Hi folks,

Just wanted to drop a line about three straight days of carrying friends up
to Red Rocks Amphitheater here outside of Denver for the Widespread Panic
shows.

On Friday I took up seven, Saturday took eight, and Sunday took five people.
  My van ran flawless all the way to the very top of the park the first two
nights, and to a lower spot on Day 3.  With the exception of a little bit of
burning clutch while sitting in traffic going up the mountain on Saturday,
there was not a hitch (except lots of spilled margarita all over the floor
on Days 1 and 2--thank goodness that floor is made of cardboard, or whatever
that is.  Cleaned up easily.)

I met many, many Vanagon and bus folks up there.  I tried to keep count and
think I saw a total of 18 Vanagons, 15 bays, three splitties, and 11 eurovan
weekenders.  Met one guy who was in a Eurovan Westy and parked next to his
wife's '88 Vanagon Westy...

I met Brien from the Vanagon list...He walked up on our tailgate party on
Sunday and said, "hey, you owe me a beer!"

I knew right away that he was from the list, and was glad that at least one
person took me up on my offer!  It was a pleasure to meet him and I'm glad
he had fun at what turned out to be a GREAT show before his long drive back
to Michigan.

The word that kept coming up all weekend among my passengers (all of whom
are veterans of my past Vanagons) was how steady this one is through the
curves and up and down the hills, so he finally got a name...

I bought a t-shirt in the lot with the VW emblem on the front, along with
the words, "Stop Breakin' Down."   The back has a drawing of a Splittie, and
reads, "It'll make you lose your mind."
(Lyrics from Robert Johnson's "Stop Breakin' Down Blues," a song often
covered by Widespread Panic.)

I own Vanagons for tinkering, camping, and especially tailgating.  My newest
one is the best I've ever had for it....

Hope everybody had a nice weekend,

Joe T.
Denver, CO
'85 Wolfsburg Westy, "Steady Eddie"

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