One Week! What we have learned so far...., (1st Edition)

*keep in mind that Dave and I have only camped since we've left (and are loving it)

• Dave is an excellent navigator as he is great with maps. It is very impressive. 
• Water is very important. We always make sure that our water bottles are filled and that we always refill our water carrier. 

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• I make damn good pancakes
• Dave and I can cook some great meals. The second night we cooked up (under a tarp in the pouring rain) a nice hardy meal of chickpeas, broccoli and carrots cooked in curry sauce over basmati rice. That meal lasted us for two nights. We hope to make that again very soon.
• Not too waste. Dave and I can admit that we are both guilty of letting food go to waste at home. Since we are trying to make our money go far during this trip, we always make sure that the leftovers are eaten, and that the fruits and veggies are eaten up. 
• Reading is a great thing to do to pass the time. Dave and I already knew this, but we have found ourselves really enjoying the relaxing read we do before we get to bed. We are not missing tv or videogames, and are just enjoying sitting back and readig while the birds sing, frogs croak or even the wild turkeys that we have heard gobbling while we read. 
• Dave and I work very well as a team. It is not hard for us to get things done. While one washes the dishes, the other dries. While one sets up the kitchen tent with the tarp and rope, the other sets up the tents, while one makes the lunch, the other organizes the car. 
• Just because you wear something once doesn't mean its filthy. Why? because laundry costs money. Don't get me wrong, we have been doing laundry, we're just not as quick to throw it into our designated "dirty clothes" bag.
• You don't have to spend money to experience the area. We have found that walking around Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City has been great. We have seen so much more on foot. (There is an example of how little we spent in our previous post written about Quebec City)
• Keeping the car organized is very helpful. We've developed a system of what goes where in car. It makes life easier for both of us.
• Warm showers are wonderful. Enough said.
• Living minimally is very humbling. Dave and I have continually focused on what we need and how we spend our money. We have all we need sitting in the back of the car. We actually have more than we need. We met a man while we were camping at Camping Alouette outside of Montreal. After retiring 12 years ago, him and his wife sold their home and moved into a trailer that hitches on the back of their truck. During the summer months they live at Camping Alouette and during the winter they live in Texas. They have all they need in their little trailer. Perfectly happy and content. Dave and I have found this inspiring. This is just one of the several people we have met that live like this. Who knows, maybe Dave and I are going to turn into Nomads... ahah, I can just see my mom's face now.
• Lastly, Canada is a beautiful country. We have only seen a small amount so far and we are amazed at its diversity of landscape and culture. Ottawa and its liveliness, Montreal and its culture, and Quebec City and its history, and there is so much more to see. 

Life is great. Canada is great!

My hour of free internet is almost over! Sorry for lack of pictures! takes up lots of time to load one.

Love you and miss you all!