Hey, sounds like fun!

Some of the Vanagon vendors sell snaps so that you could install one of the
Westy type rear hatch screens found on The Samba.

On 7/16/07, Brendan Slevin <brendan@bellatazza.com> wrote:
>
> This weekend was the maiden camping voyage of our new-to-us 84 GL Vanagon
> named Totoro.  I'll get some pictures up somewhere.  Totoro was great,
> though with no speedometer I was guessing our speed by the tach.  After
> fixing the cable (sort of, it's missing the plastic clip so I fashioned
> one
> from metal that is still working) on Sunday evening I found I was speeding
> around town and slower than perceived in the mountains.  The need to go as
> fast as I used to or push Totoro hard was difficult to suppress, but
> eventually I realized I see so much more when I am not focused on getting
> around that guy or get there 3.72 seconds faster.  It was very relaxing.
>
> We started out of Bend in the late morning after getting a coffee.  The
> drive up through the Cascades was beautiful, as usual, moving from dry
> sagebrush and juniper up to pines and alpine meadows.  Icy glacial streams
> flowing into lava flow-dammed lakes boiling with rainbows and
> kokanee.  The
> view of Bachelor and the Three Sisters is more and more breathtaking as
> you
> get closer and closer and eventually wind through them. Passing emerald
> green Devil's Lake and the South Sister Summit Trail you see more lava
> flows
> but this time they are veined in pumice and obsidian.  We made it to Elk
> Lake amazed once again that we only live 35 miles from this serene beauty
> and happy that Totoro made the trip flawlessly, if a bit more leisurely
> than
> before.  We took a forest road around to the other side of Elk Lake and I
> was surprised by how well the van took to the dirt and gravel.  We set up
> camp, very simple with no tent or airbed, folded down the back seat, and
> put
> up the snap in curtains.  It was so wonderful.  My wife, baby and I slept
> in
> the bed while our ten year old was on the floor of the van in a sleeping
> bag.  It was wonderful. The only complaint heard that night was about the
> bugs that had flown into the van from having the windows down and the back
> up.  I've already started solving that problem.  For ventilation I've
> taken
> an old tent and carefully cut the back panel off.  I've got it mostly cut
> down to the shape of the back opening of Totoro.  I'll install a few more
> snaps along the bottom and, voila, a zip down window tent back for
> camping.
> I am also thinking about getting the Velcro screens from Bus Depot.  Does
> anyone have these or a picture of them?  Thanks!
>
> Also, I rectified the hot air blowing in problem.   Seems the valve is
> hard
> to open and close or the cable is corroded, not sure but I went under and
> shut the valve by hand and now it's only cool air in there.  No more hot
> shins.  I also went through and replace all the tiny bulbs in the
> instrument
> cluster and heater controls  so we can see them at night.  Woo hoo!
>
> Anyway, that was our weekend trip. Many more to follow, I'm sure.
>

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