GREAT RIVER ROAD TOUR • GREEN AIRSTREAMING • CARAVANNING IN 1958
Online Edition
Winter 2009
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Editor’s Page
The [RV] Recession Is Over! I’ve been seeing a curious phenomenon in the RV and camping industry lately. While camping nights are reaching all-time record highs, many folks in the industry are still acting as if we’re all sitting at home. Airstream reported in September that production rose 30% in the previous six weeks, and the company had its first hiring round since 2006. The largest RV show in America, at Hershey PA, saw a 14% increase in attendance over last year, with a record 31,700 people. Dealers all over the country are reporting a rapid recovery. The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association says sales across all brands jumped 136% since January, with a 16% increase in August alone! People aren’t just buying new trailers and motorhomes, they’re using them. KOA says it will match its all-time record for camper nights this year. The National Park Service says visitation is up so much that it too will have a record year. Even with increasing day-use fees, state parks are crowded all over the country. If you want to check my facts, go to our website and read the news for yourself. I’ve linked to some recent reports here: http://airstreamlife.com/advertising/ recession-over But some folks haven’t figured it out yet. They’re still convinced that we’re in an “RV recession.” (I think they’ve been watching too much gloomy financial news on TV.) As a result, they’re trying to “survive” by hunkering down, and cutting their advertising and marketing budget. Not surprisingly, when you stop marketing your business, people stop coming to buy your product. Some of the companies that tried to “wait it out” have gone out of business forever. This isn’t a time for merely “surviving,” it’s a time for being innovative and smart. It’s an opportunity for growth. Those of us who are busy camping, traveling, and renovating vintage trailers still want to know where to buy. We need to know who we can trust, and who is going to be in business next year. You have probably guessed that I’m talking to potential advertisers as much as I’m talking to subscribers of this magazine. Advertisers need Airstream Life magazine to get their messages out to our loyal community, and Airstream Life needs those advertisers. You can help end the “RV recession” by reminding the Airstream dealers, parts suppliers, and aftermarket accessories manufacturers that this is the time to advertise again. A healthy RV economy benefits us all, and will help prevent more of the companies we depend on from disappearing. Speaking of disappearing, be safe out there and don’t fall off a cliff. Think I’m kidding? You’ll find out when you read Renee Ettline’s article in our printed edition about “America’s Scariest Tows.” If you’re not a print subscriber, you can still get the issue through our web store or by subscribing and choosing our “Get The First Issue Fast!” option. Cover artist Michael Depraida relaxes with a "Party Stream" t-shirt of his own design.
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The official Airstream lifestyle magazine Editor and Publisher: Rich Luhr rich@airstreamlife.com Layout and Design: Ellicott Design lisa@airstreamlife.com Advertising Sales: Brett Greiveldinger brett@airstreamlife.com (802) 877-2900 Ext. 2 Editorial Illustrator: Brad Cornelius Chief Financial Officer: Eleanor O’Dea Associate Contributors: Jody Brotherston Interior Design Rich Charpentier Technology J. Rick Cipot Features Fred Coldwell History Renee Ettline Features Bert Gildart National Parks John Irwin Great Ideas Roger Johnson eBay Watch Charles Spiher Crossword Forrest McClure Cartoonist Contact Airstream Life 411 Walnut St #4468 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 Telephone: (802) 877-2900 Fax: (802) 610-1013 www.airstreamlife.com Airstream Life Online Edition You can get Airstream Life online, for free! Each issue we select 15-20 pages of the upcoming magazine and make it available on the Internet to readers who sign up at www.airstreamlife.com/online. It's a sneak peek, with no cost, no obligation! CUSTOMER SERVICE Airstream Life’s world headquarters are the dinette table of a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 We’re always glad to hear from you, but if you have a simple question, please check our website for help first. There you can subscribe, renew your subscription, change your address, get advertising information, download writer’s and photographer’s guidelines, notify us of an address change,and get answers to frequently-asked questions. See www.airstreamlife.com or call (802) 877-2900. Airstream Life (ISSN 1550-5979) is published quarterly by Church Street Publishing, Inc., 411 Walnut St #4468, Green Cove Springs FL 32043.. Subscription price is $24 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Ferrisburg VT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Airstream Life, 411 Walnut St #4468, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 © Copyright 2009 by Church Street Publishing, Inc. AIRSTREAM ® is the property of Airstream, Inc. Licensed by Global Icons LLC. All rights reserved.Printed in CANADA.
