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Category: Stories from the road

  • Already The End Of Our Travels?

    Already The End Of Our Travels?

    We mention our love of coffee quite often in our tales. A good cup to start the day isn’t just a preference, it’s an imperative to a successful day (especially for me). Our method of choice is the humble French press, a small ritual that gives even the most ordinary mornings purpose and intention. When you live full-time on the road, these things matter.

    There are, however, many things Chris and I have learned the hard way in our endeavor as full-time Bus owners. Some lessons come gently. Others arrive with far less grace.

    I say all this because on a seemingly uneventful evening—fresh off our PA Wilds motorcycle adventure—we began the familiar process of packing up and preparing to move on to the next destination. This includes one of the least glamorous parts of RV life: emptying the grey and black water tanks. It’s an absolutely unsexy routine, but one that is necessary.

    As I tidied up the inside of the camper, I could hear Chris outside through the open window. Grunting. Muttering. A few choice expletives carried on the night air. There was some rustling, then sudden silence. A moment later, more noises—but it was dark, and all I could see were shifting shadows moving along the side of the rig and the occasional beam of light from his head lamp flashing through the window.

    Then Chris hollers, “Can you come out here quick! Oh, and bring your phone!”

    Confused and slightly concerned, I slipped on my sandals, hurried down the three steps, and ran around to the other side of the camper. I barely had time to register the scene. Chris was crouched beside the open tank valves, the unattached sewer hose in one hand and a long, thin stick in the other.

    “I think something settled at the bottom of the grey tank and it’s blocked,” he muttered, prodding the entrance with his trusty stick.

    And then all hell broke loose.

    The dam inside the tank gave way without warning. A sudden rush of foul, murky water erupted as Chris scrambled to get the hose properly seated back onto the outlet—just a second too late. Chaos, panic, and a fair amount of shouting followed.

    It didn’t take long to figure out who the culprit was.

    Every morning, while washing dishes, I’d been casually dumping the used coffee grounds from our French press down the sink. Normally, we empty our tanks every couple of days, depending on usage. But this time, we’d been gone on the bikes and we hadn’t emptied our tanks for a full week. Those innocent little grounds had time to sink, settle, and eventually solidify at the bottom of the grey tank—forming a perfect, immovable plug. Lesson learned.

    Is This The End?

    Our travels were briefly disrupted by a deadline: we needed to be back in Minnesota. Not because we were finished with the Bus adventures, but because Chris needed to attend the yearly all-staff in-person company meeting. This gave us the chance to see friends and reclaim a bit of normalcy in our social calendar. Truthfully, full-time travel comes with its own set of challenges. It can feel isolating when your usual support system is scattered across the map.

    There was a part of us that wondered if we could stay and settle for a while. But a stronger part whispered about the next destination, insisting, we’re not done yet. There were still too many places to see. And, practically speaking, Minnesota is not a state you want to spend interminable winter months in a poorly insulated camper—one not built to withstand below-freezing temperatures. Unless it’s winterized and entirely devoid of inhabitants.

    So, from Pennsylvania, we pointed the Bus west and committed to three long days of driving. Up until then, most of our overnights had been spent tucked into truck stops or highway rest areas. Somewhere along the way, we heard about Harvest Hosts: a membership program for RVers that offers free overnight stays at unique locations like wineries and farms. Instead of traditional campgrounds, you park on private property and support the host by purchasing their goods or services. For an annual fee, you gain access to a network of places that feel quieter, more personal, and deeply rooted in local life.

    In my tendency to romanticize life’s simple moments, I was thrilled when we signed up and I got to choose our very first stop. My brain immediately went to “cute” and “fluffy.” Naturally, we headed to a sheep farm.

    We settled in for the evening and were lucky enough to receive a small tour of the family’s barn, where we met sheep and goats and learned what it takes to be a competitive show sheep participant in 4H programs. Our parking spot overlooked a wide open field. In the morning, we watched the sun rise as we drank our coffee, and I made the acquaintance of the host family’s cat, aptly named S’mores.

    It was one of those tranquil mornings you know is fleeting. The kind you savor because you’re unlikely to ever be in this exact place again. Yet in that moment, there was nothing but joy and gratitude for being there at all, and for choosing this life that keeps placing us in unexpected pockets of quiet beauty.

    Honey, We’re Home!

    We arrived at Chris’ parents’ homestead in early October and tucked ourselves behind the pole barn, right at the edge of their forested property. We have electricity but no water, which means that any official bathroom or shower situation requires a brisk walk to the house. Or, for those of us who insist on drinking a cup of warm tea right before bed, there’s the less official option: the ever-so-elegant crouch in the dark, under a sky full of stars, hoping a porch light doesn’t turn on at the worst possible moment.

    You could call this the original glamping experience.

     Fall, for many of us, is that perfect in-between season: cool mornings, warmer afternoons, and just enough chill in the air to justify an extra layer. The foliage turns even the shortest drive into something spectacular, and nearly every outdoor activity suddenly becomes more enjoyable. In my opinion, it’s the best time of year, full stop.

    It’s also peak acorn season.

    All night long, acorns rain down onto the steel roof of the barn like nature’s own percussion section. The first night is… not restful. Loud, startling, and deeply confusing. At various moments, it sounds like hail, gunfire, or a very aggressive squirrel with a vendetta. It takes us far too long to realize what’s happening outside, and even longer to accept that our only real solution is to close the bedroom window and hope that most of the acorns will have fallen from the tree that night and the next nights will be better.

    As if nature hadn’t already made her point, we also arrive right in the middle of Minnesota’s prime archery hunting season. Something Chris has been FOMO-ing about all summer. The thought of missing hunting season for the first time in what feels like his entire adult life had cast a noticeable shadow over our travels. Now, with the woods alive and the season open, his mood shifts almost immediately. Despite the acorns, the nightly walks to the bathroom, and the questionable bedtime tea habits, all feels right in his world again.

    For me, being back home also means returning to the barn. Riding and caring for horses has been a constant passion for decades, even back in Canada. There is something deeply cathartic about being around horses, something grounding in a way few other things do. Riding familiar trails, reconnecting with friends, and spending long days outside brings an unmistakable sense of joy to my life.

    Barn friends are a phenomenon all their own. We all range in ages and life stages, yet are bound together by a shared love of horses. Since I started spending time there a little over a year ago, my friend Abbie, who owns the barn, has generously let me borrow one of her horses. Sierra (an opinionated chestnut mare) has become a steady source of happiness and equine therapy since moving to the States and beginning a new chapter of life. She has opinions, she makes them known, and she’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

    During one weekend, I’m invited to join a group of gals for a trail ride about an hour north, and it turns into one of those perfect fall days. We ride through forests carpeted in yellow leaves, listening to hooves crunch rhythmically beneath us. Laughter echoes as we splash through a few water crossings, waving to other riding groups as we pass. It’s simple, joyful, and fleeting in the way all the best moments seem to be.

    To Diesel Or Not To Diesel, That Is The Question.

    While we’re in the area, we decide it’s imperative that we start seriously looking for a diesel truck. Because let’s not forget: we very quickly learned the hard way what climbing hills in a gas truck pulling a fifth-wheel feels like.

    As the self-proclaimed Chief Financial Budgeter of this endeavor, I track our expenses by category. Fuel is easily one of our biggest line items, especially when we’re covering long stretches of highway. We feel that cost acutely the moment the terrain gets hilly. With plans to head into the mountains out West next summer, the idea of doing that with our current setup feels daunting—particularly given how much we struggled in comparatively mild hill country.

    Now, let me preface this by saying: I know nothing about trucks. What I do know is that the idea of spending time in a dealership so soon after buying our last truck feels unpleasantly close. We should have done more research. We should have bought the trailer before purchasing the vehicle meant to tow it. We should have… Yes, yes. Hindsight is always 20/20. Like the other lessons on this journey, we learned it in the field.

    Dealerships are also not my natural habitat. I have to actively remind myself to smile, otherwise I look completely unapproachable. “Fix your face,” Chris whispers under his breath as we walk in. Fair enough. I adjust accordingly.

    Before we even walk into the lot, we’ve written down very specific criteria. First and foremost (and this somehow confuses most salespeople) we have a budget. A strict budget. One we are not compromising on. And since we’re already doing this, why not go for the full American experience: a one-ton diesel truck with a ten-speed transmission. Ask me if I knew there were different kinds of transmissions before this process. I absolutely did not.

    After a few test drives, a handful of text exchanges, and several near-misses involving trucks with swapped transmissions of questionable origin, we finally settle on a new-to-us diesel that checks the important boxes. The good news: it already has the puck system integrated into the frame for attaching our fifth-wheel hitch. The bad news: it’s a different system than the one on our previous truck, which means we now need a new fifth-wheel adapter from the RV parts store.

    Chris gets his hands dirty installing the new adapter himself, adding yet another skill to the ever-growing roster of RV life competencies. One more lesson learned, one more piece of the puzzle in place—and one step closer to being ready for those western mountains.

    Routine Maintenance and The Case Of A Stubborn Wife

    While still home, we take advantage of the time and space to knock out some routine maintenance on the Bus. The top priority is a UV treatment for the roof. One of those preventative tasks that isn’t very exciting, but goes a long way toward preserving the roof material and, ideally, avoiding leaks or a full replacement down the line.

    After a stop at the local RV shop for supplies, we grab a ladder, we climb up to inspect the roof. And wow. She is filthy. It’s hard to say what exactly accumulated over the last few months, but the surface is coated in a generous layer of grime that clearly didn’t get the memo about being low-maintenance.

    First order of business: a thorough cleaning. We fill a bucket with warm water and diluted dish soap and get to work. Chris tackles the large surface areas with a pressure washer, while I follow closely behind with a sponge, getting into the corners and around the seals—making sure everything is free of gunk before moving on. Once the roof is clean and dry, we apply the RV roof protectant, and Chris finishes up by inspecting all the window seals to see if any touch-ups are needed. By the end, the rig looks noticeably better, and we’re left with that deeply satisfying feeling that comes from crossing something important off the list.

    Being home also gives us the opportunity to address another ongoing issue: Asian beetles.

    For those unfamiliar, Asian beetles (they look like lady bugs) are common in Minnesota—especially after the soybean harvest. Supposedly beneficial in fields, come fall they become aggressive home invaders. They congregate on sunny windows, stain surfaces, occasionally bite, and generally act like they pay rent.

    I retrieve our vacuum from the storage unit and make it a ritual to vacuum them up at least once a day. They tend to emerge when the sun is out, clustering along windows and ceilings. It’s also a sobering reminder of just how… porous RV construction can be. Bugs find their way in through windows, vents, seams—places you didn’t even know existed.

    But I digress. The goal is simple: reduce their numbers.

    Spoiler alert: not all of them were vacuumed. To this day, months later, beetles still emerge from mysterious hiding places we cannot identify. Where they come from remains unknown. What is known is that they have fully committed to RV life whether we like it or not.

    Another important task on our ever-growing Bus upkeep list is flushing and treating the water tanks. It’s one of those preventative chores meant to keep sensors uncovered, lines clear, and unpleasant surprises to a minimum.

    We start with the black water tank and everything goes according to plan. There’s a clearly marked flush port, clear instructions, and one very important rule: the black tank valve must be open while flushing. Easy enough. The tank flushes cleanly and successfully. We’re feeling confident.

    Maybe too confident.

    With the black tank done, my mind immediately jumps to the grey water tank. After all, if we’re flushing tanks, shouldn’t we flush all the tanks? Especially considering the recent coffee-grounds incident. I am determined to get every last particle out of that system.

    At this point, the black tank valve is closed. Chris, sensing danger, warns me not to reconnect the water. I don’t fully understand why, so I move closer to inspect. He repeats himself. More firmly this time.

    I remain fixated.

    I reconnect the water anyway.

    It takes approximately four seconds for things to go very wrong.

    Water begins leaking onto the ground—definitely not part of the plan. We scramble. The hose is shut off, we rush inside the trailer, and that’s when we realize what happened: with the black tank valve closed, water pressure had nowhere to go. The pressure built up and blew out the water pressure regulator valve.

    Luckily, the damage is limited. The regulator is easily accessible behind the toilet, which is both convenient and humbling. I head back to the RV parts store, purchase the replacement part, and we get everything repaired without further incident.

    Another lesson learned.
    Another reminder that confidence in RV maintenance should always be paired with listening.
    And maybe—just occasionally—pausing before reconnecting the hose.

    How to Register Your Motorcycle: The Saga Continues

    At this point, I’m convinced that the saga of importing and registering my motorcycle has taken nearly as long and has required as many steps as obtaining my permanent resident status. Possibly more. There’s certainly irony here.

    According to my research, once your motorcycle is imported, getting a state license plate should be fairly straightforward. The internet, as usual, made it sound almost charming.

    Step 1: Clear U.S. Customs & ensure compliance.
    CHECK.

    Step 2: Gather Minnesota DMV documents (proof of sale, insurance, etc.).
    CHECK.

    Step 3: Visit a Minnesota License Center.
    Here I am. CHECK.

    Step 4: Submit documents, pay fees, receive plates and registration stickers immediately.
    Absolutely no CHECK.

    Reality arrives swiftly. Because I’m from a French-speaking province in Canada, some of my documents contain French words. This alone is enough to bring the front desk to a complete halt. I’m informed that before anything can proceed, I must have these documents translated by an approved translator.

