“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Helle
Words to live by as we prepared to go “jallin’ a drom”! But we weren’t too concerned about our own packing prowess. We are pretty savvy travelers and were well prepared for our first longer distance voyage with the Vardo. (Or were they?) Da Da Dummmmm…
It had been our plan to have the Vardo set, so that we could take off at the drop of a hat and not scramble each time to pack for a journey. So off we went on our first excursion, comfortable with the knowledge of our experience/abilities at our backs and excitement of finally, after 2 1/2 years, getting our feet wet so to speak, out in front of us.
Clifty Falls in Madison, Indiana was our choice. Weather forecast was perfect for our mission. Which was to use this time to work out the bugs so that when we hit the road professionally we would be able to set up and tear down with the greatest of ease, while in the mean time enjoying all of our preparedness planning. This included a well stocked pantry cooler with all my spices/herb (no one should have to live on hot dogs and canned soup when bounty is to be had at any farmers market along the way) plenty of entertainment options and appropriate creature comforts, including my “potty chair” (a tri-fold chair, picked up at a flea market, that my husband deconstructed, outfitted with an enamel pot, a carved seat with an additional upholstered cover for alternate usage), and a bottle of our favorite wine. What more could we need for a perfect 3 days of June camping?
Woolen socks, mittens, beanie caps, sweats and hot chocolate would be equally brilliant answers!
It rained the first two days, and with the unresolved leaks we were constantly vigilant, asking each other a thousand times over, “Was that a leak? Did you hear that? Feel the pillow!”. It is as this point that I would be remiss if I did not say that my husband is the most remarkable man, in that he can find humor in situations that would set most men cursing. He makes me laugh… always… and that is true passion!
We had simply brought summer clothes. Only to find both the external/internal temperatures hovered in the low 50’s. Add the rain, plus damp wood and it was a sad little bit of warmth we had as our comfort.
Snuggling, “Did you hear that?”, nap taking, “Feel the pillow!”, and a lot of solitaire, “Was that a leak?” filled the first two days. We are avid wood fire cookers, but the drizzle and sizzle enticed us into venturing to town in search of tasty sweet treats, which we neatly found at the German bakery. Now, admittedly I got a little teary, true, when we left the Vardo for our trip into town. It was the first time she had been out of our sight since her conception.
Happily glazed we wandered back to find everything just as it was left. Wet, cold and blissfully beautiful! She had taken the drive down, which was all back road travels, with just as much grace as she weathered the blowing rains. “Nope that wasn’t a leak. No there was nothing to hear and the pillow? Plump and dry!” Not one droplet had slipped in!
When we had first arrived and began setting up there were sidelong glances, finger pointing and children chasing after us, but no adult ventured any nearer than their own invisible camp boundaries. I don’t think people quite new what to do when the gypsies came to town. But by day three, when the sun had come out, they saw we were not dancing naked under the moon (mainly due to the weather) or stealing children and curiosity overcame caution. It was a beautiful thing and exactly what we had hoped for!
At one point there were 18 people, and one relentlessly insistent dog, all trying to get inside to look and poke about. Photos were being snapped through phones, cameras, tablets, anything they could get a hold of. Questions, answers, stories, shared travel knowledge, laughter, exclamations of appreciation and brilliance all filled the air, colliding and layering into the very story of our own story. Finally, as we left the park, we traveled back into town for a little historic learning and antiquing. Locals and tourists came out of shops and homes to see the Vardo. Again, more conversations, photos, remembered and shared stories, an offer of a write up in the local paper and requests for our return to their festivals.
With the expressions of admiration, wishful dreams of others wanting to do the same, and acknowledgement of artistry it would be easy for egos to overshadow the beauty. And I will not say that we don’t take pleasure in the appreciation. But I am thankful that we both approach this adventure knowing that it is an artist’s vision. And one that will make memories, create conversations and excitement in the retelling, and hopefully spark inspiration in the minds of anyone who has been searching. That is where our gratitude lies.
There is much more to do, embellishments and external design ideas. She isn’t finished and we will continue to layer in depth of color, texture and surprises as we go along, just jallin’ a drom!