who am I, Superwoman?

You may be curious as to how I’m actually thinking that I can fabricate this thing. I have been lucky enough to meet some pretty amazing people here in Rhode Island. Among them is a local artisan/master craftsman who has been kind enough to take me under his wing as his apprentice. He has been teaching me his trade and supplying me with mental and physical tools for life. Thankfully, he is just as excited about this idea as I am, and we are building it together. Though I can hold my own in a tool shed, I couldn't do this without some serious help.

Since May 9th I have devoted a sketchbook to hold all of my brain’s thoughts, visions and research for my camper. So this blog is basically a refined form of that. Page one of the sketchbook is a jumble of camper design thumbnails and of course a list! My hand couldn’t scribble out the words fast enough, my mind was racing so! The following is a tame version of this list that I made of wants for the camper:

fold out bed
kitchenette
storage space
windows
door
canopy
electricity/outlets
removable sunroof (emergency exit)
pump sink
drain
solar panel
clothes line
single burner stove
toilet
shower
music/speakers
cooler
coffee pot
fold out table & chair
hot water
a kite
curtains

The master craftsman (let’s just call him MC) and I also collaborated a list of things to take into account when designing it:

balance
tracking
weight
parking brake
harvesting energy
battery
windage
ease of building & repair
safety
keeping elements out
ventilation
generator hub
simplicity
efficiency

Off to the drawing board!

haha, shit happens!

Once I dove into this idea, I never came up for air once. The second I thought of it I felt committed. I pictured all of it happening and it all seemed so perfect. Not as in everything would be smooth sailing by any means, just that it would be the ideal way to live, for me.

I tend to appreciate the "OH SHIT NO!" moments in life. Like getting a flat tire in a snowstorm, being lost for hours and driving in circles, missing the train by two seconds, or taking the wrong bus and walking 5 miles home. I like to embrace those kinds of things, they usually provide you with an opportunity you would have normally missed out on. An opportunity to learn. I guess I just try to never waste a second, or be bitter about things that really don't matter that much. I'm not even going to get into the whole 'matter' rant, save that for another time. That word haunts me.

There will probably be a lot of those "OH SHIT NO!" moments on this trip, and that makes me excited! A new problem to solve, the invention of a new direction, time to spend. It's what makes life interesting. Plus it makes for good stories.

My original thought for the length of the trip would be at least one year on the road. But I don't want to be limited to that at all. I want no schedule, no time table or deadline to move on to the next town. No required mileage per day. I'll have goals, sure, but it's not worth getting steamed up about it if it doesn't iron out. Oh my god, I love puns, I didn't even do that on purpose! Because I know shit happens, and plans get screwed up. So instead of putting a label on it, I'm just going to keep peddling until for some reason, I can't any longer. When my feet fall off.

no, this is silly

"Why, Carla, why build a camper?" My mother asks curiously, yet not surprised.

Sure, I could just stick saddlebags on my bike, fill them with camping stuff and off I go. But that is not nearly as exciting or fulfilling as designing and building my own miniature house that I can tow behind me on my bike and bring with me wherever I go.

This trailer is going to be rugged, sturdy, and able to withstand most forces of nature. It will provide me with a stable, reliable shelter and protection from wildlife and all the crazies out there, which will be needed as I am going solo.

When in the treeless deserts of the southwest and I need a cool place to relax, my trusty trailer will provide my shade. When I arrive to camp in the middle of a thunderstorm and can’t set up a tent, I’ll simply crawl in my camper and let the rain dropping on the aluminum ceiling drift me to sleep. And as I pass through the dark and dangerous nowheres of the land in the midst of the night, I can easily hop off my bike and lock myself in, clutch my knife in hand and wish I wasn’t alone.

So you see, it all just adds to the excitement! I mean, if I can, then why not do it?

brain brew

I am very thankful to have been brought up with the most memorable parts of my childhood on the road. Car, truck, van, camper, bus; you name it, my family has probably driven across the country in it. The most beautiful thing about it was that we lived outside. None of that air conditioned lounging-cable TV watching-ice maker vending-microwave using-luxurious excuse for camping-mobile home bullshit either, no. Instead, the wind rocked me to sleep in my hammock while my 3 year old brother gathered kindling barefoot in the woods. And as I grew older, Dad and I would bond in our amazement for the sky, and Mom taught me how to make the best chocolate chip pancakes ever over an open fire. Camping has been a huge part of my life since day one, and I plan on keeping it that way as long as possible. 

About 6 months ago I sold my car and replaced it with the first bicycle I've owned as an adult. Needless to say, my bike and I are in love. I thoroughly enjoy biking as my mode of transportation and don't foresee owning an automobile anytime soon. This however, makes it more difficult to take a random camping trip much less a road trip across the country.

The ninth day in May I came up with an idea. Why not build a miniature camper to tow behind my bike? And that's when my brain exploded.