Day 515, New Years Eve

Here it is the end of 2011 and yet another year is coming to close.  When I started this blog, back in August, 2010, I figured it would take a few short months and I would have a nifty 1950 trailer restored.  I envisioned a great little trailer with lots of character from its 60 years of existence.  As you can read in the pages of this blog, 2011 came and went, and there was a year packed full of adventure, but the Traveleze was taking it's time.   In the random life of a middle age guy (me) I was able to travel abroad, the chickens laid a bunch of eggs, some lost their lives and the Traveleze started its restoration journey.   The Traveleze's suspected rot turned out to be major and required a full rebuild of the floor and frame.  The cabinetry had major alterations over the years and little was worth saving, so all new cabinetry was requested.  With the interior being completely rebuilt the question of new outer skin was brought up.  I couldn't see any point in having a flawless interior and a banged up exterior, so all new skin has been ordered.  My vision of the trailer changed throughout the year, the restoration cost have more than doubled, but the end result is going to be spectacular.  With even the best of planning you can never predict how a year is going to evolve and the same can be said for restoring a 1950 Traveleze.  Flyte Camp Vintage Trailer Restorations has been up front and provided constant guidance through the restoration process, making suggestions and helping me with the decisions that have needed to be made.  We all want to see a jewel rise from the ashes of this nearly un-salvageable trailer.  Little will remain from the original trailer, but many parts were retained.  The list of saved parts include, most of the windows, the sink, one of the side panels for the dinette, door trim, screen door, lighting, vanity cabinet, trailer frame, ceiling vent and the Traveleze name badge are all that remain.  In the coming months the Traveleze will be finished and 2012 will mark its new life as a restored/rebuilt example of the 1950 American camping experience.

Christian, Tracy and I, out for a New Years Eve walk.

As the year came to a close I had planed to go for a walk with friends Christian (originally from Hobaek, Denmark) and Tracy, up at the mountain.  The  weather turned a little overcast and we ended walking in the country side around my home.  We played "dice", watched a movie, ate pizza and way too many cookies.  As Dick Clark signaled the New Year in New York, all of us in true 2012 fashion, texted all of our friends HAPPY NEW YEAR!   Or as one of my friends said way back in our college years (22 years ago), after a few to many beers "NIPPY HOOTERS"!  We have welcomed in the new year ever since with phrase.

So, to all of my friends, NIPPY HOOTERS or HAPPY NEW YEAR!