June 1,

It is a beautiful day here and I am enjoying the peace and quiet…oops, a dog barked…listening to the wind streaming through the not so tall BC pines. All the tall ones appear to be on big trucks, monster trucks with parts of the engine cover missing so you can see right through. Keeps them cool I guess.

I have decided to stay put until my Sunday departure and I managed to park the truck pretty well in line with the trailer so I should be able to hitch up easily.  I think the yellow tape I put on the trailer and the truck will help. This fear-of-backing up stuff is driving me nuts.

The only way to meet this head-on is to go by the book. So, I back up two inches, put it in park, get out, check, get in, adjust and so on until the hitch can be lowered onto the ball and locked.  I think a well greased ball absolutely helps. Tomorrow I grease! You know it’s locked in by raising the trailer and if the truck goes up as well, you are good. Then it’s the trunnion bars, safety chains and electrics just before leaving. It then takes me a little while to get comfortable and confident.

Still, I am not that confident that I am always checking things because after the Kapuskasing episode tires and hitch components are under my looking glass.

Did I mention I’ll be happy to be out of these mountains in a few days? The drive to Calgary might be a slow one as I will go through Banff. I was there a few years ago and have no intention of stopping.

I gassed up the truck and found a Sobey’s about 15 km from here as the local little grocery store’s prices took my breath away.  Thank you Garmin. This is a high traffic tourism area, so you pay.  Locals must raise chickens to make ends meet.

I have been invited to spend some time with friends in Calgary once I leave Sunday.  It will be great seeing a good friend I knew in high school…close to 50 years ago.

Cooking some pork and veggies tonight, a stir-fry thing. Maybe some rice with that.