William sat cross-legged on the cushioned bench seat at the back of the RV, his nose pressed against the cool glass of the window as the Seattle skyline faded into the distance. His dog, Bear, a female black Border Collie, lay beside him, her head resting on her paws. Her dark eyes were alert, watching the passing scenery with the same curiosity as William.

“Are we almost there?” William called toward the front of the RV.

“Not yet,” his dad replied with a chuckle from the driver’s seat. “We’ve still got a ways to go before we hit British Columbia.”

His mom, sitting beside his dad, was flipping through a notebook, jotting down notes. “We’re almost through Washington, and then it’s just the border. It’ll be a couple more hours.”

William sighed and slouched back into his seat. “But I’ve been waiting for this trip for months! We’ve been driving forever!”

His mom turned around with a smile. “I know it feels long, but it’ll be worth it. Think about it—we’re finally moving to our new farm in Canada!”

William perked up at that. His family was leaving Seattle for good, heading to a piece of land in British Columbia where they were going to start a farm. He couldn’t wait to get there. His dad had already talked about planting trees, building a barn, and even getting animals. William could hardly imagine it—he’d always lived in the city, but now, he was about to have acres of land to call his own.

Just then, the RV hit a bump, and William bounced slightly in his seat. He laughed and looked down at Bear, who gave a soft woof and wagged her tail, clearly unfazed.

“Maybe it’s an earthquake!” William joked, making Bear look up at him as if she understood.

“We’re not even close to the border yet,” his dad said, smiling in the rearview mirror. “Lots of time to get excited.”

They passed through Everett and Bellingham, the urban sprawl giving way to thick forests and rolling hills. William’s excitement grew as he saw the landscape change. He spotted a bald eagle soaring overhead and pointed it out to his parents.

“Look, a bald eagle!” he exclaimed.

His dad smiled. “That’s a good catch, William.”

An hour later, they reached the Peace Arch border crossing. William sat up straighter, his heart thumping with anticipation. This was his first time leaving the United States and crossing into Canada. Bear, sensing his excitement, sat up beside him, her eyes bright and attentive.

When they reached the border window, the officer looked inside the RV, taking in the family. “Where are you headed today?”

“Vancouver,” William’s dad answered.

“Purpose of your visit?”

“We’re moving to start a farm,” his mom said, her voice full of excitement.

The officer’s gaze lingered on William and Bear for a moment, then he smiled. “That sounds like an adventure. Welcome to Canada.”

As they drove away from the border, William pressed his hands against the cool glass, watching as the road signs switched to kilometers.

“We’re really in Canada!” he exclaimed, his voice full of awe.

“That’s right,” his dad said. “And soon, we’ll be starting a whole new chapter. We’ve got a farm to get to.”

William looked down at Bear, who was sitting up now, her ears perked forward, ready for the next step of their journey. “You hear that, Bear? We’re starting our new life in a whole new country!”

Bear gave a soft bark, her tail thumping against the floor of the RV. William couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead in British Columbia, the land where his family’s new farm—and new life—was waiting.