Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 07:44:02 -0500
Reply-To: J Greenberg G Jannini <georgejoann@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: J Greenberg G Jannini <georgejoann@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: Port Isabel (Texas)Trip Report
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On our first day out, the van had been running pretty well, but we
suddenly got a flashing LED on the temp gauge. Needle showed we were
running in the normal range. Pulled over, tossed alla the camp stuff outta
the wayback and opened the hatch. Coolant low, but no apparent leaks.
Drove to a gas station bought a gallon of water and topped off the
reservoir. Called D&D Garage who'd repaired the heads. They said it might
be the pressure cap.
Found a VW dealer in Mobile, Alabama. Sitting in his yard it became
obvious where the leak was coming from...somewhere on right side, up where
we couldn't see it from underneath. Caged the cat, pulled the gear out and
opened up the engine hatch. Deja vu all over again.
It was fairly late and pretty quiet at the shop so the service writer had
his tech take a quick look at it and agreed to let him do the job off the
books. Simply a short piece of hose blown at one end. The tech repaired
it in the driveway..$8 for 1 1/2 feet of hose, a clamp and $20 straight
into his pocket. Gas mileage has fallen off by about 3mpg, but we'll
straighten that out when we get home.
We're staying in a run-down motel/trailer park in Port Isabel. Hell,
the whole town's run-down. Our kind of place...cheap and real. Property
with access to water is fairly affordable, but I doubt that'll last much
longer as millions of boomers begin retiring. Some fairly nice places are
already being built around here.
Good windsurfing in the bay between South Padre Island and the coast. I
don't think the wind ever stops blowing here. Access is on SPI, free beach
camping there too...there's a Canadian E-Van Westy and Rialta parked out
there. They're from Quebec.
Made a Tequila run south of the border into Progresso to shop and pick
up some fancy hooch. Got some Cuervo 1800 and Tres Generaciones Sauza.
The stuff I generally drink, the Sauza Conmemorativo is just under thirteen
bucks for a quart, and the Texas tax on that amount is around a buck...not
bad. We may make one more trip down there.
I've been out with our friend Peter on his Zodiac a couple of times.
Took it out to view the eclipse. Spooky at night, dodging the dolphin
watch boat and huge barges in the Intracoastal Waterway. J&I did the zoo
in Brownsville yesterday...a nice one. Rest of the time is cocktail
parties, sleeping, eating and shopping. On tonight's menu...Colette's
home-made sushi.
George Jo & Beau
