The OLD Site -- Go Instead to LongLongHoneymoon.com!

The Blogs They Are A Changin'

2008-04-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION "LONG, LONG HONEYMOON" FANS (ALL THREE OF YOU)!

We HAVE MOVED OUR WEBSITE to a new location.

The new URL is ... (can you guess?) ...

THELONGLONGHONEYMOON.COM

So please go there now, check out the NEW site, and change your bookmarks.

Yes, our site is finally located on our own thelonglonghoneymoon.com domain. I know, I know... It's a crazy name for a website, but flibbergibbet was already taken. The new site will be powered by different software, and it should have some whiz-bang features. But best of all, we're planning to present all of our video material in a more organized fashion. It will take us a while to migrate all of the content over to the new site. But once we do, it should be worth it.

We don't update update this seanandkristy.blogspot site any more! Check out our new site now!

Back to the Beginning

2008-03-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Airstream RV Blog, Episode 1 : The Long, Long Honeymoon from Sean on Vimeo.

I Want My RVTV!

2008-03-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Toshiba Regza - The one to watch from Sean on Vimeo.

Today's blog entry is a 29-second advertisement for a Toshiba television. Kristy and I are available to shamelessly hawk your corporate product. We'll conceptualize, shoot, edit, and distribute your ad. For a typical 30-second spot here on The Long, Long Honeymoon, we charge a reasonable $1.7 million -- which is a substantial discount over what you might purchase for the Super Bowl! And yes, we do accept PayPal.

Ranch on the Rocks

2008-03-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Sadly, it may be curtains for Airstream Ranch. Or so says this story.

Why RVs Are Like Mexican Food (And Other Deep Thoughts)

2008-03-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Airstream RV Blog - Why RVs Are Like Mexican Food from Sean on Vimeo.

When I was a college student, my net worth at any given time fluctuated. But it typically hovered between five and seven dollars. This led to developing a taste for such culinary staples as ramen noodles, spaghetti, and ketchup-covered cardboard. But for a special night on the town, I’d go to my favorite “Mexican” (and I use the term loosely) restaurant: Taco Bell. Utilizing some coupons, I could manage to purchase three tacos and a drink for less than two dollars.

But the Bell’s head chef was crafty. He was always unveiling a tempting new, yet vastly more expensive, dish. This concoction would boast an exciting name, like the legendary Grande Double Decker Gordita Cheesarito Crunch Supreme. It would be advertised everywhere throughout the restaurant, often on huge posters featuring talking chihuahuas. Its price might even approach the three-dollar stratophere.

Sometimes curiosity would get the best of me. I would splurge and try one of these relatively costly meals. Invariably my reaction was the same -- because all of these entrees were composed of the EXACT SAME INGREDIENTS! The SAME lettuce, beans, cheese, and “meat” (again, I use the term loosely) were packed into the SAME taco shells. In the end, I felt like a sucker for getting the expensive meal, which was little more than a shameless repackaging of obligatory cheap taco ingredients -- but had to begrudgingly respect the inventiveness of Taco Bell’s marketing wizards.

There’s an analogy here with RVs. All RVs toss together the same basic ingredients. You get a bed, a bathroom, a couch, and a kitchen wrapped together in the shell of your choice. But these core ingredients get cooked up in an amazing variety of ways.

And here's where my Mexican analogy falls apart like a soggy flour tortilla. Because when it comes to RVs, there are substantive differences between ingredients. While Taco Bell may shovel the same government-issue cheese into every menu item, there's no denying the difference between formica and granite, or between plastic and stainless steel. There are some real differences that are worth extra cash; the question is whether they are worth it to you.

It wasn’t so long ago that Kristy and I were wading through the confusing menu of RV choices, debating which to purchase. For us, our Airstream was a Burrito Supreme -- a solid, classic choice that was guaranteed to satisfy. But that doesn’t mean we weren't tempted by the newfangled chalupas on the other side.

Married Couple Outlasts Airstreams

2008-02-25T09:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice story from Mesquite, Texas. Francis and J.C. McDearman just celebrated their 74th year of marriage. Perhaps even more impressive, their union has outlasted three Airstream travel trailers!

Congrats to the McDearmans. These are the type of people who started the American tradition of Airstreaming and RV-ing. They paved the way for the rest of us.

Apparently the McDearmans were married at about the same time that Wally Byam started building Airstreams. Over the course of their lives, they have toured the country via travel trailer, wearing out three silver bullets.

Their story makes me wonder whether Airstreaming is good for marriage. My answer would be a qualified "yes," assuming of course that the marriage in question actually survives the first couple of trips aboard the RV.

It's fair to say that this form of travel tests a marriage. As I've written before, you had better really like the person with whom you're sharing 200 square-feet of living space!

Doing It Yourself

2008-02-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

Airstream RV Blog - Doing It Yourself from Sean on Vimeo.

The old saying goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." Nothing illustrates this principle better than the sad saga of our Airstream ceiling fan.

When the fan malfunctioned, we first entrusted our Airstream to a local RV service center. It wasn't an official Airstream dealership because the nearest such business is located far away from our hometown. This was a local place that specializes in RV storage and repairs. But still, we're talking about a simple ceiling fan here. What could go wrong? Right?

After keeping the unit some three weeks, we got our baby back. Not only was the fan still in a state of disrepair, but the RV service guys damaged our roof! Apparently an employee walked on the aluminum portion of our Airstream's roof end cap, which is a major no-no. Aluminum stretches, and once bent it does not return to its exact previous shape. This was kind of like taking your car to a place for an oil change, and having them destroy your engine.

The RV guys offered to repair the damage, but quite frankly we didn't trust them anymore. Sure, they might be able to fix the roof. But what else would they wreck in the process?

Thankfully, Kristy's father Harry has the knowledge and skill to repair just about everything ever created by human hands. As you'll see in the video, Harry has almost restored our Airstream to its original condition.

The roof looks about as good as possible. The only way to repair this sort of damage 100% is to literally remove the aluminum roof panels (risking future leaks, etc.) and replace them with new panels -- an expensive and time-consuming process. I think we can live with it now, as the indentation is scarcely noticeable. If you didn't know about it, you'd never notice it.

As for the ceiling fan? We've made progress, but the fan still refuses to spin. Harry isolated the problem to a faulty switch. Note that the RV service guys never reached any such conclusion. In fact, they appeared to just replace one part, slap the pieces back together, and then surrender. Stay tuned, because unlike the "professionals," we're not giving up.

Special thanks to Harry for all of his help with our Airstream...and everything else he's managed to fix!

The Joy of Dump Stations

2008-02-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Airstream RV Blog - The Dump Station Experience from Sean on Vimeo.

The Internet Gods are doing something pretty strange with this one. If you watch the above video here on the site, it appears in a highly abbreviated format -- as in only 25 seconds long! I have NO idea WHY this is happening, but after trying every fix I'm going to just accept it and move on. Sometimes it's best to punt. Please click the link above to see the ACTUAL video.

Word of the Day: Caravan

2008-02-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

This article intrigued me for several reasons.

The Airstream pictured looks almost exactly like the one Kristy and I call home away from home. It must be a 25-foot Classic model. Yet it must also be the European version of our Airstream.

European Airstreams differ slightly from their American counterparts. There are a host of small distinctions; for example, the running lights on this Classic are arranged differently than on ours. But more significantly, European trailers are a few inches (or should I say centimeters, since the English don't actually use "the English system" of measurement?) more narrow so as to better traverse European roads.

Apparently in the UK an Airstream is not called a "travel trailer" at all. Rather, it is called a "caravan." And I suppose one tows it with a "lorry"?

Anyway, it is interesting to see an American icon like the Airstream catching on with our friends across the pond.

10 Fave Blog Videos

2008-01-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

All of our Long, Long Honeymoon material has been shot in high definition. But you’d never know it by watching YouTube. After YouTube gets through compressing our videos into its proprietary BD (blur definition) format, it looks like they were shot by a blind drunkard using salvaged World War II era equipment.

So recently we’ve begun transferring our online video content into the world of HD. As part of this process, I’ve waded through reams of content. We have over 70 videos! That's enough footage to pull together a feature length film (one we could call Hello, Blog: The Movie). So I thought, “What the heck. Let’s do a top 10 list!”

Here are ten favorite videos (not really in any particular order) with a few comments about each. These have all been upgraded in online quality. Most of them are in HD. So break out the popcorn and Junior Mints...

10. The Long, Long Trailer (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - The Long, Long Trailer from Sean on Vimeo.

Here Kristy and I discuss the classic movie, “The Long, Long Trailer.” I'm already breaking the stated goal of our list, because this really isn't one of my favorites. So why is it here? This video has been quite popular on YouTube, for two reasons: Lucy and Desi. Befuddled by its popularity, I recently reedited it in HD.

What I love most about Lucille Ball is that she was told by “experts” that she’d NEVER make it in Hollywood. She just didn’t have the look they wanted. I guess she didn’t accomplish much, other than becoming the definitive TV icon of the century, and one of the most beloved entertainers in American history.

9. Grand Tour (in 2 Minutes!) (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - Grand Tour (in 2 minutes!) from Sean on Vimeo.
Take a peek inside our Airstream. You know you want to! This video is fast, sloppy, and effective. And that expression on my face above? Priceless.

8. Banff

Airstream RV Blog - Banff from Sean on Vimeo.
I studied French from 1984 to 1985.

After nine months of concentrated study, I remember one complete sentence -- and it is grammatically incorrect.

7. Redwoods! (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - Redwoods! from Sean on Vimeo.

This is one of my personal favorites. The external mount shots are very pleasing to my eye (and were taken about 30 minutes prior to our getting a flat tire). Airstream camping in California’s redwood forests was a spectacular experience. It's like a visit to Jurassic Park, without all the dinosaurs.

6. Towin’ and Backin’ (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - Towin' and Backin' from Sean on Vimeo.
Many people are intimidated by the towing and backing requirements that come along with owning a travel trailer. There’s no need to be. Towing these trailers (once you have a solid tow vehicle) is a breeze. Backing them is easy enough, so long as you have enough space. It's no more difficult than parallel parking a 747.

But seriously, these are tasks that grow simpler and easier as you gain experience. Let's just hope that your "experience" doesn't involve broken bones.

5. The Simple Life (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - The Simple Life? from Sean on Vimeo.

Speaking of simple, what could be more simple than watching marshmallows and roasting moose? Wait! That's not what I meant.

Truth be told, Airstreaming is not simple. No lifestyle that involves handling a sewer hose on a regular basis can be dubbed simple. But it does offer fundamental pleasures (unrelated to sewer hoses). You just knew I would quote Thoreau sooner or later.

4. The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in HD. Even I can't screw this one up.

3. The $2 Million RV (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - The $2 Million RV from Sean on Vimeo.

This is a popular video, mainly because everyone wants to see a $2 million RV. What do you get for $2 million? A heavy bus that’s stacked with the most expensive housing materials available, and is built to withstand the abuse of a rock band, corporate CEO, and the occasional five-year old.

There’s no doubt these things are impressive, but I’m not sure I get the value proposition. It might make sense for Tom Cruise. But personally, I’d prefer a loaded Airstream (freeing up the leftover $1.9 million for beer and pizza).

