Between the solar panels and lithium batteries on their Airstream Trade Wind Travel Trailer, Bruce and Dawn can run everything without plugging in.
All orchards are fruit farms, but not all fruit farms are orchards. Bruce and Dawn Cordray have recently learned all about the differences. Orchards are specifically designed and managed for the cultivation of fruit or nut trees. Fruit farms can specialize in berries and fruits that don’t grow on trees. And both are exciting and delicious to visit.
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Bruce and Dawn are in their 60s, but they’re not retired. Bruce was one of the original founders of American Electric Co., Inc. in 1985, in Avon, Indiana. And even though the couple still works full-time, they make it a point to get away on long weekends and holidays to explore. Their favorite version of this involves visiting places that are remote and unique, in their Trade Wind 25FB.
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In recent years they’ve visited an alpaca farm in Iowa, a private homestead in western Missouri, the Pony Express Museum in Kansas, a blueberry farm and apple orchard in Michigan, and the ranch their friends own, deep in the mountains of Colorado. As comes with the territory, these places are often isolated and off the grid. And that’s where the Trade Wind shines.
“The Trade Wind allows for a huge amount of freedom,” Bruce said, “You can be on BLM land way out west, and live as comfortably as you would in an RV park.” They especially enjoy having amenities like air conditioning so that they can occasionally leave their dogs in the Airstream when they go explore, and know that the pups will be perfectly happy.
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With “off the beaten path” as their traveling motto, Bruce and Dawn tend to stick to U.S. highways, rather than interstates: to avoid truck traffic and to see more hidden gems. “We found a distillery on a trip to Michigan in April,” Dawn said, “They made pizzas from scratch that were just awesome. It’s really fun to meet people sort of in the middle of nowhere, and learn about what they do.”
At the alpaca farm in Iowa, Bruce and Dawn got to tour the whole facility, and learn about the process of shearing wool. “We even got to pet the alpacas,” Dawn said. “The hosts there were so gracious. They took us on a tour of everything, and then we sat on their back patio and ate homemade pumpkin pie.”
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Bruce and Dawn often find the places they stop through various apps that connect farms and businesses with travelers. Bruce said that each experience is different, but always worthwhile. “When you stop at these places, the owners love meeting new people and talking with you—that’s why they do it.”
“The blueberry farm was really cool for us, too,” Dawn said. “They had just finished picking for the season, so we got to wander the farm, and they told us to eat anything left on the bushes, which was a lot. We took the dogs and walked all over. They had a bakery there, with excellent blueberry scones and blueberry muffins.”
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Bruce and Dawn think of their Trade Wind like a second home. They have books and journals and photos that stay in the Airstream so that they only ever have to pack clothing before a trip. On almost every outing they play cornhole, watch their favorite DVDs, and go hiking, so those things are always ready. “We can almost leave at a moment’s notice,” Dawn said. “We can jump in and hit the first Walmart, pull in there, fill up with groceries, and we’re set.”
Another thing that’s always ready to go is the couple’s electric bikes, which they tow on the back of the Trade Wind. “They have wide tires, so we can ride them in the snow, on the beach, and on dirt paths,” Bruce said. One of their favorite stops with the bikes was Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. “There are paved trails, dirt trails, and sand,” Dawn said. “You get to see all kinds of wildlife as you ride.”
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Bruce and Dawn are Airstream through and through. They love everything about their Trade Wind, and appreciate the things they’re able to do and the people they meet along the way. “It’s always fun to be at a campground somewhere, and there will be two or three other Airstreams, so we’ll get to talking, have dessert together by the campfire, and tell stories about our trips,” Bruce said. “We go to lots of special Airstream events, and even go down to our dealership on Saturdays, just to talk with people. If they’re busy, sometimes we answer people’s questions.”
If Bruce and Dawn ever do finally retire, they’re looking forward to some longer trips out west, and exploring all kinds of delicious places they stumble upon.