Date:         Tue, 1 Aug 2000 16:36:49 EDT
Reply-To:     LisaDrew@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Lisa Drew <LisaDrew@aol.com>
Subject:      Big Drive
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

As many of you may know, Derek Drew recently posted a message that mentioned his bicycle accident and also his sister. That's me. Under Derek's influence, I am the owner of an '87 syncro Westy. I've been a silent list member for awhile--until now.
  Next week, probably on Tuesday, I'm leaving the Washington, D.C., area to drive (with a friend) my  camper to Bellingham, Washington, where we'll catch a ferry to Haines, Alaska, on the 18th. Then we'll drive from Haines to Fairbanks. For me this is a one-way trip. I'm moving to Fairbanks.
  I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to plan the trip beyond knowing I'm going from point A to B to C. I don't even know which route I'm going to take, but I'm inclined to go north to avoid summer heat if possible and to see the Badlands and maybe play tourist and see Mt. Rushmore. I've done such a bad job of planning that I even asked AAA to make out a triptik for me, and I'm going to get all the AAA lists of campgrounds between here and Fairbanks.
  If something happens to the camper, my Plan A is to try to get online and call upon the list for names of mechanics.
  Any advice about any of this from the list will be appreciated. In particular, I'm curious about what it's like to ride the Alaska state ferry without a cabin reservation. I've been advised to pitch a tent on deck (we're not allowed to sleep in the camper). Is that necessary? Can we spread out sleeping bags in the solarium as advertised? Any other tips for the ferry ride (such as best locations for tent)?
  Also, Derek couldn't quite recall why Ark Mirvis was bumped off the list, and I've been curious about that, especially since I did buy a Webasto heater from him. I tried to search the archives to find out but came up empty. Can anyone fill me in? Thanks!
Lisa Drew
'87 syncro Westfalia