My Weekend at the Lake...and a Couple of Finds

Friday I took the travel trailer to work with me so that I could head out to the lake as soon as I got off work.  It was raining when I left work, but quit a little bit before I got to the campground.  Never fear, it started raining on the campground just as I was backing the trailer into my site.  Sigh.

So, here are a couple of pictures of the view from my site.  The lake was beautiful this weekend (once the rain stopped, that is).

Here's my "rig" or, more accurately, my parent's "rig".

I know that many people are fans of vintage campers, and I enjoy their style.  But, I'll have to say that when I purchase my own camper, it's going to be a newer model.  When my parents purchased this camper, it won out over the others we looked at for one big reason.  The framing is all welded aluminum.  There is no wood framing in the whole trailer.  Traver trailers are notorious for getting roof leaks, once this begins, it is almost impossible to stop, and the damage is already done (believe me, we've had several wooden framed RV's, I do know what I'm talking about).  Now, I know that some of the trailers back as far as the 1950s had aluminum framing.  I would consider one of these.  I laugh each time I read an ad for "previous water damage, but leak repaired" I've fought that battle too many times, I know better.  In addition, with a modern trailer you get more conveniences, older trailers might give you a place for a port-a-potty, but modern trailers, mostly, have a full bathroom.  Add to that central heat, central air, a full kitchen and a slide-out queen size bed, and I'm sold.  No sleeping on foam seat cushions here.  The only thing missing is the retro style that I would really like, but for weekend trips, it is nice to leave retro behind sometimes.  In case you're wondering, the trailer is an Outback, by Keystone, model 25RSS.  It's very similar to this, except that the sofa and dinette are reversed, the sofa is in the slide, and the dinette is a little smaller.

So, what do I do at the lake all by myself?  Well, I really don't care for water, believe it or not, so I don't swim (it's way too cold for that now anyway).  I sit at the campsite and read.  Ah, just me and a stack of books - that's paradise!  Lately, I've been working on the Percy Jackson series.  I like to keep up with what my students are reading.

Saturday morning I had a late scheduled church meeting, which was incredibly important for me to be at, so I drove home for a few hours, making sure to get back in town early enough to go to a couple of garage sales and stop by my house to take a shower (so much better than a campground shower).

Here's what I picked up:

A Federal Glass Soup and Sandwich Set.  Setting for 4.  The lady at the sale said she got it new in 1954, and I'd say from the look of it, it's been in this box ever since.  $3.  I think that I'll break them in this fall with grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.  There were also 3 matching snack sets in clear glass for $2.50 each, but they really didn't appeal to me.  They were the same age, I hope another retro lover picked them up!

I also found this attractive wooden night stand.  I'd say it's from the late 1960s or early 1970s.  I bought it for my great-aunt, who lives in an assisted living home.  She has one that was left behind by a previous resident and the drawers keep falling out of it.  So, for $10 I picked up this attractive piece to replace the broken down piece.  Someday, I'll get it back, and it will most likely go in the living room.

So, there ya go.  I went back the the lake after my church meeting and stayed for another 24 hours or so and came home.  The only thing that would have really made my trip nicer would have been if I hadn't had nightmares about work each night.  Federal Programs will be the death of me yet.

Have a great Monday!