Date:         Wed, 2 Jul 2003 09:36:32 -0600
Reply-To:     Kevin McLean <Kevin_McLean@MORROWENV.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kevin McLean <Kevin_McLean@MORROWENV.COM>
Subject:      Trip report: Calgary to Vancouver
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Just  got back from my first big summer holiday trip in the van:

Drove from Calgary, AB thru Banff and on to Kamloops, BC.  Stayed at Lac
Le Jeune Provincial Park.  A beautiful spot, unfortunately it was cold and
rainy.  Continued on over the Coquihalla to Hope and then on to the ferry
and Vancouver Island.  Played on the sandy beaches at Parksville.
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park is incredible:  quiet, shady, nice park
for the kids, awesome beach.  (Parksville is said to have the warmest
ocean beaches north of San Diego!)  After a stop at the Vancouver
Aquarium, headed back the long way along the very scenic Hope-Princeton
highway to Kelowna.  Spent a few days playing in the Okanagan and then the
Shuswap at Sicamous before heading home to Calgary.

The van performed flawlessly:  temperature gauge was rock-steady, even
climbing some 2nd and 3rd gear hills in the scorching sun, no Vanagon
syndrome problems, didn't use any oil, and the fridge kept everything nice
and cold.  What more could you ask for?

Fuel consumption ranged from a low of 14 L/100 km to a best tank of 11.3
L/100 km and averaged 12.4 L/100 km, which seems pretty good for a fully
loaded Syncro Westy with 3 adults, 2 kids, 2 big dogs, and all the misc.
camping toys.

Its trips like this that make me glad to have the van.  Thanks for
listening.

Kevin McLean
Calgary, AB
1987 Syncro Westy