Geezer RVs rally at Mission Bay's Campland

On April 1, approximately 120 vintage camper trailers and recreational vehicles parked inside Campland on the Bay. This was the 4th Annual Pismo South, a camper trailer rally which originated up in the central coast.

Cathy Geary, the co-founder of the Pismo rallies, had the idea over five years ago; she was saddened when she heard that Campland was to close its doors. She’s been coming here since the 1980s, during The Streak, which is an antique car rally held by the Over the Hill Gang.

Paul Lacitinola, from Vintage Camper Trailers magazine, flew in from Sacramento to cover the event. He usually rolls to about 12 rallies a year in California, Utah, Arizona and Texas with his wife, Caroline, in one of their vintage campers. He took photos and video of the gathering, and posted some on his social media. His Facebook blew up that weekend. Some of his 600,000 plus followers from around the world wished that they could be here. “This is eye candy with all these vintage trailers” said one follower.

To camp out at the venue (with Pismo South), it cost $101 (tax included) for two nights and an additional $45 for extra nights before or after the event. The visitors had the option to eat at the potluck inside the clubhouse. On Saturday they were treated with some live music provided by Kulayd.

“But where’s Pinkman’s ride at?” asked one of the visitors. He was looking for a 1986 Fleetwood Bounder RV but had no luck. This was the make and model RV that much of the TV series, Breaking Bad was filmed in.

There were other vintage units here, though; from pop-up campers, to a Greyhound-bus-looking RV. Some, Geary said, were found in old barns in immaculate shape. She added that there was a mid-century Spartan trailer present which was “valued at over $100,000.”

A fan favorite here was an old yellow Shasta trailer with a matching yellow Columbian water jug that was transformed into a lamp. A stainless steel kitchen strainer was modified to fit as the lamp-shade.

The original company making Airstreams started making a retro-version of the classic “riveted Twinkie.” Geary was happy that times are changing for these now-collector items.

“Used to be, they could only be so old (to come inside the parks),” Geary said, “parks are [now] opening their doors to us.”