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Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The Goat Incident


Airstream RV Blog - The Goat Incident from Sean on Vimeo.

This episode of our blog has NOTHING to do with ribald frat boy antics on initiation night. And for the record, the hiking trail in question is on the American side of the Park, near the peak altitude of Going-to-the-Sun Road.

You’ll see some snow in the video. The weather here in Montana and Canada has followed the course of hot & sunny during the day, and then chilly at night. (Missoula was hot at night, but that’s apparently because it sits in a valley.) Last night I had to dig my thickest coat out of our Airstream because temps dropped into the 40s.

Of course, humidity is quite low here. They are suffering a drought in this area that has produced many forest fires (more on this subject later). The land is as dry as a Cullman, Alabama, Oktoberfest.

We’re staying another day in Waterton Lakes before venturing further north into Canada.

Monday, July 30, 2007

International Peace and the Growing Wifi Rebellion



Yesterday we towed our Airstream across the border into the Canadian province of Alberta, where we will be camping for the next several days. We’ve been impressed with the variety of wildlife in and around this area – and I’m not just talking about the $5 “all-you-can-drink Hamm’s” specials.

Here in Canada we’re visiting Waterton Lakes National Park. This International Peace Park is unique in that it stretches across the national border. The American side is our beloved Glacier, while the Canadians get Waterton Lakes.



We’re staying in a private Canadian campground just outside the Park. Most private campgrounds now also offer wireless Internet access, a nice amenity if you’re maintaining a travel blog. (On this point, it’s really irritating when campgrounds charge an extra premium for wireless Internet access. As a longtime Internet advocate, I believe wifi is one of the fundamental human rights alongside food, clothing, shelter, and quality espresso.)

We’ll be venturing deeper into Canadian turf today. Then tomorrow drive further north towards Calgary.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Going to the Sun



For all practical purposes, Glacier National Park has one road -- and it’s a doozy. The appropriately named “Going-to-the-Sun Road” bisects the Park. It will take your breath (not to mention your fingernails) away.

Imagine a winding mountain highway, complete with cavernous drop-offs and stunning views that stretch into infinity. Now imagine that same road equipped with modest 75-year old protective guard stones the approximate height of cheap garden gnomes. The phrase "white-knuckle experience" comes to mind.

Let’s just say that no one’s chatting away on their cell phone and fiddling with their radio while hurtling at high speed along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Vehicles over 20-feet in length are not even allowed, so we’ll not be towing our Airstream across it. The very thought of doing so makes my stomach perform backflips.



But Glacier is about more than traversing a mile-high gauntlet worthy of J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s also about wildlife. On one day, we saw SIX bears (two grizzlies and four black bears), plus a variety of mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Any day you see a wild bear (and don’t get mauled) is a good day.

We plan to camp in Glacier for another night. We’ll do a hike today, and then point SEEMORE’s nose towards Canada.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Attack of the Quarter-Munchers


Like most travel trailers, our Airstream lacks a washer and dryer. It’s theoretically possible to install one, but this would require a jackhammer, blowtorch, BobCat (with experienced operator), and the undivided attention of Stephen Hawking. Plus, due to space limitations, once the job is complete we’d have to sleep outside on the ground… with the bears.

It’s far easier to use a Laundromat. Most campgrounds are stocked with the same quarter-munching machines you "fondly" remember from college. Once every two weeks, we kill a couple of hours in these fine facilities.

What’s interesting is that we only need to wash every two weeks. At home, it seems we’re running a load of laundry every hour, on the hour. Stacks of unfolded clothes multiply like rabbits in a Viagra factory. But on the road, laundry is a relatively rare -- if less convenient -- ordeal.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

A Glance in the Rear View Mirror




In a sense, this honeymoon adventure started back in May. Kristy and I “got hitched” on May 20 in Key West, Florida. Here's the REAL footage:



And yes, while in the Keys we camped in our Airstream. Our “campground” (somehow the term seems inappropriate) was a place called Bluewater Key. Photos don’t do it justice, but here are a couple.





Next, here’s a representation of the journey we’ve made since that time. Note that this map itinerary is not exact. (We actually skipped South Dakota and Mount Rushmore in order to reach Yellowstone on July 08 -- in hindsight, my one regret of this trip). Nevertheless, this map offers a good idea of how far we’ve traveled.



We’re planning to explore Glacier for a few days, and then cross the border into Canada. Then we’ll head southwest toward Seattle, perhaps stopping in Spokane (where they have a nice Airstream dealership) along the way.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Glacial Progress



We’re presently camping in Whitefish, Montana – a short distance from Glacier National Park. Our plan is to visit Glacier for a few days, and then move onwards into Canada.

