To reserve or not reserve

One of the most common questions I have been asked is, "Did you make reservations, or are you just going to going to find places to stay as you go?"  This is closely related to the second question, "Have you been planning this for a long time?"

Well, we rented out our house, and as of August 1, we will be leaving Sioux Lookout, travelling across Canada, through a good chunk of the United States, up through most of Central America, not returning home for eleven and a half months.

I rather like knowing where I am going to sleep at night...kind of takes the stress out of things.  So yes, we have reservations.  62 of them in fact.  On a spreadsheet.  With confirmation numbers.

14 campground reservations for this fall in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes.  3 one-way flight reservations.  4 month-long reservations for quality properties on VRBO, 12 reservations for hotel-type properties on airbnb, hotels.com, booking.com, and expedia.  One 4 day car rental. 4 short stays with friends and relatives.  A reservation (or rather a commitment) to work and stay at a kids camp in Costa Rica, and 24 campground reservations for our epic US/Canada West Coast journey. We will also need to make a few ferry reservations, and reservations for state, provincial and national parks that are not yet available for booking. Google is my friend.

11 years ago when our union negotiated the first contract with ornge, I photocopied the self-funded leave of absence clause from the Ontario teachers and asked our bargaining reps to include it in our collective agreement because I hoped to travel "some day".  8 years ago when we bought our lake house, we committed to paying our mortgage quickly so we could afford to take the pay cut to fund this trip.  3 years ago, I began making 25% payroll contributions to a trust fund.  This fund now contains 75% of my regular pay and will be our source of income for the next year while we travel.  So yes, we have been planning this for a while.

Our most expensive campsite reservation is for the San Francisco RV Resort for $77 USD/night.  It's high on a seaside cliff.  Site dimensions are 12x36ft.  Need more than 36 ft (including vehicle length)?  That will be $100 USD/nt.   Runner up is the Capillano RV park in North Vancouver for $70 CAD...but the location is awesome...just across a bridge and less than 3 km from Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium.



There is a vague mathematical formula at work, I'm sure.
Campsites = 1/3 cost of a local hotel.

The Hampton Inn Thunder Bay might be $120...campsites at Towbridge Falls in Thunder Bay =$40.  A decent hotel in San Francisco or North Vancouver will set you back $250-300, so it makes sense, I guess, that campsites in places with high real estate costs are pricey.

In contrast, our cheapest hotel is the Tequila Sunrise B&B in Guatemala City.  $32/night for a family of four and it includes pancake breakfast. The property also includes shared kitchen facilities for cooking other meals. It is secure and located in a safe area.  I hope.



I was pleased to book flights from Costa Rica to Guatemala for $32. Double that with taxes of course, but still, it beats a 3 day bus ride, which would have cost $89/pp.

We also have a Thursday night reservation for a suite at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino in Vegas for $36.  This includes unlimited family trips up the tower (normally $15/pp).  It's cheaper to stay there than to go up the tower or stay at the RV park. Crazy.  The same hotel costs triple on the weekend.



Finally, our best value property of all has to be the Pasajcap Resort in San Marcos, Guatemala.   Designed and managed by Pierre, a French Architect, it is minimalist with all white, wood, and stone.  It has floor to ceiling windows with jaw dropping views of Lake Atitlan and two volcanoes.  At $800 for the month of March, this 2 bed/1bath condo costs just $25/night.  I live on the lake with a fantastic view of Sioux Mountain, and I cannot believe this place.  So exciting.





So yeah, I've been planning for a while.

I'm off to work my last night shift.

by the zipline...

Today is brought to you by...

Remember when, as a child, you watched Sesame Street and it would say something like this "Today is brought to you by the letter C and by the number 19"....

If we had sponsors for our year away...today would be brought to you by Command Strips, black out fabric from our local Dori's sewing studio and Gorilla double sided tape.

