ECRVT 2017 - The East Coast RV Trip
ECRVT 2017 - The East Coast RV Trip
by Madi A. 02/2026
The Departure
We began our road trip on Trans-Canada Highway 17 East, which the children nicknamed ECRVT. We were packed to the rafters in a Dodge Journey. It was a multi-generational journey with an 86-year-old great-grandmother (G-G), three grandchildren, a 12-year-old granddaughter, two grandsons ages 12 and 10, and Grandma (G-ma), who was the driver, navigator, and organizer, along with all the supplies and personal items, filling every nook and cranny.
It poured rain for most of the day. It was the longest drive ever: five hundred kilometers from Northern Ontario to Ottawa. Everyone was cramped and a little miserable. It was promised that it would be 100% better once the RV was picked up.
It was necessary to leave at 5:00 AM to reach Ottawa in time to collect the reservation. An 18-foot RV that sleeps up to five people was reserved; however, since it was the busy season, the shop upgraded to a 26-foot model with a tip-out that sleeps up to eight people. It was a home on wheels featuring a separate back room with a queen-sized bed, a full bathroom with a shower, and a full kitchen with an oven, stove, microwave, and refrigerator with freezer. It also had a table with benches that converted into a double bed, a TV with gaming hookups, a sofa that converted into a single bed, two captain’s chairs in the driving area, and a double-sized bunk above the cab.
The children wasted no time securing their areas. The boys took ownership of the double-sized bunk above the cab, calling it The Man Cave. They had access to the TV with the gaming hookups. G-ma and granddaughter set themselves up in the back room with the queen-sized bed, calling it The Zen Room. It was a quiet sanctuary needed to decompress after a long day of driving. It was a space for brief downtime, required to get stillness from the motion ghosting effect. It wasn't just a luxury; it was a safety requirement.
This left the entire communal living area as a private suite, which included the kitchen amenities, a bench to sit at the table to read or crochet, or simply enjoy a cup of tea. It was a central area for G-G to set up to her liking. It was a lovely way to make her feel centered and cared for without feeling overwhelmed with children.
There was an abundance of shelves, drawers, and storage space underneath the RV. By lunchtime, everything was loaded. The first stop was at Your Independent Grocer for food and Dollarama for the little extras needed.
Then, it was time for a family dinner with relatives in Ottawa (ON): a paternal aunt, two biological paternal uncles, and several aunts and cousins. Swiss Chalet was the usual gathering spot. Afterward, the RV was parked at a motel parking lot for the night.
Crossing Borders
The East Coast Trip started after a quick breakfast, and adieus were said.
Our first item for the trip was to sing our trip anthem by Little Einstein. Since the children were toddlers and old enough to carry a tune, every time we hit the road, we started with;
“We're going on a trip in our favourite rocket ship, Zooming through the sky, Little Einsteins Climb aboard, get ready to explore There's so much to find, Little Einsteins We're going on a mission, start the countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Everyone to rocket, rev it up now RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR”
The first milestone was leaving Ontario and entering Quebec. Even though G-ma and G-G had crossed the provincial border often, the grandchildren had not. It was a major event for them. It was interesting to hear them say, "I feel different" being in another province, though they couldn't explain why.
G-ma had the driver's seat. The co-pilot seat was usually taken by the granddaughter, who was a highly skilled navigator with the route set out on the GPS. She served as the researcher for venues, stores, gas stations, tourist attractions, or stops required along the way. However, her most important role was as a DJ. She had many playlists ready for our trip. It was epic, every time the song Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond would play, you could hear coming from all areas of the RV, the different voices joining in for a sing-along. It doesn't matter if you're 8 or 80, when those three horn blasts hit, you have to sing the "BA! BA! BA!" It’s practically a law of the road. We listened to all genres of music. Most popular on the queue were ABBA, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, ACDC, to name a few. She even added a few favourite French folk songs to the mix.
An RV campsite had been reserved at a KOA just before Quebec City (QC). Following the GPS directions, we went over the same bridge several times without finding the exit. It was a busy time on the highway. Even though G-ma tried not to be a nuisance to other drivers, though she was inexperienced with such a large vehicle, she felt confident she could drive this RV through the vacation without a glitch.
