Wednesday Wanderings: Summer Camping

This time of year, during these warm summer days I love to think back on all of the beautiful places that we camped and visited during our summers in BC. There was so much to see and do there, that we both know we'll inevitably be back one day - whether it's to live or just to visit.

One thing I loved about last summer was our little Boler travel trailer that Brett had purchased for us to camp in. It was by no means luxurious, but it made it so much easier to camp comfortably with a preschooler and a baby. We made two trips last summer to Ross Lake, and Nolan was only 6 weeks old during our first visit. 

The campsite is located just outside of Hope, BC on the border of the United States. There are actually campsites located on the American side, which are only accessible by car if you drive through Canada. Last summer we camped in both the Canadian and American campgrounds, and had great experiences both times.

The campgrounds are nestled within the North Cascades mountains, placing the American side within the National Park. I never realized this last summer, and was one of the things I learned using our National Geographic Road Atlas.  

Our first trip we stayed in the Canadian campground and the second time we camped on the American side. Both campgrounds are on a first come, first served basis and we had great sites during both trips. The only difficult part about making the journey to Ross Lake is the hour long drive along a dirt road. If something happens (which it did to our friends son), you have a long drive to any sort of medical care. It's also not a great spot to camp if you can't handle mosquitos, there can be quite a lot, especially during the late summer.

However, it's quiet and a great family camping spot. The water is great for swimming and it's also perfect for recreation like hitting the water in a canoe or kayak.

Despite having a small travel trailer, camping with a baby was not always easy but we had a great time during both of our visits to Ross Lake last summer. Great memories were made with great friends, and we are so glad we had the chance to make both trips with them during our last summer on the west coast. 

Back On the Road

I've spent some time recently thinking about this blog and how I've been sharing our adventures. As I begin documenting our adventures from this most recent road trip, I've decided to try to do so as less of a "diary" and more of a reflection on what we've seen and done and got out of our experiences. I hope I can accurately share some of these awesome places we've seen.

This road trip felt very different from our first. I think we learned quite a bit during our first leg about the things we liked and things we didn't. For sure we spent more time in National Parks and in a "camping" environment, rather than always staying in RV parks. We started off on a really high note, visiting a place that has been on my bucket list for a long time - Banff National Park!

If you've never gone I urge you to make an effort to see this natural wonder. The trees, the mountains, the clear blue water - all of it is so stunning! We made a solid drive from the afternoon we left BC to arrive at Lake Louise in less than 24 hours. We decided to camp at the Lake Louise campground and I'm so glad that we did. The views at the lake were stunning in both cloud and sunshine. There's something about the mountains and water that just make me feel alive and happy. 

Halle took every opportunity she had to stick her hand into the water, and she was beyond impressed by how blue it was. Even Nolan would squeal with excitement every time he saw the water. 

It was nice to see the mountains surrounded in clouds, the moodiness of it. The clouds and cool temperatures during that afternoon kept the crowds away as well. The following day we visited both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in the sun and it was even more breathtaking being able to see those impressive peaks beyond the lakes edge. There is just something about snowy peaks that make me feel at home. As much as we are headed to the east coast, my heart will always remain in the mountains!

While Lake Louise is far easier to travel around with walking paths and boardwalks, Moraine Lake had a much more lovely view, residing in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. I was so glad that Brett insisted we see both lakes in the sun before we packed up camp.

Our second visit to Lake Louise was much shorter - just to get a sunny view of it and a family photo. I was so thankful that we asked the kind stranger we did to take a photo of us. He knew his way around my camera and captured my favourite family photo from all of our travels. Even Halle wanted to pose all on her own, and I loved the photos I captured of my little beauty in front of this natural Canadian wonder. 

Exploring the remainder of Banff took my breath away. The scenic highway through the park to the town of Banff was beautiful. Lucky for us we had a napping baby and enjoyed the towering trees and clear blue rivers and lakes. Again, it was the mountains that most won me over. I'll never tire of snow covered peaks set against a brilliant blue sky.

I wish we'd had more time to spend in the area - especially to head further north to see the Ice Fields and Jasper. We didn't get to hike as much as we'd like either, but that is something that we are often limited to with such small kids. Halle's little legs can't always handle the distance or inclines that Brett and I would like to do. We've agreed that we will need to revisit these iconic Canadian parks in the Rockies when the kids are a little older, so we can see and experience more than we did during our short visit at the end of May.

Nolan most definitely is our little bottomless pit!

The view out our trailer door at Chain Lakes Provincial Park in Alberta

We made a few more stops north of the border in Alberta. Stopping in Canmore for some beer and small bites and then camping at Chain Lakes Provincial Park south of Calgary. We had a beautiful campsite with grassy vistas, and a quiet place to camp during the rain storm that rolled in. I love that on rainy nights we'll gather around our dinette to play a game with Halle. We definitely make the most of rainy evenings, turning them into quality family time instead of time around the TV. I love those silly bonding moments where we all laugh and enjoy ourselves. 

