Returning a Borrowed Camping Trailer - (Reading > Correspondence)

Dear Kevin,

I hope you and Sandra are settling in nicely after your move to Edmonton. I wanted to give you an update on your camping trailer, which I know you've been asking about. Thank you again for letting me borrow it for the whole summer. It made such a difference for our family trips.

I had originally planned to drive the trailer back to you by the end of August, but things didn't quite work out. During our last trip to Algonquin Provincial Park in early August, I noticed a small leak in the roof near the back window. It rained heavily one night and by morning, the mattress in the rear sleeping area was completely soaked. I felt terrible about it. I should have checked the seals before we headed out, but it simply didn't occur to me.

When we got back to Ottawa, I took the trailer to Rideau RV Services on Hawthorne Road to get the leak repaired. The technician told me the sealant around the window frame had dried out and cracked, which is what caused the water to get in. He replaced all the sealant and also noticed that one of the tire rims had a slow leak, so I had him fix that too. The repair bill came to $385, and of course that's completely on me. I also replaced the damaged mattress at a camping store in Kanata for about $120. I wanted everything to be in better shape than when I first borrowed it.

The repairs took longer than expected because the shop had to order a specific type of sealant, so the trailer was there for nearly two weeks. I finally picked it up this past Saturday, September 14th. Everything looks great now, and I gave the whole interior a thorough cleaning.

Now, for getting the trailer back to you. My brother Paul is driving to Edmonton on October 5th for a work conference, and he offered to tow it for me. Alternatively, I could bring it myself the following weekend around Thanksgiving, and Margaret and I could visit you and Sandra at the same time. I'd honestly prefer that second option because I'd love to see your new place, but I understand if you need the trailer back sooner since you mentioned a fall camping trip to Jasper.

Let me know what works best, and again, I'm really sorry about the leak. I'm just grateful you trusted me with it all summer.

Take care,
Derek