Date:         Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:24:43 +0000
Reply-To:     Robert Rountree <syncro87@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Rountree <syncro87@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Trip Report, long and rambling
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

The road never ends.

So far this year We've done about 15,000 kilometres of camping in our 87
Syncro Westy. (it's uncle Joel's fault, he said go out and enjoy yourself,
he just didn't say when to stop ;-)...In Feb-07...I bought new tires (nexen
820..195r14)  the engine got new AMC heads, clutch, exhaust manifolds, some
hoses, new fuel lines, with a leak, plus a dent in the side and a gouge down
the roof top (we won't go there)....March and April we went down to the 4
corners area of the US, (from Ontario) Started having a problem where, when
I hit a bump, it would cut out. After pulling out the few hairs I have left
on my head, I found that a wire had been (repaired) with a mystery inline
connector, and that connector had been stuffed out of sight under the afm,
but every time I hit a bump it pulled apart & sent a disconnecting signal to
the ECU....Every other guy missed it...I had to find it myself.... This is
one of the major problems mechanics have to deal with, when they deal with
our vans... and why many just won't even try (they just want to replace a
module and get home by 6 for dinner). After 20 years of use, we have
cleverly, added all kinds of non-standard stuff to our vans, it is then sold
and the 6th owner in Timbucktwo Ga. (who has always wanted one of those
little campers) decides it now needs a Kmart Jiffy waterwheel knife & lure
sharpener (with remote)  installed under the drivers seat. And he applies
his electrical know not how to come up with a whole new approach to wiring
in accessories. Add to that all the connections back there in the engine
compartment, that gets sprayed by following behind the front wheels (working
like little waterfalls in the rain and slush)...... Our Vans are rolling
corroded short circuits looking for a lonely volt meter.... but we
digress... I'm not here to complain, I did say we've just enjoyed 15kkm.. We
had a great time in NM., CO., AZ., and Utah... Met the wonderful Maggie Dew,
who let me drive her subie powered westy....thanks for the hospitality
Maggie.. good vanagon people really are a special breed.... and when my
waterboxer finally blows the big one, I'll get to empty out my bins of spare
parts and start looking for a new leakless type engine... On return from the
mighty SW... and after beating the crap out of my front end on that great
slick rock of the Canyonlands.... I got around to doing the front end... my
upper control arm bushings where clunking for years, but after buying 5 new
tires, I had to fix their sloppiness.... so I did it...and if... I....
can...so can any other monkey with 2 thumbs and a big wrench. I went whole
hog... 2 new front drive shafts w/lobros., upper control arm bushings, upper
and lower ball joints, and wheel bearing w/seals.... what a difference in
the steering/ride,... I love this van.... fold down those arm rest... turn
up the mandolin music... the road is my painting.. didn't even see a TV
almost all summer... people would ask me... did you hear so and so did such
and such.... No I didn't...every morning the sun still came up and we were
happy. That's all I needed to hear...We went to Busfusion and saw some old
list friends...  Mike & Mary C,  Phil Z., Doug & Linda A. and other fine
folks of the bus... on my way there... we visited friends up in the hills of
the north Ottawa river.... they gave me a party for my birthday, we played
some bluegrass, ate cake and drank some fine wine. On my way back to our
friends home, it was a hot thunder stormy late night,... I had the lights on
high beam, the wipers going, and the defroster blowing.... as I rounded a
steep narrow guard rail less mountain curve.... black out....only parking
lights...no wipers, blower, or headlights....I pulled up the dip switch
(dimmer) and had just rainXed the window so we recovered and made it to
camp.... at busfusion Phil Zim loaned me his spare ignition switch, which I
plugged into my socket and that was it.... I highly recommend this as a
spare part to carry...The VW dealer in Ottawa wanted $69cdn for one they
didn't even have. Bus depot & Van Cafe list them for under $10... Support
our vendors... or don't complain .... After busfusion we did a lot of local
visiting, Sudbury, Killarney, Tottenham Bluegrass festival etc. Then we went
up to Lake Superior (for about 5+ weeks) visiting friends and old haunts,
camps long gone and the coastlines of my dreams. Diane did some Kayaking, I
paddled into some special spots. I studied 13 different eagles this summer..
We went up to the Red Rock Folk Festival and saw lots of great talent, some
of which are old friends. I just can't do those late night jams any more...
even thought the spirit wants to, the body needs a nap...We went to
Peterbourgh Ontario and did the Bus Folk thing with Jerry and Sophie... That
was really nice. I like the smaller gatherings like that, where you're able
to go around and talk to everyone, pet every dog, have time to tell & hear a
few stories....That was a well organized event and I met some interesting
and fun folks there... lets do that again and keep it under 50 and in that
cool park... After the weekend we did the Canadian Canoe Museum ... A must
see if you are ever in Peterbourgh...... oh this is about vanagons
right?.... well mine is still running well, and sits out in it's carport,
sometimes at night I can hear it whispering.... Bob...ppssst....Bob... the
leaves are changing... clean your lenses and get in here.

The road never really ends. I just bends.

RR

SeeMyPhotos@   http://www.flickr.com/photos/syncro87

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