It's All Good With Friends . . .

It's been so wonderful this week to be able to share java stories and photos with you of an actual camping trip . . . not a daydream, not a wistful vision, but an actual adventure!  That Long, Long Wait seems like a long time ago.  I'll wrap up this week of coffee-camping with a few more photos and Scotty tales before heading off to The Wee Cabin with Becky and the Schnauzer Herd for the weekend.

Rob and Trisha fixed everyone a Welcome Bag for the R-Pod & Friends event last week.  I think I threw them a curveball by bringing The Cup instead of SplashT@B.  Most everything in the goodie bag was lime green and blue except for one sweet item . . . a potholder with "The Cup" embroidered on it.  Have a look . . . 

Friday and Saturday at the rally were so much fun mainly because we got to explore the High Country with Rich and Sue. Now don't get me wrong . . . I love spending time with ALL my camping buddies, but it's extra special to get such quality time with dear friends!

One thing that we almost always do is play some kind of card or board game.  I usually like to sit back, watch, and listen to all the fun.  But if the game is Phase 10, I'll jump in for a game or two. We spent Saturday afternoon rolling dice on the picnic table outside the Scotty.  Can you see the tablecloth?  It's got coffee stuff all over it.  That was one of my unexpected finds in the sale bin at Hancock Fabrics . . . tee hee.

As I mentioned earlier, I gave so many Scotty tours over the weekend that I lost count!  At one time or another, I had upwards of four or five people inside looking at all my java goodies.  So I thought I'd share some of what they saw with you . . . 

I'll have a few more posts for you after I get back from the mountains, but in the meantime, I hope you have a great weekend, and remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

A Great Scotty Thursday

Darting around the campground all weekend was a precious kitten. It wasn't afraid of all the pups and it would jump on the lap of anyone who was willing to let it cuddle.  I am not much of a cat person, but I must admit it was pretty cute.  Trisha was calling it "Bean", as in coffee bean, and telling me to take it home.  Well that just wasn't going to happen, but I did hold it every time it came around to visit.

Becky had church duties on Wednesday evening, so she wasn't able to join me until Thursday morning. She was with me throughout the Long, Long Wait, so being able to camp in The Cup for the first time was special for her too.  We quickly found out that we didn't have to do the "dance" around each other inside the Scotty like we have to do inside the T@B.  It was so nice to be in separate beds too . . . tee hee!

When working through my wish list in the planning and re-framing stages, I knew exactly where I wanted a TV to be mounted.  On the back side of the tall cabinet, with a swivel arm mounted, Becky and I would be able to watch TV from both beds if we wanted to.  When not in use, the TV is completely out of sight and that was the whole plan all along.

We made a quick trip to Walmart around lunchtime for a few items and before the predicted afternoon storms arrived.  One thing on my shopping list was a folding wooden drying rack similar to what my Sister-friend Rebecca has for the Bookmobile. What I didn't realize was that I would have to put it together. Thank goodness another item on my shopping list was a small hammer . . . LOL!

Those thunderstorms rolled in mid-afternoon and it was a good test of The Cup's water-tightness.  I'm so tickled to report that everything was A-ok . . . no drips, no leaks, not a drop of water to be found!  Sue sat with us throughout the entire storm and it was nice to have room for a visitor to sit and keep the front window open for ventilation.  Add it to the list of reasons I love this camper so much!!

After wiping down the picnic table and putting down plastic to sit on, we joined our neighbors Tink, Tom and Ella for supper.  Bec brought marinated chicken breasts that Tom grilled for us and along with our veggie salad, we had another excellent camping supper.

We both joined Rich and Sue in their T@B called "Happy Camper" for several games of Phase 10 before finally calling it a day and getting ready for Beck's first night in the Scotty. 

I appreciate you coming by today to hear a little more about my maiden Java-Jouney.  I'll see ya back here tomorrow and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

A Hella-Cool Happy

Over the course of the last two years, I've received so many java-related happies for The Coffee Cup.  They have ranged from plastic trays to candles, books to napkins, place mats to bumper stickers, postcards to coffee cups.  

Without a doubt, one of the most special gifts I've gotten was given to me last weekend by my dear friends Rich and Sue.  At the Blue Ridge Rally, Sue told me to measure the spare tire on the Scotty because they were going to get a Life Is Good tire cover for me.  I was blown away to say the least!

Here you see what The Cup's generic white tire cover looked like before . . . 

Here's what her gorgeous new Life Is Good tire cover looks like after . . .

Is that just beyond hella-cool or what?!!  While shopping in Valle Crucis on Friday, all of us bought new Life Is Good t-shirts at the Mast General Store, so posing in front of the tire cover in our shirts was a no-brainer.

Without a shadow of a doubt, my sweet Coffee Cup and my dear friends make my life sooooooo very good!

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Oh, What A Night

My intention since bringing The Cup home back in November was to "camp" out in the Java Port, but for various reasons, it just never happened.  So last Wednesday night in the Holler was our first night together.  All the elements for a perfect night were in place.  Even though this picture was actually taken on Thursday night, you'll get the picture.

Once again, that Scotty grin was on my face as I looked around at everything inside this beautiful little trailer that I had dreamed about for so long.  My coffee decor was in place, it had the most wonderful smell thanks to the 3 little candles that Judy had given me, and the birch walls and ceiling were aglow from the table lamp.  Maxwell, the Coffee Hound, was perched on the dinette table to enjoy his first evening too.

The temperature was in the 60's so I had all the windows open and the most wonderful breeze came through all night.  The curtain next to my head fluttered from time to time and that was actually soothing.  I peeped out the window several times and got a clear view of the stars overhead.

