A cabin built for the road

Putting life on wheels

Tue, 06/30/2015 - 12:45pm

Ken Wright was a forester for years in the New Hampshire woods, work that included writing forestry management plans for property owners. The grandfather of a friend owned a 1971 Chevy C50, and one day they got talking about that truck. Before you knew it, Wright had traded a forestry plan for the truck, and in doing so, he created a whole new life.

With but 62,000 miles on the truck, he knew it was destined for more than remaining a lumber truck in the North Woods. 

He and Suzy Rousseau, who were living off the grid in a cabin deep in those woods, decided to change it up. They commissioned an architectural student at Keene State College to design a home that was to be built on the back of the truck bed, complete with kitchen, living and sleeping quarters.

With the plans, they started building their new home last December, and when you see this traveling green cabin, most likely at Rockport Harbor or visiting Boothbay, what comes to mind is a gypsy van, a tinker’s truck, or even an hobbit’s camper. It has an air of magic, and the curious are drawn to its back door steps, painted cheerfully with yellow and red accents, just wanting to knock and see what is inside.

“We totally lucked out,” said Ken, sitting on those steps in late June, while parked near the boat launching ramp at Rockport Harbor. He was strumming a banjo, as fog settled in around the water. The scene epitomized life on the road, and Suzy leaned out of the door frame, smiling. She had just made brownies for dessert that they would be sharing with friends on the Heron, which ties up every summer on the nearby dock.

“Welcome to the cabin,” she said. “You can look but don’t take pictures. It’s a mess.”

But inside, it feels more like a treehouse than a cabin, with smooth wood curving and carving out the corners. It is outfitted with cubbyholes and cabinets, and its two-level floor plan lends the illusion of even more space. A wood stove (“Don’t need it, getting rid if it,” said Ken) takes up one corner and a gas cooking stove sits beside it. A propane tank is hooked onto the back of the truck, as is a water tank.

Hooked below the outside windows are flower boxes, waiting to be filled with cilantro, basil and rosemary. Suzy is designing a plastic cover to fold over the herbs so that they don’t get wind-burned while driving down the highway.

Ken and Suzy are both from New Hampshire and their lives are as full as anyone else’s. Ken raised five children there, ranging now in age from 36 to 21. Besides a career in forestry, he also worked with troubled teens with that state’s department of social services. When his youngest turned 18, he decided it was time to explore.

“We turned 18 at the same time,” he smiled.

Last winter, Ken and Suzy hauled out of New England and drove to Tennessee and North Carolina.

With another stroke of luck, he found a tire deal on Craigslist: A fire department in Georgia was selling tires from a decommissioned firetruck there for $50 each. The tires were practically brand new.

The best part of being on the road, he and Suzy agree, are the opportunities to explore and meet new people. Small, tight communities are wonderful, but “everyone knows you and knows who they think you are,” Ken said. “It is great to escape for a little bit. It’s freeing.” 

Ken and Suzy will be in the Midcoast for a bit. Ken’s daughter is now working aboard the Heron, and he also has family in Boothbay. Suzy has picked up some working helping in summer maintenance. They are camping in yards of friendly people.

In early summer, visitors are just starting to trickle back down to Rockport Harbor, which is known for being a welcoming place. Before the yachts arrive and swimmers begin jumping off the bulkheads, travelers sometimes park their vehicles for the night, for a fee.

One morning, the green Chevy was stationed next to a serious looking camper with Quebec plates. The couple sleepily climbed out of it into the early morning, and headed to the bathroom and showers in the harbor master’s building.

“How did you sleep,” a couple of dog walkers asked them. 

“Not bad,” the couple nodded. “Except the fishermen are up early.”

“Where did they go,” the walkers asked Ken and Suzy, the next day.

“Oh, they are driving down to Panama,” said Ken.


 

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657