Posts by Kyle Bolstad

Blue Ridge Parkway

Posted on Nov 6, 2011 in Airstream, Featured, Places | 0 comments

Blue Ridge Parkway

There are about 4 million miles of public roads in the United States. 120 of those public roads are considered National Scenic Byways. And 31 of those byways are considered All-American Roads because they have features not seen elsewhere in the U.S. With 20 million annual visitors, the most popular All-American Road is the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina. It has no stop signs or traffic signals, no interchange ramps, no commercial vehicles. With no straight section–well, anywhere–and two lanes the entire length, the speed limit is 45mph. But no one...

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ILOVENY

Posted on Sep 22, 2011 in Airstream, Featured, Places, State Parks | 0 comments

ILOVENY

On my way to Vermont, I stumbled upon a little place called upstate New York. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Niagara Falls, Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, the Adirondacks. Waterfalls, vineyards, orchards. Mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, log cabins. Ballooning, soaring, skiing. Ivy leaguers and manufacturers. Who knew? I didn’t. I spent the first several days in the Niagara Falls region. I think every kid in America has heard of Niagara Falls, so I figured it was probably worth checking out. The falls are on the Niagara River, part of the border between Ontario, Canada and the...

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What’s Our Vector, Victor?

Posted on Jul 9, 2011 in Airstream, Featured, Places, Stories | 6 comments

What’s Our Vector, Victor?

So this is the last night of my three-week stay at Cushing Field, a grass airstrip on the outskirts of Chicago airspace. Why park the Airstream at a grass airstrip for three weeks? Well, they let me stay here as long as I rent an airplane every so often. I think I can handle that. Along with the obligatory refresher of take-offs and landings, and the scenic tours of the Illinois Valley with an occasional passenger, I did two pretty cool things during this stay at Cushing. I have always wanted to take my golf clubs in the airplane and find an airport right next to a golf course. So I did it!...

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The Keys Disease

Posted on May 27, 2011 in Airstream, Featured, National Parks, State Parks | 2 comments

The Keys Disease

Looking for a laid-back atmosphere in a frost-free climate with 1,700 islands of coral reef no more than 20 feet above sea level? Oh, and you want to drive there from the continental U.S.? Then head to the archipelago just a few hours south of Miami commonly known as the Florida Keys.

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Land Yacht Harbor of Melbourne

Posted on May 5, 2011 in Airstream, Campgrounds, People | 4 comments

Land Yacht Harbor of Melbourne

Land Yacht Harbor of Melbourne (or LYH as the residents call it) is an RV park in the Orlando area of Florida. I use the term RV park loosely, as it is really more of a close-knit snowbird community built around RVers. Airstreamers built the park in the 1970s, and up until a few years ago, only Airstream brands were allowed to stay. They have since relaxed their rules and let in SOBs (Some Other Brands) -- their words, not mine -- but over 80% of units at LYH are Airstreams.

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3-2-1 Liftoff!

Posted on Feb 26, 2011 in Airstream, Featured, Places, Stories | 10 comments

3-2-1 Liftoff!

Imagine a nine-year-old kid who, in 1984, was so fascinated with the first launch of the Discovery space shuttle, he painted the space shuttle for a summer art class. Fast forward nearly 27 years and imagine that same kid watching the final launch of Discovery--in person--with his very own eyes.

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Old South

Posted on Dec 5, 2010 in Airstream, Featured, Places | 2 comments

Old South

I have always had this fascination with old and new, a vintage look in a contemporary world. Why do you think I chose an Airstream as my home? I have been lucky enough to visit historic cities like Montréal, Québec City, Williamsburg, St. Augustine, Savannah. Add Charleston, South Carolina to that list and put it right near the top!

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Three Letters: O-B-X

Posted on Nov 20, 2010 in Airstream, Featured, Places | 2 comments

Three Letters: O-B-X

The Outer Banks (OBX), a strip of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, was my home for almost a week. It is most famous for Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, the area where the Wright brothers first took flight in their Wright Flyer back in 1903. As a pilot, it was pretty cool to stop at the Wright Brothers National Monument to see firsthand where this magical moment took place.

