Blogging in Aluminum

I realize that the isssue of politics and/or "patriotism" is not something that people might want to see on a blog about Airstreaming… but… some things are just too important.  Part of the allure of Airstreaming is the sense of freedom and wide open possibilities.  It is the unbridled joy of exploring America and experiencing all she has to offer… well… I feel that our FREEDOM and civil liberties need to be protected so that we can continue to "blog" and travel and do whatever we see fit (without breaking the law of course!) across this great land.  Please watch the video below, read "A Declaration for Our Times" and sign the petition here.  Perhaps the 4th is more than just hot dogs, fireworks and Airstreaming.  Maybe it also should involve remembering just what it is we are celebrating.  Perhaps we could re-visit and truly honor the Declaration of Independence.  Read it, be inspired and honor those who fought so hard (by not being complacent) so we could go Airstreaming in the quest of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.   Happy 4th!
   

DSC_0440.NEF, originally uploaded by lovingtahoe.

This is one of my favourite pictures from this weekend

Whew! 

our trip rocked!  We had a pretty cool time hanging with the niece camping, fishing, toasting marshmallow, collecting firewood, eating, taking nature hikes, enjoying Roman’s campfires, swatting mosquitoes, collecting pine comes… the list goes on.  Roman was the only one who caught a fish this weekend (it was only about 8 inches!) but Daniella got to test out her new pole and deepen her baiting skills. 

We found a great spot right on the shore of a gurgling and bubbling stream that gave a nice backdrop of sound to our adventures.  More pictures at the link below!

www.flickr.com/photos/airstreamer/sets/72157605668019301/

School has let out for the summer and that means that yes, finally, I can go camping with my bff, Daniella (my 6 yearl old niece).  While she has been dutifully scratching away learning how to draw her letters (which btw are pretty amazing), count to 100, sing beautiful songs (I love the one about the being "down by the banks of the…." something that rhymes with banky) and tie her own shoes… I have been plotting our Airstreaming trips this summer.  Tomorrow is THE day. We get to pack the truck and trailer with every imaginable thingamabob and gadget that two girls need for a fantastical weekend in the mountains.  There will be fishing, campfires (plenty of marshmallows), hikes in the meadow, searches for "fairy rings" (fairies always leave evidence of their visits with a ring of mushrooms, in case you didn’t know), fresh baked cookies in the magic chef oven, sand castles and paddle ball.  I can barely wait.  are we there yet?

If you find yourself traveling through the lake tahoe area and you like to boondock, this little gem is a great place to rest and take in some hikes and or fishing.   Roman and I had been nominated to go scout out the Blue Lakes area for an Airstream rally site for our WBCCI unit.  We only stayed one night but it was well worth the effort of packing up and driving the entire 20 minutes  out there… it rained the first day so we stayed in the trailer and ate fresh baked cookies, watched some movies, caught up on our reading and took a nap while the rain fell on the trailer…. aaahhhhhhh.  The second day we awoke to the solar panels reading 100% and the sun poking thru the clouds.  Inspired by the scenery and feeling refreshed, Rome decided to give me a few lessons on backing up and turning the trailer in reverse.  We broke camp and took a leisurely drive thru the blue lakes area to explore more possible rally sites and I got to practice a 12-14 point turn.  We found another great campsite and after what seemed an eternity of parking and backing up instructions, we got level and had some lunch with the Sierra Nevadas offering the best of all backdrops.  Spring time up here, in my opinion, cannot be beat.

With the crazy increase in gas prices people are becoming more and more concerned with the cost of towing an Airstream.  If you love the vintage look of the older Airstreams and you can appreciate the aesthetics of tambour doors in walnut grain, avocado green and bright orange formica then guess what???? The 70’s models may be the answer to your prayers.  Airstream made their trailers more narrow and quite a bit lighter during the decade of discotheques and Amway parties.   The interiors are constructed with lighter weight materials and if you buy one that was made after 1973 you will get the bonus of a grey water tank.  If you are thinking of downsizing or you are a first time buyer you can check out the trailer weights here.