After a quick stop to verify the exit, she noticed a discrepancy: the bridge we had been crossing was the new bridge. We needed the old bridge (Pont de Québec), which was at the next exit. Finally, we arrived at a very nice RV park. It had an in-ground pool and plenty of space for the children to explore. We ended the day with a wiener roast over an open fire. One of the grandsons, who had learned how to make a fire, carefully created a work of art with precisely placed sticks.
Quebec City Culture
Without waiting for the sun to rise, we had an early breakfast, packed up, and headed east. We arrived in Quebec City (QC) after a lovely drive. The scenery was different from what we were used to: rugged rocks and small bushes, with mountains full of green trees on the horizon.
We secured RV parking right in the core of the city by the marina. Walking to the St. Lawrence River was the first thing we did. We visited a real castle, the Château Frontenac. The children were impressed by its history. There was live entertainment on the streets; we joined in a sing-along, danced, and then sat on benches to listen.
We took a tour on a double-decker bus. Fortunately, there were seats available on the open top. We could literally almost touch the streetlights when we stopped! We saw the historic architecture of Old Quebec, the cobblestone roads, the Plains of Abraham, Grande-Allée, and Place Royale. We even saw a stage being set up for a Sting concert.
We walked through Quartier Petit-Champlain and stopped at the restaurant Lapin Sauté for dinner. We strolled through Parc Félix-Leclerc while being serenaded by local artists and explored the boutiques, art galleries, and gourmet food shops.
Later that night, we took the Quebec City–Lévis Ferry across to Lévis and back. The landscape, with the castle illuminated on the cliffside, was breathtaking in the evening. Upon returning, we took the funicular, which is the cliff railway that climbs from the riverbank to the castle level. On our way back to the RV, we found a street showcasing local artists. There were paintings in every window and cartoon characters on the buildings. One window displayed a portrait of a beautiful bride; one of the grandsons remarked that when he was older, he would like to bring his own bride-to-be there. While G-G was an artist herself, she was in awe of the culture. As we approached the RV, we saw the Bunge silos in the Old Port, which featured an illuminated sculpture show. What a way to finish a day of culture!
Toward the Sea
We headed out on Highway 20, driving east toward Cap-Chat. One of the grandsons had quite an experience trying to use the facilities while travelling. When turning a corner, he lost his balance and fell toward the shower, taking down the lightweight enclosure made of ABS plastic. Meanwhile, all the toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hairbrushes that were left on the cabinet landed in the toilet because the seat had been left open. That was a very interesting lesson learned! It required another trip to Dollarama to replace the items.
We arrived in Cap-Chat (QC) in the mid-afternoon, where G-ma's biological aunt greeted us as we pulled into the driveway. The uncle and cousin were right behind her. The children were out of the RV in a flash. It looked like a little piece of paradise. To one side, there was a massive mountain covered in wind turbines with bales of hay at the base. On the other side was the highway, a cottage, and just beyond that, the St. Lawrence Seaway. The most memorable part of the trip was watching the children take off their socks and shoes to soak their feet in the salt water. They were overjoyed just to be there.
It was a children’s paradise: sticks to pick up, rocks to throw, seashells to collect, and driftwood to sit on while sightseeing ships on the horizon. They spent hours listening to the ocean and smelling the seaweed caught in the rocks. It was picturesque.
It was so exciting to be there. Even though G-ma’s aunt was her late biological father’s sister, she had only met her ten years ago. It was a profound moment to have her aunt meet her mother, and having three of her five grandchildren there made it an even more special time of sharing. She found herself sitting back in awe, unable to believe that she was actually on the East Coast with her mother, who had adopted her, her grandchildren, and her biological family.
In the next village, Ste-Anne-des-Monts (QC), is a city in La-Haute-Gaspésie and where G-ma's biological paternal family is from. Most of the relatives still reside in this area. We spent a few days visiting other relatives. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to meet her family. In the village, the commercial dock houses Exploramer, a marine science museum with an aquarium and touch pools. We also enjoyed a wonderful fish dinner on the docks.
The next afternoon, we went on a day excursion to a special place that was found during previous visits: Mont-Albert (QC). G-ma spread her late father's ashes in the waterfall. He had been a true water person, having traveled nearly all of Canada’s waterways during his life. In his honor, we scatter a portion of his ashes into waterfalls we encounter throughout our travels. The children loved the waterfalls and hiking trails.
