Sadly, HSW will no longer come into fruition (at least not anytime soon). MC and I are not working together anymore, thus the construction process has come to a disappointing halt. I am simply unable to fabricate this thing on my own, at least to the magnitude it would require. Hopefully one day, after I have refined my skills, I will be able to revisit this dream and take it on independently.
Even though I talked smack about it before, I think I will revert back to using good ol' panniers and a tent on my journey. The end result will be the same for the most part, just with a little less style and uniqueness.
The use of HSW would have put limitations on where I could ride and stay, how far I could go, and potentially kept me from getting overseas. Without it I can do much more, and perhaps even ditch my bike along the way if I feel like it. There will be a time and place for HSW, until then it will have to remain in my sketchbook.
8.24.2010
keeping track
When on the road I am going to try and document this journey as many ways as possible. I may not continue the blog, as I’m not sure I’ll have a computer with me, or want one for that matter. But I’ll take photos, videos, write my thoughts through entries, poetry and song, draw a lot, and establish some sort of collection of memorabilia from each place I ride through.
In the end I want to make a piece of art that ties it all together, and tells a story. Maybe write a book, who the hell knows. All I know is I just can’t wait to go, get out there and meet as many people as I can, and have as many experiences as possible. This whole thing to me is about meeting people, connecting with strangers, living off the land, and wandering along with the weather. I will welcome self discovery, meditate, and quite literally go where the wind blows me.
I am going to live this way until I can’t any longer. Until it no longer makes me happy. Until I find my spot in the land where I feel most comfortable, and feel at home upon arrival. As I’ve mentioned before, I have seen much of the US to date, all but 4 states to be exact. So it would be ideal to do this trip overseas, as I don’t see myself living indefinitely in the United States anyways, but getting the HSW on a boat and across the ocean is another matter. I’ll come to that bridge when I cross it!! Haha, get it?
I don’t have a lot of money, I am in a bit of debt actually. But I figure I will make it as I go. I have a variety of work experience and skills, so doing some labor intensive odd jobs to make a buck for dinner or a spare tire seems good to me. And as I said before, I’d like to live off the land when possible, so after doing some research on edible flora and fauna I hope to make that a main staple in my diet. And hey, if I get good at my travel-sized guitar, maybe I could play my travelin’ tunes for money. Telling my story through song in exchange for a warm meal doesn’t sound too shabby.
In the end I want to make a piece of art that ties it all together, and tells a story. Maybe write a book, who the hell knows. All I know is I just can’t wait to go, get out there and meet as many people as I can, and have as many experiences as possible. This whole thing to me is about meeting people, connecting with strangers, living off the land, and wandering along with the weather. I will welcome self discovery, meditate, and quite literally go where the wind blows me.
I am going to live this way until I can’t any longer. Until it no longer makes me happy. Until I find my spot in the land where I feel most comfortable, and feel at home upon arrival. As I’ve mentioned before, I have seen much of the US to date, all but 4 states to be exact. So it would be ideal to do this trip overseas, as I don’t see myself living indefinitely in the United States anyways, but getting the HSW on a boat and across the ocean is another matter. I’ll come to that bridge when I cross it!! Haha, get it?
I don’t have a lot of money, I am in a bit of debt actually. But I figure I will make it as I go. I have a variety of work experience and skills, so doing some labor intensive odd jobs to make a buck for dinner or a spare tire seems good to me. And as I said before, I’d like to live off the land when possible, so after doing some research on edible flora and fauna I hope to make that a main staple in my diet. And hey, if I get good at my travel-sized guitar, maybe I could play my travelin’ tunes for money. Telling my story through song in exchange for a warm meal doesn’t sound too shabby.
so much to think about!
It’s a little overwhelming to think about every aspect of HSW all at once.
Aside from building the frame and shell of HSW, the frame and axel need to be designed and constructed, as well as the mechanism for the hitch that will attach to the back of the bike. As the bike leans and turns, the hitch needs to have a free range of motion separate from the bike. Balance and a correct center of gravity will be key.
Weight! Standing alone, trailer and HSW together will hopefully weigh no more than 75 lbs. And fully-loaded should not weigh more than 100 lbs. I am going to have to test out how much weight I can tow before the final HSW is built to ensure we don’t make it too heavy and do all this work for nothing.
