Our Silvermine has been patiently sitting in the driveway the past 133 days (since November 3rd) for the usual winter hiatus. I would not say that Spring is firmly here yet, but we did see a window of opportunity to drive to the Cincinnati area for a spring break-out. Decision made, we cranked into high gear to de-winterize and pack essentials. I had replanted many of the staples inside the trailer last week, and Tom had done a major tune-up and lube-up of the hitch system. It didn’t take much to get the Silvermine ready. On board this season will be our new little puppy Pippa Joy. She seems to be filling the gap from when our little buddy Jasper left us last fall, and we are anxious to see how she takes to camping. Like Jasper, she is a Biewer (pronounced Beaver), which was declared the newest recognized AKC breed in January. The breeding stock goes back to the 1980’s when a pair of little tri-colored puppies popped up in a Yorkshire terrier litter in Germany. Since that time the breed is the first to be developed via DNA tracking rather than just pedigree. You’ll see them at all the big shows this year! Charlie, 11 years old, does not play with Pippa, but seems pleased to have a little companion! Our little Pippa has been the easiest pup to housetrain and acclimate to our lifestyle . . . so far. She is a bit on the small side, just reaching 3lbs at 5 months, and she will probably top off at less than 4 pounds. But, it is in her personality to “be big” and she is becoming quite a little walker and shows a love of meeting people and even young children! Unanswered questions are how she will take to longer rides in the truck, being inside the Silvermine for extended periods, and hanging out in a campsite! Expect a full report at the end of this campout. Launch Day, Mar 16 We were in no hurry to leave – off at 9:15 a.m. We had an errand to run in Wapakoneta, before getting on Interstate 75 and heading south. We missed our exit for lunch and backtracked to the Chipotle. Most of the driving was in fog. Final miles to East Fork State Park: 190. Arrival time 1:30. We set up camp and immediately took a dislike to our soggy campsite. A loop next door we found available sites with full hook-ups and concrete pads. We moved! The temperature climbed to 63, and we walked the dogs and then settled into our chairs to savor the camping experience for the first time this season! Pippa did great walking in a new setting, and settled right into an afternoon chew and snooze under the awning. At 4:00 we settled the pups in the Airstream (first time we’ve left Pippa) and headed for the Hofbräuhaus in Newport on the river. We’re two weeks post our 2nd vaccination, and finally feel safe eating in a restaurant. With our early arrival the dining room was mostly empty, and we got a booth at the back. It had been a long time and we were eager to dig into our German meals. Back at the Airstream it appeared that the dogs had slept the whole time we were gone. . . if not, they did a good job of cover-up! It was light enough for a good walk before we all settled into the Airstream. Wed, March 17 Tom was up at 7:00 and took the dogs out. This may be TMI, but: this was Pippa’s first time to do her morning business (3 pees and a poop) outside. At home she uses a pee/pad in the morning, and I’m thinking we are now able to transition from that to full-time outdoor visits! I wasn’t quite ready to get up until 8:30, and then we had a late breakfast of homemade hash and eggs, before heading off on a shopping excursion. We had an REI pay-back for $36, but couldn’t find anything to spend it on. We love REI, but we seem to have it all! Then we went to Jungle Jim’s – always a great excursion into the exotic world of eating. I got several BBQ sauces and . . . microwave pouches of 3-Way Cincinnati Chili! Who knew they even made such a thing! At the campground by 2:00 we settled in for another session outside. It was not sunny, but was a wonderful temperature of 68; at 4:00 our son Micah pulled in for a campfire and dinner with us. Steaks, corncake, twice-baked potatoes and cinnamon apples. We ate outside at the picnic table, and as we finished there was a very gentle rain. Cleaning up, Micah left, and we headed inside by 7:00. Wonderful day! East Fork, with lots of low spots, is not it’s best when it rains. After a steady night of rain, the campsites were well-puddled. We fixed breakfast in the Silvermine (scrambled eggs with sausage) and waited for a let-up to hook up. There really was no let-up, and in a steady downpour we left for home. It rained all the way home, the temperatures dropped the further north we got, and at 1:00 we reached home to 36 degrees -- still raining! This was Pippa’s first campout and she gets excellent reviews! She rides well in her crate in the car. The same crate we put in the camper for her to sleep in, and just like at home she went in at 9:00 and slept all night! She played in the camper, enjoyed sitting outside under the awning, and loved walking and meeting new people. At only three pounds I would think the world away from home would be a scary place, but Pippa seems ready to take it on!
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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 |