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Sidbus
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 731
Location: Miami
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 Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:32 am Post subject: Miami-Canada-Miami Road Trip |
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Yesterday we started our road trip  Taking a family vacation up north in our '76 Westy.
Rough agenda:
Day 1: Depart Miami after work, stop to overnight near Sanford Florida
Day 2: Load bus onto Amtrack Autotrain, Dinner/movies/sleep on train.
Day 3: Arrive Lorton VA.
Day 4 onward? Not really sure. We plan to follow/parallel I 81 up into NY and then divert into Canada while we stop to visit friends and family. Also a few days at Grassroots Music Fest.
We'd love to hear your suggestions on good camping spots, shows, activities (especially mountain bike trails). Anything 50-100 miles east or west of I81 from Virginia up to Canadian border. And then anything in eastern Canada between Thousand Islands and Montreal. In about two weeks we'll pick a route back to Miami.
Here are some pics from day 1:
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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Sidbus
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 731
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:13 am Post subject: |
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Here's a few pics of us getting on and off the Autotrain. I expected to have to unpack the bikes, bikerack, and roofrack for the loading process but they told me I could leave everything attached.
Once I turned over the bus to Amtrack it would no longer start with the key.  None of Amtrack valets were comfortable pop starting the bus and they wouldn't let me drive it so it took about 10 minutes to find an oltimer who wasn't afraid of the bus. He only stalled once going up the ramp.
Luckily the bus cranked when they went to take it off the train and now it's hit or miss with the starter. I'll replace as soon as I find a new one. If anyone knows where I can get a starter (1976 manual 2 liter) along I81 from Scranton to Thousand Islands let me know 
Then again, when I lived up here 20 years ago I went a full year in my '77 westy with no starter...lot's of hills to park on
Here's some pics of the last few days.
Arriving at the station:
Valet Unloading the bus from train:
Monk didn't have a starter in stock but he offered to give me the one out of the gray bus under the tree.
Crossed the PA border with only 6 hours driving time. Covered most of the east coast while we slept on the train:
Here's Tommy having a little nap:
And finally we arrived at our first waypoint. Grama and Grampa's house in Eynon PA:
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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Sidbus
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Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 731
Location: Miami
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arod
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Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 7323
Location: Casa del Carajo
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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awesome! take pics! nothing like a roadtrip in a bus. what do i know about roadtrips in a bus.... 
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2true
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Joined: December 13, 2004
Posts: 1218
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Great Trip! Have fun! |
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babysnakes
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Joined: August 19, 2008
Posts: 7149
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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That looks like awesome fun. I drove my old '72 from Miami up to Pittsburgh and back in '88.  |
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ricekooker
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Joined: April 09, 2006
Posts: 1788
Location: Sanford, FL
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Sweet! Have fun and safe travels! |
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beetleaddiction
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Joined: October 09, 2003
Posts: 1404
Location: Miami Lakes
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome! I hope to do something like this sometime in the future  |
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beetleaddiction
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Joined: October 09, 2003
Posts: 1404
Location: Miami Lakes
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Awesome! I hope to do something like this sometime in the future |
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Sidbus
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Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 731
Location: Miami
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arod
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 7323
Location: Casa del Carajo
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Sidbus wrote: |
| arod wrote: |
| awesome! take pics! nothing like a roadtrip in a bus. what do i know about roadtrips in a bus.... |
Yeah, I imagine you know a thing or two! What was your total mileage at the end? Like 7,000 miles right? |
I think it was like 7700...
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Sidbus
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Location: Miami
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Sidbus
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Location: Miami
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| Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Today we did a few hundred miles around Northeast PA and Poconos. Showed my wife and son a lot of places I used to swim and fish as a kid. Things haven't changed much in those remote areas. The elevations don't get much higher than about 2200 feet but the gradients get up to 14% especially on the dirt roads. Bus had no problems with power, suspension, or braking. 
Also stopped by an old field where I remember seeing a lot of old bugs and busses rotting away back in the 80s. The owner happened to be working in his shed so I asked about the busses. He told me over the years he'd sold/scrapped maybe 30 busses. The last one went about 3 years ago (shell of a '66) And most of the bugs got scrapped when metal prices spiked. It's an interesting place with a lot of old American sedans rotting into the ground and also some very cool vintage (junked) commercial vehicles like tow trucks, ambulances, and school busses.
Here's a little vid where we found some wild blackberries, yum! http://youtu.be/_wGPz211Sn8
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15341
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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feel free to PM me if you want any info for Upstate & Central NY
we have VW members from Cortland to Alex bay and Buffalo to albany.
I'll watch this thread and share the link with our Empire VW camping club.
Dan in Syracuse, NY
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GarryA
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Joined: September 28, 2009
Posts: 613
Location: South Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:39 am Post subject: |
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Suggestions.
Since you are from Miami, go find highway 1 MM zero in Kent Maine.
The travel across the Maine country side to that point is great.
Mt Washington is another cool place. Highest point east of Mississippi I think.
Ranger told me it was 21% grade near the summit. Your bus can do it.
Coast of Maine is cool. Bar Harbor / Acadia NP if you are in that area.
Niagara if you are on the west border of PA/NY.
Happy travels.
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Sidbus
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Location: Miami
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Sidbus
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Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 731
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:20 am Post subject: |
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| GarryA wrote: |
Suggestions.
Since you are from Miami, go find highway 1 MM zero in Kent Maine.
The travel across the Maine country side to that point is great.
Mt Washington is another cool place. Highest point east of Mississippi I think.
Ranger told me it was 21% grade near the summit. Your bus can do it.
Coast of Maine is cool. Bar Harbor / Acadia NP if you are in that area.
Niagara if you are on the west border of PA/NY.
Happy travels. |
I'd like to try and tackle that climb on my mountain bike!! Looks beautiful but we won't make it as far as Maine on this trip. We'll be cutting west into Canada in a few days. We're saving Maine for a Fall trip to check out the foilage.
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076 |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15341
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:21 am Post subject: |
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Long lake is a nice area in the ADks.
the club is busy in Syracsue this weekend with the large hot rod show (we have a VW club display there)
but if time allows swing by The Wild Center in Tupper lake, it's great hands on for the kids but not an all day time sink either.
then you can go either lake placid or 1000 islands depending on your overall direction.
we just returned from a 1800mi trip acroo Vt, NH & all of coastal Maine ourselves.
travel safe and PM if you need anything.
Dan in Syracuse.
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Sidbus
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Location: Miami
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Sidbus
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Joined: January 12, 2011
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Location: Miami
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| Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Just arrived Scranton PA and finally have internet connection. We made a big loop through the Adirondacks into Thousands Islands then Finger lakes.
Bus ran great. Both valve covers started leaking up around Lake Placid and I had to add a quart. Then replaced the valve cover gaskets and now I just have one tiny drip that I haven't bothered to trace yet.
Upstate New York is a beautiful place this time of year and everyone we met was super nice.
Here's a few quick pics until later when I can upload more:
Quick stop for Ice Cream:
Buck Pond State Park:
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57 Panel http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453943
62 so34 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=533160
76 Westy http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=520076
Last edited by Sidbus on Fri Jul 27, 2012 7:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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