Meet Pepe

We started camping a few years ago with one of our sons and his first daughter. He’d been camping with his friends for years and wanted her to experience nature like he enjoyed. It worked out well over the years. Our daughter-in-law would stay home with the pets and the newborn(s). But then the camper started to become crowded and I decided it was time for one of my own. Plus, the pop up we shared was a big one and I couldn’t maneuver it on my own. So I watched Craiglist daily. I knew exactly the make I needed – Coleman’s Taos – and frankly, I willed it to appear. When it popped up one afternoon I could hardly believe my luck. The asking price was $50.

Thus began my love affair with a small trailer that I brought home. (I didn’t even haggle on the price.) That first tow was a little iffy since I did it on my own and I hadn’t really ever driven with a trailer. Also, the trailer lights weren’t working. But it was a straight shot without highways of about ten miles. The task finished well.

(So here’s the sad reality. I have struggled all day with a series of photos and I’m apparently not working at the top of my game. The problem with walking away from something like this blog for a few months is that I’ve forgotten how I did things. In a few days this note will be removed and lovely photos of Pepe’s transformation will appear. In the meantime, I promised you a post today.)

Over the next few weeks I’ll show you how Pepe transformed from a mice-eaten mess to just about the best camper a girl could ever want. I can, in fact, handle this one all by myself. I can move it in and out of the garage for cleaning or packing. I can hitch it, tow it, back it up, (Don’t watch. That one’s still needing some practice.) level it, raise it, and set the beds. This summer I camped it alone for the first time.

I have great plans for Pepe. My granddaughters are coming to an age where we could go out on our own. One or two girlfriends have expressed interest in an outing. And someday if I play my cards just right, my daughter might even join me.

Tom and I have camped it together for the last couple of summers. We have a wonderful routine for setting it up and bringing it down. And we have had a blast, both with family in a nearby campsite and on our own.

So now you know why there’s a “camping” category and a pop-up camper icon. In the future I’ll share packing tips and give you a tour of our setup. (That outdoor kitchen is the best!) And you’ll learn how one neglected camper became a center for a newly-retired couple’s summers.