Detroit to Alaska Adventure!

54taterbug · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 2:06 pm Post subject:

What a great adventure. Reading your story made me wish I was out there in my bus going through the good times and pure hell you went through. If I was in the Detroit area I would already be on my way to tow-bar you home. Good luck on your final leg of trip.

Cptn. Calzone · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:09 pm Post subject: epic adventure

I will second that tater bug Pete is THE Man in my book!,,!Hell half of us on here would have packec it in on the first trans job.Not Pete hell no!Dem Detroit boys keep on rockin baby.You be proud Pete and treat the magnificent one to some love she did you right.And treat yourself too what you accomplished is Dancing

flipping amazing!Yes sir real proud for you
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71 westfalia
67 912 Porsche Quintilla
67 Single Cab aka my work horse

Shoyrtt · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject:

With over 49,000 page views and 400 replies in a little over two months since you started this thread, it's safe to say the Samba community has been following and rooting for you! Thank you for sharing with us this awesome adventure! Cool

taylordb · Samba Member Joined: August 03, 2008 Posts: 18

For almost 3 months I have started and finished my day reading this thread. Thank you so much for sharing your epic adventure....it truly was inspiring. You have set the bar very high for trip threads from now on.

Hold your head high in triumph!!

wrenchnride247 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:12 pm Post subject:

Great read from first post! Been fowling along the whole way. Wish I could just get mine out the shop, let alone drive as far as you have! You have nothing to be ashamed of man!
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SPL

'62 SC 69x90.5 SP TI
'70 T1 84x105 DP T4

smokey · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:59 am Post subject:

best thread ever..... Very Happy

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59' Double Cab

Wheelie Pete · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the props and kudos - I've been through every range of vw bus emotion possible!

I drank my sorrows away, and when I woke, I walked a few buildings down to get breakfast. I was only there a few minutes when a family friend (Gordy - who happens to live in town) sat down a few tables away. I called him over, talked to him a bit, and he offered to drive me and the bus back down to Detroit. What luck!

So we loaded up the bus

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

and headed out for Detroit!

The views were different.....

but some what the same!

In a few hours we were in Detroit

where the water is so plentiful and cheap they can afford to waste it!!!!

The mighty one was back home soon - Thanks Gordy!!!

and I popped the valve cover to see if it was what I thought..... and it was....

and I checked my basement for spares,..... found a few

Neil even dropped off a roof section!!

I'll have the motor out in a few days. I'll rebuild it, maybe take some more dents out. Maybe make a few other improvements.... idk yet
We have some more traveling to do. I already saw the western and northern most points of the drivable US. Looks like I have to get back on the road and see the Eastern and Southern most points too!!

Thanks for reading the thread - it's been an adventure like none other! Other than engine blow up it was a complete and absolute blast! I met the most interesting people and saw parts of the country I only dreamed about! I really really appreciate all the IM's and all of the help on the way! I could not have done it with out the samba community - so here's a big shout out to all the samba folks I met on the way

Cody -somewhere in Montanna
Kevin - Edmonton!
Jeff!! - over in Homer Alaska -
Mike in Fairbanks!
Adam (who may not be on samba, but should be- hah!) Fairbanks!!
Keith aka Mr congenial aka RiffRaff - Calgary!

Thanks for all your help and hospitality and showing the world that one is never alone!

And of course a big shout out to Everett for putting the site together!

I'll put a trip summary soon, I also have a few more pics from the rollover day to share.

See you back on the road soon!!

hoagy86 · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:45 pm Post subject:

Well done Pete! Applause

what a great adventure, hats off to you. Thank you for sharing it was great never knew what was
Going to happen next.

Breckskier · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 8:13 pm Post subject:

Great last PIC!! The Mighty One! For sure.
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BreckSkier
67 13w Deluxe-"St. Pete" the Airport Jet Bus
65 13w Deluxe-"St. Nikolas"
67 912(911.5 Outlaw build spring 2015), 90 C4Cab. Formerly: 59 DD, 78 SuperB, 81 911Cab, 82Vanagon, 81Vana & other German / US stuff..

cdennisg · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 8:22 pm Post subject:

One helluva trip! Thanks for bringing us all along for the ride. I love how even at the very end, somehow, someway, serendipity led you to a way out of your situation.
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nothing

Saul Koll · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:43 am Post subject:

Thanks for the great story! One of the best I've read on this great site. Wishing you the best with the repair and restoration and more importantly your future adventures.
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"I wish you could smell the smell that's coming from the bus"...

curtis4085 · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 5:31 am Post subject:

What a fantastic adventure. If I close my eyes and hold my breathe I can almost feel an ass pucker from the roll over. Just like a great novel your journey kept me on the edge of my seat and loaded with smiles. Much thanks for sharing!!
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Special Thanks to:
Headflow Masters - Vista, CA
www.headflowmasters.com

marklaken · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:16 am Post subject:

so where are we going next?
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Wish List:
1967 Wesfalia SO-42 Parts Needed: Kitchenette, Cot Poles

'65 rear left beetle fender

15" Bus Wheels in fair condition

Mark Laken
Fort Collins, CO

mtnbus · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:20 am Post subject: alaska

great journey !

busmike · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:58 pm Post subject:

BlastMasterMannyFresh · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:51 pm Post subject:

NICE!!

Wheelie Pete · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 8:24 am Post subject:

Here's some stats for the trip

Total driving days - 26
Average driving day Mileage - 294.7
Least driving day Mileage - North Pole to campsite - 47 miles
Highest driving day Mileage - Minot ND to Ironwood. 581 miles

Coolest Group of Folks - Quebecers I met at Homer Spit
Weirdest Group of Folks - Gas Station attendants on the Alaskan Highway

Worse Day - Rollover day by far.
Best Day - One of the beach days on Homer Spit

Worst Road - Dalton Highway - big kudos to those that drive it everyday!
Best Road - stretches of I94 - nice and smooth

Worst meal - McDonalds at Minot, ND
Best meal - fresh Salmon cooked on a fire!

Most unfriendly VW town - Shelby Mt.
Friendliest VW town - Fairbanks, AK!!

And here's some pictures from the aussie that didnt make it the first time!

rollover also loosened a fuel fitting causing it to work loose, and in an attempt to put it back on a hot engine....... only took a second to explode....

luckily, I took the samba advice of fire extinguisher behind the front seat!

and one worth another posting!

BulliBill · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 8:33 am Post subject:

Damn! The tale just keeps getting better and better! Great shots of the fire-fighting episode! Is your hand on fire in that first shot? Holy Crap! You know how to have a good and memorable time! What a fun adventure! I can't wait to follow your next one!

Bill

p.s. I run with two of those extinguishers on-board - just in case! Never had to use them on any of my VWs yet, but one came in handy on someone else's Bus once...
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

kombisutra · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:24 am Post subject:

Thanks Pete, really appreciate your sharing the story so well. Hope to follow some day.

Saul Koll · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 10:21 am Post subject:

"rollover also loosened a fuel fitting causing it to work loose, and in an attempt to put it back on a hot engine....... only took a second to explode....

luckily, I took the samba advice of fire extinguisher behind the front seat!

"

Good lord! Your hand is on fire too!
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"I wish you could smell the smell that's coming from the bus"...


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