Airforums user "wheel interested" posted pictures of the new 2009 Flying Cloud.  It is replacing the Safari line this next year.  I really like what I have seen so far.  The colors are crisp and light.  We have the same floorplan, the 25fb (I think this is a 27fb), and we love it.  You get great views from the "living room" and the bedroom is over the hitch. 

 For more pix click on the image below

makes for a very dull blog :(  But, I do have great news for those friends who have been thinking of going to the dark side, or should I say the square side… For those of you who have been considering crossing over to an SOB (some other brand, square old box etc…) because you need room for your atv, motorcycle, kyaks or a ramp for a disabled member in your group Airstream has a really cool new trailer coming our way in 2009.  Check out this article

Ok, at the risk of going a little off topic I have been tossing around the subject of the economy and how it is already and may affect the future of Airstreaming and RVs. What got me thinking was the discussion on AirForums. It looks pretty bleak but it is a very small concern when you hold it up next to the bigger problems we all face.  I am not trying to whine about something so trivial as an Airstream when other people can’t pay their mortgage, people across the globe cannot afford rice and others are trying to struggle with the affects of war in their land.  But, I guess the relevance of Airstreams is this…  Isn’t it time we Americans start prioritizing our spending habits and perceptions of consumerism anyways.  I love Airstreams.  Absolutely adore them.  They are, for the most part, american made, they last forever and represent to me a way to connect with new people and places.  I realize, if I want to continue to go camping in the airsteam, adjustments will have to be made in the rest of life.  Any extra spending $ will have to be spent on maintaining the airstream, gas for towing and fees for campsites.   I think we all are going to have to get use to getting by without always having new cars, the latest cellphone and daily lattes… that’s not such a bad thing, I think.  The Airstream has been preparing me for a a pared down lifestyle already. 

Living in such a small and self contained space you learn conservation.  When "boondocking", or dry camping, you must use as little water as possible for tasks such as dishes and brushing your teeth.  Lights and electronics are used sparingly and you learn to think ahead before digging into precious resources.  Our airstream has solar which has led me to investigate getting solar for our home as well.  It is always amazing to me to see our battery level reach 100% by noon on a sunny day. Airstreaming has also introduced me to the (long over due) idea of using and getting by with less stuff.  Whenever we return home I am always astounded by how much stuff we have and how little need we have for it.  Our house begins to appear to be conspicuous and embarrassingly "BIG".

If you are the type that is re-evaluating your level of consumerism and consumption, try dry camping for a week.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised on how little you truly need to live comfortably.   If we can get over our ideas of more, more, more and start valuing the concept of conservation and human interaction perhaps all is not lost.

To any and all who keep trying to allow/revive this lame issue,

Please put this matter to rest, finally.  You have tried twice (valiantly?) and the members (who all own Airstreams) have said "Nay".  Let it go and move on so we can spend time worrying about more important things like filliform and gaucho vs dinettes instead.

Oh, don’t you worry about declining membership (I know that this reason is part of your concern for allowing non-airstreamers into the club, lol), I plan on being a WBCCI member for a looooong time and I am pretty good at finding Airstream OWNERS to give the WBCCI a try. I try to make Wally proud, god rest his soul.  Now, I realize the old guard always has trouble passing the torch to the younger generation.  It is part of the human condition.  Someday, I too will be part of the older generation who may not see things in a reasonable and logical manner. :O  But, sometimes we have to put down our Bingo cards and really think about what is best for the club and not just our ideas of how we want it to be, right?

Well, struggle no more, I have a great idea! (albeit not a new one…)

If you want to be a member of an Airstream club… buy an Airstream.   If you do not want to buy an Airstream or you do not feel the quality is up to your standards or you would like a new motorhome (airstream no longer manufactures class A)… join a general rving club.  If your friends all have Airstreams and you would like to keep going to rallies with them, convince them to join another club with you, Good Sams for example.   If you email me I will be happy to send you a list of links to such clubs.  I will even help you fill out the registration forms.

If that doesn’t work for you and you really love the WBCCI , my boyfriend has a great idea that I think will make everyone happy!

DISCLAIMER - these views are my own and in no way have been condoned or endorsed by Airstream/Thor Industries, savewally.org, the WBCCI, SNU or any other sane persons.