7 poler

Tonight, I installed the 7 pole flag pole holder I had made as a trial run. It turned out well. Here's a picture... it was getting dark, sorry for the quality.. I'll take another one tomorrow. Now, I've got to get to Lowe's for two more flag pole holder and two more flags (a VAC flag and a Canadian one). Enjoy!

Pohick Bay Regional Park

eThis weekend, is one of the first weekends where I did not go home, but stayed here in northern VA. So, yesterday, I decided to two the ~15 miles up to the Pohick Bay Regional Park for the night. It's a nice regional park with a rustic campground with hookups. Just down the road, about 1/4 mile is the Gunston Hall - George Mason's plantation that is open to the public. It's a nice place on the Potomac. About 7 miles to the north is Mt. Vernon... so I can now use my decal. I'm back south (drove through a huge storm) at the Travel Trailer Village. Here are a couple pictures.

What a tour!

Well, last weekend, we attended the Vintage Trailer JAM that took place over in Saratoga Springs State Park. It was great..but it did tire me out... I was in Charleston, SC that week, taped the VAP on Thursday night until around midnight, then made it to the Airport around 5am. I flew to Washington, DC (Reagan) and landed around 0830. I then got to my truck and had to make it back to Quantico for a 1400 briefing. On the way down I95, I got entangled with an unmarked cop car (that's a camp fire story - sorry), and made it finally to work around 0945. At 1500, we departed for NY. TRAFFIC around the Capitol and I81 is all I can say... we made it home around midnight...and at 0530 I had the wife and kids in the car to drive the 2 hours and 45 minutes to Saratoga... we arrived at 815am, and Frank was just getting out of bed - hey man, I thought Breakfast would be waiting... just kidding.. apparently, Frank has a hard time getting his ladies to get up in the morning..... So, we walked around, saw alot of familiar faces, and cool trailers and made it finally back over to Frank's place.... MMMMMM! Coffee, pancakes, bacon and Scrapple.... it was a breakfast that was enjoyed by many!!! The rest of the day, we just toured the trailers during open house and departed the pattern around 3pm. It was hot. On the way home, we stopped into Troy, NY to take a tour through Russell Sage College (Zoe's Alma Mater) and then home. On Sunday, we departed for Quantico again around 4pm, and with traffic, got back at 0100 on Monday morning...let me just say, 0500 came early and by Monday afternoon, I was beat! Enjoy... we'll be doing a Jackson Center, Oh to Milan, Mi for the Metro Detroit rally 13-17 August... so stay tuned!

All Cooped out

This past weekend was a great FAMILY weekend, where I arrived home Wednesday evening and for the next 4 days was nothing but family and BUILDING. See, a few weeks ago, I posted a picture of our new chicks.. yes - Airstream Camping Chicks Steve!! These things have grown and needed a place outside... vice our front porch. So, last weekend, I built the base and scavenged old silo boards, and this weekend, I built the coop....a carpenter I'm not.. but it's only a coop! We even put the old SOTR drawers to good use - they are the chickens new nesting boxes. So, check it out! Ah, there sits the 54 Safari - one day that'll be back on the road!!! We are now getting ready for Thursday; Zoe' and the boys will be having special Courtesy Parking guests - on their way to the VTJ ...man am I going to be jealous to not be there! Check out our Guard cat... as she sits there licking her lips looking for a way into the coop... Enjoy.

Been a while

Well, it's been a while since I last posted. I've been really busy here with the Marines. I've been working a little here and there on Sophie, but to tell the truth, I've just been taking it easy in the evenings. I'm currently on the way headed north to NY for the 4th weekend, where I'll be building a chicken coop and possibly look into the wheel bearings on the Caravel. Next week is the 1st annual Vintage Trailer Jam . I'll head back down on Sunday and then I'll be working until late Friday next week (the 11th), but then will be driving home Friday night, and on Saturday, we're getting up early to head over to the Jam for the day - I've got to have a piece of Frank's pie!!! I've been thinking about it alot, and even though it would be awesome to take the SOTR over, it'll be really cool to be able to go from trailer to trailer without worrying about staying at the SOTR during open house. Plus, we'll go over, spend the day, and then most likely stay somewhere nice Saturday night - and I'll still get to meet alot of people I haven't met yet! Ok, see ya down the road.

