On Vacation


The Tiny Yellow Teardrop will be on vacation for the next few weeks. I'm off to visit the Land of the Midnight Sun...albeit without the Sunflower. She'll wait patiently for summer camping to arrive. Take care and happy teardropping!

Friday Teardrop Photo


This photo is from the Hilltech Ind. Facebook page. This teardrop manufacturing company in Anchorage, Alaska is owned and operated by a husband and wife team, and they build rugged, custom teardrops for Alaska adventures. I may have to check them out when I head up there next week. :-)


Teardrop Trailer Summer Cocktails

Camping is more fun with alcohol. Most of the time my husband and I like to enjoy a few beers or wine with our teardrop dinner, but every summer we get a hankerin' for some summer cocktails mixed in the back of the teardrop galley. Most teardrops don't have a lot of storage space, so unless you have a mobile bar from Neiman Marcus, your cocktails will have to be simple.


These are some of our favorite cocktails that require very few ingredients. Each are made with just one bottle of spirits, one mixer, some ice and a garnish—teardrop style.

Backwoods Bellini

This is a nice cocktail for breakfast or brunch and can be made with or without alcohol. Top it with a piece of peach or a strawberry.

2 ounces of peach nectar (Kerns is good)
Chilled sparkling wine or sparkling cider
Serve in a plastic wine or champagne glass

Tear-itas

Margaritas are a basic summer drink while camping. You can get a premixed bottle, but they tend to have too much sugar and additives so pack your own bottle of Cuervo. Use limes (they travel well) for garnish. Salt is optional.

1 cup Jose Cuervo silver tequila
1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1 cup water
1/2 cup honey or agave syrup

"Where the heck is the..." Screwdriver

Orange juice is not just for breakfast. This basic drink is perfect after a long day of doing nothing.

1 part vodka
2 parts orange juice
Top with orange wedge or rosemary sprig

Mountain Mojito

2 ounces light rum 
2 ounces club soda
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons sugar
limes

Place some lime juice, sugar and mint in a bowl and smash the mixture up with a wooden spoon. Add rum and club soda and stir. Top with a wedge of lime or a sprig of pine needles.

"Do you sleep in that thing?" Cocktail

This is the cocktail to serve to anyone who asks this question. It will give them a whole other idea about teardrops and teardroppers. Add a lemon twist for garnish.

1 1/2 ounce berry vodka (ThreeOlives makes one)
¾ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce chilled sparkling wine

Mix the ingredients with ice and serve (without ice) in a plastic martini glass


Friday Teardrop Photo


This photo was submitted by reader William Warren. He recently completed his DewDropN teardrop which was built off and on over the course of a year—without a shelter. The teardrop is tricked out for some relaxed camping in the woods.

Nevada Teardrop Camping: Fort Churchill

Our year of teardrop camping in Nevada continued last weekend with a trip to Fort Churchill State Historic Park on Highway 50 near the city of Fallon, Nevada. While this area is only about 1.5 hours from our home, it's a really nice getaway into the Nevada desert.


Fort Churchill was once an active U.S. Army fort built in 1861. It housed hundreds of soldiers and other employees of the fort. It was primarily used to protect wagon trains coming across the desert into California from the local Native American tribes during the Pyramid Lake War—which began when three men living at a nearby fort kidnapped several young Paiute girls.


Thousands of dollars were spent building and maintaining the fort and while it also became a Pony Express station and a sight for sore eyes after the 40 Mile Desert, it was abandoned less than 10 years later. Many of the adobe buildings can still be seen up close and the state park has a campground, interpretive center, graveyard, river access and some amazing views.


Out of all the places we've been camping, Fort Churchill might be one of my favorite campgrounds: it's small, but private with massive trees, large sites, fire pits, picnic tables and birds everywhere. It was dead quiet at night except for a few owls.





Friday Teardrop Photo


I found this pretty T@B and it's stylish awning on the Camp LeConte Facebook page. Camp LeConte is located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee—right next to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. They not only have a campground, but you can also stay in their safari tents or luxury treehouses.

Cool Tears and Tiny Campers March/April 2015

The latest issue of Cool Tears and Tiny Campers is now available for download. This issue includes an extensive build by Stephen Magiera, a unique wood teardrop by architect Greg Reddin, some beautiful photos of that glorious red teardrop on Route 66 and how to choose a teardrop manufacturer.


You can view the magazine issue for free by clicking on the link or photo above.

Friday Teardrop Photo


This steampunk teardrop trailer by Dave Moult in the U.K. has been flying around the interwebs like a steam powered dirigible. I recently wrote a blog post about the trailer on Do It Yourself RV. Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction and a type of cosplay that features the designs and fashion of the Victorian and Edwardian era combined with the technology of 19th century industrial steam-powered machinery.

Maybe one of these days I'll post a photo of me in my steampunk gear...maybe.