As a professional singer/songwriter for the past 8 years, I knew I wanted to someday hit the road and share my message with a broader audience. So when I finally got the chance earlier this year, I knew I would need a reliable tour bus for my travels. Even so, I didn’t want to give up my visual need for expression just by settling on something that would ‘get the job done.
Then I got to thinking: Why not fulfill my lifelong dream of owning a retro camper and take THAT on the road? Instead of staying in hotels each night, we’d be able to stay at local campsites and experience so much more of what each new city had to offer.
My search for the perfect vintage camper began. I spent six months researching and contacting so many amazing people, wanting to know every detail about their camper, its weight, what kind of hitch it had, what restorations and modifications were made to it, etc. There were some lovely candidates, but nothing felt quite right.
And then, there she was. Nancy Rose.
I knew the instant I saw this retro 1966 Comanche that she would steal my heart. I mean, she was perfect. A light teal stripe wrapped around her 18-foot frame, and a floral decorated interior welcomed all who visited. Camping in her was like living in a life-sized Barbie house from half a century ago. She still had the original 1966 teal stove; a bumper sticker that read “Tin Can Tourist;” and a small wooden Dutch shoe on the key ring that was left by the original owner. She had been loved. You could just tell. Someone had hand-sewn pillows to match the curtains, took immaculate care of the interior and kept nearly everything original.
She had a story, and I couldn’t wait to add more pages to the book.
Just a few days after purchasing her, we hit the road. My band mates and I lived in the camper for a month, touring from Iowa to Memphis, North Carolina to New York, Ohio to Chicago. We put 4,800 miles on Nancy Rose on that first trip. There were a few growing pains and setbacks. We got a flat in North Carolina and wound up having to replace the tires and install new suspension leafs on both sides (Nancy Rose still had the original 1966 ones on her). But it didn’t matter. She was an eye-catcher that drew attention everywhere she went. People asked if they could take photos of her. Some people even had bets going on how old she was before walking up and asking us her age.
The camper is part of my family now. She’s named after my grandmother who we lost to breast cancer a few years ago. My grandma always supported me and my musical endeavors and now it’s like she’s touring around the country with me, keeping me safe and protected.
We head out on our second tour in July, when we’ll travel to places like California, Colorado and Arizona. I can’t wait to not only share my music with new friends, but to share Nancy Rose and the joy she brings to everyone who sees her. We hope we’ll see you on the road — and that if we do, you’ll stop and take a moment to admire this vintage beauty for yourself.
The “DUDE” in the photos is Steven James, he is an accordion player for the Irish band “Wylde Nept”. He also goes on tour with Alisabeth where he is in charge of all the driving. These photos were taken to celebrate Steven and Alisabeths recent engagement.
