Well the question that Eric and began asking each other daily around March of this year was “what are we going to do in the fall?”. After selling our house and planning to go on this amazing trip, we decided that we would figure out our plans for the future once we got closer to the date. We started asking each other that question, but neither of us really ever had an answer.
READ THE POSTWe were good and ready for some relaxing down time by the time we made it to the farm and that is just what we got. We did have a few problems to work out with getting the new plates for the truck and getting a saftey and e test done, but we were actually able to get an extension on our temporary plates so that we could wait until we got back to Kitchener area to worry about it.
READ THE POSTWell it has been months since I posted anything on our blog. Sorry to keep you hanging, I know you are probably sitting on the edge of your seats just waiting to find out how our trip ended! In my last post we were still in Calgary just waiting to find out more about our truck and waiting for our insurance company to make the next move. We got to spend lots of time hanging out with Amy and Katie and Nino.
READ THE POSTOur visit in Calgary just so happened to be during the Calgary Stampede. We really didn’t plan to be there for the Stampede, but since we were, we had to go check it out. Our first visit was on Friday, the opening day of the Stampede, so it was pretty busy. Amy and the kids and I went early in the day so we would have some time to check out the rides, games and shows.
READ THE POSTAll 5 of us were very excited for our next destination of Calgary, Alberta. We booked a spot at an Okotoks, AB campground for two weeks so that we could visit with my sisters Amy and Katie who live in Calgary. We arrived on June 30, so we were able to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday while we were here. My sisters were both working, so we ended up just staying in Okotoks and going to the community centre where they had a small celebration and free swimming for the kids.
READ THE POSTWe had the amazing opportunity to drive down the Icefield’s Parkway while heading to our next stop in Golden, B.C. Normally, when we are driving we don’t stop except if we need a bathroom break or to get some fuel, but there were a few places I wanted to check out on the drive. One of the stops we made was at the Athabasca Glacier. We dediced not to do the actual tour where you get to ride on that big machine right onto the glacier since it would have cost a small fortune for our whole family to go, but we did walk up the trail that overlooks the edge of the glacier.
READ THE POSTWe stayed in Kamloops, BC for two nights and then left the amazing Okanagan Valley to head north to Valemount, BC. We had planned on staying in a park in Jasper, but since we don’t plan very far ahead, and the parks are extra busy this year because of the free park pass, all of the sights in Jasper were completely booked up. So we stayed in the town of Valemount about an hour and a half away from Jasper.
READ THE POSTIt seems like forever since I have posted anytihng on here, we have been pretty busy plus our main laptop stopped working, so it took a little while to get that all sorted out. I will try to make up for it now and get all caught up on our adventures! After we left the beautiful little town of Hope we drove to the Okanagan Valley to spend a couple of weeks exploring the area.
READ THE POSTSince we hadn’t really spent much time in Vancouver, we decided that before we left the area we would stay a couple more days at a park right in the city so that we could explore a bit more before it was time to move on. We spent one of our days at Lynn Canyon where we checked out their nature centre, walked on the suspension bridge and went hiking through the beautiful green forest.
READ THE POSTWe have done a lot of driving on this crazy adventure this past year and we have seen a lot of beautiful sights. The drive on the Sea to Sky highway from Vancouver up to Whistler is one of the most beautiful drives we have done, and if you ever get a chance to travel that road, I highly recommend it. Eric and I took turns driving this time, and whenever I was driving I was torn between wanting to turn my head to look at the amazing mountains and water, and wanting to watch the road so we didn’t go veering off the highway.
READ THE POSTOur next adventure in British Columbia was to head over to Vancouver Island for the May long weekend. Eric took Tuesday off as well, so our plan was to head over on Saturday morning and then stay for three nights. We were trying to decide if it would be worth it to bring our trailer across on the ferry, but in the end we opted to just stay in hotels for the few nights we would be there and save ourselves the ferry fees for our trailer.
READ THE POSTEven though we have never been to British Columbia, crossing over the border into Vancouver felt like coming home. We are so excited to be back in Canada where there is a Tim Horton’s on every corner and our dollar is now worth a dollar! Our plan is to be in British Columbia for over a month so we are very excited to have lots of time to explore this beautiful province.
