Well, we did it….Bambi is gone and we are now the proud owners of a new Airstream International Signature 25fb. We were sad to give up the Bambi. We’d taken it on 70 wonderful trips and enjoyed RVing far more than we had ever expected to. We learned a lot the last few years about our own camping preferences…first and foremost that we don’t like summer crowds. We actually prefer off season camping, when the parks are quiet and there are far fewer people around. Given the choice, we usually choose small federal campgrounds over state parks with hook ups – we knew that having larger batteries and bigger holding tanks would a be a real bonus.
When we bought our little 16ft trailer we expected we’d use it until we retired someday and were ready for long road trips. After a battle with breast cancer and the experience of how quickly life can be taken away, we decided to move forward with our plan of upgrading to a larger trailer. Although we’re both working still and long road trips aren’t in our foreseeable future, the extra space to move around during the fall, winter and spring months (all rainy!) in Oregon, really drove our decision to purchase a larger one. After much thought and a lot of research we decided to go with the 25 foot front bedroom style. It’s considered the “big of the small and the small of the big” and it seemed like the right compromise for us.
One final consideration….when we bought our Bambi four years ago, we didn’t yet have a granddaughter. Sometimes my daughter and son-in-law bring along a tent and join us on the weekends. We now have plenty of room for all of us to be inside, and sweet Molly has her own bed!
We traded our little Bambi in at Airstream Adventures NW (wonderful company to work with) and two weeks later we left for three days at Mt. Rainier National Park. For our first trip, we opted for a little RV Resort with full hook ups as we wanted to try out all the new amenities. Such fun!
First thoughts….space, space, space. We couldn’t get over it! It was wonderful! The ability to walk around in the front dining area and kitchen was exciting! Most of the storage is still empty…I can’t even imagine what I’ll use it all for!
A queen size bed that fit regular bedding was also exciting. The queen beds in the 25 foot models are a short version, so I purchased a bed extender which gives us an extra five inches. Not a problem for me being barely over five feet tall, but for my 6’3 husband, it made sleeping a much more comfortable experience. Also, the bathroom and shower were so much easier to use than our little wet bath in the Bambi.
Another bonus…oh the light we have…windows, more windows and skylights make me happy!
Thought I’d share a few first photos…lots more to come as we have lots of fun trips planned for the remainder of our summer!
Click on the photo for a better view:
As always… love love love your decor! I wish you well on your path to wellness and look forward to lots of new posts of your small small (big) new trailer when you are able to.
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Thank you, Tracey….the plan is to keep having adventures for a very long time 😉
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Wow, quite the upgrade!! Looks like you have MUCH more space, I love the design – it’s really sharp!
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Much more space…but there’s still something to be said about the Bambi! Glad we had that experience, too!
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The Airstream is absolutely gorgeous. I agree that you shouldn’t wait because life is precious. I look forward to following your future adventures. Also, congratulations on such a beautiful grandchild. I hope you all make great memories with your new escape pod.
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Thanks, Doug! Hope to get as much use out of our as you do yours!! You guys don’t let any grass grow under your feet…and what memories you’re making for your kids!
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I am so happy for you! I love to follow your adventures and often am inspired by your sunny attitude, your beautiful photos. Here’s to many years of travel and adventure ahead!
Susan
We are still piecing our burnt hot-dog back together to get her road worthy.
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Thank you, Susan…hoping for many, many years of fun adventures to come! Good luck with yours! Getting road worthy your own way is half the fun!
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When we had our 31 ft’er, I could fit that trailer anywhere. I grew up on a farm and always “knew” how to back-up. So, I am betting that you won’t find it to be that much of an issue, especially with the off-season camping that you favor.
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Hi Susan…that is what we’re hoping. We can back up fine. For us our driveway is always the biggest challenge and since Todd can do that easily, most campsites shouldn’t be a problem. Our biggest concern was that it seemed to us that often the smallest sites are often the ones with the best views. Lots of times we’d camp in the tent areas and that certainly won’t be happening any more 🙂
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We did nearly the same thing. 19 ft Bambi to a 25 Flying Cloud. Full timing since June 19. Woohoo. Ain’t life grand?
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Yes it is 🙂 Off to check off your blog, too!
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Now this one looks like a perfect size! Perfect interior. Towing with the F-150 truck is working?
We’re still looking, but closer. Off season traveling is the only way.
Enjoy your new home!
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So far so good with the F-150….We got the 2015 with the aluminum body style…has every bell and whistle on it, including the heavy sun roof, and with the weight distribution hitch we still are several hundred pounds under!