The print edition also includes 40 pages of other articles, including an inspiring article by John Brunkowski and Michael Closen about collecting Airstream postcards. We’ve also got great articles on places to go next summer. From Germany, Armin Heun explains how to rent an Airstream in Europe—and why it makes sense. But if that’s too far away for you, check out the pair of articles by Bert Gildart and Renee Ettline on Canada’s Jasper National Park, and the famous Icefields Parkway. Still too far away? Not much vacation time this year? No problem, Fred Coldwell has a plan to keep you traveling for the next decade. Our National Parks are celebrating their centennials over the next few years, and you can visit each one as it happens. It’s all in the print edition of Airstream Life magazine. In this free Online Edition, you can read Tom Palesch’s great introduction to traveling the Great River Road in the mid-west. Tom will surely get you interested in exploring Huck Finn territory with his enthusiast descriptions of life along the Mississippi. You can also read about “Green Airstreaming.” It’s a controversial subject, but as our research suggests, being in your Airstream (or almost any RV, really) can be one of the greenest ways to live. Check out the article starting on page 16 and see if you agree. And, for the first time we’ve included a regular feature that appears in the printed magazine, called “From The Archives.” Historian Fred Coldwell takes an old picture of Airstreaming the way it used to be done, and gives you a little bit of history with his expert interpretation. As always, we’ve tried to pack as much good information in this free Online Edition as we possibly can. If you enjoy it, pass it along to a friend and encourage them to subscribe too! It’s always free and always fun. See you on the road,
About our cover... A vintage caravan travels through exotic Asia in this fantasy illustration by freelance artist Michael J. Depraida. For this cover, entitled “Caravan Club,” Michael combined digital images and historical photographs with artwork. Michael is a freelance artist who has been working off the grid and full-timing in his 28’ Classic since 2000. You can purchase a poster version of this cover and see his full line of Airstream Artwork online at http://www.CampStreamUSA.com
Rich Luhr Publisher and Editor
What's Coming In Our Print Edition:
Want to reach 12,000 Airstream owners? Advertise in
• Traveling Alaska (2-part series) • How To Save (Or Ruin) Your Tires
Contact Brett Greiveldinger
brett@airstreamlife.com
802-877-2900 ext. 2
We’d love to see your vintage Airstream family photos! For more information email
editor@airstreamlife.com
WINTER 2009
• Favorite Tourist Traps • Checklists • Safe Hitching
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Inbox
Painting A Family Airstream Scene I just got the latest (Fall 2009) today and the cover reminds me of something that just transpired with us. I was contacted by painter Kay Crain. She was looking at the old Airstream pictures that I had scanned and uploaded to Flickr. She was interested if she could use them as ‘inspiration’ for her paintings. Maybe using the scene or trailer but putting different things/people in it. I told her it would be OK but a compensation would be nice. She told me that she would be willing to paint a selected slide for me. Here is the photo that I chose, and her result. I guess a lot of people love Airstreams!
But what I found most intriguing was the article on Elegant Airstreams of the Thirties. I dream of owning a vintage one day. Any plans on making this a continuing series? 40’s? 50’s? 60’s? 70’s? BEST, ALICE WYMER
ROGER SMITH
Good idea, Alice. We’ll talk to Fred Coldwell to see if he’s ready to tackle another decade soon. Airstream Camping In Europe I’m Rene from Airstream Professionals in The Netherlands – mainport of Europe. I receive Airstream Life a couple of times a year as a private person. Last year I decided to become certified Airstream dealer for the Benelux countries in Europe. I think Airstream has enough potential in Europe. I’m developing services for US Airstreamers who would like to visit Europe and want the Airstream Way of Life to accompany them. I’m creating a network of campsites that have up-to-date Airstream Trailers or can facilitate them. It is also possible to rent a brand new EU Airstream to travel across Europe starting from various EU Airports. RENE LEENDERS AIRSTREAM PROFESSIONALS WWW.AIRSTREAMPROFESSIONALS.NL
Reader Suggestion Can I tell you once again how enjoyable a read your magazine is. And I know you have heard it before . . . I read it from cover to cover. Both the “Best Beachfront Camping” and “Badlands NP” articles will help carve our future camping adventures. It was very interesting seeing the variety of landscapes one can come across in beachfront camping and discovering the wonders of the Badlands.
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In this issue you’ll find our first article about Airstream camping opportunities in Europe. We’ve gathered information about various places where Airstreams can be rented, fully furnished. Where In Canada is Whistler? I have read your recent online edition of Airstream Life and have certainly enjoyed it. We do not own an Airstream, but my wife certainly picks them out from a distance when we travel. The reason for this letter is for a sentence I read on page eight: “In November 2008, an Argosy, made by Airstream, was used as a ‘canvas’ for an abstract painter in a live art performance in Whistler, Canada.” Hopefully in future articles, the entire town, province and country should be mentioned. This would be a great way to educate your readers about Canada as I’m not sure someone in Virginia would know where Whistler, Canada is located. I have yet to hear anything about Colby, United States in the news.
free, online. If you haven’t tried our Online Edition, check it out at airstreamlife.com/online and tell your Airstreamloving friends too! And Another Correction… In our “Best Beachfront Camping” article (Fall 2009) we wrote that Charlestown Breachway State Beach was located in Charlestown, CT – but oops, it’s actually next door in Rhode Island. Our apologies to anyone who spent the weekend driving through Connecticut trying to find it. •••
Thanks so much for putting Ai rstream Life onlin e.
