October 2025 Canlife Correspondence -- Remembering, Road Trippin', Rebates, and RV Life Readiness
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This holiday is so important, we just have to celebrate it...twice! Camping along the shores of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, we're getting into the Canadian version, taking stock of our good fortune and looking back with gratitude. We'll be only too happy to do it again next month in more familiar surroundings.
Thirteen years ago we spent Canadian Thanksgiving on the shores of Lake Nipissing in northern Ontario wrapped in the hospitality of strangers. We'd planned on driving right through the small town of North Bay, to spend the weekend in the famous Algonquin Provincial Park, take in some paddling, maybe even attend the annual wolf call.
Fate had other ideas, and hit us hard in the form of an 8,000 pound commercial cleaning van that struck our vehicle as we tried to make a left hand turn in the rain at 4:45 PM on a Thursday afternoon. The speeding and aggressively passing van tore off our front driver's side wheel in the collision, and we watched in horror as the van careened through the intersection, off the road, and up an embankment before coming to a stop just before a small stand of fir trees. We finally came to a stop on three wheels, on the shoulder of the oncoming lane.
No one was hurt, thank goodness, including Hamlet, but we were all majorly shaken up. After some medics checked us out, we got dropped off at a seasonal campground / motel in town, while our truck was hauled off to the impound lot. We must have been a sad sight because more than one kind soul among the seasonal residents came over to offer us assistance or "anything else we might need." Friday morning our U.S. insurance company had to try and find an adjuster in Canada to inspect our truck on a holiday weekend -- yep, we were going to be stuck for awhile.
Over the next few days we wandered to and from the nearby Tim Horton's to fuel up on cheap coffee and snag their Wi-Fi to try and deal with the fall out from the accident. In a daze of uncertainty, disbelief, and overwhelming gratitude we wandered around town trying to distract ourselves from the depressing feelings of "now what do we do?"
High above the autumn-colored trees on the shores of the lake, we could see kite surfers flying back and forth, their colorful canopies beckoning to us. From the beach we watched surfers tacking back and forth, making powerful leaps into the air as their kites sailed them high above the water. It was absolutely mesmerizing. We struck up a conversation with a young woman who was positively glowing from her surf session. She interpreted the action for us, told us what each surfer was doing, and how they controlled the kite and board simultaneously. Eventually, we got to sharing stories which included our recent bad luck. We gave her our contact info, but never expected to hear from her again. We were delighted when we got an email inviting us to dinner the next night!
"I told my parents about you and your situation, and they immediately said, 'Well, did you invite them to dinner?' We normally go cranberry picking in the bog near our house before dinner. You could join us for either activity, or both. Since you don't have a vehicle, we could come and get you." We were absolutely overwhelmed by their generosity and hospitality and eagerly said, "Yes AND Yes!"
What started out as a distraction from our dreary campsite setting and the uncertain future of our vehicle turned into an absolutely amazing evening. We not only had a fabulous dinner and spent the evening sharing travel stories, but they later invited us to their home after the campground closed down for the season. They even stored our belongings (and Hamlet) for a couple of days as we traveled by bus for over 30 hours to get a new truck in Michigan City, Indiana. But that's another story for another time.
This all happened one month and one day into our road life in 2012. And it could have been the end of our story had Shari's lightning reflexes not pulled away at the very last moment. We wondered if it wasn't a cosmic sign that we should go back home and beg for our jobs back. Instead, it turned out to be a confirmation of the opposite. With a little help from a few strangers who became instant friends, some determined follow through on our part, assistance from both sets parents (thanks moms and dads!), we had our life put back together and on the road in less than 2 weeks. Along our travels, we've tried to help out whenever we can and in whatever way we can, simply to keep that positive energy going forward.
This year, as we take a deep dive into the Bay of Fundy and really get to know this stunningly beautiful region, we are simply grateful for the chance to explore this world that we all share and maybe get to tell a story or two.
We wish you all the best as you find your own reasons for gratitude this holiday season!
