Well it has been a while since I actually typed up my reports. So if I ramble off topic that’s my excuse. Had been intending to go to the Bring Your Own Bus show and swap at the Red Barn in Prunedale on Hwy. 101 south of Gilroy for a bit. Had figured on taking my Dormobile all things being equal. And stumbling blocks being part of my natural plan in life I encountered a few. My mom had surgery but turned out fine, Jeff got a job and needed to be dropped off but he could drive himself and now I just have to find a way to retrieve the car, Westy started to bleed in his stomach but the wonders of vet science allow him to be fine and then of course there was the bus itself.
I have had trouble with the shifting ever since last summer after I had a shift bushing replaced. Lots of false leads but finally the week before departure I found that one of the screws holding the bushing in had worked loose and could not be made to bite with existing threads. I pawed through my tidy stash of screws and bolts and miraculously found a similar one. It looked fatter and it went in and jumping ahead can say it has stayed in for the duration of the trip…. Yeah for stash. When Karl and Kevin were here in February the rear wheel cylinders were replaced so the bus stopped now and even though I had been charging the battery I couldn’t really get it to hold a charge for long and with the shifting dilemma that made it difficult to push start when you can’t find second! The day I left I finally took out the battery and discovered it had barely any water so after filling it up it has now held its charge just fine and the bus started every time on the trip. Sometimes I was about to doubt it but it would finally kick over.
So now it is time to go. Moved the essentials from Patch to Zapper so I could eat or do basic cooking if necessary. Figured it would really be a road trip so packaged goods would be acceptable and easy to prepare. Of course the latte machine went in and yesterday was my only non latte day mostly by choice rather than ability. The rain became a challenge as I tried to stay out of it with out getting myself or the pets wet so nobody would track up the bus and then also keep the bus out of the rain if possible since ever since I replaced my windshields they leak profusely in a rain storm. Arghhh. To the point now that my flanges are rusty inside the rubber so body work is necessary to truly solve the problem so onto the long term list that one goes. Well on Thursday April 10, 2003 I was finally ready to go and only 2 hours behind my best guess and one hour after my real estimate of departure, I left drain at 10:30. Off I headed south on I-5. Good day for cruising. Mostly sunny, big fluffy clouds, cruised at 62 and remembered to buy gas before I left Oregon as I paid dearly last time when I had to fill up in Weed. Coming through the Siskyous was not really a problem. Not a lot of traffic but one trucker didn’t pay attention and did just like the warning signs indicated. Turned over on the driver’s side and slid around the corner into the bank. He had been carrying big metal pipes which broke loose and rolled all over the road and even over the median and into the oncoming traffic. He seemed to be alone no other cars involved but it took a half hour of 5-10 mph progress to get around him. It was just on the north side of the bridge going down to Shasta Lake. For some reason it seemed really slow going compared to my last trip in January in Patch. I wouldn’t have thought that 5-8 mph could make that much difference. As soon as we came out of the mountains the head wind was right there and stayed with my all the way to the intersection of 505. So speed reduced to 58. I was able to draft once in awhile and then I could get easily up to 60.
While I as drafting politely behind this big tuck south of Williams I learned the potential hazards of drafting. A huge KABANG, brake lights people scatter all around the big truck behind me backs off and off came a retread from the truck in front of me. Thankfully it went back and to the driver’s side not straight into me. So he put on his flashers and slowed down a bit and so ended the days drafting. As I turned off and went westish on 505 the wind diminished and by the time I got to 80 it was pretty ordinary and I was quite ready for it. Arrived at fellow WetWestian Joe Erlich’s house about 8:20 in Richmond. Still had time for a lovely dinner in downtown Albany. Seems every time you go through a light you are in a different town!

Left the next day about noon and headed south for the Red Barn. No trouble in traffic. Breezed through most places till a section of permanent construction just south of San Jose where a series of merges just keep merging in and out while they do construction to the east side and clog up everything. Arrived at the Red Barn about 2:30 and had our pick of camping spots. Optimistically chose one with some afternoon shade for the pets. Ha ha. Got my awning up so if it did rain I would stay dry. With double doors every time you open them you chance wetness. One of the few drawbacks of a splitty. And there really aren’t that many. J Had a much easier approach this year compared to last year when I drove the last 14 miles from Gilroy with no headlights. Just bouncing my turn lights and running lights off the side of the road. What a drag. So this time I relived that drive and appreciated the sun. Plenty of time to visit and see some buses, Met Salvatore Scolara with a beautiful 65 camper that he pretty much has customized but done in such a way it looks like an original piece. The bus was white and cushions and accents were red and red gingham. All in all very cheery. Also met VB list member Sean Dorman and his girlfriend and visited. He has a cherry blue 65 westy with correct floorless tent and single wheel trailer for an accessory. He’s had it about 9 years and it is in very nice condition. But I fear I don’t think I took a picture! Visited with Philip and Catherine, Lind from Idaho made the trip down in his new to him 57 standard he just got from the original owner with 68,000 miles on it. Very clean!! JP Hendriks from Albuquerque had a pull behind expandable tent trailer that was cool. It went up and out but created a platform for sleeping inside. Now if I had a tent like that I might reconsider sleeping in one.


