Here is a photo of our new home before we moved in! It has the capabilities to be completely off-grid with solar panels which charge batteries to power the elec- trical outlets, lights, fridge, and micro- wave along with propane to cook with and heat water. We absolutely love the wooden interior and the entire set up so we will share more in the future (once we know exactly how it all works hahaha). Quinn and I started our journey with a trial run to test out Hugo, our van, which started in Ottawa and ended in Edmonton, the feeling of finally being on the road is exhilarating yet a little terrify- ing all at the same time. The first two days went smoothly. We purposefully planned to make the drive along Lake Superior during the day so we could enjoy the stunning views. We stopped in Wawa, Ontario to see the big Canadian goose and in White River to see Winnie the Pooh to spice up the trip. We slept at picnic or rest stop areas just off the highway along the route. On day three, we hiked Sleeping Giant near Thunder Bay where we had an inter- esting experience. We walked through mud, knee deep snow, and a mini Lake Superior. We persevered and trudged several kilometers before encountering an untraversable pond and needed to turn around. To look on the bright side, it was nice to get out of the van and explore a new area plus we had a great sleep that night! Before leaving Ontario, we stopped for the obligatory fries with salt and vinegar from a chip truck and to see Huskie and Muskie in Kenora. Then we had our bumpiest day of driving... on our mission to find the cheapest gas along the route, we crossed the bridge with the most potholes in all of Ontario (could be proven wrong though). After that, we sped through Manitoba and Sas- katchewan and into Alberta where I was intro- duced to the big blue sky, tumbleweeds, bison, and all the typical prairie things. In the mean-
while, we followed an unkept dirt road for a good half hour because Google Maps knows all the best short cuts. Google Maps has many useful functions like the most fuel-efficient route, the least amount of traffic, no tolls, etc. but it also has the power to lead you astray. We spent a week in Alberta, including four jam- packed days in Edmonton, so Quinn could drop off all of her belongings, along with her cat, Lili, and her worms, affectionately named, The Wiggles. It also gave Quinn and I the ability to enjoy quality time with Quinn’s family and friends. Plus it was a treat to have full kitchen and laundry amenities, things you take for granted when not on the road. We did a brewery tour (Irrational, Arcadia, Odd Company, and Brown’s - would recommend them all), made Mother’s Day pancake brunch, and managed to fit in a bit of sight-seeing and a trip to West Edmonton Mall. We had a big to-do list
to prepare for the summer ahead and a list of things to borrow or buy to make our travels a little smoother. With help from Gary and Tony, family friends of Quinn’s, we figured out our plumbing and electrical systems in Hugo and were feeling confident enough to hit the road and continue our excellent summer adventure heading to Red Deer and then onto Calgary! One cute story I’d like to share is when we bought a fold up camping table from a lady on Facebook Marketplace. When we arrived, she gave us a quick tutorial on how to assemble the table and I mentioned that it will be perfect for our upcoming road trip. She asked where we were headed and when she discovered we were going up North, she was adamant we should go to the Northwest Territories. She was enthusias- tic about how beautiful it was in Inuvik where she frequently visits and that the Dempster Highway was well traveled and loved by many so we would have no issues. In the hours following our con-
versation, we did some research and she defi - nitely made us recon- sider our route and even more excited for what’s to come – from meeting more people like her, to seeing these landscapes first-hand. Travelling south to Cochrane, a small town right between Calgary and the Rockies, for a visit with a close friend of Quinn’s, Grace (and her parents), who Quinn hasn’t seen for the past three years when she moved to Cochrane and Quinn hadn’t had a chance, so you know that this was one of our must stop destination of our adventure.
121 MAY/JUNE 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
120 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MAY/JUNE 2022
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