Author: ElisaMG

I last left you on a farm field at a concert in the middle of Canada. The concert was great and since then I have had so many adventures I need to catch you up on. I’ll breeze through a few of the highlights.

People often wonder where they might stay when living tiny on wheels. I’m sure you have gotten some ideas from me already, but here are a few more.

In Winnipeg, I boondocked (sort of) on my cousin;s farm on the outskirts of the city. I say sort of because I plugged in the smallest of power chords which was just enough not to have to pull out the generators. This is where I learned there is no room for ego in the business of tiny travel on wheels. You see my cousins actually live in the city and their farm is on the outskirts of the city. Yep, they specifically told me… “Drive in to the road and then wait for us to get there. Wait. Don’t try to drive on the grass as it may be too muddy.” I pulled up and saw a flat, level, dry lawn that had me thinking it would be oh so easy for me to pull onto and turn around and be all set up. After all, my cousin had been working all day, and they would be so impressed with me that I had handled things and they didn’t have to. So, I started out onto the lawn and quickly my vehicle slowed to a stop as it sunk into the not as dry as I thought lawn. How embarassing! But when they got there, I found no time like the present to figure out if I could four wheel drive myself out of my predictament. And once again I could feel good about solving my problems that I created. With a little help from my Dodge Girl Cassidy and You tube I had all of the directions I needed to figure out how to use my four wheel drive to get out of the muck!

From the mud experience things got better. We had a lovely meal on the farm complimented by some delicious bottles of wine and caught up on life. With just a day, left we chose to spend it in Winnipeg’s Human Rights Museum. If you have never been there,  I highly recommed it. It was incredible seeing from a Canadian perspective all of the happenings around the world and connected activisim to make the world a better place.

From there I crossed the border back into Minnesota where I spent time hopping from one friend’s back yard to the next. It was awesome to break bread with my sisterhood of union friends who sent me off on the career path that took me to California in the first place. This entire trip the biggest pleasant surprise was all of the quality time I got to spend with friends, and family who I do not always see. I go to meet my new adorable grand nephew and my nieces’ love and new husband live! All of this because I could pick up and go and then pick up and go again on to the next. There’s some pretty awesome Mexican food in Long Prarie, Minnesota. Go figure?! I also met a fellow past Californian who settled down there opening a cool little coffee hang out. Coming from California I was a little surprised at the presence of California there. I have forgotten what I ate at the restaurant but it was something I have never had in California so I had to ask the woman who cooked it what part of Mexico she was from and it turns out she was from an area further east along the border.

What a treat to enjoy good food and good company. And of course connecting with good friends who shared a great loss with me and are like family to me. If you have ever lost a loved one you will get how strong the connection can be for those they left behind on this earth. These folks will forever be very special people in my life and I am super grateful that I got to include a visit with them on my stops. Its funny, there seems to be a theme of loss for me on this trip as I transition into a new life. Whenever I needed to shed some tears I waited until I was driving down the road, as to not spoil any of my precious time with folks, or stuff myself up before sleeping, which always makes breathing difficult.

I was also reminded how generous friends are. Friends were truly excited to have me come stay on their land and I got several invites to come back in future years. Playing along the Mississipi was one of the many fun things I highly recommend finding a way to do. Dudley and I experienced our first journey through lock and dam #3…. well through any lock and dam for that matter. We had some great bar food along the way, (yes we) we learned a bit about chickens and country bee keeping, and had some bingo fun at a local establishment. Dudley also enjoyed new friends along the way. Plus we had a great time hiking about to all of our old stomping grounds and connecting with friends of more than 30 years. It was great to be back in another part of the country I add to my list of places I call home and to have so many opportunities to downsize my 50 Amp power chord to a regular 15 amp and plug in for a more comfortable boondock, and sometimes stay inside for a refreshing break from trailer life, a regular sized shower or hot bath and a real bed. Although my space in my trailer is quite comfy too, I’m not going to lie, I loved laundry that wasn’t done in a laundromat and some of the other comforts of a sticks and bricks homes like some shared meals at a real table. It was nice. So, a big shout out to all of you. I am forever grateful!

