Because dogs need campers too. I love the dog inside the camper looking out.
I've felt this way for the last two years about our camper. So glad we are finally putting it to use... even though it gets really dirty and muddy from four wheeling!
Another awesome weekend of four wheeling! This past weekend, me, Shaun, Scotty and Wolverine went on a little adventure. The Scotty being our 1987 camper and the Wolverine being our "off roader". We met up with a couple of handfuls of friends, some staying the day and some staying the day and night, and had a ball!
Friday's ride was great. We got to Kentucky, which Blue Holler is right past Bowling Green... kinda sorta... we took about thirty minutes to set up camp while everyone got their rides unloaded. At forty minutes or so we hit the trails. We had a lot of good riding on about twelve hundred acres. The sites are beautiful and of natural wonder and awesomeness. My new favorite hang out "Sand Cave" just amazes me. We spent a bit of time each time we stopped there just hanging out and talking and watching people try to climb the steep part. There is a slight waterfall that Shaun made sure to go under every time we went there to rinse off our windshield. I sat and imagined the heck of a waterfall that created this valley and cave how every many hundreds of years ago and of the American Indians who probably camped there. Too cool. We made it through the day without anybody getting hurt and without too many repairs.
Our second day was a bit different. As compared to my sleeveless shirt and light hoodie on Friday I was in full rain suit on Saturday. It rained on us the whole day, start to finish. I think it rained all day at home too. It was a steady, light rain that wasn't unbearable but it sure made for some fun riding. I have no pictures from Saturday because of the mud and cameras don't mix thing. It is amazing how different the trails are from one day to the next. Fun regardless of which but I'll take mud over dust if it's up to me. We came home to our campers and Shaun and I had steaks and potatoes. Food tastes so much better after a day of four wheeling.
It was pretty muddy and some people got stuck but it's all part of the fun and I wouldn't want to four wheel with anybody else but this group of fellas. They take care of each other like butter and have fun while they're at it. Not just these guys... there's a whole bunch of them and some of them couldn't go so don't get your feelings hurt. (like they read this!!ha!!) Makes me proud to be one of them.
The dirt up there is literally like sand. I kept wiping my hands when they would get wet because the sand felt like Go-Jo. Free exfoliation!
Our old Arctic Kitty.
Trust me... it got a lot soupier muddy than this outside our camper door.
Our weekend neighbors.
Our muddy jeans from the night ride. I told her "my jeans look like I slid down a hill" and she said "mine do too!"
Oh and I made a video of my hair swooshing en route.
What a relaxing and good time we had camping, for the second time in our Scotty, over the Memorial Day four day weekend. We were at Defeated Creek campground in Carthage, Tennessee along with three other campers full of friends. On Sunday afternoon, I called my friend and excitedly explained my afternoon of bike riding, swing set finding and Shaun, Brooke and I taking a bike ride to the marina for ice cream. When my story was over I said "wow... that sounded like an eight year old's conversation". It's Ok to act like a child and do things out of the norm. Plus the swings had sand underneath them so I pretended I was on the beach.
My Dad made this sign for us.
Extra yummy ribs Shaun cooked for lunch on Saturday. The meat, of course, from our pigs.
Table tennis anywhere you go!
Stevie's pre-war, 1936 bicycle. Heavy and rides like a dream.
As I was making my list of things our little camper (me) needs or wants I felt I would share with you. I am so excited to hit the road on our weekend get-a-ways this year in our Scotty. Now that the new curtains are made and I found a clothespin bag that I made that just happens to match I feel I am closer to being ready to go. Although there are these few things I will pick up before our trip.
1 ~ A dish drainer! I am an outside dish washing gal and I really don't mind but a dish drainer would be nice. Preferably metal since I have to carry the dishes back to the camper. We have a kitchen sink but haven't worked out the kinks in the camper water system. Truthfully I've never camped when I didn't have to wash dishes outside unless we were camping with someone else. Oddly enough I kind of like it.
2 ~ A small cutting board to live in the camper. I took along a flexible one from the kitchen and would like something a bit sturdier to take along. A nice avocado green or harvest gold would blend in with our eighties camper decor.
3 ~ I need a new folding lounge chair. I bought one from Granny's friend Dorthy's yard sale and used it for two whole summers until I backed over it with the Arctic Cat... woops. But I do miss Shaun pulling in the driveway after work to find me laid back with a cold one in my hand and a chicken on my lap... that is what the rich folks do isn't it? Besides, one is supposed to put their feet up on vacation right?!
4 & 5 ~ OK thanks to Mary Jane Butters and her Glamping book, I found out that they make toilet seats for 5 gallon buckets AND bags to go in them that are basically like going to a port-a-potty. Not that I enjoy doing that, but like I said about the water... it includes the toilet that's in the camper. So it's off to the bath house for us which I really don't mind until it's the middle of the night. THEN these two items would come in very handy (outside of sneaking behind a tree). Although I could just pack in one of my many enamelware shit buckets with the lid. May be awkward to squat on though and I probably wouldn't feel the same about using it to tote beer in.
6 ~ And finally I feel an oscillating fan is in order. Especially since we have no air conditioning which will probably change this summer or before the next time we go camping after this time because it will be much hotter. When I think of hot campers and fans I think about Sissy in Urban Cowboy waking up in Wes Hightower's camper, in Texas, in the summer, with no shade trees, no a/c and a small room fan blowing her hair. Bless her heart. If she can do it, I can do it... just not right next to a parking lot outside Gilley's in Texas.
HERE's where we took our Scotty camping for the first time last fall.
And P.S. the Vista Sophisticate will be sporting a new set of tires this time AND a new horn! Look out!!!
This weekend we joined a group of our friends for camping not too far from home. This was our first time camping in our Scotty. I have to say that I absolutely am happy with our little camper. It is just right for us and although she still needs internal work like new curtains, water issues fixed and trailer lights (yikes) she camped like a dream. There is plenty of storage so things aren't on the floor and silverware is in it's proper drawer. We ate good, hung out with good friends and family and had beautiful weather.
I began our camping journal Saturday morning.... early. I got up when the sun was just a red hue on the clouds. As I sat by myself I got inspired to write what was going on at that time. I began writing in my spiral notebook and then it dawned on me that it should be the way I begin the journal. Documenting can be different for each trip. I thought I'd share what I wrote.
November 9, 2013
Our first morning, waking up in our new camper. It's opening day of muzzle loader season and as I sit with Kate, outside in the crispness of the early morning, I hear the occasional shot fired and feel like I am missing something. I had to call down Kate from some fishermen trolling by in the lake.... another shot.... and they soon left their spot. I can hear chickadees, squirrels, crows, a little woodpecker knocking and laughter from campers in tents close by. I stoked the fire back up as much as I could, enough to keep me warm. We are at Bledsoe State Park campground in Gallatin, TN and we are joined by Jody and Julie at Camp Davis, Stevie and Brooke in their fabulous revamped '71 Airstream and Roger and Mary Evelyn in their home away from home. When night fell last night Shaun pointed... another shot... out a pair of owls having a chat across the lake and.. another shot... Canadian geese loudly finding a spot for the evening. I hear the geese now along with Carolina wrens. I saw a black... shot... and white bird that I did not know on ME's camper - looked like a Kingbird but they've already migrated. The breeze has changed the direction of the campfire smoke coming up from the lake... shot.
Oh my that sweet Katie Bug... seven whole months old. She didn't care much for wearing a leash but she did get plenty of play time... she made sure of that!
The Mister emerges.
This heron fished a lot around this spot. Must be her honey hole.
Our campstead.
Breakfast when camping is always soooo good.
I quite enjoy washing dishes outside.
I didn't sleep well the first night. I don't usually sleep well when we're not at home. The second night I slept like a baby... which was good.
Camp Davis.
The Vista Sophisticate poses.
By the way... here is Shaun's old camper in the background of this photo. We made a big step up!
This was taken at Bledsoe State Park campground, March 21, 2008. It eventually shook apart. And yes that is a Bocephus curtain in the window.
