Camping in 2011 and 2012

Hopefully after the forest fires in July 2012 in both our area and the area north of Ft Collins did not destroy these campgrounds and they can reopen. The first three are of Mountain Park in the Poudre Canyon. The other pictures near Rampart Reservoir. The fire in that area involved the reservoir and the campgrounds are currently closed.

Preparing Sugar

An order was placed to purchase the frig kit, faucet replacement and a rain fly cover to keep our canvas drier when Sugar is stationary. After the items arrive time will be spent on installation.

Pictures from camping trips over the past two years

Here are a few pictures from our camping trips over the past two years. We purchased Sugar in June of 2011. We have found some local places and a few places that were closed in 2012 due to forest fires. We also took our first out of state trip to New Mexico.

Details on our VW

Sugar is short for Sugar Magnolia. She is a 1991 VW camper van with a Subaru engine. This type of VW camper van is called a Westfalia or Westy. All of the original items work with the exception of the frig. Apparently the frig systems never worked well. We have a portable frig that runs off electric or the car battery. A solar panel was also purchased so we can have refrigeration even when we are boondocking. Sugar measures about 18ft long with bikes. Even with that small size there is plenty of storage. We will be taking out the old frig and replacing with a kit that makes for more storage with plans to use this for food storage. We have a few decorations that lean towards ladybugs. Since the curtains have some red this makes for a perfect fit. Plus Sugar is a bug and has a ladies name. A stand alone canopy gives us shade or protection from rain.
A few purchases were made to make travel easier, one was a bike rack to hold our bikes and another was a travel/storage bag that sits on the outside top front of the van. As we prepare for our trip pictures will show the interior. Right now Sugar is in our garage. Winter camping trips will only occur if the night temps are 35 or above.

preparing to travel

Our trip will be from May 17 to September 11. Not counting the driving from Colorado and back from Bellingham. Ferry reservations from Bellingham WA to Juneau and onward have been made. I have reserved lodging for June 15 in Haines as that is one of their busiest weekends while we are there. Beginning to work on other plans. I have made contact with some bloggers in Juneau and Haines.

We have cleaned up Sugar for the winter and also began organizing for long distance travel. Once we get to January 2013 things will move quickly with planning and getting Sugar ready.

Sugar the VW

first picture of our VW