Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:49:09 -0600
Reply-To: Ken Wyatt <57skibum@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wyatt <57skibum@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Trip report: Final Tire Tour & New Heart for the 521 Bus (longish)
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I thought I had sent this out to the list last night but apparently it
didn't go or something.
Finally after about ten years or so of running around on a set of
Michelin XCS tires on my 82 westy, I broke down today (my wallet, not
the 521 bus) and invested in a new set of the BFG 195 75 14 All
Terrain AT/KOs. Wow, it's like power steering to drive now. The old
tires were well used
but had quite some thread left. They were old and round and cracked,
with sun wrinkles much llike myself. Sadly no longer made, of course.
But, they were awesome tires back in the day. Never once had a flat in
ten years of desert and mountain driving. On and off road all over
the intermountain west from Montana to Arizona; Colorado to the West
Coast. Yes, these old tires had gone some places, places many tires
only dream about I'm sure. But they also sat countless hours in the
hot western sun patiently waiting for that one next trip.
With a brand new engine needing some miles, we took a final tire tour
leaving Salt Lake City in the late afternoon under a blazing sun .
Pointed it east up I-80 to Highway 40 where we drove
through Heber City and up Lake Creek Road into the southwest Uintah
Mountains and national forest, leaving pavement behind. It was up,
up, up, and up. Did I mention the UP? We finally summited and found
a nice solo camp at about 9000 feet. (And no one anywhere on this
Sunday eve) It was nice and cool on a hot summers eve.
Next morning was about a 20 mile drive downhill into the Strawberry
Valley for breakfast at the lake's shore. From there up and over into
another valley on fairly good dirt road to Highway 6/50 near Tucker,
UT. From there it was up again to the infamous Skyline Drive that
rides the crest of the Wasatch Plateau.
For a complete trip write up with visuals one can visit here.
My sweetie captured it all for the world and you while I kept busy
monitoring the oil temp and pressure while piloting the 521.
http://nonyabusiness.vox.com/library/post/two-days-and-three-hundred-miles-a-camp-trip.html
It was 350 miles in 2 days, about one third dirt, two thirds pavement,
numerous 7000 - 9000 foot passes., awesome scenry and wildlife.
Such a great trip to say farewell to a fabulous set of old tires and
to shake down the van's new heart which didn't miss a beat and
performed flawlessly. Sweet!!
Looking forward to seeing where the new tires choose to take us.
Cheers.
Ken
82 AC Westy (New shoes and a new heart : <)
SLC, UT
