Trails we found in 2017. Part: 2

Trails we found in 2017 Part:2

In case you missed it, you can find Part: 1 here:

http://www.finding-eden.ca/2017/12/trails-we-found-in-2017-part-1-ontario.html?m=1

Gatineau National Park

This place is amazing! We spent a lot of time here at different spots in the park. First of all this park is huge! And we had no idea how big or how awesome it was until we had stopped at a few different spots within the park boundary. Our favourites were Chutes de Luskville, Pink Lake and Wilson Carbide Ruins.  Because we didn’t really know the area well we didn’t know to park in the closest parking lots to these places. Luckily there were connecting trails throughout the park and we definitely plan to go back every time we are in the area.

Lake Leamy Gatineau, Quebec

This was another accidental find. We were actually just dropping off my son and made a wrong turn and discovered this awesome place. The first trail we found took us around the lake and then we found a longer trail that led us back to Ontario to the Rideau Canal. 

Montmorency Falls, near Quebec City

We saw the falls from the highway and decided to stop. We ended up spending the entire day and night. First we followed a shorter trail at the bottom of the falls but we could see a trail that appeared to be blocked be below. We ended up walking through the nearby village up to the top of the falls where we found a longer trail that took us over the falls and through fields. By the time we hiked back to the bus the dogs were done. 

Gaspé National Park, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec

We would love to come back in other seasons and explore for longer! The trails here are awesome with stunning views! We only spend two days hiking but easily could have stayed in this area for over a week!

Miguasha National Park, Quebec

Although there are trails here and we were on them, we had more fun and a longer hike along the beach. The beach was interesting in that there were fossils to be found everywhere in the small space between the water and the cliff walls. Maybe it was that we had just come from the museum and had learned about all different types of fossils and were recognizing the deaf fossils that we generally ignore. But we had a great day and if you are in the area I would definitely check this place out!

I feel like I am short changing the trails in Quebec. The truth is we went for amazing hikes every single day we were there either along the beaches or on trails  (whose names I can’t remember). There were so many places to explore and a new adventure around every corner. We noticed that the people who live in Quebec seem to value outdoor activities and there were so many trails available to choose from.

Grand Falls, New Brunswick

We stopped to see the falls and found a trail to follow. It took us across a bridge and down into a park. It was a nice way to spend a few hours.

Fundy National Park, New Brunswick

This entire area was filled with places to hike but inside the park there are over 100km of trails! Again we only spent a day here but could easily go back for a week of fun!

Hope well Rocks, New Brunswick

There are several trails along the cliffs edge which we checked out at high tide but the most fun was had at low tide. We went down to the ocean floor and spent the entire day hiking, exploring and taking as many pictures as we could!

Irishtown Nature Park, Moncton, New Brunswick

This was another accidental find that turned into a day hike. We had some mechanical trouble with the bus and needed to find a good place to take the dogs for the day. We left the bus with a mechanic and started walking in the direction of some far off trees. Surprise! A trail system! This place was interesting, it had a main trail that we took to the end and then on the way back we explored a few of the smaller loop trails that through a dense forest.

Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick

This place had several shorter hiking trails and we explored most of them.

Middle Island Historical Park, New Brunswick

This small island had a trail that followed the perimeter with a few intersecting trails. You could probably walk it in an hour but because we were stopping to read everything and letting the dogs swim we were there longer.

Confederation Trail, PEI

There are almost 500km of trail in PEI unfortunately it rained almost everyday we were there and other than two day hikes at different points along the trail as well as a beach walk, that was all we had the chance to do. 

Cape D’Or, Nova Scotia

This isn’t an actual trail but an amazing spot to hike for hours in either direction on the ocean floor (in low tide). 

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

The weather wasn’t very co-operative and although there are amazing trail (that I will go back and explore) we only had the chance to stop and do a few shorter loop trails along the way. 

We stopped at MacImtosh Brook but I couldn’t tell you the other two places we stopped and found trails.

Portage La Prairie, Alberta

We stopped at a rest area just out of town and discovered a trail that followed a river. I have no idea how far the trail actually goes as we only  hiked maybe 45 minutes before turning around. It was a beautiful spot and close enough to the TransCanada highway that we will make a point of stopping on our way back.

Bow Valley Provincial Park, Alberta

This wasn’t a trail but an old deserted, gravel road that led us to a stream. We followed it for about an hour before turning around but had we continued it looked to go up the into the mountains.

Lake Louise, Alberta

We stopped to do the touristy thing and really enjoyed the short trail here.

Revelstoke National Park, BC

It sounds silly to include this short 1km boardwalk as a hike but this place is awesome! The boardwalk leads through an ancient cedar forest. Even though this is a short walk it made me feel like I was on a remote place far away from people.

