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Date:         Fri, 9 Jan 2009 12:57:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Allan Levenberg <allanlevenberg@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Allan Levenberg <allanlevenberg@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Way to Go
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

John C... wrote:

>>>>>>>>>> Attention: Friday chatter ahead; ( I know, I know, you've probably already hit the delete button !!! hee hee hee :o) etc. <<<<<<<<<<

John C..., you are right on. I don't have the mechanic's skill, ability, tools, or place to work, but I've "polished" a few resumes in my years of work. Over the years, the open road has called, and I've answered. The first long road trip was in a '66 Beetle, bought new and picked up in Belgium, after I got out of the Army. Second long road trip was in a '69 VW Camper, also bought new and picked up in Belgium. Three years ago I was lucky to buy an 89/90 (Sep 89) Vanagon GL from long time friends. I can't bring myself to name her yet (Dharma Bum fits the head space, ?...?) but, she had only 48,000 miles on her and was really clean, inside and out. Last year I finally convinced the working half of our marriage (I'm 68, Paula's 39) to take a year off for some road travel.

We left Richmond Virginia on July 14 and returned September 28. We traveled 10,500 miles. We crossed into Canada at Niagra Falls after a 3 day music festival campout in the rain in upstate NY. We camped in Forests, Parks, and WalMart lots. We got all the way to Tofino, Vancouver Island, last North American refuge of the hippie/surfer cohort. We visited friends in Anacortes, Washington and camped out with a Deadhead/DiscGolf reunion on a mountaintop outside of Ranier, Oregon on Labor Day weekend. That was turnaround and we headed East, stopping for two weeks in Yellowstone. We changed the oil in Ranier (I carried the correct filter with me) and again when we got home. We got and gave lots of waves and headlight flashes of recognition to and from VW vans and campers of colors and years.

In January we headed out again to Lafayette Louisiana for Mardi Gras week in Cajun Country. I've got some of those pictures up on flickr. If you've got the time, check these out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24104432@N08/sets/72157603963830501/.

In all those miles, only one problem: a broken v-belt.

We are preparing now for a 4 week summer trip to the Canadian Maritimes. We'll visit my brother in PEI, then up to Cape Breton for Scottish music and dance. After that I'll be heading West to Nevada for Burning Man in September. Are any of you BurningVaners planning to show up at Black Rock City?

I hope I didn't bore too many of you.

Lev, '89/'90 GL (blue with cladding still in place) '69 Camper (Gone) '66 Beetle (Long Gone)


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