Banished to New York:

… an interesting historical post about the fate of traveling folk in 17th century Scotland Scotland had draconian laws against travelling folk. Hostility towards “Egyptians” took off under King James VI, who was also famously opposed to Border Reivers, Gaelic-speaking Highlanders, alleged Witches, Protestant religious dissenters and tobacco smokers. Edinburgh, 13 May 1682: ‘His Royall […]

Another Look

Here’s another look at an image I posted quite a while ago. I really like this photo. These Scottish Travellers give a glimpse of some less-than-stereotypical living waggons (sic). Very few wanderers could afford the classic Dunton Reading wagon but made do with more affordable accommodations; possibly even owner-built. All three of the caravans pictured […]

A Nice Squaretop Vardo

I found this beauty on http://theromanipeople.tumblr.com/. Sometimes there are some very nice images there but like much of Tumblr and Pinterest it seems to be stripped of all associated data. Anybody with any facts please feel free to pass them on to me. I suspect this is early 20th century in Britain. I like the […]

Ode to the “Wanderer”

“About going where he likes, for instance? Are there not certain laws of the road that forbid the tarrying by the way of caravan folks, for a longer period than that necessary to water and feed a horse or look at his feet? By night, again, he may spy a delightfully retired common, with nothing […]

Road trip

Quiet Contemplation

Home is Where the Hearth is,

…and the Vardo Will be Close by. Some important facts about caravan living before the ultra-modern RVs came along that may help people understand some of the choices I have made about my own wagon: The caravan is the hub around which camp is built, but most “living” actually takes place outside in the wide […]

An Engineering Marvel; Tiny House Truck

That transforms into a modernist castle. As usual, Lloyd Kahn always finds the good stuff to post when it comes to unique Shelter. The Tiny House Truck is built on an old flatbed and is a true marvel of engineering as it “pops” out into a faux castle. An appropriate home I suppose for these […]

Happiness in Simplicity

A LITTLE CARAVANNING HISTORY At the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, the young artist Frances Jennings became a semi-invalid and was advised by her doctor to spend as much time as she could in the open air. Being a Victorian lady at loose ends, the obvious choice was to take to […]

Further Evolution of the Little Vardo

We just put another couple thousand miles on the Little Green Vardo. It’s always an adventure when you are pulling something like this around the country and it makes for some interesting conversations. Most of the people we meet are great but the comments are sometimes a little difficult. Of course, the number one question […]