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Date:         Sat, 8 May 1999 13:03:15 -0500
Reply-To:     Robyn Rudisill <robyn.rudisill@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robyn Rudisill <robyn.rudisill@HOME.COM>
Subject:      2500 miles and no problems (long trip report)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Vanagoneers,

I just had a wonderful drive from Omaha to Seattle and am happy to report that I did not have one single problem along the way. I saw several vanagons along the way and my syncro westy fetched many stares in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. I told a guy in Hot Springs, SD about the list (are you out there?). He had a silver carat, I think. Seattle is definitely the city of vanagons. We were two in a row on my commute from Bothel to Fremont on Thursday via 405 to 520 to UW. So now I know what the lack of stability in a cross wind looks like; when we hit the 520 Bridge I knew just where the wind was going to blast me each time.

I also figured out something that most of you must know already: the Westy is so much better suited for a road marked "scenic byway" than any interstate in America. I had such a good time because I spent as little time on I-90 as possible. It took me two days to get from Omaha to Mount Rushmore and I loved it.

Highlights of the trip: Watched a buffalo give birth in Custer State Park. When they say wildlife loop, they really mean it. Also many of the dirt roads in that park are open to the public and could be easily traversed by a vanagon 2 or 4 wheel drive. Note: any rain will turn the local Spearfish shale to a snot-on-a-glass-door-knob consistency. Slick, slicker, and slickest. Also many of the hiking trails are open to mountain bikes.

Iron Mountain Road from Hot Springs, SD to Keystone, SD (also known as South Dakota 16a). There are three sets of spiraling bridges on this road and two of them are doubles. It felt like a roller coaster on its side. Also three one lane tunnels; each with a sign asking the driver to sound their horn--I am sure the designer drove a VW.

Lolo Pass from Lolo, MT to the Snake River Canyon. Idaho 95.

J R R Tolkien's The Silmarillion on CD. Glad I didn't try to read it. 15 hours of Audio book.

Excellent tail wind in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Got almost 23 miles to the gallon.

Low points of the trip: Truckers.

All parts of I-90.

The head wind from La Grande, Oregon to Snoqualmie Pass Washington. Mileage dropped below 14 and top speed 55 mph (not counting the down hill parts).

Best Mileage: 22.8 (excellent tailwind)

Worst Mileage: 13.7 (gnarly head wind)

Steepest paved grade 7% plus on Idaho 95 (there is no way that this grade is only 7%. There are two signs in the middle that say "grade steepens"). Either way I was lucky to be dropping into the Salmon River valley area, so I got to go down that hill instead of up.

Steepest unpaved grade: 20% That's what the sign says. I say nasty, in both directions. Surprised I didn't over-heat on the way up and amazed that I could keep the van in control on the way down. Beautiful views from the top and in the summer you can get to Joseph Oregon that way. If you want to try it: take I-84 to Baker City Oregon, go north on 86 and follow signs to Richland, Halfway, and Homestead. It is about 6 miles past the end of the pavement on the Oregon side of the snake river. BTW, excellent free camping. All maintained by Idaho Power. Limited amenities.

thanks and happy camping this summer. robyn


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