2. Disney’s Fort Wilderness (HD)

Airstream RV Blog - Disney's Fort Wilderness from Sean on Vimeo.

This video offers a good combination of information and entertainment. Kristy really loves Disney, and Fort Wilderness is a lot of fun. In this video I tried to give a decent overview of the resort. We had a blast at Disney, even though it rained 96.7% of the time we were there.

And the number one "Fave Blog Video"...

1. The Goat Incident (HD)

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

This is probably my favorite blog video, thanks to our surprise guest star: the random mountain goat. Also, the location in Glacier National Park must be one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

You never know what’s going to happen on a hike. If this had been a grizzly bear instead of a goat, I doubt my memories of the experience would be so fond.

Airstream Ranch

2008-01-20T11:17:00.001-08:00

We just can't let this one pass without comment. A fellow down in Florida named Frank Bates has built an eye-catching tribute to Airstreams and RV-ing. He calls it "Airstream Ranch."

Inspired by the famous Cadillac Ranch, this artistic display consists of eight Airstreams partially buried in the ground (one trailer for every decade Airstream has been in business). The display is located alongside Interstate 4 in Florida. Of course, it's a nice promotion for the creator's RV dealership, Bates RV. If you've ever driven to Disney World, you've seen billboards for Bates RV.

Kristy and I have a personal connection to the dealership, since our Airstream was originally purchased at Bates RV! It's one of the largest Airstream dealerships in the United States.

I have to be honest. At first I was slightly offended by the thought of sticking a bunch of Airstreams in the ground, simply because Airstreams can be (and often are) restored. I was wondering why these vintage trailers shouldn't receive the royal makeover treatment. With a good exterior polish and fresh interior bits, $35,000 later you've got a livable and über-cool RV.

Apparently the neighbors were offended as well. They just don't seem to appreciate the aesthetics of aluminum travel trailers the way that we do. Some are petitioning for the removal of Airstream Ranch. You can read about the ongoing drama here: One Man's Art Is Another's Trailer Trash.

But now that I've had a little time to think it over, I really like Airstream Ranch. Granted, a few vintage Airstreams were sacrificed for the sake of art. But viewing this sort of kitschy folk art is what great American road trips are all about. If it's allowed to stand, I can foresee Airstream Ranch becoming a pilgrimage of sorts for Airstreamers, RV'ers, and road trippers from around the continent. At some point in our lives, we all visit the Sunshine State. Perhaps Airstream Ranch will become a required stop along the way.

Kristy and I will probably venture back into Florida this spring. We may even return to Key West for our first anniversary. If we do so, we'll be sure to visit Airstream Ranch, video equipment in hand. Stay tuned!

Snowstream

2008-01-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

We received about an inch of snowfall today. In other parts of the country, this sort of weather would be little cause for alarm. But here in the Deep South, it's a veritable blizzard. This is the most snow we've seen in years.

Our attitude toward tornadoes and even hurricanes is almost blase. "What, it's only an F3 twister?" But merely mention the word "snow" and the general populace panics, stockpiling enough milk, bread, and canned food items to survive an extended Medieval siege. Schools and businesses close. The local TV stations offer continuous coverage of the arctic storm.

This is as cold as it gets here, folks.

Special thanks to Kristy's father Harry for taking these photos of our snow-dusted Airstream.

Sir Edmund Hillary, Rest in Peace

2008-01-10T21:31:00.001-08:00

Part 1

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to scale Mt. Everest, died today at the age of 88. Hillary's 1953 climb of the world's tallest mountain ranks as one of the great adventure feats of the last century. And so today we’re going to do something a little different, and showcase some blog travel videos of a different nature. We call this show Walkabout Club. In a tribute to Hillary, the star of our show is Clifton Hillary III. He’s basically a charlatan with no actual relationship to the real life hero. But he does his best.

Part 2

While I have no evidence that the REAL Hillary ever went Airstreaming, there are parallels here. At its heart, the Airstream travel experience is about wanderlust. It’s about climbing the next hill to see what lies beyond. It's about conquering your own little version of Mount Everest. As Airstream founder Wally Byam said, the goal is “to stir the venturesome spirit that moves you to follow a rainbow to its end... and thus make your travel dreams come true.”

Part 3

Byam even saw a global role for Airstream, pledging “to play some part in promoting international goodwill and understanding among the peoples of the world through person-to-person contact.” Wally walked the walk, leading a legendary 1959 Airstream caravan all the way from Cape Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt.

Part 4

Kristy and I shot this material in Antigua, Guatemala during the world famous Semana Santa (“Holy Week”) celebration. Antigua is a beautiful town and its annual Easter festival is amazing. These videos are a little (okay, a LOT) longer than the videos we usually post. With each segment clocking in at almost 7 minutes, you ADD Internet surfers may not be able to watch everything at once. But anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

Sir Edmund Hillary, rest is peace.

A Very Good Year

2008-01-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

Camping on the Gulf

2007-12-29T21:14:00.000-08:00

We’ve been looking forward to this final sojourn of 2007 all year long. We are now camping at one of our favorite campgrounds. Appropriately named Camping on the Gulf, it's located in Destin, Florida. We’ve seen some scenic campsites throughout North America, but this one takes the cake. Although the campground itself boasts some decent amenities and a highly professional staff, the obvious draw here is raw natural beauty. (And I'm not talking about my ugly mug.)

Yes – this location is as good as it looks. Our Airstream is literally parked on the beach. If we were any closer to the Gulf of Mexico, we’d be floating. You can lie in bed and listen to nature’s majestic symphony as waves crash to shore. You step from your RV onto powder white sand. And yes, you’ll find that same sand scattered throughout your RV from now until eternity, but it’s well worth it.

We’ve been here before. In fact, this campground was our first major destination in the Airstream. A few short days after we bought our “vacation home on wheels,” we hitched and headed to the beach. You always remember that first camping trip, so we wanted to make our maiden voyage a good one.

We particularly enjoy visiting the Gulf in the off-season, as it feels we’ve got the beach to ourselves. That’s a little bit of Walkabout Wisdom: The best time to travel is when the rest of the world does not.

Even mundane tasks are somehow more pleasant here...

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T16:14:00.001-08:00

The Hallmark ornament pictured above was a gift from our Airstreaming friends Tye and Emily -- and we also received one from my mother. :-) I guess great minds really do think alike. Honestly, we're happy to have two of these thoughtful gifts. One will go in our home, while the other will reside in our "home on wheels." The detail on the Airstream ornament is fantastic. The wheels turn, and the blue-and-white awning even retracts!

Kristy and I also like that the date is emblazoned on it. Between our Key West wedding and insane honeymooning, 2007 has been a landmark year in our lives. Whatever happens in the future, we'll always look back upon this year as a highlight. We've enjoyed sharing the adventure here on our website, and really appreciate all of the kind comments received from far and wide. As I've said before, positive energy keeps the 'ol blog going. It's been a satisfying creative outlet, and we've learned a lot along the way.

Stay tuned... We look forward to more good times in the year to come. The "honeymoon" is just beginning!

Happy Camper

2007-12-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

My love affair with wine began in college. It was there I discovered the ubiquitous Boone’s Farm label, whose rancid swill offers a delightful alternative to Thunderbird, MD 20/20, or even a six-pack of Blatz beer. Take it from me: Strawberry Hill pairs well with Top Ramen noodles.

Some of the finest wines I’ve ever tasted were served at fancy corporate dinners, the kind of over-the-top restaurant meals in which the handmade chocolate souffle cost more than my initial apartment furniture budget. In my heyday, I drank several bottles of wine that were older (and arguably more complex) than Jessica Simpson.

But alas! The problem with most of those rarified upper crust wines is that their branding strategy caters to wine snobs. They all boast elegant family names and tasteful labels that are, ultimately, forgettable. Especially after you’ve downed a couple of bottles. You wake up the next morning, shave your tongue, and mutter, "That was a fantastic wine last night. Wish I could remember what it was called..."

Therein lies the rub: although I’ve drank many fine wines costing more than a full tank of diesel, I have absolutely no recollection of the best of the bunch. Those brands are but fuzzy, pleasant memories rapidly fading in my mental rearview mirror.

Then there are the party wines -- the daily drinkers, if you like. Because these cost around $10 a bottle (give or take a few dollars), they are found in every store. And their branding strategy is designed to impress a mass market consumer such as myself. This often means screaming florescent yellow labels with names like "UNGA BUNGA - the Tribal Shiraz!" The more memorable the brand, the more likely a sober mass market consumer will pick it up for the next party.

Enter Happy Camper -- the first wine brand I've seen that caters to the RV/camping market. The name is brilliant, instantly memorable. The label is its equal, boasting an Airstream-like travel trailer, an aluminum-skinned towable nested somewhere amongst the California redwood trees. On the bottle neck sleeve are camping scenes of (hopefully sober) people canoeing, bicycling, and even piloting a motorboat. How can an RV enthusiast not remember a brand like Happy Camper?

Then there's the wine. As I state in the video review, Happy Camper is a good wine. I daresay that if it were served in your glass at a fancy steak and lobster dinner (the kind with those exquisitely delicate chocolate souffles) you wouldn't skip a beat. Happy Camper may draw you in with the label, but what's inside the bottle will keep you coming back.

The Art of Airstreaming

2007-12-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

Airstreamers are sometimes referred to collectively as a cult. While this description is a little extreme -- there are few ritualistic ceremonies beyond flushing the tanks -- there’s no doubt that Airstream owners are passionate about their iconic silver trailers. Thus it only makes sense that Airstream-themed artwork would gain an audience.

This Grand Haven Tribune article about artist Mary Sundstrom is interesting on a couple of different levels. First of all, Mary's an artist who courts the Airstream niche, and does so quite nicely. That’s one of her pieces above. You can check out her website here: Airstream Art Studio. She sells prints on eBay (just search for "Airstream art") and even does commissioned pieces.

But what really grabbed my attention was the story of Mary's own Airstream find. She bought a sadly neglected 22-foot Safari model for a mere $400! Then she plowed her time and energy into the restoration effort. There's a certain style about the vintage trailers that is truly timeless, and Mary's Safari is a good example. After fresh doses of tile, paint, and exterior polish, it looks beautiful.

The Airstream brand is often viewed in luxurious, upscale terms. That’s because the newer ones are priced well into the lower stratosphere. Just looking at those MSRPs may induce nosebleed. But in reality, Airstreaming is not a life of champagne and Grey Poupon. Club membership is open to anyone with a few hundred dollars and a willingness to work.

Gee... No, GPS!

2007-12-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

Our truck SEEMORE has the subtlety of a sledgehammer. A mountain of gleaming non-aerodynamic metal, it's pretty much devoid of technological gadgetry. The 1980s-era LED dash display is illegible in all conditions except total darkness. One suspects that Ford engineers would’ve preferred installing an 8-track cassette deck, but reluctantly switched to a CD player after considerable pressure from marketing. These sins are forgivable because the gargantuan diesel engine is capable of towing the Statue of Liberty over Mount Everest without skipping an 11.8 MPG beat.

