Sunday, September 27th, 2009
I love this - a drive-in theater, still in operation, right next to a bunch of silos.
I’m glad that the movie tonight was a horror film. I can’t stand horror films, they’re like the only movies I refuse to watch. If it was any other movie that I even remotely wanted to see, it would have been hard to resist the temptation to stick around for the night. Who wouldn’t relish the idea of going to a drive-in along Route 66? And I think the price was like $2 per person!! (wonder if the triangle would cost an extra $2?)
Speaking of the triangle – or, “the shape” as my sister calls it – you can blame the rest of this post on Christina. 
She asked for a tour of the trailer, so here it is, for those curious about my shapely home.
The Shape and the Jeep, at Wal-Mart
This is a 1998 Aliner trailer. My Jeep has such a short wheel base, it can’t tow a regular hard top trailer like a T@B, which was what I first wanted to get – it needs a low-profile pop-up design. Originally, I was going to borrow my friend Carina’s tent trailer but at the very last minute, the thing sold after a long time of being on the market. At first I was bummed but then I figured something else must be coming up that would be better. Sure enough, I discovered Aliners. Small enough and light enough to be towed by the Jeep, and I don’t have to unhitch it every time I put it up (a real pain when alone) – and it goes up in like a minute! If you want to see how it goes up, there are videos posted online, just do a search – or you can watch the CBC piece on my website (also in an earlier post) – they did a sped-up version of me putting the trailer up at the beginning of the clip.
pictured here, clockwise from left, are: sink - stovetop - fridge - furnace
I bought the trailer specifically for this trip, and I found that they are a little hard to come by, used. I found this one in Milton, ON (near Toronto). I would have loved to have bought one new but they’re just too spendy for me.
This unit has everything I need – except a bathroom. That’s what truck stops and campgrounds are for. There is a small fridge, sink, 3-burner stove, and a furnace for when it gets too cold, like tonight. There is no A/C and I’m a bit concerned about that for the desert stretches of the Route, but I found a really cool camping fan by Coleman that is battery-operated and fits exactly in the square space of one of the overhead vents, so hopefully that will move enough air around once it gets too hot.
air mattress, pillows, and comforter on top of cushions, which are on top of a table
The thing is packed up pretty solid with stuff – this will surprise no one who knows me. In the bench on one side under the bed are the battery, water tank, water pump, and all that jazz. The other side I filled with prints, portfolios, cards, and other assorted photo gear (I am hoping to be able to sell/trade some work at some point on this trip). Under the bed there’s clothes, shoes, microwave oven, glasses and dishes… It took some time but I found some clear storage bins that fit exACTly below the table that the bed sits on – so the bins don’t slide around and they actually provide support for the bed when I am lying or sitting on it. I’ve got an air mattress on top of the cushions because the cushions really aren’t very comfortable.
table top comes out and lies flat - storage under benches
The front is where the table is – that’s where I’m sitting right now. There are storage compartments under those seats as well. In those I have food, pots and pans, books, maps, blank media, tools, hoses for filling the fresh water tank, jacks and chock blocks, AK-47s, etc.
The laptop and photo equipment I move from Jeep to trailer and back again all the time. This is a bit of a pain, as the place gets really cluttered when I am in it with gear. I find I spend a lot of time moving stuff from one side to the other, to get under seats to get at stuff. Such is trailer life! It’s sort of cool to have everything you need with you – I love that about this setup.
I’ll close with an observation I had back when driving into Normal, IL. For the most part, the ride in this state takes me through cornfields, industrial areas, and cute farmy towns. I was musing about the name “Normal” as I followed my Route 66 directions into town – and suddenly found myself in the middle of a new suburban subdivision. All of the houses were new, the lawns were new, houses were stacked close together, and everything looked the same (much like my own characterless neighborhood back home). It was the most surreal thing I have seen along Route 66 so far. It was so… Normal.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:01 am
sandi, you are SO awesome! i love reading your updates and think you are amazing for undertaking your trip. congrats and safe travels. looking forward to seeing more photos and reading your travelog.