Lac La Jeune Provincial Park, BC

We arrived in the off season and basically just hiked through this huge park. 

Mill Lake Park, Abbotsford, BC

This is another really short trail around a lake but I’m including it because it is within the city limits yet seemed serene and it would be easy to enjoy hiking a second loop around.

Maple Mountain Trail, BC

We found this trail while taking the dogs for a walk. It was a goldmine find! The trail goes straight up into dense forest and branches out to several different trails. We have since learned of two other trailheads for the same mountain but have yet to cover all of the trails here. 

Genoa Bay Rd, BC

This is just a quiet road that roughly follows the water at times taking you through fields and close to the bottom of a cliffs edge. From where we were parked it turned into a 20km day.

Mount Tzouhalem Ecological Reserve, BC

This is another nearby mountain with multiple trails heading to the top. So far we have taken two different routes up but know there are several more to discover.

Cowichan Valley Trail, BC

This is part to the TransCanada Trail and although there are spectacular section of this trail we have only been on a day hike that took us through a fairly flat section (old rail trail). We will go back soon and continue where we left off.

It’s amazon how many places we have hiked this year! 

Trails we found in 2017 Part 1: Ontario

When I started this list I didn’t realize just how many places we had hiked this year and have had to condense the list by only listing one provincial park from each province and even with that the list is still so ridiculously long that I’ve divided it into two parts. Obviously our dogs are happy and we have had an incredible hiking year. Sometimes (as a former thruhiker) a day hike doesn’t seem like much but now I’m wishing I had tracked all those miles.   Here is our list:

The old Molson property in Barrie, Ontario 

Although the factory is gone all of the old trail are still there. It’s a great place to stop and take the dogs for a walk within the city limits.  There is a path from the Cabella’s parking lot or you can park in the old employee parking lot off of Big Bay Rd.

Ardagh Bluffs, Barrie, Ontario

This was an amazing find! Again it was within the city limits yet it felt like we were out in backcountry! The dense forest covered any city sounds and the trails were narrow and hilly! It was the perfect place for a day hike with the dogs!

Springwater Park, Midhurst, Ontario

This is another goldmine for hiking! There are several shorter loop trails totalling 12km of trails. Again perfect for a day hike.

Tiffin Centre for Conservation, Angus, Ontario

This place has amazing trails but was a bit of a nuisance as it had paid parking and the dogs had to be leashes the entire time. It was still a great way to spend a day.

Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville, Ontario

We discovered this trail in February and chose to come back to it a few times during the summer. It’s a multi use trail that follows around a lake and over several bridges to make it around a 12km loop (I think). 

The Tay Trail, Victoria Harbour, Ontario

This is part of the TransCanada Trail and is great because there are so many different trail heads and you could spend days on the trail by just continuing on to the next trail system (many local trails all connect to become part of the TransCanada Trail). We often parked at the Wye Marsh or Ste Marie and hiked to Port McNichol and Victoria Harbour. Sometimes in the evening we would park near the Martyr’s Shrine and Michael would drop me off so that I could take the trail into Midland and meet him downtown at the waterfront (I was trying to hike at least 15km per day). 

Ganaraska Trail, Penetanguishene, Ontario

This is part of a much larger trail and over the year we have enjoyed bringing the dogs here. There is limited parking (which makes it easy for us to decide whether we can have the dogs off leash or not) and there are several little streams or waterways with well built bridges to cross. Potentially we could have hiked for days as this trail connects with the Georgian Bay Trail but this year we stayed on the section between Balm Beach and PENETANGUISHENE. This is a gorgeous trail that starts out hilly with several bridges but ends up on an old railway at some points too close to the road for my comfort. Definitely a do not miss trail to check out. Many locals come here for special event photos as it is beautiful!

Georgian Bay Trail, Collingwood, Ontario

We were on this trail at least twice this year. The first time was out closer to Craigleith and the second time was a hike through town. Both days were enjoyable but it was more of a typical city walk with the dogs leashes the entire way.

City of Orillia Recreation Trails, Orillia, Ontario

Believe it or not Orillia has 29km of trails and for being in a city they are more serene that you would think. We spent a day starting at the waterfront in Orillia and taking the trail system east. We were amazed at how quickly we were in a rural area and soon the dogs were enjoying an off leash romp. I’m not sure how far we went that day but even the dogs were tired by the time we got back to the bus.. 

