Chuckwagon racing is a way of life for these Alberta RVers

Perle and Len Campbell belong to the All Pro Chuckwagon and Chariot Association's Taste the Dust Pro Tour.

Perle and Len Campbell are not your regular RVers. They belong to the All Pro Chuckwagon and Chariot Association's Taste the Dust Pro Tour. Their 2009 40-foot Fleetwood Providence is their home away from home on the tour. From May to September, the tour stops every weekend from as far south as Sundre, Alberta, to as far north as Rycroft.

"It's a strange sport," said Perle. "My husband Len is the racer and started doing this five years ago. He started off with just a cart, just like half a soup can on the back of two horses. Then he went into a full wagon with four horses. We usually stay in the Back Forty of the town's exhibition grounds and race against each other. The funds you can win don't even cover gas, so we do this totally for the enjoyment of the sport and our love for horses. I'm just kind of the groomer and get to sit back and enjoy it all."

Perle and Len were born and raised in Calgary but now live in Jarvis Bay, just outside of Sylvan Lake. They both love their new lifestyle. Len owns and manages Clearview Glass Service Ltd. Perle is retired after working for 30 years at the Bank of Montreal. Perle said their RV, with the slides open, is probably bigger than their first apartment and she's happy to spend two months out of the year taking it on the tour.

"My husband loves spending time with the horses and caring for them," said Perle. "It's like therapy for him, his stress relief. The racing is kind of what happened for us to acquire them. We never had them before. This all started when our company started sponsoring a racer, then it just went from there. Not to mention the people involved in this sport are just wonderful people."

Perle said she and Len have met some exceptional people while racing.

"I just love sitting around a campfire in the evening after the races and telling stories," she said. "There's this one old fellow who is 75 years old and still racing. We don't see him quitting anytime soon. The sport is good for you both physically and mentally and I think it keeps a person going. For me, it's also time with my husband in nature. Traveling by way of motorhome brings you close to nature with the comforts of home."

Perle believes RVing is the best way to travel. And although she never would've thought they would be in such a big unit going down the highway, now they don't know how they managed without it.

"When we had small kids, we had a camper that fit in the back of the truck," she said. "Now, we have a big unit and no kids to share it with. Seems silly—it should've been the other way around."

Len is not yet 60 and with other racers in their mid-seventies, Perle doesn't see him quitting anytime soon. Which is just fine by her.