Date:         Sun, 22 Jun 2003 21:53:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Positive trip report (short)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I just returned this past week from a 1725 mile trip from Clarkdale AZ to Canon City
CO, in my '90 Westy (154K miles), with my black Lab, Shadow (no cats allowed,
catalytic or otherwise). The van seems to get better with age. At least mileage wise,
the best ever. The average was 23.14, with the best 26.67 (!) and worst 20.11.
Cruising at about 65.  No freeways except I25 between Socorro and Bernalillo NM.
Otherwise, LOTS of long, straight highways with little traffic. And no headwinds for a
change. Crossed the mountains in Colorado over Poncha Pass. Piece of cake coming from
the New Mexico side since you are already at 8,000'.

Len Smith of Len Smith Motors in Canon City no longer works on VW's. He's still there
behind the counter and has some parts and several Vanagons on the lot, along with a
lot of other stuff. He said there is still one place in Pueblo that works on Vanagons.

Saw only 2 or 3 other Vanagons, one of which was heading toward Marshall Pass as I was
coming down toward Salida.

As I was coming west on Hwy 60 in New Mexico, on Tuesday the 17th, I was passing the
cyclists in the Race Across AMerica event going east. Lots of them. Unfortunately,
later that evening, one of them had a fatal encounter with an 18 wheeler near Pie Town
NM.

Jerry