Date:         Fri, 24 Sep 1999 22:18:32 EDT
Reply-To:     DAVIDTHEKM@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Hunt <DAVIDTHEKM@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Mechanics in Dallas
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear Brent and Yi-Ruey,

Since this is Friday, the following are some comments on mechanics and North
Texas.

I'm planning to have a guy named Jaime in Rockwall (just east of Dallas) put
the engine in my '82 AdventureWagen.  He's a factory-trained mechanic who
works out of his home now.  He seems to know Vanagons and all FI VW's pretty
well.  His number is 972-636-7101.  I also know another Vanagon specialist in
Deep Ellum (close to downtown Dallas) who's phone number isn't handy at the
moment.

As for camping, granted, there aren't as many places as close by as you might
find in California.  North Texas is farming and cattle country, although as
much dairy cattle as beef cattle.  Not really dramatic scenery - just rolling
hills.  There are many lakes with camp grounds, since Dallas and especially
east of Dallas have many lakes.  The best camping though is 2 or 3 hours away
in Oklahoma and Arkansas.  Oklahoma has an extensive system of state parks
and recreational areas, plus locally maintained places like Turner Falls,
where the Josh Rogers campout was last weekend.  Turner Falls is actually a
city park for the city of Davis, Oklahoma.  For its size, Oklahoma has a much
better, more highly developed systems of parks than Texas.  Arkansas, "the
Natural State", has many areas of scenic beauty, particularly at the base of
the Ozarks, in the Little Rock and Hot Springs areas and north.

There are other compensations, however.  Brent, I assume you are in some kind
of high tech arena.  The most dramatic difference, that can make up for a lot
of hot weather, is that you can buy a 3,000 to 3,500 sq. ft. house on an acre
or two of land here for what a decent condo would cost in Santa Barbara.  And
with no state income tax, you can fly off for weekends anywhere in the
country with the money you'll save.

Just a few thoughts to consider.  Both areas have their pluses and minuses.

David Hunt        '82 Vanagon yard ornament, soon to be a running camper