They Can'T Fix Our Van - Canadian Van Life Headache [S7-E57]

Trudy is going back to the garage, the last thing we need to do is end up having to wait two three weeks. We've got a problem. Oh what's the problem? So we're going to go online now and see, hopefully they've got the parts. It's not okay. It's not okay. It's really not okay and we got each other, don't cry. No we'll be right. We're Marion and Chris, in 2018 we quit the 9-5 and bought Trudy our camper van. We are currently on an adventure to drive the circumference of the world. Good morning, it's a special day today because Trudy is going back to the garage in Duncan. Bronson Mufflers, Sean is doing his magic on the van today, so we should be getting all the squeaks and the knocks and the struts and the bearings and everything fixed today, after we've waited a week or so for the parts and the time to get the garage to do it. So yeah exciting day today. It feels like we've been waiting forever doesn't it? It does, we've managed to do loads of bits and pieces and spend time with Aunty Julia. That's because we're not used to staying still so long. So this morning I'm taking Trudy and Marion's going to drive Julia's van, which is nicknamed JB, and we're going to go in convoy to the garage. It's actually the first morning typically that we've had condensation, so it shows that the weather is starting to turn. But there's a nice blue sky up there, so hopefully that lasts today. See you later my sweetness! Right so I've left Chris and I'll show you where we've been staying. These are beautiful flowers and my Aunty Julia lives in this apartment block just here, and we've been parked outside and she's given us the key so that we can use the showers and the loos, but she's also given me another key, a very special key to her van, which is a VW Vanagon and her initials are JB. So her van is effectively known as J-J-A-Y-B-B-E and there it is, look at that! And in true supportive family style, there's a tread the globe sticker there, and oh yeah if the van is rocking, better come and knock in. That is typical Aunty Julia, she is like the most positive party person I know. Tread the globe sticker on the front, and yeah she's a left-hand drive, so I'm gonna drive JB, Chris is gonna take our girl Trudy, and I can't wait to get Trudy fixed. Although JB is very cool, but before we go I thought I'd just quickly show you inside how much smaller JB is to Trudy. She's still quite long, but look it's a left-hand drive, left-hand drive and automatic. Some of you might say is that a bit terrifying? No is the answer, I love driving, literally love driving, and I'm happy and confident as a driver. So whether it's left or right, whether I'm on the right or the left, I don't have a massive skill set, but driving and scuba diving are my two favourite skill sets, and yeah I'm happy to drive JB. It's been ages since I've driven, only driving back from Tuk from the Arctic Ocean, so yeah we're going in convoy this morning. Trudy, we're gonna get you fixed girl. She always starts touchwood, she's a beautiful beautiful van. A lot of people are asking how many miles has she actually done now? Well it's 110 000 miles, which is mad because we hit 100 000 just as we crossed into Oregon, which wasn't that long ago. So yeah we've done some serious miles, which is why she needs a bit of love this morning. Okay there's Marianne and JB in front. The town of Shermanus is looking lovely this morning with the sun coming up. It's been really nice staying here for the last two three weeks, actually it's probably like three weeks, while we've been waiting for parts and catching up on the videos from up at the Arctic Ocean. And the drive to Duncan is probably about half an hour this morning. Bright and early in the morning, it's only quarter to eight in the morning. Marianne's a couple of vehicles behind. The reversing camera works great here actually, to keep an eye behind you. The life of Vancouver Island early on a Friday morning. It's very strange seeing Trudy in front of me and seeing her back end. She's beautiful. So whilst we've been on the island, one of the things to upload the videos we've been searching out is cell towers, and that that is the local cell tower. So we spent many a parked up by the side of the road there, using the cell service. I'm feeling a little bit nervous about Trudy today, because it's really important we get a fix, because we've been waiting a long time for the parts to come from from Europe, because you can't get the parts here. And the guys at Bronson Muffler shortly diagnosed her, that it's bearings, strut supports and the swing bar. But fingers crossed he fixes her today, and there's no more whirring and rattling, because the last thing we need to do is end up having to wait another couple of weeks, or two three weeks, being here on the island waiting for the parts, because we've got to start heading south soon. It's very strange actually, because we've been on the island for so long, and as you know we move a lot all the time. It's been really interesting, because we actually feel really at home on the island, and yeah we