My love for technology and gadgets is well documented. I’m usually an early adopter when it comes to this stuff. Confessional case-in-point: in 1995, I made the unfortunate decision to install Microsoft Bob on my PC. We can't be absolutely certain, but I think I was the only person in North America to install Bob. I know I'm the only person who will admit doing so.

Still, I somehow refrained from taking the GPS plunge – until our Airstreaming honeymoon. After driving around North America for two months with a ratty old $10 map, I finally surrendered to my technological desires and bought a Garmin Nuvi 660 GPS system. Simply stated, it changed our lives along with our credit card statement. The resultant question was not, “Why the hell did we buy this thing?” but rather “Why the hell did we wait so long to buy this thing?”

Of course, in the comfort of your own hometown, you can probably (hopefully?) make it down to the grocery store and back without some fancy gadget leading you by the nose. But suppose you are 1000 miles away from familiar streets…it’s dark…you have a flat tire…and you’re looking for that international camping haven known as Wal-Mart. Just type “Wal-Mart” into the Garmin and you’ll find the nearest one. No phone calls, no guesswork, no hassle. A GPS is not only a timesaver, it’s potentially a lifesaver. You might make an occasional wrong turn, but you’ll never really be lost if you have one of these gadgets. This totally changes the tenor of the classic American road trip.

Our GPS has a zillion other features with varying degrees of usefulness. It broadcasts audio over our truck speakers via an FM transmitter. It has a very nice Bluetooth cellphone connection, so you can gab on your cellphone hands free. And it plays audiobooks seamlessly, even pausing the books when offering spoken directions. I haven't tried every GPS out there, but this Nuvi 660 model has been named one of CNET's editors’ best GPS navigation systems. So don't take my word for it; take CNET's.

Airstream Bachelorhood on the Rocks?

2007-11-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

Probably the most famous Airstream enthusiast is Matthew McConaughey. For several years, he's lived in his trailer in a Malibu RV park. He's enjoyed the lifestyle so much, he's even had two additional trailers custom built to his celebrity specs. That's right: three Airstreams! He's been living the ideal bachelor's life, dating whatever random supermodel happened to be in the laundrymat. Judging from all available photos, the man doesn't even own a shirt.

We visited Mr. McConaughey’s Neighborhood in August, and found both the ocean views and the rampaging ants to be memorable.

But alas! It looks like Ol’ Washboard Abs is turning soft. He’s just purchased a $10 million house in Malibu, albeit one with a yard sufficient for Airstream storage. You can read about it here:
Airstream Bachelorhood on the Rocks?

Note that McConaughey's got a new girlfriend, a Brazilian neurologist -- check that, she's a model -- named Camila.

When I informed my wife of McConaughey’s decision, she sagely replied, “Wow -- his new girlfriend’s really talking him into a lot!”

Sorry girls, this time it must be love. I can't think of any other reason someone would trade an Airstream for a $10 million Malibu mansion.

High-End Folk Art

2007-11-21T05:02:00.000-08:00

There's an interesting article in Fortune about the resurgence of Airstream. The article states that Airstream sales doubled between 2003 and 2006. It also claims that 28% of Airstream buyers never owned an RV before! Kristy and I are amongst that number.

You can read the article here:

The Airstream: one sleek mod pod

Why did we buy an Airstream? There are many substantive, practical reasons like longevity and quality. But in truth, I suppose the writer is on the right track. There's something timeless about that classic silver shape. It's both nostalgic and futuristic, like a cross between your great grandparents' old trailer and a UFO. When you see one, you smile.

Late Night with the Long, Long Honeymoon

2007-11-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

Kristy and I appeared on a local TV show yesterday to discuss our honeymoon adventures. The show’s host, Cassie Moore, really makes her guests feel at home. I know that Cassie is destined for future achievements in TV land. Remember that you saw her here first. And her co-host Callie Swaid is great, too! Our interview was a lot of fun and offered the chance to reflect on our travels.

Naturally, we brought a video clip to the TV show. You might wonder why, of ALL the places in North America we visited, we chose to spotlight Myers Flat, California. Quite simply, Myers Flat is the sort of place you’d probably never “honeymoon” if you aren’t hauling around an RV. We had a great time in this tiny town -- despite our flat tire -- and brought home fond memories of a friendly stop along The Avenue of the Giants.

In the interview, Kristy mentions our time in Europe. We’ve done a fair amount of travel throughout Europe, but the episode she’s referencing was a three month stint in a small Czech town. If you think full-timing on an RV is a challenge, try full-timing in a place where no one speaks English. My Czech is pathetic, although I did quickly master the crucial phrase "jedno pivo, prosim!" -- which translates to "one beer, please!"

We like to joke about our living space aboard the Airstream being limited. Sure, it's limited compared to our current house. But the truth is that I found our RV to be better equipped and more comfortable than an apartment we once shared in Greenwich Village (and anyone who's ever lived in New York knows what I mean). Our Airstream is extremely liveable, a triumph of thoughtful design.

Because the typical Internet surfer (myself included) has the attention span of a ferret on amphetamines, we’re carving up our 10-minute TV interview into three easy-to-digest bite size segments. You know, just like when your mother used to cut up your dinner meat for you.

And so, many thanks to Cassie and Callie for their hospitality. Next up, Kristy and I are scheduled to appear on a radio show. Stay tuned!

Greenstreams

2007-11-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

This article is interesting: Airstream Trailer Serves Eco-Nomads. It's a striking example of how vintage Airstream trailers are reborn on a daily basis.

A company (Eco Earth Yacht Outreach) is now retrofitting old Airstreams to be even more environmentally friendly than usual. They incorporate solar panels for power, and make extensive use of recycled materials in the interiors. Of course, even the Airstream itself is recycled, since it was probably built several decades ago. This all seems reasonable enough, with the possible exception of the "compositing toilet." I have no idea how that works, and I'm not sure I want to find out.

Something I've noticed when Airstreaming (especially when boondocking) is that our water and electricity usage is dramatically reduced. In fact, I've mastered the skill of taking a hot shower using no more than three tablespoons of water.

So, all of you Hollywood hipsters, you want to be green? Forget trendy, token displays like driving a hybrid. If you REALLY want to reduce your so-called "environmental footprint," relocate to a trailer park immediately! :)

Channel Ch-Ch-Changes

2007-11-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

We've made a few tweaks to our YouTube video channel. You can view the channel by clicking here: The Long, Long Honeymoon Video Channel

We will also start using a new video player here on the blog:

Pretty slick, eh? :-)

The YouTube channel is a huge archive of ALL our blog videos. We have a lot of content here on our website, but it's not always easy to find. As of this writing, we have some 70 videos! There's a pretty good sampling of scenic camping locations throughout North America, and some insights into the RV lifestyle. Hopefully our blog will become a helpful stop for anyone interested in RV-ing, Airstreaming, and traveling.

We plan to add fresh blog videos on specific RV/Airstream/travel topics. If you have any topic you'd like to see discussed, drop me an email! I can be reached at seanmichael@aol.com.

Tomorrow evening Kristy and I are scheduled to appear on a local TV show to discuss our honeymoon. Stay tuned for updates!

Driveway Camping and Beautiful People

2007-11-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

During our second week in the Sunshine State, we visited dear friends in Destin, Florida. Naturally, we camped in their driveway! Using an Airstream as a guest house may seem odd at first, but it’s actually a fun experience for everyone.

It’s simply easier for us to stay in our Airstream, where we have all of our travel essentials (like crunchy peanut butter). And for our hosts, this arrangement offers an extra measure of privacy. It works exactly like a brick-and-mortar guest house, except that you can park it wherever you please. Oh, and you need to plug into electricity. I’m told that Airstreams have become hip guest houses and pool cabanas amongst the hipster set in fancy places like the Hamptons.

Speaking of the hipster set, we certainly frolicked amongst the beautiful people in Florida. We attended a couple of special events held in two particularly scenic communities.

The first was the “Change the World” fundraiser, held at the stunning new development of Alys Beach. My video doesn’t really do justice to Alys Beach; in fact, we hope to return sometime in the future to do a more extensive shoot. But suffice to say that when this place is complete, it will be among the most beautiful communities in the United States. Its architecture is reminiscent of both Bermuda and Antigua, Guatemala. It is somehow both elegant and relaxing.

The evening’s goal was to raise funds to aid Ukrainian orphans. The long term plans are to provide these children with a nurturing, home-like environment (in a place called Sasha's Home) while they await adoption. The event was an overwhelming success, raising over $100,000 in a single night! Everyone involved should be proud. Having recently visited Moldova and Transdniestria (which borders the Ukraine), I understand what a tremendous impact this money will have over there. If you’d like to learn more about the charity behind the party, check out the Barnes Family Foundation.

Next, Kristy and I ventured over to Seaside, where we attended the 17th annual Seeing Red Wine Festival. As you might have guessed, wine was the order of the day. The autumn weather has turned idyllic these past few days. With outstanding live music, fine wine, and gourmet snacks, it’s hard to imagine a more pleasant afternoon than the one we spent in Seaside.

Into the Wilderness

2007-10-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

Airstream RV Blog - Disney's Fort Wilderness from Sean on Vimeo.

Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness offers a sprawling campground of substantial size. Its design and layout feels more like a state park than a privately operated campground – and that’s a complement. There are more trees than you might expect. The campsites are staggered in loops, rather than in the all-too-typical parking lot arrangement.

Of course, the three key upsides here are location, location, and location. Fort Wilderness offers an ideal launch pad for forays into the nearby Magic Kingdom and Epcot parks. Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios are not far away. It’s the perfect base for an extended Disney vacation.

One of Kristy’s childhood dreams was to become a Disney annual pass holder. And so, that’s at least one dream that has come true this year during Disney’s “year of dreams.” With an annual pass, one can come and go to the parks as you please. If you do the math, an annual pass is actually quite cost-effective. It doesn’t break the bank, and in fact gets you several nice discounts along the way.

With four major theme parks, a couple of water parks, and a host of unique resort and shopping areas, Walt Disney World is an almost overwhelming complex of fun. Our favorite guidebook is The Unofficial Guide to Disney World. It reads like a well-moderated Internet site, informative without being stuffy.

Disney claims to be the happiest place on earth. I believe it. I’ve done my fair share of international travel, including a couple of visits to what may rightfully be dubbed the saddest place on earth: the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim, Poland. As we strolled the carefully manicured sidewalks of the Magic Kingdom, watching small children and their families laugh and smile, I couldn’t help but ponder the contrast. It’s amazing that on the same planet, human beings could build both an Auschwitz and a Disney World. One was a horrific factory of death and destruction; the other is a remarkable factory of frivolity, happiness, and pleasure.

People criticize Disney for being too clean, too planned, and too perfect. Here’s the way I look at it. If you want unclean, imperfect, unplanned travel experiences (and in all sincerity, there’s a lot to be said for these), there's no shortage to be found worldwide. I wouldn’t trade my experiences in El Salvador and Moldova for anything. But we come to Disney World to escape the harsh realities of the world, not to revel in them.

We may all take it for granted, but Walt Disney World is actually an incredible human achievement. No government on earth could pull off an operation this ambitious. It's an oasis of quasi-perfection in a cruel, imperfect world.

So pass the Disney Kool-Aid. And give me my mouse ears! I'll wear them without shame.

