Date:         Fri, 6 Jul 2001 20:35:39 -0400
Reply-To:     "Horace K. Sawyer" <hksawyer@CATT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Horace K. Sawyer" <hksawyer@CATT.COM>
Subject:      Re: HK returns from MD and PA -sightings
In-Reply-To:  <DGENLFPHAGAJIKHDOHDAEEEBCLAA.flubach@home.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Hello vokes,
Just got in off the big bird.  Those of you who have been attempting to
harass me as usual this week and found you weren't getting the usual
cynical, gruff, grumpy replies can now resume your routine assaults.

Flew into Baltimore with hopes of seeing list members.  Talked to a very
few of you.  Scheduling went to pot and time got away from me.  But on the
4th I managed to take in Antietam Battlefield in Maryland.  While there,
surveying the place of carnage known as "The Cornfield," I spied a blue 86
or above GL Vanagon as I rounded a turn in a group of cars.  I should have
wheeled over, but was afraid of causing an accident.  The owner was
standing aside his metal beast.  This guy was tall, and I mean tall!  And
skinny too.  Had a Texas tag.  I couldn't see a list sticker.  I didn't not
see him later at Burnside's Bridge or Bloody Lane.

 From there onto to Ringgold, Maryland to photograph it.  I live in
Ringgold, Georgia, so this was something that just had to be done.  Both
towns lie on the northern border of their states, and both are mountainous,
somewhat.  The Maryland town is more of a quaint little hamlet.

 From there went through Hagerstown, MD where alas another Vanagon was
sighted.  This one was parked -- they're always parked : ) -- along route
60 I believe.  It was silver, possibly 85 and below era.

Tried to get to Gettysburg from there and got lost in a violent
thunderstorm.  Finally made it, but it was getting dark in a half
hour.  Went through Gettysburg like a rocket ship (not the way to do it)
trying in vain to find the place of Pickett's charge.  Never found it, and
got dark.  Despondent, I turned the rental car toward the east and drove
for what seemed like an eternity, but was only about 2 hours.  Spent the
night in Manheim, PA and took care of some business the next day.

That night had an interesting discussion with a list member.  I was not
able to harass anybody as much as originally hoped, nor was able to make
off with anyone's stuff.  I hoped to hotwire Karl Mullendore's TD and sneak
it back to Georgia, but neither could be rounded up on the 4th.  Change of
plans took my back to Baltimore Thursday night and I turned in early.  Did
some work this morning and decided to blow this popstand, so I turned in my
rental car at BWI.  US Airways surprised me by graciously moving me to
another flight free of charge allowing me to depart about 5 hours earlier
than my ticket called for.  In short, US Air rules.   It only cost me $166
to fly from Chattanooga to Baltimore roundtrip.

Sadly, those were the only two vanagons seen on the whole trip. But there
was a small used car lot in on PA 30 between Lancaster and York (can't
remember exactly) with a several VW old Beetles, and a yellow Thing.  Saw
more VWs and Audis on the trip per capita than down here.  I guess that
means you Yankees have more sense than us southern folk.  : )

later
HK

selected photo's available on request