For us, it’s about knowing who we serve and how they brew.
Chris and Catherine are proof that some of the best coffee moments happen far from the bustle of a café. These days, they’re enjoying retirement on the road - waking up in their fully outfitted Ford Transit with the sunrise at their windshield and Fernwood in their mugs. Whether it’s a surf check by the ocean, a lake before the first cast, or a trailhead at dawn, they’re part of a community that brings coffee wherever adventure leads.
Their story captures that spirit. After retiring, they lived on a 44-foot catamaran, bought and ran a small-town roastery, and now travel full-time across Canada in their custom-built van as Two Loons Overland - complete with a dedicated drawer for their coffee grinder (we were impressed).
We met Chris and Catherine when they passed through Victoria last month and invited them to the roastery for a cupping - traded, naturally, for a very nosey van tour.
We asked them about life on the road, the joy of their coffee routine, and the connections they’ve made along the way, and thought we’d share it with you:
Q: How did you first get into van life?
Catherine: “Oh gosh, that’s a long story… haha.”
Chris: “About eight years ago, we chose to travel while we still had our health. We sold everything - house, cars - and bought a 44' catamaran, living aboard for nearly three years in the southern U.S. and Bahamas. It taught us minimalism and intentional living. Back in Ontario, we bought a small coffee roastery and café, built it up over two years, and then discovered van life. After 8–10 months building our van, we hit the road again, this time across Canada.”
Q: Tell us about building it for purpose - because you've just shown us that you built a special drawer for your coffee grinder! You must have put a lot of intention behind it.
Chris: “Haha, the boat taught us that everything needs a place - from the things we have to the things we pick up along the way like this Fernwood Blend, and our Fernwood Fellow mugs! We designed the van so our kettle, French press, grinder - everything has a home. It keeps things from rattling around and makes the space feel like home. Coffee was central to the design, because this is our home for months at a time, and we travel to remote places with rough roads. This year we've traveled across the Northwest Territories and Yukon, up to the Arctic Ocean, and on logging roads in BC.”
Q: What does a normal morning look like on the road?
Catherine: “Coffee first - always. We use a 1.5-litre French Press, brew enough for one cup right away, then pour the rest into our travel mugs to last until noon. We don’t go anywhere without it, and yes - we grind fresh beans every single morning.”
Q: Do you ever use instant coffee when traveling?
Catherine: “Yes! We actually tried Fernwood’s Instant, and it’s so convenient. Several times we've been in line for the ferry but we don't have time to get the whole coffee process out and clean and put it away, but with instant, all you need is hot water and you're set for the ferry lineup.”
Q: Tell us about these chairs you’re sitting in.
Catherine: “We turn the chairs so we're facing inward in the Van, and this is our living room! We have our own cozy seats and tables that we can use. It's a bit of everything here, and it works for us. We can fit a few people in for drinks too!”
Q: Do you find coffee helps you connect with others on the road?
Catherine: “Absolutely. Coffee is always a conversation starter - especially in small spaces like vans. Everyone asks, ‘How do you brew?’ People are surprised when they see our grinder drawer. It always gets a reaction.”
Q: You’ve run a café and now live on the road. Are there parallels?
Chris: “Meeting and chatting with people!”
Catherine: “Yes, meeting people on the road that have a lifestyle that is as intentional as ours, so we have a lot of similarities and often stay connected for life. We call them 'PLU’s' - people like us. It's all about the experience of meeting people and being to new places.”
Q: What have you learned from your travels so far?
Chris: “Canada is massive, and after over a year traveling from East to North to West, we’ve only scratched the surface. There’s so much to see and experience - it really shifts your perspective. Coming from a small rural town in Ontario, it’s easy to feel like that’s your whole world, but these wide-open spaces remind you just how vast and amazing this country is..”
Catherine: “We like to encourage others to do the same and explore Canada. You don’t have to go far - even in your own province!”
Q: So as seasoned coffee experts, what is your impression of Victoria and Fernwood Coffee?
Catherine: "Haha, they got it going on! This is serious business - serious coffee people. They know what's important, they're passionate and their products are fantastic. The staff that has worked for them for years and years - it says a lot about a company. It's been such a great experience, being here and meeting Ben and Terra."
Chris: "We'll definitely be ordering some online to Ontario when we're back home this winter."
Q: Did you know that Fernwood is selling in Sobeys in Southwestern Ontario now?
Catherine: "Now THAT is exciting. We can get this at home?! That's so easy to grab for us. But you know we might need a subscription, anyways. I like it coming to the door.”
Q: What’s next for you both?
Catherine: “Well, we go back for winter and the Christmas season to be with family. And Chris actually goes back to work building vans...”
Chris: “Yes, I've been retired about 4 times... haha... and my most recent job is part-time van building. After the experience of building our own, which we did in partnership with Shopdog Vans - he asked me if I'd return to help him build more. I thought he was joking, but, in any case, I've worked with him every winter since. My engineering background lends well to it, and every van is a fun project that turns out very custom to client needs. It's always interesting to see other people's ideas. We're definitely going to bring Shop Dog shop some Fernwood coffee!
