Tiffany Goes to Labrador

[Joyseeker]

Originally Posted by Tiffanystravels

But first I have another Roast Dinner to cook, if there is anyone else from ADV in the area- come round for dnner tonight.

trust it's a roast pork and crackling this time veggie.

[Gator8]

Originally Posted by Tiffanystravels

when the Canadian border official asked about weapons I just looked at him and said
"I'm British, we don't do weapons".

That takes a lot of guts to say that to a border guard.

[chiba]

Originally Posted by Gator8

That takes a lot of guts to say that to a border guard.

Depends on how you say it.

--chiba

[Tiffany]

I said it in my best Mary Poppins outraged and very British voice- he thought it was funny.

A quick question for any Canadians - what do those big white crosses in the road mean?

[Tiffany]

Yesterday I left Sicamous and crossed over the rest of the Rockies, heading eastward past towering mountains and glimpses of snow-topped peaks when the clouds parted, it was beautiful scenery - sorry no pictures as smugmug currently won't upload them from this PC.

As I approached Calgary, Thelma stuttered a bit, I slowed down heard a funny whining noise and pulled off the highway at a garage (gas station for the yanks reading this).
It didn't sound good, and it was definitely the gearbox, I opened the oil filler hole and a thin plume of smoke came out - oh dear.

I had checked the oil level less than 1000 miles ago and it was fine then, the first thing to do was to top up with some more oil. Which was when I realised that no one around me was speaking English - I had ended up on First Nation land, and these people were Sioux.

I was welcomed in and helped - tracking down gearbox oil in a country where most people drive automatic cars is not easy. After pulling a blank in the garage, I started asking for a lift to the nearest town - Cochrane. But then a truck pulled up and the guy offered to get some of his gear oil from home. What a relief, he came back with it 20 minutes later, the oil filler is on the side of the engine block which makes it difficult to pour in. An amused and interested audience watched as I did my usual solo trick of leaning Thelma against a lamp post away from me so that I could pour the oil in.

I switched her on but as soon as I pulled away the bad noise started again. I got hold of my friend Grant on the phone, who advised me to contact Anderwerks in Calgary, luckliy less than 50kms away.
Once he'd cleared his workshop, Dave came out with his shiny new trailer and poor Thelma was loaded on.
I'm now at Anderwerks as they take a look to see how bad things are and at the same time, I'm trying to track down a recon gearbox.

[yellowknife]

usually the small crosses on the side of the road are silent reminders of folks who died on that part of the road in a vehicular accident.

Good luck with the gear box repair.

YK

[BitesTheDust]

Any news on your gearbox?

[muddyrabbit]

subscribed!

[Joyseeker]

off for a colonial curry now.... keep it coming.

[cornishpride]

Originally Posted by Tiffany

A quick question for any Canadians - what do those big white crosses in the road mean?

In Alberta it means " “X” markings indicate the approach to a railway crossing." or treasure.
When you say "Lands Ends" in England, where do you mean? As my name would suggest, I'm a Cornishman, well, I was.

[mpanther]

IN.

I hope all goes well in the gearbox search.

[Tiffany]

I'm still in Calgary but the gearbox is being put in now as I write this. I'll have to be brief as I am supposed to be there and learning how to do it.
I'll be back on the road tomorrow I hope - various people have commented that if I stop providing home-cooked meals for the mechanic then maybe my repairs would have been a bit faster!
Thelma is looking good as I've had a chance to clean her a bit while she's been on the ramp - her wheels are now just about shiny again

I spent the weekend at Nakusp, BC a late gatecrasher to the Horizons Unlimited meeting which was a lot of fun, loads of travellers and a surprisingly large number of them from outside Canada and the US. I gave a couple of talks about my travels which seemed to be well-received and once more showed how inspirational it can be to listen to people like me as there were several people saying "If she can do it then so can I!".
I also did an impromptu bike lifting demo and workshop for the all the female riders.

[Tiffany]

Originally Posted by cornishpride

In Alberta it means " “X” markings indicate the approach to a railway crossing." or treasure.
When you say "Lands Ends" in England, where do you mean? As my name would suggest, I'm a Cornishman, well, I was.

Hmmm, the white crosses were also in BC.
Lands End - actually it's Porthcurno but everyone is more familiar with Lands End which is only a mile away.

For a fellow Cornishman...Kernow bys vykken

[Tiffany]

Yes, they were flat, but nothing has been as flat as the Nullarbor (Australia)in my experience. There was enough exotic roadkill to keep me entertained.
I am now back in the USA - after an interrogation by US Immigration at the border. They're convinced I'm trying to work in the States - despite the fact that I look so scruffy after weeks on the road that no employer would look twice at me and I've got the map on the back of my bike with all my international routes on it- proof that I never stay anywhere long enough to work.

[Colebatch]

another breakdown? Have you ever considered a more modern (lighter) machine ...