Glad you like your 'German Driving Apartment' Toni, and welcome to the
Vanagon List.

On 12/24/06, Zoltan <zolo@foxinternet.net> wrote:
>
> Toni,
> Welcome to our world of "Hotel Westfalia".  Enjoy the involvements with
> your
> van's needs, to appreciate the freedom on wheels.
> Zoltan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Toni Rizzo" <toni@MCN.ORG>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 12:23 AM
> Subject: Intro
>
>
> > Hi all, I've been lurking for quite some time so I figure it's time I
> > come out of the closet and introduce myself. I think the artsy-come
> > out of the closet thread got me going. You sound like an interesting
> > bunch of volks! In my former lives I've lived in NY, Puerto Rico,
> > Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, and I landed in northern California near
> > Mendocino and Fort Bragg 8 years ago. I've worked in hospital labs,
> > academia, taught school, done cancer research, and am now a freelance
> > writer specializing in medicine and science, with an occasional
> > outdoor or nature article, and host of a radio public affairs show.
> > I'm an avid gardener, collector of cacti and succulents, and a
> > mosaic-artist wannabe, and love to hike, camp, and explore...
> >
> > I've wanted a westy and have been researching them for a few years
> > and last summer I finally took the plunge and bought my first one
> > ever....a  lovely burgundy '90 Westy and I absolutely love her! Of
> > course I immediately took her to my mechanic who's renowned in these
> > parts as a vanagon specialist and had him give her a thorough going
> > over. Several hundred dollars later she emerged with new brakes,
> > coolant hoses, several other things, and a clean bill of health. In
> > Sept we took our first trip, to drive my daughter up to Bellingham,
> > WA and  had a wonderful time. Of course, the starter started going
> > out in Portland, OR where we were towed to a mechanic recommended by
> > someone on the rescue squad (Thank you if your on this list!...I
> > can't remember your name). It was 7 pm and the mechanic looked at her
> > and got her started and reassured us that we'd be ok for a while, and
> > gave us some tips on how to get started if it happened again. So we
> > merrily headed north into Washington where we camped for the night
> > and got stuck again. Anyway, after calling AAA, I managed to get her
> > started again and we drove to a shop (recommended on vanagon.com) in
> > north Seattle, where the starter was replaced that afternoon and we
> > were on our way again with no further mishaps.
> >
> > There are many things I want to do with my westy (she doesn't have a
> > name yet) as I have the money, including adding a second battery and
> > having the gas tank and lines checked out (gas runs out if I fill it
> > too much), and a little spot of rust fixed. I've learned a lot from
> > reading this list and I'm sure I'll have many questions. Most of all
> > I want to hit the road again, hopefully to the southwest this winter
> > for an extended camping and exploring trip. I spent a month last year
> > camping with a friend in a pickup with a camper in So. CA and
> > southeastern AZ and I can't wait to do it in the westy.  I don't know
> > if I should mention that my other car is a subaru with so many of you
> > lusting after subie engines... ;-)
> >
> > Sorry this is so long for my first post...Thanks all for being there..
> >
> > Toni
> > '90 burgundy westy
> > '90 subaru wagon
> > '86 nissan p.u.
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.26/600 - Release Date:
> > 2006.12.23.
> >
> >
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com