SINCERELY, JAY SCHAPPERT Jay, you’re right of course, and normally our practice is to give city and state, or city and province (in Canada). For the record, Whistler is in the province of British Columbia, Canada. I’m not so sure about Colby! Kudos From Region 2 I thought I would let you know I had a few copies of Airstream Life left over from the 2008 Region 2 Rally and handed them out at our ‘Niagara Falls for Region 2’ Rally in Lockport May 21-26 – naturally they all went and hopefully some members will consider subscribing as it is a fantastic magazine. CHEERS, DON MCKELVAY WBCCI PRESIDENT REGION 2 Airstream Life Is Online For Free! Thanks so much for putting Airstream Life online. Trying to find copies had become a real bear. Love the last issue. Thanks again BILL CLAYTON To all other readers: We select a couple of articles from each issue of Airstream Life and make them available to anyone for
WINTER 2009
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MN-MRPC PHOTO LIBRARY
R I U NG THE O T Story
by Tom Palesch and photos
A
Ever-changing views of the Great River are possible from your Airstream as you tour and camp. TOP: A view of St. Paul MN from Mounds Park. MIDDLE: Lake Pepin section of the river from Frontenac State Park. BOTTOM: Romantic moonrise view from a Corps of Engineer campsite.
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irstream owners tend to be inquisitive explorers. We travel to interesting places, meet fascinating people and become part of our new environment. Since Wally Byam’s day, Airstreamers have sought to be more than just visitors, by becoming active participants within the world we travel. This is our lifestyle; we bring our home with us and for a while become citizens of the places we visit. Come along and get a taste of traveling the Great River Road along the banks of Mississippi River. It is an “Airstream” kind of adventure. The highways that parallel the river reveal natural beauty all along the way. Views from towering riverside bluffs provide incredible vistas, trains chugging along the riverbank create a picturesque setting, recreational boaters abound and sport fishermen are everywhere. Campgrounds are near the water, and charming towns fill summer weekends with events and recreational opportunities. Best of all, most Midwesterners live only a day’s drive from this great river of history. There is so much to see and do along the “Ole’ Miss” that you can take a weekend to whet your appetite or spend
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GR EA TR the rest of your life getting to know it. The river is a trail of legends. It begins in northern Minnesota as a small stream flowing out of Lake Itasca; this is Paul Bunyan’s country of deep forests and rough terrain. The stream grows as it divides forests and enters farming prairies approaching Lake Woebegon-like country made famous by Garrison Keillor. The river changes from a wilderness stream to a prairie river still of unimpressive size. While it progresses southward it maintains its character as a rocky and clear-running wild river. Flowing and tumbling through the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the
WINTER 2009
IVER ROAD Mississippi River begins to show the character that has made it a great waterway. The river is now a navigable waterway, a source of power generation, grain milling and shipping of natural resources of food, timber, ores, steel and energy products produced all across the upper Midwest to major markets downstream. The Mississippi River becomes a highway to the world.
DAMS, LOCKS, AND BARGES The Upper Mississippi Valley from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul to Dubuque, IA is considered by many to be the most beautiful section of the Mississippi River valley. Eleven US Army Corps Of Engineers
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and interpretative displays about their early history. The Mill City Museum in Minneapolis will impress you with the role that agriculture and grain milling played in the growth of this area. St. Paul has a wonderful new Museum of Science and Industry. Smaller downstream cities each have their displays unique to their area. You can step back in time at each and get a sense of what it was like to be an early explorer or settler along the Mississippi River. Traveling this route is also an opportunity to visit many of the antique shops and art and craft galleries that frequent the small towns and cities. Anywhere along the way you get a sense of being part of the area’s early history.
“This is our lifestyle; we bring our home
with us and for a while become citizens of the places we visit.”
NATURE AND WILDLIFE The river is a natural flyway that has attracted migrating waterfowl and raptors for thousands of years. As the seasons change, the wildlife follow the river road as we do now. Along the river bottoms the state and federal government have established refuges and viewing areas where native and migrating birds can be seen in the thousands. Many duck species, Tundra Swans, Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Egret, Geese and Herons are everywhere. Bald Eagles have made parts of the shoreline their full-time home and migrating eagles gather along the river when ice begins to break up. If you are a “birder,” bring your binoculars and spotting scopes and you will enjoy the time of your life. Dams, locks, bridges, and boats define the navigable piece of the Mississippi, but are only the beginning. Alongside the river are museums, historical sites, and cities for your exploration. TOP: Paddle wheel river tour boat in Wabasha, MN. MIDDLE: Old Stone Bridge in Minneapolis crossing St. Anthony Falls. BOTTOM: River stone bridge arches are now part of Minneapolis' heritage.
(COE) dams and locks can be found between Minneapolis and Dubuque. You can spend a whole day at each of the locks watching shore and barge crews skillfully maneuver barge-strings, three barges wide and five barges long (105' wide by 1000' long). The “push boats” handling these loads have engines of 5,000 horsepower or more! You can get next to the action and sometimes converse with crews on shore. HISTORICAL SITES AND MUSEUMS Early pioneer settlements, Native American burial mounds and old military forts can be found along the road. Almost every town along the way has a historical museum with a collection of local artifacts. The larger cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul have significant museums
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HIKING AND TRAIL WALKING Each city and village has parks and recreational areas that have all-season hiking trails. There are state parks, Corps of Engineers facilities, and recreational areas that have established trails and published maps. Bring comfortable walking boots, sunscreen, and insect repellent and be ready to enjoy the best of this outdoor world. A camera would be handy as well, as you never know what is around the next bend. Ask the local campground host or ranger about hiking trails in the area. Being river country, many trails are flat and follow the river bottoms. Other trails can be more challenging and climb the hills and bluffs away from the river. The rewards of the climb are always greater when you reach the top and have a grand vista over the valley. Here again, bring your camera; carry plenty of water and an energy snack to celebrate when reaching the top. A word of caution: river-bluff country does have a small population of timber rattlesnakes. They are not a serious problem, but one should stay alert.