Roll Tide

2007-10-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

"Roll Tide" is Alabama's battle cry, but among fans, it's the ultimate all-purpose phrase, like prego in Italian or namaste in Nepali, an acceptable substitute for hello, goodbye, nice to meet you, and Amen. -- Warren St. John

University of Alabama Crimson Tide fans are famous for taking their RVs to football games. The best book on the subject is Warren St. John’s Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer. This first-hand account of tailgating nirvana is one of the most enjoyable sports tales you’ll ever read. It’s so well written, even those who root against the Crimson Tide (you know who you are) will still enjoy it.

In short, St. John bought an aging motorhome, dubbed it “The Hawg,” and joined Alabama fans in their group caravans throughout a tumultuous season. His account of the adventure is hilarious, insightful, and strongly recommended by this humble blogger.

St. John’s title refers to a mildly controversial Crimson Tide cheer that originated some 30 years ago and quickly became tradition. At the conclusion of major victories, celebratory Alabama fans erupt in “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer” -- which is directed at the opposing team. There's nothing like hearing over 90,000 fans shout "we just beat the hell out of you" at full volume. Okay, it’s probably not our finest moment of sportsmanship – but it sure is fun! You’ll catch a dose of the cheer at the conclusion of today's blog video.

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I’m sure that once upon a time, tailgating was a simple proposition. People just tossed a few snacks into the trunks of their cars, and they were ready to go.

But like everything else in America, tailgating has evolved. It’s bigger and better. The social experience surrounding a game has become a passion unto itself. Indulgent dining, strong drink, fine china, and well-equipped RVs all play a role.

With an RV, tailgating becomes a multi-day affair. There’s an extended build-up to the main event which heightens the sense of unfolding Romanesque drama. And after each contest has concluded, there’s a civilized episode of relaxation and reflection.

In essence, tailgating with an RV is boondocking. You typically won’t have any hookups whatsoever, so a quiet generator and full fresh water tank are essential.

And please, don't forget the bourbon.

One Big Silver Family

2007-10-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a fine article in USA Today about the resurgence of Airstream popularity. You can read the article by clicking here:

One Big Silver Family

Call of the Mouse

2007-10-19T00:06:00.000-07:00

Our Airstream is still in the proverbial shop for a minor fan repair. But Monday, whether our "tin can" is patched together or not, we will hitch and drive south towards the land of Mickey Mouse. If necessary, I'll pack an extra roll of Gorilla Tape. That stuff will fix anything!

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to browse the archives on your left. We have enough cool video in this humble blog to amount to a feature film. And it's all yours for the clicking.

Best Kept Secret in Motorsport

2007-10-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

While our Airstream is in the shop, we're taking in some local sights. Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama is an incredible treat if you enjoy the smell of fresh, hot exhaust. There's no better way to watch racing than on this $60 million European-style race course, where the landscaping is as lavish as a customized Porsche interior.

And speaking of Porsche, if you want to attend the official Porsche Sport Driving School, this is where you'll do it. The Barber facility is home to the Porsche school, so some of the world's greatest racecar drivers hang out here on a daily basis.

And yes, the Barber Park's an RV-friendly place. The track's main RV parking area offers scenic boondocking. It sits upon a high, grassy plateau overlooking the entire track. Electricity is available in the paddock area. So if you happen to be driving the track, you can relax in your RV in between sessions.

Believe it or not, I've actually driven the Barber track with a Birmingham sports car club. "What's it like?" you ask? Imagine your favorite rollercoaster -- times ten. Really, until you've ridden in a racecar being piloted at high speed, nothing can prepare you for the lateral g-forces and sensory onslaught. It's an adrenaline rush that's only slightly less addictive (and probably more expensive) than crack.

The VAP

2007-10-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Last night Kristy and I appeared on the Vintage Airstream Podcast (a.k.a. The VAP) radio show. We had a blast discussing our honeymoon adventures with Tim, Colin, and Rob. It's always a pleasure to talk Airstreaming with fellow Airstreamers.

You can download the complete 50-minute interview on the VAP website:

http://thevap.com/

The great upside to owning an Airstream is that they are timeless. In fact, some of the hippest, coolest trailers you'll ever see are more than 50 years old.

There's a lot to be said for taking a vintage unit and customizing it to be your own. Thankfully, exterior styling has changed little over the years. Aluminum doesn't rust, so just about any trailer can be polished back into a mirror finish. As for interiors, you can do just about anything your heart desires, from contemporary Manhattan apartments to 1950s diners. We've seen some amazing transformations, and the process is cost-effective vis-a-vis buying a new one.

Anyone interested in restoring a vintage unit should browse the VAP audio archive. It's an excellent, entertaining resource. Should you decide to go this route, the VAP is required listening.

The Long, Long Trailer

2007-10-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

You watch The Long, Long Trailer for one reason. And that's to see Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball together at the height of their 1950s popularity.

The premise is simple enough. Lucy and Desi are newlyweds. A surprisingly blonde Lucy pressures the reluctant Desi into buying a travel trailer. They set off honeymooning throughout the American West...and comic hilarity ensues!

As much as I'd like to give this movie a favorable review, I've got to be honest. There isn't really much of a story here. Nor is there much in the way of character development. RV ownership is painted in a rather negative light, with the trailer in question practically killing an innocent marriage. And then the movie just stops, as if they ran out of film.

My favorite bits in this movie demonstrate that some things haven't changed. Certain aspects of "trailer life" are just as challenging in 2007 as they were in 1954.

For example, I really enjoyed the scene in which Desi gets flustered when backing up the absurdly long trailer. It reminded me of a certain gas station in Banff. In desperate need of diesel fuel, we managed to squeeze our rig into a space apparently intended for miniature golf carts. It was an achievement of physics and geometry comparable to a Space Shuttle landing.

I also identified with Desi when, terrified, he tows his trailer across a treacherous one-lane mountain highway. Kristy and I lived a few of these fingernail-chomping moments ourselves during our summer journey. At one such point in British Columbia, Kristy said, "It felt like we were driving to our death." Yippee!

But with regard to Desi and Lucy, I would've enjoyed seeing more positive moments along the way. If I were writing a sequel, I might focus less upon trailer mishaps, and more upon the persistent uncertainty of human relationships. That's really the overriding issue of married life aboard an RV.

Sure, you'll experience a few minor mechanical problems. But the real question -- the real test -- is whether you will truly enjoy spending that much time and that little space with another person.

An Airstream is essentially a one-room apartment on wheels. In a travel trailer, there's no sneaking off to your own private corner of the house. And in certain boondocking campgrounds, there's no radio or TV or electricity. You are always together, and the entertainment is up to YOU. Stripped of other distractions, how well will you get along with your spouse?

Kristy and I really enjoyed watching The Long, Long Trailer, and you probably will too. But take it with a grain of salt. We had a lot more fun than Desi and Lucy!

Happiness Pursued

2007-10-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

"Time is the fire in which we burn."

-- American poet Delmore Schwartz, 1937

(also said by a plagiarizing Star Trek villain, 1993)

When you tell people you're honeymooning for an indefinite period of time in a travel trailer, you get some strange looks in response. Strange as in, "are these two people absolutely insane?!" looks.

To me, this trip always seemed to be a normal and reasonable course of action. At least it seemed that way until the unfortunate sewer hose incident in Malibu.

Sure, we could've been sampling fine wine and fresh lobster in a Tahitian luxury hut while eager minions massaged our feet and gently fanned us with freshly cut palm leaves. But wouldn't you really rather wolf down microwaved popcorn in a stormy Wyoming Wal-Mart parking lot?

Okay, perhaps that wasn't the best example. But the underlying point has something to do with the Latin phrase carpe diem -- sieze the day. (It actually translates into "pluck the day," but no one says "pluck" any more. Thank goodness.)

I'm one of those guys who's constantly aware of his own mortality. It's not that I'm obsessed with death. Not at all. Rather, I am aware of death, and I acknowledge its inevitability. It's what you might call a motivational factor.

I've seen many people die unexpectedly. I've seen many die expectedly. Either way, they died. We all will. It's the one thing you can count on, and it applies to everyone.

Martha Stewart will die. So will Donald Trump. And Britney Spears. And Hugh Hefner, if he hasn't already.

Our time on earth is limited. It's up to us to make the best of it.

Granted, what consititutes "the best" will differ from person to person. We all have different dreams that may or may not involve camping in Wal-Mart parking lots. Maybe it's watching your kids play soccer, or reading the works of Shakespeare, or drinking 30 beers in one day. Or doing ALL of these activities simultaneously.

Our aspirations may vary. But our responsibility is to pursue those individual dreams with passion and vigor. That's what our country's Founders wisely called the pursuit of happiness. That's why we're here.

Believe it or not, some people can find that happiness in a Wal-Mart parking lot -- on their honeymoon.

Coming next: we take a look at "The Long, Long Trailer!"

Home Stretch

2007-10-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

We are home. It's a surreal feeling to enter your house after being absent for three months. Everything seems slightly new, but completely familiar. You might call this sensation "the joy of rediscovery!" And it's greatly heightened by the fact we've been living full-time in an RV.

While we are here... As Elvis might say, we're taking care of business.

Our immediate goal is to have our Airstream's ceiling fan (and associated rooftop damage) repaired. Incredibly, my impromptu duct tape repair has weathered many storms over the past three months and still holds. After this adventure, we really should be doing TV commercials for Gorilla Tape! It's the best thing since sliced bread and Crazy Glue. But it's time we properly repaired the vent and roof, once and for all.

Kristy and I are scheduled to appear on the Vintage Airstream Podcast (also known as The VAP) to discuss our experiences on the road. The online radio show tapes this Thursday. More updates as events warrant.

Our next foray into the American wild will come in two weeks: a trip to Florida, where we have an appointment with a certain Mr. Mouse. In the meantime, I will strive to keep the blog perking with updates, video and otherwise.

Coming soon: video reflections upon the long, long honeymoon. Stay tuned!

Takin' it to the Street

2007-10-05T13:36:00.001-07:00

Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee is a treasure trove of music, food, music, drink, and music. And you'd better come ready to hear some music.

The mind staggers when you think about the talent that's congregated in Memphis over the years. Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, B.B. King, Roy Orbison...and that kid from Missisippi named Aaron (as in Elvis Aaron Presley). And what's really incredible is that most of those guys were making music at the same time.

BFF!

2007-10-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry, macho men. Today's video is on the lovey-dovey huggy-kissy side.

But it's true: you'd be insane to share an RV with anyone except people you REALLY, REALLY like.

Coming next: Memphis!

Arkansoggy

2007-10-03T09:17:00.001-07:00

We received our strongest and lengthiest downpour last night in Little Rock, Arkansas. For several hours, we slept to the tune of raindrops cascading against our Airstream. As I've written before, it's actually quite an entertaining symphony.

Today we are headed to that place the King called home. We'll do a full "bells & whistles" video blog update there, if the Internet cooperates... Stay tuned!

Oh, What a Beautiful Wal-Mart

2007-10-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

In Shawnee, Oklahoma we spent our second consecutive night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Just what every girl dreams about for her honeymoon!

