Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 16:43:42 -0700
Reply-To: Dane Tessler <dane714@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Dane Tessler <dane714@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Back from Busses on the Bridge!
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What a great trip. There were well over 100 busses in the caravan....and
not a single breakdown.
The event started last Friday evening at Lake Manatee State Rec Facility
near Sarasota, FL.
About 30 busses showed up. We all had a bonfire and sing-along till the
wee hours.
Throughout the next day, more busses started piling in. Unfortunately, a
lot of tourists piled in as well, and the campsite filled up by mid
afternoon.
The park rangers were very cool and told any VW that came through the gate
that they could double and triple up with other VW's already camped. (This
is normally against the rules there). By sundown, there were at least two
busses in each campsite.
My son, Joey....was the official bus counter and he circled the campsite and
came up with a final count of
70 busses by the time the sun went down. Later that night.....another
bonfire with three guitar players (me included) and a great time.
On Sunday morning, we all assembled at a shopping center lot nearby. By
the time we started the convoy over the Sunshine Skyway bridge....there were
nearly 100 busses in the lot. The caravan stretched over 5 miles.
Practically every type of bus was represented ranging from 1958 to 1997.
The Old Speed Surfer Dudes were there in their splitties and single cabs,
with a plethora of 70's vintage Westies and Campmobiles, a few straight
busses, maybe a dozen Vanagon Westies, a few modified show vans, one 1997
Eurovan Camper, a few classic Bugs and even a Neo-Bug (looked like a
pregnant Neon).
People came from as far as Ohio and South Carolina (Loafin' Joe Weir, to be
exact).
The caravan ended at Ft. Desoto Park near St. Petersburg for a picnic. I do
not have an exact count yet...but I know there were 100 plus busses in line
by the time we reached the park. At one point during the caravan, VW's
covered the entire span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge!
I plan to post photos from the event on my website as soon as I get them
developed.
Have a good week, all....
Dane Tessler
87 Westfalia 138K
Treasure Island, FL
http://members.aol.com/Dane714/westfalia.html
