Itty Bitty the Camper

Itty Bitty the Camper  Mimi Matthews

Camping and traveling was forged into my blood since my elementary days. Being the most inexpensive way to travel in the 1960s, camping was how we took our vacations. Our small camper was painted red and white and mama made red gingham curtains for both it and the 1965 navy blue station wagon that pulled it. Quite the patriotic sight, we were!

Fast-forward four decades to where I am now a single mom of two adopted children with disabilities. I am fifty-eight years old and yearning to take my children on adventures like I had. However, I was broke. And I wanted to camp so we could enjoy and explore outdoors. I knew almost nothing about pulling a camper but I decided to investigate anyway.

Wondering where to start, I felt like I should check Craigslist. Sure enough, this tiny vintage camper was for sale! The owner had just posted it. By financing through my credit union I was able to purchase it. After installing a hitch on my van I headed downstate Michigan to bring it home. The owner, who had refurbished it some, made sure I could turn corners with it. However, he forgot to tell me about putting my van into a lower gear. I didn’t dare go over 50 mph on the highway because my van growled so much! That was in 2010 and Itty Bitty the Camper became a member of our family.

She’s a 1974 Sprite. Ten feet long and basically beds on wheels. My daughter was on a feeding pump that had to be hung and my body was too old to sleep on the ground. This tiny trailer was perfect for us. I could haul it and set it up myself. We have been as far north as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and as far south as Lexington Kentucky.

Itty Bitty has been in several photo shoots—summer, Christmas, and Mother’s Day at our church. She’s an excellent model! Because she’s a seventies lady, I tried to decorate her in gypsy/hippie style. I hope you enjoy her happy vibes!

Itty Bitty has her own Instagram account: www. instagram.com/ittybittycamper1974/ where you can see pictures of her inside.