On our last day before heading out, we stopped at the cemetery where her late biological father was laid to rest in 1997. It wasn't until 2003 that she reunited with her biological sister and family. It was a special moment to share with her grandchildren.
The Journey to Gaspé
The next day, it was time to pack up and continue. Our destination was Gaspé. The drive along the seaway was stunning; we didn't miss a single tourist lookout. Route 132 offered dramatic views of the Chic-Choc Mountains and the Forillon cliffs.
When we finally arrived in Gaspé (QC), we were welcomed by a second biological aunt. The children's G-G and the aunt had so much information to share about their lives and how they got to this point. They were about the same age, shared the same first name, and could have passed for twins with their resemblance, size, and physical traits. They were both from French Canadian backgrounds, full of traditions. It made it feel like a very small world.
We drove to Rocher Percé. It is one of the world's largest natural arches, located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. One of the grandsons described it as an island with a hole in it. The children hiked up the escarpment along the shore. We visited museums and gift shops and had lunch at La Maison du Pêcheur.
Roots from New Brunswick
The children's late great-great-grandfather was a native of Caraquet, New Brunswick (NB). There was a lot of family history, as most of his relatives still live there. There was even a street named after our surname. We explored the ocean shores and museums and had a picnic. G-ma spread her late father's ashes in the ocean off the commercial dock and took a silent moment in his memory.
We arrived at the Colibri sur Mer RV park for the evening. Shortly after settling in, the grandson went to use the facilities. After a minute, he came back out and said that it really stank in there. She thought for a moment and then let them know it was probably time for the poop tank to be emptied.
The children asked, "How do you do that?" She looked at them and said that she wasn't sure. She showed them where the hoses were, where the grey and black water latches were, and where to connect the hose for the dump, and told them they might have to Google it. She had to make dinner first and rest after a ten-hour day of driving.
The children took the initiative. They found a YouTube video and watched it; while one held the hose and the other gave instructions on what was happening, the tank was dumped. After lots of laughs, outbursts, and a few "Oh my God!," they got it all done. They said that the hose would not connect, so one of them had to sit on the hose to hold it down in the hole. They were laughing so much, she could barely make out what they were saying. She let them know they did an awesome job. She was so proud of them for attempting such a challenging task! However, they were not allowed to re-enter the RV until they used the outdoor shower and changed their clothes. The RV was equipped with an outdoor shower with hot and cold water to rinse off. In no time, all was back to normal, and we were having dinner and relaxing before turning in for the night.
Prince Edward Island
It was another long driving day. We crossed the Confederation Bridge to reach Prince Edward Island (PEI). It was time to do some exploring, sightseeing in tourist areas, and hiking the seashore along the way. We arrived at the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park (PEI). The park had peddle-cars for rent; the children rented some, went exploring, and had a great time. They made some new friends in the community game room. We had a relaxing dinner and a quiet evening.
A Chance Encounter
The next morning, while at a Tim Hortons in Summerside, (PEI), we met a cousin the children knew from Ontario. She had just moved to there to live with her mother and siblings. It was a nice visit.
She was on her way to help her mom, but she informed us of the waterpark just up the road. The children enjoyed the day there, entertained by the large slides, while G-G wanted to explore the main street with gift shops and interesting markets. A few minutes after she left, she was back as a bird had pooped on her head! She was so upset as she had just permed, washed, and set her hair. She advised that she was going to find a hairstylist to wash and set her hair. The RV was parked in an area where everyone could easily access it.
On the pier, G-ma found a bench to sit on while watching her grandchildren play and taking photos of special moments. The children were always attentive to her, showing off their moves while she captured it all with her cell phone.
Once everyone was done at the waterpark, we loaded up the RV and toured (PEI). Our next stop was Anne of Green Gables. While the granddaughter was in her element as she knew the history of the series she had watched over the years, the boys were not as interested in the history and found their own venues.
The children noticed the red sand everywhere. We made a few stops along the way to take pictures of the red sand.
We stopped at Fisherman's Wharf for dinner, which is home to its sixty-foot salad bar, all-you-can-eat mussels, and seafood chowder. We found a very nice RV park along the ocean. It was almost like an island; we were surrounded by water except for the road linking us to the land.
