Week One
After my mom and I got back from Maine, the first priority for the Airstream was to swap out the dead batteries with some shiny new ones. We did this ourselves, which I am particularly proud of, and I will actually be publishing an entire blog post just about that. (At some point. Consistency has been difficult.) Once the batteries were done, there wasn’t anything else holding us back. It was time to plan the first leg of our trip and venture out into the unknown.
Well, actually, we went back to Maine. We stayed at a lovely campground in Brownfield, ME called On the Saco Family Campground for a few days so we could take the girls on some easy hikes and hit up L.L. Bean and REI in North Conway before heading further out. We got some more practice setting up the site and then breaking it down, and of course hitching and unhitching the Airstream. It works a lot better when you actually know how to use it. Who knew.
From there we went to our first Harvest Hosts location, and it was AMAZING. We stayed for one night at Steam Mill Brewing in Bethel, ME and it was such a good experience. The new batteries were more than capable of handling a night of boondocking (dry camping, no electric or water) in their parking lot, and we ended up arriving before any of the other RVers that day so we got first pick of parking spots. We chose to be closest to the building in the shade, and it was cool enough that even if we’d had electric we wouldn’t have needed the AC.
We took our time setting up, though there wasn’t as much to do since there were no hook-ups, and then we took a quick nap before taking the pups for a stroll to tire them out. Once we got them settled back in the Airstream (shades pulled down, fan on, sound machine going), my partner and I made a bee-line for the brewery. We sat outside and had some drinks and a fantastic meal that we devoured before I even thought to take photos. The best part was having the trailer so close - my partner got up a couple times during our little date night to check on the girls and each time they were fine, no barking or whining at all. But it was so much more relaxing being able to have that peace of mind.
After dinner, we went back to the Airstream and had a great night’s sleep. Except at 2am when we awoke to the sound of yet more rain and I panicked, remembering that we had left our beloved plant outside. My partner rescued it and then we resumed said great night’s sleep. Unfortunately, the weather had not subsided by the morning, and we had to decamp and then do the first half of our driving for the day in the rain.
As we were driving through the mountains, however, we saw that we were witnessing a different kind of beauty. Yes, the landscape and the views might look awesome in the sunlight, but they were also incredible even with the clouds and the way the mists clung to the tree tops and swirled low over the twisting roads. It gave the drive an ethereal quality, and after a while we realized we’d been driving in complete silence, not talking or listening to music. It was actually a bit eerie.
Then the spell was immediately broken when we pulled into a Walmart parking lot for a bit of a rest and some more supplies. The sun did come out for a while as we navigated a tricky road on our way to the next campground: Breezy Meadows in Concord, VT. By the time we reached the campground, it was raining. Again. Hasn’t this summer been such a treat?
I’m not proud to admit that I lost it backing into our site. It was a tight squeeze, the ground was muddy, and there were some trees that were a little too close for comfort. Ultimately I did it, but it was hard fought. The owner had recommended this site because it was more private for the pups as there wasn’t anyone next to us, and it was right on the river. It really was a beautiful site. But then later he also mentioned to me that when he sent us down there he had forgotten to take the length of our truck into consideration, and had just been thinking about the length of the actual trailer. “Parking something that long in that spot is definitely at the edge of my abilities,” he told me, “and I’ve been doing this for 25 years.” So, I don’t feel too guilty about this specific parking meltdown.
This site had 30 amp electric, (our Airstream is 50 amp) but again, it was cool enough that we never needed the AC. There was no sewer hook-up either, but since we were only staying for two nights it wasn’t going to matter, and we just swung by the dump station on our way out.
It was during this stay that we decided to alter our traveling style a little bit. We’ve realized that we need to slow down, stay a little longer in each place we go to, and make sure that we’re giving ourselves enough time to do all the life things as well as the fun traveling things. Moving days are no joke; there’s a lot to do, a lot to remember, and it can be extremely stressful. Towing the trailer is a different kind of driving, and though this might sound like I normally play it fast and loose behind the wheel, you really have to be actively engaged and aware the entire time.
Our next move was to Ticonderoga, NY, and since it was our longest drive yet we split the driving time. I did the first two hours, and then my partner did the next two, and then we swapped back when we got to the campground so that I could back the trailer in. Until this point he had done all of the driving except the parking. Like I mentioned before, apparently it’s my special talent. Some of the roads were a bit harrowing, and so many have been damaged or washed out by all of the rain. We do use a special GPS app just for RVs, but even so, some of the routes have been slightly terrifying!
But we made it. We settled in for a few days and began planning what the next stage of our trip will be like. I’m still trying to adjust to certain aspects of this lifestyle, but for a homebody like me, bringing home everywhere we go is an actual dream come true. I still can’t quite believe we’re actually doing this.
Stay wild <3