Date:         Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:06:44 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Friday musing on Saturday (and some Hwy 395 trip stuff)
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During a recent 2-wk road trip, I think I saw only a few Vanagons the whole while.  I was waved at by a couple of them, and even a new-style Eurovan Westy blinked me as it passed..There was an absolutely pristine yellow westy running around in Borrego Springs, California where I spent a bit of my time..Never got the chance to talk, but it looked as if the original owner was still taking care of it..or the other way round.
  Going through Carson City, NV. I almost caught up to a bay window westy, but that guy/gal was flat hauling a++!  Never did catch up due to rush hour traffic...
  In Bishop, California there is a huge collection of vans and beetles on the north end of town at a place called "German Autowerks?" or some such..Anybody know of that place?
  Being mobile in a Vanagon sure beats some of the rigs I've traveled in.  Easy to get around..I especially love the tight turning radius my 84 seems to have.  I love the "power steering", too (A huge diameter steering wheel)..  
  A few nights ago on my way home, late at night in the eastern desolate section of Oregon, it started snowing pretty hard after I'd been driving since 6am, so I decided to call it a day.  Since it was slick and dark, I decided to use a Forest Service campground...but rather than going up into the high country, I stopped in a ranger district parking lot (Forest service 'campground' vanagons only?) and 'stealth-camped' without anyone even noticing the van out there in the back lot..Try that in a Prevost Motorcoach or a Winnebago..
  The only drawback I have found to my "new" ride is it's rude behavior in cross winds...of which there are plenty in the high desert in spring...After a while, I got kinda used to anticipating each gust, to preparing to compensate as the trucks went past, to relaxing as I passed through road cuts, or as I went by groves of trees into/out of  wind shadows.  Tiresome on a long trip....That will be something I shall work on...perhaps a lot more castor in my alignment as a first attempt..  Maybe some giant melamine or phony carbon fiber tail fins..a Giant Lawn Dart for the road....Cool!..
  As I mentioned, at very high altitude the slight VW power shortage becomes quite significant..If I still lived at very high altitude (moved down near sea level from Jackson Hole, Wy. at 6200') I would be tempted to try a forced induction motor of some kind in a van..They are much more effective in the mountains..
  Next trip?  A bike race in a few weeks up on Vancouver Island..the main reason I bought and built the faux Westy...Weekend outings to bike races...
  PS.  I use a bike 'Fork mount' that is bolted into the base of the fold down bed to carry the race- bikes inside when on the highway or around town. Then, when I overnight, I just take the bike(s)  round back and mount it on a Yakima rack that I've adapted to the tailgate...If I have passengers, I put all the bikes and wheels back there while traveling..if it's just me, they stay inside till I need the room to sleep and camp...Works great..
  Don Hanson