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Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:36 pm

this is how we bought Lucy

a few short weeks later she looks like this

we are planning on driving Lucy all the way south to Florida, then all the way west to California

taking in as much of the US as we can, between 3 and 6 months, I'm hoping on 6 months, mrs rubbachicken thinks 3 months

we'll be updating this thread from time to time {when we have interweb access}

we were hoping to leave on the 1st of November, that didn't quite work out :roll: then tomorrow, it's now looking like the weekend

our first stop will be new york, then DC ,Virginia and North Carolina for thanksgiving with family.

we've got some fun things to do on the way round, some scuba diving, snorkeling with manatee's in Florida, the Kennedy space center

if there's something cool in your area that you can recommend to a traveler, please feel free to let us know, or if you are on our rout and want to meet up with us or can offer us a shower... that would also be very welcome.

Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:00 pm

I noticed you removed the rubber strip on the driver's side of the bumper. What else??

heh....

Looks fantastic! As someone who's also going through a van, I appreciate all that went into that fast makeover - well done!

Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:05 pm

rubbachicken wrote:
if there's something cool in your area that you can recommend to a traveler, please feel free to let us know, or if you are on our rout and want to meet up with us or can offer us a shower... that would also be very welcome.

In Arizona, lots to see: Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater, Grand Canyon, Wupatki Ruins, Lava Tube, Walnut Canyon, Oak Creek/Sedona, Kartchner Caverns, Bisbee, Tombstone... and much more.

If you pass through AZ in January, there's Buses By the Bridge in Lake Havasu.

If you happen to come to Phoenix, you've got a shower, bed, & hot meal at my place... if desired.

Looking forward to the trip reports! 8)

Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:11 pm

IdahoDoug wrote: I noticed you removed the rubber strip on the driver's side of the bumper. What else??

Sticker at the top of windshield removed
Sticker on Wing Window removed
Sticker on Rear Window removed
Antenna height changed
Uhh, not much else that I noticed... :D

Seriously Rubba, that's some good work there. Sounds like you've got a fantastic trip planned to break it in. Good luck to you and the wife on your travels.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:45 am

I highly recommend a day in Charlston and again in Savanna- take the trolley tours-they may seem corny and for the "senior set" but it's a great way to tour such important historical cities.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:38 am

If you can, take the coastal highway from Pensacola east thru Alabama. it is all white shifting sand dunes, they use a snow plow to keep the road clean. It is an amazing surreal and almost an out of body experience.

I'll be travelling with you thru your updates etc... Don't forget libraries are excellent sources for free internet and a lot of major food chains. Sometimes in hotel/motel parking lots you can pick up their wireless. I've just bought a LTE Sierra Wireless 'stick' and when I'm going to the States it will only cost me $10.00 more per mth to connect to AT&T. using my Roger's Account. It's super fast and handles 4G.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:03 am

Quote: you can, take the coastal highway from Pensacola east thru Alabama. it is all white shifting sand dunes, they use a snow plow to keep the road clean. It is an amazing surreal and almost an out of body experience.

Highway 98. One of my favorite roads ever.

Safe Travels!!!

Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:49 am

I met you guys at Transporterfest, You certainly did a lot in a short time. I hope the trips goes well and it is great experience.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:04 am

The Alligator farm in St. Augustine florida is pretty cool.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:56 am

I like taking 17 down to Florida as 95 is so lame. You could take the Blue ridge parkway to NC/SC and then head east to 17.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:32 pm

Thank-You for the nice suggestions.

Alaric.H----
Rt 17 is on our way south:) I'm trying to find a way to cut over to the Blue Ridge Hwy, I heard its beautiful, though we may be a bit late for the foliage.
going to be in Charlotte for thanks-giving. so maybe after that, heading south.

DAIZEE---
Rt. 98, from Pensacola to Louisiana is also on our way:) looking forward to hitting that road, sounds beautiful:) probably after the new-year.

pioneer1---
Charleston, and Savannah both in our plans. I have a friend in both places. Been looking forward for a long time to head that way. (glad I'm doing it in winter/fall, couldn't imagine summertime there...) ... so excited about the accents down there;). I LOVE them!

fredn-- Already booked a Group-on for an alligator farm, not sure its the same one though:)

Any Ideas for New years in FL? We are not Big Party people, so if you know of a nice quiet beach away from Drunken mobs... please give us a shout:)

kamzcab86--
Phoenix, AZ, very much in our plan. though not yet planned out! we have family in the area:) but We would love to get together with you. just send us your info:)

Any way, Thanks again for all your help! :) see you in our posts...

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:26 pm

If you are not vegans, then you must have some alligator. It is sooooo good. Had it the first time in Indian Town, Fl and discovered I like it very much.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:32 pm

Lucy needs to have her picture taken on Lombard Street in San Francisco!

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:36 pm

FOR SURE, I suspect downhill would be much more pleasant than uphill :lol:

Will you be able to go east to west on Galveston and the barrier island peninsula marking the south end of Bay of Corpus Christi? I camped (tent) on Mustang Island 2 days after H. Andrew. Wish now I had taken the time to see all the way to South Padre. I found along the coast more interesting than my time inland in Texas.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:40 pm

we stayed at Skidaway SP just outside Savannah one december,
was very nice and just outside of town to offer a good camping experiance and easy access to downtown Savannah.

http://gastateparks.org/SkidawayIsland/

down in Florida we really like Fort DeSoto in St Petersburgh
it's a Pinellas county park but it's a spectacular beaches and campground if you can snag a site on the water
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm

it's popular so book early if you can. there's also a VW cmapout down there mid winter. have to search the events forum for the campout.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:52 pm

DAIZEE wrote: If you are not vegans, then you must have some alligator. It is sooooo good. Had it the first time in Indian Town, Fl and discovered I like it very much.

We are most definitely NOT vegans, and are planning on croc for lunch one day:)

Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:59 pm

awww Australia has crocodiles, the south has alligators. Get some alligator first. It's a lonnnnnnnnnggggg trip to aussie land.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:06 pm

DAIZEE wrote: awww Australia has crocodiles, the south has alligators. Get some alligator first. It's a lonnnnnnnnnggggg trip to aussie land.

been there and done that :D i drove a '72 tin top bay, around OZ from aug '98 to feb '00
25k miles, i've eaten croc's and alligators, a kangaroo a week for 8 months when i was in OZ

i've yet to find an animal that i wouldn't consider eating :shock:
i don't eat veg, just meat, i eat the animal, not it's food

Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:13 pm

horse meat aka cherry meat is supposed to be very very succulent and extremely lean. Not real common in most of North American but some ethnic areas in Toronto do carry it. Never had kangaroo, what's it like.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:22 pm

DAIZEE wrote: horse meat aka cherry meat is supposed to be very very succulent and extremely lean. Not real common in most of North American but some ethnic areas in Toronto do carry it. Never had kangaroo, what's it like.

horse meat is yummy, kangaroo has it's own distinct flavor, a very game'y taste, lots of people don't like it
i used to catch, kill, hang and butcher them myself in OZ, they consider them vermin, even though it's on their flag

in a nation park in perth WA, i had thoughts about eating koala, unfortunately for me, lucky for the koala, they are toxic, the ucualyptus trees they eat are toxic