Parking Lot Sleepover, Bitter Cold, CanAm Driving Test and Seminar Day, Dinner with Friends

So, on Sunday, Apr. 8^th when we woke up at 6:30, we prepared ourselves for a bit of a ‘work’ day. The fun type of work. Volunteer. Bill was up and showered and we had a hot drink together. Today was the last of three Seminar days for our RV dealership, CanAm. These are the folks who we deal with for rv’s and have bought 3 fifth wheels from them. Now they are friends.

Bill and I, among others, are CanAm Friends and that just means we help out with RV shows and this type of ‘customer’ day. Sometimes we have tips for new rvers and other times we pick up our own tips from staff as well as customers. We all have experiences to share. CanAm has been doing a Driving Seminar Day for 17 or 18 years and it is very successful. People come from all over Ontario to sign up for free driving tests, pulling whatever type of rv/tow vehicle arrangement is available.

With some sun and some clouds, they begin setting up the test vehicles

Some people have never owned a trailer before, therefore never pulled one. Often, they have a trailer but want to trade up to bigger or downsize to small or maybe just go from a travel trailer to a fifth wheel. CanAm has about 10 options and you can test drive each one, if you wish. 

Bill was driving this Dodge Caravan (!) today pulling a 23' Lance
travel trailer

After an hour and a half of driving, Andy Thompson, one of the owners, gives a talk on anything you can think of about travelling with an rv. 

Sorry for the blur

Speaking from his own and others’ experiences, he can offer valuable information.

Bill, today, drove the Dodge Caravan pulling a 23’ Lance. He drives, turns around and the customer drives back. I stay inside, where it is warm. I’m only there as one of 3 greeters. We meet people when they arrive and hook them up with their salesperson before they can sign up for the test drives. It is a pretty easy day and I can pop back and forth to check on Clemson in the meantime. After the first talk, there is a lunch break and then the afternoon session of driving goes on for another hour and a half before Andy talks ‘Towing’.

they have a City of London Police officer on standby
to slow down the traffic along the busy highway for
frequent exits and entrys
such a pleasant young man

The day went well, lots of chatting and lots of busy-ness. I believe they ‘entertained’ approximately 80 customers and everyone seemed happy and talkative about the upcoming season. Bill had 8 test runs by the end of the day and at 3:45 we went back out to feed Clemson. We had been invited to visit our good friends, Kathy and Derrick across the city and for dinner so we left the Suite by 4. We sure don’t miss the driving in this big city. Trying to take the most practical route, we still on a late Sunday afternoon took 30 minutes to arrive at their beautiful home.

It was a hopping place today

Great hugs all around (we love these guys) and we sat down and caught up. There is always lots to talk about and when we need to chatter about something in particular, they are the best listeners. Derrick had prepared lasagna and Kathy whipped up a Caesar salad and garlic toast. Yum yum yum. The wine was flowing and Bill and I really relaxed. Then out came a delicious apple crisp with a scoop of ice cream. Great meal!

A huge Congrats to Kathy who has set a retirement date and to their 16 year old grandson who has been drafted into the OHL! Terrific news!

Always an enjoyable evening with these two

We left around 8:30 and home on time to catch American Idol before I crawled (it felt like it!) up to bed at 10. It was a wonderful day, first full day back in Canada. I hope yours was a good one as well.

Thank you for stopping by today! I love to hear from you and will respond to every post in time.