Broken Airstream Window
©Bert Gildart: Again, we are on the road, but starting off with a little bit of bad luck. Last night when we pushed back the curtain in our Airstream we discovered that a small window toward the trailer’s front but on the side was shattered.
How did it happen?
We have no completely satisfying answer, but we suspect Halloween vandalism, and here’s why. We have never in all the years I’ve been driving had a window on the side damaged by flying rocks or other debris. True, we were on the road yesterday driving from Dillon, Montana, to Twin Falls, Idaho, but we don’t think driving created the dent on the window. When we look closely (and you can too in my photo), it appears as all the fracture lines radiate from a point made by either a rock or by something like a ballpein hammer. Certainly, it is possible the rock could have come from highway travel, but, again, it just doesn’t seem probable.
Views of broken Airstream Window from inside and outside
At any rate, though the window is covered with shatter marks, we’re hoping the specialized glass of our Airstream will hold together for several weeks. In an attempt to bolster the strength of the weakened glass we’ve cut cardboard to size and then applied Ducktape to the interface created by the window frame. We think that will hold while we complete several timely story projects.
First, we are going to Death Valley (remember my post about Ballarat Bert and Panamint Jane?) to cover the annual 49er celebration. After that we’re heading toward Las Vegas. There’s an Airstream dealer there, but also we want to visit Valley of Fire and the contiguous Lake Meade National Recreation area. With water levels so low it is now possible to hike to some of the settlements covered by the creation of the Lake Meade Reservoir.
That’s our schedule, and we’re stickin’ to it. I think we can, despite the inconvenience of a weakened window.
———–
THIS TIME LAST YEAR:
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
November 2nd, 2014 at 11:21 am
You might consider putting some duct tape or contact paper on the entire window surface (either inside or outside) to ensure that is stays together until you can get it fixed. It will look like crap but at least it will hold together. Apologies if that is what your fix already is.
November 3rd, 2014 at 5:25 pm
Hey Bert, We just moved to a great group spot at Lake Mead where we’re camping with some friends, hope you and Janie can join us when you’re here.
November 4th, 2014 at 8:24 am
It might work if you’re still there in about 10 days. We’re here in Death Valley for the duration of the annual 49ers convention.