Aishling the Airstream Update No. 71

 Chewacla State Park

Auburn, Alabama

with sweet friends in Vintage Campers [all kinds!] 

We love the woodsy feel of this Alabama State Park - 

And yet it's MINUTES away from anything you need... 

And the paved bike trail is always fun.

Both young and old! 

We gathered a group together and road out to the highway and back... I think we said it was a total of 7 miles, maybe... 

 Chewacla is always a fun gathering each year! 

There's lots of time to sit around a campfire and visit with our camping buddies!

Craig found a cotton candy machine while thrifting and shared a bit with us one night [testing it out...] It's pretty cool.

[And I'm glad I had some sugar in my tupperware in the camper !] 

And omgoodness - we played the dominoes and rummikub as much as possible! 

It makes me THINK - and that's not a bad thing - lol -

We also enjoyed a few quiet morning at our site 

with our gas fire pit that is so much easier to carry along... 

And of course I LOVE our new Aldi [solar!!] lanterns that hit the stores this week - everyone ended up getting one - SO FUN!!

And - oops - our camper's okay - but we couldn't resist taking a photo of #AishlingtheAirstream 's reflection in a truck in front of us.

WOW.

That doesn't look good.

Chewacla State Park:

We obviously enjoy this campground bc we're there at least once a year - you can go here [and here*] to read more about it -

* HOW DO you spell it?!? - HA 

2026 - Week 25 - Thursday Three

 

1. Been working on Airstream Club stuff LIKE IT'S A JOB - lol - we have our BIG [International] Rally coming up in August with over 900 rigs... We're planning all of our on-the-way stuff/ travel, hosting a pre-rally... and I'm coordinating volunteers for VAC*... Oh. And we're doing a presentation too.

2. Plus all the plans for our upcoming Alabama Club rallies. And an area-wide airstream dinner this evening... ALL FUN - but it does take some organization and planning ahead of time.

TMI, I know - ha.

3. In other news we've had a few [regular] doctor appointments, dinner with the oldest, I had lunch with friends, Craig traveled over to The Shoals to assist his mother, and we've been stretching our brain cells by playing rummikub every evening... Craig had an eye appointment in Birmingham and may finally have a solution for the issue he's having.

* vintage airstream club

2026 - Week 24 - Thursday Three

1. We enjoyed seeing The Gaither Vocal Band in concert over the weekend. So glad Craig's mother could join us. And omgoodness, that harmony!
2. I attended a memorial for a former work buddy down in Birmingham, it was so good to see so many familiar faces... but also so odd to not see Louise.... it's been over 6 years since I've been in that building...
3. And, note to self: slip on some shoes before you open the back door to let the cats out... it's no fun STEPPING ON A SNAKE! 

Barefoot. 

I acted such a fool Dobby wouldn't come near me all day...

 

#HardwickAdventures 

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 70

 

 Cedars of Lebanon State Park

Lebanon, TN

with our Music city Club friends -  whom we don't see often enough.*

Craig had picked up some O'Guirre sausage [it's a favorite of ours!] and wanted to cook breakfast for the early arrivals -  

And he DOES COOK A GOOD BREAKFAST - 

I made the biscuits in our convection oven - and wow I really love having it in our camper!

Confession: these are part canned and part frozen biscuits...lol 

 *And side note: don't you love friends you don't see often but can just jump right into conversations as if you we were together just the day before? 

 

I LOVED our site in a pull-through up on the hill with mostly woods behind us - 

and we had a great view of all the shiny brites in the campground! 

 

The Music City Club loves a good theme - 

and this rally was all about Mardi Gras - 

 

We had some good eatin' with gumbo and lots of Cajun goodness -  

and oh my goodness... the wonderful sides everyone brought to go along with it! 

And you can see that we didn't let a little rain stop us from enjoying our time together... HA

We took an afternoon to ride a couple of local trails...one led out to Percy Priest Dam.

There was a lot of downhill as we started... and I trust my breaks... but it still gives me a bit of anxiety...  

 

We also rode the other section that had a stop basically in the Kohl's Parking lot - pretty cool to have such easy access.[We started at the YMCA]

 

It took us on this elevated portion on the opposite side of the river.

VERY PRETTY.

[We had wonderful weather!] 

And such a great group of 'streamers!

Many we knew, and some new friends we met this weekend [plus a couple of Pennsylvanians who'd camped with us at Oak Mountain a few weeks back - ]  

This is the 3rd time we've camped at Cedars and think it's a great park! 

We love being on that pull-through site on the hill...

but did go over to the updated bath houses in the other areas...

Just sayin'

#HardwickAdventures 

2026 - Week 23 - Thursday Three

 

1. Craig's mother is back at home after a few nights in the hospital and a plan is in place to help her continue to feel better. He's been back and forth a few times this week...

2. While I've been 'working' in vbs - a pleasure to be sure --> we go to a large church and have almost 900 kiddos enrolled + 200 workers**...