Speaking of weight, it might not be a bad idea to toy around with the thought of mounting a small motor onto the bicycle. They have these motor kits you can buy and assemble onto a bike. It runs about 30 mph, and gets 100 mpg. At first I was totally against this idea, as it seems contradictory to getting across the country on man power alone. But if I only allow myself to use the motor when I absolutely have to, then I think it’ll be alright. I mean, there are going to be some pretty steep hills to climb, big intersections to cross, and probably more than a few hairy situations when I’ll need to move through spots rather quickly. I am a little worried about getting in the way of traffic. I get honked at while riding even without a huge trailer behind me! The tank is only a one gallon tank, with a mixture of gasoline and oil as the fuel. If one tank will get me about 100 miles, I won’t have to refill it very often if I’m only using the motor sparingly and when absolutely necessary. In the end I think it will be safer to have the option of using a motor when I need to.
I am going to be a little smarter with the next bicycle I purchase to use for this trip. The bike I have now will simply not do. I’d like to find a vintage bike, with some character and charm to it, while also being sturdy enough to tow a load for a few thousand miles. They have these AMAZING Whizzer, Indian, and Wanderer motor bicycles out there, which are sadly way beyond my budget. It would be a dream to hitch up HSW to one of these babies and ride into the distance forever. Since I’ll never be able to afford anything like that, I’ll just try and make my own!
So until the construction process can begin on HSW, I’ll be researching bikes locally and online to see what I can’t find.
Aside from building the frame and shell of HSW, the frame and axel need to be designed and constructed, as well as the mechanism for the hitch that will attach to the back of the bike. As the bike leans and turns, the hitch needs to have a free range of motion separate from the bike. Balance and a correct center of gravity will be key.
Weight! Standing alone, trailer and HSW together will hopefully weigh no more than 75 lbs. And fully-loaded should not weigh more than 100 lbs. I am going to have to test out how much weight I can tow before the final HSW is built to ensure we don’t make it too heavy and do all this work for nothing.
Speaking of weight, it might not be a bad idea to toy around with the thought of mounting a small motor onto the bicycle. They have these motor kits you can buy and assemble onto a bike. It runs about 30 mph, and gets 100 mpg. At first I was totally against this idea, as it seems contradictory to getting across the country on man power alone. But if I only allow myself to use the motor when I absolutely have to, then I think it’ll be alright. I mean, there are going to be some pretty steep hills to climb, big intersections to cross, and probably more than a few hairy situations when I’ll need to move through spots rather quickly. I am a little worried about getting in the way of traffic. I get honked at while riding even without a huge trailer behind me! The tank is only a one gallon tank, with a mixture of gasoline and oil as the fuel. If one tank will get me about 100 miles, I won’t have to refill it very often if I’m only using the motor sparingly and when absolutely necessary. In the end I think it will be safer to have the option of using a motor when I need to.
I am going to be a little smarter with the next bicycle I purchase to use for this trip. The bike I have now will simply not do. I’d like to find a vintage bike, with some character and charm to it, while also being sturdy enough to tow a load for a few thousand miles. They have these AMAZING Whizzer, Indian, and Wanderer motor bicycles out there, which are sadly way beyond my budget. It would be a dream to hitch up HSW to one of these babies and ride into the distance forever. Since I’ll never be able to afford anything like that, I’ll just try and make my own!
So until the construction process can begin on HSW, I’ll be researching bikes locally and online to see what I can’t find.
what's in a name?
Like any respectable boat, my sweet little home must have a name. It took some time, but after much thought I have come up with one, well, more like I stumbled upon it. While reading the book The Songlines, by Bruce Chatwin, I read the term “horizon-struck wanderer,” and that stuck! I feel that term is very fitting for me, and my trailer. So she will be HSW for short. It’s kind of amazing how perfect that name is actually. The whole theme of the camper is based on a circle, (or the sun) with half circles for the windows (or a sun rising over the horizon). I will forever be riding into the horizon, and guess when my favorite time to ride is anyway? Dawn! It’s just perfect. And to top it all off with a little backstory, I got a tattoo when I was 17 (my Dad signed for it) of get this, a sun rising over the ocean in a beautiful sunrise! It’s just fate I suppose. HSW and I were destined to be together. Thanks Chatwin.
I tried coming up with synonyms to Horizon-Struck Wanderer, as to not steal Chatwin’s exact word usage. I conjured up things like Bounds-Walloped Roamer, Ambit-Driven Peddler, Spread Dawn on It (random but I kinda like this one), Gamut-Daunted Bum, and Dawn-Daunted Drifter, to name a few. None of them had quite the same ring as HSW though.
