Date:         Wed, 17 Aug 2005 21:11:05 -0700
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject:      Re: Trip report
In-Reply-To:  <BAY105-DAV11548FA4D0F6966F001A4EA5B20@phx.gbl>
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Jeff,

Nice report, glad to hear it went well. Was the white Westy TDI driver from V.I.
named Bjorn? He lives about 15 minutes from me... if not, there's another one on the
Island I haven't seen yet! You should come here to see lots of Westies! Yesterday I
probably saw 6 of them in a block or two in Victoria, including two nearly identical
85ish metallic brown ones that were for sale! I thought I was seeing things for a
minute!

btw, Crowsnest might be easier, but watch out for the Salmo-Creston further West -
it is pretty steep, and can get snow any time of the year - we had snow in late August
one year. Early October is a great time to visit the Rockies, still warm enough for
hiking, and hardly any crowds.

On 17 Aug 2005 at 20:54, Jeff Palmer <icecoldvw@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Just got back from two weeks out in the Canadian Rockies.  Last time I was
> there, three years ago I nearly blew my motor up when I almost ran out of
> oil on the Highway to the Sun in Glacier NP (US).  Never did find out how
> that happened.  This year was smooth sailing.
>
> Started off from Winnipeg, took the Yellowhead to Riding Mountain National
> Park, then down Highway 18 through the most abandoned part of Saskatchewan
> I've ever seen.  Very scenic but very isolated.  I had been told there was
> camping at Grasslands National Park, near Val Marie SK but it turns out its tent
> only, you have to walk in, and please beware of snakes.  I hate snakes.
>
> So we spent the night on a side road in Shaunavon waiting for the gas
> station to open the next morning.
>
> Then off to Cypress Hills Provincial Park (the Saskatchewan side), Waterton
> Lakes NP, Kootenay NP, Yoho NP, and my favourite Glacier NP (the Canadian one
> west of Golden BC).  Saw the most Westfalias around Golden, maybe 6 in one hour.
>  Didn't see six cars in southern Saskatchewan for about 4 hours. Not kidding.
>
> Highlights included meeting a gentleman from Vancouver Island in Cypress
> Hills with a white Syncro converted to a TDI.  I assumed it was a VW TDI but
> didn't think to ask.  Also saw a Westfalia (2.1 I think) pulling a small boat
> just east of Rogers Pass.  Very ambitious.
>
> If you ever have to drive through the Rockies, the Crowsnest Pass is much
> easier than Rogers Pass.
>
> Had pretty much no trouble with the van this time, now approaching 300k km
> on the original motor (you might remember my queries about its durability
> earlier this year).  All you guys who told me to drive it until it drops,
> that's what I'm doing.  Although I suspect that it will explode closer to
> Rogers Pass than in my driveway.  Why is that?
>
> The only problem I had was hot starting.  In the past it would turn over
> slowly on occasion, and I got used to that.  Cleaned up a few grounds etc.
> and it's much better this year.  This time however it would turn over
> quickly, but take a few moments before it would start when hot.  Almost like it
> was flooded.  Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks again
> Jeff
> 85 Westfalia GL, Winnipeg
>

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D
'88 Westy 2.1L, soon to be 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy