB 3.6L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 85,375 km
- Essentially standard, although the rear ¾ roof and spare wheel cover were painted in the bodywork colour (“tank green”).
- Tyres: 255/70-R18 (32.1x10R18)
Work done in the first fortnight:
Took out the rear seats – this was more challenging than expected, based on experience with our Land Cruiser in Africa, and took much of an afternoon. The bolts involved were not the most accessible, and being exposed to the underside of the vehicle were rather tight. We reinstalled the bolts well-lubricated to facilitate future refitting of the seats.
Rear seats removed - space for storage
Installed a supporting frame (2 x 4 timber) and a bed platform (18 mm pine ply board), set up to allow the forward portion to be pulled back to open the forward space, and with hinges to give each side of the forward platform to be lifted for access.
This work was not facilitated by the weather, which was mostly something between rain and heavy rain… however, we completed the work prior to heading east for our next fortnight, visiting family in Montréal.
Our next stages of the trip:
We’re now in Montréal, visiting family here, and will head to Nova Scotia after two weeks, to spend time with family there for another fortnight.
Plans:
- We’ll return to Vancouver and finalize the preparation of the vehicle:
- Acquire storage drawers for tools, kitchen equipment, food, and water.
- Acquire a stove
- Acquire a camp table or build a table onto the rear door
- Acquire camp chairs
- Acquire and fit a fire extinguisher
- Acquire emergency warning triangles
- Acquire jumper cables
- Acquire wheel chocks and consider a second HD bottle jack
- Pick up some spares for the vehicle – fuses, bulbs
- Acquire some supplies for general work – duck tape, tie wraps, etc.
- Acquire sheets, pillows, and pillowcases
- Acquire a second cellphone SIM
- Buy food
- Set off into BC.
Hugs
Alan and Marce
alanymarce@gmail.com
