Date:         Thu, 16 Sep 2004 10:58:35 EDT
Reply-To:     RAlanen@AOL.COM
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From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Trip from Burning Man Part 3
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Back on the road in  Texas.  We left Anthony and headed off down the I-10
across Texas.   Stopping into visit downtown El Paso, "just because" and a quick
trip in to  Jaurez, Mexico, again "just because" !  Jaurez is a pretty sad
place and we  see many crossing the bridge on foot and vehicle trying to get into
El Paso to  work and shop for the day.  Looks bizarre to us but then we must
look  bizarre to them with our Westy all decked out in travelling gear.  We
decide there's not much happening here and we would rather get on the road to
Houston and my sister's.
    The drive across Texas is long and monotonous, a  steady 120 km/hr and
just a bit of steering needed.  Easy to doze off as it  is boring, boring,
boring.  The only point of interest I remember is the  windmill farm we pass.
Hundreds of giant windmills up on a plateau just  before getting into Junction
where we spend our second nite at the Junction City  Park on the Llano, River.
Nice spot if your crossing Texas and looking for  a free camping spot.  Really
good barbecue at Lums Barbecue on main  Street.  Have a leisurely barbecue
diner and try to get some TV but no luck  so we stick in a Laurel & Hardy movie
we picked up for 99 cents back the  road somewhere.
    Tuesday morning we pack up and get ready to roll  again.  On the way
outta the park we spot a Vanagon Westy with parts  hanging out.  A nearby garage
leads us to the story of a travelling  Australian mountain climber who blew his
motor here some six months prior.   They had just gotten a new AVP motor and
were about to begin installation.   They tried to persuade me to stick around
and help.  I declined, "I'm on  vacation".  I wished them good luck and off we
went down the I-10  again.
    At Boerne, just before San Antonio, we get off the  I-10 on Hwy. 46 for
some diversity.  We follow that to just west of Houston  were we decide the
best way through Houston to Kemah, which is on the coast, is  on the Intestates.
We make it trough the rush hour traffic without any  scars and arrive at my
sister's where COLD beer and HOT showers  await.  It's now 7 pm and we have a
great reunion, meal at a "real" table  and sleep in a "real" bed !  Thanks sis !

    PS.......All pics of our trip to, at and from  Burning Man are now on a
more user friendly site, _Burning Man '04_ (http://burningman04.jiddware.com/)
, courtesy of JD  Foster.  JD thanks for doing this, much appreciated by
myself and  others.

    PSPS..........We did not get any blow from Ivan  here in Kemah.  Also
looks like New Oreleans, our next stop, has been  spared so we will be on our way
there in a few more days.  Ina is still  back in Phoenix and should be ready
to roll today or tomorrow.  Oil leak  was found to be the rear main seal that
Rocky did not install correctly and the  altenator bracket stud looks to have
been broken for a long time, probably  before the motor got into Ina's van.
The starter just needed replaced and  the electrical gremlin is still being
sought.

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