We have a couple of hikes on our agenda in Glacier. Airstreaming really does bring you closer to the great outdoors. Feel like a change of scenery? Just step outside.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A Hike to the "M" Power



Above the city of Missoula, Montana, resting on a mountainside, is a large letter “M” made of concrete. It’s painted white. It’s visible throughout town. There’s a hiking trail leading up to the M, and it’s one of the most popular hikes in the state of Montana. For the past century, students at the University of Montana and city residents have hiked the trail.

For several days, we’ve been taunted by the ever-present M. The M is like the moon – it follows you wherever you go. It’s always there, looking down upon you, beckoning…

Leaving the city of Missoula without hiking to the M would be like visiting Paris without investigating that big bright tower thing that everyone keeps talking about.

This morning -- our last in Missoula for a while -- we dragged ourselves out of our cozy Airstream cocoon, met up with our friend Scott, and tackled the M.

The hike was brutal, confirming how utterly out-of-shape I’ve become. But we did finally make it to the M! Hopefully I worked off a little of that excellent pub chow we've been enjoying in Missoula.

Today we hitch up the Airstream and drive towards Glacier National Park.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Three Weeks. But Who's Counting?



We’ve been living on the road for three weeks.

As Kristy explains, we’ve been boondocking much of that time. Now, when full hookups (electricity, water, sewer) are available our Airstream is like a loaded studio apartment. In fact, it's nicer than most of the places I lived in college. Without those hookups (also known as boondocking), it’s like a nice aluminum ... tent. Well, calling it a tent is a little extreme, but you get the idea.

Personally, I’ve found that I enjoy the Airstream traveling experience. And the farther we go, the more interesting it becomes. Although we’ve relished our visits with family, friends, and wild bears, the lure of new discovery is always intriguing. There's something almost primal about entering virgin territory with your residence in tow! Perhaps we're getting a taste of what those first settlers felt, via our aluminum covered wagon.

Tonight is our final night in Missoula. Tomorrow we head farther north into Montana (Glacier National Park), with Canada on our radar.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Kicking Tires



It’s human nature to wonder how life could be different. Every time Kristy and I step on an RV dealership lot, we explore the assorted offerings. There’s always an inviting open door that piques one’s interest – it could belong to a different model of Airstream, or (gasp!) a different type of RV altogether.

Airstream has a LOT going for it – almost 80 years of design experience and brand panache. The sleek aluminum exterior styling is somehow both retro and futuristic. Whilst many RVs are disposable products, Airstreams are durable. Resale value is excellent because the product is built to last. When an Airstream does eventually wear out, there are companies that do nothing other than restore vintage trailers. Timeless Travel Trailers, for example, does impressive work in bringing new life to old trailers. Check out their portfolio.

Then there's the towing issue. Whether you choose a trailer or a motorhome, you'll probably need to tow. Ever see motorhomes towing cars? They do so because you can't exactly take a 45-foot tour bus through your favorite McDonald's drive-through.

Perhaps most distinctive to Airstream is the community aspect. Because Airstreams have been around forever, there’s a large group of enthusiasts (many of whom gather on airforums.com)dedicated to their cause. This brings a social aspect to Airstream ownership that is unique. Kristy and I have already met some great people who happen to be fellow ‘Streamers.

That said, there are compromises – Airstreams cost a little more, and travel trailers simply don’t offer the same volume of interior living space as "fifth wheels" and large motorhomes.

Airstream was the right choice for us, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. It’s kind of like comparing a charming cottage to a contemporary ranch house. It’s not a matter of better or worse; but rather a matter of what suits you best.

The overriding point is that if you are so inclined, life is short -- pick one and go!

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Airstream as Second Home?

"What's the bed like?" you ask? It's a queen size. The mattress is unremarkable, so we added one of those really nice foam/down toppers. Now it's great.



Like many Americans, we considered the purchase of a vacation condo or second home. In fact, we were still kicking around the idea when we bought our Airstream. Among other things, this honeymoon trip is testing the concept of using the Airstream as a vacation home.

Unlike a condo, with an Airstream there are no association dues and property taxes. It's a cinch to insure (Geico will be happy to help). If you choose to finance the purchase, the interest payments are tax deductible. And you can take it anywhere you please. If you don't like your neighbors or your view, simply hitch up and go! We got married in Key West, Florida -- staying in our Airstream. If all goes as planned, we'll have taken our silver bullet from Key West to Seattle.

