Second night at Erie's grass airpark — same peaceful pull-in, another round of camp cocktails, and easy talk about Oshkosh and Midwest aviation. Two days later Doug was back on the same road with Pendleton #20 — still solo, still between shop errands and a visit with friends. Private Grass Airpark Retreat had worked once; […]
Private Grass Airpark — Erie, Illinois
A quiet grass strip in Erie, a solo Pendleton run, and a Banana Chocolate Old Fashioned at camp — no tower, no noise, just a good place to pause. Marla stayed home this round. Doug was solo with Pendleton #20, headed toward friends while the trailer picked up a few more shop items — the […]
Brewery Lodge & Supper Club — Michigan City, Indiana
Lake Michigan edge night — Michigan City's Brewery Lodge where supper club meets campground logic. Brewery Lodge & Supper Club in Michigan City, Indiana sits where road trip and lake trip shake hands. Our June Host night came with supper-club warmth — low lights, cold beer, the feeling that someone has been perfecting this welcome […]
Lavender Crest Again — Colona Before the Rally
Staging night at Lavender Crest — wine, calm, and one last deep breath before the Northern Mitt rally run. June found us at Lavender Crest again — this time as a staging night before bigger miles toward Michigan wine country and the Grapes and Grains rally orbit. Colona worked like a exhale before the inhale […]
From Cocoon to Pendleton — Silver Trekker Grows Up
Our Basecamp 20X didn't retire — it graduated. On June 4, 2026, Silver Trekker emerged from its aluminum cocoon as Pendleton #20. Every butterfly story needs a caterpillar phase. Ours had rivets. From our first Harvest Hosts night at Revelton Distilling through Florida, Route 66, upstate orchards, and dozens of Midwestern overnights, Silver Trekker traveled […]
Coming Soon: The Great Aluminum Migration 2026
Upcoming caravan • August 2026 The Great Aluminum Migration 2026 Chicago to Minot with Apostle Islands, Kabetogama, the Northwest Angle, and the Magic City rally — tap the pins on the interactive map. August 2026 Chicago → Minot Caravan August 2026: Doug and Marla are lining up rigs for the long blue-line return through Canada […]
Minion Farm Return — Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Second helping of Minion mischief — because Fond du Lac in May still makes us grin. We returned to The Minion Farm in Fond du Lac a year later because joy doesn’t expire — it just waits politely in Wisconsin until you come back. May green had replaced last year’s palette. New photo ops, same […]
Lavender Crest Winery — Colona, Illinois
Quad Cities wine country in spring — Lavender Crest where the meal is as memorable as the pour. Lavender Crest Winery in Colona, Illinois is a full-evening destination — restaurant, event center, vines, and a Host spot that lets you treat dinner like a victory lap after a tow day. April light lingered. We ate […]
Tropical Acres — West Palm Beach, Florida
Old Florida dining legend meets RV overnight — Tropical Acres and the palm-tree version of harvest hospitality. Tropical Acres in West Palm Beach is institution territory — ranch-style Florida dining with roots deeper than most chains’ marketing budgets. Harvest Hosts here felt surreal in the best way: polished trailer parked near a place people dress […]
Champs — Merritt Island & the Space Coast
Cape Canaveral adjacency, a steakhouse Host spot, and a SpaceX launch that lit the Florida sky — Silver Trekker goes orbital. Champs Steakhouse & Bar on Merritt Island put us in the gravitational pull of the Space Coast — close enough to feel rocket country in the air, practical enough to walk to dinner from […]