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you must practice boating safety. Unique to this part of the country is the opportunity to captain a houseboat on the river. Powered houseboats can be rented in Winona, La Crosse or Wabasha and you can enjoy a weekend or week playing Huck Finn along the backwaters. Here again you must have some boating skills. With a play on words, also unique in this area is the phenomena of “boat-houses,” clusters of floating homes, in which people live
MN-MRPC PHOTO LIBRARY
BOATING There is plenty of opportunity for boating along this famous waterway. Rent a canoe or kayak or bring your own so you can enjoy the Mississippi River backwater. A powerboat is another way to enjoy the environment. There are boat-launching ramps and marinas near every population area and if you want to rent a watercraft, most marinas can take care of that need. But remember that this is a big waterway and you should have good boating skills. Depending upon the time of the year and the water levels, you will have to deal with currents that range from swift to treacherous. Boating the river can be a wonderful experience, but
The Mississippi starts here, at the headwaters of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota.
WINTER 2009
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year-around. They represent an interesting culture that is a part of the “river scene.” If you still want to experience the river scene but leave the driving to others, take a river excursion. All of the larger cities have excursion boat rides that can last a few hours or be over-night adventures. Most are on replica steamboats, and the family will love the experience. If you enjoy fishing, you can fish from shore, a boat or near the dams and locks. If you just want to “eat ‘em” and not “catch ‘em,” fried catfish is advertised up and down the river at local cafes and restaurants. They know how to “fix ‘em” on the river.
large pool of the Mississippi. La Crosse is near the famous Elroy Sparta Trail, a thirty-mile long crushed stone pathway that has camping spots along its length. INTERPRETIVE CENTERS There are three important Interpretative Centers along this byway. Dubuque has recently opened the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium where one can learn about the people, the industries and the water life on the river. They have aquariums that house every type of fish and turtle found in the river system. Another part of the Center is devoted to the heroes of the river, especially Mark Twain. There are classes and study groups for children, events and themes
“Once your journey begins, you will find that you have just scratched the surface of the area and it is even more interesting than you thought it could be.” CASINOS There are pros and cons about what casinos do for the social structure of America, but they are popular with people interested in gaming and eating. They often provide an abundance of food at reasonable prices. Along the river you could be at a different casino every night as you travel. They are in Dubuque and Marquette, IA, as well as Red Wing and Shakopee, MN. Some even have RV parks on site. CYCLING River valleys by nature are flat and meandering. Roadways and trails made from converted railroad beds follow the river. Along the Wisconsin and Minnesota shores are hundreds of miles of trails built and maintained for this activity. Cities like La Crosse, Winona and Red Wing sponsor cycling events periodically during the year. Lake City, MN also sponsors a Lake Pepin Ride that takes bikers around this
throughout the year and interactive displays where you can test your skills at guiding a barge-string into a lock. Winona has the Minnesota Center Of Maritime Art, located on the waterfront. It displays art about the river and water transportation in photography, sculpture and oil paintings. Recently the center had a show entitled, “The Art Of The Canoe” with displays ranging from early birch-bark models to state-of-art racing canoes and kayaks made from space age materials. There are also book-events with authors introducing their work about maritime topics. The small town of Wabasha, MN has established the National Eagle Center on the banks of the river. This is a new facility for the care and rehabilitation of injured eagles that are shipped here from all parts of the country. The eagles come to mend their wounds and hopefully to return to the wild. (Those who can’t either remain here or are found homes in zoos around the country.) People come to be
LEFT: Old Minneapolis river front at the first lock and dam near St. Anthony Falls. RIGHT: Kayakers paddle in the backwaters near Goose Island campground, south of La Crosse, WI.
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close to these majestic creatures and to learn from and about them. Outside the center’s windows, across the river is an eagle refuge. These birds congregate here during the spring on their migration to breeding grounds. This is truly an impressive place!
C&G TRAILER SERVICE Airstream Authorized Service Center 9241 Sonrisa St.
