Setting Out and Fleeing Fire

We set out for the Grand Canyon, finally freed from the chains of mechanical maintenance, performance was…not great. Frankly, it was worse than before things started going wrong. We were the slowest thing on the road, but we were moving again. I could deal. Too much sitting. Dachary wasn’t thrilled, but she knew how frustrated [...]

The Challenges of 32-y/o Vanagon Life

In which we break down. Bigtime.

Points West

VW Vanagon: Acquired!

Ack! I just realized we haven’t kept our readers updated about our new project! In September, we flew out to Flagstaff, Arizona, bought a 1982 VW Vanagon diesel camper van, and drove it home! We had some adventures along the way, which we really need to write up. Now that it’s home, we’re in the [...]

Changing Tack

The last two adventures have been hard; each in its own way. We learn. We adjust. We try again. Going to Colorado was a brutal slog. We firmly believe that having a deadline is the worst thing for an adventure. Being forced to just go go go without the time to stop and smell the [...]

Day 16 – Bar Harbour, Maine to Home

Dark Skies likes it when we’re inside the US borders, and rewarded us with a precise window, telling us when the rain would stop, and how long we had to pack everything before it started again. We followed its lead, pilled and fed the dogs, and packed up whilst the current bout petered out. Then [...]

Day 15 – Moncton, NB to Bar Harbor, Maine

Today’s mission: make miles. We have 2 days to cover around 550 miles to home – do-able, but those are surprisingly long days on the Ural – particularly if we want to stop anywhere. Started off the day with the Comfort Inn continental breakfast. This one was a definite step-up from some of the other [...]

Day 14 – Antigonish, NS to Moncton, NB

Not being able to get the window closed last night led to a surprisingly chilly night. Kay and I hunkered down in the bed, under the blanket and comforter, under the down sleeping bag, and under a pile of dog. It’s a testament to the cold that the dogs stayed piled on the bed with [...]

Day 13 – Baddeck to Antigonish

It started with sun, actual, honest to goodness sun. Not, overcast with sun peeking out, but sun, with an occasional cloud. If we have learned anything from our time in Nova Scotia is that their weather forecasting is even worse than ours. After packing up the smelliest hotel room ever (excessively moist boots and tent) [...]

Day 12 – Baddeck to… Baddeck

With heavy rain/thunderstorms in the forecast, we had decided to stay in Baddeck today and stay warm and dry in a hotel room. When the day dawned, it was overcast but dry. We debated whether we should chance it and head out, but our boots were still VERY wet, our gear was still wet, and [...]