For us the winter has historically been our best time to travel.  That is before a tree said hello to our back panel and mother nature said “you want rain,  here it is” .  We then had rain, snow, landslides, rock slides and mudslides.  Oh, yeh, we had floods too.

This gave us time to deal with the real world, re-thinking tomorrow, re-evaluating dreams of travel, fun and life.  As we are challenged by time, our time.  What is the future?  Hey, who knows, so enjoy it.

When we bought our Flying Cloud we had no clue what we were doing.  All I know is I was not going to sleep on the ground, freeze and wake up aching at every joint.  As all newbies know and learn …. WE HAD NO IDEA!  reading Living Riveted, Airstream blogs and Sunset magazine … we  were confused!  Happily we just kept walking into walls and looking goofy!

I also realized we have had our rig for nine (9) years!  It feels like it is so new and beautiful. There are so many ways to decorate it, make more luxurious, comfortable and “ours”.  It keeps changing and I am still not sure we are doing it right!  OK what is correct and right and the Airstream Way?  Just have fun is the answer.

A co-worker of mine has a glass etching business with her hubby.  They made us beautiful Riedel style glasses with our little silver coach etched on the side!  What beauty and such meaning.  These are the little things we keep finding in our lives and travels.

We are so excited that we also gave the Airstream bug to our friendly winemaker at Six Sigma Winery.  We got them the Riedel glasses to pack easier in their new home!  What a hit!  Fun, creative people with new prisms of our environment really enhances our experiences.

From all the “how to’s” of travel I havent seen anything about “melt downs!”.  YEAH! I mean I journaled our travels from day one to now.  They were always beautiful times.  Just saying.  The adjustment period either makes or breaks your love for you rig.  Right?!

So here goes my little story of our little Silver “Canned Comfort”. …..

Here is where the journey started!  Our shakedown cruise.  Lovely quiet spot 15 minutes from our house!  I had already “packed” the little baby with all I thought we needed, including a stew already cooked and just needed a little warm up.

It took us about an hour to get us “right”.  The scenery was beautiful, gray, misty and about to rain.  Can you imagine what a great start to our first adventure?  I forgot the wine opener, had the wine though!  We only had one puppy with us and we were about a 20 minute walk uphill to a quick stop!  Our knees were kinda sore but we got our corkscrew and found this little place had a great wine selection!

It then started to rain, we were soaking wet by the time we returned but that’s a memory.  We turned on the lights, we had full hook ups, turned on the heater, changed to dry clothes and then realized we were in a very little space!  The art of movement in a small space has a weird learning curve as does the sleeping areas!

We can hear the surf breaking on the beach, reminds me of Hawaii but very cold, The rain sounds great as it hits the roof.  Our first night was a rough night, sleepwise with me and hubby and a mini Australian Shepard trying to stay warm.  When we awoke the next morning we though our roof was leaking as the walls and ceilings were dripping wet stuff!  we sealed everything closed that night and did not have the moisture stuff to absorb wet!  Who would think that you leave vents open to keep your environment going!?!?

Let’s just say a few bad words were spoken and threats of never, ever doing this camping/trailer thing again went round and round that evening.  The morning dawned and the sun peeked out while I baked home-made scones in our little oven, the french press was making wonderful coffee and best of all the shower and toilet worked like charms!! Almost like being home in a very condensed toaster!  Had a wonderful walk on the beach to a little hamlet nearby and then prepped for home!  We had survived our very first ever glamp in our own “back yard”.  We are each still alive, the doggie loves his new bed – ours and we did not break our brand new Airstream!

Onward to more adventures!