Her Maiden Voyage

After cleaning, painting both inside and out, and shopping for everything one would need to glamp.  Yes, that means going down aisles at Walmart that us city slickers have never been down for every gadget known to the camping world because you never know when you will need tie wraps, bungees in every size and color or plastic doohickies to hang lights.

Well, with all the work going on to get her ready for a trip somewhere, we had no idea it is so difficult to secure a reservation.  With luck, Neighbor Joe, who has probably camped for 30 some years gave great advice: 
The first time out, ONLY go about an hour from home because if you have troubles you can get back home quickly.
He suggested Starved Rock State Park  and Illini State Park, both of which are close to home and I'm sure there had to be a Walmart nearby!

Wow, there are a lot of glampers out there because Starved Rock had one site with electric on a first come, first served basis.  I was determined to get that site because I know this is strange to hear, but I have never been there! 

We packed Ethel and the new used car with the hitch with everything you can imagine and headed west.  The further west we got the more clouds appeared along with lightening, thunder and then the rain.  Are you kidding me, we're in a drought!

We finally arrive, the rain stops and we actually get the spot that is open, which happens to be next to the friendliest bunch of Amish I have ever seen.  Just as we got everything out where we wanted the storm hit again!  All I have to say is thank goodnes for a roof and a solid floor.  I really don't know how tenters manage in the rain.  Of course Pic Man and Paddy Boy were thrilled for the storm because that meant nap time for them.  Yes, P-boy loves Aunt Ethel!

Welcome to nature, a crackling fire heating our dinner, the smell of pine, and B-man sitting with the I-Pad!

Rust-Oleum? Who knew?

It truly is amazing how 15 cans of spray paint can transform a dullish white travel trailer into a shiny Christmas camper.

So glad B-Man loved spray painting.

Ain't she sweet?

It's Time to Glamp Our Ride

She made it home!

Here's some before pics:

                      Paddy Boy is already getting comfortable under the dinette/fold down bed.

                         Another sitting area turned full size bed.  And yes, that's an AC unit!

And here's the cute little kitchen.  The stove works, but the oven has seen better days.  But                really, we'll be glamping around a campfire!

If you like brown then she would be ready for you, but since it's not on my color wheel, it's time for paint.

So, why did we buy a 1973 camper?

Well, I have always wanted to camp and I thought it would be a good idea to start out small (without going the tent route) and see how it goes!  After finding some vintage camper sites and seeing what awesome things people were doing with their little campers, I knew that was what I wanted.   I also knew that the bones had to be good because there is no way we would be able to completely overhaul one of these little gems.  I was out to paint, decorate and start glamping!  Glamping is glamorous camping, not a lot of roughing it.  So, now to find one - we scoured craigslist in the Midwest and there she was outside of Indianapolis.  Yay, we found her, a '73 Lark that looks great from the pics, and we are ready to drop everything and get down to see her. Okay, here comes the snag - we don't have a hitch!  We make lots of calls and the owner was super kind to look into the situation for us, but we concluded that our old Nissan Quest was no way able to take on a hitch.  Now what?  Well, let's first say that the Quest was in need of more work which this gal wanted nothing to do with.  It looks like it's time to speed up this story (you really don't need to hear about the conversations that went on over this little glitch! hehe!)- went to Carmax, bought a new used car, and then drove south to Indy.  Yes, all in the same day!  And yes, our new roadster has a hitch! I know you're thinking we're nuts but that's the way we do things around here!

The family we bought her from couldn't have been nicer.  They shared their camping stories and gave in depth instructions to Sweetie.   

B-Man couldn't have been happier!  Now to make the ride home in the dark, in a new car, and a camper hitched to the back.