Camp Dawg

WHERE MISSOURI’S HIGHWAY 36 MEETS THE MISSISSIPPI was our home base for a week. Hannibal, Missouri’s Mark Twain Cave & Campground was spacious and a short drive to all I wished to discover. This small town is vivid in my memory due to Tom Sawyer and his successful fence painting party; along with Becky Thatcher; Huck Finn and his friend, Jim who explored the muddy Mississippi on a raft. Like Twain, I also grew up near the Mississippi but in another century, another city. Another difference? Mark Twain will forever be known for his famous novels of life on the Mississippi while I simply enjoy writing Airstream travelogues that will put a smile on our faces someday when we hang up our keys. (www.CampDawg.com)

Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain lived in Hannibal from age 4-17. A very successful writer later in time, he also had a friendship with President U. S. Grant, one of my 19th century heroes. It was Twain who was ultimately responsible for kickstarting Grant’s ‘Personal Memoirs’, one of the most famous memoirs ever written by a general, next to Julius Caesar. General Grant completed his two volume memoirs and died in upstate New York just days later from throat cancer in 1885.

Hannibal is also a town with a myriad of murals which I always enjoy. With so much history on the banks of this river, my first visit here did not disappoint.

WELL WORTH THE WAIT! After a couple years of stops and starts, the Airstream Heritage Museum opened it doors to the world, and what an amazing sight it was to see and experience! The museum’s collection of mixed media incorporates vintage trailers that have traveled around the world; floor-to-ceiling murals depicting Airstream’s history and founder, Wally Byam; memorabilia collected on amazing journeys; along with film and audio from the very early days. Museum curator, Samantha Martin, did a superb job in bringing it all together and that is no small feat considering Airstream has 91 years of history!

On hand to open the museum was Airstream’s CEO, Bob Wheeler. Bob took the helm of Airstream about the same time Jim and I became passionate about the brand in 2005. Since that time major improvements have taken place in the interior appointments of our aluminum adventure pods making them as beautiful on the inside as the sleek exterior design depicts

Adjacent to the museum is the brand new 750,000 square foot Airstream factory where 100 Airstreams a week are sent out (already sold!) to Airstream dealerships across the country. This state-of-the-art facility will increase production as supplies become more readily available.

Our time spent with Dale ‘Pee Wee’ Schwamborn, Wally’s cousin once removed, was enjoyed, as always. As a youngster Pee Wee had the opportunity to travel with Wally and today shares his stories with Airstream enthusiasts. We also caught another viewing of, ‘Alumination’, the extensive film by director, Eric Bricker, which weaves together film and photos from just about every decade of Airstream’s history.

Overall we found the seminars, entertainment, food and camaraderie was simply over-the-top! We were filled (and thrilled!) with gratitude to be included in the grand opening of this one-of-a-kind museum in Jackson Center, Ohio and as the Memorial Day weekend celebration came to a close we hitched up our own little bit of Airstream history, the Silver Palace, our 2017 Classic, and gave our friends our best, “See you down the road!”

WE APPRECIATE TRAVELING THE BACKROADS whenever possible and one of our all time favorites is Highway 36 which parallels I-70 from Denver, east. Along this road you can take your time and experience rolling hills and fields of corn, hay and cattle grazing. There is a mix of open plains and barns dotting the countryside with very few 18-wheelers and billboards in sight. And, we’ve found more times than not, you will experience a smoother ride than found on our nation’s interstates.

On our journey along Missouri’s Highway 36, designated as “The Way of American Genius”, we stumbled upon the small town of Hamilton, home to Jenny Doan, the master quilter/YouTube vlogger, and her Missouri Star Quilt Company. Hamilton is also home to James Cash Penney, born in 1875. Today, a very small museum bears his name, J. C. Penney. Further east we pulled into the town of Marceline, population 2,000, whose claim is the boyhood home of Walt Disney.

Elias and Flora Disney moved their family of five children from the metropolis of Chicago to try their hand at farming. While they only resided in Marceline from 1905 to 1910, this small community left an indelible mark on Walt who has said, “More things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since, or are likely to in the future.” It was here that Walt and his younger sister, Ruth, sat under his ‘Dreaming Tree’ for hours playing and daydreaming. The Dreaming Tree today has been beautifully recreated at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, my favorite of the four Walt Disney World Orlando parks.

