Our crazy pineapple crew has been planning and very excited about our first international trip as a family. There were to be many firsts during this trip. The first multiple travel day trip. The first time for us boondocking. The first trip crossing an international land border since 9/11. Our first visit to Canada. We had dreamed about this trip for a very long time!
The Journey North
We left our previous assignment in Georgia bright and early on Friday morning. While we didn’t schedule any campgrounds, we did have general areas in which we would like to stop for the night. On the first night, we made it to Lexington, KY. We scouted out ahead of time that
Welcome to Tennessee! Welcome to Kentucky! Kentucky Beautiful scenary in Kentucky!
Saturday morning, we got on the road and started driving. Our initial plan was to stop around Cleveland, OH and Erie, PA. By the time we got there, it was only about 3PM and still in the heat of the day. Without a generator and temperatures in the 90’s, stopping at that point did not sound pleasant at all. We hit New York and noticed the interstate we were on was a toll road. I started looking at the map and noticed that Hwy 5 ran right beside Lake Erie. We jumped off the interstate and took Hwy 5 all the way to Buffalo, NY. What a beautiful drive! Most of drive was wide 2 lane, newly paved road with views of Lake Erie to our left and tons of vineyards along the way. It was an extremely relaxing and enjoyable drive.
Vineyards on Hwy 5 Philip and I at a Lake Erie boat landing Our family with Lake Erie behind us
Once we got to Buffalo, we didn’t realize how close we were to cross the border at Peace Bridge. Remember that we had not planned to cross the border on Saturday. As we are following the directions, we realize that we were getting really close and there was no place to pull over and get our passports out. We pulled up to the border crossing. The agent asked for our passports. Philip had to tell him that they were still in the trailer. I opened my truck door and went to jump out. The agent yelled at me, “Ma’am! Get back in the truck NOW!” I complied. When he was done asking all of his questions, he escorted Philip back to the trailer to get the passports. I thoroughly expected him to search the trailer, but he didn’t. He let us go on. That night we Wallydocked at the Wal-Mart in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It was a popular spot that night! There were approximately 25 rigs in the parking lot that night.
Buffalo The border crossing at Peace Bridge
Our Time in Canada
Sunday morning, we continued our trek north. We stopped at had our first Tim Horton’s for breakfast. The coffee was yummy and the donuts were sweet. We visited our second Canadian Wal-Mart after lunch at our first A&W. The scenery was so gorgeous in Canada! Lots of green fir trees, lots of lakes and lots of rock faces along the highways. About 5:30 PM, we finally made it to our destination, Sid Turcotte Park, along the beautiful Ottawa River.
Tim Horton’s Our rig at our second Canadian Walmart
Monday through Wednesday we spent the majority of our time relaxing and preparing for the rally. Tuesday night, the dads had Dad’s Night Out. Wednesday night was the moms’ turn. In between, Philip and I spent time at evening campfires, potlucks, planning our activities for the youth, taking a boat ride down the Ottawa River, exploring Mattawa, and going out to eat with the other rally attendees for poutine. You don’t know what poutine is? Here’s how the restaurant’s menu list it.
Quebec across the Ottawa River Mattawa river boat ride pics Very cool totem pole
The rally began Thursday with the opening ceremonies, volunteer meeting, Fulltime Families Lifetime Member ice cream social, a budgeting seminar that I led, a homeschooling seminar, kid’s activity, s’mores bar & youth scavenger hunt. Friday brought Coffee Talk, the kids & adult marketplace, the parade of homes, a campfire hotdog roast with Canadian sides, the youth service auction, and a youth s’mores roast. Saturday, with Coffee Talk, an RV maintenance seminar, field hockey, a youth activity, a fur exhibit, group photo, traditional Canadian meal, closing ceremonies, and a Canadian dance party.
A foggy Mattaw River morning Just about the same vantage point Youth game of Apples to Apples Crushed playing goalie for field hockey Tidbits enjoying a s’mores during the glow party
What exactly is a traditional Canadian meal? Peameal sandwiches, coleslaw, ketchup chips, and Canadian Little Debbie snacks. Peameal is a lean cut of pork back loin that has been pickled and rolled in cornmeal. It’s then sliced thin and fried. It’s very similar to Canadian bacon and delicious! We brought several big pieces home with us. Sunday morning started off with church service followed by a donut send off to officially end the rally. Sunday night, we hosted a “Breakfast for Dinner” social at our house.
Breakfast for Dinner Social we hosted Breakfast for Dinner Social we hosted
Monday and Tuesday, we spent the majority of our time at the laundry mat and packing up. We soaked up every few minutes of friends and fellowship. We had our last couple of evening campfires and potlucks. YES! Rallies are so much fun, but the real friendship and bonding is created in those days before and after the rally when everyone is just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company. Tuesday night’s campfire conversation was particularly important to us. It really caused Philip and I to sit back and evaluate our future plans and made us think.
Downtown Mattawa Downtown Mattawa These pics are from a local park/picnic area Philip & I visited
Wednesday morning, we finished packing up and said our final goodbyes. Wednesday afternoon we pulled out and headed back to Niagara Falls, Ontario. While we had gone through Niagara Falls on the way up, we did not actually get to go and see the falls. That was definitely on our agenda on the way back. We found our way to Skylon Towers. It’s a tall tower just off of the falls district. They have gift shops, on restaurants and an observation tower. We had dinner at their buffet restaurant and then went up on the observation deck. The people at Skylon were very gracious hosts and allowed us to boondock in their parking lot that night. After dinner, we walked down to the falls and walked all around. The one thing that I was really amazed about had nothing at all to do with the falls. Yes, the falls were definitely amazing. There are skunks running around all over Niagara Falls, Ontario. I haven’t seen many skunks in my lifetime that weren’t dead. We saw several that night, including one very close up.
Niagara Falls, ON from the top of Skylon Towers The small falls from the top of Skylon Towers The big falls from the top of Skylon Towers Crushed was NOT excited about this elevator ride to the top. The little falls The big horseshoe falls Our family One of the many skunks in Niagara Falls, ON They pretty much let you walk right up to them. We did witness one lady chasing one. He finally had enough and lifted his tail. She didn’t stick around after that.
What Goes Up, Must Come Down
We got on the road bright and early Thursday morning. Again, we managed to cross the border with no complications and no searches. We made sure to have our passports in the truck this time! After crossing the border, we made our way back to Hwy 5 and ended up taking it all the way through New York, Pennsylvania and down into Ohio. Our plans were to get to a Harvest Host spot in Morrow, OH by 6 PM Thursday night. If you have traveled much, you know that traveling and plans typically don’t go hand and hand, especially when kids are involved. We made it to Morrow at 6:05 and immediately discovered the need for an ER visit. Off we went to Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati for Tidbits to have a minor surgery. Late that night, we ended up Wallydocking very close to an IHOP so that we could get some dinner after pretty much everything else had closed.
Friday morning, we slept in. We were so exhausted! We woke up at the Thursday and did not get settled in until about 2 AM Friday. We finally got on the road at 3 PM We had 2 days to make the final trek back to our next assignment, but decided onto make the big push to try and get there. The park had given us a spot free for Friday night and we had things to do Saturday. So we drove through parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. After 12 long hours of driving, we finally made it to our destination at 11:30 PM.
Welcome to Georgia!
Our Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a FABULOUS trip! We pushed ourselves and our limits of time in our travels, but we learned a ton about our patience and persistence. The nights of boondocking without AC were uncomfortable, but we made it. We forged new fulltime friendships and strengthened existing friendships. We will definitely be returning to Canada for Fulltime Families Canada Rally 2019, if not before!
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