Date:         Wed, 1 Sep 2004 00:26:44 EDT
Reply-To:     RAlanen@AOL.COM
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From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Off to Burning Man Trip Report #4
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Sunday morning Rita & I left Ina in the  capable hands of Rocky at Import
Services in Rapid City and made our way to  Cheyenne, WY.  Got there early
evening and decided to hole up at the Flying  J and then make our way into Boulder
Monday morning.  Ride to Cheyenne was  unevenful and welcome.  Scenery was not
as spectacular as the Black Hills  but nice just the same.
    Early Monday morning we set off to Boulder and got  there late morning
and made our way to _Into  The Wind_ (http://intothewind.com/)  on Pearl St. to
pick up Fiberglas poles and windsocks for  friends and ourselves to display
windsocks and a Canadian Flag at  Burning Man.  After a quick lunch we made our
way outa Boulder on Rt.119  toward Rt. 40 and Salt Lake City.  Well, the climb
up the mountains, outa  Boulder is spectacular and had Rita on the edge of
her seat.  The Westy had  to get down to first gear more than once.  We made our
way to Central City  were we were greeted to a Gambling Casino town,
unbelievable, what's with that  place ?  From there we took the "Oh My God Road" over
to Idaho Springs to  hook up with Rt. 40 west.  Well, if you ever want to be
on the most  spectacular road in America, go take a ride on the "Oh My God
Road".  You  won't believe it, as it has the most appropriate name imaginable !
10  ~ 20 miles of gravel, dirt, pavement, no guard rails, barely two  lane,
twists & turns all at 7 ~ 8,000 ft elevation.  There were a  few turns Rita
almost lost it as she was sure we were going sailing over the  edge.  By the time
we got outa there Rita was a bundle of nerves then we  had to climb up Rt. 40
to Berthoud Pass, the Continental Divide at 11,500  something feet elevation.
What a breath taking experience and  view.  After a few pics we were on our
way back down the other side finally  stopping at a secluded campsite in the
Rocky Mountain National Forest for the  night.  Rita and I both needed the break.
 Made a campfire, had a few  beers, diner, spoke with Ina and had a good
nights sleep then on  our way in the morning.
    Tuesday morning we made our way up and down more  mountains reaching
another Continental Divide at Rabbit Ears Pass, only a mear  8,000 something feet
in elevation.  Onward we went with the temperature  rising until we got into
Salt Lake City where we are spending the nite at the  Flying J on I-80 just
west of town. Tried contacting Bob Stevens but seems he  was off at work so we
may miss him as we must get on the road early tomorrow  morning if we want to
get to Burning Man tomorrow evening.
    The Westy has performed flawlessly up and down the  mountains, albeit
having to use all the gears to get up.  But, the  temperature and oil pressure
have never moved off their mark and the Boston Bob  engine is performing just
great, knock-on-wood.  The scenery between  Boulder and Salt Lake City is in my
view the BEST there is, vista after awe  inspiring vista, unbelievable !  We
hope Rocky gets Ina back on the  road so she can join up with us at Burning
Man.  More to come.........as  time and connections permit.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  &_ CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley_STEBRO/Vanagon
Stainless Steel  Mufflers_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)   _Frank
Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)  or
http://frankcondelli.com