Source

Here is my source for my hardware. I've been crazily busy.... sorry for taking so long. It is Vandykes Restoration @ http://www.vandykes.com/ and they are great to work with. Take care.

Sorry

Sorry for the blog not having any posts lately.. I've been away on work... and so it's been slow and quiet. Our WDCU Installation Rally was our last trip and it was a blast. 500 miles each way to Newport News, Va and it was nothing but lots of fun and good times! It was great to see such good friends again. Our friend Alex Vandamme (Sig's brother from the Airstreaming in NY blog on our links) bought a 1957 22' Custom Airstream from a guy that has been restoring it for the past year or so. I am down here for work, so I told him I'd pick it up and take it to NY for him. So, last night, I called Frank of Annalumanum fame ( http://annalumanum.blogspot.com/ ) and asked if he'd like to go with me. It was a blast with only one issue (getting my 2" ball off and putting on a 2 5/16 ball (the 57 has a new tongue on it) but once completed with the help of a pipe and some heat, we were on the road. I'm back here in Quantico for another week. The trailer is nice... I love those 13 panels. It's full of parts. HMMMM, what parts do I need (licking my lips :) ) See you on I81 next weekend. Thanks for the help Frank!

Latches

Here are some pictures of the latches we are installing today, tonight and tomorrow morning before we head for Virginia and the Washington DC Unit WBCCI Installation Rally in Newport News, VA. It's gonna be a blast. The latches you see are the Chrome Bin pulls for my drawer pulls, the large holders to hold the bunks up in travel position, the cabinet door latches, and the one latch for keeping the doors under the galley closed. We have 6 of the door latches to install still, and the bunk catches, and we'll be set. Virginia here we come!

Letchworth is all they say it is!

The weekend trip was great!!! We started off around 3pm on Friday afternoon. About 20 miles in, we hit a spot in the country road where the farmer had just come out of the fields... All I can say is MUD! The Perkins were behind us with their 58 Globetrotter and all I can say is when we hit it, our trailers instantly turned brown. About an hour later, we had a good bath on the NY State Thruway that washed them pretty good. We arrived just before dark, and spent the weekend camping in good old fashioned relaxation. We hiked most of Saturday and then on the way home Sunday, just mossy'd along via Hammondsport, Watkins Glen, Ithaca (in between here we picked up another Caravanner for about 10 miles - a new Airstream (HELLO)), Cortland, DeRuyter, and then home (note to self - fill up with gas in Cortland - THANKS PERKINS). We did not run out of gas, but had to do some fanangling. Whew! No mud on the way home. We had lunch in Hammondsport on the water. A great weekend. The pictures are of the falls, the Campfire, Hammondsport, Caravanning near home with the Perkins, and the boys looking at the falls. Thanks to the VanDamme's and the Perkins for a great time! This weekend is the Newport News WDCU Installation Rally. There will be at least 25 trailers coming. We're hoping for good weather.

Portland, Oregon

Tonight, I depart Hawaii on my trip home. I will have a 40 minute lay over in Portland, Oregon. I'll get home late Friday night, and I'm looking forward to it. Maybe we'll hit Bowman Lake State Park Saturday night, about 10 miles from home. I've not seen any Airstreams on the Island yet - there has to be one or two, ya think?? Maybe I'll see some in Oregon flying in, or on my way home from Rochester. Take care.

Waikiki?

I think I spelled it right.. I am out here for the week for work... here's a shot from the hotel. I'm trying to find an Airstream out here... wish me luck. So, there won't be much on the SOTR this week. SYDTR!

From this weekend!

My two boys in front of the VanDamme trailer.

What it looks like

Here are a couple pictures of what the trailer looks like on the outside (like my 5 pole flag pole holders?) and a few of the inside. Those curves are all 1958 BABY! Enjoy.

Great Weekend! Again!