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Delmarva

Posted on Nov 14, 2010 in Airstream, Places, Stories | 1 comment

Delmarva

Next golf stop on the Eastern Seaboard: the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Officially, I had been to these states before, but it was just traveling through on the interstates. This was a chance to knock three states off my golf list.

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Down East in Maine

Posted on Nov 5, 2010 in Airstream, National Parks, Places | 1 comment

Down East in Maine

After 61 days, 24 campgrounds, 10 provinces, four Walmart parking lots, and one brief scolding at the U.S. border, I made it back to the United States by way of the great state of Maine. With no plan whatsoever, I ended up spending the night at a grocery store parking lot in Machias, where the overnight low dipped down to 28° (uh, that would be Fahrenheit). After thawing myself out in the morning, I made my way to the scenic town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Imagine a small college town, on the water, and next to a national park. Throw in some friendly people, an airport offering...

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Brogue with Peanut Butter

Posted on Nov 4, 2010 in Airstream, National Parks, Places, Stories | 0 comments

Brogue with Peanut Butter

I’ll admit it. Until recently, I only had a vague junior high recollection of Newfoundland, and I couldn’t even really pronounce it correctly. For the record, the locals place an emphasis on the “new” and “land” parts of the name, and pronounce “found” like “fun”. But more on that later! I wanted to spend a few weeks in Newfoundland, but the weather and marine gods wouldn’t have it. The main ferry from Cape Breton Island to Port aux Basques broke down, so I spent about a week hanging out in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. Once ferry...

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Tha Gaol Agam Ort, Alba Nuadh!

Posted on Oct 10, 2010 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, Places | 7 comments

Tha Gaol Agam Ort, Alba Nuadh!

The second province on my tour of the Canadian Maritimes is Nova Scotia. As much as I loved Prince Edward Island, I think Nova Scotia is my new favorite. Technically a peninsula, mainland Nova Scotia is nearly surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. As such, everything seems to revolve around the sea. (Hence, all the photos of boats!) While PEI was incredibly rural, Nova Scotia has many more urban areas, particularly Halifax. I was pleasantly surprised by this capital city. The geographical location alone makes it noteworthy. Add the historical culture, the friendly people, and the vibrant...

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Prince Edward Island, “The Gentle Island”

Posted on Sep 28, 2010 in Airstream, National Parks, Places | 2 comments

Prince Edward Island, “The Gentle Island”

Raise your hand if you remembered–or even knew–Prince Edward Island is an actual province of Canada. Is your hand raised? Mine isn’t either. Prince Edward Island, or PEI, is about the land size of Delaware with no more than 150,000 full-time residents (tourists don’t count). And almost one-third of the people live in the capital of Charlottetown or the town of Summerside. The result: a pastoral landscape with a relaxed way of life that is hard to beat! Since it is an island surrounded by salt water, much of the economy revolves around seafood: mostly lobster, mussels,...

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Je me souviens

Posted on Sep 19, 2010 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, Places | 5 comments

Je me souviens

Not only is French an official language of Canada, it is the only official language in the province of Québec. As such, French is extremely prevalent in Ottawa (Canada’s capital city), Montréal, and Québec City; three of my favorite cities in all of Canada. The many dialects of Canadian French are different from traditional Metropolitan French in France, but it all sounds the same to me! With my rediscovery of the French language, I understand much of the written word, but it is next to impossible for me to speak it or understand the spoken dialogue. No matter, for the...

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Bigger IS Better, Eh!

Posted on Aug 29, 2010 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, National Parks | 6 comments

Bigger IS Better, Eh!

OK, so I know what I said about Yosemite, and I know what I said about Yellowstone, and I know what I said about Glacier. Forget it all! None of them can really compare to the unparalleled size and beauty of the Canadian Rockies, specifically Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. I spent most of my time in the towns of Banff and Lake Louise. Banff is a trendy town about an hour west of Calgary, Alberta. Why is it called Banff? It comes from Banffshire, Scotland, the birthplace of one of the major financiers of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Lake Louise (named after the daughter of...

