Date:         Sun, 9 May 2004 20:09:03 EDT
Reply-To:     Gwg1928@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Warren Gaylor <Gwg1928@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re--- State of the list -- age etc.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi List -- after reading all the stories from fellow VDub lovers, thought
it's time I put in my fingers in the pie.
     It all started when my buddy came back from serving in the Canadian Air
Force in Germany in the early fifties. He was full of all the wonders of the
VW Beetle and wouldn't let it rest until we went to a neighboring town where
they were sold and drove one. My first thought was "why would anyone in their
right mind want to drive a little thing like that." I might add that this was in
the dead of winter in Northern British Columbia, I went for a test drive and
fell in love! The dealer only had one in stock which had just been turned in
by a farmer with six kids and had traded it for a bus. Long story short --I
bought it, pampered it, loved it as one would an ugly child. I had a heater
installed that burned gas right from the tank and was vented out of the left
fender. After many a happy mile in Wolfie the first -- in 58 ordered a new rag top
with cloth seats and waited six months before finally getting word that it had
been shipped to Edmonton, flew out on the weekend and drove back to Dawson
Creek.That summer a buddy and I drove to the East coast of Canada then down to
New York   and back. That was Wolfie the second. I moved to California in 61
with Wolfie packed to the gunwales with my worldly goods and a buddy. I switched
to a series of Mercedes' until after I retired.
     START OF THE GERANIUM SAGA
     I had been a heavy smoker for years and every time I tried to quite, it
got harder and harder until my Dr. put me on the nicotine gum, I chewed until
my teeth went crooked but it worked -- I told myself that If I could stay off
the cigarettes for a year I could have a prize, I had no idea what the prize
would be-but it would be something I REALLY REALLY WANTED! One day we were out
driving around and passed a parking lot with this magnificent 78 Westy ,
Orange, check curtains -- top up with the little Surrey fringe fluttering in the
breeze -- and a FOR SALE sign in the window. I informed my friends in the car
"That's my Prize-and his name is Geranium." Geranium the first, my little dog
Frodo and I had many a happy smoke free mile exploring the West coast of
California, western states and Canada. Until I found a low mileage 83 Westy, garage
kept, low miles with AC That was Geranium the second, even if he was white.
Frodo and I put well over a hundred thousand miles on that one, it had the same
motor but a number of repairs and never letting me down on the road. I belonged
to an RV group and felt that I wanted something a bit bigger so bought a
smell   twenty one foot motor home (that one was called PIGLET). It was great when
you arrived at your destination but I soon hated driving it, It was like
herding a cow down the highway.   At this stage of the game I was thinking that
the Westy did everything I needed plus was fun to drive, so I sold the motor
home and started looking for another Westfalia, Found a rust bucket that had seen
better days but again fell in love -- thus Geranium the third! I had him
restored to almost showroom condition and after pouring money into this great hole
in the highway, found a   91 with under a hundred thousand miles, a few dings
(the previous owner needed to go to BACK UP SCHOOL) but drove magnificently-
This one is Maroon and (what else) is called Geranium the fourth.     I have
two other cars but Geranium although a bit thirsty is still my vehicle of
choice. So far have only had a couple of camping trip in G the 4th. I did spend a
wonderful week in Death Valley this past March _ check out photo page Click
Here: Check out "DEATH VALLEY MARCH 2004" ( any comments will be appreciated) and
plan a trip up into B. C this Aug.
     Frodo has lone gone to his doggy reward and I hope someday to have
another compatible companion. Bye the way- I will be 76 next month.
Warren Gaylor
91 Westy--- Geranium The Fourth