Date:         Sat, 10 Jan 2004 18:12:37 EST
Reply-To:     CTTAPER@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kevin Carrubba <CTTAPER@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Trip Report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi Everyone,
What a great trip.  We left on Xmas eve and drove from Burlington VT  to
central CT which was a really crappy drive cause of the fog and warm rain but
worked out well because it was a good breakin period for the new valves.  Xmas day
we did the present and eating thing with the family and hit the road after
dinner.  Of course pulling out of my brothers drive way  we had a little afm
problem but shut it off and restarted and that was fine for the rest of the 4300
mile trip.  From there we made it to southern VA were we stayed in truck stop.
 Slept for about 3 hours and woke up freezing really need one of those nice
heaters. After that it was a pretty straight shot to Ocala FL with good break
at Pedros south of the boarder. Really an uneventful ride and weather was great
in Ocala.  First poping of the top for camping and  getting to use the stove
and sink for the first time but could not get the fridge to light. From there
it was down to Pine Island FL  for a wedding.  What a great place and the KOA
was a lot of fun. Finally saw my first other vanagon after 1600 miles.  I was
really surpised at how far you can drive in one of these without getting
tired like my aircooled. After that it was across the state on the Alligator alley
over to Miami.  Got to see few gators from the road so that was really cool.
Then in Miami we just putted around a little checked out south beach and saw
4 amazing Phish shows.  Next it was down Key West.  Such an amazing place  we
did not do much but hang out on the beach and suck up as much sun as possible.
 There were tons of westys down there and we met a nice fella in a 76 westy
from Colorado that was are bar tender at a little sea food place,  great food
cheap drinks :)
       Following a week of baking in the sun and great weather we headed up
to Orlando to visit some family.  On the way up the turnpike  I ran out of gas
ooopss.  But AAA was amazing we were only road side for 17mins  and to top if
off the tow truck drive was from Barre VT and a really nice guy.  Then from
Orlando it was the big trip back.  Stopped some where in NC for the evening and
once again started to get some chilly weather.   From NC  we made it to
Gaithersburg MD  where  my upper ball joints decided they had enough.  A quick call
to Karl at westy ventrues and set us up with Auto Centro  (Thanks Karl) but
they could not get me in for like 2 weeks so I had to go to Miadas.. Oooch $450
 for freaking upper balljoints installed but they had me on the road by 2:30
the next day and I had to be back for work so oh well.  Then it was the mad
dash back to Burlington  did not get it till 4:30 am.  All in all the Bus ran
great and required nothing but an oil change, checking/adjusting the valves, and
the damn ball joints but can't complain cause its still pretty new to me and
it was a total of 4300 miles.  Unfortunaly I was laidoff on return from my
trip so it looks like the westy will be seeing some salt this winter but now I
have the time to get it the full Krown treatment work on some little things.
Cheers
Kevin
87 Westy
Burlington VT