Of course, I plan on making a decal for HSW, much like you would find on a classic automobile. I will have it cast out of aluminum and mounted either on the back or on each side. It’s pretty fun coming up with the design for the decal, here are a few options. I’m really into the whole art nouveau thing so I was trying to channel that:
I tried coming up with synonyms to Horizon-Struck Wanderer, as to not steal Chatwin’s exact word usage. I conjured up things like Bounds-Walloped Roamer, Ambit-Driven Peddler, Spread Dawn on It (random but I kinda like this one), Gamut-Daunted Bum, and Dawn-Daunted Drifter, to name a few. None of them had quite the same ring as HSW though.
Of course, I plan on making a decal for HSW, much like you would find on a classic automobile. I will have it cast out of aluminum and mounted either on the back or on each side. It’s pretty fun coming up with the design for the decal, here are a few options. I’m really into the whole art nouveau thing so I was trying to channel that:
mock-up!!!!
I built a second life-size model of the latest design. MC lent me some cardboard and extra thin, bendable ply wood to construct it from. This is just a model of the skin of the camper, only to see if the sizing is right and to get an idea of how it will look in 3D form.
From the drawing in the sketchbook, I measured and redrew the shape of the side pieces onto the plywood. MC let me use his jigsaw to cut out the pieces, which was great because it would have taken forever with a utility knife!
Then back at home I measured and cut out all the shapes for the drawers and windows and cut a piece for the floor and bottom of the storage area. I also cut a piece for the wheel well shape, and added a little fold out step piece to provide extra seat space under the canopy. I also cut one long piece of the bendable cardboard for the roof, and folded it where the hinge would be for the hatchback. Once I had all the pieces cut, I started to tape it together. Easier said than done!
Once the sides and bottom were assembled, I made the storage drawers and kitchenette compartments and slid them in. The roof was added and TADA, I was done! It took me about one and a half weeks I think to get it together, just working on it in my spare time.
It is so exciting to see it take shape! I want so badly to crawl inside it, but it’s only cardboard and it would definitely collapse even if a kitten were to jump inside it. Well, maybe not a kitten but you know what I’m saying.
MC sent the pictures and design plans off to his friend Rob the welder to give him an idea of what we will be doing. Rob will probably do most of the welding, as I know welding aluminum isn’t easy, but I will be as much a part of it as I can. Yeah, I’m a girl, but I know my way around a tool box. I am going to construct every part of this thing possible and with help from MC and Rob the welder there’s nothing that can’t be done. I’ll rivet the whole damn thing together if I have to.
From the drawing in the sketchbook, I measured and redrew the shape of the side pieces onto the plywood. MC let me use his jigsaw to cut out the pieces, which was great because it would have taken forever with a utility knife!
Then back at home I measured and cut out all the shapes for the drawers and windows and cut a piece for the floor and bottom of the storage area. I also cut a piece for the wheel well shape, and added a little fold out step piece to provide extra seat space under the canopy. I also cut one long piece of the bendable cardboard for the roof, and folded it where the hinge would be for the hatchback. Once I had all the pieces cut, I started to tape it together. Easier said than done!
Once the sides and bottom were assembled, I made the storage drawers and kitchenette compartments and slid them in. The roof was added and TADA, I was done! It took me about one and a half weeks I think to get it together, just working on it in my spare time.
It is so exciting to see it take shape! I want so badly to crawl inside it, but it’s only cardboard and it would definitely collapse even if a kitten were to jump inside it. Well, maybe not a kitten but you know what I’m saying.
MC sent the pictures and design plans off to his friend Rob the welder to give him an idea of what we will be doing. Rob will probably do most of the welding, as I know welding aluminum isn’t easy, but I will be as much a part of it as I can. Yeah, I’m a girl, but I know my way around a tool box. I am going to construct every part of this thing possible and with help from MC and Rob the welder there’s nothing that can’t be done. I’ll rivet the whole damn thing together if I have to.
the gist
So my camper is going to be built out of aluminum. It will have a removable solar panel to gather the sun’s rays on top, and hopefully a small generator in the hub of the wheels on the bike to harvest peddling energy into a small battery inside the camper. This way I can have road lights and blinkers on the outside of the camper, as well as a couple interior lights for when the night comes. Also, I hope to have at least one outlet so I can power my phone and any other electrical devise I may need.
