One Word......UNFORGETTABLE!!!!!

Hey everyone.....Susan and I arrived home in Portland today around 1:00 pm while Cari & Kimberly are home and/or headed home to their loved ones.  More posts to follow but wanted to send a HUGE thank you to everyone who has followed our adventures.  Apologies for going dark for the last few weeks - 12 hour driving days, crazy weather and spotty internet access (plus really really fun happy hour activities) made it difficult for us to share our progress :).


It was the most incredible thing to have so many of you welcome us to JC, made even more incredible knowing that there are even more of you out there who weren't @ JC that were concerned with our safety and interested in our roadtrip.  HUGE hugs and kisses to everyone for helping to make this a truly epic adventure.


Stay tuned for posts & Pics - Cheers!!!

xoxoxo
Mona, Susan, Kimberly & Susan 

Nothing Left To Do....Time to Hit the Road!!!

Whoo Hoo!!!

Thelma, Louise, Lucy & Ethel.....see you in JC!!!!

Popcorn, Do we have enough Popcorn???

Well, with this crazy weather, come rain, snow or shine I have provided us with plenty of snacks to munch as we head out East on our journey to Ohio. Sorry Sissy you have to stay with Dad (see her on the right hand side of the picture?)

Holy smokes we leave the day after tomorrow, I am so excited!! I will be spending the night at Thelma's house on Thursday so that we can hit the road on Friday at 6:15am and hook up with Louise and Ethel in Troutdale at 7:00am or as Louise put it "Bad Ass Girls meetin' in a Bad Ass truck stop"

Friday...you can't get here soon enough! :)

Lucy~

Seriously? Snow??

Is it just me, or does it seem like Mother Nature is playing tricks on us?  If I didn't know better I would almost think that she's going through menopause....sometimes her seasons show up late, sometimes they rarely show up at all and lately it seems like sometimes she just skips them altogether!!  Or maybe she's having a good time hanging out with Old Man Winter - who knows?

Ethel spent her lunchtime today charting our Roadtrip course and guess what she discovered?  Snow...in Yellowstone.....during Memorial Day Weekend.....seriously!!!  Unstable snow conditions and repeated avalanches across the road through Sylvan Pass have resulted in closure of the road throughout the last week.  The East Entrance is set to open this week with a very tiny, limited window really really early in the morning for visitor travel and is expected to remain in place until enough snow melts along & above Sylvan Pass to eliminate the avalanche hazard.  Phew, here I was worried about the goofball drivers who dart around the back of the AS the minute my blinker goes on - HA!! 

No worries...we'll figure something out....if nothing else we're safe, and creative!!

Four more wake-ups!!!

Thelma

Cocktail....I Mean PLANNING.....Party

What was billed as our final planning party in actuality turned out to be an incredibly fun evening of stooping on a beautiful Portland afternoon & evening.  While the Chics were finalizing details for our adventure, the husbands took all of five minutes to discuss their trip to attend a Tin Can Tourist rally in Vancouver, BC.  Lots of laughter, wine and anticipation.

Introducing the real chics.......can't wait to see everyone in JC, and really really can't wait to visit our friends in ID the first night of our trip....May 25th can't get here soon enough!!!

xo

Thelma

from bottom to top:  Louise, Ethel, Thelma & Lucy

Bottom:  Ethel & Louise - Glamper Bambi #1
Top:  Thelma & Lucy - Glamper Bambi #2

Glitter Glamper Girls

Priorities, Schmi-orities.  With just over two weeks until we hit the road, there are very very important things to get done!!!  Aside from the obvious (hair, mani/pedi & clothes.....of course!!!), we need to make sure that we're safe, sparkly and clearly identifiable when we roll into Jackson Center!!

SAFETY:  

Towing Checklist - CHECK!

Tow Vehicle Trip Inspection & Oil Change - CHECK!!

SPARKLY:

Tow Vehicle & Airstream Detailing - CHECK!  (thank goodness for awesome dealerships!)

CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE (plus a little...ok a lot of...SPARKLE):

Glitter Flamingos - CHECK!