Algonquin Provincial Park

We hiked on several different trails here on several occasions this summer and enjoyed it every single time. We had a seasonal day pass that allowed us into every Ontario Provincial Park and we used it quite often. Rather than list all of the parks we stopped and hiked in (we were at 23 different provincial parks this year and some of those parks we were at multiple times) I will just say that almost every provincial park has hiking trails and some of them are amazing! It is well worth the cost of a park pass to enjoy the trails (and facilities) Ontario has to offer.

The Bruce Trail, Clearview, Ontario

This is an absolutely gorgeous trail that runs the entire Niagara escarpment. In previous years I have hiked most of it but this year we only did a few day hikes in two different areas. We spend a day hiking near Devil’s Glen Provincial Park on the Bruce and another day early in the year near Hamilton. Both day hikes were amazing in fact most of the Bruce trail I would consider a must see place to hike. 

Thames River Loop, London, Ontario

This was just an 8km loop that followed the Thames downtown and  back. We spent the night near the trail and hiked it in the evening and again the next morning.

Thames Valley Parkway, London, Ontario

An entire day was spent roaming the the hiking/cycling/ rollerblading path system along the Thames and through Springbank Park. We were so impressed with London’s trails!

Ottawa River Pathway, Ottawa,Ontario

I think this was a 30km trail that attached to other trails. We started on another trail in Quebec that led us across a ridge and onto this trail.  Most of it was paved and busy with people but still incredibly enjoyable as it passes several must see sights along the waterfront and up the Rideau Canal. 

Cup and Saucer Trail, Manitoulin Island, Ontario

We spent about half a day here. The trail led us up to the top of some cliffs and followed the top along the edge and through the woods before looping back to go down the same way we went up. 

Bridal Veil Trail, Manitoulin Island, Ontario

This was a short trail started at the water and followed a stream back to an amazing waterfall. 

Waterfront Trail, Sudbury, Ontario

This was an accidental find as we had parked across from Bell Park and needed to take the dogs for a walk. We headed down towards the water and I was happy to find a trail that had the TransCanada logo. As we headed towards the Science Centre the trail switched from pavement to boardwalk and out over the water on a dock/bridge. It was so enjoyable! in the opposite direction the trail leads 
to Rotary Park where we found a swim area, playground, gardens and gazebo. 

Hiawatha Highlands, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario

This was the perfect day hike. There were multiple intersecting trails and I was actually worried that we had taken the wrong trail at one point but it turned out be a great little adventure!

Voyageur Trail, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario

This is a large trail that runs from Sudbury to Thunder Bay but we only did a short day hike on a section of it near Sault Ste Marie. The trail was awesome and I would love to go back and hike the whole thing!

You can find the second half of this list here:
http://www.finding-eden.ca/2017/12/trails-we-found-in-2017-part-2.html

Six Things We’ve Learned Living on a Bus this Year!

This is our first full calendar year living on the bus and what a year it has been! Not only adapting to living in 80 square feet with each other but boxing ourselves in by insulating over all the bus windows last  winter. We’ve learned so much this past year. 

1.  We’ve learned that we can stay warm and survive in crazy, cold weather in a bus. 

We now know how to insulate the floor and walls of the bus to keep it cozy in here without extra heat even at freezing temperatures. With a heater it is still warm inside even at -20C.  

2. We've learned that we actually get along great even in small spaces!  

I think we are much closer and much more in tune with each other now than ever. We often joked about putting other couples we know in a tiny space like ours and imagined how it would turn out.  We still think it would be a great comedy show. I'm not saying that we haven't had any difficulties but that we both agree that we've had a lot less problems than we imagined we would prior to moving on the bus.

 3. We've learned that so much of what we thought we needed is just extra stuff.

Although I had learned most of this a few years ago while thruhiking it really didn't sink in until this year. At the beginning of last year while I was downsizing to live on the bus I was still searching for new matching items for the bus. Yes, it's nice but it is a luxury. It wasn't needed and if I could do it all over again I wouldn't spend so much time or money making everything perfect. In fact, we have downsized the number of items on our bus several times over the past year and a half eliminating most of my extra purchases from last year. Our stuff just isn't that important to us anymore.

4. We are now outsiders. 

We live on the fringe of society stepping in only when we need something or to enjoy an evening with friends. Fairly early on this year Michael noticed how every time we were in a town or city people just scurried around like ants going through the same routine over and over again. From home to timmies to work to dinner to shop and then back home again only to repeat it the next day. I get his point we aren't scurrying around, we aren't in a place long enough to establish daily routines and other than a place to park the bus at night shopping malls are useless to us. We rarely eat out unless it's somewhere special. We don't feel obligated to try to fit fifty things into a day anymore. We move at a snails pace and enjoy every minute of it. Our life doesn't revolve around work or making money or shopping. We don't fit in anymore and that is a good thing!

