TheSamba.com :: View topic - Trip Report

Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:38 pm

I took the bus to from Seattle to Whistler, BC - about 500 miles, round trip, including picking up my friend Matt for the ride. The bus purred along perfectly the whole time. I'm so glad I took her (I was briefly tempted by my wife's Subaru), but there is nothing like having your bus to camp in.

We stayed 4 days in Whistler, got rained on REALLY hard at least part of every day. Did tons of big-mountain riding, plenty of drinking. ate lots of hot dogs and had a really great time. The Bus Depot Awning was fantastic. Even with all that endless rain, there was no shortage of cozy dryness in the bus. Best purchase ever.

I drove at about 65 MPH. She had room for more - I kept doing 70+ by accident - but always took it back down to 65MPH. She likes that speed and it's quite comfortable for all of us. Driving was pure fun, through the mountains. Only had to downshift to third gear for a few steep hills.

The lowered front end did fine (Wagens West 2.5 inch dropped spindles), even with 2 bikes, cooler full of beer, tons of gear and our two, big fat asses sitting in the front seat.

I really enjoyed coming back to the bus after a hard day's ride. I get happy just sitting in there with my feet up.

I have a huge list of little improvements and camping ideas for next time. Nothing was wrong, but I couldn't help brainstorming lots of new thoughts. One thing is for sure, if you're drinking a lot of beer at camp, go to bed with a water bottle for sipping and an empty Gatorade bottle for peeing in in the morning - that way you get to sleep in a bit longer without going outside. That's all you really need!

Road trippin' with my buddy, Matt.

That's me, driving.

Camp.

Here's that vintage cooler in action. I love being able to remove it and make more space inside, plus the beer stays really cold when it's laying in ice water at the bottom!

It dumped rain on us really hard for 4 days and nights, but all was cozy and dry at camp! I LOVE my Bus Depot EZ awn.

We met up with some other friends, driving their Vanagons. The different generations of busses got along famously in the campground. My bus is barely visible, far right.

* Edit, looks like my biking pic got zapped - balls! *

Post-ride recovery!

Bed time (I made Matt sleep outside!). I was so cozy in there. Slept like a bug in a rug.

Goodbye, Whistler. See you later this summer!

Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:47 pm

Oh yeah! That looks great. I've done the Whistler trip several times but just once in my current bus last year. Is that campground riding distance to the lifts?
And shouldn't you be hitting the right side of those jumps? :wink:
Good shots of good times!!

Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:53 pm

Great trip. that looks sweet. nothing like a cold rainier after playing all day in the mountains.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:56 pm

Daverham wrote:

Dude. That picture is very zen. post ride high. a big bowl of mac & cheese. a cold Rainier. a bus. You are the center of the universe.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 2:59 pm

I can't wait til my 78 vw riv is road worthy. I would like to go to B.C. Also. The last time that I tried to cross into Canada to go to Vancouver, I forgot that I had a 22cal. Rifle in my old van. I just leave it in the van for plinking at cans here in the Wyoming mountains. Well Mr. Canadian custom man said that since I was just doing a day trip, I had to turn around and leave my gun in the USA and then enter Canada. After sitting in traffic for an hour just to have him tell me that, I decided to just go back. So I expect the next time I try to go to Canada they will probably make me empty my bus looking for guns.
Great pictures of bus and trip!

Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:00 pm

Quote: Dude. That picture is very zen. post ride high. a big bowl of mac & cheese. a cold Rainier. a bus. You are the center of the universe.

You nailed it man. That was pure bliss. We were still super-charge stoked from hitting some new big stuff on the hill. Coming down to sit in the bus and have a beer was almost overwhelming with joy.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:14 pm

Great pictures, thanks for sharing!
Where exactly was that. I would like to take a trip in my bus up to whistler and that place looks alright.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:18 pm

Riverside Campground, Whistler. It's a 10 minute bike ride from the Village. They call these the "partial" sites (J-lot) because they are hybrid RV/tent sites. Perfect for bus camping. There is an electrical outlet in each site, fire pit, picnic table. And a clean shower/toilet on site.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:46 pm

That sounds great. Thanks for the info. Did you have to reserve a spot or is it first come first served?

Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:48 pm

this is the first time i have seen a tintop camper that isn't a walkthrough. Is it something you have modified or is this something from another bus modification company?

make shure that you get enough of the swivel seat pedistal , and not just the round swivel ' to get a nice fit. ( swivel base, seats and sink cabinet out of same parts bus ) thanks randy 8)

Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:04 pm

Daverham wrote;

Quote: I am converting a transporter to a "camper-lite", and am considering jalousie windows... if I find a good used set, can I just bolt/seal them right in where the sliding windows come out, without any major body modifications? Is the hole the same size/shape?

Aug. 27 2009

Yep. conversion.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:31 pm

Now get a sawzall and put in a swivel front passenger seat and see how much more room you have to enjoy....BEST thing i ever did

Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:13 pm

Right. This was 9-passenger bus when I got her. I put a full-width Riviera bed in there and built the table, cabinets/etc myself, home made.

I've been thinking about doing a proper walk-thru-and-swivel-seat conversion, using actual sheet metal from a real walk-thru bus, welding it up real nice, etc. Not sure about that yet. I've seen a thread where it was done nicely.

The camp site is by reservation.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:19 pm

I saw your bus parked in the lot in Whistler this weekend. Forced my husband to park beside you so that I could 'visit' with her. What a beaut!!

Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:16 pm

^^^ Awesome! Which lot?

I parked next to a blue early Bay with a bike on the front at the Market. Took a pic of both buses together! I love parking next to other VWs when I see them.

That would have been Saturday, I think. And Sunday I was in the day lot. So happy somebody "knows" my bus. Famous!

Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:14 am

Looks like an awesome trip. Makes me wish I was on the left coast. You are correct, though...nothing better than hitting the trails and ending up back at the bus...with a beer of course. A post ride tradition. Actually, drinking beer might be the only reason I ride bikes.

Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:23 am

Funny. This was my friend's first ever Whistler trip and while we were having those beers in the bus, I explained to him that the entire day's riding was really just a warm up so that we could enjoy the beers that much more.

We're on the same page! :D

And I used to have a sticker on my 65 bug that looked exactly like your avatar. Love it.

Quote: And shouldn't you be hitting the right side of those jumps? Wink
Oh, now I get it. Yeah man. I hit it from the right, but I tail-whipped it to the left! Extra style points!!

Quote:
Aug. 27 2009

Yep. conversion.

Damn! You're paying attention. Well done!