Date:         Thu, 6 Feb 2003 13:43:50 -0800
Reply-To:     Harald Rust <harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Harald Rust <harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      The Vanagon Executive, a True Story
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

(it's almost Friday in China)
As forwarded from:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vw-camping/

The Vanagon Executive, a True Story
One beautiful Saturday evening, we arrive in the
Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington.
Looking for a campsite, we drive along Icicle Creek
only to be greeted by "Campground Full" signs.
Evening is fast approaching, so we decide to be
extravagant and spend the night in the "luxury"
campground by the river.
In the past, they had a few non-hookup sites for less.

We enter the park with its manicured lawns and
country club like atmosphere.
The first reaction of the attendant upon
noticing us, "Sorry, all sites are occupied."
One more glance at his log, and he says, "Oh wait,
there is one drive through site available,
but it's $28.00, and it`s by the big rigs."
"Ouch, but then again, it would be nice to take a
long hot shower, and perhaps spend an hour in the
spa.".
So we hand over the money, and he shows us the site.

It's getting dark, when I pull the westy into the
site, and it's perfectly level.
Well, at least, the fridge likes it, I think to
myself.
A moment later, I hear a heavy door opening next to
us,
accompanied by the sound of powerful electric servos.
Curiously I turn, and then find myself shaking
an outstretched hand.
"I'm Richard." he says, and gesturing towards his rig,
proclaims, "This is Morning Glory".
I try to take it all in, and it reminds me of photos
I have seen of the Great Wall of China, with
extensions.

Having held my ground in this neighborly chit chat,
I expect him to become bored soon, and go back up his
polished aluminum stairs to watch his large screen TV,
visible through the large window of "Morning Glory".
That is how it usually happens, but not this time.

He strides around our westy in a gentlemanly like
manner to the open sliding door.
Then he asks, "Do your heads ever leak?"
"Huh?, well no", I say, surprised at the question.
"They are ceramic coated, and don't leak."
"Oh!!, really", he says, truly impressed.
"And that helps?"
"Yes, it stops them from leaking." I say.
"And what is that?" he asks, pointing at the heater,
while it's making its little whining sounds.
"Vented plat cat", I say.
Now he looks really intrigued, and starts
inspecting the plat cat. So I acquiesce and
give him a full tour of the little westy camper.
I'm a little overwhelmed by his unexpected enthusiasm
for the vanagon westy, since I have never
encountered this before on "Pusher Row".
Only at Volkswagen gatherings have people shown
so much interest.
Finally I ask him, "How come you know so much
about vanagons?" Before Richard has a chance
to answer, I notice a pristine late model vanagon
weekender drive up in front of his rig.
It's color matching metallic paint and all.
"Ah", he says, "I better go. My wife is back from
shopping".
"And tomorrow, I'll show you `Dinghy`."
Harald Rust
©2003, all rights reserved

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