sort of know our way around. Moving around sometimes can be really strange, and I get lost in a car park, so that's why Chris does all the navigating, and I was grateful to Tom Tom to help me navigate. But on the island I don't need navigation, I feel really at home. I suppose it's having family around, that makes you feel at home, and it's not actually necessarily a place, it's the people you meet and the family that you have, that become your home. Anyway it's a beautiful morning, and there's our girl Trudy, how lovely is she looking this morning. So nearly there, we've arrived in downtown Duncan here on the island, and the garage is literally about quarter of a mile turn to the right. You all right? What's up? I'm just checking the light, because obviously it's law here in Canada to drive in your car. Oh nice sticker Julia. Okay we've arrived at Bronson Mufflers, the doctor for Trudy. Listen to the purr of that VW. She does have a certain purr to her, doesn't she? Good good, I'm going to grab Sean some caffeination. He needs a lot of coffee, he's got a bit of work to do today. She's going under the operating theatre, and we're going to be VW van lifers for the day. Trudy's going in, that's where she's spending the day. I think it was the Dempster Highway, and all those miles on the dirt roads just finished her off slightly. So yeah, Trudy's hanging out with the guys here today. We're talking about creffins, Maya and I have decided that croissants and creffins are the best. You liked that didn't you? I think Campbell River. I did, so she's going to be popping up to Campbell River too. You're leading her astray. A box of bits, and they should all be there. It looks like a very small box. Well you're not getting a new engine, you're only getting new bearings and supports and swing bars. She's still got a bit of the Dempster Highway under her there I think. She needs a bit of a clean. See you later. Okay, so we're going to jump back into JB and go into Duncan. Do a little bit of shopping, leave Trudy and we'll come back later to see how she's doing. Oh into JB, this is my first time in JB. How weird does it feel for me, sitting in the English driver's seat with no wheel. You have a wife so you don't need a wheel. Does that not feel weird driving on that side? Oh it's automatic as well. That's mad, I've never driven an automatic vehicle. I know that might sound crazy to some, but back in the UK we only use a normal. Oh my goodness. She's all good. Right let's go to town. I suppose it's no different to you, if we went somewhere and we rented a motorbike, you're a competent motorcyclist, so you just get on the motorbike. It just takes a while to get used to something doesn't it? You drive it for a day or two and then you're used to it. Yeah it's funny because I actually feel like my brain doesn't differentiate between the left and the right side. That's why you get lost Marianne. Is it here? Where are we going? Best Buy. No it's past town. Yeah it's funny because I literally don't mind driving either side of the road, or left or right hand drive vehicles. One thing about Julia's van, the seats are very comfy. They are. In fact I would almost go as far to say that they may be more comfortable than Trudy's. That's it. Do you think? They are, there's more bounce in it. There's more bounce and there's more, I don't know, the shape feels better. We've come down to one of the retail parks. Mission today, find a new kettle for Trudy, because our other one's a bit big, looking a bit manky. Go and have coffee to wake up. And then we're going to probably meet, I think we're going to go to Cabochon Bay for lunch, because apparently it's very pretty. Okay we're armed with coffee and we're going to head back to the garage. It's nearly lunchtime, just to see how Trudy's doing and making sure all's all right. JB started just about, which is great. She's lovely, it gives you that element of like excitement when you drive her. We got coffee for the workers, yeah and some of these delicious things. Trudy's got no wheel, we'll go and have a look in a minute, let's take the coffee in. Coffee and cake, coffee and cake to cheer the garage up, energy food. Look at that, there you go, they'll give you energy. I'm hoping nobody's diabetic or has nut allergies. Oh you're more than welcome. We're going to be a little less lovely right now. Oh have we got a problem Sean? We've got a problem. Oh what's the problem? It's this hub right here, and this was the worst one of the bunch. Okay. Because the amount of heat that gets generated when these things are worn, it's actually welded itself to that. Okay. And I've destroyed two pullers trying to to take it off. Okay. It's not coming off. So we need a new spindle for it. Okay. So that's that's the long and short of it. It's this part that it all rotates around. Yeah. We have to get one of those. Okay. So until you got that, you can't actually fix it. No, we're gonna have to in order to get this off now, we have to destroy everything that's on here except for the brakes and the backing plate. Okay. Because the bolts are back here. Okay. So we got to try and