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How To Live Full-Time in an Airstream

Posted on Aug 22, 2010 in Airstream, Featured | 13 comments

How To Live Full-Time in an Airstream

I often get asked for tips and tricks to live full-time in an Airstream — and still live a half-way normal life. Now that it has been well over two and a half years, I guess it is time I write about everything that helps me live that half-way normal life on the road. Who knows? Maybe you will learn something! Even you full-time RVers. Before I begin, try to imagine my living space. The official length of the Airstream is 23-feet, but this includes the 3-foot hitch outside (“marketing math” I guess). At a width of 8-feet, this means the total area inside is 160 square feet....

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Six-Zero-One Charlie Foxtrot

Posted on Jul 31, 2010 in Airstream, Places | 1 comment

Six-Zero-One Charlie Foxtrot

I finally got a chance to try out that new pilot’s license at a hidden gem of an airport just outside Chicago. The locals call it Cushing Field; I call it heaven. It doesn’t have a control tower. It doesn’t have jets waiting in line. It isn’t surrounded by congested airspace. It doesn’t even have pavement. It is just a grass airstrip out in the country with genuine pilots hanging out there each and every day. I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much, I parked right next to the runway, plugged in to the flight school electricity, and stayed a couple weeks. In...

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Wild Wild West

Posted on Jun 13, 2010 in Airstream, National Parks, Places | 2 comments

Wild Wild West

I grew up in Montana, but spent the latter half of my life in the Chicago area. Apparently I had forgotten the vast rawness of the western part of the US. Seriously, other than the highway itself, it felt like man had never stepped foot into many of the scenic byways of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. As I drove through the eastern side of Yellowstone in Wyoming, the steam from geysers melted the snow-covered timbers burned from a previous wildfire, boulders tumbled down the sheer granite cliffs, bison and elk grazed steps away. I spent several nights on public land,...

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Avalon and Santa Catalina Island

Posted on May 16, 2010 in Airstream, People, Places | 1 comment

Avalon and Santa Catalina Island

So I meet a lot of interesting people on the road. Every so often, some of these people let me into their own lives. While waiting for some repairs in Long Beach, I met a couple who has lived full-time on Catalina Island for the past 20 years. They invited me on a personal tour of the island, and I quickly accepted. Part of the Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island (people just call it Catalina) is about 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles. I opted to take the hour-long ferry ride to get to the island, but one day I will fly to the Catalina Airport myself — one day. It was a pretty...

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Ding! You Are Now Free to Move About the Country

Posted on Apr 26, 2010 in Stories | 5 comments

Ding! You Are Now Free to Move About the Country

Anyone following my journey for the last year has probably noticed my lack of traveling the past few months. Well, that is about to change! The reason for my stationary status was due to one reason, and one reason alone: flying lessons. On my 35th birthday, I passed my check ride and officially became a licensed pilot. Legally it is a certificate and not a license, but I won’t get into semantics. Anyway, with my flying lessons complete, I will finally be leaving the San Diego area to explore the rest of the US and Canada. Before I get back on the road, I thought I would share my...

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America’s Finest City

Posted on Jan 17, 2010 in Airstream, Places | 2 comments

America’s Finest City

Dubbed “America’s Finest City,” San Diego has always been on my list of cities to visit. And since the rest of the country seems to be permanently frozen, now is a perfect time to stay warm in “America’s Finest City.” San Diego (and the surrounding area) definitely has my attention. The geographic diversity and climate changes of the beaches, valleys, mountains, and desert are refreshing. So far, I have checked out downtown, Point Loma, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Torrey Pines, East County, and Julian. And there is still more to see! I...

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Southern Comfort

Posted on Dec 6, 2009 in Airstream | 3 comments

Southern Comfort

So I left all my winter gear in storage somewhere in Chicago. That means I will spend the winter months in the warmth of California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. It also means very few blog updates for the next couple of months. In the meantime, be sure to follow me on Twitter! Here are some of the sights on the “quick” westbound drive from the panhandle of Florida to the coast of California. Mississippi/Louisiana Highlight: Leaving (to be fair, didn’t go to New Orleans — yet) Texas Highlight: Salt Lick BBQ (yes, it is that good) New Mexico Highlight: Carlsbad...

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My “Remember…” List

Posted on Nov 14, 2009 in Airstream, Note, Stories | 1 comment

After two and a half years of full-timing it in the Airstream, I have compiled quite a list of “less than stellar” moments. As you can see, I tend to do something at least once a month that makes me just shake my head in amazement.   2009 April 28 Remember to secure latch, so blender doesn’t fly out of pantry and shatter lamp April 29 Remember that lighted cabinets will singe pillows if stuffed absolutely full May 2 Remember to lock cargo container, so two backpacks don’t fly out on open road May 2 Remember to empty gray water tank, so shower doesn’t...