Marceline’s Walt Disney Hometown Museum is inside a 1913 Santa Fe Railroad passenger station which was scheduled for demolition before members of the town took a stand to save and renovate this historical gem. While touring the museum, our docent, Inez Johnson, shared her history and knowledge of Walt. Wearing a button that said, ‘I met Walt Disney in 1956’, of course raised questions! It seems when Walt and his wife, Lillian, returned to Marceline to dedicate the Disney Pool Complex in 1956, the Disney family stayed at the Johnson home which was unique at the time as it had air-conditioning. Walt returned once again in 1960 to dedicate the new Walt Disney Elementary School.

Today, an early downtown Marceline can be glimpsed in areas along Disneyland’s Main Street in Anaheim. And in Marceline, the Santa Fe Station is now home to Disney memorabilia and many personal letters and photographs entrusted to the museum by Ruth Disney on her passing in 1995. About 70 trains continue to run through Marceline daily, but no longer stop at the Santa Fe passenger station.

FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED? When crossing the country on Interstate 80 be sure to pull into the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska. Founded in 1992 by Bill & Joyce Smith, the 150,000 square foot museum is presently adding on another 90,000 square feet to be able to display the museum’s growing collection.

“Speedy” Bill Smith knew automobiles and racing firsthand so in 1952 he and Joyce founded Speedway Motors, a nationally known company and the place to purchase everything you need to restore a classic automobile from any decade. From that successful business they determined there was a need for a place to continue their collection and share it with others interested in American vehicles, especially those with speed.

From the moment we walked through the doors, Jim and I knew this was an extraordinary collection of vehicles that ranks right up there with the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles. The collection consists of vehicles, motors and memorabilia through the years so there is definitely something for everyone.

Jim has worked with the museum curator, Tim Matthews, over the past few years so we were honored to have a tour of the facility led by Tim and followed by lunch where we talked about all things with wheels. Tim’s knowledge of everything in the museum is absolutely amazing and our conversation could have easily continued through dinner.

Be sure to place this museum on your Bucket List if you are in the area. To my Airstream friends, the museum is a member of Harvest Host. If you need a fun place to spend the night and a great museum, reserve your spot!

https://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/history.html

OUR TIME IN CALIFORNIA went by much too quickly! In addition to seeing our much-loved grands and spending time with family, another bright spot in our visit was to attend the every-other-year Cali Rally where we reconnected with so many of our Airstream friends we have missed during our first year as full-timers. The Cali Rally celebrates cowboy California and this one did not disappoint!

Here at the V6 Ranch in Parkfield, California (Population 18 and also the earthquake capital of California smack on top of the San Andreas Fault) is where Airstream trailers from around California and Nevada gathered, unplugged, under a large canopy of oaks for a few days of fun in the sun. This event is one we always look forward to attending, but this year was magical for Jim and I as we brought along g’son, Jack, who we immediately put to work helping to park Airstreams as they arrived.

Over the three-day event we enjoyed various seminars, some outstanding entertainment, line dancing, trail rides, campfires, a swap meet and wonderful meals which all took place in the Community Camp. I found this event ended too quickly and much too soon we were saying our good byes to the Cali Rally and the Golden State of California.

OUR RETURN TO CALIFORNIA landed us in Palm Springs for a couple of weeks where we had a chance to relax, unwind and meet up with desert friends, Linda, whom we met over a decade ago; and Jim & Deborah, fellow Airstreamers. Then just about the time the temps were headed to 100 degrees, we moved onto the coastal town of Ventura. We’re ‘back home’, only a handful of miles from Ojai, to attend to appointments, soak up the cool, coastal weather, and connect with family after their visit with us at Disney World in January.

While in Ventura we gathered at Waypoint Ventura, just a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean. Waypoint is an amazing vintage trailer park with several sites for transients, such as ourselves; and a collection of stationary vintage trailers available for rent. Here we enjoyed a weekend of activities with our family around the park along with a street fair in Ventura. Bonus! Just one short block to Spencer Mackenzie’s for the best fish taco, ever! If you are on the central coast of California, with or without an RV, check out Waypoint Ventura!

HEADING WEST we lingered longer in Arizona because of all the lovely people we found to catch up with! I enjoyed lunch with my sweet niece who recently moved to Arizona. This is a big change for her and needless to say, she is adapting well from the cold Minnesota winters.

The Airstream Gods were overhead as we landed in Casa Grande, Arizona at the exact time an Airstream Region Rally was taking place. Here we had the opportunity to meet up with several friends with time to sit, relax, breathe and enjoy.

