Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 09:52:11 -0600
Reply-To: joseph Trussell <joetruss@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: joseph Trussell <joetruss@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Fun Camping Weekend--Lake McConaughy, NE
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi List,
Thought I'd drop a non-political, non-instigative line about our camping
trip this weekend. We went to Lake McConaughy, Nebraska
(http://www.lakemcconaughy.com/) from Denver. It's a giant sandy-beach
resevoir in the middle of nowhere basically with plenty of camping and
driving on the beach and boat and jet ski rentals. We went with another
couple who took their Audi Quattro Coupe (they got there much, much more
quickly.)
My Vanagon drove wonderfully on its first extended drive; the crosswinds
were bad coming back, but I was able to sustain 75-80 MPH with my 1.9. The
p-rated tires squirmed quite a bit, but I was very happy with the
performance on the road. going there I was getting 20-21 MPG, coming back
(uphill) it was around 17 MPG.
The beaches are thick with sand there, so I immediately got very, very
stuck. Luckily we were stuck in a good spot, so we camped there for the
weekend. My new curtains (thanks to GoWesty and my wife's sewing) did
great, and the big bed in our GL was comfy as could be. I do need screens
though--the moths were everywhere. The couple in the Audi had a tent that
was blown out of its stakes by 50+ mph wind on Saturday...Luckily Vanagons
don't have such problems, although he had no problem driving around on the
sand without getting stuck!
Getting back to the 'stuck' part--after digging and digging and kicking
myself for not having a Syncro or even worthwhile tires yesterday morning,
my wife went off on a walk and came back with a GIANT tractor following,
which yanked me out in no time with a towrope to my trailer hitch. I drove
down the hard section of the beach to a boatlaunch, and got stuck again.
This Giant (I mean HUGE) tractor came up behind me and got his front grate
lined up with my tow hitch, gave me a quick push, and the Vanagon literally
jumped up onto the boatlaunch concrete. I wish I had a picture of that
giant thing behind my dwarfed van. People had walked up to watch from all
around the boatlaunch; mine was the only Vanagon, and the only non-american
vehicle besides my friends' Audi, in sight. Kids were asking me, "what kind
of truck is THAT?"
The guy driving the tractor was so nice; he said he uses the thing on his
farm, and on big weekends comes to the lake and gets people un-stuck for
$10. I can't say enough about how nice the folks were there.
Anyway, it was a great time, my van did great (except for the getting stuck
part) and I am re-affirmed in my love for Vanagons, although I found that
while a good Coleman stove is sufficient, and ice chests work better than my
12v Cooler, I do need a sink, so it's off to Cherokee RV Salvage here in
Denver at the end of the week (I called them and the counterman told me he
could set me up with an excellent used system for very cheap.) Also I need
some beefier tires!
Sorry it's so long, but it was a fun Memorial Day Weekend and I believe that
this list is fantastic for technical help but is also great for sharing
stories.
Joe T.
Denver, CO
'85 GL 'bertha'
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