This weekend we attended an AirForums.com rally that I hosted. We had 6 Airstreams show and a Terry along with a camper in a VW Rabbit Diesel pickup. The weather was chilly and some rain, but we all had a great time. We had a great potluck dinner last night and a great fireside chat! Floyd can tell em better than anyone - he's got at least 40 years on me, and I love to receive his advice. Let's see, there was a 1958 Sovereign of the Road, a 1958 Globetrotter, a 1963 Trade Wind, a 1967 Globetrotter, a 1968 Sovereign, and a 1970 Sovereign. SOVEREIGN's win! It was close with the Globetrotters taking a close second. Next year, same time, same location. The challenge is that everyone there this year has to bring someone new with them next year. Virginia - you're the one we are bringing next year :) ! The SOTR performed great - especially those bunks - the kids loved them!! Now, plumbing and propane is next! We are getting there!

Out of the shop!

Last night, I pulled the trailer out of the West End shop. I pulled it home, loaded it, and headed (at dusk) towards the Gilbert Lake State Park. It's there now. I've got a GFI issue to deal with today, but it looks great and we will be heading over there after school today. I'll get great photos today, I promise.

What do you think?

Here are a few more pictures from last night. The tank is in there under the wood. We will be covering that with Marmoleum once completed. Also, a shot with the mattresses out of our Overlander in there. And one shot of the SOTR sitting in the bay. Had to order 10 more hinges from Restoration.com and then some new aluminum T-molding for the counterops from Outwater Plastics - www. outwater.com. SYDTR - in a week anyway!

Stainless Black tank!

That's right.... just delivered from my Welder - Pharsalia Metal Fabrication. Daryl is a certified stainless welder (as learned in the US Army) and does a heck of a job. When I got back from seeing Scott at West End Cabinet, these were sitting next to the 58 Overlander. Perfect timing, as the rear vanity is just sitting there waiting for it! There are 3" Stainless Steel female flanges there, where I'll connect the 3" male flange that will accept the new porcelain toilet - no more porta-potti soon!!! And then, he dropped off three of my 5 pole holders I'm having made - two go out in the mail tomorrow - one to the East Coast and one to the West Coast. I expect pictures of those flags flying high guys!

Interior is intstalled!

Here are some more. I'll go out and take a picture of my stainless tank that just showed up too! Light work, cabinets installed. Have to mount the bunks, and we'll be camping in this in two weeks at my Airforums Gilbert Lake State Park Rally.... looking forward to it.

Looking SWEET!

I stopped up at the cabinet makers today. All I can say is that I had a big smile on my face the entire time I was there. These are all installed! Enjoy!

More pics in a bit!

Great Weekend!

What a weekend! Great weather - highs in the 70s during the day, no clouds, and lows in the 40s at night (made for great sleeping)! The Overlander was great! We spent the weekend with Sig (Airstream of New York blog link) in his 1963 Trade Wind that he had just picked up from GSM Vehicles. Looks great Sig! Here's many more weekends of camping with your family. About family - there were like 20 kids there this weekend - all friends of Sigs that we met and had alot of fun with. We are doing it again in two weeks at the Gilbert Lake State Park. We are hoping to have the Sovereign of the Road there - we'll see if West End Cabinets can have her ready for it! So, here are a few pictures of the this weekend up at Henderson Harbor! Priceless weekend! Remember, this 1958 Overlander will soon be for sale for $3500 once the SOTR is ready to camp in.

Headed out - Thousand Islands here we come

We are headed out tonight for Prescott Beach State Park up near Sackett's Harbor, NY for three days. We're taking the 58 Overlander as the SOTR is still up at the cabinet shop getting fitted with the new interior. Hope to have it at our AirstreamForums rally in Sept 13-16 at Gilbert Lake State Park. We'll see.

Slow, Slow, Slow

Well, the lights are in. On Monday, Chevy Ave will be cutting the holes; they will be drilled in the rear of the trailer for the tub and black tank holes. On Tuesday, it goes back to West End Cabinet shop for the interior to go back in. That will be about a month long project, so we are planning. I hope to have it for a Washington, DC Unit WBCCI rally in Staunton, Va. Keep your fingers crossed. I will be in North Carolina this week for Reserves, but will be checking in on it via the phone. The Buick is coming, slowly but surely. SYDTR!

A Vintage Combo!

Here is one of Chevy Ave's latest... and why things on the SOTR have been a little slow. It's the restoration of our friends 1973 Olds Cutlass Supreme wagon w/ a 350 Rocket and her 1975 Argosy 22' new paint job. Looking sweet and I look forward to seeing it going down the road. Now, get a hitch on that white beauty and start STREAMIN!!