I was excited to finally get to see the Minnesota Airstream Park and especially loved the hospitality. Owning a share there is definitely on my mind. The park is beautiful and I visited during their summer barbecue when folks invite all of their friends. They welcomed us Airstream Style with open arms and lots of delicious food and fun drinks! More new friends were made. Likely in the near future I’ll try renting someone’s spot to see what it’s like to stay a spell. The best part being, it is so conveniently located near friends and family.

I didn’t get photos of everyone and everything because I really was having fun, living in the moment. The priceless treat for me was getting to spend some time with my mom and dad who I rarely have seen these last ten years do to work taking me clear across the country, and also the time I spent with all of my Aunts and Uncles. At the time it felt somewhat like a lot of driving because I ussually like to just go to a place and park, but I don’t regret any of the visits I made. These were the folks that made my life magical growing up, my god parents, my aunties who were fun, stylish, talented artists, some great at networking in the political world, others incredible cooks, smart, and all in all they taught me how to have fun and live a good life. And of course all of my uncles who like my father were pastors and helped teach me about having a life of faith to guide you as well as made me realize its the little things in life that bring you joy. They shared their sense of humor and laughter at some of the simple day to day things one deals with when getting older, their love, compassion and care as they cared for some of my more fragile  aunts and uncles who no longer recognized any of us in their surroundings. My autnies and uncles all shared their attitudes of gratitude, regardless of what health struggles they were deling with. They all were fully living life. The life I have, my successes I owe to all of these folks. Being pulled from the foster care system and showed what love is, being showed my own worth. What a treat to get to come back around full circle and spend time with the folks who helped me become the successful person I have become. We just never know how much time with have with folks and each visit was so special and something I would not normally get to do living so far away. I especially want to mention my dear Uncle Joe, as he has recently, since that visit passed on. I am so, so grateful I got to spend just a bit more time with him and the family. Uncle Joe, you will be missed. When I think of you I will think of you playing your saw, making ice cream from scratch, pony rides, beautiful countryside, sailing on the lake, and your pure love of life and family.

All and all I feel a stronger connection with all of my cousins, as keeping the family connected is now up to all of us. I look forward to many more visits home. Leaving Minneapolis has been a great journey that has changed how I look at life and made me forever grateful that in this Airstream Life I get to come back through and still call it home, along with all of the other places I keep adding to my list that I call home. On my way out, I had one little snag. Yep, I broke a window!

 

The MacArthur Park Musica Festival was just one of the many fun opportunities that I have stumbled upon on my journey. When you are “on the road” and you are a city girl like me, it may seem like there is literally nothing out there to do unless staring at trees is all you need. Well my cousins were soon to show me the ropes of social life and entertainment when the nearest town is five miles in and has a population of 500.

Tucked back in the woods folks own some quite incredible homes. These homes become host homes for concerts. So, once you are in the know, as long as you don’t get lost on the gravel roads with no lighting after dark and you are able to find the location for the evening, you get to enjoy some great live music. Goes to show, entertainment and fun can show up in a variety of ways.

Also, in Riding Mountains National Park there is an awesome arts center. I couldn’t believe I was sitting at a top notch jazz concert where the keynote performer got there by way of LA and Brooklyn New York. He has now settled down in the town of Brandon, Manitoba. And honestly I often  go places where I don’t see too many folks who look like me so to see brother up here in frozen country doing his thing in music was a real treat.  It taught me you have to travel to every place you go with an open mindto all that is possible. That’s what Airstream Life is about.

