Daltrion Blackmon and his Grand Marquis (ex cop car), Monroe, NC
Marshville, NC
Once again, content way exceeds output here. Deek and I had a great time, building his tiny house, talking to hundreds of people. We did 2 presentations together that went over well. It was a total seat-of-pants operation, both in an unexpected building project (borrowed Skilsaw from hall maintenance guy, ladder from ladder display guy, tape measure & combination square from polypropylene panel guy) and dual slideshow/talks. Fun! We agreed that it was actually good the building wasn’t finished. It gave us something to do. Better than just sitting around all day.
I ended up liking Charlotte a lot. Good vibes everywhere. Good people. They’re relaxed. It’s what I expected. There’s a big part of America out there in between the Almighty Coasts. And you know what, I don’t wave the flag, and am appalled by a ton of things America and Americans do and have done, but underneath I love this country and Americans for the good stuff (did you see Gracie Gold skating in the Olympics — wow!). A lot of kindness and simpatico here in North Carolina. I have a ton of stuff to report from the Home & Garden Show, but it’ll have to wait. Actually, I just got the idea to do a YouTube slide show with vocal description of this trip. “These two little buildings, abandoned, neglected, behind an abandoned house, both perfect in proportion…architects should study country buildings…”
Once this new book is launched, I plan con making a bunch of videos, boy am I excited about this. Suddenly I realize that a lot of my compulsion to communicate can be done via vids.
It’s Monday morning, am at a Starbucks. In the land of fast-food and characterless and interminable malls, a Starbucks can be a haven. (Had to come back to mall-land to get a motel last night.)
After this song finishes, I’m heading out on some back roads. I took an extra 1-1/2 days to hunt and shoot (Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, mighty fine little camera).
Blues and Rock 'n' Roll by Sean Chambers on Grooveshark
“Designed as a “personal size” camping trailer aimed at traveling salesmen, the Bowlus Papoose had the potential to revolutionize the industry, boasting such features as a gas-welded steel frame and a riveted aluminum skin. High production costs for Bowlus travel trailers led to high selling prices, however, and only six Papoose models were believed to have been built before the company folded. This weekend, the prototype Bowlus Papoose travel trailer heads to auction, giving bidders a chance to own a unique piece of American motoring history. …”
Click here.
From Bob Kahn
Two emails from Bill Cullin:
1. Subject: I never buy books! But I purchased yours and loved it.
I always use the library and just return them since I get so many, but yours I had to buy.
Best $30 I spent.
I am about to take a walkabout for about 3 months. I am in Seattle Washington and will head south along the coast till I get warm and then head east probably into Arizona.
I wanted to write off the trip and save on expenses so I wanted to take my truck. I had purchased your book for another project but got inspired and decided to go in style.
Two inches of insulation, pine tongue and groove, wood blinds, interior propane heater, alarmed and interior locking. And from the outside day or night you would never guess.…
2. My “Truck Suite” was inspired from your book. I am on my walkabout trip. I am posting videos on YouTube and Facebook.
Here is a article being placed in our local newspaper. If this article may be useful for your newsletter you are welcome to use it and the photos.
Thanks for the inspiration!
–Bill Cullins
www.youtube.com/billcullins
Read More …
“In 2007 Christoph Rehage, a German native studying in China, came up with the grand scheme of walking back home from Beijing to Bad Nenndorf (Germany). He calls it ‘The Longest Way’.
Christoph embarks on this mission taking a picture every day while growing a beard. And it results in a mighty kickass beard.
Although he only made it one-third of the way from Beijing to Urumqi, he went back home to get his degree, he did accomplish something extraordinary…”
Click here.
From E. L. Walker
From Mike W. This is translated from the Hebrew. I’ve left the text unedited.
House on wheels, free from cables
“Almost 50 animator Joseph Tayyar tired from the bustle of the city and cables property. He bought a new truck and made it with his own hands, to satisfy all needs, (including electricity and water) – and even expands a bit when it’s parked. Now he dreams of building a village on wheels, the people who choose to live differently…(the idea was born in his mind four years ago. Years spent planning and construction of the house, where did it all himself. ” True, I gave up on a lot of things – books, clothes and other unnecessary things we all hamsters at home. But I gained freedom. Real freedom. Freedom of movement, that allows me to live near the beach, in the desert, in a beautiful grove or even a city. Freedom from property tax, electricity companies, cable and water corporations”
Photos: Ilan Nachum
https://tinyurl.com/nt5e256
“Hi Guys,
I’m selling my handmade demountable timber truck camper cabin in the UK. It might be of interest for you to see.
It was a joy to make and own but like all things, it has to go at some point!…
Matt Hayman (Handmade Matt)”
Click here.
“…the ‘Ladybug’ features custom antiqued copper accents on both interior and exterior, cedar interior walls with pine exterior, a real cobble wood floor hand laid piece by piece, and a hand built custom Dutch door. Ladybug can sleep two people however, it does not have a bathroom.
This gypsy wagon, also known as a vardo wagon, is new – and was designed and built in 2013 in Salem, Oregon.…”
https://tinyhouselistings.com/gorgeous-homemade-gypsy-wagon/
Took off at 6AM Wednesday, dark, ultra foggy, it was like driving in a tunnel — until I got to Jenner and it cleared. I stopped and trespassed to skate at Sea Ranch; there never seems to be anyone in any of those houses, maybe 90% unoccupied, just me and the propane guy…met my friends, Louie,Titsch, and Pepe for breakfast at Trinks in Gualala, great food, great wi-fi…that afternoon, Louie, Titsch and I hiked a few miles up the river to an old homestead and had home-smoked salmon, salami, Irish cheddar cheese, sourdough baguette, bottle of Louie’s v. excellent 2009 Primitivo red…that night after drying out (had to wade thru river at various spots) and warming up, we barbecued a flank stake in Louie’s new open hearth fireplace in the shop, my olives, a salad …yesterday another great breakfast at Queenie’s (somewhere south of Medocino, prowled around Mendo town (awfully precious these days, then to Ft. Bragg, still a real town…on the way back we went to the very weird Garcia River Casino. just slot machines, no kraps or blackjack, a few morons sitting at machines, smoking, losing money, I just don’t get it. HOWEVER, Louie got $1 worth of nickels and won $45 in the nickel machine and we quit right there and went to the bar in Pt. Arena cove and had beer on tap (mine Black Butte Porter) and fried calimari…now Friday morning and I’m heading south…can’t post pix because I haven’t got my rebuilt Sony DSC RX100 camera coordinated with my MacAir…
“…These are the wandering writers June and Farrar Burn and their sons North and South in their homemade camper in 1928.”
Photo from Shorpy here. Sent in by Anonymous.
June’s book Living High is listed in the upcoming Tiny Homes on the Move bibliography.
For details about their wonderful lives, including homesteading on an island in BC, see The Skaggit River Journal here.
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