Happy birthday to my friend Billy!
For What It's Worth - 77 Days and Counting
Road Trip Necessities
I did purchase a small microwave oven specifically for use in the bus on our road trip, hoping that it does not take up too much space. I’ll have to load all of our equipment up before our trip and take a short camping trip for a week or so just to see what we will need and what equipment will be overkill. I have not camped n Linus for any extended period of time such as a week or longer. I think maybe 3 or 4 days was about it so far, so we need to have a proper experience off grid for a bit longer timeframe to ensure what equipment becomes needed and what is not. This is one of the most important things you have to determine before starting out on an extended road trip where you will be basically be out there in the wilderness all on your own with no direct support for anything you may need.
You must be totally self-sufficient and be able to do everything for yourself when you are out “in the system” as we used to say in my flying days. With my bad back, working on this bus might be troublesome, so preventive maintenance is the key. Keep oil and fuel in the bus and run the engine often. Drive it when you can to ensure it continues to work properly. An older vehicle tends to become inoperable when it sits and does not move a lot. The key is to drive your old vehicle daily or when you can, whether it be a mile or so or longer, just drive the automobile! Driving it keeps it moving!
Our flight plan in Linus is a basic clockwise navigation plan around the perimeter of the US mainland to be revised slightly as we go along, specifically when we discover some awesome place we pleasantly enjoy. Especially if it is a boondocking site (No camping fee site to camp at) with adequate resources such as drinking water and plenty of firewood for nightly campfires, an almost necessity. When camping, drinking water and firewood are the two required needs, and shade and food come in a near second on the hierarchy of needs. With adequate drinking water stored in supply and an adequate amount of food to sustain you, we can realistically spend days or even weeks living off of the grid.
I met another Westy pilot (aka VW Westfalia Bus) this weekend, which was way cool. is name was Julian and he also lives in the South Bay area here in Southern California. We talked lengthly about our buses and how we used them. He has his roof cover with solar panels which seem to keep his aftermarket fridge powered. I got some good specifications from him regarding the freezer/fridge he has which sound like something I may want to pursue for installing in my Linus. It might even fit in the spot where the current fridge is located, which would be sweet! We are slowly getting Linus in shape for our back roads trip adventure and this addition would surely make things much more comfortable.
Snoopy, The Fugitive
Yesterday, on the Columbus Day Holiday, Snoopy somehow got off her leash when she was on her clothesline setup outside. My buddy and I went to IHOP right around the corner for breakfast and I left her outside since it was beautiful weather and she was just laying there basking in the sun, as usual. I get back home in about 45 mins or so and I get a call from this guy saying he has Snoopy. She was probably scratching herself when she apparently must have hit the slide release on the clasp of the leash getting loose, and off she ran. He found he in the street and since she is the friendly type, she came to him when he called. Anyway, in about 20 minutes or so he comes driving up with her in his work van and I give him $20 for gas since he drove her back to my place. He did not want to take it so I stuffed it in his shirt pocket and thanked him once again just before he drove off. I was glad she was safe and sound and she was happy to be back home again, I think. :)
Simple Joys of Life & Words of Wisdom
The best things in life are free.
And it is important never to lose sight of that.
So look around you.
Wherever you see friendship, loyalty, laughter & love…
There is your treasure.
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Snoopy asks that you please… “Bark Less and Wag More!”
Until next time… Be Good!
- cb
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