READ THE POSTOur first stop in Oregon was at Grant’s Pass. We only stayed one night because we didn’t have enough cell phone signal for Eric to work, but it was a pretty park right on the river. We continued North and ended up at South Beach State Park in Newport, Oregon. It rained a lot while we were there and it was cooler than the weather we have been used to…the kids even had to wear PANTS while we were there.
READ THE POSTOur drive up the coast from San Fransisco to our next destination was filled with beautiful coastal views. We stopped at this cool pillbox way up high on the top of a cliff. Our journey North brought us to a little town called Fort Bragg, CA. Emma found this town on pinterest and asked if we could go to it on our trip because of its famous Glass Beach.
READ THE POSTAfter our visit to Yosemite, we were ready to head back to the coast. The RV park that we stayed at was in Half Moon Bay, California and it was just steps away from the ocean. It is a well know surfing spot so we got to sit on the rocks and watch surfers ride the waves. The water was freezing, but of course the kids all got in anyway.
READ THE POSTSequoia The RV park that we stayed at while visiting Sequoia National Park was in Lemon Cove, CA. It was one of the most beautiful settings we have stayed at so far. There were lemon and orange trees everywhere and as we stepped out of our truck all you could smell were the blossoms on all of the trees. Our drive into the park was just gorgeous as well. The mountains, with rivers running through them, and beautiful lakes nestled at the bottom looked just like a painting.
READ THE POSTLA and San Diego Another tire mishap!! Just as we pulled into our spot in Chino, CA I heard a hissing sound coming from one of our new trailer tires. We checked it out and somewhere along the way we had picked up a screw. We had to jack the trailer up and take the tire off. We took it into a shop and they told us that because the puncture was on the very edge of the tire, it was not repairable.
READ THE POSTThe Salton Sea and Joshua Tree We left the state of Arizona and are now in sunny California! Our first stop was in Desert Hot Springs. We stayed here for around one week and it was just beautiful. We had amazing mountain views all around us. Our RV park was very nice too, with a heated pool and a mini golf course. Ada even got in the pool with her cast all tied up in a grocery bag!
READ THE POSTSedona and Phoenix Our stop after the Grand Canyon was in Camp Verde, Arizona. While we were there we went to Montezuma Castle National Monument and Well. It was pretty neat to see the houses built into the side of the mountains, but as far as National Monuments go…we were slightly underwhelmed. It only took a few minutes to see everything and then we were outta there! There was also a “well” nearby that we drove to and hiked down into.
READ THE POSTThe Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon! Having been to the Grand Canyon a couple of times in my younger years, I was very excited to get to go again. We ended up going into the park on two different days so that we could see different parts of it. The first day we did a small portion closer to the south entrance and visitor center. We walked along the hiking trail and stopped at many overlooks to check out the amazing views.
READ THE POSTPainted Desert and Petrified Forest After one quick stop in Albuquerque, we left New Mexico and headed into Arizona. Our first stay in Arizona was in Holbrook. On our way to our RV park we drove through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert was very beautiful, but I think everyone’s favourite thing to see at this stop was the Petrified Forest. It was so neat to see a log lying where it fell so long ago that it has turned to stone.
READ THE POSTNew Mexico is a beautiful place and now at the top of my list with PEI. There are so many amazing natural sights to see and such different and changing landscapes as you are travelling. It was so crazy to go from the flat dry desert like landscape of Carlsbad, through the mountains covered in trees and snow in just a few hours drive. White Sands, New Mexico is on the other side of the Sacramento mountains from Carlsbad.
READ THE POSTCarlsbad, New Mexico With our truck back in tip top shape, we were ready and excited to be back on the road again. We decided to skip going to Big Bend and head onto our next destination which was Carlsbad, New Mexico. The Carlsbad caverns are located there so we stayed for just one night and spent the next day exploring the caverns. This was called the touching stone, because you are not supposed to touch any of the formations inside the cave, they told us to touch this one as much as we wanted.
READ THE POSTTexas We left New Orleans and drove quite a big hop into the great state of Texas. We stayed in a very small town called Port Arthur for two nights. There was not much to see or do in Port Arthur, so it was a good thing we were there for such a short time. Our next stop was at Guadalupe River State Park in the San Antonio area of Texas.
READ THE POSTNew Orleans We wanted to visit New Orleans, but didn’t really want to stay right in the city. So we ended up staying at Fountainbleu State Park across the lake. We drove into New Orleans and walked around the French Quarter. We got beignets from Cafe du Monde, and stopped in for supper at a little place with a live jazz band playing. I ordered gumbo (which was delicious but way too spicy for me) and Eric got a crawfish Po-Boy.
