VW ADVENTURES

October 29, 2009
by Julia
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Discovering Yurts

Leaving Astoria, our destination is “Cape Disappointment”, a Washington State Park near Ilwaco. We aren’t sure about the name of the camp—‘Disappointment’ ? but we choose it because it appears, from its location on the map, to be right on the ocean. We get to drive across a bridge that must be a mile, to a mile and a half, long over the mouth of the Columbia River. Our VW Micro Bus sits up high enough for us to enjoy the great views of Astoria and up river as we drive across the bridge. Driving over the water, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Columbia River on the other is an exciting sensation.

On the Washington side, we drive through the cute little fishing village of Ilwaco and on toward the campground at Cape Disappointment State Park. We don’t have reservations for a campsite, but manage to get a campsite with electricity.…too bad, we might have been warm in a motel! We are glad to get to plug in and recharge our phones and computers. We find our campsite and check out it out, getting our bearings of its location within the campground…an interesting layout of circles of campsites.

This is the first time we see Yurts. In Oregon, a few of the state campgrounds offer cabins, but here in Washington, they have Yurts. Traditionally, Yurts served as strong shelters for nomads in Asia. Described as “circular, domed tents made of extra-heavy, durable canvas, they have spacious interiors with skylights, screened windows, hardwood floors and locking doors; and sleep up to six people. http://www.parks.wa.gov/yurtsandcabins/capedisappointment/

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October 16, 2009
by Julia
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Unique High Top Van

Breaking camp and loading back into the Westy, we once again line up for the caravan home. A few have decided to go on ahead with an earlier start while the rest of us want to stop by a local VW enthusiast’s Yuma residence to see his newly acquired High Top Van. This is unique coach-built commercial Volkswagen. Fun for us to get to see.

Once again back on the highway to Havasu, we are fighting a cross wind most of the way home. As we pass the Yuma proving grounds again, there is so much dust in the air from the wind that we can’t see if there is any activity or not.

Wind and VW buses make for a challenging drive but we manage to get back to Havasu in a reasonable amount of time and with NO breakdowns this trip! We wave goodbye as each of the others turn off toward their homes, ours being on the farthest north end of town; we are the last ones home. We are all glad to be home after the tiring drive in the wind. The dogs rejoice by racing around the back yard while we unpack the camper. It was a fun adventure!

October 13, 2009
by Julia
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Fire in the Sky

The second evening at the Yuma County Fairgrounds Campout is fun. The local VW Club entertains us campers by providing a barbecue followed by movie time. We stay with our own menu and food but the feast looks and smells yummy. While the movie is playing, another Corn Hole tournament is challenged and becomes quite lively with competition. We watch the last minutes of the movie, having listened to it while we ate. The join the crowd cheering on the Corn Hole tournament until we eventually ready once again to climb into our cozy camper for the night. We fall asleep as the raucous activity of the tournament winds down and fades into the background.

Morning dawns with a spectacular sunrise. We are out with the dogs early and rush back to grab the camera for pictures of this incredible awakening of the day. A few others are up and enjoying it as it continues to amaze us. Clouds always make for beautiful sunrises and sunsets but also portend a change in weather and we wonder what kind we will have for our drive home.

October 8, 2009
by Julia
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Yuma VW Show Day

Morning arrives and we are out for a walk with the dogs early so we can quickly get to the showers, making certain we have plenty of time before time to line up our VWs for the caravan to the show. The rest of the camp is stirring and making preparations to leave camp for the day. As each of us is ready, we get in line, ready to caravan. Again, we want to stay together since only a few know how to get to the show venue. It is always fun to caravan through town…bringing joy to folks on the road…we make quite a sight. As we turn left, a couple of buses turn off to the right – always a couple of rebels in the group — we figure they are going for breakfast burritos.

