They’ve put new name decals on the door, they’ve painted the office

Tomorrow I leave this happy-go-lucky life of the semi-retired enthusiastic RV traveler and step back into my part-time role as one of Canada’s most knowledgeable, helpful and laid back RV salesperson.
As of 9 am tomorrow I am back to my part-time job sharing role, same as last year. The program is simple; We work 3 days, then play one, then work three more days. As a reward for all our hard work we get to play for the next 7. Then repeat. When I’m working, my partner Wayne is playing. When I’m playing Wayne is working. When I’m not there, Wayne is. Our customers love it because no matter what the day either Wayne or myself are there to look after them. I love it because when I’m working, I’m working hard and when I’m playing I can play hard knowing that our customers are extremely well looked after by my job share partner. And, after a week of playing, I’m ready to go back and work hard for my turn.

I’ve picked a strange day to start my “summer job“

The weather forecast for tomorrow includes freezing temperatures, ice pellets, freezing rain and winds. The Winter Storm Warning begins this afternoon and continues for about the next 24 hours. Isn’t life interesting!

However, my starting  date is significant for me, As I recall it was April 11, 1978 when I started to sell RV’s. In those days a new “big” Winnebago was 26 feet long and sold for up to $30,000.. I’m thinking gas was about $1.00 per gallon (or 29 cents a liter).

Back in those days we owned a truck and camper and I can recall sitting in my camp chair  with my feet up on a tree stump, cold beer in my hand, thinking that I was having so much fun with our RV I should be out there telling other people about what a great time they could  have if they too just had one of them recreation vehicles. People needed to know! Within a year, we had moved to Calgary and I had found an RV dealer who would hire me. I guess this is where they say “the rest is history”.

In the last 35 years, because of fuel shortages, fuel prices and general economic good times and bad times, the experts have predicted the end of the RV industry on at least 3 or 4 occasions . In spite of that, my pay checks have only continued to get bigger and bigger.

I am truly a lucky man: People are still listening when I tell them my story. I get to work when I want, play when I want and I still get paid to do it. And when I’m not working we travel the continent and connect with good friends where ever we choose to go.

Walt Disney said “If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.”

I’d say that Walt Disney was a very wise man. I am truly living my dream.

Thanks for the read.

Our check engine light. has been on for at least 3 years

We’ve lived in Ontario for more than 11 years. One if the first things I learned when we got here way back in 2002 was that when an Ontario resident’s car check engine indicator was lit the most popular and most acceptable fix was to cover the offending light with either a wad of well used chewing gum or, if you prefer to do a more professional job, cover it with a piece of duck tape. The light was still on, but nobody cared because no one could see it anymore. In fact, when that same indicator in our truck came on in our truck and I took it in for service the dealer’s service manager basically suggested because the problem any one of about 20 or 30 minor problems I use the popular remedy to put out the light. That fix worked for us. We E-tested our truck 2 years ago with the “check engine” light a blazing and passed no problem.

Here’s the news: In Ontario Illuminated Check Engine Lights Will Not Pass Emissions

As of the first of this year that fix no longer works. It seems that they have changed the way they now do the emissions testing. They used to actually analyze the vehicle’s exhaust emissions so the check engine light didn’t matter but now they read the vehicle’s computer for faults. Guess what causes that light to come on? If you said “the computer recognizing a fault” you would be correct. So from here on in, in Ontario at least, keep you bubble gum in your mouth and save your duck tape for holding that important stuff together. When your “check engine” light is aglow you have no choice except to get it fixed.

Smoke Test: They fill the intake side of the fuel system  with smoke. Where they see smoke coming out of the “sealed” system they have their leak.

Apres Truck Wash

Usually, while we are traveling, we stop at a Blue Beacon Truck Wash two or three times over the winter and get the motorhome all washed up. This winter though, it just didn’t happen. I washed it a couple of times myself and then on two other occasions, wiped it down with a damp cloth. It’s a guy thing you know, you gotta keep that rig clean and shiny, cuz  that’s the law.
On our way home we were in colder weather and our baby was looking like nobody loved her anymore. Twice I checked the weather forecast up the road to home and both times it was clearly all clear, so when we passed a Blue Beacon in Richmond, Indiana that had a sign saying “Special on RV Washes” we pulled in and I showed the man my credit card.
Man we looked good! I could just see all the other RV drivers staring jealously at us as we passed, all shiny and bright.

Damn! I Forgot About Lake Effect Snow

We came up through Sarnia yesterday and as we made our way east to London I kissed every last dime I had spent on our coach wash goodbye because, unfortunately, we rolled through some nasty snow squalls. Sure enough, we stopped at the Flying J to fuel up and realized our coach was a mess. No more jealous glances, that’s for sure. Now they turn their heads knowingly and say to their co-pilot “look at that filthy coach”. It is true. “Pride does goeth before a fall”

It’s still really cold, so first thing this morning I gather up all Marilyn’s empty wine bottles and took them back to the empties store where they give you back your bottle deposit. I had to throw in a few smaller brown ones of my own,  but I scraped up enough cash to visit our local Blue Beacon.

“No RV Special deals here” he says when I enquire, I fear that he could see the look of desperation in my eyes, but we got it done.

I carefully drove home, staying on the pavement all the way, missing all the little dust piles left over from our Ontario winter. As I parked the coach and hopped out to have a look at our treasure I was shocked. It was almost as dirty as it was before either wash. I pulled up the jacks and headed back to the Beacon.

They came out, had a look, and waved in the direction of the parking lot. “It’s the dust in this damn lot” they said. “We brushed the whole coach and we can prove it. I responded that I could prove that I had just spent $65 in their establishment and I was still driving a dirty coach. They got me back in right away and rinsed our baby down again.

This time I was extra, extra careful as I slowly made my way back to 50 Point. It’s a lot better, but still needs some wiping.

For the last few months Marilyn has suggested that maybe we need to buy a pressure washer. What really ticks me off is when I have to admit that she’s probably right.
“It’s hard for me to get used to these changing times. I can remember when the air was clean and sex was dirty.”

George Burns