The Original TrailerChic

Hope you’ve all had a fantastic summer – apologies for the silence on my part, we’ve spent quite a bit of time camping in our trailer and enjoying every minute of it!!  A few weekends ago, as a large group of us were getting ready to head home, a darling friend gave me a book titled “Women Travelers – a Century of Trailblazing Adventures 1850-1950”.  Her daughter had given it to her, and she asked that I enjoy it as she had and then pass it along.  What great stories of passion and conviction – it’s amazing to imagine the hardships in pursuing your dream, and easy to admire the strength to overcome them in any decade.

In my last article, I described the journey my husband and I, along with several friends, took in restoring our vintage Airstream.  She’s absolutely beautiful, complete with every convenience we imagined we would need while Glamping so what on earth possessed me to buy my sweet little 16’ Airstream?  I was inspired by …ok I’ll admit it – I was JEALOUS of…. my friends Cari & Rhonda who could simply pick up and head out with their trailer to the next adventure.

I was so proud of myself for towing Bubblelicious home from Southern California all by myself…and then I met someone who completely redefined my image of a confident, brave and independent women.

Allow me introduce you to Darlene – my muse and my “Original Trailer Chic”.

There’s a community in Lacey, WA where all of the residents own an Airstream.  We go there every chance we get, slowly driving up and down each street – admiring the wide variety and vintage of Airstreams.  One in particular, a late 70’s motorhome with the number 29 (their club membership #) and seven red stars had me yelling at my husband to stop the car!  I jumped out to snap a photo – astounded that the owner had belonged to the club for at least 35 years (a star represents five years of membership).  Fast forward a few years – I led a caravan of seven Airstreams from Oregon to Lacey (with Bubblelicious in the lead spot of course) to take part in their annual Crab Feed and met this incredible woman at dinner…guess which trailer is hers?  Yup, #29!!!

Darlene worked for the Airstream organization for over 20 leading…that’s correct…LEADING almost 30 caravans to Mexico and Central America. Listening to her describe the many nuances involved in entering foreign countries (think $$), the people she met and the adventures she had during those 30 caravans is like taking a step into a wonderful book.

She moved to Lacey shortly after losing her beloved husband and bought the motorhome so that she could continue her adventures.  Bright & early Sunday morning following the crab feed, there was Darlene and her furry companion Duchess…along with a few pink flamingos courtesy of yours truly, leading a group of trailers off on a fishing caravan.

My husband and I have adopted Darlene, and vice versa, and are absolutely giddy when we get to spend time with her.  I only hope that I’m fortunate enough to accumulate so many memories in our camping adventures – whether with friends or off on my own in Bubblelicious.

Safe travels –
Mona