Thursday, July 15 This trip started . . . with a CHECK ENGINE light, and a stop by our GMC dealership! Quick fix – the computer showed a bogus issue with the DEF fluid system. The light went out and we were on our way to the Airstream Club 2021 International Rally by 9:15. The rally was cancelled last year because of covid, and we haven’t been to an international rally since 2016. John Couger cranked up the anticipation factor by organizing a caravan of over a dozen NOVA Airstreams . . . so that we would arrive at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN with an impressive presence! John would be picking up caravanners along the way, and we would meet them all at Bowling Green, KY – in time for happy hour and a taco fest. This is our first trip (in 12 years) without Charlie Button, who went over the rainbow bridge 3 weeks ago. Pippa has graduated to the front seat on the console, and she is compliant about staying in her little box – sitting up to look out and laying down for naps. For the first time she got to try a McDonalds hamburger patty when we stopped for lunch! To aid & abet this caravan, John created a text-message group; messages started rolling in early in the afternoon – who, what, when, where . . . . in a steady stream. Eventually at 4:00 Airstreams trickled in to the Flea Market parking lot, where permission had been granted for us to spend the night. With 90-degree temperatures, it was good to have a strip of shade and we settled in for John’s taco diner and some pre-rally hype. Friday, July 16 Our generator lasted until 5:00 this morning, keeping us cool and comfortable all night with the air conditioner. Gathering outside at 7:00 a.m. John made a large breakfast, and we began organizing for the caravan. I tried to count the airstreams as we left the parking lot at 9:00 – but they kept moving around! I think there were eight. The trick to the morning drive was to follow along and arrive together at the international staging area so that we could be parked together. Tricky, because we were traveling on State Route 231 with points of stop and go and red lights; we all made it to the Wilson County Fairgrounds together! Just an hour later (10:30) we arrived. There is always a certain amount of urgency when arriving at a big event like this: so much to do and so many distractions! After an hour, it is better, and after 2 hours, it is much better! Our NOVA group, for the most part, was parked straddling a gravel road with doors opening on the gravel, and beautiful green grass in front of and behind our trailers. We have water and electric and the promise that a honeywagon (if you don’t know – don’t ask) will be by sometime during the rally to pump out our tanks. The most important thing of all is that we are positioned with the back of our trailers facing west and we will have afternoon shade on our front/awning sides as the day deepens. Knowing the size of the Fairgrounds, the predicted high temperatures, and the condition of Tom’s right hip (still waiting to be replaced on July 27, we had ordered a golf cart to be delivered for the week. It was dropped off within 30 minutes of when we arrived! By 1:30 we were in the cart and driving down to the registration location where we picked up our welcome bag and entered some of our crafts in the hobby show. Then, a ride back to the NOVA compound to prepare for the “Happy-to-be-Here-Happy-Hour.” Tom and I were hosting at 4:00! Happy Hour served the purpose of getting many NOVA people together in order to talk about and plan events for the week. Tom served Tennessee Lemonade with Jack Daniels, triple sec, lemon-lime soda and straight up lemon juice! Writing this I just remembered, I forgot to get out the 8 fresh lemons that I brought along for drink garnish! I had planned just chips and Mexican dip, and that had a way of multiplying into a variety of other snack contributions as people arrived. Our evening ended up with a cooling ride around the fairgrounds in the golf cart. Tom located the shower house and dropped me off to shower in the Silvermine while he returned to clean up. I was exhausted after a day of hustle, and by 9:30 was in bed . . . with a new book!
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |