Camp Dawg

MY PLATE IS EMPTY and my heart is full. I wish you the same along with a peaceful evening. Happy Thanksgiving!

AFTER A 3-WEEK CROSS COUNTRY JOURNEY from Cali, we have landed in beach paradise Key West, an island at the very southern tip of Florida, is our home for a month. Our first sunset at Boyd’s Campground, a 15-minute bike ride from the hustle of Duval Street, was breathtaking! The Ahi Tuna tacos and Pina Colada, divine! The chickens and roosters which freely walk this town will take a little getting used to at 6 a.m., or any time they feel like crowing, but I guess I would crow, too, living here in paradise.

FLORIDA PANHANDLE, your beaches are pure, white sand heaven and with one slice of Key Lime Pie, we have arrived!

WITH BUT ONE DAY IN THE BIG EASY…what to do? New Orleans is filled with history and, full disclosure, one day didn’t begin to scratch the surface of this colorful town. But with places to go and reservations awaiting us down the road, off I went to the top of my list, the World War II Museum. One could easily spend two full days at this immersive museum to get the full impact this war had on the world. Overall, I was elated to spend several hours here combing through both the Pacific (where my father served) and European theaters. I found one of the most gratifying portions was viewing film, first person, of those who served and shared their stories. It is an understatement to say I walked away with ‘sensory overload’ but I also came away grateful that this museum preserves so much of this war’s history, all in one stop. Liberation Plaza is currently under construction. Put this well done museum on your list of things to see/experience while in New Orleans.

As a side bar, two local people were catalysts in successfully getting this museum off the ground. Andrew Higgins, creator of the duck boats used to storm Normandy on D-Day, 1944; and the other, historian Stephen Ambrose, who has written historical books including, ‘Band of Brothers’. Both men called New Orleans home. (Thanks to my Airstream friend, Nancy; and the docent at the National Museum of Military Vehicles, in Du Bois, Wyoming for recommending this museum!).

With only a few hours remaining in the day, I took on the French Quarter. Here, a few pictures speak volumes. My takeaway from this lively part of town was that I should have visited about 40 years ago

ROLLIN’ EAST through Texas, a stop in San Antonio sent us off to tour The Alamo. The church, built in the 1700s, is all that remains of the garrison and battle which took place here in 1836 for Texas independence (no indoor photos allowed). Nine years later, the Lone Star State became the 28th state in the union. Later that night, a stop at Josephine Street for arguably the best onion rings ever, and back home to catch Billy Bob Thornton as David Crockett in the most accurate rendition of The Alamo (per our docent).

AND THEN, SOMETHING MAGICAL HAPPENED! You know, when the time and location works out just perfectly, it’s serendipity! Jim and I joined a few friends at the Newport Beach Film Festival for the West Coast premiere of, ‘Alumination’. This film holds a special place in our hearts as it’s been several years in the making; provided us an opportunity to meet up once again with director, Eric Bricker, the creative genius behind the camera; and gave us the proud honor to see Pearl, our 1954 Airstream Flying Cloud, make her BIG screen debut. It beautifully weaves never-before-seen archival footage with modern day Airstreams to present the history of our aluminum dream makers through the years. Highly visible in the film is Airstream’s creator, Wally Byam, responsible for some amazing caravans back in the day. Also present (and pictured) at the Festival was Dale (Pee Wee) Schwamborn, who participated in many of Wally’s caravans as a young man. And if you blink during the film you’ll miss him, but our grandboy, Jack, is there! Fingers crossed a streaming network may be the outlet for this soon! We said farewell for several months to the stunningly beautiful Pacific Ocean (note my wind-blown hair) and started our journey east, off into unchartered territory for us in our Airstream.

IT’S DIFFICULT TO TOP Disneyland with my littles, but our final stop in California was right up there. We pulled into a ranch high in the mountains above San Diego and were greeted by my beautiful niece, Heidi. You know those women who can do it all…runs a successful firm, ranches, rides (horses & Harleys), and cooks up a great prime rib dinner. Yep. This is one! She also knows where every backroad winery is located and off we went! Jim and I love you to the moon and back and are so very proud to call you…family

DOWN THE CALIFORNIA COAST brought us ‘home’ to Ojai for a couple of appointments and the chance to check out our ‘hood. Jim attended the annual block party and spent some time with the people who purchased our home. I’m happy to say they’re happy! We did find that one week was not enough as we learn how to navigate this life on the road. A trip to celebrate with the grandkiddos at Disneyland is always a fun time, but Halloween (and Christmas!) are especially fun! Thank you, my dear daughter & son-in-law, for this super sweet birthday gift And once again we’re rollin’!

WE HEADED UP AND OVER THE SIERRA mountains, through Lake Tahoe and into Monterey. Here, on Cannery Row, we had a celebratory dinner at The Sardine Factory, where Jim proposed just a short 30 years ago. I’m elated to say the restaurant hasn’t lost it’s fabulous menu, ambience, nor the excellent service….and we’re still together! Over dinner I did mention how I would have never guessed that three decades later we would be living (happily) in a trailer! (I’ve included a few photos taken while enjoying Carmel, one of my favorite seaside towns!)

JUST FIVE SHORT YEARS AGO, and as serial Airstream owners, our Classic Airstream became our sixth silver adventure pod. Little did I know it would one day become our ONLY home. Trailer life. Yep, we love it!