We followed the usual morning chores of preparing Samsonite (yes, our trailer has a name, Sam) for the next leg of our travels, to say farewell to very close friends in West Kelowna.
First, I must explain how the trailer earned its name. Once upon a time, when Susan was in her late teens, she was invited on a camping trip. This was no ordinary camping trip where you drive to a campsite. It was a canoe trip across the lake into the wilderness. When she was picked up, she didn’t have a backpack, instead, she had packed a suitcase. The type you see people pulling behind them in transportation terminals. Who goes camping with a Samsonite suitcase. Because we have packed a supply of clothes in our trailer, “on wheels”, we have named the trailer Sam, in honour of Susan’s courage to go against the norm.
The drive between Monck Provincial Park and Merritt takes you along highway 5A, through the quaint and historic hamlet of Nicola.
Susan drove the second leg from Monck Provincial Park to West Kelowna, while I rode the KTM 690 Enduro. The drive from Merritt twists and turns up onto the plateau, then the scenery along highway 97C is mostly alpine trees and lakes, with stunted trees and lupine at the roadside.
The weather along this section is unpredictable and often, one can encounter snow in the middle of summer.
To aid the traveller, large signs are placed at each end of the highway, advising drivers they are about to drive in mountain weather conditions, that can change suddenly. They also post large signs warning drivers to check their fuel level, because of the vast distance between fuel stations. Susan started the trip, with approximately half a tank. What she didn’t see, was the distance to empty. When towing the trailer, the brake system screen pops up on the dash, replacing the fuel system and distance to empty screen. I guess you know where this is going.
Susan had called my cell and left a message 10 minutes prior to this video, and as she drove by, she was frantically signaling me. When she pulled over at a safe spot, I was advised the truck was on empty.
A quick google search gave us some confidence the truck could make it the next 10 kilometres, and fortunately, 90% of it was all downhill to the closest gasoline station.
It was a gamble, and understandably, Susan was stressed that the truck would starve of fuel, and she wouldn’t be able to steer, have an accident, and demolish our home.
White knuckle driving and running on fumes is an understatement. Susan handled it like a pro, and the Guinness was finished in record time.