As a child and young adult, I loved camping. My grandmother and grandfather were avid campers and every once in a while I got to tag along, usually with a few of my cousins also in tow. Most of my early camping memories are from Nordegg in Alberta, Canada. Located in the Canadian Rockies, this gemstone of an area is so raw and beautiful. I remember loving the crisp turquoise and emerald colors of the frigid rivers and streams that flowed from the glaciers down to the valleys below. Riding my bike from campsite to campsite and gathering up gangs of kids as we road through the campground was a highlight. Learning where they were from and promising to write each other when we retuned home was standard etiquette. I also couldn’t get enough of the campground pool. I have successfully passed this trait off to both my children who find campground pools equally irresistible. I distinctly remember the pool sign at the David Thompson Resort (located outside of Nordegg) that read “Welcome to out OOL, notice there is no P in it, let’s keep it that way”. Its still funny thinking about it as I write. I would be remised if I didn’t mention the variety of pool gymnastic competitions my Cousin Shari and I participated in, dang we could hold our breath for an abnormal amount of time! Another highlight was a huge red, white, and blue rocket ship that had a very fast, very long, very HOT metal slide. There was also an epic mini golf course that I remember being way more awesome than it probably was.
When I first met my husband Norm one of the firsts trips we went on together was a tenting trip to around the same area. This happens to be trip that he told me he loved me for the first time, such a sweet memory from an area that already meant so much to me.
After moving from Alberta to Santa Barbara, Ca. we brought our tent along with us in the car that held my worldly possessions. We did a little camping here and there, the most memorable being in Big Sur. This area reminded me of my early camping days with the areas majestic and raw beauty. These trips although enjoyable, were unfortunately rare. Camping in California requires a lot more planning and campground reservations that that of Alberta in the 90’s and I just didn’t have the planning ability in my 20’s (or early 30’s for that matter).
Norm and I wanted to share the camping bug of our youth with our children and we began looking for a pop up camper at the beginning of 2019. We would periodically take a look on Craig’s List, or FaceBook, I spend time here and there checking out Pinterest and dreaming of a perfect camper for our family and the curtains that I would sew out of vintage fabric (yes, I am aware I don’t sew).
In March I was on FaceBook searching again for Campers for sale in the area and suddenly there she appeared, the most beautiful vintage camper. Instantly stealing my heart this tiny 15 foot camper was for sale in Escondido, Ca. She is a 1967 Aristocrat Lo-liner and she is super shiny! Norm and I made the 5hr drive to “take a look” and see if she would be a good fit for our family. Well, as you can imagine, Norm instructed me to keep and open mind but I was smitten. The previous owners Jim and Nancy also happened to be the sweetest couple and Nancy and I hit it off, spending time chatting while the men completed the full detailed inspection. Nancy had redone and decorated the camper and her styling is swoon worthy. I am happy to say that Nancy and I have stayed in touch and I love sending her photos of us enjoying the camper and creating memory after memory.
After we purchased the camper we had a long haul home and since Norm had just undergone shoulder surgery and was still in a sling, I was designated as the driver. I had driven tractors growing up on a farm, but I had never pulled anything. I literally white knuckled it through LA traffic all the way home to Santa Barbara and since I was scared and only going 50MPH it took a long ass time to get home. But, I did it! and it felt good to now have the confidence to haul my sweet Moonshine around. Side note: I have pulled her on every camping trip we have since been on 🙂
I have since added a few of my own personal details but much of the décor and look of the camper comes from the work that Nancy did. Nancy and Jim now own an Airstream Bambi and again Nancy has outdone herself styling their new gem in the most beautiful fall color pallet. Her work along with her adorable pups can be seen on her Instagram account @chihuahuamama88. I hope to share some more of my families adventures with Moonshine, I would also love to hear some of your favorite camping memories.
1967 Aristocrat lo-liner
