“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
One of my favorite things about camping with other women, besides laughing till you’re silly, is touring the wonderful vintage campers that the gals bring along. This is an 1967 Avion that belongs to my dear friend Gail Bable. Gail is the camp host at Beaver Creek State Park in East Liverpool, Ohio. Every year, she hosts the Girl Camper in the Spring and Fall at “What a Hoot!” So named for the many owls that call the park home.
The Dorothy Jean once belonged to Gail’s aunt. An Avion looks much like an Airstream camper…it’s just not shiny. The surface is anodized and doesn’t take nearly as much work to maintain as the more expensive Airstreams do. The inside is just about the same, however. I do have to admit, for a long time, I really didn’t like this style of camper. I saw it as a long, metal tube that would be hot, cramped and stuffy inside. After staying in this one, and visiting several others, I can honestly say this style has a lot of distinct advantages. The roof is entirely different than most travel trailers and they don’t leak like the ones with so many seams. The air conditioner works just as well as any other camper. And there are lots of windows for light. This particular model has twin beds in the back by the bathroom. There’s plenty of storage, a full sized refrigerator in the kitchen, and a fold out bed up in the living room. I think I would be happy to have something like this…only smaller.
Our friend Michele showed up Wednesday night with her vintage 1967 Pennant she just finished fixing up. OMGosh! It has to be one of my favorite vintage campers EVER. Why? Because she mixes in sweet family treasures in her decor. A girl after my own heart. There is a story about everything…from her dad’s ties used as a curtain, to her saddle shoes from high school, to her and her sister’s Easter bonnets…and the love just shines through! I love a camper that you can scan your eyes over and find something new every time. There is a lot of work that goes into staging a camper like this, but when you can pull it off as much as Michele does, the results are well worth the work!
Janine (of Girl Camper Podcast fame) and I went junking yesterday and found some really GREAT treasures for staging next week at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio. If you’re visiting the area…do come look us up. We’re going to have a couple surprising variations on the usual array of vintage campers on display this year. This is one of my favorite two weeks of camping with the girls every year! Always someone new to meet and always someone fun to catch up with from the past. ❤️
Say “Hi” to Columbus for me! I lived there twice and visited there many times as I’m from Springfield. Get yourself a real treat ~ a cream puff from Schmidt’s. Have fun camping.
Judie Haley
❤️
Do most members have campers and actually pull them from state to state? What would u advise a new member the easiest or best way would b to take that first step to Meetup with the group??
Good morning, Ka! Actually, you would be surprised at the number of gals who sleep in a tent, the back of a minivan, or any number of other creative camping solutions. Almost always you will find a nearby hotel, lodge, B&B or cabins you can rent as an alternative. That being said, a lot of women have their own campers…from great big ones like mine to tiny teardrops. It’s all a matter of personal preference and budget. I would suggest you go to the Girl Camper Podcast Page and Sisters on the Fly here on Facebook. The Girl Camper Podcast is a great resource for newbie campers and there are hundreds of podcasts on myriad subjects to learn how to camp like a girl.
Hope this helps you get started! Camping with your girlfriends is a wonderful experience and you’ll meet some really great gals! ❤️