It’s all about the people. Deep within the shiny aluminum exterior and the rounded, aerodynamic shape indicative of the Airstream trailer, the hearts of its owners beat — hearts that pump with a love of the open road.
Airstream owners worldwide share a deep bond and a passion for exploring the continent one small town and scenic mile at a time. Retired Gravenhurst couple Allen and Ruth Moir epitomize that sentiment, and they can’t hide their enthusiasm for the upcoming Fall Buddy Rally scheduled at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2.
With bright smiles and wide eyes the couple show off their well earned red star decals, signifying the fi veyear term they have spent as members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) — otherwise known as the Airstream Club. It’s named after the camp trailer’s inventor Wally Byam, and at the very core of the club is the people. The couple bought their fi rst Airstream in 2002 and quickly thereafter became WBCCI members.They can’t speak enough about what the club has meant to their lives and how it even became the motivation for Allen to stay alive.
“You couldn’t meet better people if you went all over the world,” Ruth said, referring to the cross-section of people the couple have met due to their travels. Two years ago Allen was on a ladder, 15 feet in the air above the trailer, trying to clear branches away from the top of his beloved Airstream.
He fell, and was left hospitalized, his life hanging by a thread. With a host of injuries including a punctured left lung, fractured clavicle and broken ribs, Allen was in a coma for two-and-a–half weeks. He spent more than a month in the hospital.
Four surgeries followed the incident. After it all, Allen wasn’t given much of a chance to live – he even died four times. When he came out of the coma, Ruth said the fi rst words out of his mouth, were “the Rose Bowl Parade.” It’s a destination he and his wife had planned prior to the accident. Now the couple laughs about the brushes with death, but believe his desire to make the trip in his Airstream was his main motivation for fi ghting and the will to live.
“It’s nothing short of a miracle,” she said. The several weeks he was in the hospital was the hardest thing he had to experience, Ruth said. But the time was made a little easier thanks to the support extended to him in the form of get well cards and calls for his well being from WBCCI members.
When Allen was relearning how to walk in late autumn, one member from Oshawa even drove up to Muskoka to winterize the trailer for him. Allen had to endure more than a year of rehabilitation before he could walk and be ready for another trip with his wife. “She won’t let me go up ladders anymore,” he said, laughing. A life-long lover of the iconic trailer, Allen has a binder of information dating back to the 70s to prove it. Although he remembers as a teen liking the Airstream for its look, he later fell in love with the type of travel it could provide. Ever since then he’d wanted one.
Upon his retirement several years ago, he fulfi lled his dream and he and Ruth are now the owners of a 34’ 2003 Classic. The couple can barely contain themselves when they talk about the great economy, thoughtfulness in design and durability of the Airstream compared to other trailer manufacturers. Smiles spread across their faces s they recall the many adventures they have taken, including trips to California and Texas.
Despite all the travelling, they still love the trips with the grandchildren best. Past-president of the WBCCI Donna Patridge, a member for several years, agrees with the Moirs about the rewards the club brings, like meeting a diverse mix of people who share the shame passion for travel and appreciation for the Airstream. “It’s the people that really make it,” she said. “You name it, we’ve got it.” From the white-collar to the bluecollar worker, the WBCCI’s membership is as diverse as they are well-known. The rallies the club hosts are mainly social, but are also socially conscious. “We just take our lawn chairs, gather in front of each other’s trailers, and talk,” she said.
Patridge likens the communal experience at the rallies to how farming communities will learn from and help each other. All yearly members crochet and knit blankets and other assorted comforting items for children in distress under the Lioness Project – their biggest effort among many the club performs. They’ve donated thousands of blankets since the project started several years ago.
At each rally a donation in the form of food or money is given to a local charity group or cause when touring. The Patridges have gone through a few Airstream models since buying the first one, which drew them in with its history, craftsmanship and distinctive look. While the Patridges were driving through Muskoka they couldn’t help but notice the beauty and the plethora of things to see and do in the area. “Our folks like to do two things: they like to eat out and shop,” she said.
Many will be arriving at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds on the Wednesday, but the rest will make their appearances on the Thursday and leave the following Tuesday. They hope to have more than 50 WBCCI members attend the upcoming rally, that will see Airstreams from all over Ontario, including Niagara Falls. There are more than 5,000 WBCCI members across the continent.
There won’t be an open house, but Patridge said “If people drop by they will always fi nd someone to talk to them. The guys are always willing to talk about hitches, tow vehicles, and trucks and stuff like that. The ladies are always interested in talking about what it’s like to cook in an Airstream. Or viceversa because some of our ladies tow … Absolutely come on by and you’ll fi nd people are very welcome and willing to share.”