Show Time

Its Saturday nite and the show is over. The last 2 days I managed to stay fairly busy. When I got to Eureka Springs I left a note at the desk of the host hotel stating that I would volunteer to help if there was anything to do. Well there was and I don`t know how I got such a cushy job selling the tee shirts. Thanks Dave. Honestly I have met so many people and have tried to remember their names. So let me apologize in advance if I mess it up. The gal that I was working with the first day , Claudette she was ok for a bayhater. I think I just made a new word. It was still a fun day. Thanks for putting up with me.

The parade through town was a hoot. Residents and tourists alike roll out for this. That was when I was real happy to have mild temps. It got a little toasty. I am sorry to the drivers behind me when the cars in front of me got away from me due to my last candy toss I got left behind. Then we were all off the course. Thank goodness for the green bus, as I was able to follow him to get back on track.

I love this show for the fact that there are a good proportion of later model cars. And there were some very nice ones. I will be surprised if they show up in any of the press.

I had initially made plans to stay here through Monday. I am leaving Sunday as I really need to surf. The sooner I get on the road the sooner I will be in Memphis.

Take a look at that crazy ride. It takes all kinds... eh.

It is impossible to photo all the nice cars so there are a couple of over view shots. People here are really great. I want to give a shout out to Jeff in the Diamond green oval. He had welcomed me from the moment I mentioned that I was headed for the show. Thanks to all those that welcomed me and for the really cool stein and mug. They will look great in my VW collection. Oh and by the way you all know now that I have an award winning bus. Thanks

This was a really special show as there was a wedding at the show. That is the wedding party.

Leaving Fort Smith redux

Due to technical limitations I am able to load only 4 pics per entry. Here are a couple more.

leaving Fort Smith

While staying in Fort Smith I spent most of the days getting my bus dialed in, and working on my friend Petees bus. That is the red and white one in the pics. It came from Ca. the first part of this year and in now a antique in Ark.. It is still a nice bus.

The drive up to Eureka Springs is absolutely beautiful. The trip from Fort Smith to Eur. Springs is not too far so I was able to just relax and enjoy the scenic drive up the "Pig Trail" I have yet to find out why it is called the pig trail. I suppose that I should probably ask. It runs from I-40 up ark. hwy #23 for 30 miles to Eureka Springs. It is gorgeous. Not too steep but you definatly should take it easy especially in a bus . It keeps the crap in the car from flying all around. Now thats how to describe a road condition.

I do need to mention that while working on Petees bus we had to make a run for parts and that he knew where there was the last surviving repair shop/ VW junk yard in the area just across the river in Oklahoma. So we took a little trip to Roland OK. and I was pleasantly surprised to find Polks bug repair. A little one man shop run by an enthusiast/ fire fighter. Great guy pretty cool set up. I knew when I met his dog Pierce that he was a good guy. I could have brought that dog with me. Just too funny that dog. It is people like Phillip at Polks that keep my hobby alive. He even had a surfboard at his shop. Check out that sign. Its a 69 in case you were interested.

While at Peetes powder coat shop he has this program and vinyl that they use for masking. He made me a very cool one off sticker.

Fot Smith Arkansas

Its difficult to log events when there are no events to log. Its kind of like being on watch out at sea and there is really nothing to watch but you do it as you might miss something. Arrived in Fort Smith Ark. in short order after OK City. I have finally sorted out the bus issues. Its been a learning experience. I wound up finding my carburetor parts at a motorcycle shop. I really have to mention that in my search that I meet some of the nicest people and they actually want to help.

While driving along there are so many things to write about but I wind up brain dead when it comes time to write. Cruising the highway at 60 miles an hour gives you lots of time to think and of course you get to see all the other nuts on the road. Even though I am going 60 I manage to pass the same people over and over. You know the tortoise and hare syndrome. I really do wonder when is it that we got ourselves in a big damn hurry. I think I like a little slower. Only bummer is that while on the road those big ass trucks are not on the same program.

Speaking of trucks and truckers I had a idea that those guys are become their own human sub species. Have you been in one of those mega truck stops. They have a lounge, laundry facility's, showers, a kwiki mart all in one. You never have to get off the road UUGH... its like a bad locker room at a gym where nobody is ever gonna be in shape. Now I guess the thing is trucker teams. It must be a hard job. Most are still courteous.

Our stay in Fort Smith Has been a nice break as the weather has been great. I have been able to get my car together and help my friend Pete with his for the 2 hour country road cruise to Eureka Springs for a VW show and gathering. I'm ready for some Bar B Q.

I need to note that this is all new to me and the touchpad on this Computer is pretty sensitive. I will try to not post duplicate shots again.

As it turns out to be the weekend and no one is open I decided to make some calls and get some technical advise from the pros. It was the right thing to do with all repair and VW parts guys closed. I made some adjustments and got back on the road. Flagstaff is a nice small town and it was fun for a day. It was a much needed nites sleep. The Bus is always a great conversation piece.

The Managers at the Flagstaff KOA campground were really great. Janiel and Justin were very gracious and made a few phone calls on my behalf. Just good people. It was with Justins encouragement that got me to move along. Janiel has the vw tattoo.

The drive to OK. city was really uneventful. Kinda boring. Especially at 60 mph. Now that I am within striking distance of Arkansas and tomorrow is Monday I think I will be able to access the parts I need and be able to enjoy the drive instead of watching my tempurature light. I am hole up in the Motel 6 in OK. city and everytime I stay at one of these places I wonder why I did it again. They suck. I may just sleep in the bus. It is still good for a shower and the can.

The run to Arizona

Good morning to all. It is Sat. aug 22.
I will try not to bore you as the trip so far has been just alot of driving. In my efforts to get somewhere at a prescribed time I find myself in a hurry and it really is unnecessary. The drive across the desert was quite nice as I had mild temps and calm winds. The mountains in northern AZ. proved to be the real chaiienge and I am having some temperature issues. Not to big a real right now but it needs to be addressed before I leave Flagstaff. Not a bad place to hold up. I did a valve adjust and am now on a parts quest this morning.

Getting started

It is a week before my departure date and I suppose that I should write something down so as to start this off. I am however a crappy typist, so it takes a while to create. The deal is that I am going on a trip of a lifetime and it hasn`t really sunk in yet. The Bus is ready and I really need to pack some stuff and go. I am hoping to get to Eureka springs Arkansas for a VW show on the weekend of the 28-30th of Aug. That was the original idea. I figured since I am all that way across America from San Luis Obispo Ca. that maybe I should just make a plan the keep going. I have always wanted to surf the Atlantic if for no other reason than to say I did. So the loose plan is to make my way to Florida and see some friends and visit family in Alabama. Once on the east coast at this time of year I hope to encounter some of this hurricane generated swell in the Atlantic. I have a friend in the Hamptons and I am sure many more that I have not met yet in between. So begins this odessey in my ugly blue beater 1971 VW bus.
I think that I have to mention that some of this motivation comes from my 2 Norwegian friends that past thru here last March on their way to Bolivia in a 71 bus. I had the chance to meet and work on their bus after it broke down here on the Central Coast Alek, Thomas thanks for the nudge Check their trip @ Greattransamericanadventure.blogspot.com