Mickey and Minnie travel by Airstream!

"You make me feel warm and toasty"  is the title of this Mickey and Minnie Mouse collectable.  This was a gift to Scott and I for our birthdays by Scott's sister Trudi.   She spotted this Airstream... I say she qualifies as an Airstream spotter!

Airstream Spotted in the Neighborhood

This fellow Airstreamer lives about 3 blocks from us.  We even store our Airstreams in the same storage lot kitty corner from each other, however we have never personally met.  Maybe we should! 

I noticed he has a new tow vehicle.   When Scott bought our 27' Classic the dealer said, "Oh, yeah-- your Tahoe will pull it just fine!"  Liars-- they just wanted a sale.  Our maiden voyage was hell on wheels-- Scott improved that trip by changing the sway bars and tow hitch.  However, we found that the Tahoe, with trailer, was limited to flat land.  Any change in elevation put a strain on the engine and we definitely could not haul the trailer with fresh water.   Then the Ford long bed 250 saved our Tahoe from certain death.  We can know fill our fresh water tanks and drive up any steep terrain and the diesel engine just says, "That's it!"  As time goes on the engine just gets better and better.  And out Scout Troop has a big truck to haul gear!

Back to our neighbor, see how his house is red.  It is a beautiful red with sharp white trim.  It was a perfect choice for his size home.  It just reconfirms that the guy has taste, (I have never seen if there is a gal).    The picture, taken by me while in the passenger seat.  Isn't Jordan such a good driver!

Samuel P. Taylor Campground-- Memorial Day 2008

Click here  to read about our camping experience in the Silver Twinkie at Samuel P. Taylor Campground

Snowbabies Airstream

Spotted at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco at Department 56.  Most fun I have had in a store playing..."who can spot an airstream"!

It is called " Luv2RV".

Spotting an Airstream 101

I had told  Scott how ugly and intrusive I thought Airstreams were.  

Our Airstream had to grow on me a bit. 

 If you like to travel inconspicuously and have anonymity in a campground--  you will not get it with an Airstream.  The large shiny sun reflector just screams-- "Notice Me".

Why would anyone buy one?   Scott's words-- The "regular" RVs fade and have low quality materials.  An Airstream is built to last inside and out.  And besides Scott is always looking for attention...and attention we get.  Here are a few examples:   Driving down the freeway a car pulls up next to us, gives a thumbs up and points to the Airstream.  While at a campground a guy stops by with the USA Today- Airstreams are a featured article-- he gave us the paper, we still have it in the Airstream.  The gawking of fellow campgrounds is pretty comical given that we can see them through the window, but they can't see us.   

Being Airstream owners has made us more visually aware of other Airstreams around us.  We notice them in the movies, always on the look out for another Airstream in the campground, and it is common courtesy to honk at fellow Airstreamers on the road.   We have become part of the Airstream family! 

Here are a few Airstream's I have spotted.  

 

Last year I saw this Airstream at Michaels Arts and Crafts.  I took a picture of it to show Scott hoping that I could buy it nearer to Christmas on sale.   I never pay full price, especially for crap that sits on a shelf in my home.   I am also not a shopper, hence, I never made it back to the store again.   I did use the picture on my Christmas cards though!

My brother Nielson stopped at the storage yard he keeps his large freight trailers for his business.   He pointed out this Airstream, unfortunately it has had a hard life and the top is in bad shape.  I remember him stopping for me last year when we saw this Vintage home with an Airstream in the driveway.  It looked good together.  

Have I raised your Airstream Awareness IQ?  

Airstreams are the least common RV you will see on the road so you can not make a game of "Spot the Airstream".  Kids would become bored really fast.  Airstream spotting happens when you not even expecting it.  There is a new movie coming out and Scott and I were looking at the previews.  An Airstream flashed for just a second to the side of the screen and we saw it.  

  If you see the distinctive metallic shine and you think "Airstream"!   You are well on your way to becoming a seasoned expert.

If you notice Airstream collectiables at knick knack places, like I did at Michaels.  You are an official Airstream spotter!  

The Cream Filling of the Twinkie

It was time to deep clean the inside of the Airstream.  We have had it for almost 2 years and some of the food has been in there for that long.  It was just time to clean it all out and it gave me a good opportunity to take pictures.

This is the Master Bedroom-- featuring a Queen size bed with layers of memory foam.  You melt into the bed!

The hallway that converts to a bathroom by closing the two sliding doors.  Features a full size toilet (my favorite part to the camping experience) and a moderate sized and separate shower.  (We only use it when we have full hook-ups)

Kitchen and living room as seen from the bathroom.

Looking from the front to the back.

The kitchen, dining room and front door as seen from the living room.

Dining room as seen from the other side of the living room.

So where do the kids sleep.  If we are at a State Campground (our favorite and cheapest- but dry camping- means no hook-ups) Jordan will sleep in a tent.   If we are not able to set-up a tent because they are not allowed or it is too cold and rainy, then Jordan sleeps on Dining room table made into a bed and Chance sleeps on living room sofa that pulls out to a bed.  If Jordan brings along a friend- we make our own bunk bed.  Chance sleeps on the floor below the pull out sofa and friend sleeps on the sofa.  And we cram and tuck clothes, shoes, food into every available space.

We keep the Airstream stocked with cooking spices and board and card games.  We have monopoly, battle ship, phase 10 and ROOK.   So when it is cold we play games and cook yummy cookies.  It is all very cozy.  

We are always looking for others to share our camping adventures,  we have found that anything we do is twice as fun with others!