Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 01:34:09 -0000
Reply-To: Hermann the German <urlauber10@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Hermann the German <urlauber10@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: trip report Ocracoke Island/Eurospec conversion/road rage
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi Listees!
Just got back from a wonderful beach vacation on the Outer Banks in North
Carolina. Hate to give away the location, but there were only four VW
Campers in the park, so I guess it's okay. Get out there and enjoy beach,
sand, water, and bugs!!!!
The campground is a National Park on the Island of Ocracoke, right on the
beach. Cold showers only, but after a day in the sun, they are the best in
the world. The small village has anything your heart enjoys, no fast food
and no chains.
Seafood is king, we had the best spanish mackrels, even the seagulls liked
them. One divebombed the frying pan when I turned away for a second.
Here are some VW specific facts:
Fridge lit w/o problems using the electric bicycle pump method. Ran for two
weeks until gas was gone. Cooled great, however major condensation. Any
suggestions?
Screens did okay, however, no-see-ums galore and the original Westfalia
screens are not up to the challenge. The Go Westy side screen did handle the
job ok. Next year, I need to prep the van better. The island gets so hot
that you need to leave the side door, hatch, skylight, and vents open. We
used hotshot bugspray on the screens and that did the job.
Gas mileage about 21mpg premium fully loaded, Thule weekender on top, side
tent, bikes, beach toys for two kids etc.. I ran the Eurospec at about 80
mph on the interstates, only had to shift into 3rd gear once going through
the Smokies.
No mechanical problems, only a screw in the right rear tire. A friendly
mechanic plugged the leak for 15$.
Other Westies seen/met: Listmember Alan "UCMYVAN" with his syncro, JJ the
sausage king from Ottawa, Canada, with his 76 Automatic, and that's it. Some
sightings along the way, all in all maybe 10, one even being towed by a huge
RV.
Question: I don't understand the American merging "behavior". Whenever I
approach a construction site with signs telling motorists to merge either
left or right, drivers immediately do so causing major traffic jams. I
,however, having been trained in Germany and having survived the Autobahn
for over 15 years, try to drive as close as I can to the obstacle, then
merge. This has caused road rage from " THE FINGER" to merely being blocked
by truckers and rednecks. Being a crafty Westy driver, I just smile, wave,
drive on the shoulder like Michael Schuhmacher and use my 115hp effectively.
Have Americans not been trained in the "ZIPPER" method?
Cheerio,
Hermann de Boer
Kansas City,Missouri
87 Westy 283 000 miles
Eurospec 3 years old 51000 miles
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