break the hub off, extract the bolts, pull this whole thing off. Yeah. Then get a new spindle and a new hub. Okay. Okay. And that's that's what we're up to. And is that on every wheel or just that one? The rest? We've already done that side. Oh, okay. So it's okay. So we'll go up. We'll go online now and try and figure out the part. Yeah. Okay. So what I could do is actually send a photograph to the ladies that supported us to get the part. Yeah, if you can. And see if they'll interchange with the, because Fiat makes the Ram Pro Masters. They don't. Apparently she's too old. Our friends have got a van that's younger than Trudy. Yeah. And they looked at it and they said none of the parts interchange because the models that are out in the UK and Europe, unless it was this year's like Fiat, it just won't fit. So from that conversation, basically the bearings on the back were worn down. They've overheated. They've welded to the spindle. So we need to get some new parts for Trudy. So we're going to go online now and see, hopefully they've got the parts. We'll message them. We can't actually drive her now, which means that this car park might be home for the next week or so. So yeah, we'll come back to you in a sec. Okay. Okay. It's not okay. It's not okay. It's really not okay. But the good news is, you know, we like to look on the bright side. Trudy's at the garage. We can keep Trudy parts at the garage indefinitely. We've got access to their loose. They've said we can use the loose to empty Trudy's cassette. So that's fine. It's walking distance to town. Yeah. So we can go do our shopping. We're in Julia's van, which means we can still go and see Julia or go out for the day and come back. We'll probably stay, we'll sleep here in Trudy, because obviously we don't want to leave Trudy alone in a town for long periods. And as far as getting the part goes, Captain Erso in Turkey is on the case. We've looked online at the company we use to get the parts for Trudy, but we can't see the right part. So we've messaged them, but it's Friday now. So they won't be able to on Monday. And if not, he might, Sean said he might be able to get a whole rear axle, which is the bit that goes from wheel to wheel on the back of Trudy from a ProMaster or Ram, Dodge Ram. I think the key to my sanity is the fact that we've got Sean, who is like, really, you know, he's still got a smile on his face. He's like, look, we're not going to leave you. You're not going to like be sat on the car park forever. Obviously, the frightening thing is, is the fact that it's like, it's like a part and it's just like, it's like a, it's not like it's a little part that comes in a box. It's like the whole bit for me. It's like a whole part of the van, which is the rest of it. We can just, the rest of it, we can just get. What a team though, I feel like we're really blessed to have. No, we're lucky. Yeah, we really are. The guys, you know, they think what we're doing is cool. They're going to support us. And so, yeah, Bronson, Mufflers and Duncan. Yeah, big shout out to you guys. You're coming good. Because so many garages could just say, look, you know, it's buggered. We're not going to, you know, you'll have to find someone that can, can do it. Whereas they're like, don't worry. Do you know what was really nice for me was the attitude. So I said, because obviously we took like some little biscuity cakes and I said to Sean, does this mean you're going to get like extra cakes every day? And he went, it has to be an upside to what's happening. And then when I said we're driving around the world in Trudy, he just laughed out loud. And I went, look, you just have to get us so we can like get across North America and ship on to New Zealand and Australia. And he laughed and he was like, we're going to get you there. So yeah, so Duncan's going to be out home for a while, but it's like one o'clock in the afternoon now. We haven't had breakfast or lunch and I'm starving. Yeah, we should go and get some lunch. And I've got low blood sugar. So we're going to go down to Cowichan Bay. And then we just need to, we had plans all lined up for this weekend of filming next week. So we're going to have to cancel our contacts and stuff and come up with a bit of a plan. Okay. And thank you Aunty Julia for letting us have JB. Without it and without everything we'd be screwed. But I mean, at least, you know, we can go to Julia's for showers during the week. We can drive over there. We feel very lucky to be in this situation. I am upset about Trudy, but I feel really like I'm in a good place. I think it's frustrating because we've been waiting three weeks to get Trudy fixed. And now we're back to square one again. Yeah, but we're in a good place. We're in a really lucky place, aren't we? And we've got each other, don't cry. No, we'll be right. As Julia says, you'll be right, mate. Okay. Welcome to Cowichan Bay. What a beautiful view. All the harbours down there with the boats. Well, let's drive around and see what's there. Right, it's only a few hundred metres. That's it. Oh, that's very cute. These buildings are nice, aren't they? Reminds