    Additionally, I’m told I need the original registration paper associated with my Quebec license plate.

    I try to explain—calmly, politely—that Quebec’s system is now digital. There is no original paper. We don’t have a vehicle “title” in the way the U.S. does; it’s called a registration, and it exists as a digital document. I have printed it. This is the thing.

    Nope. Nothing they can do. Figure it out.

    I leave the building frustrated and defeated, genuinely surprised. I had assumed that border patrol and the actual importation of the motorcycle would be the hardest part of this process. Instead, here I am—so close to the finish line, yet once again stuck running endlessly on the hamster wheel of bureaucracy.

    When I share this story with a few people, I’m told this experience is… not uncommon. Apparently, this particular DMV has a reputation. The suggestion is simple: try the license center in the next town over. They’re supposedly nicer. More adaptable. Possibly human.

    Still, assuming I’ll need that translation regardless, I send my French-language insurance document to one of the approved translation companies on the provided list. The total? $95. FOR SIX WORDS.

    Fine.

    Meanwhile, I embark on a side quest to contact the Quebec Road Safety Authority  to see if there’s any way to have a physical registration card mailed to my parents’ address, who could then forward it to me in the States. Every instruction loops me back to the website, where I can download and print the same PDF I already have.

    Yes. I know.
    But the DMV wants something tangible.

    Oh and Canada Post is on strike at this time. So even if this magical paper existed, who knows when it would arrive. Joy.

    After about a week of attempting to rationalize with the idea that government systems surely know what they’re doing, I lose patience. I gather my documents and drive to the next town’s DMV, fully prepared for another round of disappointment.

    I walk in.
    The bell dings.
    And I’m greeted with… a wave? A smile?

    Could it be?

    I step up to the counter and explain my situation. What I want to do. Where I’m coming from. And then I hear the words I never thought I would:

    “Absolutely, no problem.”

    She even comments on how ridiculous it was that I’d been asked to translate six words when the document’s purpose is painfully obvious. Digital-only registrations? Completely normal in other states and countries. My printed PDF? Perfectly acceptable.

    Well, I’ll be.

    Within minutes, my paperwork is processed. And then—just like that—I’m handed a license plate on the spot.

    And with that, we can officially close the extended case file entitled: “How to Import and Register a Canadian-Bought Motorcycle in the United States.” 

    Thanks for tagging along.

    The Delicate Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

    I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I am not particularly skilled at diagnosing mechanical issues based on sound. If my vehicle begins making an unfamiliar noise, my instinct is not investigation, it’s volume adjustment. If the noise becomes harder to hear, then clearly the problem has been addressed.

    This philosophy has worked just fine for me until now.

    One weekend, my brother-in-law takes my bike out for a short ride. He returns and immediately informs me that my chain is making an odd noise. I acknowledge this information in the only way I know how: politely, and without action.

    A closer inspection—this time by Chris, while he’s tightening the chain on his own bike—reveals the truth. My chain isn’t just noisy; it’s well past its service life. The wear is obvious. Stretch, uneven tension, and teeth on the sprockets that have seen better days. This is not preventative. This is overdue maintenance.

    So the list grows: new chain and new sprockets.

    While we’re already elbow-deep in motorcycle upkeep, we decide to revisit another unresolved issue: the persistent squeak coming from my rear brake. Previously, we had replaced the brake pads, which had changed nothing except our optimism. This time, we escalate. The rear disc rotor gets swapped out, because surely this is the logical conclusion to the problem-solving process.

    It is not.

    Despite fresh pads, a new rotor, and perfectly functional braking performance, the bike continues to squeak every time I apply the rear brake. Consistently. Reliably. Almost reassuringly.

    The bike stops. The braking force is solid. The noise remains.

    At this point, we’ve decided to interpret the squeak not as a defect, but as feedback: a reminder that maintenance has occurred. And most importantly—when I press the brake, the motorcycle slows down. Which, from a technical standpoint, is the primary objective.

    Hit the road, Jack

    It’s been a full and meaningful four weeks parked back in Minnesota. The days passed quickly, filled with good food, conversations, and the kind of family time that settles you in a way the road doesn’t always allow. We tackled the practical things and quietly squared away the technical loose ends that make the next leg of travel feel possible rather than stressful.

    As the month went on, the temperatures began their steady descent. Nights dipped to freezing, and our sleep setup evolved accordingly: extra blankets layered on, an oil heater borrowed and strategically placed, and the growing awareness that our camper, charming as it is, was not designed for prolonged Midwestern winters.

    Still, we lingered. We savored the meals shared around familiar tables, the easy laughter, the comfort of being near people who know us well. There’s something soothing about pausing long enough to feel rooted again, even if just temporarily.

    But the road has a way of calling, and this time it’s calling us south. Toward warmer air and mornings that don’t require negotiating with frozen hoses or multiple layers of fleece. We leave Minnesota grateful for the time, the memories and ready, once again, to point the Bus toward the next horizon.

    Warmer ground awaits.

  • Marathon Hikes & Surprise Seafood Feast

    Marathon Hikes & Surprise Seafood Feast

    Maine and Nova Scotia. It’s surprising how two coastal regions along the same Atlantic stretch can be so different. The very air tells two stories. 

    In Maine, the salt in the breeze is clean, briny, and threaded with the faint scent of seaweed sunning on the shore. It’s the kind of classic “ocean smell” people picture when they dream of the coast. The contrast is small but unmistakable. Maine’s air feels gentler, mellowed.

    Driving along, the coast reveals another set of differences. Maine’s houses have that iconic New England charm with weathered cedar shake siding, dark shutters, and an understated color palette shaped by storms, salt, and tradition. Many homes feature radiant “sun face” wall ornaments—technically called sunburst wall plaques—watching over wide porches. According to Wikipedia, they symbolize warmth, energy, happiness, and positivity, often inspired by ancient solar deities and cultural beliefs in good luck and abundance. It’s a look that feels old-school, nostalgic even, especially as the road winds toward each mountain peak.

    Long Live The Daily Hike

    When one gets in the habit of hiking, it brings you into an almost addictive headspace. Where the streak must be continued. Every day feels incomplete without at least a few miles on a trail. Your cardio gets better, your balance improves, and even the hiking sticks start to feel like extensions of your own rhythm.

    With time, you begin to understand the personality of different trails—how “moderate” can mean anything from a pleasant forest walk to a full quad workout; how elevation gain written on a map never truly reflects how steep a climb feels when your breathing quickens. There were a few hikes I had planned that ended up taking much longer than expected. Some even pushed us past sunset, turning into careful nighttime descents lit only by headlamps.

    Those after-dark hikes were a first for me. The forest shifts at night—the temperature drops, the birds quiet, and every rustle feels amplified. My knees, already a bit weak and jumbled from hours of stepping over roots and rocks, protested with every uneven stretch. The already difficult task of placing each foot over obstacles rather than into them became even more challenging as the sun slipped behind the tree line.

    But there was something strangely calming about it too. With our headlamps cutting narrow beams through the darkness, the world shrank into a tunnel of light. Step, plant, breathe. Step, plant, breathe. Mile after mile, we made our way back to the truck—slowly, steadily, and somehow feeling more alive than we had at the start. Especially when the unmistakable howl of coyotes echoed in the distance.

    Saturdays Are For Long Hikes

    Then came the Saturday that will forever be known as THE LONG HIKE.

    I had planned what I thought would be a challenging but reasonable nine-mile route. Nine miles didn’t sound like much, mostly because my brain still insists on converting everything into kilometers and convincing me it’s shorter. 

    The logic was simple: We had a full weekend to rack up miles and conquer peaks. And for some reason, it had evolved into this unspoken competition with ourselves—pack in as much as possible, squeeze every ounce out of daylight. So much for nature’s calming influence.

    As we approached the trailhead I’d pinned on our map, two crucial factors had been conveniently ignored: the time and the day. We left for the trail at 10 a.m. on a beautifully sunny Saturday in Acadia National Park. Peak weather, peak season, peak foolishness. Naturally, the parking lot I aimed for was completely full.

    Time for Plan B.

    We kept driving up the winding road along the base of the mountains, searching for any sliver of available space. The next lot was also full—but there were cars neatly lined along the shoulder of the road. Perfect. We joined the single-file pilgrimage, creeping forward until we hit a stark sign that read: “NO PARKING BEYOND THIS POINT.” Because we are eternal optimists, we tried our best to wiggle our big truck behind the sign, but also dangerously close to the front bumper of the car behind us.The front cab and hood of the truck were definitely flirting with illegal territory, while the bed of the truck was defiantly sticking out. If you squinted, we were good. Technically. Kind of. 

    As it turns out, nine miles was actually fourteen miles once the full route revealed itself—twenty-two kilometers. That mathematical betrayal hit us only after the fact.

    We began with the famous Precipice Trail, which turned out to be exactly what the name promises, with absolutely no false advertising. The route climbs almost straight up, rising over iron rungs bolted into the cliff face, threading narrow ledges that press your spine against granite and dare you to look down. The views are spectacular. Every downward glance delivered a pleasant surge of vertigo and the reminder that gravity is a very real concept.

    As we continued our quest for spectacular views atop mountain peaks, we had the privilege of hiking up various types of terrain. Among them, the rock staircases varied wildly—some neatly arranged like nature’s version of a gym circuit, others complete free-for-all scrambles. We followed the painted blazes, trusting that they knew where the trail was supposed to go even when our legs questioned why we were going there. Each step was a fresh reminder that glutes and calves are both heroic and dramatically petty when pushed too far.

    The trail stretched on far longer than expected. Every section seemed to open into yet another—another ridge, another scramble, another false sense of nearing the end. Hours passed. Eight of them, in fact. By the time we emerged from the last segment, every muscle in my body was trembling. But the vistas were indescribable, the kind that make you stop mid-sentence. The fellow hikers we met along the way were wonderfully kind with little bursts of camaraderie. Quick smiles, encouraging words, that unspoken “we’re all in this together” energy that happens when strangers become temporary teammates.

    One man, cheerful and sweat-soaked like the rest of us, recommended a brewery near our campground. “Great pizza. Great beer,” he said. “If you’re into that kind of thing.”
    Well. He spoke directly to our souls.

    The scenery almost erased the discomfort (almost) until we climbed back into the truck and my legs staged a mutiny. The photos taken that day capture the entire emotional arc: hopeful excitement, mild concern, worsening concern, full existential questioning, then the hollow-eyed perseverance of someone who just wants a sandwich and a soft surface.

    And while we’re on the subject of photos—how do influencers look effortlessly radiant at the summit? I look like I’m molting. The moment the incline begins, I turn into a sweaty, frizzy, tomato-tinted creature that no filter can save. Any action shot of me requires distance. Dramatic distance.

    That’s me. Clearly in the “questioning my life choices” phase of the hike.

    The final leg of the journey wasn’t even on the trail—it was the long walk along the pavement back to the truck, since to Precipice was a one-way climb. Every passing car was a temptation. A tiny part of my brain whispered, “Flag them down. Hitch a ride. No one will judge.” But then the stubborn part kicked in, and we marched on, fueled by the promise of beer and something carb-loaded. My internal mantra became a chant: pizza and beer, pizza and beer, pizza and beer. Sometimes survival looks like determination; sometimes it looks like food-based affirmations.

    By the time we finally spotted our truck in the thinning row of cars, we remembered our questionable parking job. A group of hikers ahead of us noticed too—they paused, laughed, tried to take a picture. Chris, being the embodiment of Minnesota Nice, shouted a joking “Hey! That’s ours!” They burst into laughter, relieved to find the renegade parking belonged to someone whose day had clearly been as long as theirs.

    Like us, they were coming to the end of a long day, some of them barefoot now because their shoes had surrendered earlier. Before I could blink, Chris offered them a ride to their campground. Five of them piled into the truck bed like a scene straight out of a feel-good movie. I could hear their laughter trailing behind us, wind tossing their voices around. When we reached their stop, one of them gave two taps on the roof (classic signal) before hopping out with heartfelt gratitude. In moments like that, the world feels small in a good way.

    And then, finally, the reward: Fogtown Brewery. Live music drifting through warm air, tiny pixie lights hanging above the patio like glowing fireflies, the smell of pizza that could revive the dead. We devoured slices, sipped cold drinks, and let the day settle into memory.

    That meal tasted like victory. Like exhaustion. Like pure contentment.
    It tasted exactly like THE LONG HIKE deserved.

    The next day’s planned hike was quickly forgotten and instead we decided to take a very leisurely bicycle ride on carriage road, where we gave our bodies some well deserved rest, but also kept ourselves moving to keep the streak going.

    The Particularity of Our Campground

    One thing we quickly learned about campgrounds in Maine is that the calendar runs a little differently—especially when it comes to Halloween. Apparently, Halloween happens in September. Not officially, of course, but in practice. And honestly? As a super-fan of anything spooky, eerie, pumpkin-themed, or glow-in-the-dark, it felt like a cosmic gift.

    The first clue was subtle: a few pumpkin lights strung around a camper, a witch’s hat perched suspiciously on a picnic table. At first, I thought people were simply getting an early start. But then the decorations ramped up—fast. Campsites transformed into full-blown Halloween displays overnight. Motion-activated skeletons jerked to life as we walked past, their red eyes glowing like something out of a low-budget horror film. Ghosts swayed in the trees. A fog machine hissed to life in the evenings, rolling smoky tendrils across the gravel like a scene from a haunted carnival.

