November/December 2024 Photo Challenge

[SteveNdebbie]

Dream Stream

As we are already past the middle of November, this photo contest will run from now until the end of December. When you look for the Photo Contest, one first goes to the Community Section where you find the Airstream Lifestyle Forum and then the subforum Photography. This gave us the idea for the November/December contest which is Dream Stream. What were you dreaming of when you chose to purchase your Airstream? What lifestyle were you looking to achieve? Was it to be a part of a community such as attending rallies? Was it a way to explore unfamiliar places yet still be able to go “home” and relax at the end of the day? Were you seeking adventure or solitude?

For us I call it our “Condo on Wheels”. It is a comfort to always have your vacation home right behind you wherever you go. Home cooked food, a comfortable bed, a clean restroom, and just general familiarity.

So, let’s see some photos that show your Airstream Lifestyle. We are looking forward to the variety of ways Airstreamers interpret this.

Here is an example of our dream from last weekend's camping.

Have fun with this!

Steve and Debbie

[SteveNdebbie]

Our example

[overlander64]

My dream Airstream Combination for travel anywhere in the USA and Canada:



My Airstream dreams were triggered when I was five years old when friend's of my family invited me to spend a night in their brand new 1964 Airstream Overlander Land Yacht International. I never forgot the fun of sleeping in that hammock bunk and how striking the Airstream looked when hitched to their 1957 Mercury Monterey Hardtop. From that time forward I was a pest to my parents always asking, "When can we get a big silver trailer like our friends?" My parents did make one foray into the RV World with a 1969 Chevrolet Pickup Truck and 1969 Sunway Cabover Camper -- no one liked camping in that rig including me. It was traded on a 1971 Buick Sportwagon and a large Cabin Tent became our camping equipment until 1980 when we acquired our first travel trailer, an ill-fated purchase of a 1980 Nomad Light Weight Special 18-foot travel trailer, that while very comfortable for camping, it was so poorly built that it was self-destructing by the time that it was three years old so it was traded on a low-mileage 1980 Toyota Corolla that I drove my last few months of college and then through my long job hunt. Finally by 1995 I was at a point to buy my dream Airstream, and I was ready to buy a new Airstream. I drove four hours to the nearest Airstream dealer only to be disappointed to learn that my desired floor plan had been discontinued several years earlier and nothing was offered that even remotely resembled my desired floor plan so began my six month search for a pristine pre-owned Airstream with the floor plan that I wanted. Six months of searching and over 30 trailers later, I was at the point of giving up when I spied an ad in a trader publication for a trailer over 10 years older than I had been considering, but it sounded like what I was looking for so I scheduled an appointment to lood at the rig. When I drove into the drive, I was impressed as it looke better than most of the trailers that I had examined that were 15 years newer, yet it was 31 years old. The owners met me, introduced themselves then invited me to spend as much time as I liked getting acquainted with the trailer. It was like a well-preserved time capsule inside -- very little to no wear on the upholstery, drapes or anything that I could find. In fact everything that I tried worked and the air conditioner had the trailer nice and cool on the hot summer day when I was looking. I was told to help myself to a cold soft drink from the trailer's refrigerator. It was amazing -- my dream floor plan, and only a little minor cleaning needed to be ready to camp. I made a deposit on the trailer that day, and returned a week later to pay the balance of the asking price and tow it home. I own that trailer to this day, 29 years later, and discovered about a year after purchase that it was the same Airstream that those friends had owned in which I had spent my first night in a camper. Within a few years, I had it setup and connected to my dream tow car, a 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. I was only able to enjoy my complete dream combo for a few years as the Cadillac was stolen in 2016.

[SteveNdebbie]

What a great post! Thanks for sharing your dream. My wife had a similar experience in 1976 when she was about the same age. Friends of her family had an Airstream and she the other kids would go play inside it. She has a great sense of design and style (Fine Art major in college) and loved the camper. When we started looking at travel trailers for our 30th anniversary, it became apparent rather quickly that it would be an Airstream. Ours was 11 years old when we bought in 2017 and it has been perfect for us.

[Airlock]

Sunset at Palm Oasis...Joshua Tree National Park...

[NutmegsCamper]

This is how we envisioned and designed ours with a bit of a tropical beach feel to it.

[PrairiePete]

This is Sol Duc campground in the Olympic Peninsula. Probably in my Top Five campgrounds.

