Thanks for the story Bob and the great photographs, but could you put in a
few paragraphs next time?!   :)

Seeya, Jake

On 9/11/07, Robert Rountree <syncro87@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> The road never ends.
>
> So far this year We've done about 15,000 kilometres of camping in our 87
> Syncro Westy. (it's uncle Joel's fault, he said go out and enjoy yourself,
> he just didn't say when to stop ;-)...In Feb-07...I bought new tires
> (nexen
> 820..195r14)  the engine got new AMC heads, clutch, exhaust manifolds,
> some
> hoses, new fuel lines, with a leak, plus a dent in the side and a gouge
> down
> the roof top (we won't go there)....March and April we went down to the 4
> corners area of the US, (from Ontario) Started having a problem where,
> when
> I hit a bump, it would cut out. After pulling out the few hairs I have
> left
> on my head, I found that a wire had been (repaired) with a mystery inline
> connector, and that connector had been stuffed out of sight under the afm,
> but every time I hit a bump it pulled apart & sent a disconnecting signal
> to
> the ECU....Every other guy missed it...I had to find it myself.... This is
> one of the major problems mechanics have to deal with, when they deal with
> our vans... and why many just won't even try (they just want to replace a
> module and get home by 6 for dinner). After 20 years of use, we have
> cleverly, added all kinds of non-standard stuff to our vans, it is then
> sold
> and the 6th owner in Timbucktwo Ga. (who has always wanted one of those
> little campers) decides it now needs a Kmart Jiffy waterwheel knife & lure
> sharpener (with remote)  installed under the drivers seat. And he applies
> his electrical know not how to come up with a whole new approach to wiring
> in accessories. Add to that all the connections back there in the engine
> compartment, that gets sprayed by following behind the front wheels
> (working
> like little waterfalls in the rain and slush)...... Our Vans are rolling
> corroded short circuits looking for a lonely volt meter.... but we
> digress... I'm not here to complain, I did say we've just enjoyed 15kkm..
> We
> had a great time in NM., CO., AZ., and Utah... Met the wonderful Maggie
> Dew,
> who let me drive her subie powered westy....thanks for the hospitality
> Maggie.. good vanagon people really are a special breed.... and when my
> waterboxer finally blows the big one, I'll get to empty out my bins of
> spare
> parts and start looking for a new leakless type engine... On return from
> the
> mighty SW... and after beating the crap out of my front end on that great
> slick rock of the Canyonlands.... I got around to doing the front end...
> my
> upper control arm bushings where clunking for years, but after buying 5
> new
> tires, I had to fix their sloppiness.... so I did it...and if... I....
> can...so can any other monkey with 2 thumbs and a big wrench. I went whole
> hog... 2 new front drive shafts w/lobros., upper control arm bushings,
> upper
> and lower ball joints, and wheel bearing w/seals.... what a difference in
> the steering/ride,... I love this van.... fold down those arm rest... turn
> up the mandolin music... the road is my painting.. didn't even see a TV
> almost all summer... people would ask me... did you hear so and so did
> such
> and such.... No I didn't...every morning the sun still came up and we were
> happy. That's all I needed to hear...We went to Busfusion and saw some old
> list friends...  Mike & Mary C,  Phil Z., Doug & Linda A. and other fine
> folks of the bus... on my way there... we visited friends up in the hills
> of
> the north Ottawa river.... they gave me a party for my birthday, we played
> some bluegrass, ate cake and drank some fine wine. On my way back to our
> friends home, it was a hot thunder stormy late night,... I had the lights
> on
> high beam, the wipers going, and the defroster blowing.... as I rounded a
> steep narrow guard rail less mountain curve.... black out....only parking
> lights...no wipers, blower, or headlights....I pulled up the dip switch
> (dimmer) and had just rainXed the window so we recovered and made it to
> camp.... at busfusion Phil Zim loaned me his spare ignition switch, which
> I
> plugged into my socket and that was it.... I highly recommend this as a
> spare part to carry...The VW dealer in Ottawa wanted $69cdn for one they
> didn't even have. Bus depot & Van Cafe list them for under $10... Support
> our vendors... or don't complain .... After busfusion we did a lot of
> local
> visiting, Sudbury, Killarney, Tottenham Bluegrass festival etc. Then we
> went
> up to Lake Superior (for about 5+ weeks) visiting friends and old haunts,
> camps long gone and the coastlines of my dreams. Diane did some Kayaking,
> I
> paddled into some special spots. I studied 13 different eagles this
> summer..
> We went up to the Red Rock Folk Festival and saw lots of great talent,
> some
> of which are old friends. I just can't do those late night jams any
> more...
> even thought the spirit wants to, the body needs a nap...We went to
> Peterbourgh Ontario and did the Bus Folk thing with Jerry and Sophie...
> That
> was really nice. I like the smaller gatherings like that, where you're
> able
> to go around and talk to everyone, pet every dog, have time to tell & hear
> a
> few stories....That was a well organized event and I met some interesting
> and fun folks there... lets do that again and keep it under 50 and in that
> cool park... After the weekend we did the Canadian Canoe Museum ... A must
> see if you are ever in Peterbourgh...... oh this is about vanagons
> right?.... well mine is still running well, and sits out in it's carport,
> sometimes at night I can hear it whispering.... Bob...ppssst....Bob... the
> leaves are changing... clean your lenses and get in here.
>
> The road never really ends. I just bends.
>
> RR
>
> SeeMyPhotos@   http://www.flickr.com/photos/syncro87
>
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>

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