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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 3054 Location: MD
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Took my mother and my S.O. to Shenandoah NP for lunch and a hike so we could hang out together while my father's funeral was going on in Greece. Hard day for my mom, but I know she appreciated the outing. We hiked Stony Man Summit, the last time my mom hiked it she was 38 weeks pregnant with me! She kept a decent pace at 70! 800' of elevation change for the hike. She really enjoyed being in a Vanagon again and misses hers, a gray Wolfsburg edition. This time around it was her in the back seat taking a nap on the way back home.
Besides some highway hiccups the van ran great. Still chasing those down. 25mph (as is the speed limit in places on Skyline Drive) and going up and down hills is a really hard spot to be in for the Vanagon. 35-40mph is much more comfortable for the gearing.
Parked
Halfway up, you can see the green creeping in from the valley floor. It still wasn't spring above 2,000 feet.
Summit
Heading back, what a wonderful road to drive.
_________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4492 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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4Gears4Tires wrote: |
Heading back, what a wonderful road to drive.
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True. This is just below the crest of Thunder Ridge near Bedford, at the top of a 13 mile downhill stretch.
_________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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erste wrote: |
AND post Quick Trips in this thread? |
What is a Quick Trip? If that means Day Trips w/o an overnight, then I'm not using the Vanagon for that anymore, since I bought a real nice Hybrid SUV with a 400 mile range between fill-ups...
Anyway, I'm thinking of going to Fort Rock, OR before things get too hot here.
And looking for the best camp sites nearby... _________________ .... |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 777 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Merian wrote: |
erste wrote: |
AND post Quick Trips in this thread? |
What is a Quick Trip? If that means Day Trips w/o an overnight, then I'm not using the Vanagon for that anymore, since I bought a real nice Hybrid SUV with a 400 mile range between fill-ups...
Anyway, I'm thinking of going to Fort Rock, OR before things get too hot here.
And looking for the best camp sites nearby... |
The best sites near Fort Rock are at Hole in the Ground. There are a few more on iOverlander around there as well.
nate _________________ 1987 Westy
Insta: @Thatbaldwinlife
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
That Baldwin Life YouTube Channel |
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tjet Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014 Posts: 3533 Location: CA & NM
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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campism wrote: |
4Gears4Tires wrote: |
Heading back, what a wonderful road to drive.
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True. This is just below the crest of Thunder Ridge near Bedford, at the top of a 13 mile downhill stretch.
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Great photo |
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erste Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013 Posts: 1110 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Merian wrote: |
erste wrote: |
AND post Quick Trips in this thread? |
What is a Quick Trip? If that means Day Trips w/o an overnight, then I'm not using the Vanagon for that anymore, since I bought a real nice Hybrid SUV with a 400 mile range between fill-ups... |
cool. |
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erste Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013 Posts: 1110 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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4Gears4Tires wrote: |
Took my mother and my S.O. to Shenandoah NP for lunch and a hike so we could hang out together while my father's funeral was going on in Greece. Hard day for my mom, but I know she appreciated the outing. We hiked Stony Man Summit, the last time my mom hiked it she was 38 weeks pregnant with me! |
Really sorry to hear. That's a nice memory and a good trip to take considering the circumstances. thanks for sharing |
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erste Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013 Posts: 1110 Location: San Francisco
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Sat May 01, 2021 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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goldtooth wrote: |
Merian wrote: |
erste wrote: |
AND post Quick Trips in this thread? |
What is a Quick Trip? If that means Day Trips w/o an overnight, then I'm not using the Vanagon for that anymore, since I bought a real nice Hybrid SUV with a 400 mile range between fill-ups...
Anyway, I'm thinking of going to Fort Rock, OR before things get too hot here.
And looking for the best camp sites nearby... |
The best sites near Fort Rock are at Hole in the Ground. There are a few more on iOverlander around there as well.
nate |
Thx, I've camped at Hole in the Ground various times since 1970. I'll be luxo-glamping in a cabin this time, and will check out the iOverlander site too. _________________ .... |
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Slimvest Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2014 Posts: 431 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Quick trip over the mountains to look for fish. When a friend says they'll loan you their extra fly gear, teach you the ropes, and has the same shoe size, you go. The only thing I caught was a tick trying to climb up my leg, but it was a good weekend on the Deschutes river. Time to start looking for my own waders and 5 weight fly rod.
_________________ '87 GL w/ Reimo top |
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Blakesinclair Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2021 Posts: 60 Location: Santa Ana, California
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Kids had the day off from school, and no little league practice so we took advantage of the day and hit San Onofre. First time "fully loaded" with surfboards, camping box, wife, two kids and the dog.
Was a little gloomy this morning so everyone was pretty happy hanging in the van.
Eventually the sun came out.
Boone is ready for me to install my ARB awning.
_________________ ———————
1985 Weekender Vanagon 1.9L - Manual |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 777 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Our trip up to Leavenworth Washington.
