Blogging in Aluminum

We picked her up from a very nice couple in Chico, Ca who (lucky for us) have up-sized to a fifth wheel.  The Overlander came with new hot water heater, water pump, furnace, refrigerator, everything works and the upholstery is all original (even has the airstream tags on it) and wonderfully tacky yellow!

We are going to make small modifications so Roman, who is 6’4″ can be more comfortable.  We are turning the street-side twin into a gaucho bed/couch and we are going to add a shower curtain instead of using that weird bi-fold shower door thingy.

Click on Airstream to see more photos of “Blinkle”

This lovely little lady was found in Pacific Grove under the care of a nice man named Chuck.  He bought her with the intent of restoring but then days after bringing her home, threw his back out.  Chuck has restored 40 Airstreams to date and thinks that his back has ended that hobby for now.  So, now the responsibility is in our hands and  I am delighted.  You will see from the photos that the original gauchos were removed and the front one was replaced with, as Chuck says "that couch".  We have not decided on whether we are going for a dinette or front gaucho yet.  Also, the windows have been replaced with plastic ones and need to be refitted with curved glass.  There are many other little things that will need to be addressed and I will try to take pictures as we progress. 

p.s.  Roman LOVES Chuck’s other Airstream, it is a 1964 26ft Overlander, and is begging Chuck to sell it to him… If he thinks I am letting Gloria go… well, he can scramble his own eggs!

Happy New Year , Merry Belated Christmas, hope you had a very scary Halloween, a relaxing Labour Day, a fun filled summer… yes, I know, it has been a VERY long time since my last blog entry and I am dutifully hanging my head in an almost shameful pose.  Much has happened since July. 

1.  We sold Pepsi (the 1975 Tradewind) to Gene and Carmen Baleme. They had been "un-official" members of the WBCCI-SNU for FIVE years and it was long overdue that they get into an Airstream and become official.  IMHO.  So, with a little coaxing and subltle cajoling (and  conspiring with Diane Leipper) I convinced the Balemes and Roman that  Pepsi was meant for them.  It was not an easy thing to let go of her.  Pesi is a beautiful trailer with all the amenities you could want in an Airstream.  Even has solar!  But, it was far more important to get them out of their cute little Tab and into something, well, more shiny and round.   If I had my way, every sentient bipedal would get to camp in the curved lovliness of the likes of Pepsi. 

2. Roman took the 2008 Intl on a solo trip to San Diego for two weeks… upon his departure I ran through ALL of the things one must do on a DAILY basis to keep it clean and in working order when camping (I do all of these things while he usually sits outside drinking coffee).  One of the biggies, when in a warm place like SoCal, is making sure you clean up after eating and doing your dishes unless you like to share your shiny space with critters and ants.  Weeeellll, about one week into his trip I receive a call that he has a little problem, or rather several hundered little problems.  He spilled some coffee (loaded with sugar and artificial creamer) and didn’t quite get all of the sugary bait cleaned up (probably got distracted by the shiny interior skin) and before too long had loads of new room-mates crawling al over the place.  When he called you would have thought that a nest of killer bees had invaded the trailer!  With a bit of over the phone coaching he finally rid of the pests (in the space of a week).  If he would have only listened…  ROFL.  I have decided that he needs a "bachelor trailer" for his solo trips, one that can take the abuse.

3.  We attended a couple of rallies at Obsidian Dome and Hope Valley where we "hosted" for the first time and took part in our first ever pseudo caravan.  It might be one of the only rallies in SNU history that involved an impromptu site change/caravan!

4.   Roman and I towed the Airstream to my cousin Candy’s house for Thanksgiving and had a really nice time with all the little cousins running around and family and then headed off to the redwoods for a nice two day trip up the coast.  We spent time camped out at Patrick’s Point State Campground while we explored the forests, beaches, Roosevelts Elks and of course the Giants. 

5.  Bought a 1967 Globetrotter from Chuck in Pacific Grove and picked "Gloria the Globetrotter" up over the New Year.  We took our neice Daniella to the Aquarium and to the beach for the first time!

It all started because we took my dad camping for a week in our ’75 Tradewind.  He had so much fun he decided he needed to look into this airstream thing a little more.  I had so much fun with him that I decided that I needed to help him "look into this".  Well, that meant, of course, I would have to start searching for an Airstream for dear ole’ pops.  Who better than me!  Whooooo-Hoooooo!  I had a sanctified and justifiable reason to spend HOURS diving into Airstream classifieds.  Yes!  Who could possibly argue that it wasn’t a noble reason to put off work and chores?  Who?  I mean come on, the man is 82 and needs to enrich his remaining years.  I NEEDED to help HIM.

One of our unit’s stable forces, Diane Leipper, suggested that we help my dad find a B-Van.  It was her and Brian’s solution as their parents started to get to the age where towing their own trailer was getting risky.  So, Brian would tow his and Diane’s trailer with their parents B-Van.  Great solution if you ask me.  Only one tow vehicle and two living quarters. 

Thanks to Craigslist I found one in about two days of continuous and ARDUOUS searching.  It was located in Kennewick Washington and owned by a nice man named Chuck.  About two days later, dad decided to pull the trigger and Roman negotiated the purchase of a very nice 1994 Airstream B-Van.  We had it shipped down via UShip (kind of like an ebay for transporting things) and it arrived, as luck would have it… in time for Dad’s first WBCCI Airstream Rally!!!!!!!  More on that later…..

Does this allow me to call myself a second generation Airstreamer? 

I have a little ritual that I do in the mornings.  After staring hazily into the front yard looking at the Airstreams (btw, I occasionally hear that James Blunt Song as I gaze, seriously cheesy I know, but I really can’t help it) I peruse all the Airstream classifieds known to modern man.  I know them ALL.  I have a whole section of AS bookmarks and folders dedicated to this "hobby". 

Sidenote: Rome doesn’t do anything to discourage this practice.  He may make fun of me all he wants, but he is a codependent partner. 

A favourite place to check all these sites is of course from the safe little harbour of an airstream… of course.  I cruise through the pages most looking for 70′s Tradewinds.  Don’t know why, but these are my poison.  25 footers seem to always catch my eye.  The creamy colored vinyl walls, the gentle slope of the endcaps, the tacky 70′s walnut brown of the veneer and tambour and the beloved formica that comes in sunflower yellow, avaocado green and pumpkin orange.  Love it.   Of course it doesn’t stop there.  If there are not any suitable Tradewinds to be found, I move on into deeper territory.  I start searching for Bubbles, Globetrotters and Caravelles.  What is wrong with me?  I mean I – CAN’T – STOP!  The truth is I can be in a wretchedly foul mood and all I have to do is find one little sparkle, one twinkling bit of almost perfect wonderfulness and the smile is back and the spring in my step returns. 

Case in point: last Sunday…. I found one.  I found a 1968 Globetrotter.  We went and visited this little round gem last week and I was smitten.  Having never been inside a Globetrotter it was a fun new experience and an education as well.  We pretty much have only investigated the 70′s models and so a 1968 Globetrotter was a treat.  The skin is in near perfect condition, the electrical all works and the only real modifications I saw were a bed replaced the center gaucho (a much better sleeping situation) and a fishing pole rack installed over it (I  think Roman like that one!)

Once I sell the 1975…. I think this might be my next project!