This is the difference between Seattle rain and Midwest rain... with Midwest rain - and wind and thunder and lightning - it seems like the world is ending. With never-ending Seattle rain, you just wish it would hurry up and end already.
Turns out my tent shelter isn't really built for Midwest rain. It very nearly blew away, since someone didn't think stakes were necessary.
I made it! Today saw 5 states... left South Dakota this morning, and cruised through Minnesota (stopped for gas near the biggest porn shop I've ever seen... was a little scared), Wisconsin (stopped for cheese), Illinois (got flipped off in Chicago traffic- feels like home already!), and ended in Indiana. I rolled through Chicago at about 8 PM Central, and was set up at camp by 9:30. Now I'm feeling rather decadent with my facial mask, glass of wine, air conditioner, and HBO on the iPad. Is this still in the realm of 'camping'? Does it count more because I have some inconveniently located bug bites?
I got the girls safely inside the room at the Badlands Inn during the crazy thunder and hail storm this morning, only to turn around and lock myself outside. UGH!
Once I got a hold of someone who could let me in, I found that it was raining right through the closed window, and about four feet into the room.
The kicker? My little camp trailer stayed perfectly dry inside.
Stormy sunset view from the new second-floor room
Yellow mounds
Whoo hoo!
Paleontology lab
Beasts
Prickly pear
Employees are allowed to bring their dogs to work at Zoot. We stopped by just in time for a fire drill, and made lots of new friends.
The night at the Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park campgrounds started late (arrived at 11 pm), so I popped the roof as silently as I could, and crashed. Then I spent the morning doing some organizing and cleaning inside. I opted to not tour the caverns, since it was a 2 hr time commitment, and no dogs.
Here's the camper basking in the morning sun. I think she likes Montana... even with all the bugs.
Lesson #1: Don't leave the camper plugged into your car overnight. Once it drains its own battery, it'll move on to the one in your car.
Lesson #2: Carry jumper cables.
Lesson #3: Electric appliances don't work when the GFCI has been tripped.
Getting all the links worked out early on, you see. Damn newbie.
I got Maddox tired enough to pass out at Camping World while my fan was getting fixed.
Last Seattle stop (well, before getting gas) is Kreg's house. He checked out my trailer and showed me the water hookups & drains. I had a vague notion (RTFM!) of how it worked, but it's nice to have a seasoned RVer offer advice.
This screen room attaches to the top point of the Aliner and more than doubles the living space.
The girls are getting used to the camper, even with the shaky feeling that comes from not putting the stabilizers down. Now I just need a dog blanket big enough for this king sized bed!
Yes, I got the car serviced. And the camper. Boy... it's like I have two dozen sets of parents making sure I'm ready for the trip. I'll never be ready, no matter how new my brake pads are.
But just so you all feel better:
But damn. Thanks, Visa... I owe you one. Or two. Thousand.
I had pretty much given up on the girl-in-camper adventure idea... all the pop-up trailers for sale online were too far away, too expensive, or too heavy to tow with the Forester. Think: 2500 lbs, $15k, in Pensacola. Just as I started researching motels that allow dogs, I found a camper. It's a barely-used 1998 Aliner. It was for sale in Brier (4 miles from my house) for $6,000. It weighs less than 1000 lbs. I made a quick visit, handed over a $300 cash deposit, and got a receipt written on a post-it note.
Shiny new trailer hitch and 7-pin wiring for the lights & brakes.
The body is ~12 feet long. The overall length from the front hitch to the spare tire is ~15 feet. The dry weight (without water, propane, or any of my stuff) is 995 lbs.
Window bubbles pop open, and the 'Fan-tastic' reversible fan (top, center) can bring fresh air in, or push hot air out. Propane tanks under the plastic cover in the front. Side panels allow access to the furnace for maintenance, the outside shower, potable water tank, RV hookups, and some other stuff that I can't remember.
Exterior showing spare tire, side portal to storage space, and exterior air conditioner bump. The bubbled rear window allows for headroom while sitting on the back sofa. Side windows slide open.
Back couch & dinette, which converts into a bed.
Sitting on the bench on the right is a solar panel that can be used to charge the battery, which I'm not sure I'll use. Maybe someday I'll get it installed.
Built-in shelf with paper towel and paper plate dispensers.
Propane stove, sink with hot & cold running water, and fridge. Propane furnace below sink.
When not in use, the toilet/shower nook offers storage or counter space.
Hose yourself down while sitting on the can. Toilet paper stays dry in the water-tight pop-up dispenser on the left. This cracks my shit up... literally.