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Fall Foliage Poll

9/24/2015

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Fall officially started this past Wednesday (Sept 23).  While summer still seems to be lurking around with warm temperatures, the leaves on the trees are starting to turn.

With a few weeks before we hit peak fall foliage, we thought to take a poll to see where might be the most popular Ottawa area destination to view the beautiful fall colours!  
Fall Colours
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Space saver for your next road trip

9/19/2015

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The excitement of a road trip can sometimes overwhelm ones decision making when it comes to the all important issue of "what to pack".  Pack too much and you run the risk of running out of room in your vehicle to fit everything, not to mention make the vehicle feel cramped and uncomfortable.  On the other hand, packing to little runs the risk of missing out on that all important item, such as your bathing suite when it comes to that impromptu stop at a beautiful lake on a warm summer day. 
Compression bags
Compression bags (such as the above) offer a great cargo solution when faced with that packing dilemma of "more or less" luggage.  The benefit offered by the compression bags is that clothing space can be dramatically reduced once you expel the excess air from its pouch.

An Auto Spa Canada staffer once used a similar product when completing a cross-Canada road trip.  The staffer placed none essential clothes in the compression bags which freed up luggage space for his daily wardrobe.    
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A take anywhere backpack

9/18/2015

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There's nothing worse then having a closet filled to the brim with useless carry-bags. More so, ones that never seem to quite match your intended use, but hold-on, there maybe an answer for you. 

The OGIO Renegade backpack was recently used by an Auto Spa Canada staffer this past summer and received an outstanding two thumbs up!  The staffer used the bag for a range of activities, including: cottage night-over, gym and air travel carry-on bag.

A key benefit of the OGIO Renegade described by the staffer were its numerous pockets, allowing him to store essential electronic gear (e.g. 15'' laptops, tablets, headphones), travel papers and the all important sun-glass holder.

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Detailing benefits for vehicle re-sale

9/17/2015

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What can't be said about having a clean car, other then a big smile on your face and especially when it rids winter's ugly remnants from the inside and out of your vehicle.  Well truth be told, having your vehicle professionally detailed takes a certain amount of time to complete and with that its associated costs.

As it once was explained, most car-related service expenditures is like a trip to the dentist, no one likes it!  For auto-detailing service this can be cast in the same shadow, but there is the potential of increasing your ROI when it comes time to sell your vehicle!  

Our accredited auto-detailing location JREK Autocare has mentioned that on numerous occasions, customers have specifically received detailing services either prior to an appraisal or for private sale and have in turn received better pricing as a result of the detailing services.

Additionally, a recent article in Driving.ca mentioned that detailing services produced an almost 20% increase in the appraisal value of a Honda Civic they used to showcase the benefits of auto-detailing. 

Steam cleaning of vehicle floors
Express buff on vehicle hood
Split view (left untreated, right express buffed)
It is clear that auto-detailing services can give your re-sale a "pop" in price at the end of your ownership.  On the other hand, seasonal detailing (paint protection and interior steam-cleaning) will help preserve the aesthetic lifespan of your vehicle and may extend your overall appreciation for your vehicle - lending to owning it longer then otherwise envisioned.        
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Road Trip Essential - Survival Bracelet

9/15/2015

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Survival Bracelet
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Regardless if your in the back-country on a week long canoe camping trip or out on a day hike at your local hiking trail, emergencies can pop-up anywhere.

The need for assistance may not always be possible via mobile phone, especially if you've become immobilized due to a sever fall causing a leg fracture as example.

The Gerber Survival Bracelet offers three unique features that make it a must for an outdoor enthusiast:

  1. Whistle (attract attention for assistance)
  2. 12 ft of para-cord that can help with securing a splint
  3. Fits on your wrist  
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Pop-Up Tent - last minute adventure travel

9/14/2015

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Pop-up tent
If you've ever got tired of having to setup a tent and fiddle with its various poles, your in luck!  The Coleman pop-up tent has been used multiple times by an Auto Spa Canada staffer for some great car-camping road trips.

It's as easy as pulling the tent out of the storage case, finding a suitable (preferably flat w/ minimal roots) location and letting the tent pop-out.

(It does take a few practices at folding the tent back into the storage case, so it's best to try this at home before heading out of your first pop-up adventure. )

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Road trip essential - Inflatable Pillow

9/13/2015

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Traveling in your vehicle on lengthy trips can create opportunities for the passengers to rest their eyes, relax and nap.
If your pressed for vehicle space, typically a normal pillow is too cumbersome to keep on hand.

The inflatable pillow offers a convenient solution and inflates with two big breathes.  Convenience extends to how small it packs-up, making it easy to place in the glove box for future use.


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Inflatable Pillow
Inflatable pillow
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Head Lamp - great for road trips

9/12/2015

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The great thing about taking a road trip is the unexpected things that can pop-up and make the travel exciting or even adventurous.  Maybe you drive by a beautiful lake or passing through a national park, you see the potential to take a short hike and stretch your legs.

Regardless of what adventures await on your next road trip, a good tool to keep with is a head lamp.  The hands-free aspect makes for easier navigation on your impromptu hike at dusk or setting up your camp site at dark after arriving from a long drive.

The adjacent head lamp can be purchased in our on-line store and is small enough to be stored in your vehicle`s glove box.  This make for easy access should you have a road side emergency or just for keepsake and those unexpected adventures that await!         
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Head Lamps
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Microfiber - Your Multi-Purpose Detail Tool

9/11/2015

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There are a variety of products one would use to detail/clean their vehicle, including: rim cleaner, tire shine, window cleaner, leather cleaner, etc.  The list of car detailing products can be lengthy, especially how in-depth one would like their vehicle to look.  Having said this, the one tool that all of the above products have in common is the use of microfiber cloths to complete their respected cleaning outcomes.  

As an example of the multi-use function of a microfiber, our Accredited Auto-Detailing Location (JREK Autocare) uses them for window, leather and vinyl cleaning, along with rim detailing (dependent on rim coating). 

The one major benefit to using a microfiber over disposable "shop towels" as example is that microfibers can be washed in laundry and re-used multiple times before they ware-out.  
Microfiber car detailing
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If your thinking about purchasing a package of microfibers cloths, most major department stores carry them or you can purchase through our on-line store. 

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[Road Trip Idea] - Thousand Islands

9/6/2015

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The Thousand Islands encompass an area of the St. Lawrence river that extends from Brockville all the way to Kingston. From the Ottawa area, the drive to the region can range between 75 minutes to 2 hours (depending on which area you seek to venture to). 
Howe Island
The above photo was taken while waiting for the Howe Island ferry.  This portion of the Thousand Islands is located just outside Gananoque, which can be considered the largest area of concentrated islands in the region.

From fishing, boating, kayaking, canoe, etc. there is an endless supply of water activities to fill an action packed vacation.  If your into biking, the Thousand Islands Parkway has a bike path that extends its entire length from Gananoque to close proximity of Brockville.

Howe Island Ferry
For the more experienced road biker, try the ride between Gananoque and Kingston on Hwy 2 as it offers a nice mix of rolling hills with views of the St. Lawrence and the adjacent countryside.  Also, you can bike onto Howe Island as an alternate route to and from the Gananoque to Kingston bike route.
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