My project today was to customize our 18 ft camper (2013 Jayco swift 184bh - how we came to own this particular model is a post all on it's own) so that most of our items have their own space in the coming months:
-6 black out blinds for all windows and the skylight (no stress if there's an LED street light right beside our camper now!) which was accomplished with iron-on hemming magic, an iron, a sewing machine, velcro and Gorilla double sided tape to attach the velcro under the camper shades.  It's black as night in the middle of the day!
-1 violin hammock...yes, you read that right.  I designed a violin hammock today...nestled in Mr. M's bunk area is a hammock to cradle his 3/4 violin (the width of which is exactly 30 inches long and his violin case is exactly the same size - good thing he hasn't switched to a 4/4 size yet!).  It's attached with 4 grommets and 4 Command Strips.  Guessing he'll be inspired to wake up and see it first thing each morning...(and be ready to practice each day after he eats breakfast).
-3 tension rods used in various ways...one to hang towels in the bathroom, another to hang at the head end of Miss M's bed with custom made pockets to store toys, books, markers and all things important to her, and finally a tension rod to hang a sheet down in front of the bunks so that it's dark in that space for the kids to fall asleep if Arden and I want to stay up later.
-2 dollar store pouch bags hung up with Command Strips...one in the tub area to put soaps, shavers, shower supplies and the all important one just inside the door to put keys, wallets, sunblock, sunglasses, bug spray, matches and all the little things that drive me nuts when they're left on the counter.
-3 bed alterations...yoga mats under both of the kids bunks, and sheets that slip on like a giant pillowcase so they don't fall off.  For us, we have self-inflating camping mats under our main mattress and a memory foam topper on our bed to keep us comfy.  (Plus a little detail that's kind of special...Arden and I sewed a quilt cover before our wedding 19 years ago...he embroidered our names and a couple of quotes on it while watching the 1998 Olympics...and then we took it on our honeymoon to Victoria.  Guess what - it's on our bed again for this trip...lots of memories!).
-3 rubber tarp straps to attach the outdoor rug to the back bumper.
-1 collapsible table that fits under our bed to use as an outdoor kitchen with our induction burner and instant pot (more on that in another post).

Our little camper now has tiny house style and functionality.

Ok...sun is setting, beautiful reflections on the lake - time to get outside and enjoy.

Twy's creative twavels...

Overwhelmed...

Twy's twavels...

I'm feeling overwhelmed...
-maybe it's the days being crossed off the calendar...
-maybe it's the house that is echoing with emptiness...
-maybe it's the music I'm listening to (Vacation Haus on Spotify)...
-maybe it's a glimpse of the metamorphosis our family is experiencing...

I'm overwhelmed by the realization that I get to wake up beside someone who wants to spend his life with me...that we've weathered so much and now stand here on the edge of our year together...that 19 years ago we said 'I do' and somehow (without thinking it out) this year-leave is happening on our much-anticipated favourite anniversary (the number 19 is 'ours' - we have a list of many 19's that play a part of our love story)...

I'm overwhelmed by the depths of emotions I feel...that we have two living, healthy, and active Children with whom we get to share these travels...that we have jobs that allow for this break from the routine...that we continue to choose love (it's not perfect, learning and growing along the way)...

I'm thankful...and overwhelmed in a good way...

Books...books...

Twy's twavels...

I love books...no - that isn't strong enough, I don't just love books - I'm a walking/talking book enthusiast.  I'm known to say more than once in a single conversation "so I'm reading this book"... Much in my life is influenced by the learning I gain by reading the thoughts and experiences of others.   (My latest book-learning has been with Brene Brown.  Fantastic truths about relationships and resilience in both Daring Greatly and Rising Strong.)

It's not surprising then, that my Children are also big into books.  We are frequent users at the library and find new-to-us and exciting books that inspire us at the local Sally Ann.  I've packed a big crate of books to read beside the campfires and for our Children in the vehicle.  We regularly download books to listen to as we drive - as a matter of fact, the last time we went on a drive with a story, the kids didn't want to get out of the vehicle when we got to the campground cause the story was so good (Roald Dahl - The Story of Henry Sugar).

One of our concerns when thinking about this whole year away from our library which also includes part of the year being away from easily found English-written books was were we would find material to read.  Our Boy can sit and read for hours (Andrew Clements, Roald Dahl, biographies)...and our Girl is totally excited about Pippi Longstocking right now.  Very thankful for Overdrive - an online book service our local library offers...we are huge fans.  Arden and I gave each other e-readers for Christmas and both Children received Nooks which are compatible with Overdrive for gifts...reading will still happen.  Problem solved.  There will be posts about the books we read...wait for it!

Currently, we are listening to Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman at breakfast - the one on book lice (yes, look them up...we have enlightening learning for all) and fireflies are incredibly well written poems!

I don't believe in coincidence...I believe I'm here in this time, in this space for a reason.  I believe that the people, experiences, books and journey that I walk is about connecting and learning.  I try to teach our children the same thing - that they read books that grow their soul gardens, that they see others as people that they can learn from, that they choose to use the life-hurts in ways that help them to not pass along more sadness, but instead develop a deeper care for those around them.

