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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2797
Location: North Carolina
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 Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 3:52 pm Post subject: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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My wife and I just finished a week-long trip from Asheville up in to VA and back and it was so nice I decided to internet brag, so here goes...
First, Westfauxlia...I converted my tintop about 6 months ago and have many nights camping and thousands of miles driving with it now. Simply, if you're thinking about this, GO FOR IT! It's been awesome in all conditions, no leaks, shaking, vibration, anything negative at all- and it improved van camping even more than I thought it would. Plus, I've gone from a rough running tintop purchased for 3k to a reliably running poptop for about 9k all-in. That's not bad at all.
Ok, trip...the purpose of this trip was first relaxation- we've both been under a fair bit of stress at work- and secondly to camp in places we hadn't been before.
In advance- a photographer I am not.
First two nights, Claytor Lake State Park in VA.
Decent camping except for horrible neighbors first night, but they got booted. Probably won't go back here, park was very focused on beach, marina, etc and not enough outdoors for active DINKs...but the sunset was nice and we got some trail running and biking in.
On to Fairystone State Park for a night....GREAT! Campground was mostly empty, nice lake, good mountain biking. Here we'd stay again...
The rest of the trip would be going back to Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you ever have the chance to van tour on the BRP, I cannot recommend it enough. Never fails to be amazing...anyway, Rocky Knob campground for a night....`100 plus campsites and fewer than 10 campers we had loop B all to ourselves....
Great hike the next day, then on to Price Lake Campground for two nights. We had high hopes for this campground and were not disappointed...
Amazing time. As a big highlight for me, saw this hiking...
That's an 18" long hellbender salamander off Boone Fork, too cool for school...lots of wildlife all trip, mostly deer and turkey, but this was a good sighting.
Ok, that's it, pretty simple but really awesome. Van was trouble free, 16.6 mpg with two adults, two dogs, two bikes, two boats. Really happy with that.
Remember, have fun everybody!!
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7757
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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Fun, indeed...very cool!
Thanks for posting! 
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3803
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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Awesome post. Looks like a fun time. You going to Asheville van life rally next week?
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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dabaron
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2561
Location: Philly, mang
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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just bought my tin top for 3K with the pop top conversion in mind. great looking trip. thanks for sharing. that hellbender, whoa!
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC
Last edited by dabaron on Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2797
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:22 am Post subject: Re: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| Awesome post. Looks like a fun time. You going to Asheville van life rally next week? |
Yes, hope we meet there!
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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Steve Arndt
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2005
Posts: 1780
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 8:42 am Post subject: Re: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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Cool trip report. I'm gearing up to start my pop top conversion. My old man gave me a loan to buy the westy donor. I have to pay him back before I start ordering seals, tent canvas, marine top paint etc. etc. 
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Steve
Steve's 87 Syncro project |
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B.O.B.Wanders
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014
Posts: 351
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: 2018 NC/VA trip report plus Westfauxlia feedback |
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+1 for the BRP. We have driven the whole thing plus Skyline Drive (Shenandoah NP) and love it. Thanks for posting. Timing is everything! 
For those farther west, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a nice, similarly relaxing van trip - 50 mph limits, lots of green, and the camping is free (or was).
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83.5 WBX 2WD Assuan Brown Westy, B.O.B.
"It feels good to be lost in the right direction” - unknown |
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