    By the second night, it became clear this wasn’t just enthusiastic decorating—it was a tradition. Entire families returned each year specifically for “Campground Halloween,” a weekend of spooky lights, potlucks, costume parades, and friendly attempts to outdo each other. And honestly? It was magical. Something about being surrounded by twinkling lights, cackling animatronics, and grown adults who take their skeleton displays very seriously made the whole place feel like a cozy, festive micro-universe.

    Maine Hospitality Comes in a Bowl of Mussels

    On our final evening, the universe handed us yet another surprise—this time in the form of food. One of our neighbors, who had been out fishing the day before, knocked on our door holding a bucket the size of a kid’s Halloween candy pail. Inside: mussels. A lot of mussels. Apparently, he had caught far more than he and his family could eat and figured we might be up for a fresh seafood feast.

    Cue me speed-scrolling through Pinterest for a recipe while trying to remember what pots we actually had with us. Remember a few chapters back when I mentioned that we packed minimally? Well, that included bringing only three out of our four pots and pans. Thankfully, one of them happened to be the biggest pot we owned, and it just—just—fit enough mussels for two people.

    The cooking process turned out to be wonderfully simple: clean, steam, and serve. I melted an embarrassing amount of butter, added garlic (for culinary confidence), and crossed my fingers. In minutes, the shells opened, releasing that salty, ocean-fresh aroma that instantly makes you feel like you’re doing something right.

    We sat outside at our little campsite table, surrounded by the glow of Halloween lights and the faint echo of a distant fog machine, digging into a bowl of mussels that tasted like pure East Coast charm. Chris slowly acquired the taste—hesitant at first, then increasingly enthusiastic as he realized dipping anything into butter and garlic is practically cheating.

    By the end, we were full, happy, and deeply grateful. Not just for the food, but for the generosity of strangers and the small, unexpected moments that make travel feel less like being on the road and more like being part of a community.

    Little Motorcycle Rides in Maine

    During our three-week stay, we didn’t end up venturing onto any off-road trails with the bikes—something we usually chase whenever we’re in a new region. But honestly, the paved routes around Acadia National Park, the Schoodic Peninsula, and even Deer Island had their own kind of magic. Sometimes a calm ride is exactly what the moment calls for.

    Riding through Acadia National Park feels like gliding through a moving postcard. The Park Loop Road twists along rugged cliffs and dips into stretches of dense forest where the scent of pine becomes almost heady. Every few miles the trees open up to reveal glittering blue ocean, granite ledges, and distant islands that look like they’re floating. Even at lower speeds, the road’s gentle curves give that satisfying lean that makes a motorcycle feel like the perfect way to experience the landscape. There’s a peaceful rhythm to it—uphill, coastal view, downhill, forest shade, repeat.

    The Schoodic Peninsula was a completely different vibe—quieter, moodier, and more remote. The roads here are wide and smooth, with long stretches where you hardly see another vehicle. It’s the part of Acadia that most people skip, which makes the ride feel like a secret you’ve stumbled upon. Black volcanic-looking rock lines the shoreline, waves constantly crashing against it. We stopped to enjoy the scenery and were greeted by grey seals in the distance. Just a small part of their heads were sticking out of the water. Their eyes followed our movements as we found a comfortable rock to sit on and quietly take in our surroundings. Riding with the sound of the waves in the background, and the salty mist occasionally brushing your face shield, made the whole loop feel cinematic. It’s a place where your mind slows down and your shoulders drop a little without you even noticing.

    Our favorite unexpected ride was Deer Island. The route takes you through small fishing towns, over bridges that hover above quiet inlets, and past clusters of weathered boats anchored close to shore. It’s the kind of ride where you follow the road simply because it’s beautiful, not because there’s a particular destination waiting at the end. The island itself has a slower heartbeat—calm roads, gentle hills, and scenery that feels untouched. No rush. No noise. Just the hum of the engine and the soft roll of the Atlantic in the background.

    Even without the thrill of off-roading, those weeks of riding were memorable for their easy pace. Each route offered something a little different—ocean views, coastal cliffs, fishing villages, forests—but all of them shared the same quiet, grounding charm. Sometimes the best rides aren’t the most technical ones; they’re the ones that simply let you breathe, look around, and enjoy the place you’re in.

    And just like that, our stay in Maine came to an end. Between marathon hikes, coastal motorcycle rides, and unexpected seafood feasts, it’s safe to say the state kept us well-entertained. Tired… but entertained.

    But the road doesn’t slow down for long. With the Bus hitched and the bikes strapped in, we’re pointing our compass toward Pennsylvania next—ready to trade ocean views for forest trails and ride the Backcountry Discovery Route loop we’ve been eyeing for months.

    New terrain. New stories. Same two wandering souls.

  • Unexpected Offerings To The Border Gods

    Unexpected Offerings To The Border Gods

    Our final evening in Pictou crept in quietly, the kind of soft Maritime dusk that makes everything feel a little nostalgic. 

    We’d spent the last weeks slowly settling into this campground. Learning its rhythms, its people, and that signature sulfured salty breeze.

    It was during one of those weeks that we met Kathy and Rob, our next-door neighbors who rumbled into their site with the kind of entrance you feel before you see it. 

    One moment the campground was peaceful; the next, the ground trembled like a small, polite earthquake. We peeked out the window and there it was: their massive semi-truck cab towing their fifth-wheel. It looked like something capable of hauling a mountain.

    Over the days that followed, we got to know them. Two warm, seasoned travelers with endless stories. Rob, a retired long-haul truck driver, let us climb into the cab one afternoon.

    The cockpit was a sea of switches, screens, and dials that looked honestly as complex as that of an airplane. He walked us through them with the ease of someone who had crossed countries more times than most people cross intersections. At their picnic table, he shared the gold we didn’t know we needed: border-crossing advice. What to declare, what to toss, what could cause delays. By the time we were finished, Kathy had relieved us of most of our fruits and veggies, saving us from an unexpected audience with customs officers (or so we thought).

    Morning came quickly. Our last one in Nova Scotia. The Bus all packed up, we were mentally prepared for the next chapter of our travels as we headed toward Maine. 

    The weather was calm, the kind of steady that lulls you into thinking maybe today will be smooth. Mistake.

    Just as we fired up the truck and started pulling out of the site, Chris decided to check the tire pressure “one last time.” Wouldn’t you know it: The head of a nail was sticking out of one of the tires. Perfect. Exactly the type of suspenseful plot twist we love to experience right before a long drive ahead. 

    Since when had it been there? Who knows. And because one problem is never lonely, two of the trailer tires looked a little low as well. Fantastic.

    Before leaving the campground, we stopped by the main office to say goodbye to Cameron—our unofficial “8th wonder of the world.” His red truck was parked out front, and he was as reliably present as he had been during our stay. To us, Cameron had become the heartbeat of the place, the kind of person who greets you like an old friend within minutes of meeting. His hospitality set a new benchmark for campgrounds everywhere. We joke now about the “Cameron Meter of Hospitality” we carry with us. Spoiler alert: So far no other campground host has even come close.

    Once we finally hit the highway, we made it as far as the town of Au Lac, New Brunswick before deciding to top up the tires. A big truck stop appeared on the left, and we naturally assumed the next exit curved that way. It did not. The highway looped in the opposite direction, sending us down a cloverleaf detour while Rascal Flatts shouted “Life is a Highway” through the speakers like it was mocking our choices. Ten bonus minutes added to the side quest before we found our way back.

    At the gas station, Chris pulled up beside the air pump. A universal confidence-draining machine that transforms fully functioning adults into confused teenagers. No two pumps are ever the same, and this one had mystery energy. I watched from the passenger seat as he fiddled with the controls, then noticed a man approaching him. They talked briefly—lips moving, gestures evident—and then the man ran off. Just sprinted away. Okay then.

    Moments later he returned carrying a big red Milwaukee box like a hero in the final act of a movie. 

    Curiosity won, so I hopped out and walked around. Turns out his name was André, and he was not only incredibly kind, but also a Milwaukee super fan. He had the most impressive portable air compressor we’d ever seen. With pride, he demonstrated how it worked, walking us through its features like a brand ambassador. No jokes—if Milwaukee ever stumbles across this story, they should find André immediately and hire him on the spot. He even proudly wore a Milwaukee baseball cap, I’m not even exaggerating.

    (And yes, that exact air pump has been sitting in our online shopping cart ever since. Still waiting for it to go on sale.)

    How to Successfully Import Your Motorcycle… but Have Your Potatoes Confiscated

    Because honestly, what travel story ever goes exactly the way you imagine?

    After a few hours on the road, we began approaching the border crossing into Maine. That’s always when your brain decides to play “Did we forget something?” on repeat. We pulled our passports out, double-checked our paperwork, and eased into the lineup. Thankfully it was Labor Day, which meant the crossing was steady but not chaotic.

    We rolled up to the tiny booth, handed over our documents, and answered the first question:
    “Anything to declare?”

    I reply, “Yes! My motorcycle, which needs to be imported.”
    So far, so good.

    Then came the second question:
    “Any food in the vehicle?”

    I confidently listed the easy items: Three bananas… a grapefruit…
    And then my mind went entirely blank.
    What do we have? Where did it come from? What even counts as food at this point?

    The agent gave a small, polite smile, waved us through, and told us to park and head into the customs building for a secondary check. Perfect. Because this day needed additional suspense to spice up a border crossing.

    Inside, we were greeted by a very kind officer who began the Great Food Review of 2025. We told him we’d given most of our produce away before leaving the campground, but weren’t certain what technically needed to be declared. With saint-like patience, he pulled out a printed checklist and began running through it with the gravitas of someone about to reveal whether we could keep our snacks.

    Citrus? Not allowed.
    Okay, goodbye lone grapefruit.
    Bananas? Surprisingly fine.
    Potatoes?
    Ah. Trouble.

    Potatoes from PEI were a no-go because of soil concerns. I informed him that ours came from a grocery store in Nova Scotia but had no idea where they were originally grown. “Not a problem, he said.  I’ll inspect them.” (Which is not a sentence I thought I’d ever hear at a border crossing.)

    Frozen meat? Approved.
    We started to relax.

    Then he asked the question that froze my soul:
    “Are you transporting any live plants?”

    Anything but that.

    We were.
    I had my little basil plant and more importantly my pothos. The very first plant I got when I moved to the United States. A plant with memories. A plant with personality. A plant I had successfully kept alive through multiple moves, a bus conversion, and my own questionable watering schedule. This was not just a plant; this was a green, leafy emotional support companion.

    Chris saw my expression crumble and jumped in, asking if there were any workarounds—any permit, any exception, any universe where my plants could stay with me. But unless I had proof they originally came from the U.S., there was no option. Soil and pests are a serious deal.

    Then, in a moment of pure plant-parent desperation, I asked,
    “Will the plants be… rehoused? Taken care of?”
    (Yes, I realize they are plants. But also: they are my plants.)

    The agent hesitated—clearly weighing how to give an honest answer without making me cry in the lobby—and I followed his gaze to a large dumpster behind him.
    Oh no.
    No no no.

    While the plant-confiscation mission was underway, the motorcycle importation process shifted gears. Literally. The importation agent asked me to bring him inside the camper so he could inspect the compliance stickers directly on my bike. As we stepped inside, we crossed paths with the food-inspection agent, who was now half-buried in our fridge, making sure everything left on board was approved for entry into the U.S.

    Without looking up he asked, “Where are the potatoes stored?”
    Top left cabinet, I pointed.
    He opened it, pulled out the bag, and confirmed the verdict: they were indeed from PEI. Into the confiscation bag they went, their fate sealed.

    Meanwhile, the motorcycle inspection continued. A few minutes passed as the importation agent crouched beside the bike, locating each required sticker and checking off his list. Once everything was verified, he looked around the space, and broke into a grin.

    “This is a really nice trailer,” he said. “Is it new?”

    And just like that, I started explaining that no, it definitely wasn’t new, and launched into the origin story of our renovations. Floors, paint, cabinets, the chaos and triumphs of converting a fifth-wheel into our home on wheels. Before long, I’m sharing our blog with him, giving a quick tour of the “before and afters,” turning the border-inspection moment into an unexpected mini open-house.

    Back into the customs office, he stamped each page with slow, satisfying precision.
    THUMP.
    Next page.
    THUMP.
    It was the kind of bureaucratic rhythm that feels weirdly reassuring. Like yes, this is happening, this is official.

    By the time we were done, the motorcycle was successfully imported, our bananas survived, and everything else—grapefruit, potatoes, and my beloved plants—had been claimed by the border gods.

    Not quite the seamless crossing we’d imagined… But definitely one we’ll never forget.

    Welcome to Maine

    Off we went, back into the States and heading toward our next temporary home in Ellsworth, Maine. We chose this destination as we had wanted to explore Acadia National Park properly. We’d driven briefly through Maine and we’d promised ourselves that we would come back to hike it one day. That day had finally arrived.

    We chose Timberland Acres RV Park for one very strategic reason: proximity. It was close enough to several trailheads without plunging us into the busy and overly touristy atmosphere of Bar Harbor. When we pulled in, the size of the campground struck us immediately. Rows of rigs stretched in every direction, almost like a small movable city. Fortunately, our site was tucked in front of a set of trees, offering a little pocket of shade that softened the midday heat. It was a small detail but it made settling in much more comfortable.