Then there was the MacArthur Park Music Festival. My cousin is no stranger to this traveling lifestyle. She and her husband travel the country in their vintage VW Van. And her brother (in the photo) travels the country with his wife in a big RV while Air B&B’ing their house, near Disney in Florida. Well, it pays to talk to folks, or in this case already have those connections who know where things are hopping. Even though huge storms were headed in the MacArthur Park Music Festival stayed on as scheduled. A good two hundred folks showed up. Next time I’ll be brave and join the other rigs out on the grass of the farm and camp out for a couple days. This time I just moved my Airstream over to my cousins house nearby. The musicians come from all over, Winipeg, and North Dakota were two places I remembered. Tnere was also plenty of home grown talent. The music went on until three in the morning. There was a larger than life bonfire and lots of food and drinks enjoyed by all. I may be wrong but I think this event was invite only. So the lessen learned was talk to lots of folks, build relationships, don’t forget the ones you have right there in your families and find out what might be going on right where you are for a dose of fun!

Due to my lack of skills in uploading videos, if you want to hear some of the music…. go check out my Instagram. I’m going to upload the videos there and keep photos for this post. My instagram handle is @TinyAdventuresOfElisaMG

 

 

I read way too many Reader’s Digest bear stories when I was growing up, and therefore had an almost paralyzing fear of running in to them while camping. I knew bears if not fed by humans instinctively would run away so I was more afraid of what would happen to my trailer when sitting out alone. After all it was marinated in delicious smells like bacon and pork chops. My Service Manager at LA Airstream did say he had only seen two instances where a bear had torn into an Airstream. Burt in my logic… that was two too many!

I smiled and said “Oh, what… did they leave the door open?”

He said “No, bears don’t go through doors, they ripped it open like a tin can. But the odds or so against anything happening to you.”

Yah… that didn’t help.

I read everything I could on bears, and of course all of the attacks kept coming up. Go figure! There was the park ranger who had bear spray on him but the bear was on him in 15 seconds so he didn’t have time to get it out. He hit the bear in the head with his hatchet. But he had to repeat that performance as the bear charged twice. He was glad to escape but felt bad discovering later that the bear was a mama bear.

I spent time talking with the REI experts, and invested lots of money in way too many “bear canisters”. I was told to put food and bathroom toiletries, and basically anything that had a scent in it and place the canisters several yards away from the trailer. Well, they were good for dog food containers, and extra stools to sit on at the campfire, and even an elevated desk for my laptop so I could write this blog. However, I’ve given a few away as they emptied seeing that I couldn’t put my stove or microwave in one, boh of which were loaded with good smells. I also chickened out and parked at the cottages by the lake instead of boondocking in the middle of the field.

Well, I saw bears daily. They were almost always mama bears with triplets. This was the year of the bear in Manitoba. All of them were quite beautiful, some were cute. I was in awe at how they moved, dancing across the ground, flopping up trees in three graceful swoops of their overly long arms, always quiet and always fast. Honestly, I come away with no new real wisdom except what is already out there. Absolutely don’t engage. They need to keep that sense of fear of humans as another carnivorous animal. Someone said bears can smell that we are meat eaters…. I don’t know about that, but I did keep my distance and have incredible respect for their power, grace and beauty.

Dudley? The National Parks had said do not take small dogs on trails as they will irritate the bears and may cause them to charge. Great! Well…. he felt it necessary whenever he found bear poop to put his little doggie poop right on top of it. And if he realized the bear was nearby, his voice would lift up in loud barks. In the photo at the beginning of this blog all three little cubs were hiding behind the tree they had climbed with only their paws showing, until Dudley barked, at which in unison they all peeked out. Mama bear stayed hidden below. Thankfully we were in the truck.

On the night we heard a pack of coyotees howling, Dudley took his best coyotee stance and howled and howled right back. If I can ever figure out how to add videos I will add that. It was quite funny. The coyotees actually stopped howling.

I guess the lesson learned can be summed up in this final bear photo. Don’t feed the bears, or wildlife for that manner. Don’t make them familiar with humans. Keep a respectful distance and they will too.