The back door will have small hydrolics so it will stay open when propped up, and provide a sturdy and wind-resistant canopy for me to sit under while establishing an open and welcoming back entrance. With the bed and kitchenette folded out, I’ll be able to sit on the back step or inside and have a decent open-air space to spend my time when I’m not riding. I’ll be able to quickly pull down the hatchback and lock myself inside if need be and still be able to use the kitchen and lay completely flat. With lots of ventilation it will be no problem. It will be cramped, but I am trying to design it to be as comfortable as possible while still being nothing but functionable.
Speaking of ventilation, I went to a really awesome marine consignment shop and found lots of goodies I could use for the camper. Marine accessories have great lines and are often circular in shape, and would really go well with my theme, not to mention they’re watertight. I found some amazing lights to use for the blinkers and dome lights for the interior. There were also some perfect air vents to attach to the sides. The only draw back of using marine equipment is that it tends to be a little heavy, but with some persistent poking around I’m sure I’ll pinpoint the perfect pieces to purchase. Look Steve, alliteration! HA!
The back door will have small hydrolics so it will stay open when propped up, and provide a sturdy and wind-resistant canopy for me to sit under while establishing an open and welcoming back entrance. With the bed and kitchenette folded out, I’ll be able to sit on the back step or inside and have a decent open-air space to spend my time when I’m not riding. I’ll be able to quickly pull down the hatchback and lock myself inside if need be and still be able to use the kitchen and lay completely flat. With lots of ventilation it will be no problem. It will be cramped, but I am trying to design it to be as comfortable as possible while still being nothing but functionable.
Speaking of ventilation, I went to a really awesome marine consignment shop and found lots of goodies I could use for the camper. Marine accessories have great lines and are often circular in shape, and would really go well with my theme, not to mention they’re watertight. I found some amazing lights to use for the blinkers and dome lights for the interior. There were also some perfect air vents to attach to the sides. The only draw back of using marine equipment is that it tends to be a little heavy, but with some persistent poking around I’m sure I’ll pinpoint the perfect pieces to purchase. Look Steve, alliteration! HA!
full circle
Here is the latest and greatest design for the camper so far. My love of circles really got me going with this one. The whole shape was based off a circle, with half circle niches for the wheel well and windows. There seems to be a theme forming. I like the idea of the half circles representing the sun, rising over the horizon and guiding my camper and I along the winding roads.
There will be two storage compartments (one on either side) under the bed area that will be accessible from the outside and pull out like drawers when not locked in place. There will also be another storage area between the tires and above the axel which will only be reachable after the back door is opened. The camper by the way, will sit on a custom made trailer frame which will be hitched to the bike. This way when I stop I can unhitch the camper when it’s in use, and utilize a parking brake. I’ll be able to leave the camper if needed and ride my bike freely if I have to get somewhere in a hurry, although I’m not sure how comfortable I will be leaving my camper all alone out there. But it’s good to have the option.
There will be two slide out compartments set on tracks for the kitchenette. I am planning on one side having a one burner stove, and the other with a small hand-pump sink, with small drawers underneath for kitchen supplies and utensils.
Dimensions:
2.5’ wide (with bed extended it will be 6’ wide, with plenty of room to lay flat)
3’ at tallest point
3.5’ long
There will be two storage compartments (one on either side) under the bed area that will be accessible from the outside and pull out like drawers when not locked in place. There will also be another storage area between the tires and above the axel which will only be reachable after the back door is opened. The camper by the way, will sit on a custom made trailer frame which will be hitched to the bike. This way when I stop I can unhitch the camper when it’s in use, and utilize a parking brake. I’ll be able to leave the camper if needed and ride my bike freely if I have to get somewhere in a hurry, although I’m not sure how comfortable I will be leaving my camper all alone out there. But it’s good to have the option.
There will be two slide out compartments set on tracks for the kitchenette. I am planning on one side having a one burner stove, and the other with a small hand-pump sink, with small drawers underneath for kitchen supplies and utensils.
Dimensions:
2.5’ wide (with bed extended it will be 6’ wide, with plenty of room to lay flat)
3’ at tallest point
3.5’ long
back to the camper for now...
The good thing about the trike is that it gave me an idea of the maximum width I should make the camper. I’m thinking it shouldn’t be wider than 2 feet. Here is another to scale and more detailed drawing of a design. It resembles a stagecoach which was also unintentional.
And the interior:
Adding the wheel well and changing the storage:
I tried making a life size model of this design, but the cardboard I used was extremely flimsy and was really hard to work with. Seeing it come to life off the paper was exciting though, I wish I could have sat inside it!