As previously mentioned, we travel with enough technological gadgets to manage a NASA mission. Here's a shot of Kristy checking her email (most campgrounds now offer wifi).


On the credenza is our one and only TV (campgrounds usually offer cable, too). Inside the cabinet is the XBox 360, which serves as our do-it-all media machine -- delivering HD-DVD, DVD, photos, music, and games. On a side note, I find we watch MUCH less TV while traveling in the Airstream.

Our Airstream also has a built-in speaker system. We use an iPod to deliver the tunes.

Friday, July 20, 2007

3172.3 Miles of Bugs



We've crossed the 3000 miles plateau on Seemore's trip meter. He's certainly due for a bath, but that's easier said than done.



I don't know WHAT I was thinking in "Money Is Always Interesting" when I speculated we might travel 3000 miles on this trip. We haven't even gotten halfway and we've already passed that mark. So that adds up to...a LOT of diesel fuel. This is why I'm happy to not save every receipt! Sometimes it's better if you just don't know...

We're presently camping in Missoula, Montana.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Canyons, Goats, and Bears! Oh My!

 

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Wow. Today was a terrific day for us in the world's "oldest and best" national park.



First we visited the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, where a manager once put me -- at the time a 21-year old with no cooking experience whatsoever -- in charge of the Employee Dining Room breakfast. I came up with a hot sandwich called, "Zucchini Surprise." Let's just say that there was a run on cold cereal that morning, the likes of which have not been seen since. Kellogg's stock skyrocketed.



After some great hiking (and much wheezing) in Canyon, we drove back to the Airstream -- along the way, passing through that magical time and place called, "The Bear Zone." I'm 37 years old. In all of that time on Planet Earth, I've rarely seen wild bears. Maybe I've seen a dozen, total. Today we enjoyed TWO separate bear sightings. I say "enjoyed" because said bears were safely out of biting range. Both were black bears of medium size. Apparently in recent years the bear has made a comeback in Yellowstone. It remains the most prized of wildlife sightings.

We rounded out the day with a sighting of wild mountain goats.



Great day! Another reminder of why we love Yellowstone.

Next up: we travel to Missoula, Montana, in search of old friends and cold beverages.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

On the Road Again



It’s time to get rolling. We boondocked (camped with no electrical, water, or sewer connections) in the Grand Tetons for almost a week. Our campground was Gros Ventre, a 1960s-era facility with beautiful views and privacy, but few modern amenities.

Boondocking makes one acutely aware of water and electricity usage. As in, “Sorry, honey, no shower today – we can’t spare the water.” Or “No TV after 8pm – because we gotta turn off the generator.” Boondocking for a day is easy enough. But after a week, you start feeling like Grizzly Adams. Blackouts, shortages, rationing... It's kind of like living in WW2-era London, but without all the air raid sirens and bombing. When, in restaurants, you catch yourself casting longing glances at glasses of water -- it's time to move on.

We left the Tetons this morning. We are presently camping somewhere in Montana just outside Yellowstone National Park. This privately owned site has full hookups, so we are back to SIMULTANEOUSLY blasting the A/C, brewing coffee, watching TV, surfing the Internet, and flushing the toilet. I will take a long, soaking hot shower tonight – JUST BECAUSE I CAN. Take that, Henry David Thoreau.

Here’s a shot of Kristy at a lunch stop in Gardiner, Montana. There’s a famous hole-in-the-wall burger joint in Gardiner called Helen’s Corral. The place looks like a dump, but they make incredible bison burgers. Since all Helen offers is outdoor seating in the summer heat, we chose to park across the street and dine in the Airstream.



Monday, July 16, 2007

The Simple Life?



It’s tempting to position RV-ing as a simple, elemental lifestyle. But I’m not certain this is really the case.

Sure, life is simple enough -- once you have your propane tanks filled, your tire pressures checked, your assorted water tanks emptied and/or filled, an inverter generator, properly sorted weight-distributing hitch, all of your storage compartments locked, the stabilizer jacks set in place, and a plethora of camping equipment. In reality, it’s probably “simpler” to just rent one’s nightly hotel room rather than tow it around behind you.

And then there’s the electronics. In our case, we can’t leave home without our cell phones, laptop, DVD player, HDTV, gaming console, digital cameras, HD video cameras, audio equipment, MP3 players, noise-canceling headphones, and enough assorted paraphernalia to open a branch outlet of Best Buy. The wires and cables alone would stretch from Earth to the Moon, three times.