A while back I was shopping for new-to-us books...and came across one about connecting, picked it up, put it in my stack and kept on shopping.

Out tumbled three envelopes with birthday cards inside when I got home...curious - I picked them up and read the names of the givers.  With awe in the moment, I realized that I knew this family and that they had suffered a devastating loss of life in their home.  I was able to return these cards on a day that was significant to the remaining family members and come along side them in their mourning.

I love my books...

Master Choreographer #1

Zipline's post:

This morning Mr M and Miss M were jumping on the trampoline in the rain.  Miss M got hurt a little bit and Mr M felt bad cause he wasn't as compassionate as he could have been.

This afternoon I wanted to drive the BMW before parking it next week, cause I never do...always the truck.  Miss M and I got apples and cookies, opened the roof on the vehicle and drove the 10 km winding road to Vermillion Lake.  We sat on the dock and snacked, put our feet in the water.  Miss M wanted to go for a walk...so we did.  We had no plans to go rock climbing but we saw a nice rock face and we spent some time bouldering.

Meanwhile, Twylla went to the Sally Ann with Mr M.  She got a wheeled duffle bag that we wanted for our Central America portion of the year.  Mr M found a cool etched glass cube which he wrapped and placed on the front step for his Sis to find when we came home.

This paperweight had a rock climber etched in it and a note was attached that read: "To the middle kid who loves to rock climb...from your brother".

Two unplanned events, one young Boy's sensitive heart and the intimate attention of a Master Choreographer = one perfect gift.

Spot(dot)It debut

It's about time to introduce the fourth member of our blog...Miss M.

Can you spot the Squirrel?  My Brother and I had a lot of fun chasing it from tree to tree on our picnic at Ruby Island.

Can you spot the Insect on this Sundew plant?  This plant is so small and sticky...I had to get on my knees to see it.  We went on a nature walk with a Naturalist at Blue Lake - that would be a good career for me!

Can you spot the Slug?  It's on the log with the orange bumpy fungi.  I asked my Dad to get the camera so we could do the walk again and take pictures the second time around.

Can you spot the Girl on the paddle board?  That's me - I like how calm and quiet it is as I paddle.

Exotic Chicken Debut

Why did you want to use the pen name “the Exotic Chicken?”

My pen name is exotic chicken because I used to have a pet chicken named flappers and we're going to some exotic places on our year leave.  If I see a chicken in Costa Rica, well, I guess it's an exotic chicken.

What did you enjoy about tubing yesterday?

It was a blast!  I tubed from our house ,through Frog Rapids, up the chutes ,all the way to Ruby Island.   All together it was 18 km of superior fun.

What happened at our fishing adventure?

After the tubing adventure and lunch on Ruby Island, we went fishing at English River Falls.   I caught a smallmouth Bass, a Northern Pike, and 17 Walleye.  I lost three hooks.

What else did you learn yesterday?

I learned how to fillet a fish.  

the zipline debut

I wanted to post as “the zip line” for our blog because I see our year leave as a big adventure.  Zip lining being an adventure sport, you zip from one tree to another.  In the same way, I hope to be able to quickly communicate our adventures and misadventures via this forum.  Costa Rica is the original home of zip lining, and one of the key volunteer activities that our family will be involved in this year is building a zip line at a kids camp in Costa Rica...more on that later.

Just to be clear, our “year leave” officially starts on August 1 of this year.  But for now, we are on vacation - packing, finishing up little tasks, and enjoying our favorite local adventures before we go travelling.  A vacation before our vacation, so to speak.

The adventure of the week - whitewater kayaking on the English River.  Yep, you can whitewater kayak in Sioux Lookout.  No need to raft the Thompson, the Ottawa, or the Pacuare river when you live in the North, it’s all in your backyard.  Drive 30 minutes out to Flying Loon lake, plunk your kayaks down, and you have 14 miles of whitewater coming up.  Its remote access, so once you go down the first set of rapids (nearly 1km long with waves up to 4 feet high), there’s no going back and there are 7 more sets of rapids and fast water ahead.   6 hours of adrenaline.  

The misadventure of the week - squirrels in the soffits.  5 of them actually.  There was a small gap near the chimney for years, and nothing ever got in...but when we “upgraded” to board and batten siding, the little critters could easily climb up and find a way in.  So, hopefully that’s solved now.