(Tori Dark and Kevin Nault have embarked on a trip across Canada aboard their newly converted camper van. In doing so they are joining hundreds of other couples who have taken up what is referred to in the culture as “VanLife”. During their trip, the Orléans Star will publish a series of diary pieces from Tori, allowing readers to follow the couple’s journey. This is the latest installment in that series.)

I’m back! Did you miss me? I missed you too. Last time we chatted, Kevin and I were back in Ottawa for a bit enjoying our beautiful city.

We had a wonderful time traveling around the area, but it was time for us to move on. We started on this journey to explore Western Canada, so that is exactly what we are doing. Only it didn’t go as planned and we had what I lovingly refer to as a “false start”.

Let’s go back to mid-January when Kevin and I were just about to set sail for Part 2 of our Canadian tour. I had finished my last day working as a veterinary assistant at the wonderful Orléans Veterinary Hospital, Kevin had finished his last day on set and we were packed and ready to go.

We had a lovely goodbye dinner with each of our respected families. It was bittersweet with a bit of sadness and a lot of excitement. That is until Kevin got an email from FedEx saying the brand new camera he purchased weeks ago was delayed (again) for delivery. It was set to arrive on Friday morning, the day after we were scheduled to leave.

Because our first stop was Kingston, Kevin’s mom graciously offered to meet up halfway with the camera in Brockville, so we agreed. Little did we know that we would be right back in Ottawa on the Friday afternoon because we woke up to a broken water pipe under the bed!

We drove straight to a marine supply store to purchase the replacement filter piece and found out that it was the last one in stock. Lucky us! We patched up the pipe and reluctantly drove back to Ottawa in secret.

We were embarrassed to be returning so quickly after such dramatic goodbyes with friends and family. The only two people who knew we were back in Ottawa were our moms, because there’s no one else you could trust more (am I right?).

In the end, we parked the van in my mother-in-law’s driveway from Friday to Monday night because FedEx continued to delay the delivery of the camera. It was infuriating to have to wait so long, but it was also nice to have a bonus weekend with family.

Tuesday morning we hit the road again and this time for real. We skipped Kingston and went to Owen Sound to visit Kevin’s cousin Lee, who sold us the van from Ford in 2021.

It was so exciting to show him the project he helped us begin three years ago. He was incredibly supportive then and he was just as excited for us now. It was a full-circle moment and a great way to begin again. Next stop – Lake Superior Provincial Park!

(You can follow Tori and Kevin at www.instagram.com/vanxiety_life/. Tori and Kevin are both former students at Cairine Wilson Secondary School, Class of 2012.)

Past articles...
Vanxiety_life #9: Vanlifers decide to spend a few months close to home
Vanxiety_life #8: Vanlifers return home for a short break before heading west
Vanxiety_life #7: It's never too late to start your own vanlife adventure