Although we haven’t done much Wal-Mart camping on this trip, it makes sense when staying a few hours in one town. It’s a matter of convenience. There’s no check-in procedure, no hookups to warrant your concern, and no one rapping on your door the next morning to “remind” you of check-out time. And should you need to do any shopping, the campground store is a doozy!

Having done a fair amount of international travel, I know that stores similar to Wal-Mart exist overseas (ie. England’s Tesco). I’m curious whether they are as supportive of the RV lifestyle. I suspect not. Wal-Mart doesn’t have to be so inviting, and in our litigious society it’s rare to encounter such corporate hospitality. So I am appreciative.

We’ve crossed 14,000 miles on SEEMORE’s odometer, which means we’ve gone over 10,000 miles on this trip (the above trip meter doesn’t include our journey to and from Key West, which was over 1000 miles).

Even though I’ve driven almost ALL of this distance myself, it really doesn’t feel that way. Although I’ve been a little fatigued at times, I’ve never been burned out. The key is the amount of travel per day. We typically limit ourselves to no more than six hours of driving, and often much less. Whenever we feel like stopping, we stop. If we find ourselves in a good spot, we stay, sometimes for days. This is a luxury afforded by the nomadic RV lifestyle.

That said, now that we have home well within our sights, we’re making a beeline for it. Once there we will tend to a few household matters, and take our Airstream back to the RV service center for long-awaited repairs. Remember June’s notorious “dent in our enthusiasm” incident? The dent remains an eyesore, and the vent is still nonfunctional. So we intend to have our Airstream’s vent and roof repaired, as promised, by the service center. I will document these repair experiences in our blog.

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How nice are Oklahomans? The favorite sports team here is the famed University of Oklahoma Sooners football squad. Boomer Sooner! At Sooner home games, the Oklahoma fans pack the stadium, where they are well known for giving vigorous rounds of applause…to the opposing team! Sure, they cheer louder for their Sooners, but they also heartily cheer the visitors. Now that’s nice.

Get Tires Fixed (on Route 66)

2007-10-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

We’ve been lucky on this trip so far. Over 10,000 miles, and our major mechanical problems have been the broken air vent in Casper, Wyoming and the flat tire in Myers Flat, California. But now we can add one more tire fiasco to our road trip experience.

Last night, after a long day of driving that included a stretch of historic Route 66, we clipped a curb when exiting the highway in Amarillo, Texas. We heard a banshee squeal, followed by a disturbing, telltale whooooshhhhhh. The road was unusually narrow, but nevertheless we must chalk this one up to pilot error. What can I say? I was tired, and that’s when bad things happen to good RV owners.

Upon inspection, the tire and rim appear to have been mauled by an axe-wielding mountain lion. Naturally, the victimized tire is the brand new one we installed about a month ago. Alas! It was so young…

Per request, here's a close-up of the carnage. Perhaps I'm exaggerating a bit about the mountain lion. The rim is salvagable, but the tire sidewall is punctured. I'm afraid it's toast.

It’s possible to tow Airstreams a short distance with one flat tire. Low speeds are mandatory in this situation. So, tail between our legs, we crawled like a scolded dog to the nearest scenic Wal-Mart. There we spent the night boondocking alongside massive motor homes and tour buses. I’ve spoken kindly of Wal-Mart’s RV hospitality before, and here I shall do so again. It’s an incredible luxury to know you have a safe, free RV spot in almost every American neighborhood. And they even have their own tire shop.

Although I’m not happy about the situation, I’ve written about this subject before. When you are traveling on an extended road trip, you are going to encounter adversity. Expect it. Deal with it. Don't let it ruin your day.

A few hours before our tire incident, Kristy and I witnessed the aftermath of a horrible highway accident. The vehicle involved was upside down, and it was also scattered across the road in shattered pieces. Its occupants were airlifted away from the scene by helicopter for emergency medical treatment. We don’t know whether they survived. Seeing this sort of accident scene puts our trivial tire woes in perspective.

After getting a new tire, we are headed toward that place where the wind goes sweepin' cross the plain… Boomer Sooner!

Santa Fab

2007-09-29T19:48:00.001-07:00

We experienced a few episodes of extreme wind and rainfall in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s always interesting to ride out a storm in an Airstream. Due to the trailer’s aluminum skin, you enjoy the “rain on a tin roof” effect that’s actually rather soothing (assuming, of course, your trailer doesn’t topple over in a massive gust of wind).

How much do I like Santa Fe? Upon my first visit, I instinctively checked out the local real estate guides. As the wise philosopher Goldilocks famously observed, it’s “just right.”

This town is blessed with far more culture (arts, crafts, music, and chile sauce) than its size would seem to warrant. And it’s got something that’s missing in so many American cities – a sense of history. Santa Fe is almost 400 years old.

At the center of town lies the Plaza. It reminds us of our favorite Central American town, Antigua, Guatemala. As Kristy said, Santa Fe is “like Antigua, but without all the life-threatening danger.” Antigua still takes the overall ambiance prize with its striking Spanish Colonial architecture and magestic ruins. But Santa Fe has far fewer masked, machine gun-toting thugs.

By the way, the guitarist in our video is Billy D. of The HooDoos. He was outstanding! You can check out his band's website here.

Harvest Moonshine

2007-09-27T10:38:00.001-07:00

One Canyon, Extra Large

2007-09-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

“In fact, just about all the major natural attractions you find in the West- the Grand Canyon, the Badlands, the Goodlands, the Mediocrelands, the Rocky Mountains and Robert Redford- were caused by erosion.” – Dave Barry

After some extensive desert driving, we arrived at the Grand Canyon. We viewed the canyon from the South Rim. There are several scenic viewpoints, which are basically cliffs equipped with token guardrails. Lose your footing, and you may find yourself flying a thousand feet in a downward direction.

Every year a tourist or two goes tumbling to his or her death by stepping beyond the meager railing to get that perfect picture. Of course, much of the Grand Canyon has no guardrail at all. It would be rather ridiculous to erect a 20-foot tall brick wall around the entire Canyon, but that's about the only way to save some people from themselves (and I'm certain they'd still find a way over it). Sometimes fools can be very clever.

What is there to say about the Grand Canyon? It’s an incredible natural wonder that you just have to see at least once in your life. But once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it.

In truth, I feel that we really just grazed the surface of the Canyon, viewing it from the rim. Someday I’d like to return and spend more time here, hiking into its depths, taking a helicopter tour, and riding a mule. (Mules are used to travel into the Canyon because their eyes stick out from the sides of their heads. This biological anomaly allows them to see BOTH sides of the precarious cliff-hugging trail at all times. And really, who amongst us doesn’t want to ride a mule?)

Kristy and I seemed to be among the few American citizens visiting the Park. On the shuttle buses and at the scenic viewpoints, we were surrounded by tourists from Asia, Europe, and South America. At one point, a rather large group of Asian tourists began excitedly taking pictures of us, presumably because of Kristy's blonde hair! (Or perhaps they were impressed with my substantial beer belly?)

The campsites within the park were full, so we stayed about 20 miles outside the Canyon. Our campground, for no apparent reason, had a Flintstones theme. It was really quite bizarre. I've never seen another campground like it. At the entrance was a giant image of Fred Flintsone, and the grounds had various Flintstones-themed amenities (Wilma's Laundry, for example). They even had a full-scale replica of Fred's prehistoric car. Someone invested a great deal of money decking this place out in full Flintstones regalia. If only they'd invested a little money on cable TV, sewer hookups, and an Internet connection.

Grand Expectations

2007-09-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a lenghty day of driving across the rocky, dusty, mostly empty desert. We cruised along the United States - Mexico border for an extended stretch, passing through several security checkpoints as Federal helicopters hovered overhead. I suppose an Airstream could offer posh quarters for illegal immigrants.

It was an uneventful day featuring a somewhat bizarre, random stop for lunch. We were driving through the barren expanse, searching for sustenance -- and happened across this newly constructed Indian casino. I never considered lunching in casinos, but perhaps the idea holds some merit. Where else can you get steak and lobster for the price of a pork sandwich? We're not gamblers, although Kristy lost a whopping dollar in slots (I told her to walk away when she was up $2, but did she listen? Noooooooooo.)

After an overnight boondocking stop in Phoenix (thank you, Sam Walton!) we are headed north. Our destination holds a "grand" reputation. I've seen it, but this will be Kristy's first visit.

I'm unsure whether we'll have Internet access in the Grand Canyon. If it's anything like Yellowstone, I won't expect much beyond running water.

Stay tuned... we will update when able!

Zootopia

2007-09-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

San Diego is a menagerie of beautiful vistas, friendly people, and perfect weather. And did you know they have a zoo?

Towin' and Backin'

2007-09-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

Over the past several months, we’ve towed our Airstream more than 10,000 miles. Hopefully I’ve learned a little about towing and backing.

Probably my best advice with regard to towing is to buy more truck than you need. Our “big dog” truck SEEMORE has handled every mountain we’ve tossed his way, including the Rockies of Montana, Alberta, and British Columbia. For this hulking hunk of diesel machinery, our 8,000-pound Airstream is light lifting.

Our most negative towing experiences? Rush hour in Miami; rush hour in Calgary; rush hour in BFE, British Columbia; and rush hour in Los Angeles. See a connection here? Avoid an urban rush hour and you’ll be a much happier camper. Together our truck and trailer are 45-feet long. There’s no such thing as a simple lane change.

Now with regard to backing up the beast…

Campsites come in a variety of forms, but they are typically either “pull-through” or “back-in.” A pull-through site is a luxury. It’s designed so you can literally just pull your rig right through the site. You don’t even have to unhitch the trailer! Just put your truck in park, and you’re ready to uncork that celebratory bottle of wine.

But the task of backing into a campsite strikes fear into many RV'er hearts. We’ve backed into many, many campsites, from Key West to Seattle. It’s a team effort, with Kristy and I communicating via cellphone. In our first few months of Airstream ownership, we had more than a few hair-raising moments. Once I managed to wedge our rig in an almost impossible-to-escape angle between a fire hydrant and a tree. But these dramas have all but disappeared as we’ve gained experience.

A High Note

2007-09-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

During one of my first visits to Los Angeles, I brought high expectations to town. Fresh out of college, my buddy Mike and I went club-hopping in search of live music. We started at a famous rock-and-roll joint on the Sunset Strip called Whiskey a Go Go. This is the place where Jim Morrison and The Doors were discovered, amongst other bands.

We stepped inside the club expecting something different. I don’t know WHAT exactly we wanted to see and hear. But we hoped for a radical upgrade from the seedy college bars back home that we’d grown to known and love. You know the type: places where the house bourbon singes eyebrows, where they shut down every night with a rousing encore of “Jesse’s Girl.”

Upon entering the Whiskey, we were at first disappointed. The interior of the place looked stark, barren, and industrial. Bare walls, concrete floors. Let’s be honest: it looked like a dump, just like our grungy haunts back in college. “What’s the big deal about this place?” we wondered aloud.

But then the band came on stage, and started playing. Pretty much from the first wailing guitar chord, we realized what was different. The talent on stage was undeniable. The band was playing original music we hadn’t heard before, but it didn’t matter – they were great!

