Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2002 19:01:48 -0700
Reply-To: psavage <psavage@PACIFIC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: psavage <psavage@PACIFIC.NET>
Subject: Phaedra re Phaedra
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Yes! I am *very much alive & *very well, thanks.
After five (!) months of Westy adventuring
south of the border, I am happily back in N CA.
As Mike Miller reported, I am indeed trying to
mow my (five acre) meadow, now thigh-high, with a
pathetically underpowered high-wheeled trimmer.
This winter marked my third round trip to mainland
Mexico in my '85 Westy, now officially christened
"Mexicali Rose."
This trip, several times, I considered renaming her
The Briar Rose--but she just never deserved it.
In thousands of miles, mechanical troubles were few
& not very serious (as it turns out).
***Nut 'n Bolts:
A traveler got my speedometer working fine again
with a squirt of WD-40 under the dash.
And when my radiator fan switch quit, another friend got
it running with a pair of spade connectors & a short
piece of 14 guage wire (male side of the fan switch was
corroded, is all.)
Next trouble was a gas leak when O-rings to the T-pipe
popped out. Yikes!
That was successfully jury-rigged by a Mexican shade
tree mechanic who (ingeniously) heated the rubber O-rings
on his wife's tortilla pan, reshaped & trimmed them to fit.
!Que Milagro!
***My Kirkland Signature Light Truck Tires--
with now over 50,000 miles on them--once again performed
flawlessly. Not a single flat tire in all this time. Van handles
well, even in a heavy cross wind. I kept tires inflated 50 lbs.
rear & 45 lbs. front. (But for those of you who'd prefer
spending your hard-earned dinero on tires rather than travel,
there *are expensive options.)
***Westy Head Count
This winter in Mexico I met *dozens of volks in Westys.
One couple, both *well over 70, said they'd been traveling
Mexico in a Westy for the past fifteen years. I met Westys
from Ontario, Quebec, Montreal, Texas, Vancouver, CA.,
Oregon, Montana, Maryland, West Virginia, Alaska, & Ohio.
All were doing fine & having grand times. All were veteran
travelers & none reported serious mechanical troubles.
All vans were reported dependable daily drivers--& I think
this is the *significant factor.
***The Bad News
My van was robbed during broad daylight in San Miguel
de Allende, which was unexpected. Thieves stole all my
camping gear: down bag, camp stove, Kelty Sunshade,
Pensioner's loaner binocs, etc--& even my pooch! A hard
hit, but I didn't let it ruin my day. Same thieves tried to steal
the van, too, but were unable to start her up--thanks to my
secret JC Whipme toggle kill switch! Best $12 I ever spent.
!Caramba!
But while they were poking around in the wiring, they
disturbed something--& since then I've had intermittent
but annoying electrical trouble which must soon be addressed.
I suspect a short, for occassionally I smell that "electrical"
odor.
So--once I am settled in here again--I shall be asking for
help & suggestions from any remaining list silverbacks--
Seems like there's a big freshman class now, raising a ruckus
& banging on hall lockers! Meanwhile, the van's running
fine--even with *water in the gas tan--(but that's another story
for another time).
Hasta luego/Until later,
Phaedra
'85 Wolfsburg Westy "Mexicali Rose"
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