2019-04-06 RV Museum & Eby's Pines Campground

I put on a rally this weekend to visit the RV Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart, IN. We stayed at Eby's Pines campground in Bristol, IN. I had put on a rally here back in 2008 when we had our T@B teardrop camper and we toured the them T@B factory. This rally was a good turnout with 9 campers.

 

 

 



 Early Airstreams...

 The only tiny Airstream made. Wally Byam experimented with this tiny RV but decided not to pursue it, although I think today it would sell

 

3 pics of one of the first RV and with a slide out, too!

 This is the first RV Airstreamers Larry & Lou owned!!!

 



 I thought this unit looked pretty neat! 2 exterior shots of it and 3 interior. The interior doesn't look terribly comfortable but the exterior is cool.

These 3 pics are Mae West's RV!

 

 

 Bowlus Road Chief, predecessor to the Airstream:

 

 

 

 The site of this is now the largest Airstream dealer in the world:

 Diecast miniature displays -

Some airial shots of the museum

 Some RV artwork

Some random shots around the campground...

 Lucy, Brad & Dik. This was new Airstreamers Dik & Lucy's first rally! That's their vintage Airstream 190 class B motorhome!

Chris and his friend Chris brought a couple of their RC airplanes. These were kits they made. That dot in the sky in this photo is one of them. They were both quite talented in flying these! Makes sense since they've been doing it for 10+ years.

 Gary and Chris showing off his plane

 Chris and his plane

 Gary, Brad & Chris -

 Lou & Larry -

 Ella, Gary, Lou & Lucy. Lou spent a bit of time teaching new Airstream Lucy how to crochet. 

 Tom and Larry

 

2019-03-01 Airstream Factory

I took the Silver Lining up to the "mothership" (Airstream factory) this weekend for a service appointment next week. Me and friend Pat camped one night at the factory's Terra Port campground. We found an awesome place to eat 17 miles north in the town of Wapakoneta called the Happy Steer. Excellent food with a regular all-you-can-eat special of chicken & fish as well as an all-you-can-eat salad bar. It was excellent and will be my new go-to restaurant when up at the factory. We did the factory tour on Friday afternoon. It's a great tour I highly recommend, of a classic American factory. I intended to get some pics of me and Pat but that didn't really happen and it gets better...the factory doesn't allow picture taking on their tour. I did get a few camper pictures so have a look-see at those below. Oh and T@B friends Dane & Elaine surprised us with a text that they are ditching their T@B of 12 years for an Airstream Bambi !!!!!!

 

My campsite in the Terra Port. Took these pictures before Pat arrived so didn't even get any pics of his set up! Unbelievable, huh?!?!

 My view -

 A 34' Classic! They don't make these any more!

 Opposite side of the spectrum, a 16' Classic. They DO still make these and they're one of their best selling units.

 The new Nest by Airstream:

 Airstreams new class B+ Atlas

 A random Airstream trailer in for service...

 Another 34 footer!

 Another Nest and the Mobile Service Unit. Not sure what that's all about because I've never heard of it being used for "service calls"

The front entrance of the customer care area and where the tours begin as well as the factory store and service area:

 

 Inside the lobby, store and tour area -

 The store

 Wally Byam's gold Airstream he made for his wife, Stella! To the right is an original Bowlus Road Chief! Google it, it's easier than me explaining it. HA!!!   :-)

 Another vintage Airstream, a 1950's Safari. The next picture after the Safari is my fat finger cover the label on that Safari!

 A 340 Airstream Motorhome. I think about a 1980's vintage.

 Alan, Airstreaming...   :-)

 The awesome Happy Steer Restaurant in Wapakoneta, OH about 17 miles North of the Airstream factory, right off of I-75.

 These next three pictures are self explanatory of Dane & Elaine with a Bambi hooked up to their Tundra, a shocked faces of Pat & Alan upon receiving the text and the happy new Airstreamers, Dane & Elaine in the new Bambi! Dane & Elaine are regulars at the annual "Camp Bremer" Indy 500 campout

(  http://alanandcarie-airstream.blogspot.com/2017/06/2017-05-27-camp-bremer-2017.html  )

so will be great having them there in this new Bambi Airstream! Can't wait to see it! It's a CCD International Bambi so it's pretty nice inside décor to say the least!