5. No matter where we go we always find what we need.  

It doesn't matter if we are in a remote area or a big city, it has been easy to find a place to park for the night, a great hang out spot during the day, amazing trails to hike with the dogs, gas, food, washrooms and showers. There is no need to worry about our needs being met. It's kind of been a huge life lesson because so much of our lives prior had been spent working overtime to make sure we had enough and here we are with the least we have ever had and yet everything we need is still available. And we are enjoying life more!

6. No matter where we go we meet interesting people who we would never have had the chance to meet living our former lifestyle.

Thinking back on this past year it's even hard for me to believe how may amazing, different people we met from all walks of life and how much we learned from them! It's funny we have traveled across the country and taken advantage of the free national park pass this year stopping any so many parks, historic sites and museums but we have probably learned more about local history, geography and culture from the locals we met along the way. People everywhere are so friendly When they find out we are crossing the country they always take the time to tell us of the local places to check out, local folklore and even warnings of things not to do. We have enjoyed all of the people we met and Michael has had fun turning their  stories into tales of epic proportions.

Time Flies!

This appeared on my facebook page from three years ago today! I can't believe it's been three years! We spent the first year and a half converting the bus and getting it ready to live in and have actually lived on the bus now for a year and a half!

Here are a few of the early days pictures:

Merry Christmas!

Michael has been promising to put together a video of our cross country trip. Even though he has all of the best pictures on his laptop with him in Ontario (he flew back to visit the kids for Christmas) I decided to beat him to it with the pictures taken with my iPhone. Since he has been away (someone had to stay with the dogs) I have had extra time to play around with video editing apps and here is my effort. I hope you like it!

Genoa Bay

Today we decided to go for a day hike and check out Genoa Bay. It’s only about 10km away but we haven’t gone in that direction yet. I think Michael was a little bit skeptical about walking rather than driving because from here it looks like a pretty steep hill we would have to climb over but I just figured we could always turn around if it was too much effort. Anyway, it turned out to be a really nice walk down a barely used road that followed the the water for the most part but detoured along the bottom of some amazing cliffs. We weren’t actually following the waters edge but we could see water for most of the trip. The few times that we couldn’t were filled with views of giant moss covered cedars and rocks. The entire trip was so relaxing and we ended up at this tiny bay that had a really nice seafood restaurant on the docks. I only went in to get coffees as Michael was stuck waiting outside with the dogs but the host was really helpful and suggested a few more trails nearby for another hike. On our way back On our way back we noticed all the floating houses along the way. They even had tiny frond yards and a sidewalk. I wonder what it would be like living in a floating house? We got back just as it was starting to get dark - perfect timing!

The Naysayers

There are so many people who go through life just “following the rules” and can’t imagine a life other than what society has taught them. They don’t really think for themselves or seem to have any bit of imagination. They can’t relate to you at all when you tell them of your upcoming adventure. They actually panic on your behalf and they think you are crazy. They are the naysayers. They tell you what you are planning is too dangerous and come up with ridiculous examples of what could go wrong. They think you are ruining your life. Some of them actually calculate the dollar value you will be missing out on by taking this adventure. Here’s the funny thing, it doesn’t matter what kind of adventure you are talking about. Five years ago when I was planning an Appalachian thruhike I received comments like “you will be eaten by bears,” or “ you will lose your job,” or “your boyfriend will leave you.” My manager at work actually told me how much income I would be missing out on. When we went to Spain to hike the Camino de Santiago and travel a bit of Europe, I was asked “why would you want to leave Canada? There’s so much to explore here,” and “why are you wasting so much money on travelling?” Since those adventure I have sold my possessions and moved onto a short bus. Again, I was told “it won’t work out, don’t do it,” and “you are throwing away your future,” and “you are going to be homeless.” Right now I am in the midst of planning a Pacific Crest trail thruhike and even though most of my friends know that I have already successfully thruhiked the Appalachian Trail and drastically changed my lifestyle, I have still received a few negative comments. When I talk to others who have chosen a different path than what society expects I am saddened to hear all of the horrible things that have been said to them. It seems that most people are afraid to try anything new and go to lengths to dissuade anybody around them from trying anything even slightly different than what they are accustomed to. I have had an amazing past four years living out my dreams. I wish I had started following my intuition years ago, I would have raised my children so differently. I would have taught them to think for themselves. I would have taught them to do their own thing even if it didn’t look like you could make an income from it. My son wanted to be a rock star and sadly even though he is exceptionally talented I always told him he needed a back up plan. Had I been true to myself, I may have been more receptive to my kids unconventional ideas. I used to allow society to dictate what I thought normal was. For me, that was a terrible mistake! I have missed out on so much! If there is something you have always wanted to try or a goal you have wanted to achieve then go for it! Don’t let our culture or society tell you what you can or cannot do! Don’t let the naysayers ruin this for you! Live your dream! ..... and teach your kids to do the same!

