SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Driven by a desire to spend more time together, Tristan and Katie Colliflower, along with their five young daughters, decided to leave the monotony of suburbia behind and follow their dreams.
“I worked 12 to 14 hours a day as a pipelayer for five years. We had a large house, the whole dream thing, but we never spent time together as a family. I would leave early in the morning and return late at night. Something had to change,” said Tristan, formerly a resident of Steinbach, Man.
In the spring of 2015, after seeing a photograph online of modern nomads, the inspired couple purchased a 1998 yellow school bus from a local school division, with plans to convert it into a self-contained camper.
“I worked on the bus whenever I had free time – in the evenings after work, even in a snow blizzard during a day off – so that’s why one window is slightly crooked,” said Tristan as he pointed toward the bus parked in a yard along Highway 2 just outside of Summerside.
“We had tried tiny living before, so we knew – to an extent – what it would entail downsizing from a home to a bus.”
In 2017, the camper they dubbed Cabin Fever Bus was ready for the ultimate family road trip. The family sold their house in Steinbach to live a more “exciting, meaningful and authentic” life doing the things they always wanted to do across Canada.
“We were tired of simply surviving. We wanted to thrive,” said Katie.
They travelled through Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, before crossing the Confederation Bridge and taking a break from their bus in Summerside.
“I’m currently doing renovation work in Summerside,” said Tristan, who said they are renting a home in the city while their charismatic green bus, with a wooden cabin on top, is parked in a residential driveway in Travellers Rest.
“I met Josh at work, and he kindly offered us a place to (temporarily) park our bus, on one condition – his driveway is rent free,” said Tristan, who noted the highlight of their adventure so far has been the kind-hearted people and hospitality they have encountered.
“(The kids) know how to build a campfire, pitch a tent, fish, cook, socialize, and I wish I knew those things when I was aged six.”
- Tristan Colliflower
“We can’t travel forever because in Canada you need to have a residence after a certain amount of time for health care and that sort of stuff,” explained Katie.
“But living in the bus made us realize we don’t need much to be happy. I don’t miss the huge house and all the possessions we had. We haven’t lacked for anything, and the tight quarters created closeness.”
Tristan acknowledged the kids are home-schooled and that education doesn’t need to be confined to a classroom setting.
“They know how to build a campfire, pitch a tent, fish, cook, socialize, and I wish I knew those things when I was aged six.”
The couple finds paid work along the way, as well as volunteers at Bible camps and small churches. They said there’s no going back to their former life.
“Manitoba is not for us,” said Tristan, without even a pause for breath. “We take things day-by-day and we don’t look at the big picture, but rather what’s right in front of us. We’ve made mistakes along our journey but ultimately followed our dream.”
While on their expedition, the family has lifted a cloud of debt and stress, made lasting friendships, seen places and experienced things they will never forget.
“We want to encourage other families to take time to enjoy each other, God’s creation and choose to be content. Every moment is a gift, so don’t ever let your focus of what you don’t have rob you of what you do have,” said Katie.
The Colliflower family plan to continue their bus journey, with the next stop in Newfoundland.
To follow the family on their road trip, visit www.cabinfeverbus.com.
