T@B on its way

Just got news from the dealer that the T@B I ordered is "offline" (finished), and waiting for a driver to ship it out to Colorado. Woo-hoo! They expect it to arrive within a week....

USB Tuner

So the question came up in the T@B Yahoo Groups forum about options for a TV set up. I recommend using a USB TV tuner attached to a laptop. This gives you the most flexibility and you end up with a TV, DVD player, Radio, and computer all wrapped into one. The configuration I use is a Macbook Pro laptop connected to an EyeTV Hybrid digital tuner. As a test I connected this to a generic rabbit ears antenna to see if I could get digital TV reception. I was able to get 20+ channels, although some came in better than others. The USB tuner can alternatively be hooked up to a regular cable TV connection if you happen to be staying at an RV resort that offers that amenity.

Coming Full Circle

I took the plunge (again) and have just this evening put in an order for my second T@B trailer. The first was purchased in Dec 2006, sold in Oct. 2007, and this one will be a new 2010. So after two and a half years, I've come full circle, and I'll be a T@B owner again in about 6 weeks when it arrives from the factory.

Last time I had the TQ floor plan and really enjoyed that layout, but this time I am going with the L-shaped configuration in order to gain a little more storage space, although the bed will be a little smaller. The trailer I ordered should look like the pictures here including the addition of the front window. With such a tiny trailer, I figure the more windows the better.

Sure looking forward to getting out and trailer camping in a T@B again!

Bidding Farewell

It was a wonderful season of camping in the T@B. It is such a fun little camper that is easy to tow, and once you get it to your campsite, you can even maneuver it by hand and position it so that you get the very best views. The bed size is more than ample, and the trailer includes camping luxuries like a 2-burner stove, air conditioner, heater, and kitchen sink, not to mention a fair amount of storage space - not bad for a tiny trailer.

Nevertheless, and with many mixed feelings, I decided to sell the T@B and upgrade to a larger trailer with a few more accessories and camping conveniences. So, I posted an ad on Craigslist, and I was able to sell it quickly to a couple from Arizona. We met halfway in Albuquerque, and as luck would have it, the time we chose to finalize the transaction was the same weekend as the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. I've never seen so many hot air balloons - it was really a fantastic sight.

Of course, I was very sorry to see the T@B go, but I was also looking forward to its replacement. I've always admired the Airstream trailers with their sleek, modern design, and shiny exteriors. As it turned out I was able to find a gently used Airstream Bambi trailer a few months later . You can see a blog of my many Airstream camping adventures here (coming soon).

Over Trail Ridge Road

Stillwater Campground near Grand Lake, CO, was our destination once again. I love coming back to this area because there are so many things to do including hiking, boating, fishing, shopping, and even bowling when the weather turns rainy, and it is all set in a quaint little mountain town on the side of a picturesque lake.

One afternoon I hiked to the crest of a mountain where a Forest Service watchtower stands for spotting forest fires in the area. This vantage point offered sweeping views of Grand Valley, a birds eye view of Grand Lake, and a panoramic perspective of the the Rocky Mountains.

These camping weekends always go by too fast. So, I decided to extend it slightly and take the long, scenic way home. I towed the camper through Rocky Mountain National Park and over Trail Ridge Road, which is the highest (12,183 ft.) continuously paved highway in the United States. I was really pleased at how easily I was able to tow the T@B up this relatively steep and winding highway. The T@B has turned out to be a great little camper that is easy to tow and maneuver even up and over high mountain passes - all without sacrificing camping luxuries like a large bed, kitchen, heater, and A/C.

Brainard Lake Recreational Area - Nederland, CO

The Brainard Lake Recreational Area, is a short trip from my home base in Boulder, CO, but there is a fair amount of elevation gain. I started at 5400', drove up scenic Boulder Canyon, and arrived at the Pawnee Campground (10,345') in the Roosevelt National Forest about an hour later. I recently purchased a new tow vehicle, a 2006 Nissan Xterra, and had no trouble pulling the T@B up the almost 5000' in elevation gain. It handled very well around several tight, hairpin corners, and seems like good fit for the T@B. I retired my Jeep Wrangler, which worked well towing a light trailer, but it wasn't an ideal tow vehicle for long trips.

I stayed at Pawnee Campground, which has 55, well-spaced sites, and most are in densely wooded forest that provides privacy between campers. The few sites without many trees offer spectacular views of Brainard lake and the Rocky Mountains. Most sites are very level with packed gravel, which made it easy for me to back the T@B in, uncouple the hitch, and then turn it around by hand. It is really nice to be able to reposition the microlite camper manually without having to use the tow vehicle. The campground had pit toilets, several shared water spigots, fire rings, grills, but no electricity or showers. Temperatures got down to around 40 degrees one night, but the T@B's LP gas furnace kept things nice and toasty inside.

The Brainard Lake Recreational Area is popular with hikers because it offers a large number of trails at a variety of difficulty levels. One afternoon I took a moderate, 3-mile hike up to Lake Isabelle at the base of Shoshoni Peak. It was a little over an hour, one way, along a well marked trail, and it was the highlight of the weekend for me with spectacular views of mountain lakes, flowers, and wildlife. At the end of the day, it was nice having the T@B to come back to, where I had a warm, comfortable place to stretch my legs, make a hot meal, and rest up for the next day's adventure.

If you go: All even-numbered sites at Pawnee Campground can be reserved and the odd-numbered sites are first come, first served. There is an $8 entrance fee for a 5-day pass to the Recreation Area, and the camping fee is $16/night at Pawnee Campground. Unfortunately, the campground closed for the season this weekend, but it generally reopens in mid-to-late June. Otherwise, the area is open for hiking, snowshoeing, or back country skiing year round, and the entrance fee is only assessed during summer operation. Nederland (about 17 miles from the campground) is the nearest town where you can pick up groceries and other supplies.

Palisade Peach Festival - Island Acres State Park

We attended Palisade, Colorado's annual Peach Festival and enjoyed peach daiquiris, peach pie, and peach ice cream (yum). Palisade is a quiet little town (except during the Peach Festival) in the heart of Colorado's fruit and wine country. Mid-August is a great time of year to visit and to enjoy the fruits of late summer, literally.

We camped at Island Acres State Park, just a few miles east of town. This is an excellent campground for folks that are traveling the Interstate. It is easy to get to and has large sites with full hook ups, clean bathrooms, and pay showers. Although it is close to the highway and a railroad track, don't let that discourage you from camping here. Trains are rare and the distant motor traffic quickly becomes an almost unnoticeable background hum. The campground sits next to the Colorado River, offers nice views of the canyon walls, and provides sites that are well spaced, roomy, and carefully groomed. This is one of the nicer campgrounds we have stayed at, and I would not hesitate to return.

The only problem we encountered occurred during arrival. Our reserved site had been given to someone else. The issue was quickly resolved, and the misplaced campers kindly agreed to move to a different spot. Lesson learned: even when you do your best to reserve in advance, sometimes things still get messed up. With a little patience and friendly attitude though, things usually work out just fine.