whats your camping lifestyle?

[S. Heisley]

When it used to be tent camping, it was to escape the stress and pressures of work and noisy neighbors. As I began to discover all my food allergies, it became a way to travel inexpensively and fix my own food. Then, with the advent of trailer building, it became a way to socialize and visit with my "trailer family". Thanks, all!

[Mukilteo]

They only let us take off one week at a time.
I like to get as far away from the crowds as I can.
I can't get to this spot now because my van doesn't have the ground clearance to cross the dry creek bed to get there.


The Van and the Used To Be 2008 Little Guy Silver Shadow at Snoqualmie Pass.

[Oldragbaggers]

Our teardrop isn't done yet, but the intended uses are:

1.) Cheap travel, the ability to spontaneously get up and go without worrying about hotel reservations, hotel prices, bed bugs, and the cost of restaurant meals.

2.) A place to camp while we explore as many bike riding trails (especially the Rail Trails) as we can get to. Our goal is to ride as many of them as possible.

3.) A way to get away from it all and be alone in the peace and quiet of nature. We also like to hike and there isn't always a 3 Star hotel near the trailhead.

4.) Socializing with teardrop friends. I put this last because it is something we really want to do, but we will do far less of this than the other 3.

It's not really about building trailers for us. As much as I have enjoyed the experience of building my own trailer, an experience I wouldn't trade for anything and which I think will lend a lot to our enjoyment of it, I probably will not do another one. If this one turns out not to be what we need, our next one will probably be purchased. Mostly because the almost 2 years it took me to build it took away too much time that we could have been camping. I mean, at my age how many times do you really want to give up a couple of years of playing to stay home every single weekend covered in sawdust? If I could build as fast as Hodder it would be different. But that's not me.

[91kuhndog]

Slow... my speed is a little different and thats why I'm building a teardrop kichen with a bed. I love to go NASCAR tailgating and racing. Usually 3-5 days at a time. When I meet with the many friends I've made over the years, there are 10-20 of us gathering for good times and great food (and an occational beer ) My role inthe group since I drink in moderation is the camp cook... it's a long story but it's what I like to do when I'm not building projects or working on airplanes. I do relax during these outings and take time to unwind! BTW, my build will be kicking off soon and I'll be sure to capture it and give yall updates.

[PKCSPT]

I use it to run away for a quick overnight me myself and I and a dog as far from people as I can. For safetey I only solo camp in state parks but if I go in the middle of the week I usually have the park pretty much to myself.
If possible I will sneak off with my kids and grandkids for a night or two. Three nights is the longest i have sent in it so far.
My dream is a two week trip out your way and maybe getting in on Walk the Winds in a year or two.

[S. Heisley]

Actually, it felt easier to get away before I had the trailer, when I was still tenting. That's because I wasn't as nervous about it and didn't feel as much responsibility about it as I do now. These days, I have a two page checklist of "to-do's" before I take off on a trip.

Still, once I get out on the road, I love it!

[Vedette]

I use it to run away for a quick overnight me myself and I and a dog as far from people as I can. For safetey I only solo camp in state parks but if I go in the middle of the week I usually have the park pretty much to myself.
If possible I will sneak off with my kids and grandkids for a night or two. Three nights is the longest i have sent in it so far.
My dream is a two week trip out your way and maybe getting in on Walk the Winds in a year or two.

Hey Karen
Walk in the winds is just a fast drive accross South Dakota, stop at Mount Rushmore on to Wyoming the next day. 2 Days from Minnisota if you like to drive..........3 if you are in tourism mode.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[bobhenry]

"socialazation. creativity at building lots of teardrops" AND "cheap way to camp?"


AND cookin'

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I do it to escape from a week of being stuck in the office. For the fun, the relaxation, the friends, the food, and the beer!

[Mary C]

I tent camped because i like to get away from the phone but now we have cells that go with us.When my kids were young it was a family get away and vacation because we could not afford hotels now...........................It is just me and I want to travel and I don't have the $ for Hotels and I have gotten scared about the bedbug problems and I want to sleep tight and not worry about the bed bugs . The other reason is to meet people, socialize and just have fun and......and......... my new reason >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to taste Bob Henry's cooking. Yum Yum !!

Mary C.

[Corwin C]

Almost all of the time I'm boondocking. Usually with extended family. A hundred miles from home is a big trip. Occasionally I drag along the cedar strip canoe. Fishing is fun but I don't worry about catching anything (I've been accused of not bothering to tie on a hook.) I enjoy sitting around the campfire and friendly conversation. I don't mind filling, watching, then emptying the dutch oven either.

[stumphugger]

I was able to and felt I needed to retire earlier than most folks. Planning pays off. Last year I started going to bluegrass festivals. They usually have areas to park and camp. I also go to the coast with friends. We had some good weather in....OCTOBER on the Oregon Coast. We just hung out on the beach. I go to chainsaw gatherings and do some volunteer work.

I'm also thinking of getting a camping hammock because I'd like to go on a few backpacking trips, and I hear hammocks are easier to sleep on than the ground. I hate sleeping on the ground.

[Vedette]

I have been camping for over 50 years......always in a small nylon tent (okay they were canvas when I first started.)
First nylon pup tent for me was 1974 when I went on a month long vacaton to around 13 states with my girlfriend. She later became my wife!.......still have that tent but not her!!
Later on when we had kids we would wilderness camp on weekends, but if we were on an extended vacation we were eithe at a Street Rod Run in a fairground or large campground or we would do Provincial or State Parks.
Street Rodding was and still is a large portion of my life and Rod Run camping became too easy to not do!
Now it is Teardrop Time! Just cant wait to get out there and get started.
We are very much looking forward to this new lifestyle once we truly rertire!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

Look forward to meeting as many of your TD campers as we can.......Please don't be shy!

[Roly Nelson]

I try to make as many gatherings as I can, out here on the West Coast. However, I have pulled the litte woody across country 3 times, visiting folks along the way and checking out my old high school chums in the mid west. If the weather suits me, I simply head off to the nearest lake-side campground, about 15 minutes from my house. I usually stop off for some ice and such then look for the friendliest campers I can find. It works for me, and those last-minute trips are the best kind. My dog loves it, I love it and what more can I say? Lets hook it up and hit the road.
Roly ~~

[Shadow Catcher]

I have been camping for 60+ years and this last summer returned to the first trip I can confirm Big Basin Redwoods State Park. We as a couple started out with the Coleman lantern and the Preway stove my parents bought back in the 1930's. Starting with a canvas umbrella tent. Our kids grew up camping and we eventually ended up with three Kelty tents and the same lantern and stove.
When we first saw RV crazy post empty nest we both liked the idea of a teardrop and I started looking, first because of my QC background at "what fails" wood and rust and I found a start up company building an all aluminum frame. It was a modern version of a Grasshopper, single door three doors in the galley. and one surprise, it had a 4 gal water heater, because they did not know teardrops did not have them. This proved to be one of Nancy's favorite features reducing meal clean up to what it is at home. We traded in MM #1 for MM #7 and it has a galley designed by Nancy and there were numerations other changes including the two doors...
Compass Rose is outfitted for serious boondocking and while we slowly move into that we also enjoy Tearjerker gatherings and as our grandchildren grow time camping with them (we still have the tents). CR has all of the comforts and at a certain age that is not a bad thing.