Where to park for the night!

Someone always asks where we stay or how we find places to park for the night or how do we stay safe (which is really the same question). To be honest, we do follow our own little set of rules about where we park. We generally never park in the same place two nights in a row. People may notice we have parked somewhere but rarely will they complain unless we have overstayed our welcome. To avoid this we always park somewhere different every night. While we are travelling we try to get into a town before dark to scope out our options and then come back to our chosen spot as it’s getting dark. This way we can find the best spot as opposed to any old spot and by not arriving too soon we get less attention. If we have to stay in an area for an extended time we chose five or six spots and rotate spending each night at a different location. We easily stayed within a 3km range of where Michael was working last winter just by finding several good spots and changing it up every night. There have been a few occasions where we think we have found the perfect spot to stay but when we are setting up for the night or are out walking the dogs we realize that something just doesn’t seem right, in those rare cases we always move to another locations. We use our intuition. In general we prefer scenic places like overlooks, Parks, beachfronts, trailheads and sometimes dead end roads. It feels really good to have that million dollar view and not be paying a cent for the real estate! If we arrive at a new place too late at night or are unsure of where to stay we settle for Walmart, Cabella’s, tourist information places, Costco, Movie theatres or shopping malls. We aren’t really settling for these spots as there is nothing wrong with any of these places and often they have the advantage of having public washrooms. Even in a commercial parking lot we try to park so that the door of our bus opens up to grass rather than pavement. We prefer to have an amazing 360 view but there is nothing wrong with staying somewhere with amenities. We avoid staying at truck stops only because we know that trucks will be coming and going all night long, some running generators while they are there. Even a Walmart parking lot can be loud with night deliveries and RV’s with generators. We try to park out of the way and away from all the noise.

Changes!

The other day on two completely different forums (one was a hiking group and the other was a skoolie group) almost identical questions were asked. The same day I read my friend’s blog about the changes they were making to their adventure (I will link his blog here because you will want to see what this guy has been up to). It make me think about all of the changes we have made in the past five years and realize that being able to adapt and sometimes even change your goals is not only okay but the right thing to do. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you imagined, sometimes (like my friend ET) you are wearing yourself out and need a break. I will admit that I have been feeling a little bit guilty for going ahead and planning a PCT hike when Michael has compromised on his goals so much so that we can be where we are now. I know he doesn’t regret it and I often hear him telling other people to slow down, smell the roses and think about your priorities try to align them with your lifestyle. I honestly thought that travelling around on our bus would take away my yearning for the trail but it hasn’t. There are similarities to this nomadic lifestyle and hiking but it isn’t quite the same and after hearing of how others have adapted their plans for the best I feel good about this. Because I am being torn in a few different directions right now I will be blogging about a few different subjects. I will continue to write about our adventures (our goal is to explore Vancouver Island while we are here) and I will add more content related to how to make bus life (or van life or RV living) work for you. I am also go by to be writing about my upcoming hike. I have started a journal over at http://www.finding-eden.ca/?m=1 but will still occasionally write about it here too. I realize that not everyone will be interested in everything. If there is something you would like me to write about please send me a message (just leave a comment below). I’m leaving you with ET’s adventure! His website is best seen on a desktop rather than a mobile. Enjoy!
http://ridingwild.org/blog/mamma-mia

Bus Maintenance Checklist

Maintenance
Checklist	Date of Check	Date of Check	Date of Check	Date of Check	Date of Check	Date of Check	Date of Check
Power Steering Fluid Level
Brake Fluid Level
Transmission Fluid Level
Motor Oil Level
Radiator Coolant Level
Windshield Washer Fluid Level
Clean or Change Air Filter
Condition of Serpentine Belt
Condition of Tires and Tire Treads
Tighten Lugnuts
Tire Air Pressure
All Exterior Lights headlights,brake lights, signals, marker lights
Under Bus Inspection for Leaks

How to keep your bus on the road!

