The Motorhome



Breakfast in Bed

So, the motorhome discussions began in the middle of May 2010.  It started with Allen calling and letting me know that he was now the only paleontologist in the program and they wanted to know if he would be able to run a field camp this summer. 

Of course I said, "Of course you can!".  Allen wasn't convinced.  It had been 11 years since he had been on an actual dig and had never been in charge.

Laura -  How hard can it be to go dig in the dirt for 8 weeks?

Allen - It's more complicated than that.

Laura - Don't you already have a site to work on?

Allen - Yes

Laura - So its just a matter of loading up your tools and going out and showing people how to dig, plaster and carry  off a dinosaur bone?

Allen - It's more complicated than that.
Laura - You could do it in your sleep....In fact, I think you have.
Allen - It's more complicated than that.  I'd be camping out there all summer but off on the weekends.  They're talking about hiring a cook and I told them you had some experience with that.  You and the kids want to come out for the summer?

Laura - It's more complicated than that.

In the end, the kids and I decided to go and I started Allen looking for a small camp trailer or Motorhome to accomodate us.  Yes, I have camped in a tent for some extended periods of time but that was about 20 years ago and before I had two girls under 5 living with me.  My point, we needed a bathroom that wasn't a bush outside the door in the middle of the night.

I was looking at several possibilites but finding everything too expensive.  Then I cam across a listing on Craigslist Bismarck and sent Allen out to check it out.

The DinoDigger

What he found was a 1977 Ford RoadRunner Class C Motorhome.  Very clean and nicely painted.  51000 miles.  Yes that is Fifty-one Thousand original miles.  Listed for 1800.00  Allen test drove it and reported that it had polyester tires that flatten while they sit then round up again after being driven a bit.  Also original to the vehicle, I'm assuming, since I've never heard of them but my Dad knew what he was talking about.
 

We bought it, drove it to Base camp and lived in it from June 1st to September 1st.  We did take some weekend breaks in hotels but it was our home the entire summer.  It was not as bad as I thought it could be.  It sheltered us through some seriously intense Thunderstorms and a couple of big downpours.  No leaks until August when a little one started dripping on Jacob's head. 

We plan on using it again next summer.  Field Camp '11





Allen is sitting under Jacob's bed, in front of the playroom on his side of our bed.
I wonder why he looks tired?