If one is going to be wandering off the main road and poking around in strange places for a while, one needs the right kind of gear. Columbus had the Niña and the Pinta, Lewis had Sacagawea and that half-wit Clark, and I have these. Introducing The Rig: Sue and Streaker, a 1970 3 door Chevy Suburban pulling a 1967 Silver Streak Trailer.

Together these two machines represent the romantic period of American travel. Not surprisingly, some have questioned these choices. They’ve said that the warranties and safety features of a newer generation of travel gear may have been a wiser choice given the mission. I have to admit that I tend to agree.  I also tend to touch hot plates after my server warns me of their danger.

While I don’t know why I do this, I do know that I was raised on three things; bacon, rock and the notion that old things are beautiful in their use and also a tie that binds us to those who’ve walked before us—up hill both ways to school where they fought off wild animals at recess and sometimes did things the hard way just because they could. It is in that spirit that we proudly, and with no small effort, bring Sue and Streaker back to the American road, where, once again, they can do their hard work and show us all a little something about the way things used to be.

Besides, machines have soul and breathe life into the very exercise of their use. Consider David Hasselhoff and his black Firebird Kit: if Knight Rider drove an AMC Pacer, that show would have gone into Thai syndication after three weeks, and the world would have never known its brilliance. This type of hard data does not lie. I rest my case.

Like any good mission, a top notch crew is essential for success. That’s why Destee-Nation dug deep into a small town to assemble the best and brightest that cheap beer and small favors could afford.

Both Sue and Streaker came from Vintage Travel Trailers; the loving garage of Kevin O’Connell. Kevin and his right hand man Johnny Red meticulously restore vintage travel trailers for sale, much to the aluminum enjoyment of trailerites all over the world. His garage is a tin snip in the sheet metal of time. A must see if you’re ever in Guerneville, CA. To find out more, just call Kevin at 707-953-5649. Just make sure it’s after noon.

A special thanks also goes to Chris Clark, who brought the sound and electronic gadgetry to keep me entertained and pointed in the right direction. Pablo Cruz who brought out the shine in our machines. Ron Hall who made certain all four tons stop when they need to. Mark in Graton and Jimmy, the mechanic off of Hwy 116, who did all the greasy and necessary things under the hood that needed to be done so  I could get out of Dodge and into the towing radius of another mechanic.