On the topic of cool responses from fellow Westfalia owners, I have to report
a similar experience this past week. My 13 year old Daughter and I went off
on a camping excursion to Northern California last week on the occasion of
her spring break. We first went to Sunset State Beach but the wind chill
factor brought us to our knees. We then went on to Big Basin Redwood State
Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Stunningly beautiful, we stayed for 3 days.
On Friday, a clean, white late (post '89) Westfalia was observed in the
campsite next to ours (we had just returned from a gorgeous ride through a
virgin timber redwood forest on the Roaring Camp Steam Railroad). As we drove
into our site, we noticed a flurry of activity in the Vanagon. Curtains
pulled, previously opened doors slammed and windows secured. Despite half
hearted attempts at contact we never saw the individuals through the evening.
In my overactive imagination, I thought I heard the scanning motor drive for
an automatic weapons platform, and during the evening at our campfire, I
thought I saw the telltale spot of a HeNe sighting laser flashing near the
marshmallow bag.

When we were leaving, I mentioned to my daughter that I thought they were
particularly unfriendly, whereupon she remarked that they were just
responding to the way I was looking at their camper - scanning for parts!

Frank Grunthaner