Reading · Time. Speed. Distance.

My 2026 KZ Confluence 21MK (try saying that three times real fast) at A-OK Campground in Deer Lodge, Montana, the day I took delivery. Beyond the trailer, it became one of my favorite campground stays, a story I hope to tell next week.

The Ember is no more. That is, it’s no longer in my hands. It’s not the outcome I wanted, but it’s the only one that made sense as I pulled back its layers after the mishap on my last trip.

Without saying a whole lot more, I’ll simply say that trust was broken, my faith that it would or could be restored was irreparably shaken, and I felt as though I had a clear choice in moving beyond it:

I could give up the lifestyle (a non-starter).

Or I could exert as much leverage as I could manage, rid myself of it, and change horses.

I chose Option 2.

The upshot:

The new rig is a little shorter (26 feet vs. 28-7)
It’s a little lighter
It has a bigger bed (king vs. queen)
It has fewer frills I don’t need (no solar, which is fine, because I’m a campground guy)
It has better fits and finishes
It’s built for extended seasons (heated, insulated underbelly with tank heater, and don’t even get me started on the marketing nonsense of the “four-season camper”)

I’m not happy that life with the Ember crashed out (literally) the way it did, but I’m happy with the new star of the show.

Now, I’ve just got to let this show run for a while…