Time to say goodbye...

[John&Vicki]

We live in Central Oregon and 10 days ago decided it would be nice to go to the Oregon Coast in order to escape the heat here. We were fortunate to get one of our favorite sites at one of our favorite campgrounds, South Beach State Park, which is just south of Newport on the Central Coast.

We had a great stay with weather from heaven - cool temperatures, warm sun, very little fog and very little wind. I remember a line from an old song: "The bluest skies you have ever seen are in Seattle". I think they might be in Newport,Oregon.

We broke camp for our drive home and we were sitting on the picnic table for a break when my wife pointed to the car and said what's that smoke. There was light smoke coming on the back of our 2006 Mercedes ML500 that we have used as our TV for eight years. We opened the hatch and there were flames coming from the rear left compartment that houses the signal lights and wiring. I quickly extinguished the pretty impressive flames with a fire extinguisher that we carry by the door of the trailer (like everyone else I hope).

The damage was limited but the car was inoperable. So we're sitting in a site that has people coming in (the Oregon Coast is cheek to cheek this time of year) and we're trying to think through the logistics. As everyone knows, towing rates are exorbitant and there we sit 180 miles from home with an inoperable TV and a 25' trailer.

Fortunately I had purchased the additional coverage from Airstream that provides for towing up to 100 miles for the TV and the trailer. Now what was within 100 miles? We ended up having the TV towed to the Mercedes dealership in Salem and the trailer to the Airstream dealership in Eugene, each just below 100 miles away.

We rode to Eugene in the tow truck hauling the trailer (I guess you can tell where our loyalties lie). Spent the night in a nice hotel we like there and got to work contacting the insurance company and the two dealerships. We're dealing with some good people (God bless Oregon) and things are slowly getting sorted. We rented a car for one week with drop-off in Central Oregon at an exorbitant rate but we are now at home, both a bit worse for wear. Enough wear to give up Airstreaming and sell the trailer I'm afraid. I'm 78 and my wife is not too far behind me and we just don't have what it takes. It seems that everything is way more tiring than it used to be and we don't have much resiliency.

I had listed the trailer a couple of weeks ago as a bit of a trial balloon but we just couldn't part with it. But it's time and I've relisted it. Tough call but a man's got to know his limits. Aging seems to be a succession of giving things up, doesn't it?

Thanks for listening.


Cheers,
John (and Vicki)

[field & stream]

Ooooh ….. you will be missed. We’re not young any more either and have talked about such a decision. Sigh …….

We hope to keep up the traveling to the same places we love so much, and avoid the dreaded hotels and motels by renting cabins in the parks. Not the same, but not bad.

Very best wishes ……..

[Burnside Bob]

Dear John:

Your posts will be missed.

My wife, who posts here as "duncans", was just lamenting her knees and her elbow, all of which trouble her more and more. Yes, we are of the same age cohort.

Ironically, we had reservations, made 6 months earlier, for Link Creek Campground on Suttle Lake for the same day you escaped Sisters' heat for the coast. Not wanting to endure triple digit heat at the lake, we canceled the first nights of our reservation, but 30 June saw us coasting off Santiam towards Sisters. As we made the Suttle Lake turn off, another Airstream passed us by. "Could that have been John and Vicki?"

We guess not, as you have now explained.

Maybe reconsider? Best to you both.

[skyguyscott]

So sorry to hear of your misadventure at the end of your last trip out. A couple of thoughts:

Great to hear your last Airstream outing was a good stay in a favorite spot.

Just because you're parting with the travel trailer does not have to mean giving up travel, or even camping. There is still a whole big world out there to explore in a variety of different ways, and many more interesting and magical places to which you cannot tow even an Airstream! Go forth while you still can, once you recover from this last trip.

I hope you can continue to contribute what wisdom years of experience have given you here to us newbies, hapless and confused owners, campers, rascals and in-over-our-heads refurbishers -- we need all the help and advice we can get.

[Hittenstiehl]

What a story and good quick reflexes on your behalf in minimizing your damage.

I saw your trailer get listed a while back and wondered what you were doing. Understandable that you reconsidered.

But now you've gotten another sign and you are listening to your gut, heart and head.