>br> Saturday was a early day of sales. I started wandering around about 11 or so closing up and only having to put stuff in one box so my stash of un-neededs is finally diminished. I am sure I still have a bunch of stuff I don’t need but I don’t know what it is nor am I prepared to part with it I guess. Was able to see Tom Broulliette after many years now that he is a west coaster again. And met John Foley the editor now for the NEATO newsletter and share some ideas. Just what I need are some more ideas. Maybe sometime I will stumble upon one that works. The bus club was having a raffle in-between rain squalls and wind bursts. I bought my $5 worth of tickets and won a year renewal on my NEATO membership. Very timely and one of those gifts that work for any bus! At 2 pm as Taylor had predicted the rain came down. It let up long enough for me to take down my awning and drive away.

Since I was going to the dinner put on by the Golden Gate chapter of the vintage club I needed to find someplace to hide for the afternoon. I went to Morgan Hill (where the dinner is) and found a city park where I listened to my book on tape and took a nap and listened to the rain. I used my flexible chopping board to divert the rain runoff from my windshield so I didn’t leak too badly. When the rain let up I walked the dogs and cat individually and tried to keep them form frolicking in the wet grass too much, tidied up and went to dinner with the other club members who I don’t get to see at the show cuz they are busy working and some other out of towners. Conspicuous in his absence was my friend Bill Bowman from St. Louis. His flying schedule no longer seems to be in his control and I think this must be the first meet he has missed ever. But I am sure he will be back next year. Had a wonderful dinner and headed off to Wal-Mart for my local overnighter.
Sunday morning brought another storm. It had been no rain since about 6:30 the night before but by 5 am it changed dramatically. I had covered my windshields with a tarp so I just waited out the storm and about 7 am it let up and I drove to Kelly Park in San Jose. Only sat in line about 20 minutes before it started moving and in we went. I got perfect camper placement right on the edge of a grassy section so I could put up the awning over the grass and pretend I was camping! The pets all had their travel accommodations thanks to Liz and Steve who loaned my a wonderful collapsible kennel that Bullet used and Westy and Jetta shared the hard sided one. So of course people wanted to look in too. Later in the afternoon the dogs came out on their leashes. Supposedly no dogs in the park but they were not the only ones although they were the smallest ones! I had bought some saran wrap to cover my windshields in the rain (while standing still) and not looking so tacky. As I was standing in front of the bus something just didn’t seem right. Finally it occurred to me. I only had one windshield wiper!! Oh my gosh. (actually I said much more) it was the passenger side so I still had the driver’s one. I immediately went to the swap area and found some one I knew and asked around and found an arm. Then couldn’t find any blades. These guys did not bring the correct merchandise for a rainy day show!!! Took the arm back to the bus and wouldn’t you know Zapper couldn’t just have an ordinary arm. She has a special arm. So returned the ‘new’ arm and decided to just deal with it later.


Show was well attended despite the rain and cut off of 1967 for entries. Not as much as last year but enough to look at and easy to see the shopping spaces. I left about 3:30 after connecting with some dormobile folks and visiting with some people not at the red barn plus the general public does like to see the inside of Zapper. Most people haven’t seen a side flipping top with beds so they are interested. At this point Zapper has been with me for 22 years so it is hard for me to believe everyone hasn’t seen her! But even with out her wiper arm she displayed well. Left the park about 3 or so and headed back to Joe’s for another dinner and night in the city driveway.
Up bright and early Monday morning with anticipation of going to a hot springs on the way home. I figure it gives me something to shoot for as a driving destination and chance to explore new roads. Plus you are supposed to get to relax in the hot water as a reward at the end. Was going to Crabtree Hot springs outside of Upper Lake near Clear Lake. Headed north about10. Up 101, passed a fellow splitty from the weekend and into Hopland to my favorite brewpub. Actually the oldest in the state of California since prohibition. Got a six pack for later and looked around a bit to make sure not too much had changed then went on this very windy curvy hilly road between Hopland and Clear Lake. 19 miles that took 45 minutes. But it was lovely the hills all shades of green and grassy plus the vineyards just budding out with little green tufts on the ends of their brown arms all tied up neat and proper.