I’ve since learned that Los Angeles is blessed with a deep well of musical talent. Many of the best and the brightest migrate here.

As I’ve matured, my tastes have graduated from screeching guitars to the more sophisticated (and far less painful) notes of jazz. Thus, our recent evening at Steamers Jazz Café listening to Chris Williams was a huge treat. Chris leads an incredibly talented jazz band, and he’s an energetic, dynamic live performer. For more information about Chris, check out his website at cwjazz.com.

Next stop: SAN DIEGO!

We're Goin' to Disneyland!

2007-09-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Airstream RV Blog - Disneyland from Sean on Vimeo.

Some people complain that Disney parks are overly sanitized and safe.

That’s kind of like calling the Pope a little too Catholic.

Of course the parks are safe. It’s DISNEY! That’s the whole point. This is a place to relax and enjoy life, where the definition of “adventure” doesn’t include a potential mugging.

There are plenty of unsafe places in the world. I’ve visited a few. Disneyland occupies a space far, far away from the barrios of San Salvador, El Salvador – a place so dangerous that even the police fear to tread. At the Burger King in San Salvador, you’ll see hired security guards holding MACHINE GUNS. And you’re HAPPY to see ‘em, because they protect you from the bad guys while you wolf down your Whopper.

Sure, Disneyland’s version of New Orleans lacks the menagerie of sordid characters you might encounter in the real Big Easy. You won’t see Minnie and Daisy performing in exotic dance clubs. You won’t see a drunken Goofy lying face down on Bourbon Street, wallowing in the muck. But you will get lively jazz music, authentic Creole food, and mostly clean fun.

Disney gets the small details right. For example, upon purchasing our tickets Kristy and I received “Just Married” buttons. All day long, park employees were shouting “Congratulations!” to us as we strolled past.

We will stay another day in Anaheim before heading south.

Matthew McConaughey Has Ants

2007-09-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry, ladies. People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive has ants in his pants.

Or at least in his RV.

I know this must be true, because we’re camping just a few sites away from his Airstream. We have ants in our kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bed. Yesterday when I emptied the water tanks, ants were coming out the sewer hose! I kid you not.

We’ve been besieged by ants here in Malibu. It’s hard to be precise, but I’d estimate we currently have 23,472,822.5 ants inside our trailer. To combat the invasion, we’ve employed a dual-tiered strategy called Operation: Comet Bounce.

Along the exterior perimeter, we’ve dumped Comet brand cleanser. Anywhere our trailer touches the ground (tires, stabilizer jacks, power cords, etc.) we’ve dumped Comet. Supposedly the ants hate Comet.

Inside the RV, we’ve placed Bounce fabric softener sheets. Some will say this is a waste of perfectly good dryer sheets. Perhaps this is true, but now our kitchen counters have a wonderful fresh scent. I can't stop sniffing them.

We are leaving Malibu (and, hopefully, the ants) today. Next stop: somewhere else!

17.6 Million People Can’t Be Wrong

2007-09-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

When I think of Los Angeles, one of the first words that comes to mind is diversity. Not just diversity of people, but also environment, food, and culture.

Want a beach? Take your pick.

Hills? Hollywood.

Mountains? Big Bear.

Urban areas? Skyscrapers and body-piercings aplenty.

Live music? World class.

Great sushi? Oh yeah.

Tasty burgers? No shortage.

Theme parks? Six Flags, Universal, and Disneyland, for starters.

Drive-thru trees? Not yet (Myers Flat has cornered the market).

Silicone implants? Not my bag, baby. But if you must, consider the 2-for-1 special!

Britney Spears? No comment.

And the list goes on...

It’s impossible to do everything here, but that doesn’t stop 17.6 million people from trying. About the only thing in LA that’s not diverse is the weather, so residents must tolerate month-after-month of sunny, low humidity days.

If there’s a knock on LA, it’s that there are 17, 599,999 other people occupying the same general area as you. Rush hour starts at 4AM--and things don't start slowing down until around 3AM.

Obviously we're enjoying Malibu, so the Airstream will remain parked for a few more days.

Laundromat With a View

2007-09-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

The RV lifestyle is a blend of liberation and compromise.

In many respects, Airstreaming is liberating vis-à-vis owning a home. When I'm in my actual house, instead of enjoying the property, I tend to see what's wrong with it. I see floors that need cleaning, walls that need painting, and landscaping that needs planting. With real estate ownership, there's a neverending desire to maintain and improve (this is what keeps Home Depot in business). Our house is always a work in progress, so it never feels complete.

In the Airstream, the stresses associated with home ownership melt away. RVs are complete as delivered from the factory. Sure, you can make changes and improvements to your RV. And some things will break. But everything happens on a much smaller, more manageable scale. And there’s no neighborhood association or architectural review committee breathing down your neck. If you don't like your neighborhood, or your view, you hitch and move!

But there are compromises. Not many people fantasize about visiting scenic laundromats on their honeymoon, but that's part of our deal.

For the record, I’d be perfectly happy doing our laundry myself. But Kristy usually keeps me at least 30-feet away from the job. I have a tendency to accidentally slip bright red clothing into loads of white--which is why I’m so often seen wearing pale fuchsia.

We Love LA

2007-09-08T23:51:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles is one of my favorite cities. There’s no other town in the world that rewards creativity like LA. In discussing his landmark film Gladiator, the great director Ridley Scott said, “Ancient Rome was the LA of its time.” Which is another way of saying that Los Angeles is the Rome of our time. Around the globe, all entertainment roads lead here.

So for today’s blog entry, something DIFFERENT. It’s a music video! The song is Randy Newman’s ironic anthem, “I Love LA.” But our film is inspired by a 1929 silent Russian flick called Man with a Movie Camera. That groundbreaking film documented a day in the life of communist-era Mother Russia. Our little movie presents a day in the life of Los Angeles; or at least, a day in the life of one Hawaiian-shirt wearing LA resident.

Our Airstream is presently parked in scenic Malibu. Probably the most high profile Airstreamer in the country, Matthew McConaughey lives full-time in his trailer in this same park. But we haven’t seen Ol’ Washboard Abs just yet. His Airstream's here, but I think he may be off shooting a movie somewhere.

Since we both enjoy this area, we will stay in Los Angeles for a while.

California Streamin'

2007-09-07T10:33:00.001-07:00

Capturing San Francisco in a blog entry is kind of like summarizing the works of Shakespeare in 60 seconds. You just can’t do it.

Flattened

2007-09-04T10:40:00.001-07:00

Time is perhaps the greatest luxury of extended RV travel. It goes hand-in-hand with this nomadic lifestyle. Whenever life tosses you a curveball – for example, a flat tire in the middle of a redwood forest – you can always drop anchor and ride out the storm.

Of course Kristy and I really do have a honeymoon “schedule” of sorts. But it is blessedly vague and subject to change depending on which way the wind (or the tire) blows.

Myers Flat (Is Where It's At)

2007-09-03T10:19:00.001-07:00

God has a sense of humor.

We’ve traveled more than 7000 miles, towing our Airstream over towering mountain highways, perilous unpaved roads, and hazard-filled construction zones. We’ve rolled past hundreds (if not thousands) of towns, big and small. And where do we get our first flat tire? In Myers Flat, California.

We awoke this morning to a flat tire on our Airstream. After making an attempt to fill the thing with air, it became quite clear that reinflation was not an option. This tire was wheezing like a chain-smoker on a 10-mile hike.

Next step: call AAA! For many years, we’ve traveled with the supreme confidence of loyal AAA members. Although we never actually made a call, it just felt good to know that AAA had our back. Now, at last, after paying dues for all these years, we FINALLY had a reason to call roadside assistance. I found a pay phone (since cellphones don't work here in Myers Flat), and dialed AAA.

Here’s an artist’s interpretation of our conversation:

AAA Representative: “Hello, this is AAA. We’re here to help!”

Me: “Great! We’ve got a flat tire. It’s on our Airstream travel trailer.”

AAA Representative: “What? The flat tire is on your Airstream?”

Me: “That’s right.”

AAA Representative: "..."

Me: "Hello?"

AAA Representative: “Piss off.”

Click.

Me: “Hello? … Anybody there? ... Help?”

Dial tone.

Of course, the actual conversation was marginally more polite. The AAA representative informed me that our AAA coverage does not extend to our Airstream. So much for their oft-repeated blather about AAA covering “the driver, not the vehicle.”

Looks like we're on our own. Thanks, AAA!

Then we plan to head south towards San Francisco. Stay tuned!

They Might Be Giants

2007-09-02T16:27:00.001-07:00

As human beings, we tend to think about time in terms of the average human lifespan. It’s therefore interesting to encounter ancient beings that are living by a COMPLETELY different set of rules. Like… Hugh Hefner. And redwood trees.

Many of these trees are older than the United States. Some of them are over a thousand years old. And a few proud geezers reach the 2000-year mark!

Viewing redwoods make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. These trees would be totally appropriate in the age of the dinosaurs. Long after everyone currently alive on earth has died, the same redwoods will still be here.

The message I take from these majestic trees is carpe diem. Seize the day, and pursue your dreams while you are here. Our time on earth is short – let’s make the most of it!

Coasting

2007-09-01T20:58:00.001-07:00

When we departed on our long, long honeymoon a couple of months ago, we speculated that we’d return when pigskins fly -- in late August around the time of "the first college football kickoff." This weekend, collegiate pigskins are flying -- and we still find ourselves 3000 miles from home.

We’ve been meandering along the Oregon coast for the past couple of days, enjoying the cool weather and awesome views. We’re now heading south through California, with plans to visit San Francisco. Then we'll turn towards the Deep South and tailgating Nirvana!

The $2 Million RV

2007-08-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

“So, what makes an RV worth $2 million?”

Funny you should ask.

Yesterday we toured the Marathon Coach factory in Oregon where they build Prevost conversions. These buses are built in extremely small production numbers – only 70 are made each year. Loaded with residential-class materials, they weigh over 52,000 pounds (by comparison, our unloaded Airstream weighs about 7000 pounds). Their diesel engines are reputed to handle one million miles before they need major servicing. The Prevost bus shells themselves are built to withstand more than a decade of heavy, daily use.

So the next logical question is, “Who buys a $2 million RV?” Other than the Saudi Royal Family, the answer usually runs to corporations. Race car drivers like Danica Patrick and Michael Andretti have one. So do movie stars like Vince Vaughn and Tom Cruise. Or to be more accurate, their respective companies own one. The companies buy the Prevost, and its depreciation becomes a corporate tax write-off. Eventually they resell it. I suspect that once you do ALL the math, it ends up like financing one’s own hotel room (albeit a Ritz Carlton, not a Motel 6).

Of course, some wealthy individuals “with more money than time” make Marathon Prevosts their RV of choice. To these folks, I merely tip my hat and say, “More power to ya.” Everyone at Marathon was really great – friendly, informative, and down-to-earth. The fit and finish of these buses is immaculate and reeks of quality. The chosen materials are truly the best of the best. If you are in the market for a $2 million RV, look no further!

If, however, you simply want to create smiles and have fun, consider restoring a vintage Airstream instead. You’ll turn more heads, and save at least $1.95 million in the process.

