Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 11:48:54 -0700
Reply-To: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: trip & portable shower report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Volks,
Returned last week from a ten day trip from Arizona through northern NM to Burlington
CO, way out on the eastern plains, 15 miles from Kansas. Not much to say about that
area unless you like flat prairie and wind. Or live there.
No problems with my '90 Westy and with now 148K miles, it used less than a half qt. of
oil for the 2,230 mile trip. Average 21.6 mpg, best was 25 and worst 17.3 with serious
head winds.
Didn't spend much time around the tourist areas of Taos and Santa Fe. Did spend one
night at Black Canyon CG on the road up to the ski area out of Santa Fe. Worst water I
have ever encountered. Rusty pipes say the Forest Service person, but "it's been
tested safe to drink"!.
Foul looking, smelling and tasting. BUT, a very kind lady up from Santa Fe to hike the
trails, came back two hours later with 2 gallons of good water for me!
Most enjoyed the Jemez Mountains area west of Los Alamos/Bandolier National Monument.
Great campgrounds, hot and warm springs and hardly anyone around. Glad I always take
my Westy water tank full. The second week and second visit to Jemez Falls CG, the
water had been turned off for the season. My black Lab, Shadow, and I hiked the 5
miles round trip (from the campground if you don't drive to the trail head) down to a
warm springs. Great hike! No one on the trail or at the springs. Shadow was off the
leash all of the time and stayed right with me. The second trip down and back, we
barely made it back to camp before a severe 20 minute hailstorm hit. I heard it coming
through the trees, but didn't know it was going to be hail. Threw everything into the
van and slammed the door just as it hit. Small hail so no apparent damage, but spooky
never the less.
Some may remember earlier I mentioned getting a battery operated shower from Cabela's.
It worked great and has 8-10 hour runtime according to the instructions. Two cheap
vinyl shower curtains completely enclose the rear hatch area and attach easily with
clothes pins. I covered the immediate area inside the rear with a piece of canvas and
set the collapsible bucket inside on the mattress. You can turn on the pump and leave
it running and turn off the flow at the shower head.
Hope someone finds this info more helpful than what you call your van. Stop worrying
and get out and enjoy them.
Jerry
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