We live in Vancouver and the city is changing so much as it prepares to host FIFA World Cup 26. Fences are up all around BC Place, road closures are creating tons of traffic, Skytrain access to BC Place is being redirected, and hotel prices are even more expensive than usual. There are also some impacts to the city and its residents that you might not have thought of, like how it impacts vulnerable people - many of those living in the DTES (Downtown Eastside) - and how it affects providing emergency services. But with all these negatives, there are also hints of fun things to come, like Science World being turned into one giant soccer ball, preparations for the viewing parties at the PNE and Granville Island, and setting up the fan zones. So is Vancouver hosting the FIFA World Cup a good thing? Or is it just one big costly mistake? We'll find out as the games start in just a couple of weeks.

This weekend I headed to Vancouver Island for a ladies-only camping trip at Horne Lake - and wow, it delivered! No Chris this time. Just me, my friends, and a tent I haven't touched in over a decade.

Horne Lake looked absolutely stunning when we arrived, but the tent situation... not so much. The elastics inside the poles were stiff and stretched making it so nothing wanted to slide together. After a lot of stress (and a little panic), and some help from my friends, the tent finally stood upright. Time for a fire.

The night was cold - I couldn't sleep and ended up putting on extra layers: two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks including thermal socks, and a jacket over my sweatshirt. But the morning sun made everything feel worth it. And the best part of camping at Horne Lake? The caves.

We booked the Action Pack tour and spent the afternoon crawling through tight squeezes, sliding down cave chutes, spotting fossils, and navigating something called the Cheese Grater. My heart was pounding the whole time. Total adrenaline rush. I still can't believe we did it.

Back at camp, we tried a new s'more recipe with melted Baby Bell cheese, crackers, and red pepper jam. I almost dropped mine into the fire, but thankfully I didn't. They were so good!

Our last day was slow and cozy, paddle boarding and checking out Little Qualicum Falls before getting back on the ferry heading home.

Chris and I spent the weekend on Vancouver Island at the West Coast Van Festival, surrounded by Sprinters, Transits, and fully built-out rigs while we camped in our Honda Pilot microcamper. And we wondered, would we fit in?

We set up, made an easy dinner, and settled in with our memory foam mattress, duvet, and a movie on the tablet. In the morning, we switched the Pilot from sleeping mode to "living room mode" and used our C-Techi battery to keep everything powered. Since everyone around us had indoor showers, we used the privacy of our tail gate tent to "shower" using the water jug we brought.

Most of the day was spent walking the festival, talking to people, and checking out different setups. We saw everything from DIY builds to high-end vans with elevator beds, smart storage, solar systems, and compact bathrooms to people living out of family minivans and sedans. Each one was built for the owner's needs, and no two were the same, which was really cool to see.

We also made a quick trip to Goats on a Roof for snacks and wandered the vendor area before heading to Chrome's Q&A. My biggest takeaway from his talk: start small and build as you go.

Throughout the weekend, we met people living full-time in vans, people testing it out, and people planning future builds. It reminded us about why we chose a microcamper in the first place - our condo only has a regular parking spot with no room for anything bigger, and we spend half the year traveling abroad. The Pilot fits our life right now.

The festival wrapped up with raffle prizes, more conversations, and one last walk through the campground. We left with new friends, a better sense of what works for us, and a reminder that there's no single "right" way to camp or travel. So yes, we fit in with our Honda Pilot.