One of the many things I like about camping is waking up early with the sun.  I love the way it streams in while low in the sky and creates an unmistakable early morning mood.  The Cup was facing east and that sunlight came though the frosted window in the door.

With a cup of hot coffee in hand, I thoroughly enjoyed our first morning in camp together and knew it was going to be an awesome day!

I really appreciate you popping in today to hear about my first outing in The Coffee Cup and I invite you come around tomorrow too.  I'm so thrilled that I finally have camping photos and tales to share with you . . . there's that silly Scotty grin again!  Have a great Tuesday, I'll see you later, and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

Our Very First Outing Together

I am so tickled to tell you that The Coffee Cup and I went on our first camping trip together this past weekend.  I know you probably thought that might never happen with the Long, Long Wait and the ordeal I went through with NC's DMV.  When I ended up having to take SplashT@B on my March and April camping trips, it was looking like the maiden trip in the Scotty would never come to pass!

I freely admit to being very nervous last Wednesday when it was time to hitch up and leave.  Would I scrape going out of the driveway?  Would I remember the proper setting for the electric brakes?  Would I get the sway bar adjusted properly?  I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs!

Becky, Roger, and even Wendy lent me a hand and even though I did scrape getting out of the driveway, I was on my way by 10:00 a.m. with an hour and a half drive ahead of me.  We made a stop north of Taylorsville just to calm my nerves a bit and take care of a raging case of dry mouth.  That Diet Mtn. Dew did the trick and I settled into the trip with The Cup doing a stellar job of following behind.

We chugged up Highway 16 and climbed the mountain to arrive at Raccoon Holler Campground in Glendale Springs about 11:30.  My cousin Rob was hosting his very first R-Pod & Friends Rally and I wouldn't miss it for the world.  He has been faithful about coming to my rallies for the past seven years, so it was the perfect trip for me and The Coffee Cup!

I had chosen site 45, a pull-thru, so it was effortless getting in and situated.  Rob came over and helped me with the jack stands and the awning, so I was set up in no time flat.  Thanks Cuz!!

All the items that I've gathered for the last two years were finally put to use . . . the Sunbrella awning, the Camping World mat, and all the inside goodies.

I put out my Guest Book that was a camping happy from my Sister friend Rebecca, and was ready to welcome any and all visitors!  I'll have to look in the book to see how many actually dropped by, but I know it was over a dozen.  I felt like a celebrity showing her off!!

Before joining Rob and Trisha for supper, I spent the afternoon sitting under the awning with a big grin on my face knowing that my Java Journey was actually coming true.  It was an amazing feeling . . . one that I've looked forward to for almost two years!  I was back at one of my favorite campgrounds and got to spend the weekend with some of my favorite friends.

I'll be featuring photos and stories all this week here on The Coffee Cup and you are cordially invited to hear all the details of our first five days camping together when you drop back by.  Have a good week and always remember . . . 

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good!"

A Most Amazing Antenna

If you enjoy having a TV in your trailer while camping, then you really should consider a paper-thin digital antenna called "The Leaf". Made by Mohu and developed by engineers who have been designing antennas for the US military for years, it provides high performance at a minimal cost.

Weighing a mere 15 ounces and measuring just 12 x 12 inches, it's an amazing design!

White on one side and black on the other, it can even be painted to match your decor . . . genius!  Not until you actually hold it in your hand do you realize how well this would work in a trailer.

I freely admit to enjoying having a TV while camping.  It's nice to get local weather reports and keep up with the news.  Since The Leaf can pull in local channels up to 35 miles away, it's perfect for that task.  After hooking it to the back of my TV and scanning for channels, I easily picked up 16 stations with crystal clear reception.

It comes with four small Velcro pads for mounting and you could put it behind a picture, a bookshelf, or even the TV itself, like I did.

I'm not crazy about that 6' white cable, so I'll have to figure out a way to hide that behind the TV too . . . a Velcro strap should do the trick.

Thanks for stopping by today so I could tell you about this amazing antenna that's perfect for The Coffee Cup, and maybe would be for you too!  Have a great weekend and remember . . . 

"Camping, Coffee, & A Sweet Little Antenna . . . Life Is Good"

Travel Right! Travel Light! The Scotty Way!

In the mail yesterday was a thin package that I've been waiting on for days now!  It's a copy of a brand new book by Paul Hecht that deals solely with Serro Scotty travel trailers.

It tells the story of John Serro, from Irwin, PA, who built the very first Scotty trailer from scratch in his barn in 1956 and then hit the road trying to sell his idea to Pennsylvania dealers. Unfortunately, no one bought it, but luckily he didn't give up on his dream.  He went back to the drawing board, re-designed his little trailer, and once again visited dealerships.  By 1959 demand for Scotty trailers was off the charts!

The book is chock full of advertisements, articles, souvenirs from Scotty rallies, company letters, brochures, and photographs of these wonderful trailers.  I have always been on the hunt for information about my 1973 Gaucho and right there on page 57, I saw it for the first time!

Every interior detail in the drawing is spot on and with the exception of the back, curb-side window, the photograph is identical too.

There are five chapters in the book . . . 

1) Serro Scotty History; What's In A Name

2) Scottyland, USA

3) Serro Scotty Timeline

4) If These Trailers Could Talk; Scottys And The People Who Love Them

5) And The Brand Lives On

For all you fellow Scotty owners like Rebecca, Judy, Paula, Liz, Janet, and Lucy, you can find your copy on Amazon.  I'll keep mine in The Coffee Cup just in case you drop by for a visit.

Have a great weekend everyone and always remember . . .

"Camping and Coffee . . . Life Is Good"