We have yet to formally introduce ourselves here at the website, but have posted a few times with Gage and gang about Towerfest and then again Marti and her wonderful awnings.
We recently purchased the Teardop from Matt down in Socal featured in the following thread:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=51530
We have been mostly camping with my customized(By Me) 1991 Starcraft 15' Pop Up Tent Trailer. Has a retro 50's farmers theme too it. We were coming across a few teardrops here and there while camping in Marin County(Staycation) and got the bug! A nice couple from Berkeley had their Homebuilt teardrop all decked out in Cal Berkeley Colors so we had to introduce ourselves and have a look see. We were smitten right there and then.
Tired of the Jack in the Box approach to camping and the two preteens needing to go into tents...the search was on. I first grabbed the Bible of Teardrop book(Teardrops and Tiny Trailers) and started to drool... I also pulled up the articles on the "Trailer for Two" article and the "Tears of Joy" to do our preview. We both love watching Californias Gold with Huell Howser, and target our camping and vacations around his local finds. Saw the old show about his visit to a socal gathering of teardrops and made the divine decision to sell the Starcaft and find that teardrop!!
Of course when you want something you can neverfind it!! I scoured Craigs List and ebay. Somehow I came across this site and started lurking. Noticed the add by Matt and his build and consruction caught my eye. Matt being a Licensed and professional cabinent maker add a sense of comfort when I started talking with him. This being new construction and built for his family made the comfort level go way up. After 20 calls and emails of Q&A, it was time to roadtrip it down to SOCAL with the family! Now because we watch Californias Gold I wanted to stop in Bakersfield and eat at the World Famous Woolgrowers Basque Family Restaurant. We starved the kids and got there in time for lunch. Huell Howser loved it and all the people were so nice to us helping us order and telling how to make the most out of each dish. We got pictures with all the owners and being my birthday it ended up being a really special time. The diversion to Bakersfield added a couple of hours but actually had us miss a major construction project pre grapevine that narrowed 5 down to 1 lane!!
Up and over the Grapevine into a pouring rain lightening storm, that had all the kids excited and at the same time angry as heck as they were planning on jumping into the hotel pool when we arrived in Simi Valley.
Pre hotel we met Matt somewhere to take ownership of the trailer and meet his two little girls, of course he was so polite and answered all our questions, and he also showed off all the extras that I requested to surprise my wife (Individual reading lights, custom matching interior cabinents and couple of odds and ends(trailer receiver for bike Rack). Hand shakes and goodbyes and then to hotel and kids and daddy jumping in the pool.
One thing on my too do list was the Ronald Reagan Museum in Simi Valley. Republican or Democrat this Museum is a must see!! It is so impressive and so well done, I am speechless about how much of an impact it made on me and my family. It brought back so many emotions and memories of that time frame in my life. The kids loved all the interactive exhibits and of course being able to walkthrough Airforce one!! This place is an all day adventure and well worth it. They also had a Disneyana exhibit as well that featured many treasures of Walt Disney and props from many old movies and current ones that are not avaible to the public anywhere else. Kids loved that as well.
What a trip to pick up the teardrop!!
Instead of heading back up 5 and the 100 degree temperatures we took the Pacific Coast Highway and enjoyed the ocean breezes and all the coastal communities. When we stopped for gas people would come up asking many questions and always were smiling when they got the 5 minute tour. We stopped for a late lunch in Arroyo Grande at a Santa Maria steak place I know, we parked off in a residential area. This nice lady comes running out of her house barefoot asking us to please tell us all bout the trailer!! Starving as ever we glady told her all about it as a proud parent would. She was just so excited and talked about how she wants something small like this for travel and camping. She gave me her business card and I promised when I got back I would giver Matt's information.
One last quick story involved going to the DMV to get VIN, Title and Reg. Lined up for inspection and out comes this really nice lady in a beautiful Yellow/Gold Sari dress on to inspect the Teardrop. She was unkowning but was saying outloud "this is so cute!", "this is so Cute!" "I have to get Margarita to see this!!" She loved everything about it and the self closing drawers that Matt put in put everyone over the top!! Next thing I know half of the DMV employees are outside going crazy over the teardrop! One lady was so excited she asked if she could hop in!! Another Male employee said this was more better than the Ferrari that was here yesterday!! All of the sudden all these people were now my freinds at the DMV helping to make sure I was in and out and done so quickly...what a positive feeling I had felt at the DMV
I took pictures of the people taking pictures at the DMV.I have been personalizing the Teardrop with bits an pieces that I will share post Towerfest as I want it to be a surprise for Gage and gang. After Towerfest we are on our way to Lake Tahoe for a week and the campgrounds at Fallen leaf Lake with the kids. Lake Tahoe is so beautiful...we in California are so lucky to have so many fine examples of California Gold!!
If you would like a copy of this monologue on VHS or DVD please send 5.99 and we be happy to send you a copy.
Take care!!
Dawn And Dave
PS: Is there a list of all the Bay Area people??
