14th - 16th May 1998

Thursday 14th May
When Claire got up at 5:45am it was pouring with rain so she drove to work.  The van was very damp and at 7:30am I had to put the buckets out.  I eventually got up at 8:30am after listening to 2.5 hours of the coffee pod music.  So yet again, I sat around in the coffee pod for far too long.  I went and picked Catherine up from the camp site so she could catch the bus.  I checked out another parking lot that we may be able to stop in and asked about reprints for Claire's birthday.  The other guys showed up and yet again we sat around at the Coffee Pod.  Claire left for the treehouse with an alcohol smelling Al.  I called Aaron and went around to have a shower.  He was odd, still wisecracking and taking the piss but somehow it sounds a lot more malicious.  I wanted to stay there tonight but after I said that I'd be in the van alone he never offered.  He does want me to take Hoek for the afternoon though, so I'm going there tomorrow at 12:30pm.  Darren called me at work.  He's still a bit pissed off about yesterday.  He went into Vancouver around 5pm but the puppet, that I got Claire for her birthday, had already been picked up by Claire's Mum.  So he went all the way into the city in rush hour for nothing!  He didn't get home until 9:30pm.
I'm at a bit of a loose end now.  Claire's gone and isn't back until Sunday and after 2 weeks of visitors I'm suddenly alone, and the only place to hang out is the van.

Friday 15th May
Set my alarm for 7:30am so I could get up and move the van if necessary - it was pouring with rain so I reset the alarm for 8:30 then 9:30 and eventually I got up at 10:30.  I left the curtains open so the van didn't look so much like someone was sleeping in there.  It rained most of the morning and didn't let up while I went to the CoOp to buy some bagels for breakfast.  I toasted them on the propane flame the way Darren showed me.  I read my book and drank some coffee.  I went round to Aarons, sat and chatted for a while and then took Hoek to Chesterman beach.  We managed to adopt 2 other dogs while we were there - who wanted to come home with me.  So now I'm back at the shack.  I've watched ENG and now writing my diary.  Aaron came home and then went for a surf.  I dogs for a while and answered the phone and then left for work.  It was really busy and the place was crawling with police.  Apparently this weekend two years ago there was a riot and bottles were thrown at the RCMP.  The liquor store isn't selling any bottled beer this weekend.  I got scared about where to sleep so I went to Aaron's.  I also had a shower while I was there.  Hoek was pleased to see me.

Saturday 16th May
Aaron got in at 4:30am and said I should move the van as Loek wouldn't be able to get his truck out.  So I got up and moved it.  Calvin barely fits through the gate and as a result I scraped the side but it was OK as the fence was fine!  I then was wide awake so Aaron and I chatted for a while and then I went to sleep with Hoek keeping my feet warm.
I washed and changed at the Co-op and managed to make it to work on time.  I've asked for a couple of days housekeeping and I should be working about 12 hours!
There's loads of kids around for the weekend so I've had to ID nearly everyone.  Aaron said he would probably be watching videos this evening so my plan was to watch them with him.  As I was getting into the van Elan showed up, so we went for a beer.  I told him about the bylaw problem and he became a bit disillusioned with the place.  I showed him Chesterman beach and Tonquin.  I kept calling Aaron but there was never any answer. So I wrote a postcard to Kevin - who I felt guilty about as I forgot him in the last batch.  Then I went and did my laundry - something constructive I thought.
I got talking to this couple in the laundromat about my travels and they thought it was cool.  I went to the B&W to call again and there was still no answer.  I met Elan again who is even more depressed.  He's job hunting tomorrow so hopefully things will pick up.  I found out where Aaron is he's at Tony's. I saw his jeep!
I just realised all I've had to eat today is one bagel and a bag of chips.  I'm taking a risk and parking in town tonight.  Back on second street.  Claire's back tomorrow.

<these are extracts from my diaries written whilst travelling and working in Canada and the US in '97-'98>