Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 15:40:41 -0500
Reply-To: John Anderson <jander14@WVU.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Anderson <jander14@WVU.EDU>
Subject: A Proposal, "Top of the World, 2000"
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As spring rolls around this year and the Westfalias come out of
hibernation all across the more frigid parts of the land, one's mind
turns to camping and all things summer.
Mine particularly due to my current life situation, as this is the last
summer I'll have off for likely 7-8 years. Anyway I've been on the
mailists forever now I guess, and have watched many a good trip come
and go back when I was working and had no vacation time. As this
break between my first and second years of med school is my last
chance while relatively young to take an epic trip, I'm going to do so,
and I intend to for at least part of that trip, duplicate the "Top of the
Word Tour" route of Tobin, Ron, and all the others back in 1996 as I
wanted to go badly at that time.
I know this isn't particularly original, and frankly I'm doing a summer
long trek around the country in general as well as this, but I got to
thinking that there have not been any really epic group or personal
Bus camping journeys now in a few years reported on the list. I think
that stinks, and I'm ready to take up the task of organizing something
to do about it.
My basic thoughts are to pretty much duplicate the '96 route and to do
it around the same time this summer, say starting early/mid July 2000.
I understand only too well how hard it is for most people to arrange a big
enough block of time to do something like this, but would be happy to
have anyone interested get in touch with me.
I thought they were doing the Tierra del Fuego? thing or whatever this
year but that has either got lost in the shuffle or is next year, so if
anyone wants to celebrate summer 2000 in northern style, get back
with me.
Anyway, I'm posting to all the lists, seriously interested parties who can
actually take a month off (not including getting to Vancouver and back)
please contact me. I also don't know a damn thing about that side of the
north country which is why I want to do it there, not on the east coast,
so anyone with intimate knowledge of the area who can suggest routes,
improvements, etc, please chime up.
The route and info about the first trip can be found on:
http://www.vanagon.com/journeys/inuvik/index.html
If we get enough interest going, perhaps I'll start up another little list to
handle planning. Also if there is interest in doing something like a couple
week Baja trip instead, I'm all for that as well. I'd prefer to go north
but it
doesn't really matter to me. Like I said I'm going to do it alone regardless
but Bus/Vanagon company is always good company to have.
John Anderson
jander14@wvu.edu
(just bought an '82 Westy last night for the very event)
