It’s finally starting to feel like summer around here. The weather’s been in the 80’s and 90’s, the rain has temporarily disappeared, and my favorite fruits and vegetables have come into season. All I want to do during the day is eat fresh figs, berries and peaches. Yum! Okay, maybe a little barbecued corn for dinner too.
For me, I get that giddy “yay it’s summer vacation” feeling when we get to go camping. Since we opened the food cart 3 years ago, it’s pretty tough to get away, so we don’t camp like we used to. Last week, with our kids away visiting their grandparents, my husband and I got to sneak away for 2 days of camping. It was great!
When we first started camping together, we had a cute little tent that slept two. We took just what we needed, with a little extra for good measure, and we were off at a moments notice. Then we had kids, and we got a huge much bigger tent, lots more gear, and ample grumbling from my husband. He loved camping as much as the rest of us (if not more), but it took days to pack up all that stuff, and days to unpack and clean everything.
About 5 years ago, we thought it would be fun to try a tent trailer. So my husband found a fixer-upper on Craigslist, and with lots and lots of work, we had our first taste of glamping. Actually this might have been more Clampett-style glamping, but it was fun! It combined two of our favorite pastimes, camping and partaking in a good fixer-upper project.
Then last week, my husband got that look in his eyes again. “We’re just about empty nesters now, and the tent trailer is a lot of work setting it up and taking it down. Maybe we should try something new”. We thought about going back to a small tent, but given the often rainy weather in Oregon, and that it would also mean sleeping on the cold, hard, wet ground again, it wasn’t sounding like quite as much fun. Then it hit us. Vintage trailer! Why not get something cool and old, that we could fix up and take glamping. And that’s exactly what we did.
I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our family, Miss Lucy. She is a diamond in the rough. Vintage 1967. We’re thinking that with some shiny new paint, lots of elbow grease, some cute red curtains, and my husband’s mad, crazy carpentry skills, we can have some fun next summer!
Anyone else love a good project? What about camping?
More from Julie
what a cutie Miss Lucy is! (I love that she has a name – did you notice the name of my car in my last post?) 😉
I love camping, but also don’t go as often as I used to… my favorite spot (Oswald West or ‘Short Sands’) is now closed to overnight camping, and I need to find a new spot I love as much. I have been to Burning Man a few times, and I always say I want to take Jason back there – with a trailer! 🙂
Thanks Kris! Yes, I love the name Tillie! Every car and trailer should have a name: )
I’ve never been to burning man myself, but I’ve heard lots of stories. A trailer sounds like it would be perfect there, with the super-hot dry weather.
how fun! I think I like camping, but I usually go glamping instead! We usually go to Yosemite and stay in the tent cabins. It’s so much fun. I didn’t get to go last year, and I’m really hoping it works out this summer!
Amey, you always have the best adventures! I love Yosemite! I hope you get to go this year.
So fun! So glam! So you! That is SO my kind of camping. And I bet your camping food is the BEST.
Thanks Sarah! Yeah, I am definitely a glamper too. This trailer actually has a working oven, and I just keep thinking that chocolate chip cookies need to be a part of the camping experience; ) Are cookies officially considered food?
I Love Lucy! Fantastic name for such a stylish lady! Can’t wait to see photos of her makeover! You two are living the life I always dreamed of…
Congratulations!
SO CUTE! And she looks to be in great shape. Dan and I are always on the hunt for a little old trailer. So awesome. I hope Lucy knows how lucky she is to have found you <3
So neat! I hope you post before and after photos!
Julie, Well I would have to say that Miss Lucy looks to be a keeper! 1967 was a great year…I hear. 🙂 The sun is out…time to get outside and see why we all live here in the Pacific Northwest.