Date:         Thu, 7 Oct 2004 01:26:50 -0600
Reply-To:     Parker Beeson <parker@COREADDICTS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Parker Beeson <parker@COREADDICTS.COM>
Subject:      1st successful road trip report (longish)!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Just returned from a 3 week, 4,000 mile paragliding road trip with my
brand "new" 1989 Westfalia and wanted to share a few thoughts.

The very first thing I did before departing was print out a list from
the internet of all qualified Westy mechanics in the country as I
figured I'd, at some point, maybe need one. I'm happy to report though
that I not only didn't need one, but was stunned that the entire trip
went off without a hitch. Not one hiccup in the van the whole time! I'm
now sold on Westys and am convinced that they are the coolest thing
this side of the Antarctic (not to mention I slept like a damn rock
they are so comfortable!!).

  I initially decided to name the van "Duck Dodgers" (late of Daffy Duck
cartoon fame) as I was only 20 miles into the road trip when a gaggle
of ducks decided to cross the highway right in front of me as I was
cruising along at a blistering 58mph according to my GPS (though the
speedo was happily lying to me saying 63.. ha!). I honestly don't know
what angel was watching over me and those ducks, but I managed to not
kill a single one of them as my heart leapt into my throat and my
little 14" Hankook tires did their best to swerve left and right at my
command. What a start to a trip!!!

As I'm a paraglider pilot and my other vehicle, a 1985 brown Subaru GL
wagon, is named the "Turd Bird" I finally decided on naming my "new"
van "Skybiscuit". Kind of a cross between the little engine that could,
Seabiscuit and my favorite playground... the sky. By the end of the
trip, after long hours, I would find myself yelling out loud in the
Rockies, "Go biscuit, GO!" And she sure did!

I started in northwest Montana, worked my way west to the Pacific and
then down the coast paragliding along the way. I made it as far as
Santa Barbara before deciding that I was exhausted and running out of
travel money so I bee-lined back to Montana by way of Las Vegas
(naturally) and Salt Lake City. I tended to stay on Interstates this
first trip, my logic being that there are at least two lanes so people
could pass me without wanting to kill me and that cell phone service is
generally great. Next time I'll brave more back roads for sure.

Here are a few things I learned about my brand spanking "new" Westy
that I'm sure you all are very familiar with, but may find amusing
non-the-less:

1. When the road sign says, "Caution Curves Ahead - 35mph!" you damn
well better pay attention to that! :-)

2. When a semi-truck passes you going 80mph you should always pucker up
and be prepared to move that steering wheel like mad to stay in your
lane!!! This may not apply to you 15" and 16" tire people. 16" setup is
already on my wish list for sure! Though... 40psi and those 14"ers did
just fine all in all.

3. When it's <40 degrees out at night you can close all windows except
the skylight, leave the fridge on LP and usually have enough residual
heat from the fridge venting to keep the Westy somewhat warm without
smothering yourself from lack of oxygen. Neat!

4. Despite all the apparent "coolness" of owning a Westy hot girls
would rather bundle up in a tent with each other than climb in the
steel breadbox with you. Bummer. ;-)

5. Love the tailwind, dread the headwind. 'Nuff said.

6. Make ample use of kinetic energy and inertia. When approaching a
steep incline you're much more likely to successfully climb that
incline if you're nearly redlining that smooth as silk waterboxer. :-)

7. When you pass another Westy on the road you damn well better wave to
them or risk offending someone! :-)

Anyway, I had a blast and was utterly amazed at the performance of this
van (I averaged 20-22mpg on this trip!). I'm beginning to wonder if the
POs had worked on the engine or something as every time I filled up I
would check the oil/coolant etc. and there wasn't a single leak or
anything the whole way. She was loving the 20W50 high mileage I put in
her right before I left though that's for sure. Is there any easy way
to tell if the engine has been overhauled/upgraded? Maybe I have a
sweet 2.4L GoWesty and don't even know it!!! All the same I'm sold on
these engines though I'd love a 5th gear so it doesn't cruise at such
high RPMs. Still... sooooo smooth.

I was also amazed that even on the gnarliest passes in the Cascade and
Rockies I could bury the pedal in 4th and climb up them never going
below 50-55mph. Stunning to say the least and much better than my "Turd
Bird" Subby even!

The only glitch came the last day of my trip as the water tank pump
failed for some reason. I managed over 25 gallons of filtered water
before this happened. Will track it down... probably too much strain
from installing my .5 micron inline water filter.

And last, but not least, 5 miles from home a deer popped out onto the
highway. Just like the ducks it was a near miss and a reminder that
even when things seems perfect you must stay alert for Murphy and his
laws. :-)

Some pictures can be seen at:

http://www.coreaddicts.com/

and

http://www.coreaddicts.com/day15/ (specifically pages 5/6 for a few
Westy shots)

Parker and "Skybiscuit"

PS - If you ever get a chance to visit GoWesty in Los Osos, CA... DO
IT!!! Made me drool buckets from the moment I pulled in. Amazingly I
managed to walk away only spending $60 for a new radio antenna, some
oil drain plug gaskets and a skylight bug screen. Phew! Got off easy
that time! Glad I didn't have 10 grand to burn!