As said, life is still full, good and adventures and hobbies come in many forms. It's just not going to include Airstreaming.

Safe travels

[bweybright]

So not to be rude....but what is your age in years and lifes stresses? I am at a point where I am looking to when I have to call it off. Your experience is totally what I am realizing could happen to me...just wondering when, not if.
I ask age and lifes stresses as there a difference in my mind. Any guiding thoughts are most welcome. I am sorry on one side, but happy you made it through things okay.


More important you are on the coast and live in Sisters...I can be there tomorrow and tow it home for you. PM me or call: 845-797-8878.

Bob

[Lily&Me]

I believe that when it’s time to go…from whatever or whoever…we know that instinctively.

And good for you for knowing when to fold.

It’s going to happen to all of us.

All the best,

Maggie

[OTRA15]

Well said Maggie.

Thank you John and Vicki for many years of informative posts and photographs . . . well done!

Happy Trails.

Peter

[drbrick]

Your story made me sad ... I am so sorry that you are giving up something you love. Mona and I are in our 76th year of life and streamer since 2018 (tenters for 25 years). Your story causes me to reflect the face all life's adventures have their time. Sad but true.. Our hope for you is that perhaps a a smaller AS - easy tow will be in you future.

[Airtandem]

Have you thought of going to a small contained RV ? Interstate etc.

[Airtandem]

P.S. you are too young for a recliner. I'm 81+ and still going, but with shorter travels.


Just adjusting to my limitations.

[DaveG]

Originally Posted by Airtandem

Have you thought of going to a small contained RV ? Interstate etc.

"It's always to early to quit" Not sure that is always the case. We are fairly new to Air Forums and hope our personal comment is okay. We can relate to your situation. We are both in our 70s. When we have scaled back it sometimes felt good, a sense of relief. A few other times kind of the opposite. (Bet some sales person would love to take in a trailer and sell an Interstate )

[rodsterinfl]

The Mercedes and smoke from electrical- sounds familiar. What kind of batteries do you have in the Airstream, just curious. Lead acid, Lithium?

The reason I ask is that I was leaving Top of Airstream park four years ago and my then two year old F150 started smoking like crazy and stopped on the hilly road between the campground and the town. The truck would not start for a while. I was able to get out of the road by unplugging the cord and getting the truck started. Later, it was found to be the OEM brake controller and its electrical harness. The inside smoked up really bad too. I thought it was on fire. Found out there were SIX revamps on the brake controllers. The dealer said that it can happen when too much current is drawn?! I had been hooked up all week to AC and have three lead acid batteries.

I dont know you but I am sorry to hear you may give up something you really like to do. My parents and I purchased a multi-generational home and I work with them. They are a bit older. We discuss things quite a bit and I say enjoy and do. When you start making careless mistakes regularly, stop and get me. I think that is the key- did I cause this or was it circumstantial?

[FlyingCloud7]

John
We’re sitting in our flying cloud in Sisters as I write this. Very sorry to see you go.
Let me know where you have your AS listed as I have a cousin looking for one now.
Thanks and happy trails however you decide to travel.
Rich

[Voltair]

“We had a great stay with weather from heaven - cool temperatures, warm sun, very little fog and very little wind. I remember a line from an old song: "The bluest skies you have ever seen”.
John n Vicky your above quote says it all dosn’t it!

At least keep it in the driveway just in case :}
All the best to us all with no rash and sudden moves.
Rus

[LaRoze]

We just got our Basecamp 16x and we are only 51 and it is so hard! We are impressed with all the retirees out there doing this! If you are still good drivers, yeah maybe something self contained? Doesn’t airstream make a van maybe? Best wishes on your future journeys whatever they may be.

[John&Vicki]

Sold to the first person I spoke with on the phone, a great Airstream enthusiast from New Mexico. Many thanks to the forum.

Cheers,
John

[John&Vicki]

I’m having trouble marking the classified as sold. Can anyone help?

Thanks,
John

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

[Hittenstiehl]

J&V
I sent a pm to a moderator and wrote sold in the forum section for you.

[John&Vicki]

Thank you my friend. I’m going to miss this group.

Cheers,
John