    Once we settled, I drove to the main visitor center at Acadia National Park to get our entrance pass. What started as an in and out transaction, quickly turned into a travel-changing purchase when we acquired the America the Beautiful annual pass. With how often we planned to visit national parks, it felt like the smartest choice for the year ahead.

    The visitor center was about thirty minutes from the campground, and a quick look at the park map showed that several trailheads were nearby. Between the official map and the AllTrails app, I started planning our daily mini adventures. Chris finishes work around 4:30, so we still had a couple of hours of daylight each day to squeeze in a short hike. The challenge was finding routes that would not overwhelm me. My fitness level lags behind Chris’, so I was searching for routes that were beautiful but manageable. I figured if we did a small hike every evening, I would unlock a new level of cardio in no time.

    Of course, our first attempt did not go according to plan. AllTrails indicated the trailhead was in a specific spot, but when we arrived there was no parking area and no clear indication that it was an official start. We drove a little farther and found a designated parking lot, but it belonged to a completely different route. We abandoned our original plan and chose a safer option near Eagle lake. The loop was mostly flat and slightly rocky. It was not strenuous and offered beautiful views. 

    We quickly learned it is a multi use path that is also popular with gravel cyclists, something that we would definitely use on future visits.

    By the end of our three weeks, we had completed an impressive amount of hiking. We reached nineteen of Acadia’s thirty-two peaks and logged just over forty miles. Not bad for a mix of weekend and after-work adventures.

    What truly made the hikes unforgettable, however, were the forests themselves. Towering cedar trees lined many of the trails, their bark patterned like fingerprints, each one unique. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor. The air smelled faintly of pine and damp earth, a crisp, clean scent that seemed to slow time as we walked. Alongside, the cedars, maples, birches, and spruce added layers of color and texture, while patches of ferns, moss, and wildflowers created a soft, green carpet beneath our feet. It felt almost mystical; quiet and secluded except for the occasional bird call or the rustle of leaves in the wind. Walking among these noble giants, I finally understood the appeal of Tolkien’s lengthy forest descriptions in The Lord of the Rings. I used to scoff at the detail, but now I see it—these forests are magical enough to warrant every word. I should really give those chapters another read.

    At every peak, Chris and I took a moment to pause, sit, and enjoy a small snack, usually a peanut butter flavored Cliff Bar, while admiring the views around us. From those heights, we could see hidden harbors glinting in the sunlight, distant mountain tops layered in shades of green and blue, and on the evenings we hiked late, spectacular sunsets painted the sky in shades of pinks, oranges, and purples. 

    These pauses became a ritual, a way to mark our progress, soak in the scenery, and let the quiet majesty of Acadia sink in. The combination of challenging trails, lush forests, and breathtaking vistas made each hike not just an adventure, but a deeply immersive experience in one of the most beautiful corners of the East Coast.

    Acadia quickly became one of our favorite stops of this journey. The landscape is rugged, demanding, and rewarding, and we left knowing there was so much more still waiting for us to discover.

    Top of mountain Bald Peak in Acadia National Park

    There’s Always a Learning Curve

    Because we’d gotten used to filling up our water jugs at the local grocery store back in Nova Scotia—because of the slightly sulfuric smell of the campground water—we just assumed this would be the routine everywhere we parked. 

    So when we started running low on drinking water in Ellsworth, I headed to the main office to ask whether they had a fill station or if I needed to make a run to the local grocery store or big-box place.

    I walk in and find four women: Two working behind the counter and two who look like they’re mid-conversation. I’m expecting some local wisdom or at least a straightforward answer. Never.

    The minute I ask about getting drinking water, all four heads swivel toward me with the same expression you’d give someone who just asked where gravity comes from.

    “Do you have a site here?” the woman behind the desk asks, her brow furrowed.

    “Yah!” I say, smiling because I still think this is going somewhere helpful.

    “And you’re asking about getting drinking water?” she repeats.

    “Yah…” I say again, slower this time.

    “Are you in a tent site?” she presses.

    (Where is she going with this? Why is this so difficult?)

    “No, we’re in a camper. On site 202,” I answer.

    She leans slightly forward. “Do you have a sink in your camper?”

    “Yes?” I reply, now fully confused. Is she serious?

    Suddenly one of the other women jumps in, all warmth and Southern charm: “Oh, bless your heart! You want to know if the water is potable.” She places extra emphasis on “potable” as if that will solve everything. “Yes, you can drink the water right from your sink. Now, we drive home and fill up our jugs there because we prefer the taste of our well water. But you can absolutely drink it here!”

    Great. Now I get to explain that we actually don’t have a “home” to drive to because the Bus is our home. But the good news is that we can drink straight from the faucet—something that absolutely did not require the level of interrogation I just endured.

    As I walk back to the bus, shaking my head and laughing at the surreal exchange, I also remember that while I’m not American, I’ve lived here long enough to know that when someone begins a sentence with “Bless your heart,” it’s rarely as sweet as it sounds.

    I could handle nail-studded tires, miles of steep trails, and border agents with more patience than me. But asking a simple question about water? Apparently, that was my Everest. At least now I know: in RV life, it’s never the mountains you climb but it’s the tiny questions that leave you questioning your sanity.

  • Chasing Legends & Lighthouses

    Chasing Legends & Lighthouses

    Flashback to an evening at my parents’ cabin. 

    We’re momentarily back at Lac Belanger. It’s the kind of evening when dinner stretches lazily into stories and laughter, and glasses of wine somehow refill themselves. 

    Somewhere between bites and banter, Dad suddenly says, “Hey! They started doing tours of Oak Island again this year.” There’s a spark in his eye. I pull out my phone, and within seconds, we realize the island is barely an hour from our planned campground in Pictou Nova Scotia. Cue the excitement. A quick check online shows that tickets are just $99 Canadian. Which, for my American friends, is basically free when you factor in the exchange rate.

    My Dad and I have been watching The Curse of Oak Island for years. It’s that long-running show where two brothers and a team of hopeful treasure hunters dig up a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia in search of legendary riches, and somehow manage to find everything except the treasure. I’ll admit, I mostly watch it for my Dad, but at this point, I’m too invested to quit. If they finally unearth the mystery and I’m not watching, all those years of emotional commitment will have been for nothing.

    We exchange mischievous smiles around the table.
    “We’ve never visited the Maritimes,” Mom says thoughtfully.
    “We’ve been talking about touring the island for years,” I add.
    And from across the table, Chris chimes in, “We’ve got an extra bed in the camper.”

    And just like that, the group chat Nova Scotia Losers is born. Four tour tickets later, our fate is sealed.

    Naturally, that’s when the chaos begins. My parents nearly get scammed while trying to buy their flights (they insist that everything was under control the entire time, but I believe it to be a close call either way). The travel dates don’t match on any of the reputable websites. And, as it turns out, there are two Oak Islands in Nova Scotia — and the one near Pictou isn’t the right one. Which means a hasty change of plans and a couple of extra nights booked in Halifax. Because what’s a family adventure without a few wrong turns before it even begins?

    The Great Oak Island Expedition

    Two weeks after that fateful evening at my parents’ cabin, when we booked our Oak Island tour, we fast forward to our time in Nova Scotia. Chris and I have been exploring the province since August 10th, and it’s now August 16th the day after my parents land in Halifax, ready for our treasure hunt.

    At the earliest hour of the morning, Chris and I set off to meet them in Halifax. We start our day together with a hearty breakfast, stretch our legs with a short walk around Citadel Hill of Fort George. Then, we hit the road toward the legendary Oak Island. The correct one.

    Crossing the rocky causeway onto this storied patch of land, the place that has kept us holding our breath for years, feels almost surreal. Before boarding the little car train, we scope out which seats will offer the best view. Dad arrives fully armed for the occasion: a GoPro, a professional-grade camera, his cellphone, and not one but two pairs of glasses (because, in his words, bifocals are so last year). We squeeze in, cameras ready, anticipation buzzing.

    We roll past the production studio right beside the War Room, the famous hub of whispered theories and dramatic revelations. As our guide explains, this is where the show’s cast often recreates their reactions: Gasps, head turns, nods and all. So, yes, the drama is at least partially staged, but we choose to suspend disbelief.

    Our narrator for the day is none other than Charles Barkhouse, the Oak Island historian who appears on the show. Sitting a few feet from him feels a little like meeting royalty—if royalty also knew an impressive amount about 18th-century digging techniques

    For the next three hours (yes, three full hours), we trundle around the island’s many excavation sites while Charles fills our heads with legends, facts, and wild theories. I had low expectations for how much we’d actually learn, but by the end, it’s safe to say we’d gained more insight than from several seasons of television viewing. And no annoying repetitive voiceover narration in sight.

    No Oak Island experience would’ve been complete without following in the crew’s footsteps to the Mug & Anchor Pub in nearby Mahone Bay, the place they sometimes film their “post-discovery” scenes. The heat of the summer drought has finally softened into a golden evening, and we grab a patio table overlooking the calm bay. A pitcher of beer appears, and we soon discover that Chris is decidedly not a fan of bitter IPA brews. The only logical solution? Finish this one and order another kind.

    A fun fact Dad shares with us: Back in the day, people used to add a pinch of salt to their beer to cut the bitterness. I get a little too excited and the generous pinch of salt spills completely in my glass. Turns out you can over salt anything.

    The night hums with the sound of a local band, laughter, and just enough beer to give everything a pleasant blur. When we finally pile back into the car (and I’ll admit I helped Chris finish his share), we hit a road construction detour that sends us winding through the backstreets instead of on Main Street.

    That’s when we spot a dummy dressed as a man, holding a sign. I laugh and yell, “Stop the car!” I jump out to read it. The sign says: The end is near. There is a dead end. We burst out laughing. “How close can it be?” I ask. The answer, dear reader, is very close. Dead end, literal.

    After a clumsy U-turn in the dark, we make our way back to Halifax, where our truck had been waiting near my parents’ hotel.

    Rather than dropping a small fortune on a last-minute downtown room, we find a nearby campground and set up the tent. Having packed the truck instead of the motorcycle feels like an upgrade in itself—we’d traded panniers for space, which meant the rare luxury of full-sized pillows. The sleeping pads still had us tossing and turning, but at least our heads rested in comfort.

    Chasing Legends and Lighthouses

    The next morning, we meet my parents and set out toward Lunenburg, a postcard-perfect coastal town famous for its bright, candy-colored houses and salty sea air. It proudly boasts the home of Canada’s most recognizable sailing icon: The Bluenose II, the elegant schooner immortalized on the Canadian dime.

    We wander down toward the docks, eyes scanning the marina. Sleek white masts sway gently against the sky, the water glimmers with reflections of hulls and gulls, but the Bluenose II is nowhere to be found.

    “Huh,” we wonder aloud. “Maybe it’s out for a little sail?”

    A quick check of the website reveals the punchline: According to its busy summer schedule, the famous ship is docked today… in Pictou. At the very same Heritage Quay Center just steps from our campground. Of course it is. We drove all the way here, only for the boat to be waiting right where we came from. Just our luck.

    Still, Lunenburg is far too charming to let irony ruin the day. We stroll through the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, peek into boutique shops tucked into color-splashed historic buildings, and weave through narrow streets that feel frozen in time.

    Eventually hunger starts to call, so we settle on The Old Fish Factory Restaurant, conveniently perched along the waterfront. An Acadian band plays under a nearby marquee, the kind of lilting fiddle music that pairs perfectly with sea breezes and cold drinks. Without much discussion, we each order a beer—no pitcher this time, so Chris can choose something lighter, and we decide to split two lobster rolls among the four of us. Just a small bite to keep us going until dinner.

    Everything is idyllic until the bill arrives. My Dad pays with his usual flourish, no questions asked. As we leave, he leans over with that unmistakable grin and says, “I guess we didn’t look too hard at the prices on that menu.”

    “What do you mean?” I whisper, already suspicious.

    Turns out those “light snack” lobster rolls were listed at market price that day. Thirty-two dollars each. Each! We laugh in disbelief. Delicious, yes, but possibly the most expensive few inches of sandwich any of us have ever eaten.

    We shake it off with a collective chuckle and pile back into my parents’ rented car, bound for our next stop: Peggy’s Cove, home to the most photographed lighthouse in North America.

    I always hear those superlatives—the most this, the best that—and hold onto a secret hope that maybe, just maybe, we’ll luck out and have the place to ourselves. No such luck today. But as we crest the hill and the lighthouse comes into view, it’s immediately clear why it draws such a crowd.

    The landscape is nothing short of dramatic. Smooth granite boulders stretch out toward the ocean, worn to silk by centuries of wind and saltwater. The cracks and ridges in the stone remind me of aging skin—lines that tell a story of resilience and time. There’s beauty in those imperfections.

    The lighthouse itself stands tall and steadfast, a stoic witness to decades of storms and selfie sticks. But the real magic extends beyond it. The surrounding village feels like a scene preserved in amber—weathered cedar facades, grey shingled roofs, lobster traps stacked high in the tall grass. The muted palette of driftwood, rust, and seaweed green could be mistaken for a quiet Scandinavian hamlet.

    Harsh winds whip across the rocks, and waves explode against the shore in white sprays that sting the air with salt. As we sit and take it all in, the noise of the crowd fades into a low murmur. There’s a stillness here, a rhythm in the waves that hushes everything else. Even the boardwalk, simple and thoughtfully designed, seems to guide you toward calm.