Link
_________________ 1987 Westy
Insta: @Thatbaldwinlife
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
That Baldwin Life YouTube Channel |
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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My little two-day escape to the hills last week doesn't really warrant its own thread, so...
After a severely stressful few days at work (same as all the other days) I snagged a couple of days off and headed for the hills.
Found a great spot on Wed. night in Buffalo Creek Wilderness area. There wasn't another soul for miles.
The next morning, I headed south to Crestone, a little spiritual commune-type hamlet in the Sangre de Cristos. However, I was either still stressed about work or just plain dumb, because I went to Westcliffe, clear on the other side of the mountains. It was all F150's, a saloon, and cowboy hats. This was not at all what I expected when I pulled in thinking it was Crestone.
After gathering my thoughts and mapping a route around the mountains, the van fired up and started missing terribly--my ongoing problem had returned.
With no confidence in the van, nor my ability to diagnose it, I headed north to Buena Vista and John at Urabus with hat in hand and self-reliant pride demolished.
New beige tire cover! It looks kinda Jeepy but the black one I had before had gotten toasted and cracked by the Colorado sun. This one seems much more durable.
John was sure it was a straight misfire, and he was right. After testing the wires, we found that I had yet another bad coil wire. He pulled a nearly-new one off of a removed Tiico, I threw it in, and was back on the road. Too late in the day to get far, I headed west up Cottonwood Pass.
And the misfire returned, worse than before. Might as well camp, figure it out, and hope I could make it to Denver Friday morning.
(I was scheduled to carry some friends up to the Leftover Salmon show for our triumphant return to Red Rocks so I had to get back and get the Syncro figured out.)
Great spot, nobody around, anywhere.
Pulled the hatch, stuck my hand on the distributor cap, and got a familiar shock. ANOTHER BAD WIRE.
I mixed and matched from my spares until I got it to run right. Crashed for the night, exhausted.
The next morning I drove from Cottonwood pass straight to Denver, one of those super-serious drives where you don't even turn on the stereo.
I made to about a mile from my house before it started misfiring again. The #1 wire was shot this time.
I found a set of new wires locally and changed them all out. #1 from the bad set actually came apart in my hand. (No, I don't pull on the wires, I use an extraction tool on the boots.)
Fired it up, drove it all over town, and it ran perfectly. Just in time to head west again!
Had a great show, got everybody home safe, and Pigpen is running like a top.
My constant misfire problems were an issue of pride. I had refused to believe that a brand-new set of Beru wires from ECS could possibly be the culprit, but as it turns out, it was a very bad batch. I mean, they only had about 4000 miles on them.
Live and learn. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 777 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Looks like great sites you found and glad you got the misfire figured out.
nate _________________ 1987 Westy
Insta: @Thatbaldwinlife
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
That Baldwin Life YouTube Channel |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2797 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Live from the field!
After 6 months of surgery, physical therapy camping at Keowee Toxaway state park simple campground quiet small old tent sites. 3.5 mile hike in beautiful woods wonderful to be outside again.
Sunset short walk from campsite.
Campsite right now.
_________________ 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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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2797 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:58 am Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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3 nights at Upper Cove Creek group campground near Brevard NC, one of my favorite places on earth. 4 great friends/families, hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes, bike rides I could have stayed forever.
Finally got a 12 volt fridge, game changer!
_________________ 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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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Great to see you out and about, mikemtnbike! _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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dabaron Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018 Posts: 2561 Location: Philly, mang
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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mikemtnbike wrote: |
4 great friends/families, hikes, waterfalls, swimming holes, bike rides I could have stayed forever.
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sounds like a fantastic time. i'm having a hard time fitting all the play toys in the Vanagon, time to invest in some external carrying options _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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thebigben Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2020 Posts: 94 Location: California
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Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Now that my van is actually not ejecting every type of fluid it holds (well, besides the famous gas-burp problem), I’ve been busy with so many various trips. Most of the trips deserve a more detailed write-up — but I made a fun trip to Big Sur last weekend.
I was intending to camp at Prewitt’s Ridge, but Namiciento Rd is closed due to fire risk, per huge signs in the middle of the road. So, we ended up finding a vista point that was far enough from the road to be comfortable for the night — the views of the milky way were insane! This is only a 30s exposure.
The vista point had a nice little area to sit down for breakfast. Used a nice french press that I bought recently at descendon.
My friend and I did an 8 mile hike at Andrew Molera, and then jumped in the freezing ocean.
I dropped my friend off on the other side of the bridge and he took some awesome pictures. He also split the cost of gas. I need to find more friends to bring. _________________ Ben
'85 2WD Westy w/ Peloquin TBD + 2.2 Subi (Kurt Vannegut) |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2797 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Trip Reports AND Quick Trips! |
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Happy 4th!
3 night at Bandits Roost campground Wilkesboro NC. Lake, trails, 0% chance of rain all weekend. First time mountain biking trails since major knee reconstruction fan freaking tastic.
Photo is right now, there’s a van in 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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