Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 22:06:09 -0700
Reply-To: Gerald Masar <azsun99@earthlink.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gerald Masar <azsun99@earthlink.net>
Subject: Long trip, short report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I recently returned from a 3 week, 2,900 mile trip in my '90 Westy, from my
home in Arizona, up through Utah and Idaho to Missoula MT. It was great to
be on the road again, take some back roads and visit family and friends and
their great dogs, black Labs and Spinonis. What!
You've never heard of this great Italian hunting dog? Visit
www.onlyspinoni.com, but be prepared to spend 3 times the cost of a good
Lab.
In the 2,900 miles, I averaged 21.5 mpg, with the best being 23.95 and the
worst, 19.39. The lowest price per gallon was $1.489 and the highest,
$1.829. I used mostly Texaco and Chevron, with some Exxon when they weren't
available. The lowest grade unleaded 87 octane except some areas where the
lowest was 85 octane, so I used midgrade at 88.
Montana was cool, green and wet, at least for now. While in Missoula, I had
the clutch on my '90 Westy (132K miles) replaced at Mountain Imports. Not a
dealer, service only, but they seemed to know their stuff, especially Ray,
the owner. I had good reports on them and they also maintain my brother's
'85 Audi. They seem to do a lot of business, including a lot of Vanagons.
Even though Missoula is a university town, where you expect lots of VW vans,
I think I saw more Vanagons there than any place I've been.
Some other trip high points. NO van problems, the clutch job was pre-emptive
maintenance. Highways 89 and 89A up through Arizona and Utah. Hwy 12, the
Lewis and Clark Highway, from Kooskia, Idaho over Lolo Pass (snowing) into
the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, a beautiful drive through thick cedar
forest along the Lochsa River, a wild and scenic river corridor. On my way
home, I drove Hwy 93 back down through the Bitterrroot Valley through
Hamilton and Darby, areas that were heavily affected by last summer's forest
fires. They are looking at another very dry year and bad fire season.
In Missoula, I got an excellent deal, from a friend, on a year and a half
old Gateway PC, Pentium III, 20 gig hard drive, 128meg RAM and 19" monitor.
Now I can install the ETKA parts CD which came in the mail while I was gone.
Thanks to Frank Condelli in Canada.
In Salt Lake City, I met with some of the local Vanagon owners, who had
their first get-together in a local park. Thanks, Blake Thornton, for
putting it together.
I got away from the meeting a little after 1:00 PM and headed for Zion N.P.,
a little over 300 miles south. In the 3 minutes from the entrance to the
campground, the last spaces were taken. It was only going to be an overnight
stop anyway, so I had dinner in one of the picnic areas and drove east out
of the park in the light of the full moon. Very scenic. I've been there
several times, but this was a different view. I found a nice BLM campground
miles south, near Kanab UT. Very quiet, only one other site occupied. This
was probably unusual because it was right near Coral Pink Sand Dunes State
Park, a popular OHV area.
If you are planning to visit Zion N.P., one of the campgrounds is now
reservations only and the other is first-come basis, but what I call parking
lot camping, close together and little privacy. Zion Canyon is now closed to
private vehicles. They have a new shuttle-bus system, but they run very
frequently and stop everywhere, including the town of Springdale, just
outside the park. If you want to camp in the park, get there early or be
there during the week.
Some of the low points of the trip:
I15 in and around Salt Lake. Construction everywhere in preparation for
the
Olympics.
A number of dead deer and elk, hit by vehicles, along some of the
highways in
Utah and Arizona.
It was a good trip, but it was nice to see the snow-capped San Francisco
Peaks near Flagstaff, meaning I was almost home, 50 miles to the south.
Well, it was longer than expected. Hope someone enjoys it.
Jerry
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