    Prince Edward Island

    After our time in Peggy’s Cove, we pack up and head back toward Pictou, where my parents will stay with us at the campground for the week. 

    For two days, Chris stays behind while my parents and I set off for a quick escape to Prince Edward Island. A little detour that’s been on my Mom’s bucket list for years.

    We drive toward the Northumberland Ferry terminal and roll aboard the huge ship bound for PEI. As the mainland shrinks behind us, the red cliffs and green fields slowly come into view.

    Our first stop is Charlottetown, the island’s charming capital. Despite it being a Tuesday, the city feels alive. The streets buzzing with tourists, horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping along the waterfront, and patios filled with chatter. Parking, however, proves to be a sport of its own. After circling a few blocks and watching the crowds in mild disbelief, we finally find some in an underground lot. When we realize it only costs eight dollars for the entire day, we laugh. That’s what, half an hour in Montreal?

    We hop aboard a small red trolley called the Pony Express, and once the seats are secured, let the city’s stories unfold. The route winds through rows of red-brick buildings with black shutters, each one steeped in colonial charm. There’s something about the blend of old-world architecture and sea breeze that feels straight out of a prohibition-era film.

    When hunger hits, we wander the streets in search of seafood — because when in the Maritimes, that’s practically law. But at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, the options are slim. We finally stumble upon a trendy Italian spot with the smell of wood-fired pizza drifting into the street. Pasta, pizza, and a Revival round of cocktails later, we’re refueled and ready to explore again.

    One of the unexpected highlights of the afternoon is St. Dunstan’s Basilica, a masterpiece of Gothic in the heart of Charlottetown. Inside, sunlight spills through intricate stained glass, setting the gold inlays and marble columns aglow. The ceiling arches high above like a carved canopy of devotion — it’s one of those places where you automatically lower your voice, even if no one’s told you to.

    After a full day exploring Charlottetown’s lively streets, we drive twenty minutes north to a quiet roadside inn. We’ve rented two rooms this time— Dad’s snoring is a force of nature best enjoyed through a wall—but even with the separation, sleep doesn’t come easily. A balcony light outside my door stays on through the night, seeping under the frame and washing the room in a dull glow.

    Morning brings clear skies and the promise of nostalgia.

    The Famous Green Gables

    Our first stop: Green Gables Heritage Place, the heart of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s fictional world. The house stands immaculate, its white clapboard walls and green gables framed by gardens that look painted into being. Inside, rooms are furnished with artifacts collected from local families—objects that blur the line between the author’s imagination and the island’s living memory. We wander through the flower beds and into the so-called Haunted Wood, where snippets of Montgomery’s words appear along the path. The air whispers with her voice, equal parts whimsy and wistfulness.

    At the gift shop, a green fabric-bound edition of Anne of Green Gables catches my eye. It’s the kind of book that feels good just to hold. It’s soft, textured, timeless. From there, we continue to the ruins of the modest farmhouse where Montgomery herself grew up. The landscape stretches in gentle waves, framed by that distinct island light that makes everything seem a little more golden. A century-old apple tree stands sentinel near the house, its branches reaching over the yard as if guarding the writer’s memories. Inside, her small writing desk sits by a window, still and humble, yet carrying the quiet weight of creativity that shaped generations.

    It’s easy to see why Montgomery’s imagination bloomed here. The island feels suspended somewhere between fiction and memory—a place where stories don’t end, they just keep unfolding quietly in the wind.

    My parents, inveterate gardeners, start plucking seed pods from the lush flower beds with the stealth of children stealing cookies. I hiss at them to stop, half mortified, half amused, as they stifle laughter and carry on undeterred. There’s no one around to notice—but I can’t shake the irrational fear of being caught and scolded for botanical mischief.

    A short drive away, Avonlea Village offers a different kind of homage—one built for visitors and dreamers. The streets are lined with pastel storefronts, ice cream parlors, and craft shops. Everything feels both staged and sincere, like a recollection of something that never quite existed. I wander into a candy shop and leave with chocolate-covered potato chips—an oddly perfect mix of salt, sweetness, and sentimentality. We finish the afternoon on a patio, sharing nachos and a cold beer while the sunlight softens across the beer garden.

    Before heading back, we detour toward Cavendish Beach, following a winding road lined with dunes and weathered pines. The air grows cooler as we near the coast, carrying the tang of salt and the faint cry of distant gulls. When the horizon opens up, the view stops us cold. Red sandstone cliffs tumble sharply into the Atlantic, their edges sculpted by wind and time. Below, the tide folds against the rocks in slow, deliberate breaths.

    The light has that late-afternoon magic, softening every edge. The cliffs glow copper, the grasses shimmer pale green, and for a moment the whole landscape feels less like something you see and more like something imagined. It’s the kind of place that holds you in silence, where even conversation feels like an unwanted interruption. We linger longer than we mean to, watching the waves break and reform, tracing patterns that never repeat.

    When the sun begins its descent, we turn toward the mainland, trading the ferry for the Confederation Bridge—a slender ribbon of concrete stretching 12.9 kilometers across the Northumberland Strait. The ride feels suspended between two worlds, the island fading behind us, the mainland still a silhouette ahead. Wind presses against the vehicle in steady gusts, and the sea flashes silver in the lowering light.

    As the shoreline sharpens into view, the day settles quietly around us. By the time we roll back into Pictou, we’re tired, happy, and our pockets full of stories, and a few “borrowed” seeds that will soon find new soil.

    Wrapping Up in Nova Scotia

    The week with my parents passes in a blur of salt air and soft laughter. Days stretch long and generous, filled with the kind of ease that only comes when time briefly forgets to hurry. We drove through villages painted in weathered blues and reds, past harbors where boats tilt gently in the tide.

    Traveling with my parents feels like returning to something familiar and fleeting all at once. There’s an unspoken rhythm between us—quiet pauses and easy laughter, moments stitched together by the simple pleasure of being in one another’s orbit.

    Evenings settle slow. We gather around tables always cluttered with food, half-empty glasses, and stories that drift between memory and the present moment.

    When the week ends, we load bags and goodbyes into the trunk of their rental car. The morning is crisp, the air sharp with that familiar Atlantic chill. Chris and I stand in the gravel driveway, hands tucked in our pockets, watching as my parents wave from the window—smiling, content, and maybe a little tearful. The car rolls down the narrow lane and disappears around the bend, the sound of its tires fading into the wind.

    For a long moment, we stay there in the quiet. The laughter, the days, the salt and light—all of it lingers, like sea spray caught in the air, refusing to settle.

  • We Head East

    We Head East

    Leaving the cabin meant facing the hardest part of long-term travel: Deciding where to go next. Every option feels like the right one; yet choosing means letting go of a dozen others. The desire to see it all can weigh heavier than the motorcycles packed in the trailer. FOMO is a real travel companion, and if you let it take over, you’ll sit frozen in “what ifs” instead of moving forward. It’s analysis paralysis at its worst – like staring at a blank page before daring to write the first line. I speak from personal experience on this one.

    To arrive at a final decision isn’t always simple. Chris and I had been glued to our laptops for hours, scouring maps for a campground that checked all the boxes: Clear, unobstructed skies for our internet connection, close to bucket-list worthy motorcycle trails, far from a noisy highway, away from the middle of a city, reasonably priced, and available for a three-week stay. Yes, we know, our criteria list is a mile long.

    Each time we thought we’d found the right spot, we’d comb through campground reviews like detectives. When we finally landed on a spot that seemed perfect and spoke to someone at the other end of the line, our relief gave way to skepticism.

    “Do we pay now?” we asked.
    “Oh no, at the end, don’t worry about it,” came the casual reply.

    Which immediately set off alarm bells. The trauma of our North Bay, Ontario campground fiasco was still way too fresh. No deposit? No receipt? No guarantee?

    “Do we get a confirmation number or email?” I asked, trying not to sound shrill.
    “Oh, yeah, sure. It’s 9038.”

    To this day, we’re convinced that number was pulled out of thin air just to shut us up. But with no backup plan, we crossed our fingers and hit the road for the 1000 miles journey. Onwards to Nova Scotia, Canada!

    Our first day had us driving for over 11 hours, until the sun started to set. That’s how we ended up at a truck stop in New Brunswick for the night. Not exactly the pretty-views-camping we’d envisioned as rookie full-timers, but in RV life, safe and practical wins in certain cases. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead while the low hum of diesel engines became our white noise.

    The next morning, optimism took the wheel, along with just enough blind faith to keep things interesting. I had been appointed Chief Navigation Officer, a title that sounded far more official considering my actual skills. What I didn’t realize was that my GPS had “Toll Roads Off” in its settings. Combine that with the fact that we’d run out of Canadian data, our route was locked-in the moment I pressed “Go.” No rerouting, no quick fixes. Just commitment to our paper Atlas. It became a lighthouse beacon safely guiding our ship to port.

    Of course, that’s when the map betrayed us. A “primary highway” looked promising outlined in bold red, but turned out to be anything but highway or primary. The fastest route on paper was definitely not the easiest way to tow the Bus.

    Here’s where our personalities inevitably collided. Free spirit me was the one who insisted on chasing the ocean as we headed East, convinced that the smaller highways would reward us with sweeping views. The ever-rational Chris, pointed out the less romantic reality. Postcard-worthy roads usually come with sharp curves, low shoulders, and a headache or two. Naturally, we married each other.

    We ended up following my lead. Our prize for chasing the ocean? A narrow, winding road that ended abruptly in construction. 

    “How closed could it really be?” we asked. Answer: Very closed.

    This led us straight into one of those humbling rites of passage as a newly-ish married couple. We backed our rig into a stranger’s driveway to make a 180 degree turn. Remember when I mentioned taking driving for granted? There’s no quicker ego check than pretending to stay calm while your husband maneuvers 35 feet of trailer backwards with surgical precision.

    Eventually, we found the detour, which wound us onto (you guessed it) more narrow roads. By this time, the charm was wearing thin. Potholes rattled the truck and trailer. The pavement eventually gave way to a stretch of dirt road, vibrating us to pieces with relentless speed bumps. Then came the tight squeezes through small towns, where our mirrors practically brushed past mailboxes and parked cars.

    I could feel Chris’s patience stretching perilously with every bump and jolt. The more the road deteriorated, the quieter it got inside the truck. Not the peaceful kind of quiet. More like the no one dares to speak because we both know exactly why we’re here kind of quiet. This had been my call and I was acutely aware of my blunder. From the grand idea of chasing the ocean along a “scenic” back route, I now sat small in my seat, trying not to attract attention.

    Finally, the road opened up to the sweeping ocean view I had been longing for. While they were exactly as I’d imagined, . Only tinged with the knowledge that sometimes, the beauty comes with a price. In this case, the price was every last ounce of Chris’s patience.

    Harbour Light Campground

    We pulled into the campground and stepped into the main office, where we were greeted by the owner, Cameron. Without hesitation, he reached behind him for a basket on the shelf and handed it over. Inside were heaps of plump blueberries.

    “Here ya go! Fresh picked just yesterday morning,” he said with a cheerful grin.

    The voice rang a bell. It was the same man who’d taken our reservation over the phone! Sure enough, our site was ready – the very site he’d told us about during our first conversation. Somehow, without checking a single note or phone screen, he remembered not only our names but also where we were from and what we were towing. Impressive.

    No sooner had we finished introductions than Cameron launched into what the longtime seasonal campers later described as his “50-question interrogation.” Apparently, it was his way of showing he liked you. I believed it.

    One of his questions was about which route we’d taken to get to the town of Pictou. And there it was—the dreaded question. I admitted, a little sheepishly, that we’d taken Route 6.

    “Oh no, that’s the long way ‘round,” he chuckled. “Never mind what the GPS tells ya. The highway looks longer, but you’ll be moving faster and straighter.”

    I could feel Chris nodding his agreement. I, on the other hand, avoided eye contact. Cameron caught the silence. “Ah, you two fight on the way here?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

    Busted. I scrambled for a response that wouldn’t give us away completely.

    “Well,” I said, “I admit I made a navigational mistake. Let’s just say that the inside of the truck got very quiet.”

    Cameron burst out laughing. 

    “That’s worse! But hey, you made it, and it’ll all be better now that you’re here.” Then he added, almost as an afterthought: “Don’t prepare supper!”

    Chris and I exchanged a quick, confused glance, but exhaustion had gotten the better of us. With the Bus still to set up and bags to unpack, we simply nodded, thanked him, and headed off to our site.

    We tuck ourselves into a row of RVs, each lined up neatly beside the next. It feels busy here, a little buzz of activity with families setting up chairs, kids pedaling bikes, and the smell of the nearby ocean drifts through the air. Everything is tidy and cared for, which makes the bustle feel inviting rather than overwhelming. The best part is the beach: Just a short walk down from the site, where you can dip your toes in the water or simply sit back and watch the waves roll in. It’s the kind of place where you feel part of a bigger camping community, yet still get to enjoy the calm of a small coastal town.

    Once we’d finished tidying up around the campsite, we couldn’t resist the pull of the ocean. Neither of us had ever stood on this side of the Atlantic before, and its mystery tugged at us. What would it be like? Were there sharks, jellyfish, or other strange creatures lurking out there? Like any curious couple, we knew the only “sensible” thing to do was to get in and find out.