Old Friends and New Friends

2007-08-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

There’s an old Irish saying that says, “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t met.” That’s the way Portland feels.

This portion of our honeymoon journey has been about renewing old friendships and starting new ones. We met many fantastic people here in the Portland area who welcomed us with open arms. Along the way, we attended a Keb' Mo' / Robert Cray concert, enjoyed a scenic boat cruise, observed the best lunar eclipse OF ALL TIME, and consumed copious amounts of micro-brewed "Oregon Iced Tea."

Our blog videos are providing but a glimpse of the full experience. Many thanks to our old friends Gene and Paige, along with new friends Gary, Chris and Cheryl, Mark and Sharon, Andy and Elaine. Your hospitality will be long remembered.

The Airstream is hitched and we’re rolling south. Next stop: somewhere south!

Kitchen Fixin'

2007-08-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Better Late Than Never

2007-08-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

After almost two months on the road, we FINALLY got a “longlonghoneymoon.com” sticker for our Airstream. I wish we’d had it when we started our journey, but we didn't...and there weren't a lot of sign shops in the Rocky mountains.

This honeymoon has been testing more than just our marriage. It’s also a trial run for an Internet “video travel show” project that’s shot, edited, and distributed on the fly. We've encountered a few technical glitches, but so far, so good.

Kristy and I enjoyed our lengthy respite in Seattle. But as Benjamin Franklin famously observed, fresh fish and houseguests begin to smell after three days. We have an amazingly tolerant brother-in-law (or else he's got a lousy sense of smell)!

It's past time for us to ramble on. Our destination today is Portland, Oregon, where we’ll be visiting an old friend.

Space Needling

2007-08-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

An ancient Chinese proverb teaches us that “a needle is not sharp at both ends.”

Many Chinese fingers were pricked to uncover this nugget of wisdom.

Confessions of an Addict

2007-08-20T22:40:00.001-07:00

The first step toward curing a problem is admitting you have one.

I have a problem. I am an addict. . . and my abused substance of choice is technology. It’s a horrible affliction that wreaks havoc on innocent credit cards.

For most of this honeymoon trip, I’ve been able to escape my illness. In wilderness such as Yellowstone, Glacier, Waterton Lakes, and Banff, stores are sticking with good old-fashioned caveman tech like firewood, knives, and blankets.

Then we arrived in Seattle -- the home of Microsoft, Nintendo, and Amazon -- and I fell off the covered wagon. Even the toilets here are Internet capable! For the past few days, I’ve been constantly exposed to Seattle's technological culture, cruising around town in my sister’s electronics-loaded new car with its lovely . . . GPS navigation system.

Our truck SEEMORE, being a big honkin' workhorse of a vehicle, doesn’t have such fancy gadgets. In fact, its pale green LED dash display has been carefully designed by Ford engineers to be completely illegible. For the past 10,000 miles, our only "navigation system” has been Kristy and a $10 map.

Until now. That smell is melting credit card plastic. Yesterday I surrendered to my basic instincts and bought a "personal travel assistant." This Garmin GPS will, hopefully, guide us home safely. Any device that enhances the safety of RV-ing is probably a good idea. I’ll let you know how we like it.

It’s only a matter of time before our brother-in-law kicks us and our Airstream out of Seattle. Then we’re off to Vancouver!

Seattle Slew

2007-08-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

Facial Masks and Footwear

2007-08-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

Every Airstream comes with an owner’s manual that's thicker than the average Encyclopedia Britannica. In the above photo, Kristy (sporting a “facial mask”) diligently searches our manual for a needle in a haystack – specifically, the identification number of our broken kitchen faucet.

She later found the elusive number in question. If you recall, we need a small piece of plastic. One phone call and sixteen dollars later, that crucial plastic is in transit! If all goes as planned, our Airstream's kitchen faucet will be repaired TOMORROW. That makes me happy (and I'm trying to overlook the fact we were just charged $16 for a 10-cent piece of plastic.)

Crocs

A few months ago, we were browsing a so-called “sidewalk sale” at a sporting goods store. The store not only moved racks of clothing to the sidewalk, they also dumped out a pile of flip-flop shoes called Crocs. They were selling these strange-looking shoes for $10.

The resultant scene was straight out of Discovery Channel: rabid packs of shoppers attacked the footwear like Amazonian piranha stripping a cow to the bones.

Since Crocs looked like useful camping gear, I braved the crazed throng and picked up a pair. Little did I realize these $10 shoes would become permanently welded to my feet. My tan lines tell the tale.

I now understand that Crocs are the biggest thing since The Beatles, the company's stock is more valuable than Microsoft and GE combined, and every child in North America owns at least 30 pair.

But these things really live up to the hype. They are comfortable and waterproof, an ideal shoe for RV-ing. And if you catch them on sale, they cost less than that plastic thingy inside our Airstream kitchen faucet.

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Tomorrow we spend some quality time exploring Seattle. On Saturday, we'll attend the Mariners - White Sox game!

That Perfect Sewer Hose

2007-08-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

A few short months ago, I had no idea that Camping World existed. But today I find it physically impossible to drive past one without stopping. Where else are you going to find that perfect sewer hose in a pleasing shade of Airstream blue?

It's an inherent part of the fun of any new hobby, from cars to golf to RVs -- shopping! Now I pay close attention to lots of obscure items that were once meaningless to me.

Sweet Home Seattle

2007-08-14T13:53:00.000-07:00

When we began this honeymoon journey, we didn't really have a fixed agenda. But one of our goals was to reach the Seattle area to visit my brother-in-law Wes. We made it last night.

This morning, SEEMORE got a much-needed bath. I also attempted washing the Airstream. There was still junk on it from Florida! And that's Key West sand on the floorboards. All together we've got some 45-feet of RV equipment desperate for a thorough cleansing.

We've crossed 5000 miles on the trip meter and 10,000 on SEEMORE's odometer. Note that this trip meter does NOT take into account the journey from Key West, so we've really traveled in 6500-mile range on our honeymoon.

At the risk of jinxing ourselves, SEEMORE has performed flawlessly. Our truck has tugged the Airstream over many tall mountains with nary a complaint. The turbo diesel power is fantastic. SEEMORE gets a new fuel filter this week; he's earned it.

Several RV'ers have encouraged us to continue north to Alaska. With a "mere" six days of driving, we could find ourselves in Anchorage. Alas, I doubt that will materialize on this trip. While we may visit Vancouver, that's probably the extent of our northward travel on this journey. As Frank Sinatra said, always leave 'em wanting more. Our probable return route will be south through Oregon, California, and the great Southwest.

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By the way, my sister Beth is not here in Seattle. That's because she's presently serving as a Navy physician aboard the U.S.S. Peleliu. On a goodwill mission, the Peleliu is delivering much-needed medical care to remote areas of Southeast Asia. While we've been "roughing it" by the campfire, Beth has been treating patients in small villages that lack running water, electricity, and bathrooms. Talk about boondocking! Beth is the one who's REALLY living out a once-in-a-lifetime adventure right now!

We will camp here in the Seattle area for several days.

Rating the Campsites

2007-08-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

We’ve stayed at a wide variety of campgrounds on this honeymoon journey. I thought it might be useful to review how they stack up.

Wal-Mart Parking Lots
These are the most expensive campgrounds in America. Granted, the actual site (an unremarkable slab of asphalt on the remote outskirts of a behemoth parking lot) is free. Alas, you inevitably stagger, zombielike, into Wal-Mart--where you spend at least $200.

You also sleep with one eye open, since some of your fellow “campers” don’t appear to actually have an RV. Instead, they’re sleeping in shopping carts. (“Hey, that guy looks a lot like Freddy Kreuger!”)

At Wal-Mart you wake early, thanks to the industrial parking lot sweeping machine that sadistically starts at sunrise. But you welcome this screaming mechanical noise, since it means you survived the night without incident.

We’ve only camped at Wally World once -- in Caspar, Wyoming. Although it wouldn’t be my first (or third) choice, it’s commendable that Wal-Mart offers this service to the American RV-ing public. In a worst case scenario, we can all find refuge in the land of falling prices.

KOA (Kampground of America)
Easily recognizable by the bright yellow sign, KOA is to camping what McDonald’s is to fine dining.

In terms of campground layout, the average KOA is strikingly similar to a Wal-Mart parking lot -- without all the privacy. Let’s just say that whoever designed the typical KOA campground probably spent some time in the sardine industry.

The official slogan is “Great People, Great Camping,” but perhaps it should be “Great Electricity, Water, and Sewer!” because that’s REALLY why you’re here.

You’re certainly not here for trees; apparently they’ve all been chopped down and used for firewood.

KOA offers wireless Internet, but it only works if you hold your computer over your head while standing on a picnic table.

Checkout times vary, but not to worry – a friendly member of the KOA team will be rapping on your door if you are running 60 seconds late.

We’ve stayed at several KOA campgrounds, and experienced a wide range of quality. On a positive note, the pancakes in Missoula are excellent! And I'm certain that kids enjoy the pools, mini-golf, and other activities.

Privately-Owned (non-KOA) Campgrounds
Almost every town has privately-owned campgrounds. Just like privately-owned hotels, the quality varies. Some are little more than glorified parking lots. Others are lavishly landscaped resorts managed by Swiss CEOs on speed.

There’s no shortage of awful private campgrounds, but we’ve had some great experiences with independent operators. The best apply a cozy “bed & breakfast” approach to camping. Here you get full hookups, pleasant wooded campsites, and a relaxed atmosphere. Everybody’s happy!

State and National Park Campgrounds
Thanks to John and Jane Taxpayer, these are the cheapest campgrounds. They also boast some of the finest scenery. Sites without hookups are usually priced in the $15 range. We’ve stayed in some absolutely STUNNING locales in this fashion.

These parks are laid back when checkout time rolls around. What? You’re leaving? Their main concern is that you limit your stay to 14 days. They just don’t want you dropping anchor and living there permanently!

The downside of the “boondocking” (no hookup) sites is the need for water and electricity. With our Airstream, we are self-sufficient on water for 2-3 days at a time. But electricity (the lifeblood of our microwave oven, air-conditioning, TV/DVD, etc.) requires the generator. Most campgrounds have quiet hours (sometimes beginning early in the evening) so you’d better hurry up and finish that movie!

Many parks now offer full hookup sites. Sadly, some of these campgrounds appear to have been designed by a joint collaboration of KOA and Wal-Mart Parking Lot engineers. It’s almost like they want to punish you for wanting electricity.

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My favorite campgrounds have been the state and national parks. The boondocking sites are consistently pleasant. And if you can find a nicely designed park campground with hookups, you’re in heaven. Stay as long as the law allows.

The same goes for a well-run privately-owned park. And sorry, KOA fans, if I’ve been a little harsh in my comments. Perhaps I’m still bitter about that “friendly” checkout time reminder in Spokane.

We’ve been boondocking in a BEAUTIFUL state park near Leavenworth, Washington. Next we proceed to Seattle!

Pit Crew Mentality

2007-08-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

When we first started RV-ing, setting up camp was an intimidating task. There are several steps involved in the process. The Airstream must be properly parked (sometimes into a tricky campsite), unhitched, and leveled, stabilizer jacks lowered, various hookups connected, the entrance step lowered, and interior bits unpacked. If you hit a snag in any one area, it slows things down. If you hit a snag in MULTIPLE areas…you might as well start packing up again.