After a restful night we had the most incredible experience at Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta. The Park is actually an extension of Glacier National Park in Montana, and not only are the views incredible, but the wildlife is very cool as well. We took a drive into the Bison enclosure and had our first experience with these huge animals. We had no clue what the rest of our trip had in store for us, so we were excited to see these animals up close and personal in Alberta. (We remained in our car and always kept a safe distance from them... don't worry).

Oh Alberta! Those majestic Rockies, blue water and wildlife won us over! There's so much we haven't seen in the province, but we know that won't be our only visit there. I'm just glad we made it before we left behind the West Coast...

Reflecting on Life on the Road

Well, I'd say this post is long overdue as it's been almost three months since we left behind our home in British Columbia to embark on life on the road. Over these two months I have had a lot of time to think about what this journey means to not only me, but also to our family. 

Nolan loves being thrown in the air! {Washington - April)

When we first left BC I thought to myself, "what if we made a mistake?", but since that first time that question honestly hasn't crossed my mind since. There was some adjusting for me to things like showers in the trailer and sometimes at RV resorts (not always as nice as showering in your own home) and laundry at RV resorts (we've had some iffy incidents), but overall I adjusted better than I had expected. At the end of the day, the adventure and time together outweighs anything that we may perceive as a negative.

Back in BC - May 2016

We're still working on living with less. I mean, we did sell the majority of our stuff, but some things didn't sell and some things we wanted to keep for when we do settle down in one place again. Since we're unsure of where we will end up, we've managed to fill a 5x10 storage unit until we find our home. 

As we go, things have left the trailer as well. Living with access only to a small closet, both Brett and I have realized we only wear a very curated collection of clothing. We definitely don't need as much as we had before. Out of season clothes are stored under our bed in suitcases and then our small selection of favourite seasonal clothes are in our closet. 

It's harder with children, we don't want to, nor can we force Halle to get rid of things that she loves, but considering she is only four she is very good at donating items she no longer loves or plays with. She got a lot of nice toys while we were in Florida, and once we got back to BC her and I went through all of her toys and she picked a lot to donate which lightened the load a little. This has also helped us to realize how little they need. Halle uses her imagination far more when we are just out in nature hiking and exploring the natural world around us. 

Nolan loves finding sticks and rocks and just playing in the dirt

We still have a long way to go before we are truly "minimalists". You can't just get rid of all of your stuff overnight, it takes time and effort but we'll get there since our focus at the moment is our family. 

To me the best part is the adventure, the unknown and the time spent together. As I have mentioned previously most days we start out and see where we end up. Brett drives and I keep my eyes on the Road Atlas to direct us to our next destination. 

Halle had a blast fishing at the trout farm we camped at in Mission, BC back in early May

When I think of life before everything changed, I know that we were happy. Life had found a happy routine for the most part but Halle and I missed Brett on those long days that he was at work. Is that "normal"? Yes, for most people, but it's not the life we want to live anymore. In the months surrounding Brett leaving his job a lot happened to remind us just how short and precious life can be - so why aren't we together enjoying it and doing the things that we love? Will we spend the rest of our life on the road travelling? No, probably not. Will we find jobs we love that still give us plenty of time together and to see great places? YES! Will we spend money on travel and experiences instead of "things" and "stuff" that take up time and space! Absolutely! That will always remain our focus moving forward.

Hiking at Rolley Lake Provincial Park in BC

Admittedly, not every day is perfect. Somedays we are tired and cranky, and somedays our children are a handful to deal with... just like any other kid. Our lives are still not "perfect", but we are all so much happier at the moment. We're exploring and seeing sights that some people may never see in their lifetime. For that, we are extremely thankful. 

Rolley Lake Provincial Park in BC

The other day I said to Brett, "At the end of each year, I always wonder how the next year will top it! I really didn't think 2016 could be better than 2015, but look at this! How could 2017 possibly be any better?". Yes, we still have half a year ahead of us to enjoy and soak up... but I'm already intrigued to see how our future plays out after this. All I know, is we'll continue to live it to the fullest.

A Place that will Always Feel like Home

This time four years ago I was preparing for our move to the West Coast from Toronto. I was excited, nervous, anxious and unsure about this big change that we were making. I knew that there would be adventures and struggles, and sure enough we got all of that and more. Way more than we ever could have bargained for.

The Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park during our first visit - March 2012

Making the choice to move across the country with a 9 month old was not easy. At the time I was excited to live somewhere new, especially somewhere as beautiful as BC. Neither of us had been to the west coast prior to our decision to move, but we knew we were in for wonderful things. What we didn't expect were the friends that we would make in our time here - only 4 short years. 

We met friends on the ball field (LOTS of friends) who filled our days with laughs and our summers and weekends with awesome adventures. We met friends in classes and at the farmer's market, and while in Mission we really made this place feel like home. We can go out to eat, be in the grocery store or at the farmers market on the weekend and our trips always take longer than planned because we run into a friendly face we want to catch up with. We will miss ALL of the faces and places that we have come to know so well.

