two sides of the coin

So, here it is Thursday, I think. We are in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and we are getting our first day of rest. Its been drizzling off and on but the rain has kept the mosquitos down.

It's been rough. Having never planned a long road trip, I didn't realize how long the drive was between campsites and because the internet went down for a constant 5 days before we left, I could never check the distances on mapquest. So, we drove all day on Tuesday and all day on Wednesday. After getting lost in Detroit, driving through Canada, getting hassled by an American Border Patrol agent upon reentering the U.S., and stopping countless time at Kmarts, Camping Worlds and the like, we finally got into Niagara at 3:30am. We dropped dead into sleep and was on the road by 11:00am that morning. It was a pouring and thundering storm that we drove through. We saw the Falls at a distance and got out of there. Determined not to stop as much so that our, ahem, 9 hour drive to the Chocorua Camping Village would be efficient and completed at a reasonable hour. Alas, we got lost a couple more times when our GPS lost the satellite in the mountains. We stopped in Vermont so that we could get some groceries and maple syrup for my mom and so Gabe could get some pictures for his website and business. Some beautiful plaques and sculptures that could use a little maintenance. We also got some pictures of the mountains. Vermont is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

So, today we are finally relaxing. Unfortunately, it is imbued with a gloomy mood. These two long and stressful days have brought out our worst and bickering has commenced. Anyone who knows me knows that I am what one might call a "cry-baby". And so, I have shed many tears to the annoyance and chagrin of Gabe. I was worried that the close quarters would put a strain on us but I didn't think that we'd be fighting for the first two days! Don't get me wrong, there has been many great hours of conversation, laughter and future speculation. Conversations that affirm the relationship without actually stating so. When telling people about this trip, many of the pessimistic would make the comment, "Well, that'll be the test of your relationship." Which I thought was a little rude and then I would brush it off. I never once believed them. But sometimes my own self-doubt spreads in these other areas of my life and it's hard to shake.

All right, so that said, it's time to move on. I think I'll end this post by stating a public apology for being exceptionally emotional and sensitive. But with the caveat that I have always been this way and will continue to be this way. I will always try to temper my emotional reactions but they will never cease to be a part of my personality.



Here's to living in a truck with your dogs and your boyfriend. *toast*

I'd like to add an ammendment to this last blog. We finished the day in great spirits. Gabe spent most of his day organizing and reading. I spent most of my day with my dogs. We went to the dog park at the campground, we went swimming at the dog beach and went hiking on a trail for a short while. (A beautiful and big dog park, pristinely clean with plenty of trees, grass and pine needles.) I also read a little and posted my blog. We both decided not to fight anymore and kept to that promise. Finally, with the dogs completely wiped out, and after some wine, cheese and farmstand fruit, and a game of Gin Rummy, we are now sitting outside at the campfire, allowing it to hypnotize us with its wily flames.

Almost Gone!

I can hardly believe that we are only one day away from leaving! We are still rushing to do the last minute things. I work right up to the last night before we leave so I only have half days to work with but that's ok, as I'll have a chance to make some money.

after Gabe installed the canvas

Gabe is wiring the camper as we speak but he's got pretty much everything assembled and done. Down to knobs and tassels on cabinets and the clock on the wall. I finished all the throw pillows, curtains, and the mattress. I had plenty of help from the dogs, as you can see.

the interior while the carpet is being put in

We went shopping today for some important travel items. Traveling soap containers and handy-wipes, paper towel and Kleenex, lotion and conditioner (that's important for me!) dog leads and treats, but probably most important of all, cowboy hats and sunglasses. That's right. It's always about style. (An aside, I found the most beautiful pair of ladies cowboy boots I have ever seen. At $500.oo I won't be getting them but maybe now I have a new reason to save my $!) We got the hats at Alcala's Western store in Chicago. Awesome! This place is a treasure. It's funny how everyday I find another thing about Chicago that makes me love it that much more. Sometimes I breathe deep and realize with perfect contentment and pleasure that I live in an incredible city. But I digress...

Conrad being silly. every time i looked away he wound up laying on the foam of the mattress

So our first stop on this exciting trip is Niagara Falls. Two nights. There is a doggy babysitting place right new the camp so we can head out and explore a little. Or maybe we'll sit back and enjoy a bottle of champagne (sparkling wine for those wine-savvy of you) and bask in the pleasure of not having to do anything!again, Conrad being as helpful as he could

So I'm going to wrap this up so that I can get to cleaning before I head to work. Our lovely friend Mandy is moving in and I have to get this place ship-shape!

Baloo took the hint to help as well.

But it's all getting done. There will be some super last minute things to do and get and we will surely forget something but it will be fine because what we really need, we already have.

some pictures of the process...

I don't have a lot to say, but, as the saying goes, "a picture says a thousand words".

Oh, I know. I'm so cliche.

It's rather lame to state cliches at the beginning of your blog, I realize this. But I'm rather tired (excuses), I have very little free time (excuses), and I had an extra beer at Estelles' (excuses). But really, the truth is, I have some pictures but I don't have a story to tell. So look at the pictures and wait till the next blog for something interesting. Jeez.

A Glimpse into building a camper

As it's getting very close to being finished, I thought I'd stop in to Gabe's garage to see what's going on and snap some quick photos for the blog. I took these with my phone so I apologize for the poor quality. But it should give one an idea of where we are. Gabe still has all the electrical to do and I have to finish the canvas to install. We should be at that point by Saturday! I get little buzzes of excitement in my stomach every time I see the camper!


The interior pic looks a little foggy because of the poor light quality but you can still see the glossy, almost purplish red stain on the inside.

The silver aluminum sides will be black by this evening.
Thats Gabe prepping the camper to be painted.

I wish we had thought to take pictures of the camper as it looked when Gabe bought it. It had ribbed aluminum dirty white and red striped outsides, '70's style orange and yellow and brown tattered cushions, a chipped formica table top, a pink sink, yellowy-brown fridge and wood siding on the inside. It smelled like mildew and dust. The canvas was light blue and ripped and stained. But hey, if it hadn't been so atrocious, we wouldn't have needed to do a complete overhaul and it wouldn't be looking as cool as it will now.

Gearing up...

In order to go on this Trans American journey, we need something to travel in. And that vehicle happens to be a Ford F-150 with a 1975 Scamper perched in it. Gabe bought this camper in mid-winter with some modest ideas for cleaning it up. What happened was a complete overhaul of the interior and exterior. Basically, he stripped it down to its shell, rebuilt where the wood frame had rotted, built new light-weight cedar shelving and seating, added tons of storage space and redesigned the interior layout. For my part, I'm remaking the collapsible canvas part of the "pop-up" part complete with screened windows and weather flaps. I'm also making all the interior upholstery and curtains. Soft, plush, burnt orange wide wale corduroy for the cushion tops with black cord piping and brightly colored accent throw pillows. The cedar is stained a dark, shiny, reddish mahogany, the carpet will be steel grey and the ceiling is painted a brushed aluminum with metallic paint. The inside will be dark and cozy with nooks and crannies to play on the laptop or read a book. (Those of you who know us will know which of us will be doing what!) The outside will be painted glossy black but the roof will be painted a bright, light and heat reflecting white. Even the diamond plate girding will be black. The pop-up canvas is dark orange with black binding around the windows. This camper is going to look tough on the outside and swank on the inside! But for now, it's still a work in progress. Time is short so the advancements will now be quickly paced. I will post pictures as I have them. We are due to be in Maine, starting the trip, by August 2ND, 2008. Only three and a half more weeks to go!