If you have followed my blogs over any of the past three years you will notice a distinct change this year.  I have used iWeb, an Apple application in their suite of applications called iLife.  I was able to upload my blog and my photographs by means of Apple's web server, me.com.  Apple is migrating some of the services offered in me.com but, unfortunately, they are discontinuing iWeb.

I've decided to join the 21st Century!  I have contracted with iPAGE, a Boston-based web hosting service, to support my web page at my own domain, rawiklund.com.  iPage will also support our new email addresses but you can continue to contact us by email at my old email addresses but the Apple email account will disappear eventually, about a year from now.  

I hope this is not too confusing!  I will continue to send emails notifying you of updates to my blog.  The emails will contain a link to my domain but you can drop in on the blog anytime you wish by going to www.rawiklund.com.  The iPAGE server should provide much faster access to my blog and much quicker access to my photo albums and the occasional video.  My web page will be organized with a menu that will lead you to all my pages.  

So what else is new with the Wiklunds and their Airstreaming adventures.  For us, the most important change is that we have traded in our 27' Safari  Airstream for a new 30' Flying Cloud Airstream, which offers us a lot of new creature comforts for long-distance travel.  

These include very comfortable, reclining leather captains chairs, a comfortable area for my computer and ham radio, a dinette for our meals (actually two couches for Winnie), a larger bathroom, two air conditioners, better storage, and a power inverter for 120 volt electricity when not plugged into electrical service.  We bought our new trailer at Colonial Airstream in New Jersey (http://www.colonialairstream.comweeblylink_new_window).  They have a large inventory to choose from and we were able to find the one we wanted (and turn down the one we thought we wanted!).  The sales people were great!  However, we identified a rain leak around one of the air conditioners and their service department failed to repair it.  We had it fixed, however, at Airstream of New England close to home (http://www.airstreamofne.comweeblylink_new_window).

The blog was up and running in time for our trip to the Watkins Glen State Park, which started on July 8th.  It's a WBCCI New England Unit (http://www.WBCCI.orgweeblylink_new_window) rally for Airstreams and will last about a week.  We have short trips planned to Keene NH and then Salem MA but our big trip this year will be to the Hot Air Balloon Festival with the WBCCI Four Corners Unit in Albuquerque NM.