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Fall in Vermont

Posted on Oct 23, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, Places, State Parks | 5 comments

Fall in Vermont

Do you like apples? Do you like apple cider? Do you like apple cider donuts? Do you like small towns? Do you like friendly people? Do you like small towns full of friendly people? Do you like rolling hills, mountains, and change in elevation? Do you like?… yeah, yeah, yeah, you get the point! Vermont is an interesting state. It is the second least-populated state; it has the smallest capital city; and no other state has its largest city as small as Burlington (around 40,000 people). This small town atmosphere is refreshing. Vermonters are just some of the nicest people I have ever met. I...

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Factory Fresh

Posted on Sep 30, 2009 in Airstream | 5 comments

Factory Fresh

On my way from the West Coast to the East Coast, I stopped in Jackson Center, Ohio for a visit to the Airstream factory. What a cool place! I went to get some repair work done, but I have to admit, I also wanted to tour the assembly line and meet some of the people that made my traveling home. The people could not have been nicer; everyone from the front desk to the technicians doing the dirty work. It truly was a productive (albeit expensive) couple of days. It all starts at 7AM sharp when a guy with a John Deere tractor picks up the Airstream at the Terra Port (a free campground for...

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The Goonies, Gastronomy, Golf, and a Goose

Posted on Sep 8, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, Places, State Parks | 11 comments

The Goonies, Gastronomy, Golf, and a Goose

I am writing this near the shores of the Pacific Ocean — in front of a campfire — at Harris Beach State Park, easily my favorite of all the campgrounds in Oregon. It is a fitting way to end my exploration of the great state of Oregon. Oregon, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First, one of the best movies of the ’80s, “The Goonies,” was filmed in Astoria and Cannon Beach. Who doesn’t love that movie? Second, fresh, local, incredible food is available from undiscovered vendors at farmers’ markets in downtown Portland. Pair it with a bottle of wine...

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Good Night, Seattle

Posted on Sep 3, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, National Parks, People, Places, Stories | 0 comments

Good Night, Seattle

It has been a crazy busy last few weeks. I left the Airstream at Elwha Dam RV Park (just outside Port Angeles, Washington) and flew back to Chicago. I was relieved to return a week later with everything just as I had left it: in the middle of the woods — unhooked — just running off the solar panel. During my stay in Port Angeles, I was able to see a little bit of Olympic National Park. It is very scenic, but just doesn’t compare to Glacier or Yosemite. Inching my way closer to Seattle, my next stop was Port Ludlow, Washington. A sleepy little town west of Seattle, it has a golf...

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O Canada!

Posted on Aug 16, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, Places, Stories | 6 comments

O Canada!

I just spent the last week in British Columbia, Canada, and absolutely loved it! With the metric units, a little of the French language, “loonies”, “toonies”, and “.ca” web addresses galore, it was an exciting adventure. It all started with a checkpoint at the U.S./Canada border in Douglas, B.C., just north of Seattle on I-5. According to the “real-time” digital sign, the wait was supposed to be “up to 5 minutes”. Clearly, the sign lied. I waited in line with hundreds of other motorists for almost half an hour until reaching a pair...

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Old West One Day, Bavaria the Next

Posted on Aug 12, 2009 in Airstream, Places | 2 comments

Old West One Day, Bavaria the Next

I left the Flathead Valley of Montana, and headed west up through the panhandle of Idaho. This was done entirely to cross “State #31″ off my “Golf 50 States” list with a round at an unassuming course in Priest River. It was just me, carrying my own bag, in flip-flops, khaki shorts, and a t-shirt. It was awesome! After feeding my addiction, I crossed the border into the state of Washington, following the curvy, mountainous highway through towns with names like Tonasket, Omak, and Okanogan. With the record-setting hot weather, wildfires kept popping up all over the...

