We’re in Petawawa, a small Canadian town with big plans for growth. Right next to where we camped, a new housing development is scheduled to go in, meaning the landscape will likely look completely different the next time we pass through. The name comes from the local Algonquin word biidaawewe, meaning "where one hears a noise like this."
The area's military history runs deep. The Canadian military acquired land here in 1905, establishing what eventually became Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. Over the years, it served as an internment camp for German POWs during both World Wars, and later became home to the Canadian Airborne Regiment until it was disbanded in 1995. Today, it stands as one of Canada's largest ground forces bases, with personnel deployed worldwide on international peacekeeping missions for the United Nations.
Cycling is clearly a big part of the local culture. The Construction Yard Bike Park sits along the route, offering off-road, motocross-style tracks for riders. Further along my walk, a woman coasted by slowly in the bike lane. I called out a friendly "good morning," but she rode past in silence, with business hours approaching, she may have been focused on her morning commute.
Tad, meanwhile, spotted two squirrels darting across the wide two-lane street and went on high alert. Trying to protect my sore arm from his sudden tugs, I decided to remove the temptation altogether and head back via a well-worn dirt path away from the traffic. It didn't take long to realize what had carved that trail: a young boy on a bike came up behind us, veering off into the grass to pass. I pulled Tad in close and apologized for blocking the way, but got no reply from him either.
Back at the motorhome, Kasey was up and ready for our next official project of the day: emptying the holding tanks.
Fortunately, I’d already mapped out a free dump station about an hour down the road..
Tad didn't find that news exciting at all.
The free dump station turned out to be located in a neat little park in Renfrew. While Kasey took care of the hookups and holding tanks, Tad and I set off to explore the grounds.
The main park building was an impressive, chalet-style structure, far nicer than the typical park facility. Inside, it featured clean restrooms and a comfortable open area for sitting down to lunch, complete with a wall-mounted TV and a beautiful local mural.
Here is a polished version of this next leg of your journey, blending the tech details, route strategy, and personal connections into a smooth, engaging narrative:
With the tanks emptied, we set off for Malone, New York, to visit Jonathan and Susie Foster, who relocated there from Redding, California, two years ago. Jonathan is a wetland biologist and musician, we first crossed paths during his music tours playing intimate venues like breweries and wineries, including performances at the Umpqua Brew Fest and various benefit concerts over the years.
I decided to try out a new "ask" feature on our navigation app while mapping the drive. With our destination set, I asked where to find the cheapest gas along the way, and it directed us toward Monkland.
As we drove, the route started looking surprisingly roundabout, so I began scouting for alternatives. We had the GPS set to avoid tolls by default, but taking a more direct highway route stood to shave nearly an hour off our trip. I used the "ask" feature again to check the toll rate for a motorhome, and at $10.50 USD, the time saved was well worth it. The app even gave us a helpful heads-up that the toll booth was cash-only, though they'd accept either Canadian or US dollars.
We arrived just before 2pm at our destination.Jonathan was there to meet us.
We backed into his driveway. Whoops. We had to take the bike rack off first so it does not tear up the driveway. We headed for lunch at the local diner owned by a college friend of his. The decorations had a music and Hollywood theme. There was even a poster
We got the tour of the house and barn. The house was built in 1890 and has a lot of character and has been well cared for and maintained. Space enough for both Jonathan and Susie to have an office and the barn for Jonathan's new business. Frame making. Jonathan's dad was a carpenter and it didn't take Jonathan long to become a craftsman.
His neighbor, the mayor, is really into decorating.
Susie and Sage came home from work and the dogs got to play. We were still full from lunch and Jonathan had a pot of soup on so we sat and talked into the night.
Sage kept a watchful eye on any cookie crumb that might fall on the floor.
I am still having pain in my arm so I took an Advil to get some sleep. It was a bit cold, but since we have power, to run the fan, we stayed nice and warm.
Tomorrow looks to be a nice day.
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