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**Stefrobrts** · 05-17-2004, 06:09 PM

We just got back from the Silver Trailer Social in Calistoga California. It was a blast! We had a great time getting there, toured our way through the redwoods along the N. CA coast, stopping at tourist attractions along the way - I love that stuff.

When we got to the rally we discovered there were five Caravels there - four 68s and a 67. One of the 68s was Craig's from Vintage Vacations, and he had completely gone through it and done all kinds of cool little things to it. It was for sale. The Caravel owners immediately got together and started going through each other's trailers, checking out who had what. There were actually a lot of differences, particularly between Ohio and CA units. Some had light wood, some had dark, and all the 68s happened to have dinettes. The 67 was the only one with a gaucho in front. It was great to see all the other Caravels!

There were lots of other cool trailers as well. Lot's of airstreams, and some canned hams, a shasta, a teardrop, a couple really cool aerofoat (I think), and a clipper, among others. It was a blast to go touring through them all.

There were activities and polishing demos, and a potluck, but mostly there was lots of time for just sitting around and making friends, hanging around the campfire at night, and a sing-along even broke out the last night. It was a real blast. Without a doubt the most fun I've ever had at a rally. Even my husband didn't get bored. Definitly worth the 1400 mile round trip!

jordandvm · 05-17-2004, 06:57 PM

Hey, Steph, don't you ever work! Seems like you just got back from your trip to Silver Falls State Park, and then off you go again! That's not fair!! Seriously, your trip sounded great...lots of fun sharing with other vintagers. We just got back from a trip to Central Oregon, stayed at a Thousand Trails Preserve as a guest (of them) and thorougly enjoyed it (but didn't purchase membership, much to their chagrin!). Have lots to tell about it (but not on this thread).

norbert · 05-17-2004, 06:59 PM

cowabunga!...great pic steph!
norby

flyfshr · 05-17-2004, 07:15 PM

Steph - that sounds like some fun. Post some more pic's when you can, I know you took tons. Who from the Forums did you meet up with?

FF

67caravel · 05-17-2004, 09:01 PM

Sounds like a great time - especially seeing Paul and Babe, two of my heros!

Great pic!

X

**Stefrobrts** · 05-17-2004, 09:04 PM

Actually my camera was acting weird and I didn't get as many pics as I wanted. I'm still shrinking them, but here's one of the outside of the Vintage Vacations Caravel - talk about shine! I'm kicking myself now for all the pictures I didn't take - oh well, just an excuse to go back next year.

I did meet some folks who used the forums, hopefully they'll post and say hi here. I have a feeling many of them were lurkers. Wouldn't want to 'out' them

**Stefrobrts** · 05-17-2004, 09:10 PM

Here's the row I was in. I never would have guessed there would be so many little airstreams there. The campground was full of Caravels, Bambis, Pacers, and I think a bubble or wee wind - tiny stuff! There were a lot of very nice globetrotters, Safaris, a couple Tradewinds, and I think one or two big guys. There was a '48 airstream with the rocketeer looking front end - my husband wants one of those now. It was just too cool.

One thing I didn't think to do was wash the trailer before we got to the campground - so everyone else was showing off their shine and we were wearing 700 miles of road dirt! Next time I'll at least swing through a u-wash-it!

67caravel · 05-17-2004, 09:18 PM

Stef,

Curious, what were they asking for the Vintage Vacations unit? Looks pretty nice!

Thanks for the fotos!

X

Van · 05-17-2004, 10:12 PM

Was this just an "Airstream" function? Or were there Argosys, Avions, etc?

Safari Tim · 05-17-2004, 11:11 PM

Wish I would have known you were there

My family stopped by on Saturday to have a looksy. I wanted to find out about Craigs trailer for sell but he always had an audience

Here is a shot of one of my favorites...

**Stefrobrts** · 05-18-2004, 09:31 AM

Hi Van, there was everything there. That's why it was so cool. I love Airstreams, but I wanted to see how other manufacturers decked out their trailers too. Just about everything was represented there, silver streak, avion, shasta, and some really weird stuff like that Trailorboat - cool!

Tim, I wish you'd said hi. Did you peek in our Caravel with the tropical print covers on the cushions? Lots of people looked inside and said 'hey, I've seen your website'

Craig was asking $35k for the Caravel. It is polished to a mirror shine, and has the coolest aluminum cover on the air conditioner you've ever seen. Inside he rebuilt everything, and it's just gorgeous, of course. I thought the coolest part was that he improved all kinds of little things, but it still has the basic Caravel layout, which can't hardly be improved upon. Here's a few snaps I took of it. I'm going to use some of these ideas in mine.

Safari Tim · 05-18-2004, 10:14 AM

Steph, I think we did look into your caravel. We rushed thorugh a lot though.

