Turning Our Backs on Summer?

Our summer trip this year serves as the kick-off to a new beginning for The Curious Toad. It will be unlike anything we have ever done. What started as an idea to put together content for curiosity seekers has evolved into a shift towards a simple and curious lifestyle. 

I believe that simplicity comes from choice. We choose what to focus our attention on, and sometimes that’s not popular. But if you’re reading this, you’re likely akin to that thinking, or at least exploring what it means to think differently.

Sometime in 2020, I began exploring the possibility of a road trip in my old Dodge Ram Van. Thanks to the global pandemic, that trip didn’t take place. Maybe it was for the better. Maybe the old van wouldn’t have made it.

I ended up selling that van and getting a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 TRD Offroad. I set it up with racks and a rooftop tent. Maybe this would be the rig to take me on my next big adventure. 

But that didn’t happen either.

My wife and I married in 2022, and it wasn’t long before I was itching to hit the road in a van again. We are not vanlifers, and vanlife was never on the table as an option, but I spend an inordinate amount of time watching channels including: 

🚐 The Chrome Project, 

🚐 VanKaskeys, 

🚐 Adventure Out There, 

🚐 Slow Roamers, 

🚐 Nikki Delventhal, 

🚐 Trent the Traveler, 

🚐 Jimmy and Natalie, 

🚐 and Way of the Roads.

There are so many more - if you want a full list of my favourites, contact me here. And if you aren’t watching these channels, I encourage you to check them out! Each carries a different angle on vanlife and travel, and each offers unique perspectives of life on the road. 

Anyways, in 2025, we sold the Tacoma and bought a Ram Promaster. We spent the next year getting it ready (though most of the work was done in the summer of 2025) for a dream come true.

My dream, anyway.

Our van, Solitude, before we removed the stickers.

My wife wasn’t as keen on taking this trip as I was. We were turning our backs on the sweltering summer of 2026 and heading for…The Arctic Ocean! But honestly, the idea has grown on her. She's all in now!

Tuktoyaktuk, located on the northern edge of Canada, as far as the road will take you, is the ultimate destination, but I am looking forward to time spent lingering in the Yukon. The Tombstone Mountains, the riverside pullouts, back-country van-camping, wildlife sightings, and the peace. Oh, the peace.

With 32 days booked for vacation time, we will be leaving southwestern Ontario, detouring through the US to save a day of travel time, and returning to Canada in Saskatchewan, then through Alberta, into British Columbia, up the Yukon, and into the Northwest Territories. One epic road trip!

Welcome to the Yukon

The van—as much as I love it—is simply a means of travel and convenience. Vanlife wasn’t the goal. Building the van gave me a sense of prepping for vanlife while maintaining the comforts of home. And while we both work at “normal” day jobs, we are both working remotely at our secondary jobs on this road trip. This will be our first time venturing into remote work while staying connected with Starlink. If it’s as good as everyone says it is, we’ll be just fine.

As we get set to go, The Curious Toad took a major revamp to become a site dedicated to a community of like-minded people who strive to Live Simply and Stay Curious. I’m glad you’re here.

As we grow the website and our social media presence, our goal is NOT to become influencers. We are just two real people who have lived fairly typical lives with all the ups and downs that life throws at us. And we want to offer an online space where you can enjoy your time, connect, learn, and dream about what’s next while staying in the present and living in the moment.

Over the next month, I will post a few YouTube videos while we get ready for the trip. I hope you’ll come along, follow up online and check out our channel.

Until next time, Live Simply, and Stay Curious. ~ Todd