Cotty and Judi circa 2007
Their story began in the back seat of a 1997 Toyota 4Runner, on a spontaneous road trip to Hemlock. Judi had cheerfully agreed to climb into a vehicle full of strangers, knowing only three things: pickup was at 11 a.m., the drive would take two hours, and hungry travellers would need feeding.
Naturally, she arrived armed with Finch’s deluxe baguette sandwiches and a batch of homemade Joodee Cookies. Little did anyone know that this was the beginning of countless adventures together.
Fast-forward to 2013, and the two are off on another grand adventure: driving from Vancouver to Key West, by way of Toronto, in their trusty VW Golf, affectionately known as the Blue Gnu.
Time is limited, money is tight, and the route is anything but direct. But the appetite for adventure? Absolutely boundless.
Cotty and Judi 2025
Judi, Cotty, and their trusty VW Golf, the Blue Gnu, are gearing up for their biggest adventure yet: driving clear across Canada in the icy grip of a polar vortex. Not even bone-chilling temperatures can dampen their enthusiasm as they prepare to tuck the Gnu into a shipping container bound for Rotterdam.
Judi and Cotty will reunite with their four-wheeled travelling companion in early March, ready to tackle a delightfully ambitious mission: visit every country in Europe without overstaying their welcome in the Schengen Zone.
What could possibly go wrong? Let the next epic chapter begin!