August 30, 2023 - TENNESSEE!!!

Wow! What a campsite!! This evening we stopped in Tennessee to stay with friends. Tim and I were treated to a lovely meal. They fixed Guinness Stew for us. What a treat!! And oh my was it delicious. I’ve already ordered the Cook’s Country Cookbook that the recipe came from. 

Our friends have only recently moved here from Florida. It was great to see them. Their home, barn and property are all so beautiful and the area is on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. 

The view from their property is spectacular. Wish we had more time to explore the area. We will be back for a longer stay. Tomorrow we will continue our journey farther south and closer to home. 

August 29, 2023 - LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

The journey home has begun. Thanks to Hurricane Idalia. Our drive to Kentucky Horse State Park was uneventful and absolutely beautiful. We took the long way around to get here in order to avoid Cincinnati, Ohio. Tomorrow we will continue to head south. 

 

August 28, 2023 - ANOTHER DAY AT AIRSTREAM

Back to the Mothership! We had decided to take my mom and stepdad over to the Airstream factory. They had not been to the new factory yet. 

The morning tour that we took was over in part of the old factory. Here we saw where the Basecamps are made. To get there we walked past the service center bay doors. Saw a bunch of the REIs being made! The new REI Co-op Special Edition 20X model is huge for a basecamp and has some really cool features. Expanding the opportunity for adventure! We also got to go see just a little more of the Touring Coaches again. 

Heidi’s Hideout was where we went for lunch again! Delicious. Hopefully I can recover from the fried bologna and hamburger sandwich that I made a special request for and ate. I really don’t think it was very healthy. But it was so tasty!! Exactly what I was hoping to get over in Waldo yesterday. 

Tim copied me!!

After lunch we made our way back over to the new Airstream factory where we took the travel trailer tour again. We had a very interesting tour. Didn’t expect anything less. Just so fascinating seeing this American Icon be put together. And to see those working there be proud of their work. 

Wish we could take pictures in the factory but for the privacy of those working they don’t allow any photography inside the factory. After our afternoon tour we took another spin through the Heritage Center. So amazing that it exists and every time I go in there I realize I have missed something previously. 

Unfortunately tomorrow brings a travel day. We were hoping to stay a few days longer. Even tossed around the idea of attending Alumapalooza that happens next week at the Airstream factory. However Hurricane Idalia is knocking on the west coast of Florida. We will begin heading south and position ourselves in north Georgia until after the storm passes. 

August 27, 2023 - A DAY OF ERRANDS

Laundry day! It’s been a few weeks since we’ve done any laundry. We found a nice laundromat in Bellefontaine. Clean and a very nice attendant works there. I may have annoyed a few other clients but don’t come and sit down next to me speaking really loud on your speaker phone. That’s just rude. I can play music loud on my phone and I probably judged and picked some good music they would not like. Just say’n! 

Go Neil Diamond!!! 

While out we also made a stop at the Tractor Supply store. It’s twice the size of ours. They had chics! 

When we got back I had to take some pictures of my aunts flowers. Her yard is so beautiful!! 

She made us a delicious dinner. Probably one of our only linen dinners this trip. She made a pork loin, roasted potatoes, carrots, and pasta salad and my mom made purple hull peas. Then we had Oreo bunt cake for dessert. What a treat! THANK YOU!! 

LoBo kept watch all day for us. He’s a good hunter. While we were eating Jett turned down the bed. She is so bad! 

August 26, 2023 - WALDO!

We’re camping in my aunts yard right next to my mom. It’s a great spot! Jett loves the grass. My aunt’s neighbor, and friend of my stepdad, is painting his 1969 El Camino. So we all went over to inspect the progress. 

LoBo spent most of his day hunting birds. He’s so handsome and such a good boy! 



My stepdad drove my mom and Tim and I to Waldo, Ohio for lunch. The plan was to go to G and R Tavern for a fried bologna sandwich. As we approached we could see the line of people waiting for tables run out the door and down the sidewalk. So we headed back to Bellefontaine for Mexican food! 



The night ended with us streaming the NASCAR race at Daytona outside on my iPad while enjoying two campfires. And we had more beer that we did not need. 

August 25, 2023 - END OF THE CARAVAN

Today is not only our departure day but the end of our fabulous caravan. All of the three other trailers in our caravan left early this morning. We enjoyed being with them and had so much fun. All the conversations about vintage trailers, travel and adventures will always be memorable. 

Tim and I took our time departing. We have a 1:00 pm check out and only an hour to drive today. The campground that we are located at is thirty minutes west of Jackson Center. My mother, who lives in Florida, is currently staying at her sister’s thirty minutes east of Jackson Center. This will be our destination today and will meet up with them this afternoon! 



Since we were passing The Mothership today we had to swing into the parking lot for a photo opportunity. You just can’t help it! 

It was really good seeing my mom, stepdad and my aunt. We had all left home the beginning of July and are lucky to be able to meet up here in Ohio. We do miss our family while traveling. My mom and stepdad just rescued a dog up here three weeks ago. His name is LoBo and is so sweet! He and Jett get along great! Actually they kinda ignore each other. Tomorrow we hope to just hang out and possibly go out for lunch. 

August 24, 2023 - MORE FROM THE MOTHERSHIP

All of us in our Caravan took another tour at Airstream today. This time we took the Touring Coach Factory Tour. This was over at the old factory and is where all their models of vans are made. It was just as interesting as the main trailer factory tour. I was only disappointed that they were not giving out samples. LOL While there, near the service center, we also bought parts for our Airstream. It’s always nice to have that opportunity. 

The afternoon took us all separate ways. Everyone had different local tourist spots to experience. Tape measure in hand Tim and I went back to the Heritage Center. We had more to explore (and measure for reference) there and really didn’t feel like we had spent enough time there yesterday. Well I am sure my phone is about to explode now. I have taken so many photo’s including a bunch of reference photos for our Airstream Liner that we are restoring. 

Special notes on a few specific trailers there:

A precious gem the 1948 Airstream Wee Wind named Ruby. My favorite trailer here. Named after her first owner and donated by another owner, Fred Coldwell, she is probably one of the most original, unmolested rigs here. 3003 is her serial number. Meaning she was the third one ever built. At only 16 feet long she is a beautiful piece of preserved Airstream history.

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Wally’s famous number 1 trailer is here! This unique 1955 Airstream Cruiser was used by Wally and Stella Byam on the 1956 European Caravan. Wally painted this Airstream white to match his tow vehicle, a white Cadillac, which helped him to stand out as the caravan leader. Wally often tested new designs and ideas in his travel trailers, while on the road, and the famous white trailer has many unique features. Tim and I followed on social media the painstakingly tedious task, rivet by rivet, of its restoration by the Goranson Family. They were afraid to take it out after it’s restoration because of its historic significance and are so grateful it will now be kept safe here at the Heritage Center. 

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The 1957 Airstream World Traveler. During the 1956 European Caravan, Wally‘s wife Stella designed the floor plan for her ideal trailer to maximize living in storage space for two. That dream would ultimately become realized in the original floor plan of the iconic gold trailer used by Wally to lead the famous Cape Town to Cairo caravan. Wally had new design ideas built into his trailer so he could test the ideas on the road and the gold trailer was no exception. Built in the spring of 1957 in the Jackson center factory the gold Airstream served as the test unit for the International self containment package. 

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1941 Airstream Clipper. Restored by Silver Lady Restorations and on loan from The Gulley Museum Collection!

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1938 Clipper known as Old Grand Dad!!

Just so much to take in. We will be coming back AGAIN next week!!