A stroll on China Beach, Vancouver Island - August 2014

I will miss the snow capped mountains just outside of our front door, and being on the river in the summer with friends. I'll miss the drive to the dairy in the summer for ice cream with the family, and a winter that never really comes.

Taken during a BBQ on the beach in February 2013

The first year out here I really struggled. I felt so alone at home with a toddler, almost trapped some days with no one to talk to while Brett was at work. There were days that I cried and felt so lonely, but things began to change as we settled into a new home, in a new town and a new neighbourhood. I got involved with things that I loved and I met so many amazing people. All of this feels so hard to leave behind, but at the same time I know that this new adventure will bring us more wonderful things just like moving to BC did.

In four years we made the most of our time in BC. I look back on photos and can't believe all of the hikes we went on and the beautiful places that we had the opportunity to visit. I know we've barely scratched the surface, but that's only more reason for us to be back to visit... or possibly even live one day.

In my 30 years, I've learned that life will take unexpected twists and turns. You need to learn to roll with the punches and make the most of each and every situation. When the difficult strikes, we come together instead of letting it tear us apart and we try to look at the positives. We always try to find the positives and it helps us through those hard times. That's exactly what we've done. Brett losing his job was a big shock, but it was also an eye opener for us. We're ready for something more, even if it means leaving a lot behind. This isn't new to us, and together we'll go on an adventure of a lifetime.

Golden Ears Park - July 2013

As hard as it is to leave the home where Nolan was born, and all of our friends in this beautiful province, we have a wide open road ahead of us. To me, BC will always feel like home and we hope that one day we will return. It all depends on what road life will lead us down next. So as we drive away from our second home today, it's not "good-bye", it's "see you soon"!

Wednesday Wanderings: The Beaches in Tofino

Leaving BC this spring will be hard, especially with all of the wonderful friends that we have made here. It is not made any easier knowing that we have yet to see and do all that we'd like to. British Columbia is such a big, beautiful province and there is an endless list of places to visit and activities to take part in.

We did our best to see as much as possible in our 4 years here, and last summer I was thrilled to visit the #1 spot on my BC bucket list - Tofino. In August, we ventured to Vancouver Island to explore and camp in our 1979 Boler travel trailer. The first destination on that trip was Tofino, followed by an afternoon in Ucluelet. 

After a long day of travelling, we arrived at Crystal Cove campground for the night. While the rest of BC was under a campfire ban, this was not the case in Tofino as it sits in a fog zone. From the moment we arrived we could smell the campfires and could not wait to get our own roaring, with the firewood provided.

Our first full day in Tofino, Brett went off on a fishing trip while I stayed behind with the kids to play and explore.

Halle could've played all day here... and pretty much did. I enjoyed the free Starbucks coffee, while the baby napped in the carrier and my big girl played happily.

The resort was so kid friendly and Halle loved riding her bike around, especially when we rode it down to the beach. With the baby in the carrier I was able to play with her in the sand, but really enjoyed sitting and watching her run in and out of the waves, getting soaked and shrieking with excitement. She is so happy when we are out in nature and it makes me so anxious to begin our road trips in the trailer.

At every turn I was totally blown away by all of the natural beauty in Tofino. Whether it was sunny or foggy it was stunning - rugged rocks, crashing waves, lush trees. It felt like a dream come true finally sitting on these beaches and enjoying every second of it with my family.

Our second day in Tofino was a full family day. We spent most of the afternoon exploring the tiny town on foot, taking in the views and stopping into little shops along the way. We picked up a lovely kite for Halle in Mermaid Tales Bookshop and she could not get enough of flying it with Brett when we got back to the beach.

Tofino is totally the type of place you want to explore on foot. It is small and you'll miss everything if you just stay in your vehicle. Make sure to walk along the public docks to get some great views of the water, then explore the small shops and fantastic restaurants in town. One of my favourite places we stopped into was Eagle Aerie Gallery, which showcases the stunning work of Roy Henry Vickers. Brett and I love to collect artwork as a memento from our travels, so of course we had to grab a reproduction piece from the gallery to remind us of our time in Tofino.

The next morning we packed up, ready to head on to our next destination. As we headed down the road, away from Tofino we decided to make a stop in Ucluelet for lunch and to take in the views. While the restaurants were nothing compared to the food we ate in Tofino, it was the beach that we spent the afternoon on that made that stop worthwhile. 

The sky was clear, and the beach was small but other people were gathering to enjoy the beautiful day. Behind us a wedding was setting up, and I knew there could be no better location (or day) for two people to start the rest of their lives together. Imagine the photos from that wedding?

As we headed back to the trailer, we came across a friend in the parking lot. A lone deer, searching for food. We stood very still and watched as he calmly strolled past us. 

My favourite memories though, remain the moments we spent playing on those stunning sandy beaches. Halle's squeals of delight and the crashing waves, while Nolan slept on my chest. These are the moments we live for, and these are the moments I feel most alive. I hope that in some way she has at least small memories of these travels, because as great as photos are it's the feelings you have when you spend time together that are the most special.

I'm really looking forward to more barefoot, messy sand adventures in the months ahead.