Lucy & I spent the afternoon "glittering" pink flamingos.  She had been out of town spending time with family for what seemed liked forever so it was awesome to spend time with her.  With lots of Elmers spray-on glue, glitter and giggles we managed to create some pretty awesome beauties.  There will be no doubt the Chic Roadtrip is in 'da house when you see these sparkly creatures (including the two of us if we can't get this stuff off of our clothes & fingers) in front of our Airstreams.



MISCELLANEOUS VERY IMPORTANT STUFF:
Alumapalooza Happy Hour Hosting - OH YEAH!
Airstates Checklist to Chart our Adventures - AWESOME!!
Pillows, Bedding & Food - ABSOLUTELY!!!
Final Planning Meeting - TOMORROW NIGHT - Whoo Hoo



Lots of emotions right now - excitement and maybe a little fear of the unknown; amazement at the outpouring of support and friendship this little blog has generated; utter terror at the cost of gas, and love for our family.

We can't wait to reunite with old friends, and to make a ton of new ones.  Keep an eye out for a couple of GlamperGirl Bambi's, a gaggle (is that the term?) of Glitter Flamingos and the four of us: Thelma, Louise, Lucy & Ethel...clearly identifiable by our smiling, happy faces.

Cheers!
Thelma

        

TIC TOC!!!!!

Seriously?  In 23 days we'll be on the road?  Where did the time go?  Not gonna panic....not gonna panic.......well, maybe just a little.

Thelma

Sparkles, DIY & Flamingos.....NOT

It's all about priorities, right?  So how else would four busy women spend their time, with less than 30 days left before the start of their epic roadtrip?  SPARKLIZING Pink Flamingos of course!


After some creative resourcing for flamingos and crystals, and of course some creative photography to get everyone excited for our DIY day......Ethel and I grabbed our hot glue guns, ready to create not one, not a pair but four pair of sparkly crystal flamingos.  Note to self:  hot glue is really hot (I think Ethel's blister has finally started to disappear after almost a month!).

After a couple of hours it became pretty clear that Ethel is both patient & creative....and that I'M NOT!!!  The second blinding revelation of the obvious:  there's no way were were going to finish one, let alone either, flamingos.  As it stands right now, our project is rockin a mullet (or mohawk) and, because of some poor crystal choices on my part, it has a bulbous nose!!!

Enter the back-up plan:  Elmer's spray on craft glue and lots & lots of glitter.  We want to host a happy hour during Alumapalooza and how on earth could we do that without sparkly, glittery flamingos?  No hot glue gun blisters on these manicured fingers!

Holy cow....just realized that we're at 30 days and counting....how on earth am I going to lose those extra lbs?  Hmmmmmm......there's always that glue gun.

Tic toc
Thelma

Blonde Moment - Courtesy of Thelma

See....I go and write this super-confident blog post yesterday and today I had a blonde moment.  Couldn't for the life of me figure out why my hitch wasn't fully attaching to the ball - everything was lined up PERFECTLY but for some silly reason it JUST. WOULDN'T. WORK!!!  I pulled forward, lined it up again...backed up / got out to check / backed up / got out to check (you know the drill).  Finally, after exhausting all of my towing expertise I asked my campsite neighbor Bob to come take a look.  I had a brief moment of vindication when he couldn't figure out what was wrong either because again, everything was lined up perfectly.....until those fateful words came out of his mouth:  "you're such a blonde....you haven't raised your stabilizer jacks".  I had no words :(

Note to Self:  I need to make a checklist - no guarantees I won't have another blonde moment or that Lucy won't have a Lucy moment but at least I'll have a checklist, right?

Found a couple of examples (had to include the Euro version just because they use such cute words).

Home safely ..... phew!

Thelma

Solo Trial Run

Just looked at the countdown app on my iPhone and my stomach did a full 360 somersault....40 days from today will mark the beginning of our adventure.  Talk about crazy things to go through my mind:  need to lose those lbs, schedule hair appointment (in Seattle of course!!), figure out how to wash GiGi for her big day and really need to edit the stuff I have inside her so that Lucy and/or Ethel's stuff can have a place once we hit the road!!!