3. I'm one of the 2nd grade guides - and they are adorable, and a handful, [since I don't have small children in my life on a regular basis,] and so, so sweet... LOVE IT.

 

But I'm tired, y'all .

 

** Shout out to our children's minister and his team for coordinating 

ALL. THE. THINGS.

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 069

 Davy Crockett State Park

Lawrenceburg, TN

This is a favorite campground of ours -  

and we've been hosting a little vintage rally here 

each March for more than a few years now -  

 

And it's always a great time of visiting and

looking at adorable vintage campers!

 

AND THE WEATHER WAS EXCEPTIONALLY NICE THIS YEAR. 

[You just never know - lol] 

I'm trying to cook / prepare a bit more in Aishling this season -- so I made some deviled eggs for one of our gatherings... 

 

We really do enjoying seeing people gather together and visit together!

Maybe with a good meal...

Maybe around a campfire...  

We had a nice relaxing [long] weekend of being together with camping friends.

Much thanks to Jerry and Lisa for taking a group photo from the sky... and you can see that, sadly, the park had to take down some trees due to the ice storm... Davy Crockett State Park -  

Y'all know we'll definitely be back!

 

2026 - Week 22 - Thursday Three

 

1. We enjoyed a wonderful weekend at one of our favorite local campgrounds with our Alabama Club friends!

2. AND we saw a couple of balloons in the air.

3. We've been with Craig's mother since then ... she's having a few health issues. Prayers are appreciated.

 

PS - did this [these windows] used to be the chapel at Helen Keller Hosp?

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 068

 

Camp Nash

[my nickname - for Camp Airstream Nashville]

OMGOODNESS.

Y'ALL.

We had the opportunity to attend Camp Airstream: Nashville earlier in the season, and I just wasn't sure what to expect as we drove into the designated airstream area of the campground...

and, WOW. This was most definitely NOT a rally... 

Instead it was a carefully crafted upscale airstream experience.

 

Wally would be proud.

 The Hub exceeded any and all of my [personal] 'vintage-chic' expectations... 

It was our central hang-out throughout our time together, and our hosts made sure each person felt welcomed, pampered, and special. 

 

[The basket full of cozy blankets is just one example...] 

 It was the perfect place to visit with friends, both old and new.

 

We enjoyed visiting around the fire and listening to music 

[or singing along...] 

 

And they also had a VERY nice relaxation area with a place to rejuvenate your legs after a day full of walking -

 One of the best parts of CampNash [as I call it,] is the curated outings to some of the highlights of Nashville. OMGOODNESS. We had a great time. We've been to Nashville A LOT [we've always had family there,] but we still enjoyed the tours and learned so much! Can we set up our own tours, and shuttle service, etc? 

 

Of COURSE we can... but it was VERY NICE to have someone else do it for us. 

 Our hosts, Don and Michelle, were the best! 

 

We enjoyed a walking tour of The Atriums at The Opry Hotel

[and I learned something - even though I've been there SO MANY times through the years -], 

 

a walking tour of downtown Nashville [with THE BEST tour guide] 

that included both historic and musical info, 

 

and our group decided to use an afternoon of free time to do a backstage tour of the fabulous Ryman Auditorium. 

It was fun to be a tourist in a city we've visited so often! 

 

We had Social Hour each evening at The Hub with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices provided...just a designated time to slow down and visit with each other and recap our day...or share stories from other camping adventures...

 

DJ and I volunteered George and Craig to cook Smash Burgers with onions and mushrooms for our group potluck night [and of course they were delicious!]

We had a catered BBQ meal from Edley’s that was so good... and, omgoodness...

 

We had THE BEST biscuit making class with Michelle. And, Y'ALL. I'm a born and bred member of GRITS [girls raised in the south, in case you didn't know...] and I learned a thing or two - can't wait to practice a bit! She served them with sausage gravy [yum!]... and Craig fried up some eggs for everyone.

 

On our last evening together we all met at a local restaurant, but we could have easily brought dishes to The Hub to share together.

 

All-in-All a wonderful time. Camp Airstream is definitely an elegant, upscale event... and while we were busy, we also came away very relaxed and well-rested because we had zero responsibilities.

 Highly recommend this camp experience for anyone who owns an Airstream 

[No brn required.]

 

And who knows - you might enjoy a great meal from a local chef! 

Full disclosure: We were there for media week -

 

We appreciate the opportunity and we LOVED EVERY MINUTE! 

 #AishlingtheAirstream 

KOA - Nashville is an excellent place to stay and relax while you're in Nashville. They have shuttle service downtown throughout the day [and evening] so it's easy to do-it-all. 

 

Our 'hit-the-road photo - we actually took Aishling down to our next stop before heading to visit Craig's mother for the day - 

Part-full-time is a mantra right now...lol 

 #campairstream

#HardwickAdventures