Camping at Rasar State Park, 2018
All of you know who Towhee the Trailer is. She’s my travel trailer. 🙂 The big white truck is the tow-er (the one that does the towing) … and the trailer is the tow-ee (the one who is being towed) … and I love birds especially little western Towhees who are real birds and who don’t fly much at all. They like their feet (their wheels) on the ground. They even nest on the ground. So my travel trailer seems akin to a little Towhee bird to me … firmly on the ground, and happy in nature.
She’s an adventurer that’s for sure, this travel trailer, just like the Towhee birds are. She’s always ready to head out on the road, always ready for new sights (and new camp-sites). In fact, she’s so ready to go, that sometimes I’m not too sure whether the big white truck is pulling the trailer … or Towhee the Trailer is pushing the big white truck. But the two of them get along just fine and we get where we’re going lickety split with no problems at all.
The weather here in the Pacific Northwest finally started to dry out a few weeks ago. We had sunshine! So I started spring maintenance on the trailer, especially since I hoped to have camping plans soon. I was looking forward to that! Even though campgrounds here in Washington State are closed temporarily, it’s still important to maintain the trailer and its systems.
So, a couple of weeks or so ago, in that sunshine, I took tools and cleaning supplies and spare parts to the trailer, and parked the truck right in front of the trailer for ease of access. I opened up the door and windows of the trailer to air it out and started in on all the projects.
I was up and down the steps, in and out of the trailer, checking tires, checking exterior and interior lights, cleaning out the external access compartments of the frig and the furnace and the water heater, cleaning the sail switch deep inside the propane furnace, checking propane tank levels, lubing all things, checking the fluid levels in the fresh water tank and the grey water tank and the black water tank (and checking for leaks in all of that plumbing both inside the trailer and underneath the trailer), polishing and waxing the chrome wheels, replacing the water filter in the inline water hose, topping off the battery fluid and checking those connections, testing the air conditioning unit, cleaning the solar panel on the roof, defrosting the freezer … etc! And … and … of course, checking and double-checking my checklist. 🙂
But at one point, I was stopped short. Struck dumb. I had just climbed back up into the trailer in order to get a screwdriver that I needed for something outside the trailer … so I was inside the trailer for just a second, when I spied, lying right in the middle of the table inside the trailer, a piece of paper with typed words on it … and I had not put that piece of paper there, nor had I ever seen it before. Where did that come from?
At first I felt a twinge of fear about who had been in here, and then I thought a lot of thoughts, and then I read what was on that paper, and then, well, you’ll see. Here’s what was on that piece of paper ….
A Poem, by Towhee the Trailer
(First, what Ann is thinking … )
When I’m driving my Big White Truck
And the storm begins to blow
When rain pounds down on the top of the roof
And wind knocks us to and fro.
That’s not so bad, just me and my truck,
But when my trailer Towhee is in tow,
Then the raging wind is not so nice
And I get to feeling low.
But the Big White Truck continues on
With no break in power or traction,
And Towhee the Trailer comes right behind.
She loves being part of the action.
I’m sitting in the driver’s seat
With seatbelt fastened tight,
Hoping we get to that campsite soon
Then we’ll be all right.
Oh, but Towhee the Trailer doesn’t care,
She’s happy just being outside.
She knows I’m careful and keeping us safe,
She knows this truck is her guide.
We finally reach our destination.
I’m so happy to reach my spot.
The Big White Truck heaves a sigh of relief,
She could go forever, but she’s glad to stop.
(And now, about me, Towhee the Trailer, and what I think)
But me, Towhee the Trailer? I’m ok!
I’m on an adventure and feeling great.
The storm’s a bit of a bother,
But our adventure begins, we can’t be late!
Now we’re here at the campsite safe and sound.
Ann sets up camp, just so, and on time.
I say, “Come on Annie, climb on in,
Dry yourself out and pour some wine.
“Start the cook top, fix a meal,
Turn up the furnace and relax.
You take such good care of me,
Now it’s my turn to pay it back.
“I’ll keep you safe, like you do for me.
I’ll keep you warm tonight.
Put your feet up, I’m your home.