I had a 14 year old who did not really want to be there and a 2 year old who wanted to be every where!

$35k Wow! I wonder if he gets those prices. It was nice though. I did not get to go inside. The polish job was pretty good. About the same as mine ;-)

The polish winner though was the hosts trailer. That one was really good.

**Stefrobrts** · 05-18-2004, 10:30 AM

Shirly and Arlen's Globetroter was spectacular! I was starting to think maybe I should put some effort into shining mine up, the polished ones all looked so nice.

The day with everyone coming through and looking at the trailers was crazy. Of course we were out checking out other trailers as well, so we weren't always at ours. At one point when we had come back and were kicking back in the trailer with another owner, a family poked their head in, and their little kid says 'ewww, this one stinks inside!' and ran back out! Her mother couldn't have been more appalled - 'I'm SO sorry!' she says

Too funny! We were just cracking up!

$35k seems like a lot but he'd done a super job on it. I'd take it over a new Bambi any day. It's polished, great layout, lots of little upgrades, brand new top quality wood cabinetry and fabrics, and on top of all that you get to hang with the vintage crowd. Pretty good deal for someone who doesn't want to rebuild their own, but has the money to spend on a new Bambi.

InsideOut · 05-27-2004, 08:19 AM

Quote:

$35k Wow! I wonder if he gets those prices.

Yep...he does! I'd love to have one of his projects....maybe someday ~

Quote:

$35k seems like a lot but he'd done a super job on it. I'd take it over a new Bambi any day. It's polished, great layout, lots of little upgrades, brand new top quality wood cabinetry and fabrics, and on top of all that you get to hang with the vintage crowd. Pretty good deal for someone who doesn't want to rebuild their own, but has the money to spend on a new Bambi. 05-18-2004 10:14 AM

I'm with you Steph...very cool, like an old ship or train car...every bit as nice (or better!?) as a new trailer...HANDMADE & attention to every detail!

Shari

minkus · 05-27-2004, 08:47 AM

Hi Steph. Out of the closet we come! Yes we did get to meet, and I think we had a nice talk with you Sunday. We left the tradewind at home, and had the '53 Clipper and '46 teardrop there. We had gone to a couple teardrop meets, but this was our first trailer gathering, and it was in deed fun. Great bunch of people, and we learned a lot. We made 3 pages of notes for what to bring next time, so it should get better each time.

Sorry PINK you couldn't come. I was sure there wasn't a '67 tradewind there. Since you are close, I am sure we will run into eachother somewhere.

Bruce and Laura

jaco · 05-27-2004, 08:59 AM

Interesting gathering. I first read about it a year or so ago on the old VAC-List (now the VAL-List) seems Tom Patterson attended a year or so back in one of his non-Airstream Silver trailers.

What is the history of the event? Is there a sancioning group like TinCan Tourists or such? Is this always in Northern California? (one of the greatest places on earth more or less, so why not..?)

You know I have always wondered how someone would be viewed who wanted to attend and partake but wanted their own trailer to be off-limits for tours. Not everyone is an exhibitionist are they?

I want to look at yours, but not sure I want you to look at mine..

Would that make one an outcast?

Seems like somewhere there is a thread (maybe not on this forums) that dealt with little lymericks and quotations that could be put on a sign to hang outside trailer door. These would "politely" or "plainly" indicate wheteher your castle was on the "tour route" now or ever.

Course we all have heard about the If it's rockin ...dont bother knockin signs, but these were less "timely".

Any idea where that thread is ?

**Stefrobrts** · 05-27-2004, 09:40 AM

Hi Minkus, yes we did talk! My husband LOVES the clipper. Very cool.

Jaco, the Social is just a private party I believe, put on by Shirly and Arlen, and they invite anyone who wants to come. Fees and the raffle cover the costs, and they put on a heck of a party. It was really relaxed and laid back, and everyone was out wandering through each other's trailers, even on the first day. It really was very social. Of course, I keep my trailer pretty neat and clean anyway (you have to with only 17ft to play with), so I didn't mind people wandering in and looking around. I pretty much had the door open the whole time, even if I was out looking at other people's trailers. However if you didn't want anyone looking in your trailer, just shut the door. As we were going from rig to rig if we saw a door shut we just went on to the next, and never thought twice about the folks who were closed up. There's so much to look at nobody will mind skipping a few. It really was very fun and 'social'

minkus · 05-27-2004, 09:48 AM

I think there were a couple trailers there where no one was home, and the door was closed. It didn't seem to cause any major panic. Plenty others to see.

**Stefrobrts** · 05-27-2004, 10:42 AM

One time we were out looking at other trailers and left our door open so folks could look in ours, and we came back and the toilet seat lid was up! We were both hoping they hadn't looked in there, but I know I left the lid down! That wasn't supposed to be on the tour

Good thing it was clean!