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Recreational
Vehicles:
Snowbirds
'Scamper' around North America
or take a Fly-Drive Vacation overseas
 by
Jerry W. Bird
If you've every felt the lure of the open road and the
freedom to stop anywhere at the drop of a hat by some lake,
stream or waterfall, you may be a natural for the RV way of
life. Back in the mid 70s, myself
and Don Markowsky of Calgary became one of the first teams
in Canada to get our feet wet in the rental of recreational
vehicles. At the time my agency handled the advertising for
one of Canada's foremost RV manufacturers, Prebuilt
Industries, builders of 'Scamper' and 'Skipper' trailers,
campers and motor homes. Owned by the Merriman family of
Lethbridge, Alberta, Prebuilt pioneered the concept of a
mobile camper village. It was on several beautiful acres of
Kootenay Lake property near Nelson, BC, one of the
province's most attractive cities. I thinks the idea would
still fly.
If you've got it,
flaunt it
We also handled the Mobile
Home and RV industry's national public relations account, so
it stands to reason we learned a lot about the RV way of
life during that fabulous decade. Names like Jim Pattison,
Norm Lock, Don and Ron Southern were prominent in the
industry at the time, and I joined the action with a gusto,
being guest speaker at a variety of events. Before long we
hired a full time publicist "Tim Wheeler" (nom de plume),
who traveled coast to coast year round, appearing on radio,
television and in newspapers large and small. Both of these
industries were just feeling their oats so we had plenty of
opportunity to launch innovative ideas. One of our account
executives, Bill Saviak liked it so much he founded the
'Mobile Canada Show,' which later became his bread and
butter.
 Rules
of the game
My friend Don Markowsky was
so enamored of the RV business, he became one of the first
to recognize and go after the European market, traveling to
Germany each year. As a matter of fact, Don is still
managing an RV business in Calgary. Having a young family at
the time, I quickly joined an RV club and traveled around
the country with several models of Scamper; a way of life
that's hard to beat, as long as you have patience on the
road. There are several tried and true rules to RV'ing, as
follows:
Consider a fly/drive program
like Don Markowsky arranged for his European clients
visiting Western Canada. Check this and other web sites or
your travel agency for airlines, cruise lines and tour
packages.
Have the right traveling companions,
since compatibility is essential. Get the group together at
least once, and plan ahead. That's what's so great about
membership in a travel club.
When renting, choose your motor home
carefully, insisting on a unit that is no older than three
years.
Today over 600,000 people own
Recreational Vehicles in Canada alone. They are mostly 50
plus empty nesters, and being 'Snowbirds' their favorite
destination is Florida. The average trip is a one month
getaway, and most (over 80%) do it on the spur of the
moment.
For more on
recreational vehicles visit http://www.go-rving-canada.ca/
If you have enjoyed
an RV experience lately or at some time past, please write:
airhwy@dowco.com
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