Before departing Arizona, I rolled into Scottsdale and the Poisoned Pen which is the ‘home’ independent bookstore of one of my very favorite (local) authors, Diana Gabaldon. I found this indie bookstore to be well stocked and was able to pick up a hardcover copy of ‘Outlander’, Gabaldon’s first novel. I just broke into her ninth book of the series and may someday begin this well-told saga over from the beginning. Yes, it’s that good!

And the Arizona sunsets….heavenly!

MAGNOLIA, SWEET MAGNOLIA On our journey west we rolled into Waco where I made the trek to Magnolia and all things Chip & Joanna Gaines. A few years back I saw episodes of their home renovation show where they seek out a derelict structure and breathe new life into it, with the simple and popular farmhouse look found in many communities today.

My visit to Magnolia revealed that the Gaines’ had duplicated this effort in downtown Waco. By taking a well-worn part of the city they remade it into a mecca for their brand and fellow artisans. This includes furniture, accessories, gardening, a stationery & art shop, bakery, clothing, jewelry, an array of tasty food trucks and a fabulous coffee house where I found an amazing toasted marshmallow and vanilla latte…but I digress.

Yes, it was a shopping extravaganza where one could drop a chunk of change, but my biggest takeaway, while lunching on a tasty grilled cheese sandwich, was the absolute sense of community they created. From watching the local high school kids kicking a volleyball on the faux turf, to the charming Wiffle ball field, complete with a concession stand which harkened back to a simpler time for me, Magnolia was built both for the Waco community and those who make the journey to this area.

Bravo to the Gaines’ for the sense of community they created for the local residents and artisans with a balance in retail branding which ultimately incorporates an inviting place for all to gather.

Following an early morning ferry ride to four miles off the tip of Charleston’s peninsula, I stepped onto Fort Sumter and put my hand to heart as our flag was raised. Minutes later, in my sense of solemn euphoria, I realized other ferry passengers had dispersed throughout the fort. It was then I picked my jaw off the ground to discover all I could in the hour we had at this monumental fort.

Still a work-in-progress when the first shot of the Civil War was fired upon Fort Sumter, this man-made island was defended by the Union, April 12-14, 1861, until the Confederate Army took hold. Charleston was extremely valuable to the south as General Robert E. Lee said in 1862, “The loss of Charleston would cut us off from…the rest of the world, and close the only channel through which we can expect to get supplies from abroad, now almost our only independence”. By 1863, the Union forces dominated Charleston and its surroundings islands and in February 1865 the last Confederate soldier left Charleston.

My visit to Fort Sumter and the Civil War’s beginning dovetailed perfectly with our 2019 Natchez Trace to Virginia Airstream journey where I spent time at Appomattox Court House, a small town in Virginia. It was here at the McLean House, on April 9, 1865, where the four-year battle officially ended when Union General U.S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee signed the document of surrender.

As we begin our way west, I can highly endorse South Carolina as a destination. Besides, who could pass up local musician, Darius Rucker, and his invitation to Discover South Carolina!

Note: Thank a teacher! Much credit for my love of 19th century American history goes to my all-time favorite college professor, Joan Waugh, who would instruct her courses in such an engaging way that today I still seek out historical locations and probably put a few of you to sleep here on Facebook.

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, like Savannah, abounds with history and centuries-old architecture. The peninsula city of Charles Town was founded in 1670 in honor of England’s King Charles II. At the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, the name was changed to Charleston and because of its diversity with over 400 churches, it is also known as the Holy City. In addition, due to its location near the Atlantic Ocean, it is often referred to as the ‘low country’.

South Carolina was the first colony to secede from the Union in 1860 and as history revealed, the city of Charleston took an enormous hit from the Civil War. In 1866, an estimated 7.3 quake also took its toll on this town. For a couple of days I meandered on foot through this southern town admiring the 18th-century architecture and couldn’t help but wonder about the history of these homes along with the maintenance and upkeep. Beautiful, but oh-so-demanding, I’m certain. If only the walls could talk.

A drive to Boone Hall Plantation was on my list and did not disappoint. While most of the main home, a private residence, cannot be toured, the price of admission was gleefully handed over to simply drive s-l-o-w-l-y down the Avenue of Oaks, almost 300 years in the making. For me, time spent at Boone Hall was enriched because of one woman, an engaging Gullah woman. The Gullah people are African Americans who reside in the low-country of South Carolina and Georgia (Charleston and Savannah) and have carried on their traditions over generations. Their language is a mix of Creole and English and for about an hour we listened to this woman’s story and song, from her point of view, being a descendant of enslaved people at Boone Hall Plantation.