Getcha a different motor in a Vanagon.  That is the only way to make one go
cross-country at a quick pace.

 I agree, there are stretches of highway that I can do without seeing again
(and again and again)  I'd leave the N/S I-5 or 99 through central
California right out of my travels, if I could, after traversing that about
100 times..Since I do have to go that way, I have a slightly stronger motor
in my Vanagon that allows me to go at a reasonably quick pace..but it's
still a long boring slog the 101st time through, no matter what the pace.  I
often just go "around" and use hwy 395, but even that beautiful route
sometimes drags on..
  "Beam me up, Scotty!" is a frequent thought during some of my longer
"Point A to B" journeys.

  Don Hanson

On Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 8:10 AM, Mark Hineline <hineline@helix.ucsd.edu>wrote:

> While I am sympathetic to the "slow down and enjoy the scenery"
> notion, life is short and art is long. I have considered buying a bus
> or Vanagon and parking it long term in Flagstaff, Bishop, or St.
> George, then driving (or, in the case of Flagstaff, taking the train,
> which I actually did every weekend two summers ago) my GTI to get
> where I'm going, and swapping vehicles.
>
> Yes, it's lovely between San Diego and these places, and I have seen a
> lot of what lies in between -- many times.
>
> However: I don't consider slowing down to 20 or 25 miles an hour on a
> long grade to be fun. It's mostly about staying alive, with folks
> texting and whatnot and not paying attention to the slow moving
> vehicle ahead.
>
> Mark
>