Bellflower, CA 90706
(562) 634-6286 Toll Free (800) 662-3790 CAMPGROUNDS www.CGTrailer.com There is a wide selection of campgrounds as you move up and down the river. The typical RV parks are near the larger cities and close to • Factory warranty work • Parts shipped anywhere the major highways. Smaller campgrounds are tucked away near • Plasticoating & painting • Grey tanks installed • Metal damage • Insurance claim specialists each city and town. Your directories and the Internet will help you find • Complete remodeling • Flooring, drapes & upholstery these places. There are state park campgrounds near McGregor, IA and along the river in Wisconsin at Cassville, Wyalusing, PerExclusive Airstream Service for over 40 years rot and Merrick State Parks. All have camping sites close to the river. Minnesota has two state parks on the river. A unique one if your websites for events in cities and towns along the river. Big River Airstream isn’t too large (25 feet maximum) is Bluffs State Park near Magazine is a great source for additional information, as well as a Winona. This is a primitive facility high on the bluff overlooking the series of Great River Road travel books written by Pat Middleton. Once river valley. Near Red Wing, MN is Frontinac State Park close to the your journey begins, you will find that you have just scratched the town of Old Frontinac. This town was established in the mid-1800 as surface of the area and it is even more interesting than you thought it a cluster of family summer homes for riverboat captains. It’s a unique could be. Follow the wise words of Mark Twain, our riverboat captain on touch of the “old South” in the North country with antebellum archithis tour: tecture. It’s an interesting side-trip. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the You can find casino camping in Dubuque, Red Wing and Shakopee, MN. There is a beautiful Corps of Engineers campground things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the just south of Desoto, WI called Black Hawk Recreational Area. Here you bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in can camp on the river’s edge along the main channel. It’s a wonderfully your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ••• shaded place with lots of watercraft action passing in front of your RV. Bring a fishing pole or boat to become part of the scene. Now dishwasher safe, and higher quality Several cities have nice campgrounds too. Dubuque has one on the waterfront near their Remember these tumblers from the 50s and 60s? Made of lightweight aluminum, unbreakable, and stackable, they are the perfect accessory for marina. Goose Island Regional your Airstream. Smooth finish with scratch-resistant coating. Ideal for fun Park is very nice, just south of occasions under the awning or everyday use. Lacrosse, WI. Winona has a city campground on the river. Small Available in two sets of four brilliant colors. towns like Alma and StockOrder both sets to get all eight cheerful colors. holm, WI have limited but deJust $19.95 per set of 4. Order online at www.airstreamlife.com/store lightful city park campgrounds (Click on "Fun Stuff") on their waterfront too. You can find private campgrounds in Wabasha, Lake City and Hastings, MN and in the river towns of Guttenberg and Lansing, IA. To help you build excitement about this trip, check
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From the Archives Caravanning in Western Canada, Summer 1958
M
embers of the Wally Byam Caravan Club prepare to camp during the 1958 Western Canada Summer Caravan. The caravan was identified by finding the one caravan attended in common by five couples whose trailer numbers appear left-toright in the photo: 1796 – John & Ethel Linton of San Antonio, TX; 1804 – Jack & Mary Eisen of Tustin, CA; 14 – Hollis & Edwina Bottomley of Melbourne, FL; 1794 – Burl & Marie Hefner of Lexington, IL; and 1506 – Paul E. & “Cholly” Miller of Philadelphia, PA. Knowing the photo date also helps us identify some Airstream trailers. Forward of the curb across the bottom of the photo are, left to right, an Ohio built 1954-55 22’ Safari, a 1957 Ohio-built 22’ Caravanner, and another 1957 Ohio-built 22’ Caravanner to the right of the black Packard. Between the Safari and center Caravanner are three 22’ Flying Clouds, a 1952-53 one on the left, a ’55 Ohio-built double bed with bathroom Flying Cloud center, and a 1957 California-built Flying Could on the right. How many other fifties Airstream models can you identify in this beautiful photograph? •••
PHOTO: COURTESY OF AIRSTREAM, INC.
- FRED COLDWELL
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• • • • • •
Parks Showcase
Washington Land Yacht Harbor, Lacey, WA A 2007 WBCCI Superior Merit Award Unit
Always open for Airstreams to visit year-round! • 160 spaces with 3-point hookups • Meeting hall, and smaller Gatehouse available for rental • 192 homes on 62 acres of land • Close to shopping, including Cabelas and Costco
Check our website for more information, a complete schedule of activities, and properties for sale: www.washingtonlandyachtharbor.com (360) 491-3750 9101 Steilacoom Road S.E., Olympia, WA 98513
Minnesota Airstream Park A member-owned RV resort in the lakes area of mid-Minnesota.
• 125 sites with full hook-ups on eighty acres of natural oak savannah. • Transient accommodations with daily, weekly, and monthly rates. • Tennis courts, a nine-hole executive golf course, heated swimming pool and sauna, horseshoe pits, and a shuffleboard court. • Good fishing and boating lakes nearby. Four miles from public access to the Mississippi River. • Free wireless Internet access • Clubhouse with a kitchen and meeting space. • Activities scheduled all summer long. • Ownership opportunities available. Visit us on the way to or from Madison in 2009! The park has 35 rally sites with water and electrical hookups available. Just an hour’s drive from the Minneapolis/St Paul metro area.
www.airstreampark.com • (320) 743-2771 8795 82nd St, Clear Lake, MN 55319
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Land Yacht Harbor of Melbourne FL It's all here! • Over 300 days of sunshine with an average temperature of 72 degrees • Long term rentals, and transient sites available as well • Close to Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, golf courses and beaches • 304 sites, large air-conditioned recreation hall with a library and billiard tables • Free WiFi throughout the park Please explore our website and look at the activities and attractions we offer. Stay a day, a week, a month or a lifetime.
www.landyachtharbormelbourne.com
Between exits 180 and 183 off I-95 201 N. John Rodes Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32934 (321) 254-6398
Highland Haven Airstream Park • Mountain setting • Blue Ridge parkway less that 5 miles away • Bluegrass music every Friday night at the Floyd country store • Hiking trails with waterfall • Weekly activities in the clubhouse • Beautiful sunsets • Wireless internet
vahighlandhaven.org 540-651-9050
Come visit us!
