Yes We Can!

It is now January 2016 and we have a big plan in mind! We want to have a family camp out in Yellowstone National Park. Yep a 12 person get together for three generations. This will be a first camp out for my two oldest children and their children. There will be two trailers and one family in a nearby hotel. Our travel start day is 27 May 2016!

I have a countdown calendar and already gathering items for our get together, scheduling trailer servicing, preparing menus, and planning activities for us all to enjoy. I did ask the youngest girls for their ideas and they want smores.

I am really lucky in the friends in my life who are giving me tons of information and inside input on how the park works. Now we are really getting excited to plan, plan, plan. This is so exciting for us. We, after seven years, we are just now really becoming comfortable with the Airstream dream and embracing the experiences yet to come. Stay tuned for our little journeys and prep for the big day.

This must be our year for our dreams of travel come true. I received silver rivet earrings for a Christmas present and a dear friend of ours made us a beautiful reminder of our dream! A stained glass replica of our rig! The silver beauty we love.

Update to today! The work is done, cleaning and updating stuff done, now food and excitement are our focus. We are going to tryout many items that should engage children and adults in old-fashioned, non-tech family fun. An ice cream maker that looks like a soccer ball, traveling eco friendly fire pit for s’moors and a large propane outdoor cookstove so us oldies don’t bend over the fire to cook!

Our fun season starts in a week with a shakedown to recheck all repairs and new “stuff”. This well be a great wine and food experience! Six Sigma here we come! Then onto Idaho and Yellowstone!

Bon Voyage and Great Wine!

Airstream photo and 115 — Its the little things that count

What is luxury trailering?

What do you think of as luxury trailer travelling? I thought about that a long time. I know where to go to find good food but it is how we live while we venture out; ‘are we able to sleep cozy and warm, is there a beautiful little touch to have my morning coffee and toast seem as though we are in a B & B, or are we camping?

We get so caught up in the prep, stowing, time frame and destination we forget why we have such a nice trailer. We decided on an Airstream to learn to enjoy the journey, explore the little off the busy tourist trail places we missed as we served our country all over the world AND be very comfortable. We need to have the means to make the adventure a cut above and EAT VERY WELL as we learn to savor the journey not just the destination. With this in mind. . . . I love great foods, great wine, comfy cozy evenings and the knowledge we have the tools to take advantage of yummy things we come across as we “press on” in a fun way! We are always on the hunt to bring these items to you and let you know how to get them.

I have changed my focus. I will look for the items we can use on our travels that make it that much more luxurious yet are beautiful, lightweight and have multi-uses! The easy part was choosing the Airstream! It has clean lines and lots of well thought out storage spaces. I will start with the empty coach and then add the “things” that will help us be able to relax and really feel pampered while we travel into the hidden surprises of our quests and adventures.

Here is where we start! This is the place to store the special ingredients that will enrich any foodie finds on the journey. I have measured the diameter of the adjustable shelves and use a guide to see if bottles of yummy fit, store well so we can enhance dishes, beverages and ” ?” while entertaining ourselves and friends on the road less traveled.

Why We Are Here

The learning curve to get the galley ready for your travel experience is steep. I obsessed about the how to, flow, ease of use, what to use and the permanence of tools and staples (spices etc.).

My military experience taught me heavy stuff makes it harder for the truck/car to pull the trailer. Also I did not want lots of stuff but multipurpose items/tools/plates. The trailer moves along behind me and things can get thrown around, breaks and makes messes. Don’t like those kinds of surprises!

I know what my research lead me to for my galley and now I am going to have some fun with it. I love to eat good food, drink yummy wine and experience nature’s beautiful scenery. Now let’s see what the great California chefs say is a must have for your little cooking area and what/how to store precious wines, spices and serving dishes.

You can spend hundreds of, ok thousands of dollars, on stuff but it may be too big, too heavy and you find out it doesn’t work for you or your travels. I planned for dinnerware etc for four. This is easily expanded with all the friends you meet but remember, your galley is your pivotal launch for entertaining and luxury. But less is truly more!

I find inspiration everywhere especially stores like Napa Style, Williams and Sonoma and Sur Le Table! No I don’t get money from these guys but they sure have nice stuff that really meets the needs of traveling light!

Whew that is how this blog got started! The Silver Suite will be posting the interviews and lists of the “stuff” the chefs recommend!