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Love it! I'm sure there are plenty of ways to speed up the video process. Hiring people, for one...but $$.

Are you sharing your experience/process with all of this anywhere other than Insta? If you start a YouTube channel or Substack/blog, I'd love to follow along!

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In the fall of 1993 when we didn’t have google earth, maps, or WiFi we did the same thing...selling everything and traveling the US, as I wrote about briefly. We leased a brand new giant truck a 1993 Fire F250 super cab super duty long bed and outfitted it to tow our 27’ 5th wheel. On our way south outside of Brice Canyon we decided to take a “short cut”. A 65 mile dirt road across the desert towards Kanab. We stopped and asked a passing ranger if we were crazy and he said...oh you should make it ok. Two days later and 5 miles to a paved road, the entire road had washed out creating a deep V type canyon about 30’ deep and maybe 60’ wide. We built a bridge out of logs and rocks in the wash and eventually made it out but not without caving in the side rails of the truck and taking out the septic tank on the trailer....lots of stories. We had flipped the leaf springs on the trailer so it would ride much higher. If you can do that on the airstream you will have a lot more access to your boon docking sights. Also...stay out west! The roads are wider and there so many more friendly places for larger vehicles.

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Thanks for the story...and WHOA. That sounds gnarly-town. I don't even know what "caving in truck rails" means, but I suspect it means y'all were STRESSED THE F OUT.

I've eyed the lift kit for the Airstream and likely will make that happen sometime after/during this inaugural journey. Trying not to upgrade everything on it before I get a sense of how we actually use it, ya know?

Hope you're getting some cooler weather up north in Europe now!

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Congratulations on all the changes! Sounds fun as long as Chelsea reminds you about the trailer. I've always loved campers for the same reasons, just like good tents, a smart use of space is always a thrill. If I can learn to drive a tractor and get used to driving a suburban (not an everyday car!), you can do it, too.

Curious to hear what you think about sharing your story via video, photos (insta) vs in words on substack. Have you done videos? I can't remember. A friend and I are going to start sharing inspiring and informative content about Midwest Tallgrass Prairies and want it to be impactful, sharable and manageable with our busy lives. What has worked best for you?

Have fun! I look forward to reading more… big hugs!

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We're just going to set up an AI to intone TRAILER every time we're coming to a turn! Haha. Tractors are so fun...I love that you went back to your roots and completely shifted your life. Your friends in the big cities must be like whaaaaat?!

Ya know, I've done Insta and videos in the past. With the former, I felt like the way I engaged with it wasn't good, that my humor and writing weren't a fit for the medium. Just came off like bragging and wasn't searchable/useful for people (many of my blog posts are reference-style "how to learn a language/build a camper van/do this thing"). Also, I found myself spending too much time scrolling through Insta and that time didn't feel beneficial to me.

RE: video, I dabbled with it. Honestly, it just takes SO MUCH time. Each minute of finished video is ~1 hour of editing, and that doesn't count filming. I have YouTuber friends who spend 2 full days each week editing their videos! No thanks.

Mostly, I just really enjoy writing! It's my fav method of expression and it works for me. I'm not trying to build an influencer juggernaut business, just sharing ideas and my life with people who find me online. It works for me. Could change (maybe short videos in the future?), but for now, I'm sticking with it. And now you're sorry you got me rambling, lol!

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Aug 18, 2023·edited Aug 18, 2023

Thanks! And yes, I have a few friends who are seriously surprised I'm still in Iowa. Turns out I love bringing back native plants to my 12 acres (I'm planting an 8 acre prairie this fall!), meeting all the local activists and scientists in the space AND I still love northern california and many big cities.

I hear you on the amount of time different mediums take. I saw an impressive time lapse footage of a prairie planting (over 2 years) and it told the story so beautifully, hitting all the feels without a word. Too bad it costs $3k :) I'd like to think as a designer, I should be able to hack the heck out of it and decrease the time. We'll see!

Onwards!

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Non vedo l'ora ascoltare sulla vita di "airstream"

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Grazie! Spero di non incontrarti (letteralmente) con la mia rouloute durante un turno. Tieni gli occhi aperti nel ovest...

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