CUMBERLAND PLATEAU T E N N E S S E E
CAMPGROUND
Crossville, TN • www.airstreamtcpc.org
WINTER 2009
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Green Airstreaming By Rich Luhr or most people, the sight of an Airstream floating serenely down the highway sparks the imagination. Everyone fantasizes about the exotic lifestyle of traveling the wide-open spaces of America and leaving all the worries behind. An Airstream is instantly a touchstone of happy thoughts. But mention the SUV or pickup truck that is likely to be towing that Airstream, and you will often get a different response. It’s “common knowledge” that traveling by RV or towing a trailer with a truck is an attack upon the environment, spewing pollution, adding to
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global warming, and squandering precious natural resources. In the minds of many, RV travel is as anti-environment as an oil spill. In this case, common knowledge is mostly wrong. While there’s no question that the fuel economy and carbon output of nearly all tow vehicles or motorhomes on the road is worse than the average passenger vehicle, it’s not nearly the end of the story. As you’ll see, the overall experience of RV travel is actually very “green” — a result of lower resource use, new technology, and more environmentally-friendly practices by campgrounds.
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LOWER RESOURCE USE A recent study for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) found that RV vacations have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than similar vacations conducted using air travel and hotels. According to the study, in many cases the traditional vacation emitted nearly twice the amount of carbon dioxide as the same RV vacation. Partially, that’s because the fuel consumption of an RV is only a fraction of the overall resource picture. Yes, many RVs get 8-10 miles per gallon of fuel. But when they stop moving, they are exemplary models of conservation.
average daily use it requires several times the amount of power of an average RV. For this reason, it’s easily feasible to power an RV from solar panels. However, it’s hard to justify the cost. Payback on a solar power system compared to simply plugging in at a campground will be many years, because RV’s tend to use very little electricity. If you’re running on solar, you might consume 1-2 kilowatts per day, or about $0.25 worth of electricity in most areas. Considering the installed cost of a pair of solar panels, extra batteries, and a charge controller, the payback time can far exceed a person’s lifespan.
Everyone fantasizes about the exotic lifestyle of traveling the wide-open spaces of America and leaving all the worries behind. Let’s start with water consumption. Few houses or apartments It’s also hard to justify solar on the basis of energy savings. There are set up with a toilet that requires only ounces of water per flush, is some debate about the energy required to build the panels in the water-restricting taps and shower head, a tiny 6-gallon water heater, first place. Some argue that the “embodied energy” of a panel and no water-thirsty amenities like dishwater, lawn, or swimming exceeds the likely output of the panel in normal use, and thus that pool. Nearly all recreational vehicles are. The average US household solar panels aren’t really energy-savers in the real world. Studies uses about 70 gallons per person per day, although this varies widely indicate that the energy payback of a solar panel can be anywhere depending on season, age of appliances, plumbing leaks, and other from two to 12 years, depending on the type of panel, the type of factors. Some estimates claim 150 gallons per day per person. A prof- charge controller, and operating conditions. Given that most RV’ers ligate water-waster in an RV on full hookups would have to work hard will use their solar panels only occasionally, a payback in either to use even one-quarter that amount. dollars or energy will probably never happen. Since what comes out of the RV matches what goes into it, For RV’ers, the practical advantage of solar is its quiet, maintenancesewage is likewise decreased, reducing the impact on municipal free operation, and ease of use. Solar remains popular (18% of RV’s water-treatment systems or septic systems. You might think 30 use it, according to RVIA gallons of black tank water is a lot when you get to the dump station, but it’s hardly anything compared to the amount of sewage water you’d flush at home or in a hotel. Most RV’ers don’t worry much about the fresh water they get from the campground, but others go to extremes. Brian Brawdy, a self-proclaimed green RV’er and spokesperson for the “Go RV’ing” campaign, customized his Lance truck camper to save resources. A rain filtration system collects and purifies water for use in the camper, allowing him to stretch his water supply when boondocking – as long as there’s rain. But for most campers, the simple fact of being away from home provides plenty of reduction in water use. Electrical power is another resource that RV’s tend to sip. Except for some very large Class A motorhomes, most RVs get by with only one or two appliances that require AC power, typically the microwave and air conditioner. Everything else runs off DC current from the batteries, which in most Airstreams are recharged by a small power converter. Unless you are running the air conditioner all day, you’re not really using most of the capacity of that 30-amp power connection John Byfield and Kate Heber’s 1962 Airstream Flying Cloud features a composting toilet, solar panels, at the campground. By comparison, your house low-flow fixtures, and recycled or renewal materials inside – with a beautiful vintage Airstream exterior. probably has 100 to 200 amps of capacity, and in
WINTER 2009
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statistics) because it enables freedom from the electrical grid, allowing campers to stay in remote spots without resorting to a generator. Avoiding generator use and the resulting air pollution of a two-stroke gasoline engine is clearly the greatest environmental justification for solar. In the rush to condemn RVs for their fossil fuel consumption, many forget the impact of heating a home. An RV takes a lot less energy to heat than a house, even though houses are usually better insulated. This is for several reasons. First, RV’s tend to follow the warm weather. Few people live in their travel trailer in a cold Minnesota winter, but plenty of them flock to Florida and Arizona. Second, RVs are much smaller than houses, often about 1/10th the size in terms of square feet. That’s 1/10th the space to heat. Third, many RV’ers will do something while camping that they won’t do at home: lower the thermostat. With a pair of 7-gallon propane bottles as your sole source of fuel, energy-consciousness comes much more easily. Think that’s a small difference? Take a look at your heating bill from last winter. For the fuel cost of heating a northern home through a typical winter, most people could take their RV to Florida for a month-long vacation, all expenses paid. GREENER RV’s AND CAMPGROUNDS Being environmentally sensitive can be good business for manufacturers in the RV industry. The high fuel prices of Summer 2008 got many manufacturers thinking about ways to improve the fuel economy of their products. Consumers have begun looking for lighter choices that can be towed or powered by more efficient engines, and as a result, a number of interesting new products have begun to surface. Airstream has expanded its line of lightweight “Sport” trailers, with Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings low enough to be towed by smaller SUVs and minivans. While the towing fuel economy of these trailers is only a little better than other Airstreams, their lighter weight enables a wider range of permissible tow vehicles. That means better fuel economy is possible when not towing, which is usually the majority of use for the vehicle. Hybrids and lighter V-6’s are now feasible for many new Airstream owners.
