Some of the most meaningful parts of this journey have been the people we never expected to meet.
We met Dirk and Renate at a campsite in Canada. Originally from the Netherlands and now living in Canada, they first caught our attention because of their incredible white Land Rover Defender.
Of course, we had questions.
Lots of questions.
What began with us admiring their Defender and asking about their overlanding setup somehow turned into something much bigger.
What we thought might be a day or two together became eight unforgettable days of traveling, camping, hiking, sharing meals and simply enjoying one another’s company.
We explored remote campsites together and spent time around Jasper and Banff National Parks. Some of our favorite memories were the hikes we shared — walking beautiful trails while conversations wandered from travel to family, spirituality and life.
And then there were the pizza dinners in downtown Jasper and Banff, where the conversations stretched on and the days never seemed quite long enough.
Renate was the quiet warrior of camp — meticulous, organized and incredibly efficient when it came to setting up and breaking down. But what we’ll remember most was her warmth and kindness. She often spoke about the special bond the five of us had formed.
What a beautiful soul.
Dirk brought his own wonderful energy. Thoughtful, spiritual and philosophical, he had read many of the same books we love, including The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Our conversations often continued late into the evening, shifting effortlessly from travel to spirituality to life in general.
And naturally, there was plenty of vehicle talk.
When we told Dirk about some of the problems we’d been having with YOLA — including the faulty weather stripping around the rear tailgate that was allowing rainwater inside and that persistent clunking beneath the skid plate — he generously shared his knowledge and ideas.
Travel advice. Car advice. Life advice.
Somehow, we covered it all.
And always, there was Keisha.
heir beautiful seven-year-old husky, with her striking blue eyes and soft beige coat, was part of everything we did.
The love Dirk and Renate had for Keisha was unmistakable, and Kristi and Keisha formed an especially sweet bond.
Before long, the three of them didn’t feel like people — and a dog — we’d just met at a campsite.
They felt like old friends.
Eight days together, and somehow we never ran out of things to talk about, trails to explore, meals to share or reasons to laugh.
Then, only a few days after our roads separated, we received heartbreaking news.
Keisha had become very ill.
Dirk and Renate did everything they could to save her, but sadly, at only seven years old, she passed away.
Our hearts broke for them.
It was difficult to comprehend that this beautiful, vibrant dog we’d just spent so much time walking beside was suddenly gone.
We’ll always remember those remarkable blue eyes, her gentle presence and the special bond she formed with Kristi.
Dirk, Renate and Keisha will always be part of the story of this journey — a reminder that the road has a remarkable way of bringing people, and sometimes animals, into our lives that we never expected to meet but can’t imagine having missed.
We hope our roads cross with Dirk and Renate again someday and that there are more campsites, hikes, long conversations and pizza dinners still ahead.
And wherever those roads take us, a little piece of Keisha will always travel with us.
YOU ONLY LIVE ADVENTURE
