Mother's day 2009

Preparations started last week when I decided to bring my Toy out from hibernation. Usually when I park my car in the fall in preparation for winter, I used fuel stabilizer treatment and plug in my Battery tender, and there my car sits waiting for spring to arrive. Sometime around late March I wanted to get some paperwork out of the trunk, pushed the remote trunk release and NOTHING. I opened the door and NO courtesy lights. The battery was dead. While I have never before had any problems with the battery, I thought that after 5 years I should get a new one. Last year I purchased the newest, largest CCA battery available in my size (with the longest warranty: 7 years) and had it installed so as to not have any future problems. It seems that I must have had a defective battery.
Off I went to the GM dealer with the original receipt and getting a new battery exchanged was easier than I thought. Now came the problems of finding the Radio Code and having to reprogramme all the remote Key FOBs.
It was now Thursday night. It was my plan to re-insure my car on Saturday. The car started easily and I backed it out of the garage and noticed that it was leaving a trail of pink fluid dripping behind . Of course Pink is transmission fluid and I have never had any problems before. Now I'm thinking that I have some serious problem but decide to do a quick detail of my car, clean the windows and get things ready for Saturday morning when I would return home with my insurance tags.

Fast forward to Saturday . . . I start the car, back it out and sure enough the trail of pink fluid is dripping behind me. Doesn't look good. I go around the block a few times, stopping every so often to check the road and sure enough, the drops are still falling. As luck would have it, today was Oil change day for members of the British Columbia Corvette Club (<-- click link). We have a member with a hoist and every year, early in the season, he makes his facilities available for members of our club to bring their cars for a DIY oil change.



It is a 40km drive and I wonder whether I should chance such a long excursion with transmission fluid dripping away. For those who do not know Corvettes, the transmission is located in the rear of the car under the rear suspension. There is no way to fill the fluid and you do not have the luxury of a dipstick to check the levels. I believe that there is a fill bolt located somewhere higher up the transmission housing but do not know where it is although it is possible to see the drain bolt.



I arrive Late, all the oil changes have been completed leaving the lift "available" . In mere seconds, my car is in the air



Nigel is an accomplished mechanic, I am not. I am in the Jack Riepe league (<-- click link). I am grateful for friends that are able to help me in times of need, and of course I can reciprocate in other ways.



After some assessment, a theory and some guess work all was done and I am very happy indead. It was a very minor problem which may have cost me greatly had I brought it into a dealer to service. I drove home the long way and after another 60 kms not a drop dripped, and when I check again on Sunday morning, the ashalt was devoid of new pink fluid

Today was Sunday, Mother's day. I start the car, lower the top and off we go for a quick ride down to Steveston for our Mother's day Brunch


(Steveston, BC)

Steveston is a little fishing village about a 30 min drive, just south of Vancouver. There is a boardwalk and restaurants along the water



We manage to snag a table outside with a water view and are able to enjoy the warm spring air in short sleeve shirts. While we came by car, others are able to cycle. Some cycle for pleasure and exercise, and others have made it a lifestyle, so it appears



While we are waiting for table service, others prefer the take out style of fish and ships which are more flavourful in the salt air atmosphere of the harbour



and savour their fish morsels while posing for pictures. There are other food dispensors with food from different nationalities



Our restaurant was very busy today. All of the tables for inside seating were reserved and we observed many families gathered together and taking their mothers out for their yearly meal.



Yes, they do allow leashed dogs on the boardwalk, but not on the floats. There were lots of folks wandering about, listening to music from Peru. For a small fee you could leave with a cassette or CD of your very own.



Or you could set there, close your eyes, and just relax for a few moments under a warm sun and pretend that you were on another continent



If you were a photographer, you could get a very close up picture of the artist while he was performing



It was my choice to stand further back in front and make use of my telephoto lens



It's a great place to spend a little time walking about and observing the "tourists" enjoying their day




(spelled QUAY, but pronouced KEY for our KW fans)

After lunch we took the Vette and went for a ride into the country side to enjoy the scenery. We had to be back home in time to prepare our Family dinner. It was time for me to man the BBQ and load it up with chicken



Everyone says that they love "my" chicken, but I think it's just their way of sucking me in to do the cooking.



It was a good day. Nice ride, nice weather, nice brunch and no more transmission leaks. We only insure the Vette for the summer and it was our first outing of the year . . . and hopefully many more to follow.


(Grandaughter: Natassia with our eldest Daughter: Tami)

Hope you all had a Super Mother's Day too