German Efficiency!

Bing!  10 Starts Remaining.......  

So, we were driving our way up Island from Parksville to Comox when, from our dash of the 2014 Mercedes Benz chassis, an alert and audible bing occured!  Interestingly just after Craig was expounding his extreme happiness on how he loves his Mercedes/Unity!

Check Engine Light and 10 Start Remaining Message!

The check engine light comes on...  Jan reaches for the manual which basically says, No Problem!  Just an emissions issue, you can drive another 800kms and then a warning tone will sound and a message will say 18 starts remaining!

Away we go.... only 40kms later - Bing!  Warning says 10 starts remaining! 

We experienced a check engine light on the Mercedes Chassis while driving up to Campbell River last week.... Not a problem Jan says, as she referenced the owners manual!  We are good for 800kms (500 miles) as it is just an emissions alert.  Then an audible bell will sound and we will have 16 starts to seek service before the engine will not start!

All is good as we continue on....  

40 kms later.... audible bell sounds... warning comes up on dash!  10 starts remaining!  We go to campsite and site for two nights without starting.  Get on the cell phone and arrange an appointment for Friday at Nanaimo Mercedes where we sit for 4 hours while they update programs, do a regeneration of the Diesel DEF filter in the exhaust and take our Unity for a 20 minute test drive.    All is good and off we go....

LTV Kozad - Nanaimo Mercedez Benz

We spent our remaining days in Victoria and Sidney then head home to the Okanagan Valley, catching the 0700hr Ferry.

On the drive home from Victoria over the Coquihalla Highway.. the dreaded Bing sounds !!!  The check engine light comes on and the message warning advises we have to check and fill the DEF tank?

But we know the DEF tank just happens to be full as Craig filled it before our trip started, and the MB Technician in Nanaimo said it was full.  Then 100kms later bing... 10 engine starts left...

There is no additional warning so all is good!  Then 100kms later "Bing" "10 Starts Remaining"....

So we call Chris at Mercedes Benz Service in Kelowna, he says come on in at 1430hr this same day!  Can't complain about this service...

We spend another 2 hours in the MB Dealership Cusomer Lounge and were advised that the NOX Sensors require replacing.  Chris explains there has been a large number of Sprinter Vans and Motorhomes in for this very problem.

We were told the Motorhome Builders start and stop the Mercedes Benz chassis and do not let the engine warm up, causing condensation in the exhaust system which in turn damages the NOX Sensors?  Go figure....

For now all is well and once again we are happy!   

Campbell River to Victoria!

Back Again....

Departing Campbell River a day early to drop in to the Nanaimo Mercedes Benz dealership to deal with the check engine light (refer to post "German Efficiency" we headed back Island so we could spend the weekend with our son and his Lady Cass!

We were back in Victoria for the weekend, once again at West Bay RV Park.  Site #12 was amazing with a great view of the harbour looking towards the Empress Hotel!  

Site 12 West Bay Marina and RV Park

We looked out a Defever 49 Raised Pilot House Trawler

West Bay is in a prime location, an easy 3 kilometer stroll along the ocean side to downtown Victoria, or so they say..  

The Walk Way To Town!

One of the historic homes overlooking the harbour

Archetecural Detail Was Amazing

View of LTV Kozad From The Walk Way

When we are on the coast there is abundant opportunities to walk the docks!  Every dock we walk is an opportunity to view potential boats to consider as a candidate for our next adventure!  When walking the Gov't Docks in front of the Empress Hotel and Legislative Parliament Buildings we came across  a 1973 Roughwater 41 which hailed from Dana Pointe, California.

RW 41 From California!

We had the opportunity to speak with the owners, who invited us onboard for a tour of their boat.  They cruise Washington State and British Columbia for 6 months during the summer and also have a 1980's Roughwater 41 to cruise from San Diego to San Francisco!  They are going to be putting their PNW boat up for sale in the next month as they have completed their 4 year tour up here.

Melissa at West By told us there was a Chinese Lantern Festival just next to the RV Park.  We walked over and although we saw no Chinese Lanterns, there were a lot of interesting lighting displays.

Annual Chinese Lantern Festival

Large Jelly Fish Lantern

Son Jim and Girlfriend Cass live in Oak Bay (Victoria) and it has become a tradition for them to invite their friends and any family who happen to be in the area, for brunch.  Of course Craig has the honor of doing the cooking!  Jan has the duty of clean-up!  Always a good time....

Brunch Time!

Chowing Down!

LTV Kozad From the Harbour Ferry

You can take the Ferry for $10 from West Bay to Downtown

Our last night at West Bay RV Park

We finished up our stay in Victoria and headed for Sidney, staying at an RV Park which was right on the beach.  Not our favorite place and actually we ended up going to Sidney for dinner wiht good friends Garry & Joanne.  We stayed longer than planned and as we were headed for the 0700hrs ferry departure decided to stay the night in Sidney so we could be in the line-up at 0600hrs.  

We stayed at a campsite 1/2 way to Sidney 
Not our favorite place to stay - Sandy Beach RV Park

Not so sandy beach!

Little Bloom Amongst The Rocks!

Craig Relaxing 

Another Heron Photo!

Sun Flowers in Central Saanich

Looks Like Fall

LTV Parking - So Simple!

Our friends Dave and Carol on their Nordhavn 55' Trawler, MV Ocean Voyager were not suppose to arrive in at Van Isle Marina until 1700hrs.  While we were walking the docks at 1430hrs we saw them coming in past the fuel docks.  We surprised them at their berth by being on hand to grab their lines.

