willows in the 1990s, part 4

Remarkably, no one got into an argument despite their close living quarters while camping.  From left to right are 1993 Baton Twirling Skipper in #10077 Create Outrageous Fashions with Sweetheart Rhinestones, 1995 Spirit of Love Pocahontas in her original outfit, 1994 Camp Skipper in her original outfit, Cool Tops Skipper in her original outfit, 1994 35th Anniversary Barbie in Greatest Barbecue Ever, 1995 Spirit of Love John Smith in his original outfit, 1995 Sun Colors Nakoma in her original outfit and Camp Ken in his original outfit.

They brought plenty of food for camping!
This is a combination of the food that came
with the Pocahontas playset and the motor home.
The X stand on the right is for drying fish,
of which plenty was caught.  I think they might be trout.

Here's a better view of Camp Ken and the Baywatch Jeep.

Wishing Well Park in the 1970s (which I wrote about last week) by the 1990s had been changed to Willows Park (I just made all that up).  It's still a good place to go camping, offered with either full amenities or for completely roughing it.  Both versions can be seen here, side by side.

Contemporary camping was quite popular, as Mattel made many playsets for it in the 1990s.  Some of them were the #7460 Cool Tops Skipper Vespa Motorbike in 1990, the #11620 Starlight Motor Home tent in 1994 and the #67206 Baywatch Rescue Wheels Jeep in 1994.  Yet there were also numerous horses sold, as exemplified by Skipper's palomino pony #10081 Chelsie in 1993, and the various Pocahontas playsets in 1995, such as the #67218 Powhatan Village Play Set.

Willows in the 1970s, part 2

The dolls are 1974 SunSet Malibu Ken, the 1977 Jones baby from Barbie Babysits, 1971 SunSet Malibu Francie, 1974 Curl Tuli-Chan, 1971 SunSet Malibu Skipper, 1974 Curl Chocho, 1975 SunSet Malibu Barbie, 1979 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken, 1974 SunSet Malibu Barbie, and 1976 Young Sweethearts Melinda and Michael.

"Thank heavens for Google!" I've said a number of times in the past 10 years.  Without it, I would not have been able to ascertain that the 1971 Country Camper is a Dodge Conversion Van, the 1974 pop up trailer is by Bethany Fellowship, the bicycle from 1974 was probably copied from a Schwinn and the tree in the 1976 Young Sweethearts Wishing Well Park is called a snowdrop tree.

Today I discovered that the tree in the Wishing Well set can be either a snowdrop tree with little white bell flowers, or it can be an apple tree with fruit hanging from it.  I also realized that the Ten-Speeder is actually a man's bike!  A woman's bike has the top bar running parallel to the bottom bar.

My 1970s dolls went camping at Wishing Well Park outside Willows.  I set up a display with the 1971 #4994 Country Camper; the pop up camper from the #8669 Goin' Campin' set; the pond, tree and bench from the 1976 #9538 Young Sweethearts Wishing Well Park; the bicycle from 1974 #7777 Ten-Speeder; and the pup tent and accessories from the 1979 #2316 Campin' Out.

I've shown all these pieces separately before, but not outside and not all together.  I'm not going to write all that much about these items or the dolls I've pictured with them, because I've done that before.  I was really pleased with the photos I took this time.  I don't know I'm getting better at setting up these little displays, if these items are easier to photograph or if I just lucked out with the weather and the backdrop today.

Barbie is in #3412 Fun Flakes and

Ken is in #1472 Casual Scene, both from 1971.

Ken is in Best Buy #7762, the Jones boy is in his original outfit, Francie is in #3458 Olde Look,
Tuli-Chan is in #7846 Rough N Ready Comfy Camp-Ins, Skipper is in #3467 Teeter Timers
and Chocho is in #7848 Beachy Bits for Sunny Fun.

They've put on their good clothes, have packed up and are ready to go home.

Here is the driver's side of the Country Camper with the attached tent closed.

Barbie in #7842 Neatest Tennis Set at the Net, plus the Campin' Out hat,
Ken in Fashion Collectible #1376 (from 1980),
Barbie in #7815 Palazzo Pants Outfit plus the visor from the tennis outfit because it matches
and Melinda and Michael in #9585 Party Day Blue.