xo
September 27th, 2009 at 6:59 am
What great publicity for Aliner!!! I want one! I want yours!!! Can I come on your next trip to do your cooking and wash your dishes? Love you.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:12 am
You had me until “no bathroom”. Aeiiahhhh!!!! Gah. xo, L.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Thanks for the tour of your little home on the road; I’d never heard of or seen an A-liner before, they’re really cool. But I agree about the no bathroom thing, though. I’m not a get-dressed-and-set-out-with-the-flashlight-at-3 a.m. person. I’d be making room for one of those compact little Canadian Tire camping potties! (hope that wasn’t TMI!!)
September 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Deb, not TMI at all… but you don’t even want me to go into my TMI territory at this point, trust me!!
There is a dealer in Harrow that sells Aliners, by the way, should you want to check one out. Larry, the guy who showed me around one, was really nice, as were the parts people I spoke to on the phone.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:36 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ron Warnick and Roadside Bliss. Roadside Bliss said: @sandywheaton great, iconic photo of the heartland movie theater http://bit.ly/drive-in #route66 #nostalgia [...]
September 27th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Mom, you can travel with me *any*time!!
Linds, I so hear you… gah is right.
Love you both !!
September 27th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Sandi, first heard about you trip on the boondocking site and followed the link to this site. GOOD for you, in doing something you want to do without letting the little things get in your way. I have done sections of Route 66 in some of my travels across country and just picked up a documentary of Route 66 on DVD at Best Buy. They mentioned the Cozy Dog place and many other attractions along the way. If you get the chance to get a copy I think it would be of some insight to you. Your posts make me feel like I am on the journey with you, and I look forward to your postings every day. Good luck to you and always rely on you gut instinct on your saftey.
September 27th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Interesting how you selectively weed out comments you are embarrassed by… Makes you look unethical, to say the least.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Great pictures and posts, Sandi. Makes me feel as though I was really missing something not taking my LeSharo out this summer. Guess I will save my money for next year.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
All we need is for the family to kick in for a bunch of different trailers. We’ll get an airstream and sand it down to the shape of an oval and I dunno, a Winnebago with pointy sides could be the rectangle…
I love the fact that inside the Great Triangle everything can be something else!!!
September 27th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I thought you might enjoy this website.http://www.legendsofamerica.com/66-Mainpage.html
September 28th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Actually “none”, I haven’t done that at all.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Thanks for the link, Wayne.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Rob… we need a really round eggy one to play the role of the circle.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Sandi, your doing just great. I have a Chalet for sale since I couldn’t manage the up and down thing it is much heavier than Aliner that I should have went with.Anway I bought a 5gl bucket and it has a toilet seat to attach. I lined it with 2 heavy duty garbage bags and used kitty litter for that top bag. They work great for boondocking and then just throw it away in a dumpster. As for the nights in the desert it is getting pretty cold at night so you shouldn’t have to much trouble staying cool.
As always stay safe and be careful.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
JoJo – ah, the “Luggable Loo”. Those things are made in Canada, you know. And, I know all about them.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Thanks for the aliner overview. I was curious!
p.s. I think I got that same fan! It worked great in 90 degrees.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
[...] some pretty amazing photographs as she goes along. Oh, and she is doing it while camping in a (bathroom-less) Aliner trailer - sleeping in truck stops. This entry was written by Administrator, posted on September 29, [...]
September 29th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
The Coleman “Zephyr” (I think) fan – they are great!
September 30th, 2009 at 12:30 am
livinginmycar.com rocks, btw
September 30th, 2009 at 2:32 am
thx! I haven’t really told anyone about it yet. Not sure if I am ready for the feedback!; )
September 30th, 2009 at 4:10 am
oops! Sorry, Jennifer!
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am
Okay, all you Sandi Wheaton fans. It’s high time we gave that trailer a proper name. Reply with your entries, the winner receives dinner for two at a Backyard Barbecue in Okemos, Michigan.
“Really cool camping fan? The “pun gene” has been passed on.