    The path to the beach starts simply enough: Winding under a canopy of tall trees, the ground shifting from gravel to scattered rocks. Sunlight filters through the leaves, flickering on the trail as we make our way down. Soon, the trees open onto a sandy walkway bordered by tufts of tall grass swaying in the warm breeze. That very first step onto the sand feels like pure bliss.

    And then, just ahead, the path funneled wide. There it was, the Atlantic, in all its quiet grandeur. Waves rolled in gently, carrying that unmistakable salty tang. But there was a twist I hadn’t expected. The air smelled different from the Caribbean waters I knew so well. Here, the salt mingled with a faint but present hint of sulfur, like the scent of hard-boiled eggs. When the tide dropped, the smell grew stronger – a strange but oddly endearing reminder that this ocean had its own character, one we grew to enjoy over our stay.

    The heat wave and drought pressing down on Nova Scotia made the day feel almost tropical, heavy with humidity. The air was so warm that the coolness of the water felt less like an intimidating eviction and more like an open invitation. With the sun on our backs and the horizon stretching endlessly before us, it was impossible not to walk in, letting the Atlantic welcome us for the very first time.

    The first swim of the day was perfect; the kind of effortless joy that makes you forget the chill of the water. Later that evening, we returned, thinking a sunset dip would be the ideal way to end the day. But as we waded deeper into the water, something caught Chris’ eye. A sudden yelp, a splash, and he bolted back toward the shore. Odd. What could have startled a grown man like that?

    When I looked down, there were hundreds of tiny, shifting shapes moving beneath the surface. My turn to panic. I stumbled back, laughing nervously as we both realized how ridiculous we must look. A quick scan of the beach confirmed it—no one else was in the water. People were either strolling along the sand or lounging on towels, gazing out at the view. Was this some kind of local secret? Do Maritime waters become off-limits after the tide goes out?

    Curiosity got the better of us, so we crept back in, carefully watching where we stepped. As the ripples cleared, the mystery revealed itself: Crabs. Dozens of little hermit crabs, scuttling over the sand. It must have been the warmth of the shallow water drawing them out. Then we spotted a few larger rock crabs ambling about with far too much confidence. One began making a not-so-slow, deliberate approach toward Chris’ foot.

    Now, I know what you’re probably thinking: 

    “Really? They’re tiny. What’s the big deal?” 

    Fair point. But knowing that doesn’t stop instinct. When that three-inch crab advanced like it had a personal vendetta against Chris’ toes, he let out another yelp and sprinted for dry land. I wasn’t far behind.

    By the time we made our way back to the campground, we were laughing hard, salty and barefoot, grateful for the kind of simple, silly moment that reminds us of how close to nature we really are. Our first unexpected adventure of this trip can be summarized by: Small crabs, big memories.

    Besides our two beach visits, we couldn’t forget Cameron’s parting words: “Don’t worry about supper.” We thought he was joking. Campground owners don’t usually double as personal chefs, right? But as we were settling in, getting our bearings at the site, a truck rolled up and stopped in front of the Bus. The window glided down and there was Cameron himself, grinning from ear to ear.

    With that unmistakable Nova Scotia lilt, he calls out: “Hope you’re hungry! See if you can figure out what makes this different —it’s our county’s special recipe.” And like some sort of culinary magician, he pulls out an oversized pizza box and hands it to us.

    Now, if there’s one thing you should know about us, it’s that pizza is our collective kryptonite. Actually, scratch that, anything with gluten is. So, this isn’t just supper being delivered to our campsite, it’s destiny. We thank him profusely, grab the box like a pack of overexcited kids, and hurry into the trailer to unwrap our prize.

    And she is glorious. Extra large, cheesy, clearly pepperoni, with a crust that hits that perfect balance of not too thin, not too thick. Our first slices disappear at a speed that could set records. So much for savoring the “special ingredients.”

    Determined to do better on slice number two, we slow down. That’s when we notice something different. The pepperoni sausage is smoked, sure, but the sauce… it’s brown. Not red-brown, but honest-to-goodness brown.

    “Is this even tomato sauce?” I ask, baffled. Chris, replies mid-bite with the confidence of a man committed to finishing the slice regardless: “Tastes like tomato sauce.”

    Mystery or not, the pizza didn’t stand a chance. It was gone in under thirty minutes. Later, when we ran into Cameron, he asked if we’d figured out what made it different.

    “The sausage was smoky,” we said. “And is there something going on with the sauce?”

    With that same knowing smile, he replied, “Yep! The tomato sauce here always comes out brown.”

    Brown tomato sauce? That was a first. And as for why it’s that way—well, that part remains a mystery. But honestly, who cares? It was rich, smoky, and absolutely delicious. We’d happily demolish another Acropole Pizza any day of the week.

    Downtown Pictou Village: A Culinary Diary

    I don’t like to call myself a foodie. No shame to those who proudly wear that badge, but I prefer to think of myself as a subscriber of the “I’ll try anything once” philosophy. My former coworkers used to call me the seagull because I’d eat my lunch and then happily swoop in on whatever leftovers anyone offered. Fair.

    Food, to me, is how you get to know a place. It’s the quickest way to understand its rhythm. And here, in the Maritimes, where the ocean writes every menu, each meal feels like a celebration. We’d rolled into Pictou, a sun-swept harbor village that instantly felt like the kind of place where everyone waves, even if they don’t know you. Amazingly, every car stops whenever a pedestrian reaches the crosswalk. This charming little town absolutely delivered!

    Downtown Pictou has that effortlessly cozy, slightly nostalgic small-port vibe. It’s the kind of place where brightly painted storefronts line the main street, locals greet each other by name, and the smell of salt air mingles with fryer oil and the comforting aroma of something cooking just out of sight. The waterfront boardwalk has that wish you were here kind of charm—boats gently bobbing in the harbor, gulls swooping with perfect timing, and a light sea breeze that carries both the scent of the ocean and someone’s order of fish and chips. You can wander past boutiques shops, restaurants, and the Hector Heritage Quay, where a full-scale replica of the ship Hector nods to the town’s proud Scottish roots. There’s something sweetly unhurried about it all; even the breeze seems to take its time.

    On one of our evenings exploring Pictou, we found our way to The Nook and Cranny, tucked right by the water, and grabbed a spot on the patio. It was one of those summer evenings when the heat practically melts off the pavement. So, the first cold sip felt like a personal victory. Chris went for the classic fish and chips—perfectly crispy, golden perfection. I couldn’t resist the fried haddock burger, which was everything you want a coastal meal to be: flaky, tender, and unapologetically messy. Chris’ Moscow Mule was crisp, my cider refreshing, and with the heat, every gulp tasted better than the last.

    We sat there grinning like fools, staring at the harbor, feeling that rare and satisfying kind of contentment that comes when good food, good drink, and a good view collide. 

    On more than one occasion during our stay in Nova Scotia, we gave in to the sweet call of ice cream. Sandy’s Ice Cream Shop quickly became a favorite, with its cheerful chalkboard list of flavors. Cones in hand, we’d wander along the waterfront, the salty air mixing with the scent of waffle cones and ocean breeze. Sometimes, a local musician would be strumming folk songs by the water, his voice carrying softly over the lapping waves. It was the kind of simple, perfect moment that makes warm days feel endless.

    One evening, during one of our passeggiate (the Italian after-dinner stroll Chris and I have adopted as a ritual) we stumbled upon Logan’s Daily Catch, a small seafood market tucked near the marina. The sign promised fresh local fish, and I couldn’t resist. The next afternoon, I rushed back and picked out a beautiful piece of halibut.

    Cooking has always been a joy for me, something grounding and creative all at once. There’s a rhythm to it: chopping colorful vegetables, mixing herbs, feeling the warmth of the pan, and watching everything come together. Maybe my Italian heritage is revealed through my love of feeding others and making the table feel alive. I grew up watching my mom and grandmothers turn ordinary ingredients into feasts. Always from scratch, always with pride.

    That evening, our little picnic table outside the RV looked like a summer painting: bright vegetables, perfectly grilled halibut, and homemade Paloma cocktails glistening in the sun. We lingered through dinner, laughing and shooting at the occasional fly with our ever-trusted salt gun, the air still thick with heat of the day.

    Pictou may be small, but it packs a flavorful punch. From seaside ice cream to market-fresh fish, every bite feels like a discovery and we’re more than happy to play seagulls once again, savoring every last crumb and drop of summer.

  • Welcome to Lac Belanger

    Welcome to Lac Belanger

    The road has paused for a while. Two unhurried weeks stretch ahead of us. The cabin is stocked with a mountain of food and the promise of loud and happy conversations. The first night sets the tone: Glasses clinking, voices rising, and the cabin already echoing with the kind of overlapping chatter only my family can produce. As the sun dips toward the tree line before supper, Chris wanders out to the dock with his fly rod, savoring the quiet rippling of the water. His patience pays off with a modest triumph: A bass so small it barely bends the line, yet it’s enough to make him grin like he’s landed a trophy. 

    Much needed family time

    Being with my parents is never quiet; the air itself seems to hum with their forty-four years of lively sparring. They’re less like graceful dance partners and more like a bickering comedy duo—one part kitchen chaos, one part standup comedians. The night of the “pineapple incident” was peak performance.

    Dad, intent on mixing his legendary piña coladas, clanged through cupboards with theatrical urgency. Mom, already exasperated, barked from across the kitchen: “Check the top shelf!” Within seconds they were arguing over the mysterious whereabouts of a can of pineapple chunks.

    Chris and I were out on the deck, windows open, quietly listening as the volume climbed. Then the truth surfaced: the pineapple wasn’t even for the blender, just for the garnish. Mom’s voice sliced through the evening air, sharp enough to rattle the ice: “Is it just for decoration, Robert?!”

    Later, Dad confessed half grin, half shrug that he’d left that little detail out on purpose. “If I’d said it was just for garnish, she wouldn’t have gone on the hunt,” he recounted, clearly delighted with the chaos he’d stirred. Chris and I burst out laughing, and we still laugh out loud every time we retell it, the echo of her outrage and his sly triumph replaying like our own sitcom rerun.

    Seeing my sister in person, after a year of nothing but phone calls and awkward time-zone math (for some reason, the 1 hour time zone difference was difficult to comprehend) and hugging without a screen between us made me realize how much I’d missed her. One hug and we were right back to our usual nonsense, trading inside jokes before our bags even hit the floor.

    We all gathered at their house, which she and her partner have remodeled into something out of a design magazine: clean lines, cozy corners, sunlight spilling across every room. We wasted no time popping open the Aperol and prosecco, clinking glasses of spritz that glowed like orange sunsets. The grill never got a break: skewers sizzling, vegetables charring, someone always sneaking “just one more” piece of bread off the cutting board.

    The night stretched into a happy blur of laughter, teasing, and “try this, it’s amazing” bites passed across the table. After a year apart and a big move across the border, it felt ridiculously good to be loud together again, the kind of family evening that leaves you sticky with citrus, full of food, and a little giddy from both the cocktails and the company.

    The Internet Debacle

    As peaceful as the lake is, a reliable connection is our lifeline. The afternoon’s to-do list includes pointing the dish and checking speeds in time for tomorrow’s work calls. The reality of setting up an internet connection at every stop demands quite the imagination. Finding a clear line for the satellite is less about technology and more about choreography, I soon discover. 

    Considering what the equipment cost, I certainly didn’t expect us to audition for a connectivity dance recital. Yet there was Chris, circling the property with his phone held out, app open, muttering about signal strength and north-facing skies. Every few feet he’d stop, squint at the treeline, and sigh. The challenge escalated when we realized that the sacred direction was a solid wall of pine. That’s when the creativity dial went to full MacGyver mode. I turned away for all of five seconds, maybe to swat a mosquito. When I looked back, Chris had vanished. 

    “Hello?” I called, scanning the yard as though he were a runaway toddler. “Over here!” came the faint reply, like a voice drifting from another dimension. 

    It finally dawned on me to look up. And there he was: Balanced on the slanted roof, cellphone still in hand, walking slow circles like some tech-obsessed moonwalker in his camo crocs. The scene was straight out of those early-2000s cell-service ads: “Can you hear me now?” I have no idea how he even got up there, no ladder in sight, just the stubborn determination of a man promised decent internet connection. 

    At that point I surrendered to the inevitable. Let the rooftop satellite whisperer chase his bars. I retreated to the cabin, finished the unpacking and hoped our next stops would have unobstructed views of the sky, or at least, a less acrobatic tech support department. 

    A few hours later Chris comes back down and shares the accomplishment of having successfully set up the satellite internet. He had taken the foldable worktable, brought it up on the roof, had secured it with some green straps and cinder blocks. “Where did you even find those?” I ask. “Around.” is the answer I get. I nod, impressed. I retreat inside, marveling at how a simple need for Wi-Fi can turn a quiet lakeside day into an episode of Survivor. At this point, I’m convinced of two things: One, Chris has a mysterious talent for turning ordinary objects into engineering marvels; and two, I will never, ever, look at a satellite dish the same way again. 

    Mont-Tremblant Village 

    Mont-Tremblant really does feel like someone air-mailed a snippet of a European mountain town to the Laurentian Mountains. The pedestrian village unfolds in a cheerful palette with its buildings dressed in bright reds, yellows, and blues, while cobblestone lanes wind uphill like something out of an alpine storybook. Boutiques spill light onto the walkways, restaurant patios hum with people, and every turn seems to frame a new postcard view. 