This storm will pass by morning’s light.
“I’ll keep you safe, I promise that.
I’m sturdy and strong, and young.
Let’s explore this world together
Whether in storm or clouds or sun.
“Be at peace, my friend Ann,
You’re safe here inside my walls.
The big white truck … you … and me,
We’re on the road, adventure calls!”
Oh my goodness. You might guess that, after reading that poem, I forgot all about the silly screwdriver that I thought was so important a few minutes before. I always knew that my old wooden boat had a life of her own … wood is alive after all. But I didn’t know that a fiberglass trailer has a life too … and a heart … and can write such wonderful poetry.
Thank you Towhee the Trailer, with all my heart. You are a treasure. And I promise, absolutely promise, to take care of you.
Now, let’s get these chores done and then make plans for some of those adventures! 🙂
It’s so sweet that she cares so much about you and is so excited for the next adventure!
I think so too, Dawn. In fact it was Towhee the Trailer who told me to look UP while I was standing in the campground when we were at Mt. Rainier, hence the photo above. I would have missed that view and that shot otherwise. She thanked me for parking her where she could see the mountain, and where the mountain could see her (even though I didn’t know I was doing that). She told me they had many chats while I was off in the Big White Truck gallivanting around. 🙂
Things or what we call things have life too. What a sweet poem.
Thanks M&M. I honestly believe all things have life, have energy, have a presence that we don’t begin to understand.
Dear Towhee,
You Rock!
Jan
(jan to self: o, mumble mumble, oh dear, maybe ‘rock’ wasn’t the best word to use for a trailer in a storm. Oh well. Ann will explain to Towhee what I meant.)
Ah, no worries, Jan. In fact, one of Towhee the Trailers most favorite things to say is … “let’s get this rig rockin’ and rollin’ down the road!” I went to see her today in fact, and told her about your comment (and everyone’s comments). She beamed. 🙂
I believe that all energy is life, in some way, maybe unknown to us, but still it’s energy and life. How many Star Trek TV episodes dealt with life that wasn’t based on carbon or DNA … intelligent life. If we can imagine it, then it’s likely real.
On the other hand, does your trailer have a typewriter on board? Ok, thought so. 🙂
That was a pretty cool poem, Ann, and I have to admit I had a moist eye towards the end.
Star Trek! If it’s on Star Trek, it must be true! Ok, all kidding aside, I agree with you Shawn. How many “science fiction” ideas have turned out to be true. Glad you liked the poem. 🙂
Ann, have to admit I thought you were joking about the ‘sail switch’ being a boater and all but i looked it up and it is a real thing in a propane heater. Still do not understand all of what it does, ha! but I’ve learned another thing! Great poem, Towhee is a great poet.
Ah, the sail switch. Indeed it is real. It’s usually a flat, small piece of metal that moves when there is air or water flowing past it. If there is air moving, then the paddle moves and activates an electrical connection, allowing the larger device to operate … in this case a propane furnace. If there is no air movement (in other words if the fan inside the propane heater isn’t working), then the paddle does not move and does not allow the propane to furnace to start. If the propane furnace started without air moving through it, the furnace could overheat and blow up, yikes! Especially in a confined area inside the wall of an RV, the paddle can get full of dust, dirt, cat hair, cobwebs, etc. So it’s critical that the fan and the paddle switch be kept clean as a whistle. 🙂
I found your blog a month or two ago after reading a comment of yours on Dawns blog. You two have the best blogs! I love plants, and have a yard full of flowers, hence my name 🙂 I wish I could afford a travel trailer but I don’t have the time to go either, maybe later in life. I too had a tear in my eye by the end of that poem. Thanks Towhee (and Ann), that was real sweet.
Hi Ruby, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I love plants too. Before the travel trailer and before I owned a boat, I always had a garden full of flowers and vegetables. That’s the down side of RV-ing and being gone much or most or all of the summer … the garden suffers. I sure understand about the choices of cost and time, and of loving a garden. It sounds like you are making the right choice for you for right now. And yes there is always tomorrow. 🙂
Thanks for the nice words about the poem. I’ll pass them on to Towhee the Trailer.