me a bit of Cornwall. Smaller roads. This is small for Canada, but for North America. Underguys. Just park anywhere. Maritime Centre, the Rock Cod. So there's restaurants down here, so just park up. The Pirate Shack. Is there any parking spots? Where are you going, baby? Are they going? Oh yeah, that's good timing. Look at that. This looks nice. Yeah, we've looked online and there's quite a few different food choices. Oh, that's nice. Lighthouse, it's a lighthouse. That was one of the ones that was recommended, the Lighthouse Cafe. This is very pretty. That's a nice view, isn't it? The blue water, the blue sky, boats. Now it does say there's a pub up there. Maybe they serve food. If not, we'll go wander back. Okay, we think there's a restaurant up here. Nice view. Okay, well it was a good pub, but you can't see the entrance. Well, you can tell it's one of those days today, because eventually when we got in the restaurant, he said it's all out, because there's a power cut in town and they're not serving food. That's why everything's in darkness. We went with the sandwich option. The electric came back on. Marianne has a croissant. After refueling and having a nice sandwich, we just thought we'd come and have a little wander down the waterfront, because it's lovely. The boats are always very calming, aren't they? Yeah, coming to the end of the season with the hanging baskets here on Vancouver Island, but it still just brings a bit of colour. Look at this, that is absolutely amazing. I could so live there, have a little boat. Isn't that fantastic? There's like four houses along the jetty here, this is nice. And there's looking back at the town, oceanfront suites at Karachan Bay there. That's the harbour, we had lunch just down there. Ah I love the decor, I love the shape of these houses, this is typical to Vancouver Island. We've seen a few like that. It's nice now, I'm not sure what it would be like in the winter, but an amazing isn't it? I could definitely live in one of those. The view at the end of the jetty is amazing, looking over Salt Spring Island. Yeah lovely, there's something very peaceful and relaxing about water, sea air, although looking back over there, I think it might rain in a little bit. And I've actually just realised that Monday's a bank holiday, so we're on no phone calls to parts on Monday. Okay six o'clock in the evening, Trudy's come out of the garage, she's managed to get two wheels back on her, and we're going to be doing a bit of research. We've put an email out to quite a few of our contacts to try and find the parts that are needed. It's the front right wheel and the back left wheel that are the problems, but Sean's going to limp Trudy back into this car park here, we're going to park here and do some orders over the weekend, assess the situation and then come up with a plan. But I think this will be home for the next few weeks, between Bronson mufflers and the car park at the back here. Beautiful, thank you sir, yeah yeah I'm sure, I'm sure. We've got we've got two guys looking for the for the parts for that one, it's that one part at the back that we'll we need to try and find that, but we'll we'll find it. So this is going to be home for the night, in fact not just for the night, for the next however many weeks while we get the parts. But we want to say a big thank you to Ben who saw our post on Instagram and straight away said we're on it guys, we've got some contacts at a broker's yard back in the UK, what's the part you need and you can't find? Ersel in Turkey's on it as well, yeah thank you Ersel. You've sent out a couple of emails as well to a couple of other people. Nake and Kim messaged to say that they're coming down to see us, they're going to park up here for the night with us and they're going to cook us a lovely dinner before they leave the island tomorrow. So you're all super lovely, thank you very much. Hey guys, welcome to our home! How are you doing? Good, how are you? We're good, so sorry about the noise, oh what a pain in the ass! We're being welcomed, we brought beer, we brought food, wow you're looking after us, thank you for your message, you made us smile, you made us smile today, thanks for your message. Look at this, we have the best neighbours tonight! Obviously, oh wow, I don't think you should leave, I think you should just stay. Come on in, welcome to Trudy again, Trudy and you've brought beer and everything, you're amazing, you're amazing, I've even got my wine glasses out. So what a better way for therapy, when you're feeling sad your van doesn't work, to spend it with friends. Your happy messages cheered us up, because I was literally there going, oh my god, you can imagine. There you go, chef Nek has cooked the most fabulous steak sauce and salad, yeah thank you very much guys, you're so welcome, cheering us up on a day with some bad news, but it's a good end to the day, so we're feeling happy, we're just happy we can do something to cheer you guys up, and to help out a little bit, we thought you could use some less food, have a drink, a bad day is turning into a much better day, thank you for your friendship.