But Airstreaming does facilitate simple pleasures. This is an active lifestyle. One spends more time outdoors, and with family. It brings people closer together – literally and figuratively. I’m certain we use much less electricity and water. (As Kristy blithely remarked, “You get used to being a little dirty.”) One acquires fewer material possessions because there’s no place to store them. When shopping, the first question that comes to mind is, “Where are we going to put it?” So, this lifestyle may not be simple per se -- but it does strip away a host of mental and physical clutter.

Tomorrow SEEMORE gets his first oil change. Then we hitch and roll north into Montana.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Of Moose and Men



Much like myself, the moose is a reclusive, dangerous animal with a large head. Lately we’ve had a rash of moose sightings, as today’s video demonstrates. A couple of days ago, Kristy had never seen a moose not named Bullwinkle. As of this writing, she's seen four.



In the above photo, SEEMORE attempts to mate with a Park Ranger truck. This was taken at yet another moose sighting. The Ranger told us that severed moose heads are worth $25,000 on the black market. Thus, the Rangers usually offer "Secret Service" duty whenever a handsome moose makes an appearance.



Life in Jackson Hole goes well, as blogging dovetails with brewpubs. And wild moose.

Friday, July 13, 2007

It’s tough to be a snob (while you’re holding a sewer hose).



They say there’s camaraderie in campgrounds. No matter how large or small the RV, it’s pretty much a class free society. Perhaps this is because it’s tough to be a snob while you’re holding a sewer hose.

In RV parlance, sewage is referred to as “black water.” Every once in a while, our Airstream’s black water tank has to be emptied.

This is one of those jobs that newcomers approach with healthy amounts of fear and trepidation. After all, it seems like it would be utterly disgusting. But after a couple of times, emptying the tanks is no big deal. In fact (if you can believe it), I’ve found myself enjoying the experience and taking pride in doing it well.

The secret is approaching the task well-armed with rubber gloves, hand sanitizer, and a sense of humor.

We’ve emptied our tanks, and are staying a few more days in Jackson.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Cooling the Engines



Kristy applies makeup in the Honeymoon Suite.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming—

After living the nomadic lifestyle for a couple of weeks, we are enjoying a small interlude of stability. We’ve found an ideal boondocking site that’s located in the Tetons, but also near Jackson Hole. This is one of the great benefits of the RV lifestyle. When you find a place you like, you can often stay for quite a while! There’s nothing better than traveling unhurried, exploring and relaxing.

Here’s a look at Camp Airstream. We use the bikes to get around in the Park. The awning is unfurled – it supposedly keeps our camper cool during sunny days.

The tabletop grill on the left is a wedding gift from Kristy’s sister, Kelly. We look forward to using it for the first time here in the Tetons.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Look Out, Jackson Town



After spending some quality time in Yellowstone, we’ve decided to head south. We’ll be boondocking in Grand Teton National Park. Our campsite is near Jackson Hole, Wyoming -- a great little town with enough "cute" stores to keep Kristy well occupied. We'll also be doing some hiking in the Park.

I think we will camp several days here. For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been in a state of perpetual motion. It will be nice to drop anchor and stay in one place for a while.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

A Big Heapin’ Hunk of Blog

If there’s a lag between blog updates, it’s because we are boondocking in Yellowstone National Park. Internet access? Forget about it. Park management is considering an upgrade from Vic-20 to Commodore 64, but they don’t want to rush things. Even cell phones don’t work in the Promised Land.

I’m happy to report that--thanks to Home Depot-- we found a solution to our Airstream woes. We bought a roof vent intended for use on a HOUSE. But it just happens to fit over the hole in our Airstream’s roof. We drove all the way from Casper to Yellowstone through several rain storms. Works like a charm! And thanks to my advanced degree in DTE (Duct Tape Engineering), it doesn’t look half-bad.

Since we’ve had trouble getting online, we're going to include a whopping THREE blog videos. First, a brief look at our journey from Nebraska into Yellowstone, including our first night in the Park:



If you haven’t been to Yellowstone, you really owe it to yourself to visit. This is a spectacular place. The world’s oldest national park, it’s larger than Rhode Island. (Of course, so is our truck, but that's besides the point.) People live here for years and barely scratch the surface of the incredible hiking trails and camping sites. Pictures and videos really don’t do it justice. Most visitors just stick to the heavily traveled main roads, but even these are guaranteed to provide memorable sights. Yellowstone is famous for its geothermal activity, but we’re particularly fond of the wildlife. As Kristy explains...