Similarly, the Airstream Interstate series of motorcoaches with Mercedes V6 diesel engines turn in industry-leading fuel economy, with owners reporting up to 22 MPG in normal use. Alternative powerplants are just now making their way into RVs. Biodiesel-capable engines and hybrid engines are getting closer scrutiny by motorhome manufacturers. Winnebago got first bragging rights in 2008 when it announced the 2009 Adventurer Hybrid based on the Freightliner “ecoFRED” chassis. The motorhome went on a publicity tour in summer 2009 but remains only a concept vehicle at this time. Hybridizing large vehicles is considerably more challenging than cars, and the fuel economy gained by the Adventurer is reportedly minimal, especially during long highway drives where such a vehicle would typically be used. Since chassis and engines are generally supplied to RV manufacturers by other companies, a changeover to more efficient power can’t be effected solely by the RV manufacturers. But the market forces that are encouraging fuel economy in passenger cars will push the chassis industry as well. There’s more to this story than just fuel consumption. Manufacturers are choosing materials for new travel trailers and motorhomes to reduce off-gassing of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and reduce pollutants during manufacturing. For example, RVIA has adopted California’s standards for reducing formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products such as particle board and plywood. Many owners of new RVs have complained about the smell of off-gassing chemicals during the first few months of use, and the reduction of formaldehyde should be a positive step toward resolving that problem. Greener material choices also allow more of the final product to be recycled once it reaches the end of its useful life. Airstream has made much of this with its “Silver Is Green” campaign, pointing out that Airstreams are made mostly of recyclable materials (aluminum and wood). It’s also known that Airstreams consume less fuel because of their more aerodynamic design, and that Airstreams last longer than “disposable” white box RVs. Still, don’t expect radical changes throughout the RV industry. Although manufacturers know lighter weight and
better fuel economy are desirable, they aren’t sure what consumers are willing to pay for “green” features. Traditionally the bulk of the RV market has been price sensitive, and so many manufacturers will proceed with caution. Campgrounds are coming up to speed with their own ecological improvements. The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) launched an initiative called “Plan-It Green” in 2008, designed to educate member parks on eco-friendly practices. These practices include teaching parks how to reduce use of water and energy, use renewable energy sources, and reduce waste. As a result, parks are adopting xeriscaping, gray water re-utilization, recycled building materials, geothermal energy, energyefficient appliances, and implementing recycling programs. It doesn’t hurt that most of these ideas also save the campground owners money, and in some cases actually bring in new business. ARVC says its research shows that consumers enjoy visiting “environmentally friendly” campsites, which in turn gives parks an economic incentive to get greener. SIMPLE STEPS TO GREENER RV’ING While we’re waiting for the ultimate 30-MPG RV to hit the States, any RV owner can take some simple steps to decrease their impact on the environment. For example, taking shorter trips has a direct and significant impact on pollutants and your costs. Instead of towing 1,000 miles roundtrip to visit a particular spot, you might find one you like just as much in only 500 miles of travel. That’s a clear savings of $150 in fuel costs alone, based on current fuel prices and typical towing cost of $0.30 per mile. You can use that extra $150 to spend another couple of days in the campground. Staying longer is a good “green” practice too, since every day you camp you’re likely consuming far fewer resources than you would if you were home. In other words, drive less, camp more — a sure formula for having fun! In daily life, consider the “three R’s” of environmental conservation, which are Reduce, Re-Use, and Recycle. For RV’ers the first “R” is easy. There’s just not much space to accumulate things. Many travelers have a simple rule: If something comes in, something else must go out. Whether it’s a
box of cereal or a snow globe, living in less space means you have to think more carefully about what you acquire. As a result, people tend to buy less stuff when they are in the camper. Reducing your purchases means you also reduce your garbage, which is a significant impact. All over the US, landfills are reaching capacity and being closed, forcing municipalities to open new places to put garbage. Americans produce about 4 pounds of garbage per person per day. Buy less, throw away less, and you’re already living greener than you were before. If you want to reduce further, start with something simple, like water bottles. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour of the day. Refilling bottles with filtered water from public water sources can have a huge impact on your garbage compared to going to the warehouse store to pick up another case of bottled water. That’s the second “R” — Re-Use. The third “R” can be harder when traveling. Recycling programs exist nearly everywhere, but not all campgrounds collect recyclable materials. If you save aluminum, plastic, and fiberboard boxes for recycling and the campground doesn’t accept recycling, consider bagging those items for recycling when you get home, rather than tossing them in a dumpster. It’s worth the effort. Americans throw away enough aluminum cans to rebuild our nation’s air fleet every three months.
