Cross-country road trip FL to AZ (BBB bound) - Follow along!

[VW_MAN_73]

Our cross-country road trip started in Florida on Thanksgiving Day and taking us all the way to Arizona! So far, we’ve:
- Explored quirky roadside attractions
- Wandered through state & national parks
- Camped under the stars
- Snapped pics at some really cool murals
- Connected with the amazing VW community

We’ve clocked over 2,650 miles in the bus, with unforgettable memories made at every state. Two legs of the trip down, and one more to go. The ultimate destination is Buses by the Bridge (BBB).

Check out our pics and videos on FB and YouTube and join the adventure! We're requesting places to see/stop for the next chapter of this VW adventure on our route coming home. Yes, I-40/Route 66 is on the list.

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’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[Xevin]

I didn’t vote. Day by day updates for me gets a bit much. Personally I like a few highlights and updates in clumps. I don’t think many people care about my roadtrip posts except a few longtime friends from Samba and Samba people I’ve connected with over the years. I dig road trip threads and follow most of them because I love adventure travel in old VWs and unique discoveries. My VW bros not on the Samba like the occasional trip photos in a group text. I tried to look at your YouTube stuff from the button in your thread and it didn’t work for me. And I have a YouTube account. It wanted me to sign up for some YouTube gimmick I don’t have. Keep in mind I don’t have the major social media stuff except Samba, IAC, and recently a YouTube account that I kinda use to post stuff on the Samba. Whew!! That was a lot of words Safe travels and update this thread from time to time. Maybe I’ll see you at BBB.
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Keep on Busin'

[VW_MAN_73]

Thanks Xevin!
I'll just post a few highlights here like you suggested. This has been a fun road trip! The bus is so comfortable and we have all the amenities we need. We just finished our second leg and have the bus in Phoenix currently. What are you taking to BBB? We'll be there on Wed 1/15.

Not sure what happened to the YT link, try this one: https://www.youtube.com/@BrewDub73/

[Xevin]

Hope my opinion didn’t come across douchey. Post all you want. I’m still going to read it and post up silly gifs, memes, and YouTube clips More importantly, enjoy the travels and don’t worry about posting. I gotta little something going here

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=798778
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Keep on Busin'

[jlrftype7]

Great trip from the sound of it. Your '71 reminds me of our '68, minus the Front Mounted Spare.
Never got to take a Big Trip with the '68 like we wanted to. Accelerator Nozzle in the Carb got loose and went down into the engine, to be flattened on top of one of the pistons, making noise right before a well planned trip from St Louis to Pittsburg, then to Virgina Beach VA and back to St Louis MO....
We took our '69 Bug instead. It DID make the trip though...
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[VW_MAN_73]

Not at all. I took a look at your post. I like your Westy adventure too. Safe travels. I'll follow along, and hope to meet you at BBB.

[VW_MAN_73]

Wow! Sorry to hear that you weren't able to take the trip in the bus. It's so much more comfortable than a beetle! Maybe one day you'll make an adventure in it!

[wcfvw69]

[VW_MAN_73]

It's all good. Man, I tell you.. a bay window is so comfortable to road trip in. We have everything we need.

Does the bet still stand if it comes from a dog?

[wcfvw69]

Back to the OP.. Looks like a fun trip. You must have a good back as the seat in my old 1970 bus didn't play well with my lower back.

I'm planning on meeting up with Kevin at BBB and will smack him for his rudeness and douchey comments in his first post in your thread.

Enjoy the road trip. I bet you're getting lots of thumbs ups on the road. I was traveling east a few years back in a non VW. At a rest stop outside of Tucson, a mid-70's bus was loaded up with stuff pulled in. We started chatting as he was heading home to Florida from California. I asked if people were frustrated with having to pass him in the slow lane. The guy was super laid back and said "if they are, I'm not noticing them". lol.
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Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[skills@eurocarsplus]

wow, sounds like you will see Bill at BBB. you can just deposit the turd in his pocket. Dog is fine, I don't mind

I'll send you some Kal Kan and that should be enough to lay a big meaty one right on Bills shoe if that works better
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[wcfvw69]

[VW_MAN_73]

Thank you. We've been enjoying it so far. I really dont mind the seat but my upper back and neck muscles are ceasing up from sitting hovering the wheel for hours. lol

We've been getting more thumbs up than middle fingers, so the freeway flyer must be doing good on the interstate! As long a there's tailwind.

[VW_MAN_73]

With all major restoration complete, it is finally time to hit the road from Florida to Arizona! The ultimate destination is Lake Havasu City where we will join hundreds of others at Buses by the Bridge (BBB) Show in January 2025.