Canada's National Parks: The Ultimate Solar Powered Canadian Road Trip
If getting away from the intense crowds, summer heat, and going off-the-grid interests you, then go north…far, far north…my friend! From arctic tundra where the summer sun never sets, to stunning rocky summits, to grasslands larger than the state of Montana, to coastal beaches and rocky coves which seem forgotten in time, Canada has it all…and then covers it in cheese curds and gravy. Bon appetite!
If getting away from the intense crowds, summer heat, and going off-the-grid interests you, then go north…far, far north…my friend! From arctic tundra where the summer sun never sets, to stunning rocky summits, to grasslands larger than the state of Montana, to coastal beaches and rocky coves which seem forgotten in time, Canada has it all…and then covers it in cheese curds and gravy. Bon appetite!
Road trippin' with solar power in Canada might surprise anyone unfamiliar with the “Great White North.” While the friendly land next door might be filled with more evergreen trees than hockey pucks, it offers a surprising diversity of landscape. Many solar powered RVers might think that Canada’s forests are probably so dense that no viable charging sunlight can penetrate. And while that’s certainly true in a few places, just like down in the states, there are an equal number of places where solar is not only the best option – it’s the ONLY option! Read on...
Did we catch you scrolling through social media posts of RVers living YOUR dream life? (We knew it!) Now be honest: Do you go out of your way to drive by the RV dealership after work? These are telltale signs, friend. You may be hearing the siren song of the RV lifestyle! But while you may hear the call, the question is if you are ready for the RV life.
Note: We write several articles per month for RV Trader, check out our author's page for recent content.
Hurry...Solar Tax Rebates ENDING December 31!
If you are considering solar as a more sustainable option for your RV or home, NOW is the time to dive in and just do it. The 30% solar tax rebates are set to end at the end of 2025 and can be deducted from your federal taxes. We are happy to help anyone and everyone who wants to go solar and save a bundle of money. Start with our Solar System Sizing Worksheet, then feel free to contact us personally for additional assistance. We've literally saved over $220K on camping fees since 2012 by being able to create our own power, whenever we need it.
Be sure to use our LINK and CANLIFE promo code for extra savings on your order if you choose Renogy Solar for your components!
Meet the Truly Incredible Bay of FUNdy!
We've had an absolute blast chasing autumn through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for the past couple of months. While we've enjoyed every last minute of it -- from Cape Bretton, NS to St. Andrews, NB! After our 2 week tour exploring numerous sites, trails, parks, rivers, bays and more along the coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, we are now COMPLETELY OBSESSED with the Bay of Fundy! A very helpful, FREE app that will help you make the most of this experience is Tides Near Me, as knowing the daily tide schedule and height of the tides is key to when you can enjoy it!
This fascinating 170 mile long x 30ish mile wide bay at the northeastern end of the Gulf of Maine is only 6000 years old, yet is surrounded by 320+ million year old cliffs carved by glaciers and has the largest tidal range on Earth -- up to 55 feet! When the tide goes out, you can walk on the ocean floor for miles in some places, depending on the moon-tide cycle! Twice a day, like clockwork, this large, sloshing, rhythmic tub of muddy water roars in and out, moving 320 billion tons of water in and out of the bay every 25ish hours -- that's more water in a single day than all the fresh water rivers in the world combined! Yes, you read that right.
We've gotten some great views from several vantage points and have gained a completely new appreciation of this world famous bay as we've traveled in and around it. Here are some of our favorite highlights:
- Hike around Cape Split at the mouth of Minas Basin to see the ebb/flood tidal shift. While this hike is nearly 10 miles (if you walk the whole cape and include all the viewpoints), it is not a challenging hike. Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water, and time your arrival at the "split" with the changing of the tides to see the water start moving in or out. Check a local tide chart for details...it changes by about 50 minutes every day.
- Watch a gorgeous full moon rise over Fundy Bay from Blomidon Provincial Park. This cute park is close to Cape Split, so offers a great place to camp after a long hike.