The Illusion of Magnetic Hill
We were heading to the Bay of Fundy (NB). It was interesting to find the mudflats; none of us had seen anything like them before.
Our next stop was Magnetic Hill, Moncton (NB). Since G-ma had been there in the past, she explained to the children how it worked. The two boys, having engineer mindsets, were very intrigued by the concept. Even though she explained it was an optical illusion, that the cars are actually rolling downhill while appearing to roll uphill in neutral. They were determined to figure it out.
G-ma drove the 26-foot RV up (down) over and over, putting it in neutral and maneuvering it while it went up (down) the hill. Both boys were video recording from the side of the road with their cellphones. With the RV window down, all she kept hearing was "Again!" Good thing we were the only ones there without time limitations. For the next few hundred kilometers, that was the main topic of discussion. She explained that the illusion comes from the surrounding landscape of the downhill slope appearing to be an uphill incline.
During the road trip, we often stopped at local grocery stores along our path to stock up on our grocery supplies. We rarely ate at restaurants. Just a few special exceptions. G-G loved going into the grocery store, as long as she had help to carry items back to the RV. G-ma would normally make a short list of necessary gluten-free items. This was no different. "Hey children, go with G-G to the IGA please". They looked at me and said, "yes, on our way!" "but can we go to the 'Iiii-GA' when we are done? We want to go see what they have there?" I laughed and said, "what do you think that is? It's not an 'Iiii-GA' its the 'I-G-A' grocery store". Everyone laughed as the children had never heard of an IGA before.
We found an RV park in Fredericton, (NB), and had a quiet night.
Driving by Quebec City
We are slowly making our way back toward Ontario. The weather is windy and leaning toward the chilly side today. G-ma announced that, despite it being a long day of driving, we should all dress warmly for our stops along the way. Just as she was emphasizing the need for layers, a single leg dangled down from the bunk over the cab. It was one of the grandsons' hilarious ways of showing he’d already checked the forecast and opted for long pants. We all had a good laugh before hitting the road. The children's humor never ceases to be amazing, it's what makes a trip like this truly memorable.
Not far from Quebec City, at 83 meters (272.3') high, which is taller than Niagara Falls, the Montmorency Falls (QC) are a spectacular sight. As we stood on the suspension bridge above the falls, we watched the water cascade over the cliffs while hearing the roar of the falls all around us. G-ma spread her late father's ashes into the falls.
The Homeward Stretch
We were heading from Fredericton back toward Quebec. We were travelling along the north shore of the St. Lawrence on Highway 40. Our next stop was Berthierville (QC), which is home to the Gilles Villeneuve Museum. It explores the history of the Villeneuve family in motorsports, including Formula 1 and IndyCar racing. The grandsons were very interested in the historic stories of the once very famous car racer.
After exploring the museum, we went to a funeral home just down the road, where G-ma's paternal aunt is in a columbarium niche. We said a few prayers, reminisced about a few past stories, and continued on our way.
We travelled back to the Ottawa area where we stayed at Camping au Petit Lac Simon near Ripon (QC). The children were told this is where G-G was born. While she visited her aunts and cousins, G-ma and the children went for one more night of camping.
The Completion
Our RV journey was complete. This was the morning we were unpacking the RV and packing everything back into the Dodge Journey. Our total drive through five different provinces covered 4,000-kilometers, leaving us with a lot of memories and stories to tell.
During our trip, we enjoyed several RV campsites. However, on nights spent driving through areas without landmarks, we parked at local Walmarts. These stops gave the children a different perspective on travel. Because there were often suspicious people and vehicles loitering around the parked RVs, the children's imagination took over. Even though we couldn't hear the conversations from afar, the children created very interesting stories.
The drive back northwest along Highway 17 was a quiet one. The usual chaos was replaced by a soft stillness as everyone replayed the ECRVT in their heads and felt the weight of the journey in their hearts.
We were returning to the same cramped Dodge Journey we started in, but we weren't the same people who had left. We were returning with more than just souvenirs; we were bringing home a new piece of our family history, thousands of kilometers of laughter, and a bond that only the open road and a few poop stories could create.
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