Highlights:
Leg One: Tampa to Houston - On the Road

Thanksgiving morning, we hit the road from Florida, starting with a fitting mural in Crystal River: “The Adventure Starts Here.” It was the perfect send-off as we embarked on this incredible journey in our ’71 bus. Along the way, murals like “Be the Light” reminded us of the positivity that comes with life on the road.

Our first night’s camp at Fort Pickens Campground in Pensacola gave us a chance to settle down, cooking dinner by the bus and enjoying the stillness... except for the rain drops on the poptop. The next morning, the sea fog cleared and we explored the fort, even spotted a bald eagle! This was a reminder of how history and nature can come together beautifully.

From there, things got interesting... I realized the accelerator pedal had rusted right off! Thanks to the VW community, after a few posts in various Facebook Groups, we met up with some amazing people, like "Wild Bill", who welcomed us into his world with stories, VW contacts and challenge coin souvenirs.

Our journey continued and took us through the rest of the panhandle. We officially left Florida behind and rolled into “sweet home Alabama”. Made a pit stop at the Oasis Travel Center for snacks, a quick break for lunch, then back on the road to our next adventure. Rolled into Mobile, Alabama and was waiting to see a sign for Greenbow. Still haven’t spotted Forrest or Bubba. That’s all I have to say about that! LOL

"Wild Bill" led us to a few gulf-coast VW groups, where we were connected with another awesome VW guy. A huge thanks to Edwin, who had the part we needed! Talk about luck and the power of the VW community. We couldn’t be more grateful for the connections we’re making along the way. Quirky roadside attractions like the World’s largest rocking chair added to the fun. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana; all in a single day. We ended the night late at a cozy campsite at St. Bernard State Park under a canopy of stars. After a hot dinner and some attempts at a campfire that didn’t quite catch, we’ve bundled up for a chilly evening. Our adventure so far has been nothing short of incredible.

A very chilly morning! After fueling up with a hot breakfast, we explored the beautiful grounds of St. Bernard State Park and stumbled upon a cool old wooden relic of a bridge. After a bit of bus maintenance, we packed up and ready to roll! New Orleans brought its own charm, from a morning at Who Dat Coffee Cafe to a cruise through the French Quarter. We even cruised down Bourbon Street to pop into some of the eclectic shops. Skipped the beads and snagged a sticker for the bus instead. Had to stop and grab an infamous Muffeletta sandwich! It's been a few years since we had one. Lunch on the go! A quick stop in Baton Rouge to snap a pic by a patriotic mural in added to the fun before we crossed the Mississippi River and continued westward.

We went Live on Youtube! We were out on the open highway and invited our friends and VW community along for the ride! We answered any burning questions about our trip, the bus, and the VW lifestyle. Told some road stories in real-time as we cruised, chatted, and shared our journey. This was really fun and made us want to do it again!

https://www.youtube.com/@BrewDub73

Texas greeted us with a classic roadside attraction, the Big Gator off I-10. We snagged a photo and continued our trek to Houston, reflecting on the 1,100+ miles covered so far. The bus found temporary storage in Houston as we paused our road trip, eagerly anticipating the next leg.
_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[VW_MAN_73]

Leg Two: Houston to Phoenix - Back on the Road

Christmas morning, we flew back to Houston. The plane was nearly empty and the roads are bare! We were reunited with the bus and hit the road again. Leaving the storage unit and heading west again feels great!

First Buc-ee’s stop for the bus, and it didn’t disappoint! Grateful they were open on Christmas Day so we could stock up on road trip essentials (and a few snacks, of course). Bonus: We met Buc-ee himself, decked out in holiday cheer, and even scored a sticker for the window!

We ventured out of the way just a bit to cross paths with an old bus I once owned, which is now a billboard in Texas and for sale, to buy back its rims for my ’61 SO23 project. Stay tuned for how I get these home!

As we head along I-10 west, the scenery wasn't too thrilling. We enjoyed some music to keep us chugging along. A few breaks for gas refills and lunch at a rest/parking area. After the sun set, we couldn't help but to see bright lights from afar. Christmastime in the Texas Hill Country with over 1.6 million lights!! Lights Spectacular in Johnson City, Texas was a pleasant surprise.