I have wanted to talk about bus maintenance for awhile now but because I’m not the one actually doing the maintenance I kept putting it off. This week a good friend of ours has had a lot of vehicle problems and it has reminded me of how important it is to find a potential problem before it happens. This advise can be applied to any vehicle you own but is especially important for the vehicle you live in. I know that in a worst case scenario there are always motels to stay in for a day or two while the bus gets fixed but who budgets for that! It’s easier for us to plan ahead and try to prevent problems. How do we do that you ask? We regularly inspect our bus and make lists. We check the air in our tires and the state of our treads. We look for signs of uneven wear (it’s a sign of front end problems). We check all of the fluids (oil,transmission,power steering, radiator and brake fluid) and do an oil change every 10000km. We check the serpentine belt for cracks, splits or wear. We look under the bus every once in awhile to make sure there are no leaks and that our brake lines aren’t rotting. We listen for new noises and/or new vibrations as these are a good sign of a coming problem. For instance, if you hear a clunking noise as you change gears from forward to reverse you likely have a universal joint that is worn and should soon be replaced. We clean our air filter every once in awhile to make sure everything is running smoothly and we are getting optimal gas mileage. You should clean your air filter even more regularly if you are in the desert or often drive on dusty backroads. We keep a list of things we want to fix or improve on the bus. These aren’t urgent jobs but things we know that we need to do sometime in the near future to prevent a potential problem. For example, recently Michael installed new rotors and brake pads before we had any brake problems. That reminds me, we carry all of the tools we might need to fix most problems that we might have. We also carry some spare parts. This has already come in handy when our serpentine belt started to split while we were heading to the east coast. We caught it before there was a problem and happened to have the spare belt to swap it out with at our convenience rather than on the side of the road. I will put a checklist together in an easy to read format and post it soon. When I asked Michael about maintenance one of the first thing he said was that if you haven’t bought a bus yet, be sure to choose a vehicle that you are familiar with (if you aren’t mechanically talented choose a common chassis that any mechanic anywhere will know how to fix and have access to it’s parts)as much as possible. 

A little history and a big decision!

Four years ago I thruhiked the Appalachian Trail. It changed my life! It changed the way I think about things and what I prioritize. After hiking for almost seven months and living out of my backpack I came home to a house full of stuff I didn’t need or care about anymore. I went to a job I no longer loved just to keep paying for a lifestyle I didn’t even want. It was hard. What made it so much harder was that my partner didn’t hike with me, he didn’t get it. He was great about it and when I had the idea to get a bus and drastically change our lifestyle he jumped in with two feet. We downsized our belongings as he worked on building the furniture to turn a short bus into a home. We didn’t have everything all figured out but adapted along the way. When we moved into the bus we had jobs regular jobs. We liked the paycheques but didn’t like being tied down to one spot. We wanted to travel! We saved up until we thought we had enough and started travelling. When money got low we stopped and worked for a bit. We crossed the country this year! Now we are starting to think about what’s next. The year and a half we have spent on the bus has taught us both so much about what we really want and what we need compared to what we had before. We both still want to travel more and we both realize that when we switch back to a brick and mortar home it will be a tiny home, not that much bigger than what we are living in now. Michael has missed having a workshop. He misses building, making and creating things. I’m hoping that staying here in one place where he has access to a big shop and his choice of jobs that will make all of the difference. For me, I miss the Trail. When we started this adventure I thought that travelling around on a short bus would be the perfect compromise for both of us but it hasn’t changed the fact that I’d love to be hiking. I miss the simplicity of living out of a backpack and living outside. I thought that living on a bus would be comparable but it’s not. Don’t get me wrong, I love living on the bus! But I think I need to take some time away and get back on a trail. That is why I have decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail next year! It’s a big decision and there is so much to do in order to make it happen. But it all starts with a plan. I will be keeping a trail journal again and this is my first entry:

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/579717

7 Ways to Stay Warm on a Bus this Winter!

This winter we are staying in the warmest part of Canada! I’m pretty excited! We aren’t even planning on insulating like we did last winter but we are still getting questions about it. So I thought I would list a few of the things we did to make the bus warm and cozy last winter for any of you who are new to winter bus living.

1. We put down foam rubber flooring over top of our hardwood. We actually used two layers. First we put down those interlocking foam mats (the kind that often come in primary colours for kids playrooms). Next we rolled foam rubber gym flooring over top (I think we bought it at Canadian Tire in the exercise section but I have since found it cheaper and sold by the metre at Princess Auto).

2. We covered all of our side bus windows. We had 1”styrofoam sitting in our storage unit and decided to cut it to fit over our windows all the way down our bus on both sides. Next we bought a few sheets of wood paneling and stuck them over the styrofoam so that our bus looked more like a cozy, wood cabin inside.

3. We bought a Mr. Buddy propane heater. We also bought a 20lb propane tank and all the appropriate hoses and fittings so that we had instant propane available for both our stove and heater at the same time. Oh and we bought a carbon monoxide detector just to be safe. 

4. We bought an insulated sun shade for our front windshield. In retrospect we should have bought two and covered our back windows at night too but we had some leftover foam floor mat that we cut to size for our back windows and just covered them at night.

