Starling Travel

When we were camping at Lake Havasu in January this year, I saw this centerpiece on a picnic table.

It’s an inexpensive solar light that has been mounted on an inverted terra cotta pot. It is utilitarian, but it provided a lot of light at that picnic table that night.

I have been trying to find a pretty way to have a solar lights at the campground. I had made some hanging solar lights, but the wind damaged half of the eight that I made, so I gave up on them.

I then put them into a candelabra, but the wind knocks it over as well.

The terra cotta planter is impervious to the wind, but it’s not very pretty. I’m still trying to find a way to make a beautiful solar lamp for camping that won’t blow away in the wind. When I find it, I’ll share it with you.

I found this 1951 Mobile Cruiser on KSL Classifieds. While it’s far bigger than I want in a camper, it is a beautifully preserved trailer from the classic age.

Their description is so alluring:

Stored inside for all but approx. 15 years of its life, this little gem is near new condition. WIth a little attention it could look like it just came off the show room floor. (Continue Reading…)

This lovely animated GIF of a babbling brook was created by Head Like an Orange using footage from the BBC’s Wonders of Life series.

I love to just watch the water flow in this image. I can imagine the sound of the water in my mind and can smell the algae accumulating at the edges of the brook. The sunlight is glinting off the water and blinding me with tiny burn marks on my eyes. I want to walk through the water, but it is so cold that my toes protest.

The next time you need a break from work, come to these crystal clear waters and spend a minute at this babbling brook.

You can see some highlights from BBC’s Wonders of Life here:

Via: WIL WHEATON dot TUMBLR

I was wondering if it’s possible. Is there hope for fifth wheel owners out there to create an adorable trailer that attracts people to their campsite? When I did a Google image search for the words “adorable fifth wheel,” “cute fifth wheel,” and “darling fifth wheel.” The only thing that came up were two images: This one of a Richard Neuman drawing:

The other image is this Yellowstone camper photographed by Bolerific. It isn’t a fifth wheel, it’s a bumper pull trailer with a bunk overhang, but it IS an example of how you could make your fifth wheel camper adorable.

The only other creative fifth wheel I could find was this one owned by Vance and Kathleen Hamiliton featured on Fifth Wheelin’.

A fifth wheel trailer is much more stable and safe to tow than a traditional bumper pull camper. Why is it that they haven’t been adopted and adored by the Canned Ham people? There are plenty of them on the used market. Why aren’t they being snatched up, painted and remodeled?

I think the Canned Ham people are more about nostalgia than about utility. Those trailers are the campers that the baby boomers grew up in, so that group of people is intent on making them whole and adorable again.

Fifth wheels, on the other hand, are the nostalgic loves of Generation X and Y. I suspect that in ten to fifteen years, you’ll see a plethora of adorable fifth wheels just making all of us drool with their cuteness!

I found a really interesting invention floating around the patent filings and it makes me wonder why I haven’t seen it on any campers:

• United States Patent: 3511529

It is a collapsible room for portable campers. It looks pretty non-descript on the back of this truck camper when it’s folded up:

When it’s deployed, however, it opens up a huge tent room. (Continue Reading…)

I saw this video on YouTube and I just cringed with dread.

The description was bad enough:

Redneck Camper Removal

The Canadian way of removing a camper. 1 redneck driving. 4 rednecks and a 150 lb Lanseer Newfoundlander giving instructions!!!

At this point, I was just squirming with discomfort.

The proper way to remove your truck camper is to raise it with the lifts and then slowly pull the truck forward. After the truck is clear, you lower the lifts until the camper is stable (although leaving on the ground can cause rot).

This particular camper was recycled, so the damage it might have incurred being removed like this wasn’t important. In the end, they just parted it out.

NOTE TO TREE-HUGGERS….WE ARE GREEN “REDNECKS” …. WE RECYCLED EVERYTHING from the camper …. then of course BURNED the rest. WE had enough money for 10 cases of BEER (CANADIAN of course!!)

Here is a fast forward video of the proper way to load up a truck camper.

I found this camper on KSL Classifieds the other day and it really got me thinking.

The big question I have is, “Why?” (Continue Reading…)

There is so much awesome going on in this photo from URTrekking, that you really have to click through to the full-sized image to fully enjoy it.

• Untitled By UrTrekking – Full Size Image on Flickr

From the canoe to the SpringBar tent, this photo is like stepping into a camping trip. It was taken in Marion, Pennsylvania, probably at Bald Eagle State Park. I can just imagine them canoeing on Foster Joseph Sayers Lake.

The next time you are feeling trapped at work, take a moment and really let yourself step into this photograph. Take a deep breath and smell the damp air blowing off the lake. Relax in the chairs or take a nap in the tent. After just a few minutes imagining yourself into this photo, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day anew!

Just a quick link:

• Mello Mike’s Truck Camper Adventures: RV Wet Baths: Pros, Cons and a Few Tips

We don’t have a bath in our tent trailer and I am always tempted by one. This article is a great reference for taking care of one if I get one and the reasons to upgrade or leave well enough alone.

I absolutely adore this 1970 14 foot Rancho Beach Trailer on KSL Classifieds!

If you look carefully, it’s not really a canned ham shape. The Rancho trailers had a style all their own, but they ARE more boxy than a cute little canned ham trailer.

All the difference on this adorable trailer is the paint job and decorating. And if you thought it was cute outside, you’ll ADORE how good it looks on the inside! (Continue Reading…)