Globetrotter Restoration Begins

The first step was moving the trailer from it's home in the weed to a site setup for restoration. Henry hooked on and pulled, thinking the little trailer would pop out of the ground and start rolling to its new home. Not! The brakes were locked up! So, Henry pulled off the tires, and with a puller, removed the rusty hubs. After a couple hours of work, he had it put back together and hooked up to his 1962 Willy Jeep and ready to roll. He thought it fitting that the '62 Jeep was pulling a '62 trailer!!

The first stop was to a garbage site and we began by throwing out as much as possible that wasn't nailed down. In the shot to the left, you see our friend, Garth, watching stuff fly from the inside (you can barely see Henry's gloved hand, just on the edge of the door, pitching out a handful). This little trailer was used for storage of hunting supplies for years. Inside were old geese decoys, ducks heads, netting, boots, in addition to pots and pans, canned goods, papers, and trash.The mouse pooh, wasp nests, dirt dobber homes, rats nest, and smell of urine was and is overwhelming. I really hand it to Henry for that days work!

Once the worst was removed, Henry moved the trailer to a cement pad where she will sit as we begin to restore her. This place is about 200' from the house, has access to water and electricity and with the cement underneath should make scooting under and climbing in a little easier.

It looks like we'll be stripping it bare and then reworking from the inside out. The good news, she's got potential.

Keep checking back for more progress.

1962 Airstream Globetrotter

The first time I ventured out on my own with this new flyfishing adventure, I went to The Flyfishing show in Denver, CO. This was a typical outdoor showing of equipment, seminars, demonstrations, and booths saleing goods, expect it focused only on flyfishing.

At the show I met two ladies, Maruee and Dianne that had set up Vintage trailers. These little one and two person trailers were decorated in cowgirl themes. I learned the Sisters on the Fly were a group of ladies that enjoyed flyfishing and the company of other women interested in a variety of adventures. The SOTF's moto is "We have more fun than anyone". In addition to fishing, the Sisters have embraced the restoration of vintage trailers. Many of these ladies have trailers and if you check their website www.Sistersonthefly.com you'll see a variety of units.

The fishing, the trailers and the ladies were very intriquing to me.

Since that initial meeting I have contacted and meet several Colorado Sisters for lunch. Dianne, Vicki, Peggy, Crista, Doreen, Irene, Bev, Lisa, Lane, Ellen, Drea, Malita, Jan, June, Cathleen and I went last Saturday to the Timeless Travel Trailers for a tour of the reconstruction and restoration plant operated in Wheatland, CO.

As I investigated and learned more, I started thinking about owning a trailer of my own, one that I could manage and one that Henry and I could use to have "mini" holiday weekends together. Near our home, in a field of weeds, was an unused 1962 Airstream Globetrotter. The 19 foot trailer was a shiny symbol of days gone by. I learned who the owner was, Jim, and I contacted him to see if he was interested to get rid of the trailer.

Jim was very kind on the phone and asked me if I had looked at the unit to know if I was up to the task. I told him I didn't want to snoop around without permission , he gave it and I tromped into the field to look inside of the trailer. Oh my, the insides were a mess. There was an open window and probably lots of holes where varmits of all description had visited the interior. The smell alone should run animals and humans away.

I was not deterred. I called Jim back and told him I thought I'd like to try and restore the Globetrotter. It was two weeks before I heard any news. I had just returned from a business trip to Texas when there was a knock on the door. There in a black cowboy hat as a tall stranger, Jim. We talked awhile and he then asked if I really thought I would like to work on the trailer, to which I answered yes. "It's yours", he said. "Really?". Yes.

I asked him a little about the trailer. He said his father had bought the Airstream and he and his mother would come out to this property and camp. He would hunt. Later they purchased a bigger unit for long trips to Mexico and he set up the Globetrotter as a permanent camp site. Jim said it had been years since the trailer had been used, which was obvious. Jayne was his mothers name, he said.

So now, this Jane owns a 1962 19' Airstream Globetrotter. I know it's going to be a lot of work which Henry and I will enjoy together. Watch for updates as I post some pictures, descriptions, and details of the transformation. I hope I can do the little trailer justice and honor the gift that was given so generously.

Fly Fishing

I read a book, River Girls, in September 2009. This is a story , complete with instructions, about women fly fishing with knowledge and skill. There were four girls highlighted, each discussing how they got interested in fly fishing and the mentors that taught them. I decided that I could learn to and have studied the lessons presented in River Girls.

When I finished the book, I picked up a cheap fly rod and reel combo and started to employ the techniques that I'd read about. The first hurdle was knot typing. Oh my gosh, why don't girls learn knots in Girl Scouts! It took me three hours to decide that I could not tie a Nail Knot! The Nail Knot is a flat lying knot that ties the fly line to the Leader. The leader is a thiner monofilament line to which you tie the fly. This was not a good experience for me and I ended up at Garrison's Sporting Goods for advise from the resident fishing expert.

At the fly shop, the salesman was really helpful and kind. He didn't laugh at my gear but he guided me to better fly line, tied it onto the reel, and secured a leader. He told me to tie a piece of yarn on the end of the leader and practice casting. Since that day in October, I've been working on my casting, following the directions in the River Girls book. I've learned to tie the fly on with a Improved Cinch Knot, collected some gear including a new rod, waders, boots, vest, net, and flies. And even learned to use tippet, split shot, and a little bit about nymphs, dry flies, and streamers.

I've gotten advise from my friend in Alabama, Charlie, and a Wildlife Guide, Ryan, at the ranch. My effort has paid off with fish on the hook. I caught 4 bass in the pond near our house and have also landed about 9 trout in the stream near the lodge (catch and relase , of course).

Finally, with this small amount of success, I've joined a group of ladies that meet monthly, go fishing together, and host clinic events to promote the sport of fly fishing. The Colorado Women's Fly Fishing Association meets in Denver and so far have planned about 2 trips per month between April 1 and Oct 30th. The first outing is March 27th to the South Platte near Deckers, CO. I'm excited to go but also a little nervous to show off my skills, or lack of them.

I'll write more as I learn more. Check back on the blog, hopefully, I'll be posting some pictures of big trout caught on the fly at interesting places in Colorado!

Jane