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Home, Sweet Home

Posted on Aug 4, 2009 in Airstream, Featured, National Parks, Places | 3 comments

Home, Sweet Home

There is nothing quite like going home, especially when it is as beautiful as the Flathead Valley in northwest Montana. I grew up just outside the town of Bigfork, a “picturesque and charming place”–Chamber of Commerce words, not mine–on the shores of Flathead Lake, the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi. With well over 10,000 miles logged in the last three months, it was time for some much needed rest and relaxation, time off the highways, and time away from the “ExxonMobils/BPs/Shells/Flying Js” of the world. I have filled up with gas exactly once...

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Oregon, Part 1

Posted on Jul 27, 2009 in Airstream | 0 comments

Oregon, Part 1

From the Napa Valley, I made a beeline to northwest Montana for a few weeks with my family. This is just a quick snapshot of central Oregon, with much more to come when I go back for an in-depth tour of the entire state later this summer. 9 Photos View of Mt. Shasta Entrance to Crater Lake Crater Lake Crater Lake Yes, snow in July! Crater Lake Crater Lake Boondocking along shores of Columbia River Typical scenery on interstate highway along Columbia River

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Big Sur to Sonoma

Posted on Jul 15, 2009 in Airstream, Featured, Places | 7 comments

Big Sur to Sonoma

Pacific. Coast. Highway. Drive it. Seriously, it has to be the most scenic highway in all of America. My plan is to eventually drive all of Highway 1 from Canada to Mexico, but that is for another time. For now, I found plenty to do and see along the P.C.H. from Big Sur up to Sonoma. I had an outdoor dinner with impressive views at Big Sur, hung out with great friends in Carmel and Monterey, golfed at the famous Poppy Hills Golf Course along 17-Mile Drive, made it over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, drank some of the wonderful local wine in Napa Valley, and took in the...

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The Grandeur of Yosemite

Posted on Jul 7, 2009 in Airstream, Featured, National Parks | 3 comments

The Grandeur of Yosemite

So, remember when I said Lake Tahoe had the most impressive scenery and extreme driving requirements to match? Scratch that, because Yosemite National Park now takes home top honors. I think I spent the entire weekend with my eyes wide open, grasping for a description of the sights. The one word that came to mind was “grandeur”. The first part of Yosemite actually started out a little rough. I left Tahoe with a full tank of gas, a gung-ho attitude, and a campground reservation just on the other side of the park. By the end of the day, all three were in short supply. After a...

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Mountains, Mountains, Mountains

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Featured, Places | 4 comments

Mountains, Mountains, Mountains

After months of anticipation, I finally got to test out the Touareg and the Airstream in the mountains. Admittedly, I still haven’t done the tallest peaks on my itinerary, but I got up over 7,500 feet with some serious ascents and descents. My first mountain stop was in Park City, Utah. I actually had forgotten it was on my route, and had no plans to stay there until I rolled through on I-80. I pulled up Google Maps, picked the first campground on the list (Park City RV Resort), and ended up staying a couple of days. I toured Olympic Park, visited the trendy downtown, and even drove to...

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The Rain Falls Mainly in the Plain

Posted on Jun 27, 2009 in Airstream, Places | 2 comments

The Rain Falls Mainly in the Plain

The last week was generally spent avoiding wind shears, rain storms, tornadoes, hail; you name it. Serious storms moved through the Great Plains, and I was lucky enough to drive my home right through the middle of it all! I keep a close eye on the weather with my iPhone, pay attention to weather reports, and ask the local campgrounds. So far, so good! I slept in one state park, one Good Sam’s, one KOA, two private campgrounds, a driveway, a basement, and one Wal-Mart parking lot! I had some great barbecue in Kansas City, Kansas (yes, the Kansas side) and bought the new iPhone 3G S in...

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Willkommen in Amana Colonies

Posted on Jun 18, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Places | 2 comments

Willkommen in Amana Colonies

Alright, boys and girls, time for a quick history lesson. In the early 1700s, two men with Lutheran backgrounds traveled throughout Germany and Switzerland forming small congregations of followers. They believed in a peaceful, quiet way of life and strictly followed scripture. By 1855, this growing community had over 1200 members, and was forced to find land in America. A group found attractively priced farmland in eastern Iowa and built a village. They chose to call it Amana, which means “to remain true”. The village (and six other villages in the surrounding area) were all part...