East Coast VAC rally

Well, this weekend we had a blast at the first ever East Coast VAC Rally held by Paul Waddell at the Staunton / Verona KOA. It was a blast. I commuted over there on Thursday and Friday, and then Zoe' and the boys showed up Friday night around 9 (she had to drive 438 miles after the boys got out of school). Friday night was a late night next door at Frank's place (nice name for a company Frank!) into the wee hours of the morning. Saturday was a great day of breakfast, then tubing, then the open house, happy hour and the duck race where I fell into the river, potluck was scrumptous, and then the Byamville photo. I, along with Dave Makel, gave the Fred Caldwell 1931-1957 Airstream's presentation as well. Stuart made me laugh into the night telling stories with our good Detroit friend Dave standing next to me as well! Nice to meet ya DragonWagon!!! Hope there will be more opportunities as well. Zoe' told me last night that this was the BEST RALLY she's ever been too!!! Steve - ya missed a good one!!! Zoe' and the boys departed around 10am, and they made it home around 6pm last night. I departed the rally zone around 1pm, taking I81 north for just a few miles, then over to 340 north and east on 33 to the top of the Skyline drive, taking that for about 40 miles or so on my way back to the Quantico area. I'm at the Prince William Park Travel Trailer Village now through the week. Enjoy the photos!

More POB Rally pics

Here are a few more pictures Marc sent me from Staunton, VA - he's there ready for the East Coast VAC Rally ( I think he's egging me on and trying to make me jealous (it's working)) - well, I'll be pulling over there tonight... Enjoy everyone!

3rd Annual Pageant of Bands Rally

Well, two weeks ago, I hosted the third annual Pageant of Bands Rally. The SOTR was even in the parade being pulled by our 65 Wagoneer. Here are a few pictures - enjoy! We had a 58 Sovereign of the Road (ours), a 58 Globetrotter, a 63 Trade Wind, a 67 Globetrotter, a 68 Sovereign, a 71 Globetrotter, and a 75 Argosy 22'. We also had a 64 Trade Wind ( the one being raffled ) and a 51 Flying Cloud for people to look at.. that are under restoration or close to being restored. I want to do it big next year - it's the Parade's 60th Anniversay next year. Ya all know that even the CEO of Airstream marched three years in this Parade!!!

Great U-tube video - the Odyssey

Check this out - the Great American Road Trip!

East Coast Vintage Rally Preps

Well, I'm back down here in Quantico with the SOTR. The 3rd Annual Pageant of Bands Rally that I hosted went great. I'll post some pictures once I get them sent to me... my camera is on the fritz..except for my cell phone camera. Last night I put on some of my vintage water decals. What do you think? I'm going home this weekend, and will be pulling over to the Staunton Rally on Thursday, commuting back over to Quantico on Friday and then will be at the rally site through Monday am for the GOOD times. I've locked on storage here at Quantico when I'm out of town ($40 a month with access 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It's gonna work perfect for me. Parked next to the SOTR is this.. SWEET!

Another great weekend

Well, this weekend, I got to spend some quality time with my family while up in NY. It was a blast. This morning, we watched the Alpacas get sheared and here is a picture Zoe' took of Braedon and myself. We also have some new pets too! Ok, I just snapped this picture of my trailer tonight, here on site at the Prince William Park Travel Trailer Village. Enjoy! Only three more days to rally time!

A great weekend

Well, I towed the Caravel home successfully... even though the bearings on the passenger side were still really hot on the Caravel, with new re-packed bearings and all. Why they are getting hot is mysterious. But, the Caravel is up in NY now and the Sovereign of the Road is now here in Virginia. It was great to spend time camping with Zoe' and the three boys (two of which had a birthday on Friday and Sunday - they're all 7, 5, and 1 now... how time flies.