[JCRC]

We have lived fulltime in our restomod 75 Argosy for over 3 years. We have traveled back and forth across the states, and this year we decided to be warm for the winter. This picture was taken near the sand dunes outside of Guerrero Negro, Baja. We drove all the way to Los Barrilles, BCS, where we are spending the winter on the beach. Oh, did I mention we are towing with a 69 Dodge flatbed carrying a 60 Baja bug? The second picture is a FANCY park just outside of La Paz, BCS. Life is for living, and our Argosy is the perfect way to see as much as we can.

[SteveNdebbie]

These posts and photos of your “Dream Streams” are outstanding! We are really enjoying these. Love the cabin in the woods and I have never seen a setup like JCRC’s flatbed carrying the “toad” (more like a bug hitching a ride?) with the home in tow - so creative!

This is looking to be a fun thread! Thanks!

SteveNdebbie

[Trekers]

One of the things we wanted to use our Airstream for was getting off the beaten path while still having amenities and a comfortable bed at the end of the day. Parking our home on wheels in a dark sky area is one of the many benefits of our dream come true!

[Starlight Mike]

/Users/michaelrafferty/Desktop/Fogo Island.jpg/Users/michaelrafferty/Desktop/IMG_8883.jpg

From Fogo Island, Newfoundland to Lake Okeechobee, Florida, the fun never stops

[timelord01]

Overlander64 Great story! I'm really sorry to hear about your Eldo getting stolen.

We had several trailers when I was a kid, starting with Shastas and then moving into Airstreams. I'll post my memories/stories later, but I had to share a similar picture with you.

Here's my mom & dad with our 1972 Eldorado and 1976 Fleetwood Brougham, and 31' 1978 Airstream International. Both had the 500cid engine, which had no problem pulling the trailer. My dad used to joke that he got 11mpg solo, and 9mpg with the trailer. No big difference!

[Bergs]

Camping on a drizzly weekend in our 28ft International. Propane fire reflecting off the wall. Our dog enjoying life. This is what Airstreaming means to us. Pure relaxation.

[overlander64]

Greetings timelord01! Welcome to the Formus!

Originally Posted by timelord01

Overlander64 Great story! I'm really sorry to hear about your Eldo getting stolen.

We had several trailers when I was a kid, starting with Shastas and then moving into Airstreams. I'll post my memories/stories later, but I had to share a similar picture with you.

Here's my mom & dad with our 1972 Eldorado and 1976 Fleetwood Brougham, and 31' 1978 Airstream International. Both had the 500cid engine, which had no problem pulling the trailer. My dad used to joke that he got 11mpg solo, and 9mpg with the trailer. No big difference!

With my 1975 Eldorado, I averaged 10 MPG towing the 1964 Overlander while I could get 11 MPG towing the 1978 Minuet. Its solo fuel economy hovered right at 12 MPG. The crazy thing is that my 1992 Buick Roadmaster Limited returns about the same fuel economy towing, but averages 24 MPG solo -- of course it has an overdrive transmission that the 1975 Eldorado didn't possess. I just wish that the Buick had the torque of the Cadillac's monster V8.

Kevin.

[bmc5311]

Guadalupe River State Park

[BTCMUSN]

Angel Fire New Mexico, July 2024

[Spartanfam]

...while technically late October, it felt like November.

[grw50]

How do I add a photo?

[SteveNdebbie]

Hello grw50!

Looks like this is your first post, so welcome to the forums (member since 2020?). It used to be easier to post when the Airforums phone app worked, but now I use my laptop. To post a picture, go to quick reply at the bottom and then click on "Go Advanced". Then under "Attach Files" click manage attachments that opens a box to choose files on your phone or computer. Double click the file/ picture and that will go unto that page. Then upload file.

Simple - Right???

If anyone else knows a better way, please tell!

[overlander64]

Greetings SteveNdebbie!

Originally Posted by SteveNdebbie

If anyone else knows a better way, please tell!

I don't know that it is any easier or better, but it is the method that I have used for over 20 years:

1. Create Photo Album under Photos Tab at the Top of the AirForums Home Page
2. Create File Folders as Needed within your Album
3. Upload the Photos that you wish to share with other Forums Members
4. When ready to share a photo in a post, open AirForums in a second browser window
5. Open your Member's Photos Page
6. Navigate to the Folder within Your Page where Photo is found
7. Open Photo
8. Right Click on Photo then select Copy Image Link from the Pop-Up-Menu
9. Return to the AirForums window with your Post
10. Select the Yellow Landscape Icon at the top of the Reply to Thread Window and Paste in the Link that you Copied and Click "Ok"
11. The photo from your album is now attached to your post where your cursor was located when you selected the "Landscape" button.

I have found this method to be convenient as the photos that I uses for multiple posts are readily at hand in my AirForums Album.

Kevin