Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:41:10 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Gen Set
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I AM someone who backpacks and camps in a tent, or often with no shelter
whatsoever. Backpacking will teach one what is essential and what is
not in camping. Though I am someone who backpacks and tent camps, I
wanted a VW camper from years back in the hippy days. I didn't get one
until recently, for a litany of reasons mostly to do with the vagaries
of life. I find it quite nice so far as camping goes, when I am doing
that sort of camping -- it doesn't interfere with my choice of
backpacking other times. After all, I can't drive the van to the bottom
of the Grand Canyon, or on the Marufa Vega Trail into Boquillas Canyon,
and wouldn't want to. By the same token, Bonnie (the love of my life)
loves the camper for the comforts it affords when we are not backpacking
but are car camping. For that reason, I find it even nicer :-) .
The thing I find silly about the VW camper is the inordinate amount of
work I've had to do to get it ship shape and reliable, and to keep it
that way. If I could get a late model van with the same amenities, I'd
sure go for it. But no RV. I'm not hauling sewage around with me, and
I'm not transporting a shower and commode. If I can't go a few days
without a shower when out in the boonies, what kind of man am I? If I
can't use primitive facilities, or when in back country locales dig a
hole, what kind of camper am I?
Finally, how much environmental degradation can I be responsible for?
An RV is an ostentatious, selfish imposition on mother earth that none
of us has the right to operate. A VW camper at least gets 20 mpg as
opposed to 8, and required only a tiny fraction of the resources to
manufacture compared to any RV, even the tiniest one.
All of this is said by a person who could buy an RV if he chose to do
so. I also have family who travel and live in their RVs for many weeks
at a time. The money is not the point.
David McNeely
On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 2:46 PM, Jeff Lincoln wrote:
> People should always try to take others into consideration and do
> their best
> to be respectful of those around them. Unfortunately this is often not
> the
> case.
>
> As far as different ideas in camping - TV/ No TV, Generator no
> Genterator,
> etc. like I said before it takes all kinds.
>
> I would be willing to bet someone who backpacks and camps in a tent
> would
> find our buses and Westys as silly as we see those huge Land Yachts.
>
> As a good friend of mine pointed out to me just a few minutes ago -
> sure
> dogs, radios, kids, and generators can be annoying - but I also would
> bet
> that others find the sound of a sliding door slamming at 3am to be
> annoying
> and rude too :)
>
> At last years winter campout we were descended on by a troup of boys
> scouts.
> Was I a bit annoyed at first - sure I was - so we moved. Doesn't mean
> I go
> around complaining about Boy Scouts all the time.
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '90 Carat (Grover)
> '86 (We call this one Parts)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
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