READ THE POSTGulf Shores, Alabama Gulf Shores is a popular snow bird destination and all of the RV parks were booked solid when I called to find a spot, so we ended up staying in a near(ish) town called Magnolia Springs, Alabama. Our first stop outside of Florida in a very long time! We have been to Gulf Shores before, and fondly remembered Lamberts restaurant and getting rolls thrown at us, so our first night in town we headed in for some dinner.
READ THE POSTHeading North As we have been travelling and staying at many parks and campgrounds along the way, we have come to realize that we love state parks. They always seem to be well run, clean and with very private and spacious sites. Our next stop was at Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Centre State Park in White Springs, Florida. It was one of the most beautiful, well kept parks that we have stayed at on our journey.
READ THE POSTTampa Area We decided to spend a little time exploring the western side of Florida before we began making our way north, so we spent a few nights at Medard Park in Plant City, Florida. It was about 45 minutes into Tampa, so we only ended up going in one day to check it out. The park we stayed at was really nice though, with a really cool natural jungle gym forest that the kids loved and played in a lot.
READ THE POSTUniversal Studios! So Eric and I had wanted to take the kids to Disney while we were in Florida and we told them it was going to be part of their Christmas present this year. The kids are all really into Harry Potter though, so instead of Disney we decided to go to Universal Studios where they have very elaborate Harry Potter themed areas of the park. Ada has some issues with motion sickness, so I was a little concerned that she might not do very well on the rides.
READ THE POSTOn the road again Here is what we were welcomed by as we arrived at our trailer. Luckily we have CAA, so we called them up and they came out and pumped up a couple of our tires and we were ready to hit the road again! Our first stop of the new year was at Manatee Hammock Campground in Titusville Florida. This campground was located really close to Cape Canaveral where a rocket launch was scheduled to happen while we were there.
READ THE POSTFlorida to Canada, and back again Here’s another quick video of snippets from our arrival in Key Largo, poking around Florida, home to Canada for Christmas and back to Florida in January. Enjoy more shaky cam as we explore the everglades, look for key-limes, eat alligator, play with frog legs in shorts and tee-shirts… and then return to sledding and shovelling for Christmas!
READ THE POSTHome for the Holidays We were lucky enough to find an amazing deal on a flight to Canada, so we parked our truck and trailer at a storage place and headed home to visit with friends and family for Christmas. We ended up staying in Canada for a total of six weeks. We were so excited to meet our new nephew/cousin Charlie. We were all smitten. He is just the sweetest, cutest, lovable baby ever.
READ THE POSTMiami We left Key Largo and moved onto Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial park in Miami, Florida. We decided to park our trailer at this park for one month since it is way cheaper to pay for a month rather than night by night. We figured we would make Miami our home base and explore some of Southern Florida while we were there. One of our first adventures in Miami was Halloween.
READ THE POSTKey Largo Our stay in Key Largo, Florida was at a State Park called John Pennekamp Coral Reef park. We ended up staying at this park for a total of two weeks and it was pretty amazing. The park is one of the only underwater state parks and is made up of miles of coral reef. We bought everyone a mask and snorkel and spent an hour or two every day at the beach exploring the coral reef close to the shore.
READ THE POSTA quick look back We’ve been a several places, climbed on some rocks, walked on some beaches, ridden trains and subways, walked about some cites and climbed on some rocks. I took a few minutes to grab snippets from each place, roll’em all together and reminisce on the places we’ve been these first few months. Join me in a walk down memory lane, while together we enjoy some blurry shots, shaky cam and the melodic tones of Closet Face, by Copy
READ THE POSTNorth Carolina and Georgia HeyY’all! Just thought since we are getting into the southern states, I needed to say that. I can’t guarantee that I won’t say it again either… So our stay in North Carolina was at Foothills Family Campground in Forest City. Eric has the idea in his head that he just wants to head for Florida ASAP, so our two stops in NC and GA were just quick stays on our way down.
READ THE POSTVirginia and Washington We stayed at Skyline Ranch RV resort in Front Royal Virginia for this leg of our journey. The park had a petting zoo with goats, pigs, chickens, horses and llamas which the kids had a blast feeding every day we were there. There was a really nice big outdoor pool which just happened to still be open (and Ada and Haydn were crazy enough to swim in).
