Kinetic molecular theory: letting off steam.

At the heart of this journey was a need for a natural space that offered minimal distraction and enhanced focus for personal projects. For Mandlyn, this involved studying for a chemistry course needed for their Midwifery program at the University of Manitoba. For me, the goal was to tinker with a new set of camera lenses and expand my photography and videography practice.

So we booked car 51, loaded up the dual bike racks, filled our cooler with fresh veggies from our Fireweed Food Co-op CSA and headed off to the Honkey-Tonk Chalet: an off-grid, 400 square foot a-frame cabin just outside of Roseisle, Manitoba. This cosy abode features no running water, no electricity, a humanure composting toilet and impeccable lighting.

All Wheel Drive: Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is everything I want in an adventure car. The back seats fold down for transporting gear and coolers; pre-installed provincial park pass; dual bike racks on the roof for style points; bluetooth connection for broadway singalongs; two USB charging ports to minimize conflict; and last but not least: all wheel drive!

You see, the Honkey-Tonk Chalet is located off of a dirt road, through a farmers field, down a steep-muddy valley, along a meandering ATV trail, and rests upon stilts just above an old creek. Sure, we had to clear a couple of fallen poplars off the path from storms-gone-by, but once we popped into AWD the Kona tackled this treacherous terrain with the grace of a feral mongoose.

Honkey-Tonk Heaven

The Chalet is the perfect space to declutter the mind. There is no cell signal sending us constant reminders, no powered screens to keep us blue-lit until 1 am.

Forest-filtered sunlight fills the full-sized front windows during the day, while candlelight brightens up what’s left before bed. We spent the mornings chatting over fresh coffee while nibbling on fruit for breakfast. Each afternoon included photography, revising chemistry notes and the horrid skrelching of my amateur cornet skills.

Sure, there was also no flushing toilet, which for some may be a deal-breaker, but our sewer backed up two hours after we got home from this trip, so even the composting bucket-toilet felt like a luxury.

Lunch Break

Armed with a cast-iron pan, loads of snacks and a love of sandwiches, we nipped and nibbled our way through the weekend. We brought a big bag full of cherries, a loaf of crusty sourdough, some spicey sausages, a bit of bacon, and a bag of potatoes. We also brought milk: milk was a bad choice, but it was nice for the first day or so in our coffee.

It was nice to wake up with the sun and have the time to let your body call the shots:

“Coffee please, ooh and a slice of cucumber”, or “Are you thinking about a sandwich? Because I am.”

And when the heat of the day insisted, we made our daily trip to the beach.

Beach Day and Bike Trails

In the heat of the afternoon, we would mosey on down to Stephenfield Provincial Park to soak up some rays. Just 15 minutes from the HTC, Stephenfield features a short stretch of beach, yurt rentals, camping, walking and a network of walking and bike trails. Aside from the Sunday, where entry into the park was free, the beach was largely unoccupied. We rolled up with picnic blankets and snacks galore, ready for a day of vigorous study.

In all honesty, we did more drying off in the sun than rigorous study, but that is to be expected given the gorgeous weather we had all weekend.

Bringing it all home

Wrapping things up, I’d like to break down why I enjoy using Peg City Car Co-op for trips like this.

First, I have no interest in paying for the full cost of owning a car. Specifically, I mean the cost of maintenance, insurance, cleaning, up-fitting, parking, financing, fueling etc., that would be necessary to access a vehicle of this calibre.

I live centrally and bike most places, so I only need this type of vehicle for 2-3 trips per year. The cost of our trip to the Honkey-Tonk Chalte, in total, was less than a single month of vehicle insurance. So given that Peg City also covers the cost of purchasing and installing bike racks, park passes, cleaning and fuel for the trip, I’m already saving hundreds of dollars.

Looking at the big picture, last year I spent about $1,750 on carsharing in total, as opposed to the $6,000-$9,000 that the average Canadian pays annually to own and operate a compact private automobile. That’s big money. That’s like three years of savings, and you have a down payment on a house, kind of money.

How Much Mess Is Too Much Mess?

If you arrive at your vehicle to find garbage left behind, interior spills, or pet hair on the upholstery, please snap photos and submit them through the Damage/Maintenance report in the Peg City app. You can also send us a quick email. We’ll follow up with previous drivers and schedule the appropriate service in a timely fashion.

Guidelines for Transporting Pets

Our members rely on our service for various needs, including caring for and transporting their furry friends! Pets must travel in a carrier or on a barrier in the cargo area of the vehicle. Please respect other members by cleaning up all pet hair, paw prints or other such messes before returning your car.

Washing Cars and Earning Credit

If a vehicle’s interior becomes noticeably dirty during your booking,

1. Visit any coin-op, Midtown car wash, or Chamois. 

2. Take before and after photos, and clean the vehicle inside and out!

3. Send us an email with the photos and receipts. We reimburse up to $25 per wash as much as twice a month. Plus, we’ll add a $10 driving credit to your account as a thank-you.

Racks & hitches

Bike racks

This year we will be installing 8 Thule bike racks on vehicles ranging from hatchbacks, SUVs and crossovers. Each rack can carry two bikes and can be set up by following these easy-to-use instructions. We’re making it easier than ever to hit the trails this summer, all vehicles sporting a bike rack will also come equipped with a provincial park pass!

Roof racks

One if by land, two if by… canoe?

For those of us who are not big on bikes but still have big adventures planned, we have a total of 17 vehicles equipped with roof racks for hauling skis, canoes, and cargo boxes.

Trailer hitches

For those who are in it for the long haul, we have six vehicles equipped with trailer hitches, including mini-vans and half-ton trucks.

Provincial park passes

This year we’re adding provincial park passes to half of our fleet! Whether you are hitting the beach or taking a weekend trip with the family, Peg City is there to take the hassle out of your weekend plans. Search for vehicles with park passes when booking your next summer fun day!

Special cargo

Car seats

Members can now book a car with a pre-installed child car seat. We have installed Britax, Boulevard Clicktight child car seats in 10% of our vehicles, located in select neighbourhoods. This car seat is acceptable for use for children between 5 and 65 lbs and is easily adjustable. You can find installation instructions and user info here.

Members are welcome to make a complimentary 1-hour booking to visit one of our vehicles to inspect and get acquainted with this child seat. So long as no driving is done, we will waive the booking charges. Contact Member Services for more info.

Stow and Go

Search for flexible seating options! Members can find vehicles with up to eight seats and storage options like stow-and-go seating.

Vehicle options

Peg City is proud to offer a diverse selection of vehicles for our members. We have over 60 cars, trucks, mini-vans, SUVs, crossovers, hybrid-electric vehicles, and cargo vans to choose from.

Picking up four kids from hockey practice? VAN

Towing a small trailer or hauling lumber? TRUCK

Running errands without ruining the environment? HYBRID