    From the lower plaza, you can hop on the Cabriolet, a free open-air gondola that glides slowly above the rooftops. As the breeze catches your hair, you’re lifted toward the base of the mountain itself. Looking up, and the summit stretches skyward 932 meters (about 3,058 feet for my American friends), its slopes etched with evergreens and ski runs. 

    In the years we’ve been together, Mont-Tremblant Village never made it onto my “must-show-Chris” list. I always assumed throngs of selfie sticks and souvenir shops would be an automatic nope for him, the kind of place he’d give a single glance to before retreating to the nearest quiet trailhead. 

    The moment we rounded the corner and the Luge course came into view, my assumptions cracked. His eyes lit up, his shoulders straightened, his stride quickened and suddenly I was the one trying to keep up. The man who usually side-steps anything touristy was practically bouncing on his toes, scanning the track, already plotting which run would be fastest. 

    For those of you who don’t know, luging has two different definitions. On the one hand, it’s a scenic, fun-filled ride in a 3-wheeled sled that uses gravity and gives the rider full control. On the other hand, and as it pertains to my family, picture a pack of over-caffeinated sled dogs, launching themselves down the track as if a prize was waiting at the bottom, hollering for anyone ahead to move it!, while simultaneously plotting small acts of sabotage on each other. Every bend becomes an opportunity to run into one another’s bumpers and send the sleds fishtailing off the track. The only rule is: NO RULES. 

    Luging with my family circa 2006

    One summer, fifteen-year-old me discovered just how ruthless my own father could be. He gave a perfectly timed nudge that sent my luge skittering sideways with me skidding, arms windmilling, across a strip of gravel. The sound of fabric tearing met the crunch of stones under my palms. My jeans ripped open at the knee, the sting immediate. 

    And yet we howled with laughter. By the time we reached the bottom, tears of hilarity mixed with the grit on my face. We waved down the on-site paramedics, who dutifully cleaned my scraped knee while we recounted the epic move like it was a family legend in the making. 

    When I think of it, I can’t believe I’d never thought to bring Chris here to try this activity before! 

    Flying high in Mont-Tremblant 

    Two days after our first luge victory laps together, the craving for another adrenaline hit was impossible to ignore. We called Ziptrek Tremblant, snagged a reservation, and spent the rest of the day with that delicious, restless buzz that comes from knowing something wild is waiting. 

    Back in the picture-perfect village again, our inner daredevils quickly spot the office. With our nerves already humming, waivers are signed and harnesses are cinched. 

    The afternoon is clear and bright, perfect for a ride on the mountain’s Panoramic Gondola. This is basically a floating glass elevator that glides over the treetops, lifting you higher and higher until the village below is the size of a toy town. At the summit, the view is pure postcard. The layered mountain sides fade from dark to pale blue. It’s the kind of 360-degree view that makes you wonder if someone’s turned the saturation dial just for you. 

    The sense of calm quickly dissipates as the first leap up ahead has you questioning your life choices. A tiny metal gate opens. You step down two see-through stairs and launch. Gravity takes the reins and the wind roars in your ears as you twist over an ocean of evergreens. Two of the five lines stretch more than a kilometer—long enough to wonder if you packed a spare set of nerves. 

    Three hours later, after five zip lines and a surprisingly pleasant trail hike between runs, we coasted back into the village, hair thoroughly wind-styled and grins we couldn’t shake. If you’re after heart-in-your-throat thrills wrapped in jaw-dropping scenery, Ziptrek Tremblant is worth every Canadian dollar. 

    First Off-Road of the Season

    Our first off-road motorcycle adventure of the season took us into the Laurentians’ Réserve faunique Rouge-Matawin, and, I’ll admit, I was feeling a little nervous. My heart thumping, I eased onto the first stretch of gravel. The bikes crunched beneath us as we rolled into the wildlife reserve. Right out of the gate, I was questioning my confidence—what kind of terrain would greet us? 

    Turns out, it was everything a short day-trip should be: soft, rolling gravel roads, hills packed hard enough to give traction but still a little bounce, and a few rocky sections that demanded full attention and careful line choices.  

    motorcyclist overlooking stream on wood bridge

    A covered bridge arched overhead, like an old friend welcoming us to the dirt, and the forest opened up to glimpses of wild camping spots tucked in among the pines. Streams glittered in the sunlight, cutting across the track and offering the occasional playful tire splash. 

    By the time we headed back to our cabin, the nerves had melted into pure satisfaction. Short, sweet, and just the right mix of challenge and scenery, it reminded us exactly of why we chase these little adventures on two wheels. 

    After two weeks, the road pulled us onward again, the cabin shrinking in the rearview like a photograph you’re not ready to put away. Homecoming is sweet, but the horizon has its own pull as we continue to our next destination. 

  • Home Purgatory

    Home Purgatory

    Making our way back to the campground after what we considered a moderately successful soft launch around Northern Minnesota, it was time to pack up and head back home. Being that we’re still not used to loading up the camper, it still took us a couple of hours of disorganized scrambling. We should really think about having a written checklist to minimize the back and forth. 1

    “But wait, Julia!” You’re probably asking, “You said you had given your notice to the apartment and that you were living out of the Bus now. Where is this home you speak of?”  

    Let’s call this phase of the trip home purgatory. It’s where there are a few loose ends we need to tie up and certain additions we need to make to our setup before setting sail for real. So back to central Minnesota at Chris’ family lakefront lot we go. 

    For the second time, we load up our two motorcycles, double and triple check all the attachments, lock the doors and we’re ready to go. This time doubt doesn’t creep in, and this becomes THE MISTAKE. We’re overly confident in our skills too early in the game! We don’t check in the cargo area as much, thinking that everything is under control.  

    We discover the crime scene at the end of our 4-hour drive. Literally. We were 23 minutes away from our destination, when we realized that one of the straps holding my motorcycle had loosened and she had tipped and fallen onto Chris’ bike.  

    At this point I’m thinking there should be an entire segment on this blog about how my poor motorcycle has been mishandled by my inexperience and its ever-growing list of broken parts needing replacement. In this instance, the already partially broken front blinker came completely undone and looked eerily similar to an eye out of its socket. The right mirror became even more bent, rendering it completely useless in seeing anything behind me (the left mirror had already broken off earlier in the season when Chris tried using vice grips to fix its already bent angle).  

    I will also add that seeing my motorcycle leaning against Chris’ felt like a metaphor for our relationship. My husband is such a calm and dependable person while I have a chaotic personality and appreciate being able to lean on him for support in times of need. Truth be told it all seemed very poetic. But also horrifying, thinking that some of the narrower straps can get loose during transportation. This was a very clear sign from the universe that things can go wrong. It didn’t have catastrophic consequences yet, but if we didn’t change something, we might not be so lucky next time. Add “more straps” to the list of expenses. 

    Shout out to Brothers Motorsports for all the straps.

    Minnesota summer weather is on the unpredictable side. Before arriving at the lake there had been quite a bit of rainfall, making us wonder how difficult the grassy terrain was going to be to navigate without getting our wheels stuck. Just what we needed. Another source of anxiety as we drive around with the Bus. I can’t help but wonder if everyone who owns a trailer is driving around in a perpetual state of angst? No wonder the world has such a severe anxiety crisis.  

    As we were arriving right before the July 4th weekend, Chris’ uncle was already on site with his tractor to better assist us in placing the Bus in our selected spot with the least amount of damage possible. Worked like a charm! During our stay here, we woke up to the view of a calm lake. “This is something we could get used to,” we tell ourselves one morning while having coffee and looking out into the distance. 

    What a phenomenal long weekend filled with family fun, boat rides, fishing excursions, floating around on the lake and making smores by the campfire. The weather was definitely on our side, as we found out just how hot a camper gets when being hit by the midday sun.  

    Side note: I grew up with Italian grandparents who believed that air conditioning or any form of draft on a person is the root cause of all illnesses (un colpo d’aria, commonly called in Italian). This, combined with the fact that none of my apartments before moving to the States had A/C have translated into a love-hate relationship with the buttons on the thermostat. Although, I’ve been known to secretly turn on the A/C in the truck when no one is around and basking in the relief that the cool air provides. Deep shame follows for letting down my ancestors, who are probably yelling about how I’m going to catch a cold or a pneumonia breathing in the processed air. Yes, I know this is not how catching a cold works. But the old European ways hold a tight grip on me. 

    In order to keep the air flowing in the Bus during the hot summer days, one must develop techniques to remain comfortable. Keeping the back door of the toy hauler open is the most effective. However, this leaves a gaping hole that exposes us to every insect with wings becoming interested in visiting the inside of our space. The subtle sound of buzzing wings quickly activates Chris’ primal hunter instincts. His initial weapon of choice was a rubber band. Because who owns a fly swatter under the age of 45? After a few days of having to duck and cover to avoid the wild rubber band hitting me in the forehead, I expressed my concern over this erratic behavior to a friend.2  

    She, who has been married a good deal longer than I have, clearly holds secret survival strategies I’ve yet to discover. Today’s gem: the perfect fix for my fly-swatting misery. She casually pulls a salt gun from her garage (basically a shotgun for flies) and hands it over like it’s the most normal gift in the world. I can’t decide if this is peak practicality or peak comedy, but either way, the flies don’t stand a chance.  

    When I get home and give the salt gun to Chris, his face completely lights up. His inner child had been awakened, and I couldn’t have expected a more luminous smile. It all escalated so quickly from there: Commando style, war paint, helicopters, explosions. Death surrounds us and he feels a pang of delight for the carnage that unfolds as he shoots down these winged intruders. Like a wild child playing space invaders, he has that crazed look in his eye and I express exasperation over the ungodly number of carcasses left to be disposed of in such a small living quarter.  

    To clarify, when we bought the Bus a bug screen was already installed, but we didn’t like the old “zipper-vinyl-roll up-mesh” system. We ordered a retractable rear screen door and the arrival date was right before our departure date. We were required to send in the exact measurements with no refund possible should the installation not work. We hoped that our previous experience with measuring twice and cutting three times didn’t happen. Way to live on the edge. 

    Speaking of living on the edge. In order to get back on the main road from the lake, we needed to back the truck and trailer all the way down the single lane dirt road before being able to drive off into the sunrise. To those who have seen me attempt to back up a vehicle with any sort of trailer, you won’t be surprised to hear that I wasn’t considered for the role of main driver for this adventure. I am the equivalent of that person on the construction site, who stands on the side and holds the sign while maybe looking in the direction of the workers every so often. 

    The 1200 miles to our next destination 

    The first thing Chris noted after our first day on the road was that 8-10 hours in the vehicle is way too long. I believe that this statement shouldn’t even have to be uttered out loud —it’s a no brainer. Our first pit stop was in Michigan: Pictured Rocks RV Park. As we near, we see Lake Superior to our left with lovely sandy beaches. At this point my main focus is to sink my toes in the sand as fast as possible. Since we are only staying the night, no major set up is required and this saves us the remaining daylight hours for a nice sunset walk along Sandy Public Beach. The sand sounded squeaky as we walked along the shore. It was delightful. These “singing” sands are caused by vibrations in the sand and require a combination of round sand grains, silica content, and humidity to emit a variety of sounds. A strong urge to run across the sandy beach and into the water overcame us. I mean, if you haven’t stripped down to your underwear and jumped in a frigid lake at least once in your life, have you even lived at all? 

    The next morning it was time to make our way to the Canadian border by crossing the Sault Ste. Marie International bridge: A 2.8-mile steel truss arch bridge where the long line up of cars spanned all the way from Michigan to Ontario. Once at the border, we didn’t know what they would ask about the Bus. Should we have taken out the registration papers? What did we need to declare? Was the frozen pack of chicken in our freezer going to be considered a national threat and be confiscated? Nope. Instead, it was a simple “How many bottles of alcohol do you have with you?” Confounded by such a question, we stuttered: “Eh, 2 or 3?” The agent asks again: “More specifically, how many bottles of alcohol are you bringing with you?” Oh my! Why is this so difficult? Do they have to be full or do you have to count the halves and make a whole? Or does a half count as one? “Three.” Chris finally says, “ish” He sheepishly adds. This must be because we are driving to Quebec, and the customs agent assumes we are transporting enough wine bottles to put an army into a coma. We should probably check on the customs website what is the maximum quantity of alcohol one can import into a country. 3

    Another mistake we made on this trip was blindly listening to the GPS route. As we drive away from customs, we notice that the roads we are taking are not going towards a highway. The residential streets are getting narrower. And then it hits us. We are approaching downtown Ottawa. Here we go with the breath holding again. Because aging 10 years between 3 blocks of sky rise buildings isn’t enough, there are traffic poles that make the streets even narrower. If there were 3 inches on each side of the Bus as we passed them, it was a stretch. 

    After another full day of driving, our second stop was in North Bay, Ontario. Although I’d called to reserve our spot a few days earlier, I should have seen the red flag. I never received a confirmation email.  

    As we rolled into the dusty campground, a figure shuffled out to meet us. He was all angles and shadows—tall but rail-thin, his clothes hanging loose like like they’d been handed down to him by a much larger, older brother. His long arms swung awkwardly at his sides, and a cigarette smoldered between his fingers, sending up a thin thread of smoke that curled around his hollow cheeks and sunken eyes. He greeted us with a quick, twitchy smile and immediately launched into a ramble, words tumbling over each other as he tried to make the place sound better than it was. He waved his cigarette toward a crooked patch of dirt and gravel, insisting it would be perfect, though the guilt in his voice gave him away. “Yeah, yeah, you’ll be good here—sorry, we’re a little overbooked, y’know how it is—but this’ll work out just fine, real fine.” His tone was overeager, almost apologetic, like a man desperate to sell a lie he didn’t believe himself.  

