After years of pouring through craiglist and ebay postings, we have finally found the latest addition to our thoughtfully cultivated yard art. Another rusty flower you ask? If she had been made of much other than fiberglass, the rusty part might be true given her vintage (1972). Here's a hint: two wheels, sleeping space for four and storage space for everything needed to make a camping trip, well, comfortable and relaxing. Affectionately known as "the bubble", our Eco trailer weighs in at a mere 850 pounds and sports a lovely two-toned shell ( I mean, how can you go wrong with orange and cream?). Note the lack of toileting facilities, as I have no interest in carting around a weekend's worth of waste.
The bubble has now served us on three trips, and though I still fail to sleep through the night, I am able to spoon Ryan beneath downy warmth while my neck rests cradled in a tempur-pedic pillow. On the other side of the bubble, Hunter and Emmett lay stacked like Lays on bunk beds reading on past nine o'clock with their convenient overhead light. Mind you, this all takes place at the foot of a fourteener or another dirt road that meanders through Colorado's myriad forests. The twit that I am, I now titter when the afternoon rainstorm rolls in and others rush for their "waterproof" tents, for I am sitting with my family, playing Euchre, dry as the Colorado air (when it's not raining, of course).
Dear family, I am sure you are ready for the visuals, so here they are:
When appropriate, we throw the kids' bikes into the bubble so that they can ride around and explore.
Hunter and Emmett model the slightly revamped interior. I constructed new cushion covers and curtains out of old sheets to keep costs conservative! The table folds down to seat level, the back cushions lay on top, and voila, you have a full-sized bed. We intend to replace the cabinet doors this winter? Ideally.
Really and truly, the best thing about the bubble, is that it has supported our exploration of Colorado as a family. The kids actually came close to summiting Mount Belford, one of the many 14,000+ foot mountains in the Collegiate Peaks wilderness area. I am guessing that we got close to 13,000 feet, but between the winds gusts and the crumbly nature of the ever steepening trail, we made a collective decision to claim success and head down to a more mellow elevation. Though it was not moments of despair and drudgery, I am very proud of the kids for making this journey.