5. We separated the front cab of the bus from the cozy cabin we had created in the back by hanging a sleeping bag across the front grab bars. If you don’t have a spare sleeping bag a wool blanket would work just as well.

6. We stocked up on hot chocolate and warm treats!

7. We also used common sense when choosing our parking spots each night. We parked out of the wind in the most secluded places we could find. Sometimes the best place to park was right up against a giant snow pile that blocked the wind. 

We were surprised by how warm we kept even on the coldest of nights. We are lucky to have many friends who were concerned and often offered to let us stay in their driveway and plug in if we needed to. Often we would stay on a weekend so that we could have a nice visit. This past winter we learned that we don’t need to worry about keeping warm. I’m not saying that we want to stay in the cold but we don’t have to go south every winter in order to make bus living work. I hope this helps someone stay warm!

Maple Bay

So we’ve been in the same place for over a week now and it’s about time I told you about it. We are staying in Maple Bay and this place is absolutely gorgeous! It’s a sleepy little hamlet that has a small convenience store, Scottish pub, a liquor store and a lot of older houses that are hidden in the trees on the hills. What makes this place so amazing is the landscape! Everything here seems so big! Whether it’s the pines or the maples everything grows taller and bigger than back on Ontario. The mountains and waterfront just add to the beauty. Most mornings there is fog circling the mountains and the tops of the trees and there are trails all over the place! Most of them go straight up and down and make you want to laugh just thinking about hiking them. Other than a few dog walks I have mostly stuck to walking the roads (which also have steep ups and downs) but as soon as I get used to all the extra cardio I will be in the trails. The air is different here. It’s heavy with moisture making it harder for me to breathe. I’ve plugged in our little electric heater to help dry out the air and have left the propane furnace untouched. It’s not cold here but the dampness makes it seem cold. I hope I get used to it! Duncan is the closest town and it is maybe a ten minute drive from here. It has everything I need except for a MEC store (that’s in Victoria). We arrived here at the beginning of the rainy season. We’ve been warned that it will rain every single day now until the beginning of April. So far it hasn’t been that bad. It rained this morning but it’s not raining right now. I’m looking forward to exploring the island. I’d like our first little trip to be to the Cathedral Forest and on to Tofino but I’m willing to wait for a nice day. In the meantime I have just been exploring locally by foot getting used to the windy roads and seeing where they lead.

The Top 6 Questions We Get Asked The Most!

Top things we get asked about travelling on a short bus. Most people have either outright asked us these questions or made statements trying to get answers to these questions. 

1. Q:How do we afford it? Or I would love to do what you are doing but there is no way I could afford it. Are you retired?

A: No, we are not retired but we have downsized our lives so that we require less money to live this lifestyle. We sold and/or gave away almost everything we have and only have the bills associated with travelling (gas, food & entertainment). We still have an internet & call phone bills and also pay for a small storage unit filled with Michael’s tools.

2. Q: How much does it cost to travel? 

A: This is such a difficult question to answer because of all of the variables. In general, the slower we travel the cheaper it is (gas is our biggest expense). We both enjoy natural landscapes so a walk on the beach or through the woods are always free but there are occasions where we spend on admissions (museums, science centres...). Everyone who travels will have their own special interests and hobbies requiring different amounts of money. Some months we have spent $1000 others have cost us $3000. 

3. Q: How haven't you killed one another in that tiny space? Or I can't imagine living in a small space like that with my spouse especially with two large dogs. 

A: We have both been surprised at how easily we adapted to this lifestyle. When we first moved on the bus and I was still working I know that Michael often felt frustrated with babysitting the dogs. Once I stopped working it got al lot easier. In general we do best while we are actually travelling and seeing new things as opposed to hanging around an area too long. 

4. Q: How do you get privacy? 

A: While it is more difficult to get privacy in a big city there is almost always a neglected park or secluded spot nearby. Sometimes just pulling into a community centre parking lot gives us the space we need. We love being able to let the dogs loose without leashes so we are pretty good at finding those remote safe spots.

5. Q: Where do you stay? Or how do you find places to stay in areas you aren't familiar with? 

A: We have stayed all over the place! When we are familiar with the area or have arrived in enough daylight to do a tour of the town, we always look for the most scenic places to stay for the night. Sometimes that is a beautiful park or a waterfront lot, other times it’s a trailhead where we can easily walk the dogs. There are several occasions where we have just pulled into a Walmart, Cabella’s or Tourist Information parking lot for the night.