Gassed up in Clear Lake and headed to Upper Lake. Followed my book directions to the end of a road that wasn’t looking like the description. After re reading the directions about 3 more times I finally figured out that I went to far and should have turned a mile back. So off I went up the correct road into one of Susan’s famous misadventures that I should never take but always do. See Jim I know I shouldn’t do these things but I just can’t help myself. I figured if maybe somebody noticed I didn’t post I was home they might make inquiries and someone might have remembered where I was going and maybe they’d find me before the spring thaw….. so the directions were written in small increments. I.e. 2 miles, 5 miles 8 miles. I didn’t add up the little pieces just kept driving. Pavement ended dirt started. Rain wasn’t happening so all was good. Book said don’t do it in the rain. And the road was made up of stuff that would be like slip and slide if it was raining. Now it had rained recently so was wet and of course snowy by the time I got on the ridge lines but there were tracks through it so on I went. And up I went and 20 miles later I turned left at the T like the directions said and down the hill to where the road crossed the creek and the suggestion was to park there and walk. Weeellll the road may have crossed the creek but it was hard to tell since the water was 2-3 feet of water across that section. I had parked on a hill in case starting was a problem planning ahead. But I couldn’t even walk across. Not with out boots anyway. So I was thwarted from my goal with only .3 miles to go. It was a nice drive and I thought I better see if I could get back up some of those muddy hills. I figured they had had another hour to dry out since I slid down them…. It did occur to me that when transferring needed items from Patch I had not brought the cum a long nor any thick rope. So I only had parachute cord to tie to a tree and pull myself out if I got stuck. Didn’t seem like a good alternative so I made sure I had good running starts in the correct gear and up up up I went. So back up on the ridge I went across French Ridge and Sam Alley ridge and back down to the ordinary roads and back through Hwy 20 to reconnect with 101.

So while I was driving up and down the hills on 101 over the poorly surfaced roads I tried to compare 101 to I-5. I don’t think 101 is faster or easier. I-5 once you go through the Siskyous there are no grades to speak of. No scenery either but if getting there is your goal it is easier on the car. I spent a lot of time going up and down 1000-1800 foot ‘passes’ on 101 instead of just going over the big mountains. Then you still have the 4 hills north of Grants Pass on 5 but they are graded a bit easier and the road surface is certainly smoother. In Oregon the surfacing is terrible. Can’t really figure out why if they are going to patch something they can’t do a nice smooth job. (just my pet peeve)
Monday night was spent on the California coast. Was headed to Eureka and then kept going looking for a good boon docking spot or something exciting. Got just south of Orrick or dead goat back as I remember it fondly where you used to be able to camp for free, there is a county park. Clam Beach County Park. Fees are $8 and it is just lower than the road so not too noisy and access to the ocean. Pit toilets and a camp host WITH A SPLIT WINDOW BUS!!! Now how could you go wrong? Quiet evening since I didn’t get there till 8 pm. Super full moon filled the sky and reminded me of my trip in January in the dessert when it seemed the moon was full every night for 2 weeks. In the morning I went out on the beach and walked and enjoyed the view. Hadn’t really had a chance to enjoy the ocean or look out over waves and open water since my view from West Seattle in November. Funny how you can live so close to something and take it for granted with out seeking it out more often. Dogs loved to run on the beach and Jetta found some fluffy dry sand to roll in so she was happy too. Visited with the camp host about their bus which was for sale. $100. runs too. Wow. 1965 basic bus.

Left for points north. Wanted to stop at Redwoods National Park information so I could add to my pin and passport stamp collection. Watched the waves and a film about the restoration of the creek. Amazing how logging the old growth redwoods has the potential to destroy the ones that area left. The park added more land in 1978 so they could reclaim the logged land and save the existing giant redwoods that were downstream from the logging. Mostly it was how the trees were logged and the dirt movement that caused problems. All the logging roads that they have now made back to natural environments and undone so much of the damage done in the 50’s. 60’s and 70’s before they knew the extent of the damage. The redwoods weren’t made a National Park till 1968. and the additional acreage was the first time the service acquired non pristine land and has worked to reclaim it. Kind of a different attitude than the one expressed at the Petrified Forrest.

When I left the Park office the rain started to sprinkle and it progressed to real rain most of the rest of the way home. Soaked all my rags and towels to catch the windshield water before it dripped but I have lots of experience!! Got home about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. For most of my trip I listened to a book on tape. I had an unabridged version of Dean Koontz’ False Memories. I have to recommend it. It is a twisted thriller with lots of surprises all along. Not too far fetched unfortunately. Hate it when weird stuff seems plausible. It had 12 tapes so was good for the round trip perfectly. Not sure if it would be as good reading but for listening it made the time slip by effortlessly. Here are a few of my pictures.