- Experience incredible sunsets and rock formations at Five Islands Provincial Park, Cape Chignecto Provincial Park (Eatonville Park, Anderson's Cove), St. Martin's Lighthouse, & Black Beach (local's beach near the village of Lorneville, NB). Shout out to both Five Islands (NS) and Fundy Woods (NB) campgrounds for some great camping options!
- Watch in awe as the BIG Tidal Bore rushes in under the full moon in East Hants. Hearing the roar as the wave came in at night gave us goose bumps! Time your arrival with the bore by checking the schedule at the Fundy Interpretive Center.
- Search for cool rocks and fossils along the famous Joggins Fossil Cliffs.
- Discover both red sand and black sand beaches along the way (though not volcanic like further west in the Gulf!).
- Travel through Fundy Trail Provincial Park to explore the many overlooks, hikes, beaches, and waterfalls. It is much like a coastal version of the the Blue Ridge Parkway on the east coast of the U.S., and a great option for traveling between the village of St. Martin's and Fundy National Park.
- Enjoy several low tide walks on the ocean floor at Five Islands & Hopewell Rocks Provincial Parks, Fundy National Park, Black Beach, and St. Martin's Sea Caves. Plan low tide adventures in all of these places in order to get the REAL Fundy Bay experience.
- Kayak into and around St. Martin's stunning sea caves at high tide. If you don't own your own boats, Bay of Fundy Adventures (located just across the bay from the caves) will take you on a guided coastal adventure.
- Last but not least, take a guided rafting trip with Fundy Tidal Bore Adventures! We rode the 10-12 foot waves back in on the BIGGEST flood of the 2025 season (due to the full moon)...and did some mud sliding as well! Challenge by choice here, check their calendar and choose the type of ride you prefer -- from relatively chill to extreme, based on the moon-tide schedule. Absolutely ridiculous video of our rafting adventure to come! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to get our new releases.
There's a lot of talk, and a lot of hype in the news. We thought we'd dive a little into what's really going on in one park during the shut down. We spent the past 5 days in the Bar Harbor, Maine area to see how Acadia National Park is handling the current shutdown.
While most visitors might not really notice a difference except that they can simply cruise by the entrance gate without paying their fee or displaying their annual pass, how long can that last with a skeleton crew barely managing to keep up with the continued crowds? Read on...
Our Newfoundland & Labrador Adventures, Summer 2025
Seeking inspiration for your own journey to northeastern Canada? Slowly but surely, we are sifting through mountains of video and editing and posting several fun shorts from our Newfoundland & Labrador Adventures! We just added two more fun ones to the collection on our YouTube Playlist:
Whether you prefer ghosts and goblins, wandering through a corn maze, or simply gorging on cider donuts, fall festivals highlight the best of the season. And driving to them enables you to take full advantage of the most stunning scenery of the year!
We can’t tell you how many times have we heard locals say in the summer: “Well if you think it’s pretty now, come on back in October, that’s when it really shines!” No matter where you are in the country, the likelihood is that you’re driving distance from one of these amazing locations. So, we’ve pulled together a list of the most-worthy fall road trip ideas by region...and included nearby camping options to boot!
Harvest Hosts Route Planner Makes Autumn RV Road Trippin' Even More Fun!
Need a fun date night along your journey? The Harvest Hosts route planner has been a great addition to our app tool kit for finding fun, romantic, and beautiful places to stay the night -- from Alaska to Newfoundland and Washington to Florida! From hip breweries and beautiful vineyards to fun family farms and sustainable mussel farming, we've enjoyed overnight stays at a wide range of fascinating places around the continent. Every single host has been incredibly welcoming -- giving us tours and encouraging us to make ourselves at home and enjoy their property.
With our link and code CANLIFE20, first-year members can get 20% off -- whether you choose the Classic, Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome, or get the All Access pass! Each membership comes with different benefits, perks, and options. Explore which membership option is best for you...and JOIN NOW to get the very best deal!
Parting Shot - Sunset over Taunton Bay, Sullivan, Maine
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