And the interior:
Adding the wheel well and changing the storage:
I tried making a life size model of this design, but the cardboard I used was extremely flimsy and was really hard to work with. Seeing it come to life off the paper was exciting though, I wish I could have sat inside it!
bike -vs- trike
This was so silly of me! I made a spontaneous decision to buy a 6 speed adult tricycle off ebay to tow the trailer with. Mind you, I had never ridden a trike before. I had no clue as to how it would handle. I just thought well, if two wheels are good, three would be great! So I bought the freakin’ thing for $400 plus shipping for a total of $470 without thinking twice about it. I was so excited about everything that I was dismissing common sense.
So the trike arrived in pieces, it was brand new. After assembling it with the help MC, I hopped on excitedly and was quickly disappointed. It was easy to ride, but it seemed cheaply manufactured and was not as rugged as it needed to be. Also, when turning you can’t lean into it, so when it gets up to a good speed and then you have to make a turn, it feels like it will tip over easily. That’s not a good sign. So I put the trike up for sale on Craigslist and after a couple weeks, it sold for $350 to a 92 year old grandma. Despite loosing $120 bucks, I’m glad it went to a good home and will be well taken care of and enjoyed. And the thought of a little old lady putting around on a trike with a wriggling puppy in the back basket never fails to make me smile.
I think I’ll stick with what I know.
So the trike arrived in pieces, it was brand new. After assembling it with the help MC, I hopped on excitedly and was quickly disappointed. It was easy to ride, but it seemed cheaply manufactured and was not as rugged as it needed to be. Also, when turning you can’t lean into it, so when it gets up to a good speed and then you have to make a turn, it feels like it will tip over easily. That’s not a good sign. So I put the trike up for sale on Craigslist and after a couple weeks, it sold for $350 to a 92 year old grandma. Despite loosing $120 bucks, I’m glad it went to a good home and will be well taken care of and enjoyed. And the thought of a little old lady putting around on a trike with a wriggling puppy in the back basket never fails to make me smile.
I think I’ll stick with what I know.
overall design
My first thoughts for the functionality of the camper were that it needs to be extremely compact, and then fold out to optimize maximum space. It will have a similar idea for the bed as those pop-up campers you see floating about. It will be made almost entirely out of aluminum with the exception of the tent-like material that will fold out for the roof of the bed. Obviously the goal is for it to be as lightweight as possible.
The camper will be split into sections: a bed area, kitchenette, tool/supply storage, food storage, and some sort of water tank area. Looking back on my sketch book I was very optimistic about how much space I thought I might have. These (extremely rough) sketches are how I first envisioned the interior looking like:
This is way over the top, too tall, too long, and not aerodynamic whatsoever. I don’t know what I was thinking when I drew this, but all ideas need refinement and this is no exception:
It didn’t have the look I was going for at all and resembled a horse trailer, which was not my intention.
I am a sucker for everything vintage, and I am really drawn to the whole vibe from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. While brainstorming the overall look and feel of the camper, I looked at some teardrop trailers and classic cars and such for inspiration:
Also, I love circles and all things curvy, and curves will aid in the camper being more aerodynamic as well. Here are some shapes I thought about. It’s also important to think about how I’m going to get into the thing. After toying with the idea of a side door, I think the hatchback style makes the most sense, as when it folds up it will also provide the canopy that I will need for shade.
I should point out that at this point I was convinced a tricycle was the way to go.
The camper will be split into sections: a bed area, kitchenette, tool/supply storage, food storage, and some sort of water tank area. Looking back on my sketch book I was very optimistic about how much space I thought I might have. These (extremely rough) sketches are how I first envisioned the interior looking like:
This is way over the top, too tall, too long, and not aerodynamic whatsoever. I don’t know what I was thinking when I drew this, but all ideas need refinement and this is no exception:
It didn’t have the look I was going for at all and resembled a horse trailer, which was not my intention.
I am a sucker for everything vintage, and I am really drawn to the whole vibe from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. While brainstorming the overall look and feel of the camper, I looked at some teardrop trailers and classic cars and such for inspiration:
Also, I love circles and all things curvy, and curves will aid in the camper being more aerodynamic as well. Here are some shapes I thought about. It’s also important to think about how I’m going to get into the thing. After toying with the idea of a side door, I think the hatchback style makes the most sense, as when it folds up it will also provide the canopy that I will need for shade.
I should point out that at this point I was convinced a tricycle was the way to go.
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