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Thanks for the info – it helps
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Congratulations!!! We are so happy for you and know just how it feels to have more space. She’s a beauty.
We originally bought the 23’ and upgraded to an international 27 Serenity. Aside from the color tones, yours looks so much like ours. Not sure you get my replies. I heard back from you. We met in Oregon a couple of years ago. Had a Yorkie. Reply when you can, would be fun to camp together.
Angel and Richard
>
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The 27s are beautiful…as are the serenity models! Enjoy!
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Beautiful Airstream and granddaughter! My family is restoring a 1979 Travco 27 foot, and I’ve been describing it to people as an Airstream with an engine! https://totallytravcotravellers.wordpress.com/
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Thanks, Joanne….If we had the time and the know-how, I think remodeling a trailer would be the way to go. You get to really put your own personality into and configure it the way you like. Good luck with yours 🙂
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Congratulations Kim, Todd, and family!!!
And so many wonderful windows to let in the beautiful Pacific northwest scenery and the sunshine, which almost always makes me smile. And your happy news and photos today made me smile!
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Thank you, Bill 🙂 Many, many hours spent reading your blogs and enjoying what you and Larry do! You two obviously live each day…why we’re doing what we’re doing!
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By the way, I want to tell you that your header picture on your blog is one of the prettiest Airstream photos I’ve ever seen!
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We have a 16′ Sport and I’ve loved reading your blog about adventures. Also looking forward to hearing your adventures in the new Airstream; we’re 4 or 5 years behind you…
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Enjoy yours, Phil! Ours will be missed! We were spoiled with the 16ft and always got all the best sites. Hope the 25 doesn’t limit us!
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Hi! Mary andI bought a 19″ Serenity a year ago and we were concerned that a longer trailer would not let us get into the smaller, and often best sites. We look forward to hearing how the 25″ will work for you. We, too, play with the decor to make it special. Like your colors.
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Roger, we’re heading out this tonight on a trip and one thing we’re going to do is visit campgrounds we like to use with notebook in hand. We had a list of all of the best sites before so now we need to look again. Not getting the nice private sites was our number one concern. Noticed your email “synthesisdesigngroup”…my husband works for Synopsys, are you in the EDA field?
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I own a Preservation Architecture firm. Just retuned from six weeks in Scandinavia, thus late response. I too keep good notes on specific sites. We also have a VW Westplalia camper, last one available new on west coast, factory mint. We use it when the trailer is too difficult to get into some places. Right now, having solar installed on the Serenity. Please keep us posted about site vs. size issues. Thanks.
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Hi Roger, we took it out to a federal campground last weekend and had a moment of panic, I won’t lie. All of our favorite sites were impossible to get into. The sites were big enough, but there wasn’t enough room on the old forest service road to turn into them. We did find one finally, but our Bambi certainly would have fit right in any of them!
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Congratulations! Your new 25 footer looks wonderful!
Bill Wilto
Edwards, CO
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Thanks, Bill! Looking forward to more adventures!
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Oh dear, hope the hubby doesn’t see this. I have a strong attachment to our 2005 16 ft Bambino but my husband has been itching to upgrade. We sometimes take it out for over a month at a time and I will admit it can get a tad cozy towards the end. Your new one is amazing though. Does this mean a blog name change??
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I do need to rethink the blog name 🙂 One thing that helped with the transition was that I pulled in most of the things that made the Bambi cheery! And…then there’s all that room to walk…that helps, too!
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Congratulations.! We also just upgraded from the 16. Ft Bambi . We traded up to the 22FB. My husbands health changed our life so we needed more room. We loved our little Bambi so much, but we took our first trip 3 weeks ago in the 22FB Bambi and, it was excellent! Loving life here: 🙂
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Congratulations, Patti! The 22fb was a favorite of ours, too! Like you, we loved the Bambi, but looking forward to new adventures and moving on! Life is good!
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So cute!!! Going to have to mimick some of your ideas for our new little trailer. I have zero vision in decor.
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Decorating is half the fun for me!
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We got the Serenity this past summer. Same arrangement. I love it, but I really don’t love the bed. We put another custom made mattress topper on it…it’s very comfortable, but I sleep on the side that is next to the window. It’s no fun to get in and out of. You said you got a bed extender. What and where did you get it?
My husband loves the small size for towing. After the 38 ft fifth wheel we had, this is so easy. This bugs me and it’s too late to change it. I worry as I get older. I see myself sleeping on the couch.
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