Hello From SW Florida

[hellsbay]

I have been lurking for a few weeks to research before buying. I am now an Oliver owner. I won't pick up my Oliver for a month or so but am trying to learn as much as possible about the peculiarities of fiberglass trailers, especially the Oliver and its systems.

[Roy in TO]

Welcome Steve!
Inquiring minds must know, is hellsbay anything like hells kitchen on TV?

[hellsbay]

Roy, Hellsbay is a body of water deep in the Florida Everglades. It is also the name of a boat building company, Hellsbay Boatworks. I have spent many years fishing the waters of south Florida and the Everglades, including Hellsbay. I also own a Hellsbay skiff.

[Roy in TO]

Thanks for the explanation Steve. I think you need to add that to this thread:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...mes-53561.html

[Donna D.]

Hey Steve, welcome to FiberglassRV. We're glad you're here! I had an opportunity to meet Jim and Evon Oliver at the Oregon Gathering several years ago. They brought several Olivers (and owners) to the gathering so we all got a chance for a look-see. Beautiful, well appointed trailers. Far beyond my budget (when they were manufacturing), but I'm certain you'll love yours!

[hellsbay]

Thanks for the welcome Roy and Donna. I sold my Airstream Bambi to buy the Oliver and am looking forward to some great times with it. I just got back from 5 weeks in the AS Bambi, mostly in Utah, Arizona and Colorado two weeks ago. I think the Oliver will be able to handle more rugged terrain and be a better fit for being off the grid, which is where I often find myself.

[Donna D.]

Cool Steve Be sure to post pictures of your camping trips... we LOVE pictures (I live vicarously)

[Orlen Wolf]

Hello Steve. Welcome to the world of fiberglass campers and Fiberglass RV. I envy you for getting an Oliver. I wanted one myself but they weren't building them yet when I bought my EggCamper. They were "ramping up to production" at the time. Besides, I wanted to buy an eggshell and build it out to my specifications and they weren't interested in selling a hollow egg.

One thing you'll find is that a fiberglass rig will withstand hail and other natural disasters that would make the Bambi look like the surface of the moon. There are several Airstreams in my neighborhood and every one of them shows signs of hail damage.The fiberglass campers just shrug it off. Around here a lot of our moisture comes in solid form.

73
Orlen

[hellsbay]

Here is my tow vehicle, 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser.

[hellsbay]

One of my camps on Cedar Mesa

[hellsbay]

Here is the Airstream I just sold to be able to buy an Oliver.

[Pomfritz]

Awesome tow vehicle. Love that top thingy. Having had an AS motorhome before, I'll take an egg any day. Disappointed in AS build quality, durability, customer service, but boy they look cool. That only goes so far though.

[tatertots]

Wow. Fantastic Airstream and Oliver. With either one I'd say that you are living the dream! Thanks for the pictures.

[hellsbay]

I really loved the AS but just needed something that was more rugged. Also, I think the Oliver will require less attention down the line.

[MinnesotaJill]

I was going to call you out for submitting fake pictures until I saw that you are a photographer! Those are the most gorgeous pictures! They look like magazine covers and therefore staged and not real. That's how perfect they look. Wow, I want you to take a picture of MY eggy camper! Keep sending these beautiful pics. They are a joy to see. You are very talented.

[hellsbay]

Thanks Jill, I am not worthy. I will continue to submit pictures, as photography is my passion. These little trailers, I have discovered, make life much more enjoyable when I am on the road and pursuing that passion.

Your Eggcamper has a fantastic paint job and would be very photogenic.

[sunluvr]

Awesome pics Steve!

[hellsbay]

Thank you Sunluvr.

[theresa p]

welcome, steve. i am intrigued by 2 things----your life deep in the everglades (guess i have been watching too many episodes of "python hunters"!!) as well as your photo showing "one of my camps" .....

would love to hear more and see some photos.

[hellsbay]

Hi Theresa. I have spent countless days fishing the backcountry of the Florida Everglades, including Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. I was a fly fishing guide for a while, but most of my time in the Everglades was by myself or with friends. As a Miami native interested in all things wild, the Everglades and Biscayne Bay were my playgrounds. The type of fishing I do is called backcountry sight fishing. Basically, I stand on top of a poling platform poling my way through very shallow water looking for fish. It's a lot like hunting on land. I release almost all of my fish these days unharmed. It's all about the journey.

I am fishing less these days and spending most of my time as a nature photographer. The photograph you are interested in, is of one of my camps on Cedar Mesa. Cedar Mesa is in southeastern Utah, and one of my favorite places to camp and explore and photograph old indian ruins. These are not developed campgrounds but just places in the national forest and on BLM land that I find through exploration or word of mouth. No fees and no services, way off the grid. Here is one of the ruins behind this camp. As you can see, it is very photogenic. It was made by the Anasazi Indians about 950 years ago to store grain and as an outpost camp.