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Miss Michigan

Posted on Jun 16, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Note | 0 comments

After logging 1600 miles around the state in the last two weeks, I can safely say I have seen all Michigan has to offer! And, yes, I will miss it. Instead of leaving Michigan last week as originally planned, I decided to stay and use my brand new annual vehicle permit for Michigan state parks. After leaving the Battle Creek area, I cut back across the state through Ann Arbor. I see why they call it “The Big House”. No, I didn’t get thrown in prison. The University of Michigan football stadium; that place is enormous! I stayed on the shores of Lake Erie at Sterling State Park...

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I’ll Take One Pastie To Go, Please

Posted on Jun 9, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Places, Stories | 3 comments

I’ll Take One Pastie To Go, Please

I must have passed a dozen signs in the Upper Peninsula for these things called “pasties” (no, not those kind) before I finally stopped to try one for myself. It turns out a pastie (rhymes with “nasty” but is oh, so good) is a folded pastry filled with meat and vegetables. Somewhat of a tourist attraction in the U.P. these days, it was originally a convenient staple for the miners in the 19th century. Mmmm, tasty! After my hearty lunch, I crossed over the magnificent Mackinac Bridge  to spend a few days in northern Michigan. My favorite towns were easily Petoskey,...

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Picture Perfect

Posted on Jun 5, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds | 7 comments

Picture Perfect

Right on the cliffs of Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore definitely ranks as the most scenic–and remote–spot on my journey thus far. To get there, I drove from Chicago, up through Wisconsin (thanks for the fine amenities, Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Ray), through Cedar River, Escanaba, and Manistique in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and into the national park near Grand Marais. Once in the park, the first 11 miles or so were a nice and easy jaunt along a paved highway. Simple, right? Then, out of nowhere, the pavement suddenly turned into a one-lane dirt road cut right...

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Mayberry

Posted on May 30, 2009 in Airstream, Note | 4 comments

After another night at a Wal-Mart parking lot in South Bend, Indiana, I found a real house with a real bed and a real shower. I ended up staying all week with friends in Western Springs (a.k.a. “Mayberry”), a suburb of Chicago. We even got permission from “Barney Fife” to leave the Airstream parked on the street overnight. Thanks to all the people who stopped by to see a tour. There is an open invitation for anyone I met in Western Springs to come visit me on the road! I needed to come back through Chicago, yet again, to get the stabilizer fixed (learn more about this...

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Move Your *bleep* Camper!

Posted on May 27, 2009 in Airstream, Note | 3 comments

So 99.99% of the people I meet on the road every day are some of the nicest, warmest, most caring people I have ever met. Well, I just met the other .01%. It started when I temporarily double-parked the Airstream on a street next to Hamilton Lake in Indiana. I checked with all the neighbors and everyone was totally cool with it parked, so I left it. It turned out it was cool with everyone – everyone except the one guy whose driveway was partially blocked by me. He came home absolutely blotto drunk and mad as hell that some “camper” was blocking his driveway. I believe his exact...

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Plenty of Pokagon and Potawatomi

Posted on May 22, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, General, Note, Stories | 11 comments

I spent the last two nights at Pokagon State Park in the northeastern corner of Indiana. Although the camp sites themselves only offer basic electricity, the rest of the park has plenty of activities and facilities (e.g. bike trails, fishing, hiking, horses, toboggan run, etc.). Who doesn’t like a good ol’ toboggan run? For state parks in the Midwest, this is a good one. I spent many, many hours at the Potawatomi Inn because of the free Wi-Fi. AT&T and Sprint aren’t doing so well out here. I learned another valuable lesson on the first night here – don’t be an...

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Pit Stop

Posted on May 19, 2009 in Airstream, Note | 0 comments

I came back through Chicago to check in at the Viewpoints office and get some repairs made at the Airstream dealership. It was a very successful trip. I drove the Airstream right down to 444 N Wells to show everyone my new home. I would have stayed longer, but the friendly Chicago parking brigade threatened to tow and ticket me if I didn’t leave immediately. Then it was off to Joliet to fix the handful of issues from the trip out to Connecticut. The Touareg had a blown fuse (near the passenger-side door if anyone else happens to be searching for the 12-volt tow accessory fuse), so that...

