And what an adventure it was!
If you’re following me over on IG (@hollybowmanxo), you’ll have noticed that we rented an RV and went on a road trip to the East Coast. We travelled into four provinces. With two kids. For eleven days.
It. Was. Magic.
And chaos too. Oh, the chaos was real.
When Hubs first brought this idea to me I immediately shut it down. I was like, there is no way this won’t be the ultimate hot mess express. But I’m also working really hard on saying YES more (especially towards things that make me nervous/anxious). The concept of traveling in a RV with two young children bouncing from one city to another in ELEVEN days made me want to puke. And then I got REALLY excited! What a whirlwind! What an adventure! I couldn’t wait to pack + decorate our house on wheels.
Yes, I brought almost every single throw pillow we own. Twinkle lights?! YEP. Faux plants?! YOU GOT IT SISTER.
Unfortunately I didn’t take many pictures inside the RV because we were either a) driving (and I had my hands full keeping both kids entertained/buckled in/napping in the bed in the back); b) it was nighttime by the time we stopped driving; c) we were out EXPLORING!! Insert dancing girl emoji.
I’ll be sharing our trip in 3 parts because otherwise you’d be sitting + reading for like, a month. Ha.
We left late on a Thursday + we were 20 minutes out driving the beast when I remembered I forgot to pack the stroller. YEP. WIFE OF THE YEAR. Luckily Aaron forgave me pretty quick but I kept yelling “babe, you considering the big D??” Ha, he’d never. But seriously, what kinda mom forgets to pack a stroller?! OH THE KIND OF MOM WHO HAD TO PACK HER WHOLE CLOSET + ALL THE KID/BABY THINGS. Y’all, I packed so much stuff. Like. SO MUCH.
ANYWAY.
We, err, Aaron drove a good distance on Thursday + woke up bright and early Friday morning and started the 15 hour drive to Halifax. FIFTEEN HOUR DRIVE. Andddd he pretty much drove the whole way with limited stops. Mostly just for gas + coffee. Unlike a lot of parents, we didn’t give George a lot of time to get his wiggles out at rest stops. We were like “OKAY. THAT WAS FIVE MINUTES. LET’S GO.” Thankfully GBB was a complete + total champ and was filled with as much excitement as we were to get to Hali as soon as possible.
I should mention, because we were in the RV for 15 hours WE WERE ALL GOING CRAZY. Like. We all wanted to punch each other in the face. I’m a tad dramatic but, it was kinda insane. I think we learned our lesson on getting out of the RV more/breaking up the drive into two days. It’s also worth mentioning, my hubs drove the WHOLE TRIP. HUSBAND/DAD OF THE YEAR/LIFE.
ANYWAY.
I went to sleep with the kids + although I should’ve gone and sat up front with Aaron while he drove like a good wife…I fell asleep. My logic was that at that point I was not very valuable + totally cranky…
We ended up sleeping by the sea that night in Eastern Passage + I woke up beside my two kiddos (Aaron slept in the bunk above the cab) with the smell of the ocean greeting me. It was pretty incredible. We had a delicious breakfast + packed up and drove a short 20 minutes into Halifax’s waterfront.
We parked down by the water + started our East Coast adventure. Dude scootered, we played at a park, walked by the water + in the downtown core (which was rather quaint and quiet + Hubs and I were incredibly surprised by how sleepy it was for a Saturday morning—definitely slower paced than Toronto + we LOVED it!), and we bought coffees + fresh bread. We drank our iced coffees and ate warm fresh bread right out of the bag. George devoured a deeeelish oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.
We had no plan or agenda. It was bliss.
I had the lovely opportunity to meet up with one of my dear mama friends I had met via IG (go follow her at @justinebarnhardt—she’s a freaking goddess!) + our boys had an impromptu play date. It was incredible to meet and hangout in real life—it felt so natural + wonderful + I am already excited for another visit!! Oh, and she introduced me to the cutest little cafe–Rousseau Chocolatier. The decor alone had me swooning–I’m trying to figure out what I can paint that dreamy green colour…
We had lunch at a cute canteen called Stillwell + holy moly 10/10 recommend! I had a few pints of cider + the grilled haloumi sandwich and just thinking about it makes me hungry. Hubs had a spicy donair sandwich (because when in Halifax, you gotta have a donair!!). George napped in the stroller the whole time + Ellie just hung out. It almost felt like a DATE! Ha. #parenthood.
It was busker fest in Halifax + our RV was parked happily in a very busy parking lot—we strolled the wharf and tried to figure out dinner. I say try and figure it out because George was a total three-nager. We were all really hungry + tired. Eloise was cutting TWO teeth. There were people everywhere. Line-ups for ice cream. Exhibition-style rides. Music + sirens blaring over a large speaker. It was chaotic and insane and super overstimulating for us. Like, I wish I could fully describe the level of insanity + craziness Aaron and I felt.
Picture a toddler having to be strapped into the double stroller after refusing to eat his dinner + being super ruuuuuude + running away from us + not listening and then a super hungry and tired crying baby who wants to eat her puréed carrots (which are now smeared all over the car seat and her mullette) being pushed up a boardwalk by an exasperated dad towards the RV which was SO FAR AWAY (not really but it seemed that way!) with a sweaty mom nagging dad to make sure not to bump into the heels of strangers who are happily gliding along the goddamn boardwalk with not a care in the world. I should’ve screamed BOWL THEM OVER. Oh, and we had promised (read: bribed) George that he could have ice cream (honestly–this was a bad parenting call. Don’t give ice cream to a toddler who hasn’t had any REAL protein or vegetable all day!!) and the line-up for ice cream was too long and so there were tears (and at this point I’m holding Eloise and I have carrots in my hair + I’m clutching a pack of wipes and giggling nervously/LIKE A MAD WOMAN). Luckily a popsicle did the trick + we retired to the RV to try and get the kids to sleep while the music blared and people screamed + allllll the noises you can think of that would be irritating and disruptive to sleep…
YEAH.
Just typing that out makes me sweat. The kids did sleep + Aaron and I did get to enjoy some Nova Scotian wine. And we had the joy of listening to the fireworks. Oh yeah, there were fireworks. And they sounded like cannonballs.
Andddd although I was awoken in the middle of the night by someone puking their face off outside our RV, it was a great night.
We woke up the next morning + had a quick breakfast and started our short drive to Peggy’s Cove.
It was beautiful. It was spacious. It was relaxing + smelled like the sea + the wind was so fresh and wonderful. It was totally what we all needed to reset and refresh us after the previous day of crazy overstimulation. It was perfect.
George climbed the rocks like a champ + would yell “I’m leading da way”. Bless his heart, he was so in his element. Eloise slept on me in the Ergo as she does + we had a slow morning at the Cove. We even stayed extra long because GBB found a pile of dirt + needed to play with his trucks for a solid 30 minutes. I think Peggy’s Cove was easily the highlight of the trip for George (and I enjoyed it so much too!!).
We found a RV campground close by + set up camp. It was rainy but warm and oh, so cozy. We played outside and listened to music + Hubs made a deeeelicious steak dinner and it was lovely. The slow and calm day in Peggy’s Cove + the campground was so incredibly welcomed by us (with the largest open arms!) and I will always seek out those moments. And be so dang grateful for them. The outdoors are always rejuvenating and calming. It was the first day we all felt like we were on vacation.
The lobster roll at Peggy’s Cove was pretty fantastic too…and I’m no seafood lover.
The following day was our day to pack up + head to Prince Edward Island. Andddd we were attempting to take the ferry over there (and we didn’t reserve a spot)…
XO