6. Q:Are you ever going to settle down? Are you going to do this indefinitely? 

A: Probably not! No one really know their future. If you had asked me if I would ever life this lifestyle a decade ago I would have probably laughed at you. We will likely keep some aspects of this lifestyle for the rest of our lives (never owning a crazy amount of stuff, never owning a giant house...). But I think once we have travelled most of North America and decided where we like it best we will settle down and built a tiny house. Part of the adventure is not knowing what is going to happen next!

We made it!

We took our time today, moving slower with the knowledge that we would be on the island in Duncan before the day was over. We beat the snow and bad weather and made it all the way across the country this year! I still regret not making it to Newfoundland but we will get there. We spent a few hours waiting for the ferry and then another few hour on the ferry and then another hour waiting for Michael's friend to get home from work but we are here! This place is beautiful (I will post pictures in the next few day). We celebrated with too much red wine and Michael is already sleeping off his three glasses of wine. Good night World!

Another day in Abbotsford

This morning we headed to Mill Lake Park to take the dogs for a walk. The place was small but really nice (we could easily walk around the lake in half an hour). It almost made us forget we were in a big city. Almost. The sounds of construction kind of ruined the serenity but everyone we met along the trail was friendly and it was nice to see Melkie back to his old self being loud and obnoxious and wanting to chase every single bird he saw. We enjoyed the rest of the day with Michaels brother and wife not leaving until after dark. We decided to pull the Barking Bus into a Pets Mart parking lot and call it a night! Good night!

Abbotsford

We woke up in a beautiful spot but I was uneasy. I had an awful dream that I'm sure is attached to this place somehow. It was beautiful though and we took our time before we left. We were only on the road for about an hour before we stopped at a rest area for a pancake breakfast. Michael took over the driving and soon we were driving into Hope where we gassed up and continued on to Abbotsford. We arrived in Abbotsford and walked the dogs before heading over to visit with Michaels's brother. Unfortunately, we had just missed them (we didn't know it at the time but his brothers cell phone had been destroyed earlier in the week and he hadn't received any of our messages). We headed to the local Walmart where I picked up a few things to make a thanksgiving dinner and while we were waiting to hear from his brother we met this interesting guy from Labrador. He has spent the last three years travelling back and forth across Canada picking up work whenever he needed money. We ended up hanging around the Walmart parking lot listening to music and sharing our pumpkin pie with our new Newfie friend. If someone had of told me that I would be sitting here doing this a few years ago, I would have laughed at them. Good night World!

British Columbia!

Everything about today was perfect! We woke up with a view of the mountains out the window and and 24 hour washrooms at the casino (sometimes that's really important). We decided to check out Bow Valley Provincial Park while we were here and we were surprised by how many people were camping. Next stop was Dead Man's Flat. It's a tiny little town just before Canmore. After a quick drive through the small town we headed on to Canmore. Canmore is gorgeous! It's surrounded by mountains and just looks like an amazing place to live. We drove through the town slowly and found a place to park and hang out while I made breakfast. Our next stop was Lake Louise. As we parked it started snowing and it was pretty cold. I was still enjoying myself but when Michael asked if I was done I realized that he was freezing and it was time to go. Prior to the snow the views of the mountains were amazing but while it was snowing we could hardly see the mountains. Soon the sun was back out and everything was gorgeous again. We stopped at multiple look out spots and took lots of pictures. I wasn't really paying attention (because I knew we were staying on Hwy 1) and was surprised when we saw the sign for British Columbia! I can't believe we've made it this far! It's so much easier to drive when the landscape changes constantly and there is so much to see! I kept trying to take pictures while driving and playing with rear view mirror shots. As we were nearing Roger's Pass Michael noticed the pine trees covered in ice at the top. They looked like giant bristle brushes! We stopped when we got to Revelstoke National Park and walked the 1km boardwalk through the woods. So many of the giant cedars had died and were rotting on the ground but it was still an amazing place to see. We had brought the dogs with us for our Lake Louise side trip as well as for our walk in the woods and today is the first day Melkie has been able to keep up. I'm so glad he's getting better! Revelstoke is gorgeous! We could easily live here! The water, the mountains, it has everything we need! We continued this line of thought for the rest of the day as the road followed the the water and each new spot we saw was better than the last. Salmon Arm was another absolutely beautiful spot we could easily imagine staying! As it got dark I made the mistake of staying on the TransCanada when I should have started heading south. It was a little frustrating because I turned around and ended up on a giant highway with speeds of 120 driving in the dark when I just wanted to find a spot to stop for the night. It all worked out though, I soon saw a picnic sign and followed it to arrive at Lac La Jeune Provincial Park. We are parked right next to the lake! After another late dinner and dishes it's time for bed. It's been a long amazing day!   

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