MV Ocean Voyager - Nordhavn 55

Jan, Dave & Carol 

Dropped off at Sidney Marina to pick up their truck.

Just returned from their summer cruise to Alaska and Coastal B.C.

Son Jim & Cass 

Why we love the Ocean!

We caught the 0700hr Ferry and headed home! On our way home we once again experienced Mercedes Issues....refer to the post "German Efficiency"!

Cowichan Bay To Campbell River

Friends, Friends and Friends!

We left Victoria and headed up Island to visit our good friends along the way!  We had lived on Vancouver Island a number of times and have been lucky enough to have maintained our friendships over the past 40 years.

Our first stop was Cowichan Bay to meet up with Mike and Penny!  We first met this great couple on the Ganges, Salt Spring Island docks while we were both boating.  We have stayed in contact ever since, becoming close friends!

Penny, Mike and Harley

LTV Kozad at Mike  and Penny's Cow Bay Home

Craig & Jan at Maple Bay Marina

Favourite Boat: Krogen 42

We departed Cow Bay and drove up to Parksville, staying in town at the Park Sands Beach Resort which is on the beach.  Nicely located and within walking distance to most amenities.

Ian, Rose and Marshall - Parksville!

The cutest Rescue Dog From California

"Marshall"

Ian and Rose treated us to a wonderful Italian Meal at Cuckoo Restaurant.  We had an amazing visit and a wonderful meal.  Ian is our son's best friend since they first met in 1996; and Ian is the son of our wonderful friends who we met that year when we moved into their neighbourhood.

Cuckoo Restaurant - Coombs, B.C.

Then it was off to Comox to visit Don and Judy who served us a wonderful lunch with homemade seafood chowder, fresh garden salad and desert.  On our way to  Comox we had a "check engine light" alert us to a problem on our Unity Motorhome; more of that later under our posting "German Efficiency".

After getting settled in Campbell River at the Thunderbird RV Park which is a wonderful location, we met our very close friends Judith,  Curt & Odette, and Shawn & Larry.  We all met in 1975 when we were stationed together in Campbell River and have stayed in contact ever since.

View from our RV Site

Interesting Tent Shelters: Thunderbird RV

Permanent Tent Flys!

We walked from the RV Park to the Riptide Pub above the marina.  This is where we met up with our friends for an evening of visiting.  On the way to the pub we came across the First Nations War Canoe as well as the cemetery!

This Cedar Canoe was carved out of a single tree.

We Met Bill Henderson Who Carved This Canoe

Jan - Dragon Boat Racer!

Amazing Totems & Carvings

Foggy Day

Willard 47' Dover: MV Klatawa

We have been on the beautiful 1967 Trawler

These Young Guys Towing Three Seadoos

Each had an additional 15 Gallons of Fuel Tied On.

Our time went very fast in Campbell River and needed to get back Island. It was time to head south to Nanaimo as we had to address the "German Efficiency" of the Mercedes Benz chassis!

First Ride To Vancouver Island - Unity Style!

Langley to Vancouver Island

We picked up the LTV from the dealer and headed to the BC Ferry Terminal at Tsawassen headed for Victoria to visit our son Jim and girlfriend Cass for the weekend.  Then headed up Island visiting good friends along the way!

Surprisingly the ferry cost for our LTV Unity was only $113.75 which is only $24.40 more than if we were to travel in our car!

Ferry Ride To Victoria

WestBay Marina and RV Park 

Victoria Inner Harbour

We stayed on the Esquimalt Side of Victoria Inner Harbour at the West Bay Marina, Float Home and RV Park.  We love staying in Victoria and this RV site is a gem.  Even though it is a wee bit tight, the location and views out weigh the close quarters.

Melissa, the front desk staff member, was very professional and told us about the Rib Festival which was within walking distance from the RV Park.  We met our son Jim, Cass was working, and taste tested two of the four competitors!  Great BBQ Ribs....  

Jim & Jan - Rib Fest

Lemonade Please!!

Two 1/2 Slabs, one with the fixin's: Beans & Slaw!

The Chalk Fest was also on the same weekend we were in Victoria.  Artists as far away from California were on hand (and knees) to display their talents.

2014 Victoria Chalk Fest

Craig's Favorite "Asphalt

 Canvas"

While at the WestBay RV Park, one of the resident Heron's put on a personal grooming display for us!  What a hoot it was....

Preening Feather's - Head Down!

Reminded Craig of a Burlesque Show!

Fancy Dancer?

Shak'n It Out!

Rest Time!

While in Victoria we do a lot of walking and love to go to Fisherman's Wharf.  There are a couple of seals and an otter which hang around for free meals!

Cass and Jim - Feeding Time!

While walking the Government Docks infront of the Empress Hotel we saw Willard 40 "MV Northstar"!  Our good friends Richard and Gwen own Northstar but were on a 4 month cross continent trip in their LTV Unity 24 twin bed motorhome.  Their boat Northstar was being chartered while they were out land cruising!

MV Northstar - Victoria, BC

MV Northstar: 1973 Willard 40 Wide Body Sedan 

When in Victoria wce always get a visit in with our good friends Sam and Nancy.  They live on the 7th floor, Songhee's Condo on the inner harbour!  Beautiful location and views!  

Victoria Views

Fall Time!

Jan's Artist Flavour

We absolutely love Vancouver Island!