71 Westy -- bought new in London by my father, rolls again!

[Xevin]

[sunnydog]

Happy to have the spring weather happening! Lots of good fairweather driving last weekend, pubs and hardware stores and invites to dinner because of my scintillating conversation... Or whatever, ya know...
Maybe not scintillating, let's go with adequate!
Here's the end of my driveway again -- no snow or stories of reversing up it this time.

Lots of good stuff happened after I took this photo, but I don't know that I can offer the details, my apologies...
sunnydog
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'71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.

[Abscate]

I miss my DogKisses from my departed Catahoulan Hound, tough week.
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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[Xevin]

I think the preferred terminology is “DoberThey”

You could road trip with us to Warm Springs in a couple weeks.
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Keep on Busin'

[sunnydog]

Last weekend was a beautiful sunny weekend in the PNW, the first weekend in May, and I was invited to a Beltane bonfire on Saturday. What better vehicle to bring than an old VW bus! On my way there, I started thinking and got a little suspicious, but felt better when I arrived and there was no large wicker man effigy -- and I mean the 1973 version, not the 2006 legendarily bad Nick Cage version set on an island off the coast of Washington. I parked in the driveway, left the sliding door open and put up the table, told people to feel free to jump in and hang out...

Some nice folks had brought along their sweet Dobergirl, who was leaning up on people all night. I tried to get a selfie with her and got licked on the mouth. Which I was not prepared for. Yergh.

Delicious food, a great bonfire and fantastic conversations... but there was no angle to get a shot of the bonfire and the bus lined up together, my apologies.

Sunday was another beautiful day and after doing a bunch of yardwork and other chores, Mrs. sunnydog and I took the bus down to the park by the Columbia River to hang out.

We brought our own 10-year old Doberboy along with us in the bus, which he does not like anywhere near as much a good old-fashioned Subaru Outback. He gave us some side-eye:

After a lounging around a bit, we drove over to the wildlife refuge at the entrance to the Columbia Rver Gorge, and caught just a bit of the top of Mt Hood in the distance

I took this picture with the 0.5 wide angle lens, so yes the steering wheel is still a circle even tho it looks stretched. I know you'll find this surprising but we stopped at a pub -- this one was recently declared one of the 22 best new breweries in the entire US of A. We got tasty pints of "Fire & Flowers" Spring Bock (again with the Beltane motif, setting up the pastoral summer season of fecundity)

Then later on the way home, our old Dobie was tired enough to get in some sleepin'. He's a sleeper, that boy is...

Another fantastic weekend in the books! Y'all want me to take this bus on a long road trip! Will 2025 finally be the year?!

Eh, probably no. But rest assured there is plenty of good livin' always happening around here. And sleepin', too.
sunnydog
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'71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.

[heyskull]

It's been a while.

[sunnydog]

Where was I? Oh yeah, I'm right here at the first marina sunset of the year. Listening to Johnny Cash's greatest hits. Ain't it grand?

I think that tree out front is getting bigger.
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'71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.

[Xevin]

[superman73]

[Abscate]

Well struck, airschooled!
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[airschooled]

Wasted?? My dude you just got paid to enjoy your time!

Congrats
Robbie
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One-on-one tech help for your vintage Volkswagen:

www.airschooled.com

https://www.patreon.com/airschooled

[superman73]

i just wasted a whole day at work reading this thread. WOW! great story. now i want to get my bus in better shape and start driving it more. congrats on the history and the storytelling.
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Chuck

Jesus Saves

70 deluxe bus
74 ghia 1776 dual carb
67 manx clone


various other parts cars.


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=228364&highlight=superman73sb+bellsouth

[NASkeet]

[Abscate]

Happy Holidays to you , Sunnydog, and may your Mom and Dad ride with you for the season, in their van Bus
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🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

[sunnydog]

Out doing my part to spread holiday cheer! I visited one gas station, two hardware stores, three pubs, and drove through at least 10 roundabouts, most of which were dedicated to Professor Skeet. Sunset comes early but is great in the PNW when crisp and clear. Here's a super-processed HDR photo.

At one of the pubs where I met friends I got the parking spot right in front of the window. LED lights mean I can just leave them on without drawing down the battery at all.

...and finally a sunset window reflection self portrait -- and the secret to easily attaching string lights to your gutters is small binder clips.

Is the bus having any mechanical issues? Not really. Do I have any good vanlife stories? Nope. We are just living a small town life, people beeping their horns, kids pointing and waving, some dude in a 1995 yellow Volvo 850 sedan threw me a hang loose shaka. Good times, boring stories of glory days and all that. Happy winter to everyone!
sunnydog
_________________
'71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.

[Xevin]

_________________
Keep on Busin'

[sunnydog]

Well, I am normally a Grinch when it comes to holidays, but I've been doing yardwork and listening to coyotes in the distance and it's 36*F, and my attitude is great, so I put the Christmas lights on the bus early this year. Let meteorological winter commence!

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'71 Westy w/ a 1776 singleport, 34P3 & 205Q. Points.

[NASkeet]

[Shonandb]

[NASkeet]