We stopped for the night in Kerrville, TX. We didn't quite meet the state park we had set out for, so we ended up at a quiet Cracker Barrel RV/parking lot. Made a quick dinner and headed to bed. An early start allowed for a quick breakfast, and a pit stop at Harbor Freight to gear up with a rivet gun, a battery powered drill, and a stylish raincoat jumpsuit. With the pedal assembly finally fixed, we’re ready to rack up those miles.

The road brought more surprises. A wild change of events for our solo road trip. Something incredible happened. We happened to come across a VW convoy heading to the same place we were! We were only 2 mile markers behind them and they invited us to tag along! We convoyed from Fort Stockton to Marathon Tx. Our new VW friends extended a warm introduction to new friends. We were welcomed with a cozy place to camp, a homemade cooked meal, a big ol' bonfire, and an incredible night with new friends.

Woke up to a chilly morning. We contributed by cooking up a hearty breakfast and helping with some bus repairs. We all walked to a nearby coffee shop to warm us up from the inside out. Then we treked into Big Bend National Park together. We circled our 'wagens, for a well-earned lunch break while soaking in the stunning scenery. These shared moments remind us that VW life is about more than just the journey, its about the people you meet and the memories you make along the way.

We parted ways from the group to continue our solo road trip journey westward. Feeling so grateful for the beauty of this place and the incredible community we get to share it with. Big Bend NP is beautiful! Exploring the terrain here was amazing. Around every corner was sprawling desert views. Seeing the bus tucked into such a stunning backdrop made it all the more special.

We then rolled into Marfa, TX. Stopped to check out the iconic giant Marfa mural. Snagged a few quick shots with the bus, we had to skip the infamous Prada installation this time due to many tourists. We soaked in all the Texas vibes as we continued west.

We watched a beautiful sunset and finally crossed into New Mexico late. Stopped at a fun place called Peter Piper Pizza, not realizing it was also an arcade. We clowned around a bit and played skeeball, ice hockey and other arcade games before retiring for the night. Bright and early, we woke up to finding out our spare gas tank was stolen overnight right off the luggage rack. Shame on us for being so trusting and not moving it inside for the night. We found out a nearby truck/trailer also had 2 gas tanks and a diesel tank stolen. A reminder to stay vigilant. Stopped by a nearby walmart to restock the tank, then get it refilled in the event of a fuel emergency. As we've seen on the interstate, sometimes there's 75 miles or more before service.

We stopped quickly for a photo op at the Worlds Largest Chili Pepper! HA! Our next major stop was Bowlins Continental Divide gift shop. We browsed around, purchased a few souvenirs to take home, and snagged a pic of the bus in front of a giant, colorful teepee that you can see from the interstate.

Within no time, we made it to the AZ state line. Probably not the safest and smartest idea, but we had to get out and take a photo at the state sign! It was memorable. We've been driving nearly 2,400 miles to make it to this point.

We kept trekking, keeping our eyes peeled for the giant Saguaros! Once we were close to the Saguaro Nation Park (East division) we started to see lots of them. Since we have our America The Beautiful pass, we got right in and drove the 8-mile loop. SO many cacti, so much amazing scenery, It took us about an hour to go around the whole loop, stopping a few times for pictures and to take it all in. We didn't go on hikes, because we were on a bit of a time crunch to get the bus parked in phoenix. So, back on the road we went.

We caught another amazing sunset and made it to our storage unit, except, there were locks on our door. Parking the bus in Phoenix brought challenges with storage. It became a really long night. About 10 phone calls later, and 5 more storage properties and units, we had to postpone our flight to a later one, finally got the bus secured, wrap up the rims in towels and loads of tape, and get to airport.

We finally arrived home in Tampa around 2am. This was an eventful 24 hours and taught us the right questions to ask next time we plan to keep the bus in storage, like what's the clearance of the doorway with the pad/door, and is the door on the length or width of the unit.

This journey has been filled with unforgettable sights, quirky stops, and the kindness of the VW community. In just 2 weeks, we fly back out and complete our journey to Lake Havasu City for the BBB show. We will have 2 of our VW friends with us for this last leg. Really excited to mark this journey as complete soon! Thanks for sticking around. Stay tuned as we complete this cross-country adventure!
_________________
’73 Beetle - My first car, owned 26+ yrs
’71 VW Westfalia - Road-tripping across the US
Rescued & restoring a ’61 Dove Blue SO23 Bus
Follow our journey!

[Xevin]

Link


Looking forward to liberation. Safe travels.
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Keep on Busin'

[Slip356]

What’s with the ‘rims wrapped in towels’?

[Xevin]

[VW_MAN_73]

Exactly what we did! If it weighs under 50lbs, and it’s an awkward shape, just wrap it up.