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We have been camping in a 10 year old small camper for 3 years now and have decided we loved it enough to get a new camper.  We looked at many models and choose the Aerolite 21QS.  I found a wholesaler in Arkansas and purchased the trailer through them and arranged to pick it by the factory in Elkhart Indiana.  This combo saved us thousands of dollars compared to purchasing from the local dealer in LA and helped pay for a big eastern USA trip.  Also picking it up in Indiana helped because I did not have to pull anything for 2500 of the 7500 miles of the trip.

Lori and the kids flew out to Iowa to stay with her parents while I drove the truck out loaded with all the stuff we need for a vacation in a camper.  The first day I drove from San Diego to Denver and stayed the night with my cousin Dave and Dianna.  It was great to see them, and their guest room bed was extremely comfortable.  The second day I drove from Denver to Clinton, another long day in the saddle, but I got in around 6pm.  1900 miles in 2 days alone, now I know what trucking is like.

After a nice visit with Lori's parents and my parents (they drove over for a couple of days) we headed out the next day to pick up the camper.  I image below is our first coupling of the truck and camper as it is all checked out and we were ready to head out.

Still during the 3rd day of the trip we continued on to Akron Ohio where our good friends Pat and Jeanne Weidt live.  They used to live in San Diego and moved out east a few years ago.  We have kept in touch but had barely seen them since they moved.  We got to their house around 6 pm and set up camp in their back yard on the edge of their driveway.

We spend the next 2 days at the Weidts', figuring out and setting up things with the camper and enjoying their great company.   Pat and Jeanne were great hosts especially since they were heading out on a trip with all 7 of them out of the country to the Bahamas leaving the same day we were heading out also. 

Twice they took us to a great little lake/park club they belong to where we hung out, played and picnicked.  This time together really reminded me of the summers growing up in the Midwest, kicking back and just enjoying life, while the kids played until they dropped, late into the night.  We even had a bonfire at the Weidt's house and Pat surprised us all with some fireworks

After we got back from this trip Jake and Capri were asked whet they like best on the trip and they both agreed it was the visits with friends and family along the way, I have to agree.

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