With experience, we’ve developed a NASCAR pit crew mentality. I’ve gotten better about the parking process (this is one step you just can’t rush). Once we park, a flurry of activity begins. We’ve learned ways to increase the speed of each task. I have my jobs, and Kristy has her jobs. Now the process goes approximately as fast as the average Talladega refuel. Setting up camp is a piece of cake! Everything is completed in a matter of minutes.

With our power jack back online, I’m once again a happy camper. We’ve enjoyed the autumn-like weather here (sunny during the day, cold at night) in Spokane, but it’s time for us to depart and head towards Seattle.

Airstream of Spokane

2007-08-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we strolled into the Airstream of Spokane dealership, requested an arcane jack part, and voila! Not only did they know what part we needed, they had one in stock. I love it when that happens.

Then we enjoyed some great conversation that got me thinking about Airstream and Harley-Davidson. It also brought back some memories.

Almost 20 years ago, I took my first cross-country road trip. My friend Mike and I loaded up my 1985 Honda CRX (the Prius before fuel-efficiency was cool) and headed west. Our chosen route took us directly through Sturgis, South Dakota, during the legendary Black Hills Motorcycle Classic.

If you’ve never heard of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, it is the world’s largest gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts. We’re talking about more than a hundred thousand bikers, each of whom arrive aboard a rumbling mechanical steed. For a couple of weeks, the small town of Sturgis is transformed into a veritable ocean of wailing engines, black leather, scruffy beards, and weathered tattoos.

There was time when I observed those husband-and-wife teams who travel for thousands of miles to Sturgis aboard their Harley-Davidsons, and thought they were crazy. Well, let’s be honest: they probably are a little crazy. But now I admire their insanity. Perhaps Kristy and I possess some small measure of it.

Airstream is the Harley-Davidson of the RV world. Instead of black leather, we Airstreamers wear BLUE RUBBER, in the form of flip-flops and sanitary gloves.

But in all seriousness, there’s a shared cult enthusiasm for an iconic American company. Airstream and Harley-Davidson not only do things well… but they also do things differently.

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Thanks to the good folks at Airstream of Spokane, our power jack is back online. We’re camping here in Spokane for one more night. Then we head further west towards Seattle.

Paradise for $14 a Night

2007-08-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Approximately 10 seconds after turning onto the poorly marked, unpaved road I suffered my first pangs of regret. We were following a tip offered by a park ranger in Alberta. “If you want nice hot springs,” she said, “check out Lussier Springs. It’s in British Columbia, down near Canal Flats.”

We’d gamely turned on the highway to Lussier Springs, and were shocked by its condition. This was the road less traveled – and for good reason. It apparently was designed to offer the roughest ride imaginable. Our truck and trailer shuddered violently as we were shaken about like an overpriced martini. A chorus of rocks crunched beneath our tires, and bounced off our Airstream with a metallic clang.

After traveling some 10 kilometers at a snail’s pace, I was ready to concede defeat. We hadn’t seen a SINGLE road sign, the sun was setting, and the road was getting worse.

“Should we just turn back?” I wondered aloud. “There aren’t even any signs. We should probably go back.”

Kristy shook her head. “We’ve already come this far, and it would be tough to turn around,” she replied through clenched teeth. “Might as well keep going.”

And so we did. We traveled the full 22 kilometers as road conditions degraded from merely lousy to downright terrifying. At one juncture, we rounded a corner and found ourselves traversing a steep mountainside. The gravel road narrowed into ONE lane. Its edge dropped off into oblivion. There were no guard rails.

Under ordinary driving conditions, this experience would have been nerve-racking. But add an 8000-pound Airstream into the mix, and you might need to change your underwear.

At last, we arrived at the base of the mountain. To my relief, we discovered a couple of small provincial campgrounds. There was one, and only one, site available. “You’d better grab it,” a camper advised. “It won’t last long.”

Using a steel crowbar, I pried my white-knuckled hands from SEEMORE’s steering wheel. We unhitched our Airstream, and -- after uttering a few choice words about the journey -- immediately fell in love with the place.

"This is one of the prettiest campsites we've found," Kristy said.

A beautiful lake was 30 seconds from our front door. Our site was private, shrouded by trees, and so cool we needed to fire up our Airstream’s heat furnace. The nighttime sky was filled with stars that cranked up to extra bright.

And the hot springs? They surpassed our expectations. Unlike Banff’s overrated Tepid Springs (which resembled a warm sulfurous swimming pool), Lussier Springs were truly hot. Steaming waters bubbled forth from rocks, forming a natural spa alongside the frigid river.

“I’ve been coming here for 20 years,” one man said. “This is like our own little secret place. That road keeps people out.”

We planned on staying one night in this totally dry (no water, electricity, or sewer hookups) campground; we stayed two. Sure, it would’ve been nice if we’d brought along some food other than Kraft macaroni-and-cheese. But otherwise, Whiteswan Lake was a boondocking slice of paradise – for $14 a night.

After a much more relaxed drive south, we’re back in the States. Our Airstream is presently parked in Spokane, Washington.

Geez, Louise!

2007-08-07T13:18:00.001-07:00

Banffantastic

2007-08-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Room with a View

2007-08-04T09:30:00.001-07:00

The above photo is a view of our campsite in Canada's Banff National Park.

Windows create a feeling of spaciousness. With this fact in mind, our Airstream is gifted with plenty of glass. Windows wrap around the front of the unit, they grace the sides, and there’s also a skylight. Exteriors are thoughtfully covered with privacy tint, so curtains can be left open throughout the day (even when exiting the shower).

In some campgrounds all of these windows seem a waste, as there’s little to view beyond your neighbors having an argument. Then you find yourself in a place like Banff, and you wish the entire trailer was made of glass.

We’re enjoying a stunning view of mountains in all directions. Here’s an idea of the view looking out our living room window.

I must confess that we knew little about Banff prior to our arrival. But color me impressed.

Kristy has drawn an astute analogy between Banff and Antigua, Guatemala. Antigua is a small, charming town surrounded by volcanoes. Here in Banff mountains loom in every direction (albeit mountains that are less likely to spew forth hot lava).

The Same, But Different (And More Expensive)

2007-08-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

In many respects, Canada feels a lot like the United States. You look around and see the same cars, the same burger joints, and the same movies showing at the theater.

But wait. The temperature is 21 degrees outside? Diesel costs 90 cents a LITER? The speed limit is 110? And THAT guy is wearing a SPEEDO? Canadians use the Celsius system, and the metric system. They speak a lot of French, and wear a lot of speedos.

Browse the shelves of the local grocery store. Amidst familiar brands you may find some surprises – like bags of Frito Lay’s croustilles (potato chips) with flavors like “ketchup” and “curry.” You’ll also suffer sticker shock. Since when did breakfast cereal cost $9 a box?

We had a pleasant time enjoying the civilization of Calgary, but it’s time for more wilderness. Next up is Banff National Park. Kristy seems eager to visit. Perhaps it has something to do with a certain hot springs and spa?

Why Married Men Live Longer

2007-08-02T16:43:00.000-07:00

Numerous studies assert that married men live longer than single men. We have evidence this is true in the above video. Single men take more (and sometimes stupid) risks. Had it been solely up to me, I’d probably have pushed further up the trail into Grizzly Town.

A wild bear sighting always gets the adrenaline pumping. Bears are fascinating creatures – primarily because they just might decide to eat you. There aren’t too many animals you can say that about.

Watching wild bears is kind of like climbing aboard your favorite roller coaster. Of course, odds suggest that everything will go smoothly. But what if it doesn’t? There’s always that one-in-a-million chance the thrill ride will fly off the track while you’re hurtling at high speed through some insane corkscrew. That’s why there’s a lot of terrified screaming throughout the ride.

We are presently camping in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) where Kristy looks forward to hiking through several shopping malls. The only bears in this area are of the stuffed teddy variety.

Life is Like a Slightly Burned Biscuit

2007-08-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

In the above video, Kristy talks about cooking in the Airstream. It’s tempting to portray this honeymoon adventure as some sort of fantasyland where everything goes hunky-dory all of the time. But life on the road is kind of like life everywhere. There are spectacular days and average days – and the occasional bad day, when something goes awry.

Our best times recently have been spent exploring National Parks. I love nothing more than hiking into the backcountry and viewing wildlife. It’s also exciting to enter new territory. Now that we’re in Canada, we’re visiting places that are completely new to us, and that is particularly satisfying.

Alas, there have been a few minor annoyances along the way.

Our Airstream’s kitchen hardware is built by Moen and appears to be of high quality. The faucet handle is made of solid metal and weighs about the same as your average steel crowbar! Alas, the entire contraption hinges upon a flimsy plastic internal lever. You guessed it. A couple of weeks ago, I went to turn on the water and CRRRRRRRRRACK the entire handle snapped off in my hand. Kristy had a good laugh over that one. We haven’t been able to repair the faucet yet, because no store keeps that flimsy plastic piece in stock.

Yesterday we encountered another snafu. We’ve got a really nice electric power jack on our Airstream. The jack plays an essential role in the task of hitching and unhitching the trailer. Without a functioning jack, the trailer and truck are basically stuck together!

Like all things mechanical, a power jack is a fantastic timesaver – until it breaks. Due to a little (ahem) “pilot error” on my part, a gear inside the jack is stripped. It’s an easy fix if you have the parts. We don’t, and neither does anyone ELSE in this small, remote corner of Canada. So we’ve converted our power jack to a manual jack, and a job that once took 10 seconds now takes about 5 minutes.

My attitude towards these incidents is influenced by the realities of Murphy’s Law. We’re 4000 miles from home. We’re hauling 8000 pounds of trailer and gear. We’re going to have issues. We just can’t let them spoil our day.

Those slightly “burned” biscuits in the video? They were delicious. :)

The Goat Incident

2007-07-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

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.

International Peace and the Growing Wifi Rebellion

2007-07-30T18:18:00.001-07:00

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.

Going to the Sun

2007-07-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Attack of the Quarter-Munchers

2007-07-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

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.

A Glance in the Rear View Mirror

2007-07-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

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.

Glacial Progress

2007-07-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

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.

A Hike to the "M" Power

2007-07-24T11:22:00.001-07:00

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.

Three Weeks. But Who's Counting?

2007-07-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

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.

Kicking Tires

2007-07-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

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!

Airstream as Second Home?

2007-07-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

"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.

3172.3 Miles of Bugs

2007-07-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

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.

Canyons, Goats, and Bears! Oh My!

2007-07-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

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.

On the Road Again

2007-07-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

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.

The Simple Life?

2007-07-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

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.

Of Moose and Men

2007-07-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2007-07-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

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.

Cooling the Engines

2007-07-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

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.

Look Out, Jackson Town

2007-07-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

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.

A Big Heapin’ Hunk of Blog

2007-07-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Unlucky 07-07-07

2007-07-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

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.

Wine and Corn Party

2007-07-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Money Is Always Interesting

2007-07-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

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.

Kids Love Camping

2007-07-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Airstream of Arkansas

2007-07-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

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.