So, you want MAJOR BISON (geeks please note the obscure Street Fighter 2 reference)? Here’s our bonus video. Kristy and I once happened across a pretty spectacular bison viewing. Back in the early 1990s, I worked an entire summer in the Park (flipping hamburgers and scooping ice cream) but this is the ONLY time I’ve found myself in the middle of a herd. This video was shot before we were married, but right here in Yellowstone.



We are having a great time in Yellowstone. We will stay here a while longer, and then venture down to Jackson and the Grand Tetons. Note that we’ve already surpassed 2000 miles on SEEMORE’s trip meter.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Unlucky 07-07-07



They say back luck comes in threes.

Or do they?

Whatever “they” say, 07-07-07 was not a lucky day for us.

The woes started when we were breaking camp in Nebraska. I pricked my thumb on a rusty wire, and there was blood.

But that was just a warm-up for the main event. Remember the ceiling fan that was being “serviced” back home? Apparently its plastic cover was not secured back in place – so in Casper, it was torn apart by a strong gust of Wyoming wind. Now we have a big gaping hole in our roof. On the left of this photo you can see the dent; in the center, the broken fan cover. We’ll have to hope it doesn’t rain until we find a fix.

Moral of this story: Airstreams should be serviced by people who know and understand Airstreams.


Saturday, July 7, 2007

Wine and Corn Party



We've hauled 7000-pounds of booty across Nebraska. There's a large amount of corn here.

We are putting in some long driving hours in order to reach our prime destination: Yellowstone National Park. Once we arrive at the Park, it will be time to stop and smell the bear scat.

Friday, July 6, 2007

Money Is Always Interesting




I’m not a “save every receipt” kind of guy – just ask my accountant. But this receipt offers an idea of what it costs to fuel Seymour. We’re getting about 11.5 miles per gallon towing the Airstream, so we need to refuel approximately every 325 miles.

I don’t know how many miles we’ll cover on this honeymoon trip. If we travel around 3000 miles, that translates into roughly $700 of diesel. Oh well… it’s cheaper than one of those over-the-water honeymoon bungalows in Figi.

Today we depart Kansas City. We’ll drive across Nebraska into the great state of Wyoming.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Kids Love Camping



Kristy and I don’t have kids. Hey, give us a little time! But I’ve observed that kids seem to really enjoy camping. They are fascinated by the Airstream. The inevitable compactness of RV life is probably quite intuitive for the little ones.

Here's photographic evidence that we CAN fit two adults and two kids on our Airstream couch. That's my mother alongside my nephew Grant and niece Kayli.



We are having too much fun in Kansas City. Our arrival in Yellowstone is being pushed back to July 8.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Airstream of Arkansas



Searcy, Arkansas- I’m happy to report that our first day on the road was incident free. By the time we arrived at our stopping point, however, it was well after midnight.

We camped on the lot of Airstream of Arkansas– one of the fastest up-and-coming Airstream dealerships in the United States. After hooking up our trailer to city water, power, and dumping its tanks (more on this not-entirely-pleasant job in a future blog entry), I savored a beer. It is a well documented fact that beer tastes 67.3% better after a long day of driving. Then I took an “RV shower” and got some sleep.

On Tuesday we met Gene Morris, the sales manager. Gene is a regular on airforums.com, and he’s always on hand to answer questions. He finds a lot of business via the Internet – or rather, the business finds Gene. People drive to Searcy from all over the United States, and return home towing their Airstream. Other people opt for the turnkey home delivery service – buy from afar, and the Airstream comes to you. Now that would be an Internet transaction to remember!

We really enjoyed the hospitality of Airstream of Arkansas. If I were shopping for a new trailer, I’d have Gene on speed dial.

Monday, July 2, 2007

Wal-Mart Parking Lots: Exotic?

Today we depart on our adventure. I have the nagging feeling that we're forgetting something. We hope to make it to the other side of Memphis on our first day.

And now, on to our blog video...

She quit her job! Kristy shares her hopes, fears, and laundry.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

“How Do You Tow It?”




This is the first question many people ask. The answer is VERY CAREFULLY with a large diesel truck.

Our steed is affectionately nicknamed “Seymour” (as in the official Airstream creed SEE MORE, DO MORE, LIVE MORE).

Seymour certainly DRINKS MORE. He's a thirsty soul, and he downs fuel faster than Lindsay Lohan snorts powdered sugar. I suspect we’ll get somewhere between 11 and ... 12 miles per gallon when towing the 7000-pound Airstream.