The show is being held at a lovely city park along the river with beautiful grassy knolls around a pond with walking paths and a nice cabana area where registration is located. We are all directed to park lined up on bluff overlooking the show area. Once parked, we set up the awning for shade and showing off the tent part of our camper before going down to check in and register. The local club hosting the show is well organized and registration is easy. We take our registration card back to the camper to post in the window, then head out to do our participant judging. It is fun seeing and connecting with friends and acquaintances who weren’t at the campout and judging takes awhile with the frequent stops for visiting. The attendance is impressive with a good variety of nice VWs and the weather is absolutely perfect for a being at a car show.

The dogs enjoy being out and about as we walk around doing our judging, then seem happy to settle down back at the bus in the shade of our awning. We enjoy the camaraderie of our friends as well as the interaction of spectators, sharing in their inquiries about or Westy or their experiences in their own VWs. Besides trophies, other entertainment is provided with an engine blow and raffle drawings with some really good prizes, neither of which we had any luck with. As the afternoon wanes, the final raffle prizes are drawn before the awards are made. We are pleased to receive one of the awards. That recognition of the quality of our camper bus from others is always gratifying. Another member of our group, John Howard, also receives an award and we share with him in the pride of taking trophies back to Havasu. yuma7-2008-072

October 2, 2009
by Julia
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Astoria

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The weather continues to be chilly and somewhat foggy as we drive on to Astoria where the sun is a little brighter through higher wisps of clouds. We are excited to be visiting this historical town but find it not quite as quaint as we expected. There are a few pockets of personality but it seems to lack energy and enthusiasm. We also expected it to be bustling with tourism and instead it feels like we are visiting during the ‘off season’.

We make our way downtown and find place to park on Main Street. Not finding any particular direction to go, we start walking down the street to see what is around. Many of the shops are closed and buildings seem vacant. There is a JC Penny’s store that is open and Julia just has to go in, not to shop, but because it is like stepping back into childhood! Except for having contemporary styles on the racks, this store looks, smells, and feels like the Penny’s in Buhl, Idaho, where she grew up! It even has the mezzanine. What a fun nostalgic experience.

Leaving the store, and memories behind, we head toward the waterfront exploring along the wharf. There are a few seafood processors and warehouses but no activity and all appear closed…it feels deserted. There are a few restaurants open and being almost noon, there are a few lunch patrons. We discover tracks and soon a little trolley comes by.

We choose to continue walking back the other direction rather than take the trolley and stop at one of the cafés for some lunch.… Andrew and Steve’s — a funky little place, established in 1924 or something and advertising homemade food (pies…? hmmm…) We share the lunch special seafood combo with a salad…good choice, but just ok food… We pass on the pie.

After lunch, we continue along the river walk and discover the Maritime Museum of Columbia Gorge, an interesting contemporary building. We meander through the gift shop at the museum but opt out of the museum itself. Two Coast Guard cutters are moored outside the museum, so we walk out on the dock to see those.

Before heading toward the car, we wander back along the wharf and stop in at the Wheelhouse Coffee Co for our afternoon coffee and tea. This is a cute little place with a fun nautical theme. They also offer homemade pies, and in keeping with their nautical them– fishy cookies (cute little frosted fish-shaped sugar cookies We buy a couple ‘fish’ for our dinner dessert and pie to have with our coffee/tea now, which we enjoy while observing the interaction of the owners and ‘regulars’ -local patrons.

September 28, 2009
by Julia
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Return of the EAGLE

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After limping back to Havasu in their ‘Screamin’ Eagle’ VW Panel Van, Cory and Diana planned to hook up their pickup and camper and join us back in Yuma for the campout anyway; and of course they could hitch a ride to the show with any one of us. But first, Cory decided to try a different ignition module in the distributer of the bus. After installing the new ignition module and starting up the engine again, the bus seemed to be running as it should; so they decided to take a chance and head back out in the Screamin’ Eagle on the road to Yuma. They arrived at the Fairgrounds just a few hours later than the rest of us and in plenty of time to play in the Corn Hole Tournament. Never say ‘die’ to a VW owner, we rarely give up!