From the co-leaders' email of August 22, 2026. Their emails are the official word.
On this page
Why bother
The caravan leaves Thompson on the train the afternoon of Friday, October 2 and is not back until midday Wednesday, October 7. That is five nights with the rigs parked and unattended at McCreedy Campground, in northern Manitoba, in October.
It does not have to get catastrophically cold to split a line. The co-leaders treat this as a precaution everyone takes, not an optional extra for the cautious.
The numbers back them up: over 2010–2024, Churchill on those exact October dates averaged a 35°F overnight low, and Thompson has seen 24°F. Freezing nights while you are away are ordinary, not unlucky. See weather on the route.
What to buy before you leave home
- 2 gallons of RV antifreeze — buy it at home; don't count on finding it in Thompson the day before
- An electric heater — it gets left running inside
Both are called out by name in the August 22 email.
The steps
- Put antifreeze in the drains. This is the main use for the two gallons.
- Drain and blow out the water lines. Recommended, not just suggested.
- Drain the hot water tank. The co-leaders drain theirs.
- Leave an electric heater running on the counter. Shore power stays on at McCreedy.
The one thing not to do
Do not run antifreeze through your fresh water lines. Stated in capitals in the email, and worth repeating — drains yes, fresh water lines no.
Help on site
One of the co-leaders will assist caravanners with winterizing their Airstreams. If you've never done this, or you've never done it on this rig, say so and get a hand rather than guessing. Thursday Oct 1 in Thompson is a light day on the itinerary — a good window to sort it out before the Oct 2 departure crunch.
Keys and check-ins
The co-leaders leave their Airstream keys with Colleen at the Thompson campground, who checks that the furnaces are running and gets word to Churchill if anything is wrong. That's the arrangement they describe for their own rig — if you want the same coverage, arrange it with them rather than assuming it.
Cell coverage in Churchill is reliable in town, so a problem found in Thompson can actually reach you.
Coming back
The train arrives in Thompson around noon on Wednesday, October 7. The afternoon is free — laundry, or a look around Thompson — so there is time to de-winterize and get water back on before the drivers meeting at 7:00 PM. The caravan rolls for Grand Rapids at 8:15 the next morning.