Moving into a new home always takes us a few days. Day one we just load everything inside, and then Ali spends a couple days finding a place for everything. About day four she starts pointing out projects for me to do. And by day five we’ve got hooks hung, small broken bits repaired, baskets strategically placed, and it suddenly feels like we’ve lived there forever.
We spent the first two nights at Old Man’s Cave about a seventy mile drive from where we picked up the Airstream. Our first drive towing around 3,600 (?) pounds went well. The truck towed smoothly, the trailer brakes performed their job (I’d had a brake controller and new wiring plug installed a few days earlier), and I backed into our spot like an old pro. We’ve got a leveling hitch which needs to be adjusted, but because it won’t quite clear the bumper we’re going to have to stop in at a trailer shop and find a solution. Right now the tongue weight is too heavy. I think after we get that sorted it should tow even nicer.
When we arrived we climbed inside to find that a tv had been swinging wildly on its mount and had damaged all the wood around it. Perfect, we haven’t had a tv in 13 years, and this is what happens immediately upon receiving one. Needless to say, the tv was the very first thing we removed from the trailer.
The kids disappeared outdoors for hours at a time, and we were reminded again why we love this lifestyle. Park two kids in the woods and there is basically an unlimited supply of adventure to be had.
Like finding a guitar.
On night two it rained and we had the first test of the claim that nothing leaked. Hmmmmmmm.
What it looks like inside when we’re not tearing it apart. We’ll be toning down some of the color. It’s a bit too much like a diner for our tastes. Fun, but sort of exhausting when it’s your full-time home.
Welcome to West Virginia.
From Old Man’s Cave we continued on without a plan, which landed us in a crappy county park on night three, but by night four we were tucked into another quiet spot in the woods—West Virginia woods. Kanawah State Forest. Getting here was our first experience with the uncertainty of turning onto a narrow road in the woods, unsure if it is the right direction, with barely enough room for two cars to pass, and no possibility of turning around with an Airstream on the back. Into the West Virginia backwoods we went. We got lost. Ran out of gas on a ridiculously steep hill (thankful again for two tanks). Got lost some more. And finally, greatly relieved, ran into the campground, and parked up in the woods next to a creek.
Ali, from fifty yards away, “What are you taking a picture of? Why are you pointing the camera up so high? Where’s Ouest!”
Can’t go to bed with dirty feet.
When we pulled up to this camp in the woods, with the creek running alongside of us, we told the kids to run off and play while we got set up. They immediately disappeared up the creek. About a half hour later I grabbed the camera and headed their way. They were building a dam, so I snuck up behind a tree and took a couple pictures of them. Then I took a few steps to the side for a different view. I heard something move in the leaves behind me and turned to find a Northern Copperhead flailing about where I had just stepped.
My killer instinct apparently squashed a venomous snake. He rolled around a few times, mouth wide open, ready to strike despite dying.
Nearby was an old guy in overalls who looked like he’d know a thing or two about snakes, and sure enough he turned out to be from Louisiana and Mississippi, and had been bitten five times in his life. He used a stick to pinch the snake’s mouth open so we could all see the fangs come down. He asked if we wanted to skin it, and when we told him no thanks, he turned to his daughter and asked if she wanted some snake for dinner. She politely declined as well.
Two happy kids. Their feet have been wet and muddy for three days straight.
25 Comments on “Back to Nature”
Great photos! My first thought on reading that you stayed near Old Man’s Cave was, “copperheads!” I recall hiking around there as a little girl in the mid to late 70’s. We saw bears, eagles, copperheads, black rat snakes, and a rattler. It was great being in the forest with the moss and smell of pine. I hope you and your children enjoyed it. We sure did!
I have many fond memories of camping in West Virginia. I grew up camping there, then raised our kids camping there. Check out Blackwater Falls State Park if you get a chance!
SNAKEBOOTS!!! FOR THE KIDS??? Now that’s scary..
TICKS! Yep, diner look but so what its still cool. Might want to look into refilling painted propane tanks.
Yeah, might be a problem in the States. Won’t be in Mexico, though.
I just made a run from Canada down through the Daniel Boone National Forest, the Smokies and, finally, Talladega National Forest, camping in my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee (just picked up a few weeks ago). You guys have inspired me. I am now in Destin, Florida for the winter, but will be back on the road in the Jeep next spring.
How the heck do you always find those cool, well conditioned vehicles?
Wynne
I love that last picture of you reflected in the Airstream.
I suspect that when you stepped on the snake you were wearing your usual footwear, flip-flops? Yikes!
Surprisingly, I wasn’t. The Skechers killed him.
Man, those are some happy kids… Great pictures as usual.
Keep an eye out for armadillos, too, especially if you’re going to heading farther south through Kentucky, Tennessee, etc. They have been moving progressively north. I remember seeing them all the time during my research at Land Between the Lakes at the border of Tennessee/Kentucky.
I think Texans call those speed bumps.
Have enjoyed your family’s adventures. You are inspirational!
Pat and Ali,
I was so excited to see your TravelAll. My grandparents owned a TravelAll-just about the same year- and a trailer and spent summers in Nebraska and winters in Phoenix. We had many summer adventures traveling with my grandparents to places near and far and your photos bring back such great memories of time on the road with family. It was a wonderful way to grow up-thanks for reminding me of how much fun we had with my grandmother’s picnic basket filled with homemade jam, cookies and sandwiches and all kinds of cousin adventures. Your children get to have a full and rich childhood-lucky them! Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Cool. Thanks for sharing.
Station wagon and a trailer…retro cool.
How often do you wash the outside of your vehicles? I’ve been reading your blog for years and they always look like you just washed them in almost every picture I’ve seen. I camp a lot and my truck never looks as good.
As often as we can, but never often enough.
I’m thinking you bought that nice shiny trailer just for the reflection photo ops. Love it! I must have missed something, because I thought you were planning to live out of the truck, and that did seem like it would be a challenge for the long term.
No, we were never planning on living out of the truck. The truck tent was only meant for camping in between cities/towns that we were renting a house in, or for going off on weekend adventures.
I read your comment about weight distribution and wanted to recommend an equalizer hitch with sway bars. The bars take a minute to hook up but will make all the difference in the world over bumps and curves. I’ve been following you guys for a long, long time and your trip around the world on your cat inspired me to buy mine. Thanks for your insight and best wishes on your life journey.
Thanks, Richard. It’s already got them. They’re great.
Old Man’s Cave?? You all were in our neck of the world! Hope it treated you all well!
Just wondering where that leak is coming from… also curious to know how the older ones do in colder weather. Call me sick, but I’m interested to see what all gets the “fuzzle” treatment on her too (the airstream that is) think after the long hiatus we’ll have to start reading the posts again from time to time:-)
You’re probably already aware of it but in case your readers are not, too less of tongue weight equals a wobbly set up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXQt-8SZYT8