Testing the Van in Northern Ontario

We rolled out for our first overland of the year in Haliburton, setting up at a private winter snowmobile crossing. There is nothing like the first night back out on the water, and our grey shakedown run proved the 5.3kW power grid could handle anything. The next morning, we grabbed breakfast at Sirch Bistro Bakery. The young ladies who served us were tremendous.

We drove north to Sudbury, where Science North was carved right into the solid rock of the Canadian Shield. Giant exposed stone walls wrapped around the entire room, using the natural rock face as the interior. Inside the butterfly conservatory, Chey could have easily stayed all afternoon just watching them fly around. We met Maple sliding down branches at the porcupine feeding, and saw an old turtle who had been there since opening day and once met Queen Elizabeth II.

We found some loose change on the road: a 30-foot, 13-ton 1951 nickel. Testing our new 360-degree camera from the front seats, the rain came down hard, and we spent the miles debating Magic: The Gathering. By evening, we’d reached Raby Lake.