You can also help out campgrounds by choosing tank sanitizers that don’t use formaldehyde. Formaldehyde prevents odors in tanks by killing the beneficial bacteria that help break down waste. Unfortunately, “pickling” the contents of your holding tank also prevents septic systems from working, and this has caused problems for campground owners. It’s also a known carcinogen. California has banned formaldehyde-based tank chemicals and other states are likely to follow suit. Choose a chemical that doesn’t have formaldehyde, or chemicals that break down to it, such as benzaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, or bronopol. “Bacterial digestant,” “enzyme based,” or “septic safe” products are the best choice. If you are in the market for a new tow vehicle, consider something that has good fuel economy when not towing. Unless it’s a dedicated tow vehicle, you’ll probably log a lot more miles without a trailer in tow. Any new car has improved emissions technology compared to an older car, but 2009-model year and later “50-state legal” diesels have taken a particularly large leap forward, with diesel particulate filters and urea-injection systems to make their exhaust cleaner than gas equivalents. Finally, if you really want to maximize your green-ness, consider the ultimate alternative: Sell your house and go full-time! It may be just a dream for most of us, but there’s no question that living in
Unique
Airstream Postcards Did you meet another Airstream on the road? Stay in touch with these unique Airstream Life contact cards. Each card includes spaces for you to fill in your contact information on the back, and the front features “Rest Stop” by illustrator Brad Cornelius. These cards also make a great addition to your Airstream postcard collection! Exclusively available through Airstream Life magazine in our online store. Just $14 for a pack of 10, or $19 for a pack of 20 cards.
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ABOVE AND BELOW: Bamboo, linoleum, cork, and other renewable materials were used in the makeover of this 1962 “eco-friendly” Airstream.
100-200 square feet of Airstream, with the world as your living room, can be the most economical and low-impact way to live. If, like most folks, you are not ready to go full-time right now, take some of the lessons you’ve learned from your camping days and apply them to your life at home. If everyone in North Amer-
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ica lived like Airstreamers do in their trailers and motorhomes, using less water and power, generating less sewage and garbage, burning less fossil fuel for heat, recycling, and buying less “stuff,” just imagine the beneficial impact it would have. So if you want to be greener, live like an RV’er. •••
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WINTER 2009
Eco-Discovery Tour John Byfield and Kate Heber customized their 1962 Airstream Flying Cloud to explore what it means to be “green” in a travel trailer. The Airstream features a composting toilet, solar panels, and low-flow fixtures, all of which were chosen to make the trailer as self-sufficient as possible. Water and electrical use are reduced to a bare minimum, and the trailer’s panels can supply all the power the couple needs. The trailer was built specifically to try out concepts and materials about green living. Recycled or earth-friendly and naturally-renewable products were used in the makeover, including cork floors, walls made of kirei (a waste product from the sorghum plant used to make molasses), bamboo cabinets, and countertops of linoleum. “It’s a combination of materials and learning,” says John. “We were not really what you’d call RV’ers prior to this experience. We’re applying green living principles to RV’ing, and using the RV to take it to the extreme.”
WINTER 2009
The composting toilet has worked well, he says, eliminating the need to dump the black tank. Every six weeks, compost is removed, which can be used as fertilizer. Their water budget averages a skimpy 5-7 gallons of water per day, including navy showers under an Oxygenics showerhead, and cooking. Despite all their alternative technology and materials, Byfield and Heber have learned that even ordinary RVs are not a bad start. “RV’ers by nature are conservative in their use. We’ve learned from the experience,” says John. Their purpose in touring with the trailer is to present a “rolling showcase” of ideas that can be applied to daily household life. They’re also tracking their energy use and total “carbon footprint” carefully. Over the next few months, they hope to gather enough data to compare their actual impact to their former style of living in a typical 3-bedroom ranch house. The “Eco-Discovery Tour” began July 2, 2009 and has no fixed itinerary. To follow the couple and get more information, visit their website at www.ecodiscoverytour.com.
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Here’s what’s in the Winter 2009 print edition of Airstream Life! Subscribe today to get this issue!
MN-MRPC PHOTO LIBRARY
The official Airstream lifestyle magazine
Touring the Great River Road, page 22
Rent an Airstream in Europe, page 33
6
Inbox
8
eBay Watch: What’s Your Pleasure?
12
Collecting Airstream Postcards
16
Green Airstreaming
22
Touring the Great River Road
28
From the Archives: 1958 Caravanning
30
Floorplans: Stella’s Ideal
33
Rent an Airstream in Europe
36
Jasper National Park
43
Canada’s Icefields Parkway
47
America’s Scariest Tows
51
Fun Page
52
Old Aluminum: National Park Smorgasbord
60
Great Ideas: Sometimes, Change is a Breeze
64
Last Mile: Love is Like...An Oil Change?
Jasper National Park, page 36
PHOTO: BERT GILDART
Winter 2009
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