Casini Ranch AirForums Rally 2012

The full hookup sites have a rustic feel

April 13-15, 2012

Aluminitis.

That's what they call it. And it's the one thing that binds all of us together and draws us to gather at rallies like Casini Ranch on the Russian River.

Did I say one thing?

The grassy "F" row is just behind the farthest trailers

Well...the trailers are very pretty and all, shining in the sun or emerging from a mist. But there is more to a rally than just a lot of aluminum.

The ingredients are there to make a weekend with just the right mix of friends, festivity, relaxation, activity, conversation and solitude.

More pictures below....

Pacific Coast 2012

March 30 - April 3, 2012

The new awning got a workout in Morro Bay State Park

...In Which Barbie Tows The Pickle Herself And Causes Only Minor Damage

This was a bit of a shakedown cruise and a chance for me to learn just how many details Bart keeps track of on any given trip.

The idea of trailering solo didn't cause too much trepidation - I've was exposed to trucks and tractors and horse trailers at an early age. But all the myriad steps of setting up and breaking camp have not yet gotten fixed in my head.

Fire Mountain

Our first target outing for the Tin Pickle was a friend's gathering in the Mendocino County hills of Northern California. For that, we only needed to have the trailer road worthy. The interior was basically gutted of sleeping furniture, but we had new axles and functional running lights.

Set up for the weekend

With an airbed on the floor and curtains on some of the windows, we had a cozy haven as a retreat from the exuberance that was available outside. Bart and I cooked outside on a portable barbecue and had a cooler for a fridge. We had a 5 gallon Igloo for water storage, plus a table and chairs and a rug outside. The Tin Pickle worked just fine as an aluminum tent.