TheSamba.com :: View topic - The Bokeh Bus....The Adventure Begins....

Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:48 am

ShotnLA wrote: Oct. 27th, 28th
Boston, MA
?? mi
The fall foliage should still be good around here by then. If you can squeeze it in go to Salem, MA for Halloween. It's THE place to be for that and the whole town is one big party!

(In case you don't know about Salems history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials)

Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:31 am

My lady and I completed a similar trip this summer. Almost the same route even. Sounds like you will have a blast. I'll be interested to see how well you can stay on that schedule though. We had two months allotted but had to cut out Canada and New England to be able to get back when we needed to.

We did 11000 miles and saw so many amazing places that I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Also, that's pretty brave of you to go in such an unfamiliar bus. I'm sure you'll know her all too well after this trip is over. I've had my bus for years and still learned a lot long the way. I hope you don't run into any major trouble, but if you do, this VW community is amazing and there are folks everywhere more than willing to help.

Keep on Rollin man!

Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:15 pm

If you hit any trouble near Memphis, your welcome to use my garage, all the tools you'll ever need.Just coast on over to 5859 Scottsdale Ave. :D

P.S. Make sure you check out Graceland & Elvis's car museum!!
Also, East End BBQ has the best ribs on the planet.

Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:17 am

guess they didn't need (or appreciate) any of the proffered help or accomodations [-(

oh well, I'll give them a bye on this one ... I know what its like to be on the road and lose touch with the outside world.

bokeh guys - I saw your new post asking for engine help. Good luck with it. I hope the trip, since your last update, has continued to be awesome.

Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:07 pm

I happened upon the Bokuh dudes just down the road from my garage. My wife & I pulled over to offer some assistance, however they had already called AAA to haul them to Knoxville. Really good guys that Drew & James, sure was cool meeting up with them. I put them onto Jimmy Keck in Knoxville, prolly the best around up there. Wishing you many a trouble-free mile from here on out.

Jerry

Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:05 am

If you need a break in the Dallas area, hit me up. Tools, bathrooms, And BEER.

Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:26 am

Ditto the Dallas thing. Too bad you wont be coming through Dallas on the 20th. We have a car club (VW Gang) meeting. Burgers and free beer, all on us. But if you have trouble, or need help in Dallas, I pm'd you my number. I can put you in touch with some folks that can help you out.

You guys are so lucky. :D

Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:30 am

When you hit Flagstaff, make sure to camp at the flagstaff KOA across from the mall. It is run by big time VW folks. They even have a VW campout there in the summer. Place is run by folks that go by stingah2 and stingah2wife on here. Drop them a line.

Happy trails.

Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:15 am

good luck on your trip - i did a 3 month east-south-west trip a few years back with my dog and had a great time. No disrespect to my dog but having a person as a travel companion will be better. Keep a diary or you'll forget the funny things that happen along the way. I kept a blog for friends and family to read - http://nickspics4u.blogspot.com/2006_04_02_archive.html
All the best.

Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:52 am

WE MADE IT!!!!!!
14,000 miles in 3 months and we made it back to LA just before Christmas.

There's sooooooooooo many stories/photo's/videos to post....
but I'll start with a bit of the north leaving Glendive, Montana heading towards Fargo, North Dakota.

A large sculpture that we had to pull over for.

Stopping to make lunch in North Dakota.

The view from inside the bus while eating lunch.

Doing a valve adjustment the first morning we sleep at a friends house in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We took a look at the exhaust clamp we had fixed in Vancouver and realized we'd have to find another one.

Driving through a tunnel in Minnesota.

That night we cleaned up the bus and put on a couple of bumper stickers and then the next morning we woke up to a couple inches of snow.

So we packed up and headed out to Good Karma, a great VW shop in Minneapolis. We were a little short on cash and needed to find a bank close by, but they hooked it up for the cash we had on us and advised us of a place close by that would work well for working on the bus.
Good Carma
614 Lowry Ave. NE, Minneapolis 55418
612.781.3446

We drove down a couple of blocks and found the car wash with the doors at either end that seal it off from the elements....best part was the radio playing 80's jams while we replaced the exhaust clamp.....worst part was the snow quickly melting off the car and dripping all over the place.

Drew made a snow man...

Our next stop was Evanston, Il., my hometown just outside of Chicago. We went directly to one of my favorite bbq spots, Merle's in Evanston.

So while we where in Chicago, Drew had to fly to Georgia to be the best man in his friends wedding while I stayed to attend my 10 year high school reunion. After dropping him off at the airport I had to get some italian beef...

And then of course some Chicago Pizza....

I had to find a sticker/magnet from my high school for the bus and went for a visit. Here's a photo of the Evanston Township High School mascot, the Wildkit.

And the magnet...

Once Drew got back from Georgia we did another round of deep dish pizza.

In downtown the large face sculptures look amazing at night.

This gives an idea of their size.

After leaving Chicago we stopped in South Bend on our way to Detroit. Here's a shot outside the stadium...unfortunately we got there a couple hours after the game.

We made it to Detroit and stopped for a picture, by the time we left there were at least a half dozen people doing the same thing....the city looked beautiful at night against the water.

We saw the old Ford factory where the Model T's were built.

A shot in front of Ford's house.

On the way to Rochester we stopped my the Niagara falls at night...pretty beautiful lighting....the video's came out a lot better.

While in Rochester our primary goal was to check out the RIT grad photography program....but we had a chance to check out the George Eastman house which was pretty amazing.

We drove through the home of Uncle Sam starting our drive up into Vermont and through New Hampshire on our way to Maine.

We made it to York Harbor, Maine.

A great stop sign near the Nubble in York Harbor, Maine.

What's left of our amazing lobster....$12 for both of us.

From there we made it to Salem, Mass. for Halloween....more pics to come.

Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:44 am

Keep it coming!!! Too bad there's not a jealous icon that's green.

Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:49 am

Our home for a week.

Glad to hear you guys made it home. Really loved meeting you guys in the wonderful town of Sierra Blanca. We made it out of there a few days after meeting yous. Got back on the road and still having troubles, working it out though. When we come through LA we should meet up and repay you for the awesome Grandmas banana bread and everything else. thanks again for stooping, it really really lifted up our spirits. Peace

Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:02 am

i love this thread..its so cool to see people still do this, i did it when i was 18 in a 77 westy.