My Airstreams
A Tale of Two Toasters
People will frequently ask me, “so, how did the Airstreams happen?”
I say, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That’s when they kinda look at me funny. There’s no single explanation as to the origin of my love for rivets and the road. Maybe it was the fire trucks. After all, they were my first introduction to vehicles and the best of all worlds…shiny, red and full of chrome and gauges.
Then again, maybe it was the planes and Navy ships we would go to see. DC-10’s and other aluminum planes were the bees’ knees to me. Not to mention the strong women who built so many of them during WWII.
But, it could have been the cars (the two Mustangs & one Corvette that got away:( and our frequent road trips. Adventure was always only a car ride away for my family. And so my Airstreams are literal and figurative time capsules of where I’ve come from and new adventures to be had. My first one saved me when I felt like I lost everything. And because I had to reinvent my career, I was able to procure the vintage toaster I really wanted.
Now I’m on the hunt for a late ’60s Chevy C-10 capable of trailing my vintage Airstreams. I’d settle for a 1960’s Chevy Impala Wagon with a big engine and tow package. Yes, I said wagon. Seriously, how cool would that be?!!
People will frequently ask me, “so, how the Airstreams happen?”
I say, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That’s when they kinda look at me funny. There’s no single explanation as to the origin of my love for rivets and the road. Maybe it was the fire trucks. After all, they were my first introduction to vehicles and the best of all worlds…shiny, red and full of chrome and gauges.
Then again, maybe it was the planes and Navy ships we would go to see. DC-10’s and other aluminum planes were the bees’ knees to me. Not to mention the strong women built so many during WWII. The National Air & Space Museum is still one of my favorite places on earth.
But, it could have been the cars (the two Mustangs & one Corvette that got away:( and our frequent road trips. Adventure was always only a car ride away for my family. And so my Airstreams are literal and figurative time capsules of where I’ve come from and new adventures to be had. My first one saved me when I felt like I lost everything. And because I had to reinvent my career, I was able to procure the vintage toaster I really wanted.
Now I’m on the hunt for a late ’60s Chevy C-10 capable of trailing my vintage Airstreams. I’d settle for a 1960’s Chevy Impala Wagon with a big engine and tow package. Yes, I said wagon. Seriously, how cool would that be?!!
1968 Airstream Overlander.
Alice Anne.
Renamed for my two grandmothers, Alice Anne is going to be a lovely lady. She’s a time capsule on wheels and it’s been quite the adventure working on her and wondering what she saw in her previous life. She’s a 26′ Airstream Overlander from 1968, back when men were aiming their sights on the moon.
She’s been completely taken apart, had her frame repaired and welded where needed, had new sub-floor installed, all new wiring installed, two fantastic fans, two new windows and is just waiting to be reassembled with new custom cabinetry and of course, the final shining by yours truly.
1965 Airstream Overlander.
Lucille But Maybe Abigail.
Never judge a toaster by her shell. Lucy the Airstream is a special lady. This 1965 Overlander spent the last 20 years of her life, dying in a farm field. But Lucille has one of the nicest bodies of any vintage Airstream I’ve ever met, lol.
After excavating several feet of earth from around her wheel wells, it was finally possible to jack her axles up, pop off her dry-rotted boots and give her a new pair of shoes. Her rusty hitch had just enough gas left in her tank to allow me to trailer her down the road.
Come Along for the Ride.
If you’d like to learn more about my Airstreaming Adventures, be sure to check out my Toaster Adrift Website and Blog as well as my Instagram Account @ToasterAdrift.
While I’m currently not leasing any of my trailers, I am planning on being very busy during Summer break, bumping, grinding and polishing. My former secretary told me “Jennifer, this is not lady like,” and while I still love her, this work is rather cathartic and has already gotten me through some tough times. She’ll change her mind after she see the beauty I’ve built;)