The biggest threat to Dudley was the birds that would swoop down on him when he was sun bathing on the deck. And of course, if we had seen a Bull Moose, they are known to be much more dangerous. Large buffalo, horses and fox, we viewed from the safety of our vehicle. The fun part was all of the variety of wild and domestic animals that we did see. If you love that kind of thing, head to Canada somewhere near or in Riding Mountains National Park and you won’t be disappointed.

My fear of bears, has lessened just a little, at least Black Bears. I think I’ll leave grizzlies for someone else to write about!

Hi Followers! I just wanted you to know I added a new domain name. My new domain name is TinyAdventuresOfElisaMG. If you are like me…. you are now likely going “what?” “huh?” Well short version…… I am slowly learning how all of this blogging and social media work and I didn’t like the original name I picked. So this name will make it easier for folks to find me. I just wanted you to know it’s still me. Also… if you have friends who just follow by waiting for the next Instagram post, or facebook or twitter post, please encourage them to actually follow the blog by clicking on “follow” and adding their email. I am the only one you will get an email from and only when I post. I promise. 🙂 Thanks for your support!

Elisa

I have so much love for this place I don’t even know where to start. To my readers, some of you will get it, and many of you might wonder what the heck I see in this place in the middle of nowhere. After all, it’s not the sexy California coast. But the coast is so transient, at least for me there is no soul or history or stories that connect people across generations and time. Honestly, I have not even known how to write about the land here in the middle of Canada. There is so much history, beauty and love here. But maybe you will all relate when I say, it’s because family is from here. The places we “grew up” tend to stay romanticized in our brains and hearts. As I try to decide if I will continue ownership of some family acreage, I waffle back and forth in my mind. How much is family? How much is heart? How much is a great business idea? Does it even matter if it’s good business? Writing about stuff ussually brings clarity so I figured I’d attempt to share what this place is about to me with you. You know by now I’m not great at brevity but I’ll try.

This 80 acres is a small part of a century plus farm that my father grew up on just before you get to Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Canada. I wish I had, maybe will start, taped my dad telling all of the old stories. Maybe I can convince him to write a book. My mom is documenting it in photo albums. First of all I found it kind of fun that my grandma and grandpa were rebels in their marriage because one was Swedish and one Norwegian and mixing like that was a bit rebellious…. and well…. if you look at a photo of me, you can guess why I find that fun. Anyhow, there are more stories than I can write about here, but I’ll say their farm to me was that magical place we ventured to every summer from the states. We drove out of the the big city of Chicago and headed north to spend time with, I don’t even know… maybe 40 some cousins? We knew that if we drove to the farm, that is where eveyone would be. Anyone coming through stopped there and Grandma would have some good food cooked up, my dad’s brother Uncle Lenny who farmed the place since Grandpa had passed would always have some old barn that had to come down, so there would always be a huge bon fire, and there would be more cousins than anyone could dream of to chase through the woods catching fireflys, riding horses, and going on other adventures. The rest of our stay would consist of going from farm to cabins on the various lakes visiting. We’d have coffee, ruhbarb, tons of saskatoons, and more. I mentioned earlier in my blog the trendy “farm to table” was going on long before it was a thing in our family. It was rare we had to go into town to get fresh vegetables to eat. As kids we would also get to shoot rifles (at targets of course), “drive” the car through the fields, even ride up in the old tractors. All of the farms in the area were owned by family.

