Nice.  Any area around the So Cal megalopolis is crowded on long
weekends... The death valley even gets day-trippers from LA
  Special place, that, but best away from the NP "attractions" and the RV
access roads.

On Jan 7, 2017 6:01 PM, "David McNeely" <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>