[A/S] First trip in the "new" Bambi

["Wally" <maltnhops@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

We just completed the "shakedown" run in our "new", 1961 Bambi, Stella.  
I guess we like our trailers small and our trips big.  Our shakedown 
was a 3250 mile trip with a stop in Jackson Center and camping in 
Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  We didn't exactly intend for this to be our 
first trip out, but I hurt my back  a few weeks ago and we had to cancel 
a local camping trip.  

We camped at Twin Lakes state park in MI.  My step brother got married on 
July 3rd at the campground.  How convenient.  I made these reservations 
back in December and failed to check on the availability of hookups since 
then.  For some reason, I thought there were full hookups.  As such, I 
focused all my system-testing in the Bambi on the electrical, sewer (no 
gray tank) and the city water system.  Everything for those systems was 
ready to go.  Imagine my horror as we pull up the campground and the attendant 
says "electric only".  It wouldn't have been so bad except I knew my water 
tank had a bad seal where the top meets one side.  I had never put water in 
it and hadn't cleaned it.  Great.  Well, we filled it up about two-thirds of 
the way and made our way slowly to the campsite.  The Bambi has no 12V 
converter so we were counting on the two onboard batteries being charged 
from the charge line on our tow vehicle.  Thankfully, the batteries had 
plenty of juice to power the yet untested 12V water pump for three days.  
It worked well.  But, who cares about water delivery when you have nowhere 
to store or dump the used water?  Thankfully, a PO had added a fair amount 
of large PVC under the trailer that served as a very small gray tank.  All 
we used the water for way a quick hand washing and washing dishes, which wasn't 
much.  Thanks to a "leaky" (read: loosened) sewer cap, the wash water found 
it's way back into the earth.  (this process was manually enhanced at night.  
shhh)

Stella towed like a champ for the whole trip!  I was very careful to pack her 
low and keep heavier items over the axle.  Because of an impromptu trip to 
IKEA in Canada on the way home, she became part cargo trailer as she carried 
a couple flat-packed display shelf units we bought.  She towed much better 
loaded than she did unloaded when we first got her.  

As time permits, I will be posting a more detailed report, including pictures, 
on my website www.vintageairstreamer.com.  Stay tuned.

Thanks,
Wally