Vanagon is my cubicle.
On Dec 13, 2013 8:06 AM, "Stephen Grisanti" <bike2vcu@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Man, another Don-on-the-road post. Makes the cubicle look might dreary.
>
> Stephen
>
>
>   On Thursday, December 12, 2013 7:22 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
>    Left the Pac NW in sub zero and it stayed below freezing all the way
> south for the first day's driving.  Funny to see cars  with snow in
> downtown Bakersfield.  The van ran fine, getting about 22mpg at 70
> mph average speeds, even on the slick interstate.  Very stable with
> new Nokian snows and my old Nokians on the front.Having a heavy load,
> most packed to put weight on the rear, that helped a lot.  I went
> through two quarts of oil, my Jetta motor is getting a bit 'long in
> the tooth" I guess, but my hand-done head surfacing job (replaced a
> blown headgasket just before leaving) caused no problems and the motor
> runs strong as ever.  I'll probably be ready for at least some fresh
> Swepco when I get back north in spring...I can hear the tranny more
> than before (I think).  I was sorry, for the first time ever, that I
> took my  rear heater out..I wore a down parka inside with full main
> heat selected while driving and was comfortable enough.
>
>   I camped overnight at a T/A in Orland, Ca. where there is also an
> abandoned walnut grove just behind the big rig parking...you can camp
> amongst the old trees, away from the trucks but still secure.    I had
> a Northface down bag and a second car bag and a heavy blanket..I was
> warm enough with no heat inside...and I had my coffeepot ready to roll
> in the AM....so I reached out of bed and lit the stove right from my
> sleeping bags....
>
>   Gas was in the $3.30 - $3.75 range and I ran regular except when I
> got in to LA, where every HP is needed to hold your own on the
> freeways where there are often 6 lanes either stopped, or all going in
> the 80s and 90s mph.
>
>   Arrived in the desert SW and it was cold in the shade...60s..but
> it's back to 77 today and much nicer than freezing fog...
>
>   Don Hanson
>
>
>