Canada and Family Road Trip

The first iteration of our summer trip started with all of us visiting our aunt in California. We wanted to do a trip together since this was our last summer before I started my travels. After evaluating a few plans on how to get there, my brother concluded that the best and most fun way would be to buy an RV. He found a specific model he wanted, but the only used one that fit his requirements was in Pittsburgh. This put a wrench in our California trip but opened up the possibility of a visit to Canada to see his in-laws, resulting in a much bigger road trip. Thus, the great summer trip of 2024 was born. We would fly to Canada and drive back with an RV and a rented car.

Right from the start, we encountered our first bump, caused by none other than me. As we waited in line at the Denver airport to check in our bags, I suddenly realized I had left my passport at home. In all my travels, I had never forgotten such an important item. We exhausted various options, but ultimately, nothing could be done in time. Our final destination was London, Ontario, but our flight was to Detroit because it is one of the closest and cheapest airports to fly into. This meant I could take the flight and figure out a way to get my passport after landing. Our plan was to have someone mail my passport to Detroit. Instead, we decided to risk crossing the border with my driver’s license and a picture of my passport on my phone. Thanks to technology and our friendly neighbors, I was allowed to enter Canada.

Before going over our wonderful time in Canada, I wanted to express my gratitude to all my sister-in-law’s family members. They welcomed us into their home and ensured we had everything we needed. On our first walk around the neighborhood, we visited what would become the kids' favorite spot: Sifton Bog. It consisted of various paths in and around a bog. One path, in particular, was a raised wooden path that led to a lake. Its rise to fame was sealed when, on our second day visiting, a garter snake was spotted on the trail. In a team effort, the kids managed to catch it. From then on, we would return hoping to find other snakes, insects, and other lifeforms. At first, we thought the chance of that happening again was quite unlikely, but by the end of our trip, they had caught five snakes, two frogs, various tadpoles, and multiple sightings of the snapping turtle affectionately named Bob.

Our next big event in Canada was a day trip to Toronto and lunch at the CN Tower. The day was not without its challenges. My brother and his family had left earlier to finalize paperwork at the Brazilian consulate. As we neared the reservation time for lunch, they were on their way, and all seemed well until we were reminded that the gigantic SUV they were given at the rental office did not fit in many of the parking structures around the area. But after some scouting, we found one and made it just in time. Lunch at the CN Tower also included access to the observation area and was the same price as paying for just the elevator and eating nearby. The food was quite tasty, and it was an interesting experience eating while the restaurant slowly rotated. After the meal, we moved to the observation deck below for more pictures, especially of the glass floor. The kids had a lot of fun with that. We managed to leave right at rush hour and got to participate in some pretty slow traffic. After a pit stop at Tim Hortons, one of many as it became our second favorite location, we made it home.

The rest of our stay included more walks to the bog, and swimming pool time between walks and activities where every child improved some aspect of their swimming or diving. We made several visits to Tim Hortons for Timbits. We enjoyed a neighborhood party at her grandma's house, followed by a fireworks show for Canada Day the next day. There was also a day trip to her aunt’s house on Lake Huron, where we enjoyed a beautiful view, sandwiches, and a multi-lawn game tournament.

Our time in Canada was coming to an end, and we were ready to start our long road trip back home. We made one last stop at Costco on our way out for a few more supplies and headed to our first destination: Niagara Falls. We made good time and arrived at our hotel on the Canadian side a bit before lunch. After eating, we headed to the boat that takes you right up to the falls. We learned that the tours leaving from the US side are called Maid of the Mist, and the ones that leave from the Canadian side are called Voyage to the Falls. Most of us had our ponchos on, but a few kids wanted to get the full experience. It was pretty spectacular getting to feel such raw power up close. Most of us got a bit wet, but it felt nice in such hot weather. After that, we entered the tunnels behind the falls. There were two exits: one led to a small fenced area right next to the falls, and the other was the tunnel opened right behind the wall. If not for the loud sounds of the waterfall, you would think it was just a white wall on the other side. Still, it was just as impressive.

We crossed the border early in the morning, and the group split into two. My brother would drive to Pittsburgh to pick up the RV, and we would head to our first campsite in Ohio. Since the RV would not fit all ten of us, we also made reservations for either a cabin or a tent spot for myself, my sister, and her two kids. This would also be our first tent setup. We set up our tent, and all went pretty smoothly. The trip to pick up the RV, however, took a bit longer than hoped, and they arrived pretty late at the site. Eventually, they too were able to get settled, and we all rested after our first day on the road.

The next day also had a pit stop of sorts. We had to return the SUV and the sedan we had in Canada and pick up a car that we’d take to Boulder. Without going into too much detail, it was the best prices and locations we found to rent the cars. Now with the vehicles we’d have until Boulder, we were off to our second camp. Our next stop was located in Illinois, with a really nice lake on site. But, with the stops and car exchange, we arrived just as it was getting dark and rainy. Through sheer luck, this was one of the places we had booked a cabin and thus did not have to set up the tent in the rain. Wanting to escape the dreary weather, we left early for our next camp without exploring much of this one.

As we continued to improve and get the hang of being on the road, we arrived at our next camping spot with a good amount of sunlight to explore it. This was another tent site for us, and we managed to get it set up much quicker this time. The campground was in Perrot State Park and very close to the Mississippi River. It was my first time seeing the great river. It didn’t take long for us to realize how bad the mosquito infestation was. I’ve been around mosquitos plenty in Brazil, but this was on a whole other level. If you stood still for a few minutes, you’d have a cloud of them buzzing around you. We made sure to keep our tent and RV closed as much as possible. We all packed into the RV and had a nice dinner before heading off to bed. In the morning, while the parents got the kids breakfast, I put the tent away. I have to say it was a great exercise in mental endurance, putting the tent away with that many mosquitos on me. I’m sure compared to those who have to be in that area all day for days, my challenge was negligible.

We moved through Minnesota and a large part of South Dakota pretty swiftly, getting to see some great scenery and campsites. We scheduled some time next to stop at the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead, where we ended up spending a bit more time than planned. The kids greatly enjoyed all the animals they had, many of which were still babies. They got to ride horses and carriages. Then we all hopped on a two-horse wagon and participated in a recreation of what it was like being in a schoolhouse from that time. The schoolhouse building was quite old and included desks and many other items from that period. It was quite educational.

Our final stop before heading home was near Mount Rushmore. We stayed two nights in the area so that we’d have a full day to see the sites. It was my first time seeing both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. While there, I remembered my final sixth-grade project where we were randomly assigned a state, and mine was South Dakota. I recalled writing about Rushmore and some of the other sites. It was amusing that close to 30 years later, I got to see those things I wrote about so long ago. We all had a good time exploring both sites, as well as the large KOA campground which included pools, slides, and large climbing structures for the kids.

Our last travel day was upon us, and it felt bittersweet. Having been very taxing on all of us, we were happy to be getting close to home. But it also meant the end of an exciting and epic odyssey, one I’m thankful to my brother, sister, and sister-in-law for making this possible. We made it home in the early evening and returned to our homes for a comfortable night in our own beds.