READ THE POSTPennsylvania and New York City Our stop in Pennsylvania was at Silver Valley Campsites in Saylorsburg. We initially booked 7 nights at this park, but we really loved the location so we added another 5 nights onto our stay here. The campsite was near the Pocono mountains and on our first evening here we took a drive up to the top and watched the sun set from the top of the mountain.
READ THE POSTMassachusetts Let me just start by saying Massachusetts is a really hard word to spell… Our stay in Massachusetts was in Sturbridge, at Sturbridge Encore RV Resort. The name makes it sound much fancier than it was. It was not our favourite park. Luckily they had a couple of options for us to choose from as far as setting up the rv and we opted to be farther away from the crowded parking spots.
READ THE POSTNew Hampshire Guess what!? We didn’t do any rock climbing on this stop in our adventure! We left beautiful Maine and arrived in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire on Friday September 16. One thing that I have been wanting to do at some point on the East Coast was to go on a whale watching trip. So we looked one up and booked a 4 hour excursion on the Granite State whale watching cruise.
READ THE POSTHomeschooling We are now 2 weeks into our homeschooling adventure and I must admit, it is a lot harder than I had expected! The kids each have workbooks for their grade level that they are working on, but most of the lessons don’t really explain in much detail how to do the work. So we are learning together through some of these lessons…especially Emma’s math, and grammar. It is tricky when they all don’t understand what to do at the same time, and I am trying to explain to each of them how to figure out what they need to be doing.
READ THE POSTInto the USA! We crossed the border into Maine without a hitch! I am always nervous when we cross the border (for no reason whatsoever), so the idea of crossing the border and trying to explain why we were travelling and where we were going and how long we were going to be there had my stomach all in knots. Also, we had forgotten to empty out our fridge and freezer so we were carting across some fruit and veggies and frozen meat which I don’t think you are supposed to do.
READ THE POSTHopewell Cape, New Brunswick Our next stop was at Ponderosa Pines campground in Hopewell Cape, NB. It was literally a two minute drive to the Hopewell rocks. We got there on a Friday night and stayed in and had pizza and watched a movie. The next day we got up and went to see the Hopewell rocks. I must say, it was a lot more walking than any of us had expected.
READ THE POSTPeggy’s Cove and Jellystone Park Our first stop in Nova Scotia was at Wayside Campground in Glen Margaret, NS which was only a ten minute drive from Peggy’s Cove lighthouse. We were only at this park for two nights. Our shortest stop yet. Eric has been getting good at setting up the camera with the 10 second timer, and then running to make it into the picture.
READ THE POSTPEI August 28, 2016 Oh PEI. You will forever be in our hearts. This has become the place to beat on our trip so far. The gorgeous rolling hills, beautiful red cliffs, and ocean views everywhere you look. I know we have just begun, and have so much more to see but it will be forever the one we compare things to… So we stayed at a park called Bayside Campground in Oyster Bed, PE.
READ THE POSTTracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick August 25, 201. We had planned to make a stop in Quebec City as well but we were a little bit worried that some RV parks would be starting to shut down on the East Coast before we had made it out there. So we did a big jump and drove from Montreal out to the North-Eastern tip of New Brunswick for our next stop.
READ THE POSTMontreal August 23, 2016 On Monday the 22nd we moved to a place called Camping Auclair about 40 minutes outside of Montreal. I needed to do a little grocery shopping so I headed into the little town where we were staying and hit up the store. Nobody spoke a lick of English, and my French is pretty terrible so the cashier and I had a bit of hand signal communication as she was trying to describe which cart I could use to take my groceries out to the car in.
READ THE POSTOttawa August 20, 201. Our very first stop on our adventure was to a RV park called Recreationland just outside of Ottawa. We were planning to go into the city on Saturday to explore and I had looked up info about parking in the city. It seemed like there were lots of places that offered free parking on Saturday and Sunday, or we thought we could find a paid parking spot.
READ THE POSTOur Maiden Voyage July 22, 2016 was the day we had to be all packed up and moved out of our house. Eric and I were so proud of how well we had done purging all of our worldly goods and felt like we really had only the necessities left. As we started to take truck loads of stuff over to the trailer we quickly realized that we might have to do a little better.
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