Some of you may recall that Bonnie and I had planned to drive to S
California for Christmas and beyond from Spokane.  As it turns out, we made
the trip, but did not drive down.  First Bonnie, then I got anxious about
the weather and road conditions.  We were wise to back out on driving, as
it turns out.

So, we flew to LA (actually Burbank) , where we had checked out renting a
camping van.  But when we told our friends in Thousand Oaks of our plans,
they insisted that we take their Eurovan.  We did, to Joshua Tree NP, Ash
Meadows NWR, and Death Valley NP.  Joshua tree was so full of millennial
aged folks "camping" for the New Year period (actually partying, and not
quietly), and had terrible weather (rain, cold, wind), that we headed on up
toward Death Valley.  We did have one good day at Joshua Tree, and therein
is the Vanagon content.  We hiked to 49 Palms Oasis (beautiful place),
where we spent most of a day.  Upon return to the parking lot, there was a
bundle of firewood behind the driver's side front wheel, with a note that
read:

 "Dear Fellow Westy owner, I hope you can use this.  I have to catch a
flight to Wisconsin, and so am passing it along to a fellow Westy owner.
Love, a fellow enthusiast.  P.S. Vanagons are way cooler than Eurovans."

Well, Bonnie and I thought we knew so before, and now we REALLY do.  The
Eurovan requires premium fuel.  It has lower ground clearance, thus not as
good on back country roads.  It is way less convenient for camping.  The
upper bunk has to be manually lifted and shifted to the back to obtain
headroom, and it is really heavy.  Because of the engine in the front, the
space inside the van is shortened, and thus it is cramped for any activity
between the front seats and the rear seat.

 However, the EV will cruise at 70 mph, if that's what one wants, and if
one can ever find a time when LA area freeway traffic is not bumper to
bumper.  AAA said 2h 50 min Thousand Oaks to Joshua Tree.  Our friends in
Thousand Oaks said "No way, more like four or four and a half hours." It
took us six hours.

We did see a fair number of Vanagons in both Joshua Tree and Death Valley
NPs, as well as on the roads between and from Death Valley back to Thousand
Oaks.  We also saw two old VW Bus campers, being employed as campers.

mcneely