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From Yale to Penn State

Posted on May 17, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, Stories | 0 comments

I left New Haven today to head back through Chicago. Right now I am staying in the middle of the woods at the Bellefonte KOA campground minutes from Penn State. I am pretty much set with free Wi-Fi and basic hookups. This place is perfect; the owners are incredibly friendly, the site is well marked, and it is centrally located near I-80. I will definitely be back! By the way, other campgrounds take note. While parked at a rest area in New York, I used my iPhone to search ReserveAmerica, reserved the exact pull-through location at the Bellefonte KOA in Pennsylvania, paid in advance via credit...

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Passing Grades

Posted on May 15, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds, People | 6 comments

Well, I successfully made it from Chicago to New Haven, CT! After one denial to stay at a Wal-Mart parking lot (the toothless workers freaked me out anyway), one night in a rest stop off I-84 (right next to the State Police), and one night in a park surrounded by mobile homes (again, toothless neighbors), I am so glad to finally have a quiet and scenic spot at Hammonasset Beach State Park. This is my first self-sufficient multi-night stay (i.e. no electric hookup, no city water, and no sewer). It will be a great test to see how long the tanks and batteries will last! Another little test was...

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Membership Has Its Privileges

Posted on May 10, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds | 0 comments

Membership Has Its Privileges

Spending last night in a Wal-Mart parking lot was actually great. It was quiet, paved, level, and free! And in the morning I stocked up the Airstream with some groceries. [Mental note: I am spending way too much time at Wal-Mart.] I will definitely do it again; however, tonight is something completely different. I found a sweet place in western Pennsylvania that has one rule – Airstreams only. I love it! I counted around 25 different Airstreams on the 60 acres here at Penn Wood Airstream Park. The scenery is absolutely beautiful! Goodbye flatland of Illinois/Indiana/Ohio, and hello...

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The Adventure Begins at a Wal-Mart Parking Lot!

Posted on May 9, 2009 in Airstream | 0 comments

Talk about a crazy place to spend the night. I am writing this from a Wal-Mart parking lot just outside Toledo, Ohio. This afternoon I left Chicago for my first solo cross-country trip to New Haven, CT. The plan is to take my time, spend most of the work week in northwest Pennsylvania, and eventually roll into the New Haven area later in the week. I have a few places in mind, but if anyone has any suggestions for local attractions along the way, send me an email. I am always on the look out for local diners, drive-ins, and dives that serve good eats! Assuming I still want to continue this...

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St. Louis – Uhhh, Wait – Galena, Here We Come!

Posted on May 2, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds | 2 comments

The beauty of this whole adventure is the ability to change plans on the fly. With the weather in St. Louis not cooperating at all, we changed our destination to Galena, IL. After a late start from Chicago and surprisingly bad traffic, we didn’t pull into Galena until well after dark. And, with all the pull-through spots taken, I was forced to back into our spot (without scaring too many of the neighbors). Thank you, Kim and Max, for acting as human guideposts! Other than an embarrassingly noisy hitch, everything has gone rather smoothly. Seriously, I have to do something about that...

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Tested the Waters, Literally

Posted on Apr 29, 2009 in Airstream, Campgrounds | 5 comments

It is getting close to my departure date, so I figured it was about time to actually spend some trial time in the Airstream. I successfully made it through two days and one stormy night in my new aluminum home; parked in a campground just outside Joliet, IL. I didn’t think it would ever stop raining, but everything (and everyone) held up just fine. Talk about crazy weather for my first night in it! Even the Touareg is all wired up and ready to go. Steve at US Adventure RV is the man! I got the chance to hook it up myself and take everything out for a test drive (with adult supervision,...

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You’re doing WHAT?

Posted on Mar 22, 2009 in Airstream, Note | 0 comments

The responses to my decision to live full-time in an Airstream are evenly split down the middle; it’s either “You’re doing WHAT?” or “Wow, that is !@#$% cool!”. It will definitely take patience, but the rewards are — as they say — priceless. In order to do this, I am selling sold almost everything in my Chicago apartment. For those of you with all kinds of questions, here are some answers (I hope). Why Airstream? One word — iconic. Beyond looks, I hope an Airstream will be more energy efficient than, say, a Winnebago. Do you have any...

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