Most importantly, I want to feel absolutely confident that I can manage the whole process on my own...from hook-up, campsite set-up and hook-up again.  I spent a few days camping on my own at one of my favorite state parks close to home which gave me a good confidence boost.  Doesn't hurt that I got plenty of rest, had no time schedules really and so no pressure.  OK, so it took me four laps arounds the campground before I was able to back her into the site but who cares, odds are I won't see those people again :)

So what would any person in their right mind do next?  DIAL IT UP A NOTCH!!!  Three days ago GiGi and I headed out of Hillsboro on our way to join members of our WBCCI Unit in lovely Canyonville, OR.  It was sooooo incredible to see peoeple's reactions as they passed me on the four hour drive and realized that (a) I was all by myself, (b) was towing it with my beloved beast Cayenne GTS and (c) this Roadtrip Chic had the biggest, goofball smile on her face....EVER.

My sweet husband was so proud of me and very patiently offered advice on which lane to be in at specific mergers on the freeway, etc.....and of course, I the ever sweet wife listened attentively :).  After one of his several check-in calls from work I heard him say, as he was hanging up the phone, "she's knocking it out!".  

Cutest thing ever happened when I got to the campsite....a very sweet couple who had spent the last two months traveling in their stunning motorcoach stopped by to say hi. He was impressed with my tow set-up and she  told me it "was HOT" to see this blonde chic, pulling an Airstream and setting her up all alone.  I think her favorite thing were my personalized plates...well worth the money because I smile everytime I see "GLAMPR".

No matter how many times I do this now and in the future, I will not tow GiGi one foot before walking through my mental checklist.   But for now, I'm going to enjoy some sunshine and marvel at how much I love, love, love this lifestyle. 

Safe travels.....

Thelma

And then there's Ethel

I'm the only grandma in the bunch, but that doesn't mean I'm not young at heart and totally excited for this chic roadtrip adventure! It goes without saying that I, too, am a fan of those beautiful shiny Airstream trailers.  My husband and I purchased and restored our beloved 1953 Flying Cloud four and a half years ago.  And now we have 2 more vintage Airstreams just waiting for their turn.

I live in Salem, the town I grew up in, and work as an accounting manager for a state agency.  We live on one acre in the country where I have lots of cats (more than Lucy!) and enjoy thrift store shopping, reading and cooking.  I also have a new fancy camera I'm trying to learn to use so I can take great shots on this trip (and of my adorable one year old grandson).

Five years ago I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams that we would be here today having the time of our life and how many new genuine friends we have made all because of a special little trailer.  And I'm especially thrilled that I have gotten to know my three travel partners - Thelma, Louise and Lucy! 


Ethel

"I Love Lucy"

Lucy and Ethel get ready for the Chic Road Trip!

I suppose with my curly red hair, quirky personality and love of men who can play a good Bongo, it seemed only natural that I be nicknamed ~LUCY~

My love of camping goes back so far that I don’t even remember my first camping trip. I started camping with my mom, dad and 2 older brothers as a baby. We would hit Pismo Beach each year for a week or two, and then many trips up Hwy 17 to Santa Cruz or places towards Yosemite for the weekend. When I think back over my childhood it was all those camping trips with great friends that are my favorite memories of all.

My husband Adam and I started researching trailers about 10 years ago and both agreed the only way to travel was pulling an iconic Airstream. Though we knew what we wanted it was not until August of 2010 that we finally purchased our 2006 Bambi.  Woo Hoo did we make the right decision!!

We moved up to West Linn, OR from Livermore, CA a little over 3 years ago and love living in Oregon!! When we are not camping with the Oregon Unit of the WBCCI, we enjoy going to the movies, having dinner with friends and playing with our 3 kitties (Stumptown Willy, Roxie the Rose City Kitty and Maxwell McMenamin)

I can’t wait to hit the road this May with Ethel, Thelma and Louise!

Geez Louise!

Yes, that's me (Louise) and like it sounds, I tend to fly by the seat of my pants and get myself into (and out of) a few pickles here and there, but hey, life is suppose to be an adventure, right?!?

I grew up in Eugene, along with my 5 siblings, who I love to pieces!! I have two precious kids (ok, not kids anymore but love beyond measure), who have grown into the neatest people on this planet!!  Seriously!!   I'm single, retired and the proud owner of a 2011 16 ft Bambi Sport Airstream.  Just to let you know, I bought the Airstream 8 months before I retired.  Yep, I couldn't wait! 

