18 May, 2025 1 comments Leave a comment

The term 'shakedown' often has negative connotations, such as a swindle, an unwelcome search, or a radical restructuring of a company. But an Airstream Shakedown is a happy occasion - the first group camping weekend of the season by the Ontario unit of Airstream Club International.

The event is called a Shakedown because it is an opportunity to check that all systems are working properly in our trailers, after they have emerged from winter storage, and that we remember how to operate everything. We make sure any wear and tear issues are identified and resolved before extensive summer travel begins. Usually we discover items we forgot to bring with us from home, and add them to our checklists.

Sixteen Airstream trailers of all sizes and vintages gathered for a long weekend early in May, to check over our rigs and enjoy some relaxed, social time together. It was lovely to renew friendships after the winter break, and to make new friends.

Our 2025 Shakedown was held in the Richmond fairgrounds, on the outskirts of Ottawa, ON. Facilities included water and electrical connections, and access to a dump station for emptying our wastewater tanks prior to leaving. 

We enjoyed lawn chair happy hours in the sunshine (pictured above) as well as catered breakfasts and a delicious pot luck dinner in the adjacent community hall. Some of us visited area flea markets, craft shows, and yard sales and found a few treasures to take home.

One evening, my husband hosted a Canadian trivia game slide show to entertain the group, and I gave a slide show of recent paintings and the steps of making my landscape painting And Nothing Else Matters (shown here).

Coincidentally, I delivered this painting to its new owners at the Shakedown, and they proudly showed it off to the audience after my slideshow.

That presentation lead to the sale of one of my rustic Canadian flag paintings, to our new Airstream friends Patrick and Caroline (shown above), who will be hanging it in their beautiful trailer. They camp and travel full time throughout North America every summer and have a YouTube channel called @RoadTripEscapades. Patrick shared the awesome drone photos he took of the Shakedown, and allowed me to use them in this post. 

Airstreamer Jim McQuaid took the above photo of the encampment at sunset one evening. Our trailer is in the middle, with a purple entrance light beside the door. 

The Richmond Shakedown was a relaxing way to enjoy spring weather in the company of many wonderful friends, and start off the camping season on the right foot. My husband and I have arranged four awesome camping trips to various regions of Canada this summer, so stay tuned for highlights in future posts.

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