Upon leaving So Calif, we camped along the Colo River in Calif, drove 150 miles on Rt 66 in AZ and visited many of the old sites along the way. We spent 2 nights on the S rim of the Grand Canyon, (only planned on one, but everytime we pulled into a vista, a tour bus unloaded right next to us and we were stuck answering questions and posing for pics for a number of hours.) No problem, my brother, (2 years older than I) loved it. He was even better answering questions about how 2 can sleep in that little thing, explaining how we got very little reception on the wooden satelite and wooden flip-down Sony plazma TV, because folks kept bumping the teardrop and we would lose the satelite signal..........Duh!
He got to be quite adept at flipping up the wooden slice of bread from the wooden, Sunbeam, 2 slice toaster and went on and on about how comfortable we were sleeping in toasty comfort in only 47 inches of space within the tear. He was even got to looking forward to a hot cup of coffee and bacon and eggs, cooked right out of the galley in 40 degree temps. (Caution, it's not a good idea to have baked beans for supper....whew!) After a night under the stars in Flagstaff, we drove through the Oak Creek Canyon road to Sedona and on to Jerome, the old mining town on the side of the montain. Neither of us had ever seen the Meteror Crater, so we spent 3 hours checking it out, and was well worth the effort.
We drove through the painted desert and petrified forest, and were able to spend 3 hours in the OK Federal Building Museum, built after the bombing of that building, 9 years ago. If you are near that area, you gotta go by and see it, it is put together very well and shouldn't be missed. From there, we checked out the Gateway Arch in St Louis and were surprised that there was a 2 hour wait to ride the gondola to the top. Oh well, maybe next time.
After returning my Bro to his place, I helped him sheetrock and tape and finish the interior of his garage........just what little brothers are good at. I had planned on visiting many of the light houses in southern Mich. but it rained much of the time, and knowing that my unprotected wooden teardrop would turn into cornflakes, I cancelled those plans. I sure was looking forward to a side trip to see Mike and Chell, who are responsible for this board. However, we did make the trek up to Neceda, WI, to visit with Craig and Cary, who gave us the cook's tour of their newly built, Camp-Inn TD factory. What a set up, clean as a whistle and totally brimming with the latest of tools and work stations. Try as I could, they wouldn't take my woody as a straight across trade for their wonderful, Raindrop teardrop trailer. (HI Bettsie)
Visiting the Elkhart RV and MH Museum, was planned weeks ago, and I spent hours checking out all of the many old exhibits, ranging from the turn of the century up to the present. Very friendly people and well planned displays of old model A motorhomes, one teardrop trailer and various old vintage trailers. A must see, if you are in the area. I met the museum administrator and she said she lacked a scale model of a woody teardrop to display in the Research Library. Upon seeing mine in the parking lot from her office window, she asked if I could send her a model of it to add to her collection and display it with the others. So, they have thrown down the gauntlet once again, and it looks like a model is to be in the making.
To my surprise, my daughter in Kentucky asked if I wanted a camping partner on my trip back home. Wow, how neat that was, spending precious "Dad and daughter" time during the 7 day return trip to So Cal. We swung by Western MO and hooked up with Auntie M, and spent some precious time with her. If you are in that neck of the woods, you gotta see her. Thanks, Miriam. One of my favorite sites is Sedona, AZ and I just had to show it to my daughter, who had never ventured off of the interstate, during her honeymoon, over 25 years ago. She was amply amazed and it was worth the time and effort to see all of those red rocks again. (Sorry, Eddie, couldn't make it to Pheonix, this time)
Upon leaving Sedona, it was snowing when we reached Flagstaff, so we decided to head West to warmer climes.......Not so, it was to be 12 degrees in Williams during the night, and so on down to the AZ border. We pressed on to Needles, where we camped in 60 degree temps, enjoyed a hearty ham, eggs and toast breakfast on the river bank with cups of hot coffee. What a way to travel, 27 MPG, 65 MPH and effortless. Sure beats the 8 1/2 MPG I got with the motorhome, some years ago.
All in all, the brand new, Chinese, "may-pop" tires worked flawlessly on the trailer (May Pop Anytime) and the re-packed and new wheel bearings caused no problems. Dispite the snow in AZ and the rain in IL, the woody held up well, and is none the worse for wear. I highly reccomend an under the sleeping bag electric blanket and a small 110V elect heater, just in case. We were warm as toast dispite the lack of any insulation. One night we closed the doors and fired up the elect heater to warm up the sleeping bags and it was 90 degrees inside when we opened the doors, and the temps outside were in the 30's. Not bad.
The very next day after I arrived at home, I had a flat tire on the car, pretty good timing, I say. Probably a nail, since all of the rubber is in good shape. Sure glad it didn't happen in the desert or in 30 degree temps. I am so sorry I didn't get to alter my intended route to visit some of my many teardrop friends along the way, and I thank you all for your invitations. Traveling with others aboard, alters the plans of an old solo teardropper, as you can imagine. Some of my old high school friends in Illinois thought I was out of my mind to attempt such a trip at age 77, but I gotta tell you, I had a wonderful time and am ready to do it again, .... maybe when I am 85 or so, we'll see.
Roly, just a-driving and enjoying my li'l Teardrop!
Ronnie