    We backed up into this unleveled site that at least had a pretty view of the lake. He dragged deep on his cigarette and pointed down the lane, talking fast, his voice all reassurance. “Easy out in the morning,” he said, flicking ash without looking. “You just turn right, follow the nice gentle curve through the campground—no problem about your rig, it’ll for sure fit—and off you go through the exit.” He grinned like he’d just handed us a golden secret. 

    But when the smoke cleared and we traced his directions with our eyes, the “gentle curve” he promised was anything but. It was a hard turn that led straight into a steep upward slope, low branches clawing overhead like they were waiting to tear strips off our roof. The aisles were pinched tight, hemmed in by crooked curbs and parked rigs. Worse yet, the only way to swing wide enough meant dragging wheels across the edge of someone’s permanent-looking site—right over the patch of lawn where they’d set up patio lights, lawn chairs, and a ceramic gnome staring blankly at the chaos to come. 

    By six in the morning, the “gentle curve” our chain-smoking campground greeter had promised us looked more like a booby trap set for unsuspecting RVers. No way were we feeding the trailer through that angle of doom. Instead, we invented our own exit plan. A back-and-forth shuffle that probably looked like we were trying to parallel park a semi in a phone booth. 

    Every shift from drive to reverse was loud enough to wake the dead—or at least the poor souls whose camper window we were idling directly in front of. Curtains wide open, lamp still on. We couldn’t see them, but you just knew someone was in there, sipping coffee and silently judging. Honestly, they had front-row seats to the show: “Watch as this couple attempts to escape a campground designed by a sadist.” Finally, after a few nerve-wracking shuffles, the truck and trailer lined up straight. No branches overhead, no curbs, no neighbors’ lawns. Just a clean shot out the gravel lane. We eased forward, the tires crunching louder than seemed possible in the morning quiet and rolled back onto the open road—half relieved, yet half certain someone was still watching us through that open window. 

    And then we crossed into Quebec. There’s no mistaking it—your rig tells you before the road signs do. Everything starts rattling like a tin can full of bolts the moment the tires hit those legendary potholes. It’s almost like the province is saying “Bienvenue (welcome), now let’s see what your suspension is made of.” 

    The driving style shift is instantaneous too. As a native Quebecer, I say this with love: we drive like it’s a competitive sport. Blinkers are more of a suggestion, tailgating is practically a handshake, and if you don’t accelerate like you’re escaping a crime scene, someone will let you know. And then there are the bridges. I don’t know what civil engineer declared them “finished,” but clearly nobody tested them in an actual vehicle. Every overpass comes with its own personal launch ramp at the start, followed by a bone-rattling drop on the other side. I’ve started to believe it’s less poor construction and more public safety strategy: Jolt drivers awake at the beginning and end to make sure they don’t doze off while crossing. Cheap caffeine, Quebec-style. All the while, the memory of my motorcycle tipping over in transit was still fresh. The PTSD of watching my trusty steed fall still makes my stomach drop. So, we turned it into a ritual—stop every hour, walk the rig, tug on the straps, check and re-check that everything is upright. The trailer probably thought we didn’t trust it. We didn’t. 

    And then there was the gas. My God, the gas prices. Every stop felt like feeding a teenager who’d just discovered the carnivore diet comprised only of filet mignon. Add in the fact that the hills got steeper, the climbs longer, and suddenly our truck was roaring like it was dragging the whole province behind it. That’s when we realized: This is why everyone kept asking if we’d bought a diesel. We should have gotten a diesel. Regret is loud—about 4,000 RPM loud. 

    But the road, as always, eventually led us where we needed to go. The pavement gave way to winding forest roads, and then—just like that—the lake appeared. Lac Bélanger. My parents’ cabin. My favorite place in the world. The sight of it never gets old. The still water reflecting the sky, the trees leaning close as if to guard it, the smell of pine carried in the air. This was the place of childhood summers, of campfires and swimming until the sun went down, of quiet mornings with coffee and loons calling across the water. Every bump, every jolt, every drop of overpriced fuel—it all faded the second we pulled in. 

    Backing up the Bus into one of the lots was still a comedy routine, of course. And yes, carrying essentials down to the cabin meant another round of unloading, hauling, and moving. But this time it wasn’t just a chore. This was a homecoming. Each trip down the path to the cabin felt like stepping back into memory, a return to the one place in the world that never seemed to change no matter how far we’d gone or how long we’d been away. 

    As I write this article, 2 months later: 

    1 A written checklist has still not been produced. We somewhat still struggle our way through the process, albeit much less than in the earlier days, but still. 

    2 Thank you, Abbie, for the gift that keeps on giving as Chris continues to hunt every fly that dares to enter our personal space. 

    3 We still haven’t looked it up. We probably should do that soon, as we prepare to cross another border. 

  • The Soft Launch

    The Soft Launch

    Now that the sigh of relief was taken and the war zone was mostly tidied up (I say mostly, because of how many remnants of our renovations’ endeavor had spread around the trailer and my in-laws’ pole barn in the few months we’d been parked there), it was time for the bus to go on her maiden voyage. We’re calling it the soft launch as there are many unexciting things to finalize before being able to hit the road indefinitely. Between the changing of address to every single government identification given out, the cleaning of our space after giving our notice to the apartment complex and putting any unnecessary thing and piece of furniture in storage, we had our work cut out for us. The good news was that we could finally envision the Bus transporting us to new and exciting destinations.

    Speaking of putting things in storage: As someone who considers herself mildly minimalistic, it’s impressive how many possessions can be accumulated in the short year of living together in our 1-bedroom apartment. Nevertheless, a small 10 x 10 storage unit was rented in order to put away anything that wouldn’t fit in the Bus. Mastering the art of Tetris with one’s things can seem tricky, but it definitely becomes a source of satisfaction when we slid down the unit’s rusty red door and locked it for the final time. However, I must say this out loud: People who move once a year, we are not the same.

    Regardless of how big a camper’s space seems at first, most of your ordinary possessions won’t fit comfortably, in my opinion. Decisions were made. Clothes were put in boxes. Others were snuck into a plastic bin that could be placed under our camper’s bed and used for those “just in case I need to look cute” moments that most likely will never happen because I happen to live in the same monochromatic uniform of all black clothing. 

    But I digress. Here we were planning our adventure’s soft launch that was going to take place in our home state of Minnesota. The biggest reason was to test our satellite internet system in order to support Chris’ work station. As much as the idea of running off to a faraway destination right away seemed appealing, it was imperative to make sure the technology would support his needs without causing interruptions in the workday. Unromantic reason, I know, but nevertheless necessary. The second reason being it was time to permanently import my motorcycle into the U.S after having her on a visitor visa while awaiting my own permanent resident status. While doing research and contacting various forms of government and brokerage agencies, it became apparent that this was another process that required quite the paperwork to be filled out… In person. At a land border. So this is how we chose our first destination: Baudette, Minnesota. Let’s also be real, I think we both secretly wanted to see if our renovations would hold up while the Bus moved and our new home on wheels wouldn’t spontaneously combust the second we left the driveway. Neither of us said this out loud, but I’m willing to bet that this was the main concern.

    So on a damp and misty morning we hitched the Bus to the truck, loaded up our two motorcycles, double and triple checked all the attachments, locked the doors and we were ready to go. Then doubt crept in. Was everything tied properly? Were all objects in the Bus placed away in a way that everything wouldn’t fall everywhere? Were the walls going to vibrate off? We should have gotten cameras to keep an eye on everything! “Okay, how about this:” Chris said, “How about you sit inside while I drive us down the gravel road to see how it all looks?” So there I sat, on the newly built wooden staircase, waiting to see if the ship would go down, keeping my fingers crossed that I could make my great escape should anything go wrong. 

    Observation number 1: IT WAS SO LOUD! There went my idea of taking a rest day in the bedroom while traveling from one destination to another. Observation number 2: Nothing crashed and burned. Oh goodie! As I felt us slow down and waited for Chris to unlock the door to let me out, we both breathed a sigh of relief – for now. Our first campground destination was Lake of the Woods, about 4 hours drive. Every sound the trailer made was a source of anxiety for the both of us. “What are all these noises?” we kept asking ourselves. Every pothole we hit, Chris would lose a little bit more color in his face thinking the hitch would rip out from the truck bed, since he was the one who’d installed it. Every sharp corner that needed to be taken I felt us both holding our breathes wondering if we would inadvertently turn too wide and come face to face with an oncoming vehicle, or not wide enough and take out a wheel from hitting the sidewalk. Luckily, Chris must have been a truck driver in another life, because our trek North went without a hitch. 

    There are many things one takes for granted in life: Adequately sized gas stations that can comfortably fit a 35-ft fifth-wheel, was one of them. Having grown up in a big city and driving a pint-sized Hyundai Accent, this is something that I never even thought of. You drive in, pick a station (any station), pay the exorbitant Canadian gas amount and go. This experience with the Bus was something else entirely. It became somewhat of a recon mission even before we would turn into the station. Where was the entrance? The exit? What was the most effective pump that would require little to no maneuvering around? Oh wait! What side do we put gas in the truck again?

    After navigating through a scenic, rural highway which offers views of woods, farmland and many of the lakes Minnesota prides itself of, we pulled into the Lake of the Woods Campground. It took us a little while to set up as we tried to recollect all the steps necessary to get the Bus leveled and stable on our grassy pad that we would call home for the next 3 days. ROOKIE MISTAKE: On trip one we’d already lost the T-bolt of the rear stabilizing arms underneath the trailer by forgetting to twist it tight in the pre-launch packing stress. My bad! 

    As we planned our stop to the Canadian border to take care of my motorcycle’s importation papers, we also wanted to take some time and explore the area. Cue the planning of visiting the Northwest Angle: The only part of the contiguous United States located north of the 49th parallel, with its land separated from the rest of Minnesota by Lake of the Woods. 

    There are two border crossings to arrive to the Northwest Angle: The first crossed into Manitoba, where you go through the usual questioning by border patrol agents. They gave us a few instructions on how to make our way to the second border crossing back into Minnesota which was out of the ordinary compared to any other traveling experience I’d ever had. “You sign into a payphone booth station that is located on Jim’s corner”, we were told by the border agent. “Who’s Jim?” I wanted to ask, but refrained. The agent also laughingly mentioned the difference in budget between the Canadian and U.S stations. And here we now were, in the middle of a dirt road in Manitoba, stopped at a random 4-way identified as Jim’s corner. To sign into the U.S, we made our way into the air conditioned booth, where a singular iPad stood. We entered our information and received a confirmation number. We also quickly saw the old school rotary phone outside the booth, and noted that this was the Canadian border system – Wow! With the large deer fly swarming us as soon as we were off our motorcycles, we knew that part of the trip would be a little less pleasant. But, hey, what a unique way to sign yourself back into the country.

    Border crossing payphone in northwest angle Minnesota

    The description of the Northwest Angle mentioned remote. By no means was anything remotely remote once we arrived. Cars, campers and boat trailers filled the parking lots to the brim. Boats floated in and out of the marina galore. There was even a restaurant: Jerry’s Restaurant & Lounge. The little fried corn dog appetizers were absolutely scrumptious and the beer went down oh-so-smoothly after having ridden in the sun for a few hours on a long dusty dirt road.

    How to unsuccessfully import your motorcycle

    For those of you who are wondering how simple the process is to import a motorcycle into the U.S from Canada: In theory it is, but then life never really happens as it should. HOT TIP: Every website will tell you to go through a broker agency. Don’t. Most of them don’t take personal vehicles in the first place and those who do charge. A lot. Also, when you think you’ve gotten answers to all your questions, ask some more questions. I learned this the hard way even after having called multiple agencies, broker companies, dealership, etc.

    Coming back into the States after our afternoon visit to the Northwest Angle, we arrived at the border. Confidently, I mention that I was permanently importing my motorcycle. “No problem.” the customs agent replies, “Park the bike out back and come inside with all your supporting documents.” A few minutes go by and I am greeted by another customs agent at the front desk who gathers all my documents, quickly looks them over, nods and says: “Great, let’s go outside and make sure the stickers and VIN match up and you’ll be good to go.” Perfect! Things are going smoothly so far. 

    And then. It all goes wrong. Standing beside my motorcycle in a deserted parking lot, looking down at the customs agent who is crouched underneath it I hear: “Do you have your letter?” he asks. “Eh, what letter are we talking about?” I respond. It turns out that one of the three stickers was identified for Canadian emissions, but not the U.S. I needed a compliance letter from the manufacturer to prove that my Canadian-bought motorcycle was DOT compliant with U.S regulations. Funny enough, the EPA sticker was compliant with U.S and California emission standards, but that isn’t enough. On a side note, my motorcycle was sold to a Canadian dealership by the Milwaukee-based North American headquarters of the Indian motorcycle brand. The irony is not lost on me. 

    And so we sat on the side of the parking lot, somewhat deflated trying to find a phone number to someone who could help me get this magical missing letter in order to import my motorcycle. We eventually gave up and headed back to the campground site. It will take around 2 weeks of calling and emailing the customer service center to speak to the correct person and finally receive the compliance letter. Better luck on the next attempt.