There are so many more stories about that, but as anywhere, things change. Farming is expensive and hard work. Over time, once my Uncle passed, the farm, like many around, rented out the land to farmers who would come in from elsewhere and farm the land. Connecting meant relying on cell phones that may or may not come in, and driving around and catching people at home. There is a two lane paved highway that takes you up into the area about three hours northwest of Winnipeg. From there you’ll find a whole maze of back gravel roads that look like nothing is there, but in reality, there is so much. Driving these roads and figuring out where everything is, is a lot of fun too. Many farms have shifted into recreational venues, such as camps and golf courses. There are several gorgeous golf courses, of which many of the areas’ summer visitors come soley to participate in the tournaments etc. Traveling on these back roads, you’ll also find the remains of an era passed, like the old Tales School House. My father used to ski to the old one room school house in the winter and ride horseback in the summer. Of course, some come up here to their cabins to enjoy a little R&R. And then there is the old church and graveyard where most of the folks from the past are burried and many present day celebrations happen, like family reunions.   Sometimes the loss of all of our loved ones sinks in but I choose to keep seeing all of the beauty that exists from the grain fields, to the prarie flowers (wild, planted and weeds), to the wildlife (which I will dedicate a different blog entry.)

The local tourist attraction that brought people in from all over the world, and eventually attracted Elkhorn Lodge just outside of it’s boundaries as an RCI spot was Riding Mountain National Park and Clear Lake. I always love the story about my grandpa builing the first cabin on the lake. If Minnesota is Land of 10,000 Lakes, Manitoba must be Land of 100,000 Lakes. There really is no shortage of lake fun, from kayaking, fishing, swimming, skiing, hunting and simply enjoying beautiful sunsets all over.

Earlier I introduced you to what I call The Original Tiny Home. When we first came up here we camped in a tent at our lake spot. We felt so lucky to finally get a cabin…. which can’t be more than 100 square feet and used to be used as an old hunting shack. My mother worked her charm and creative eye on the place making creative use of space like todays modern day tiny homes, and really making it a beautiful place to live for the summer. In this photo it’s getting a scrape down for one more layer of fresh paint. Before we grew into bigger cabins and buildings like our boat house, this charmer faced the lake with a big screened in deck with that modern day idea of making a tiny house seem larger by bringing the outdoors indoors. Today, with an eery absence of mosquitos, fireflys and dragonflys we no longer need a screen. Who knew I would miss flying insects.

Anyhow, today there a few relatives my age still coming up to cabins on a few of the lakes. My parents are a couple of the few “oldtimers” who are around and have all of the stories and history. My dad was the youngest and he and his sister are still here. My grandpas original lot is still in the family. We still have some farming relatives who fill us with pies and cakes and coffee forcing us to go for hikes in the woods. But there is a noticeable change. Now there are official hiking trails to enjoy, trying to capture a little of the history and landscape. And there are lots of new people that would not even know our family name. The nearest town about five miles away still has about 500 people, I think, but not many familiar names there anymore either, and the old drive in movie theater is gone.  Most of the young folks went away to university and then needed to find jobs so live further away in the more populated parts of Canada. It kind of reminds me of the floating island peopleI wrote about earlier, from Lake Titicaca in Peru. Maybe that’s why I felt such a connection when visiting there.

One thing I definitely learned from my folks is the importance of love, love of family, community and history, and love of the land, as well as a strong faith that will carry you through anything tough. In these photos I can still see the two teenagers that met years ago. I’d say those values fit quite well with my love of Airstream life.

Somewhere down the road, there may be some parking for my RV friends and family… if I choose to keep that small plot of land in the family. I had hoped to decide on this trip, and am still sorting out, what kind of Airstreamer I am. Am I a true Nomad, or do I have a couple of landing spots that ground me to my history? Do I boondock on my own land or do I want to boondock across the country in National Forests? Can I offer boondocking here, if I don’t come up every year? I have learned over time, if I don’t have a clear answer in my head, I dont’ have an answer yet. However, was it a sign, walking into the local coffee and art spot, Poor Michael’s, that I ran into my cousin’s kid? This would be my cousin who owns the rest of the farm, where the original homestead farmhouse sits. I’ll have to reach out and visit with her. Funny, maybe things have changed, but maybe they haven’t! The land still brings us together.

In the words of Gerald O’Hara: “The land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for, because it’s the only thing that lasts”…..Gone With The Wind.”

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