My Pageant of Bands Rally is June 5-8 in North Norwich, NY so that's it's next trip north...Gas was $3.76 a gallon at the Flying J with my RV discount - not bad. Sophia likes the road!

From my front door

Here is the view from my front door of the Caravel.. out here at Lunga Resevoir - the camp ground on base here. It's a great location, and a nice campground for $13 a night (can't beat it). When I pulled in yesterday, my right wheel bearing was still HOT to touch so I've got to locate a new bearing to install this week as I pull this home for Memorial Day. Taking it easy.... here on the lake. I received a link to a very cool RV ad out of an Airstream that Matthew McConaughey did - check it out here .

Wheel Bearings

I am now back on Active Duty for 6 months with the Marine Corps here in Quantico, Va. I am staying in the Caravel these first two weeks, giving me something to work on in the evenings. On the tow down here, I pulled over after hearing something funny dragging... I'm glad I did. The front belly pan had pulled loose and part of it was dragging...easy enough fix with my rivet gun... I went and checked the road side wheel and cool - then over to the driver side... HOT!!! to hot to touch....so, I got on my Garmin and found a very close Pep Boys and pulled over there. I have Bearing Buddy fitting on this new axle so I borrowed a grease gun and injected until I saw grease.. many pumps.. must of been low. So, I was 40 miles from Quantico, I slowed down and pulled to my final destination. Yesterday, I pulled into the base Auto Hobby Shop and took it all apart and cleaned them up and repacked them, put it back together and now them seem good to go. I'll pull this home this next Friday and bring the SOTR back down. Today and tomorrow I'm gonna mess with some plumbing.

A few more of Assateague

Assateague was a great break and VERY relaxing. There were no crowds and the weather was mid 70s with a light wind... and sunny! Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy.

Towing through the Valley

Yesterday am, we departed for home knowing we wanted to tow to Valley Forge and go through the park. We departed Assateague right around 9am, stopped at the Visitor center to touch some horseshoe crabs, then headed out. It rained on us in Philly and by the time we got to Valley Forge, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. Valley Forge was great! A beautiful park. I was last here in 6th grade on a safety patrol trip (I think). Here are some pictures. We ended up in Jim Thorpe, PA ( take heed on Jim Thorpe Camping Resort ) - it was an adventure. We'll go back to Jim Thorpe but we'll try a state park next time. Enjoy! It's good to be home.

Assateague is wonderful!

Here are a few pictures from today. We went out to the beach (the wind made it cool) and then we headed over to the National Park just south of here ($20 a night for boon-docking right on the dunes - not bad). We then hiked on the trails some and saw alot of horses. We also had a horse right outside the SOTR too - I think it liked the shine. Tomorrow I think we'll explore Ocean City some in the afternoon. Gas here is $3.50 so it's not too bad as compared to the $3.73 we paid in NY. The weather here looks good with rain coming in on Thursday night...it doesn't look good pulling home though - just a little wet.

Here at Assateague State Park

Well, we made the pull over to Chatham, NY to the Celtic Festival Airstream Rhendevous (it was more of that Boondocking rather than a Rally)... and then on Sunday, we pulled through the $40 of tolls of New Jersey and the Delaware Bridge to get here to Assateague State Park out on a barrier island on the Ocean shores of Maryland. We pulled in around 545pm last night and we are here until Thursday. Here are a few pictures of our site. The beach is just over the sand dune behind the trailer. We're hoping to see some horses while we are here. I am thinking we'll spend Thursdy evening up near Valley Forge outside of Philadelphia.

Getting ready for the Celts

On Friday afternoon, the family and I are heading for Chatham, NY where we'll be joining a bunch of other Airstreamers at the Celtic Festival. There will be many Metro NY and WDCU WBCCI members there - and it's gonna be tons of fun! We did this two years ago with the 1960 Trade Wind... this time we'll be in the SOTR. I have propane lines run now as well as plumbing drain lines... but the fresh water tank is out getting a small fitting installed so that I can hook up the onboard 12v air compressor for the water system. Here are a few pictures... I've been doing some polishing. The tank goes in today.... Zoe's just happy she will be able to use the stove!