So here I am, about to embark on my first trip ever (Airstream or otherwise) to drive across the United States with my gal pals. Talk about fun!!  I've always had a thing for driving (I must have been a race car driver in another life...) so I'm lovin' this!!  Ciao for now!

Meet the Chics: Thelma

Last weekend was our first official Airstream rally of 2012 - it was awesome to hear that so many of our friends in the group were following our upcoming road trip!!  Aside from the obvious (Lucy is sooo Lucy) everyone wanted to know each of our Pen Names.  For those of you reading this blog because you know one, a few or all of us....or don't know any of us and just find it entertaining, we've decided to each write a post which gives you a little insight as to who we are.

So just who is this Thelma chic?  Someone who is absolutely astounded that she owns an Airstream...and LOVES IT!!!  (Actually, I own a few of them but that's another story).  Never in my wildest imagination did I think that my life would be so enriched with the friendships and adventures I've had since joining the Oregon Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club Intl (WBCCI).  I love the big red numbers, I love visiting everyone's AS because it's an extension of their personality and...wait for it....I love camping (actually - I call it Glamping...glamour camping).  As I write this post, I'm sitting in my beloved GiGi (aka GlamperGirl) at Stubb Stewart State Park in OR looking outside the window at sunshine - hard to believe I awoke to a winter wonderland yesterday morning!

I grew up in Seattle - my sweet mom still lives there; am married, no children, one darling hound dog named Mellie (or Snork...depending on the sounds coming out of her hound dog nose).  I've been in sales the majority of my professional career although I'm finding that my passion for marketing may take me down a different path in the near future.  I'm a self-professed Shoe Dog and have been known to pack waaayyyy too many shoes but it would be so awful to need that perfect pair and know they were sitting at home, right?  I like to think I'm pretty good at merchandising our Airstreams (okay...there are five of them:  a '56 Flying Cloud named Alice, a '58 Bubble aptly named BubbleLicious, a '61 Bambi named Rogue, an amazingly renovated '69 Tradewind named Kalakala, and GiGi - a 2011 CCD Bambi Int'l) and am constantly on the hunt for just the right lamp, clock, rug to put my personal stamp on their interiors.  I'm a certified Apple-junky...typing this post on my MacBook Pro, snapping photos with my iPhone, using my amazing new iPad3 as a mobile hot-spot...what more could I ask for?? 

Most of all - I'm proud to say I've surrounded myself with some pretty amazing people who inspire me, make me laugh and offer me hugs when I need them.  Life is pretty darned good.

Thanks for following us on our roadtrip - 62 days and counting until our adventure of a lifetime begins.

Thelma

and then there were Four!!!

It started with a simple "hey, are you going to Alumapalooza?" and quickly became a reality for not one but four friends.  Jackson Center OH....here we come!

A little background for those of you joining us on our grand adventure:  

What's an Alumapalooza?  The third annual gathering of 100 Airstreams...and a week filled with fun, new friends and incredible memories and Why Jackson Center (JC) OH?  Because that's the headquarters (or Mothership) for Airstream, Inc.  We can't wait to tour the factory...just think, all of those bright, shiny objects!!!  Who are these Chics?  We live in Oregon, we all own an Airstream trailer and we are going to have a blast!!!

Before we could even begin to answer all of the really important questions like "should I bring my own pillows?", "what are we going to do about food?" and, most importantly, "where are we going to go ....you know, poo?" we had to first plan our route.  Of course that entailed a sleepover @ Lucy's house!!

With the men in the other room tryin to plan their "man-venture"...cuz they were so not invited to join our road trip....Lucy, Ethel and I (Thelma) pulled out our laptops and began mapping our course.  Our strategy is to take a more leisurely, scenic route on the way to JC and then three of us will head home while Louise continues her journey eastward.

We're going to spend the night with friends in Idaho and enjoy some beautiful scenery (think Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands)...staying at a KOA here and there and yup, a hotel in Peoria the night before we roll into JC where we can shower, and whatever else we need to do ;), before making our grand entrance!!

Glad you could join us on our Chic Roadtrip!!

Cheers - 

Thelma, Louise, Lucy & Ethel