The Ian shake down cruise.

I have done a lot of tinkering with this bus but no major mechanical stuff. I have changed the oil, adjusted valves, timing and checked the points. I have glassed the front floor pans and replaced the tail light assemblies, changed the tranny fluid and topped off/adjusted the steering box. Now its time for an Ian shake down cruise. With gas in the tank, tools in the back, AAA card and some chairs for ocean watching my wife and I set out for Fort Bragg Ca. The point of the trip was to see exactly what needs attention and to see how strong the motor is. We left Sacramento at 9:00 am and took Hwy 80 to I5 north. Then in Winters we jumped on Hwy 20 thru Clearlake to Hwy 101 north up a few pretty grueling hills then back on Hwy 20  in Willits. We stopped in Willits for lunch then proceeded back on 20 to Fort Bragg.  Total drive time (some photo stops and lunch) 6 hrs 207 miles. This bus has always had a flat spot in the low rpms which started to play havoc in the hills. Oil lost (mostly thru the leaking front seal) about 1/4 qt to Fort Bragg. We left Fort Bragg way to late!!! 4:15 pm to start our journey south down Hwy 1 to Bodega Bay. Stops on the way included Mendocino, Van Dame park, Point Arena to name a few. To be honest I had forgot how long this drive can be in a modern comfy car let alone in a 44 year old Vw bus with a flat spot in the low rpms. Anyone who has driven this road knows how tight hilly and twisty it can be!!! It took 6 hrs to make Bodega Bay!!! 107 miles 6 hours. I was beat, hungry and we needed gas!  On the way we stopped three times to adjust the timing to relieve me off the torturous flat spot the resides in just the right spot for every tight turn that led to a climb (which is almost every one!!!) Third time was a peach and while still not perfect it did allows us to move on. We ate dinner at the famous restaurant "The Tides" (Hitchcock Movie) and left Bodega Bay around 11 pm. We took Hwy 12 thru Sebastopol to Hwy 101, then Hwy 37 to Vallejo, onto Hwy 80 then home. We arrived at 1:26 am!!! A long day for sure. Stats:: 471 miles, 24.4 gals, 19.2 mpg   16.5 hour trip. total oil consumption or loss 3/4 qt. Great trip. Bus observations. Front end is in need of total rebuild!! Believe me wrestling this bus on Hwy one in the dark with misty wet roads and a wondering front end will never happen again for this guy. There now is a four inch nipple of seat foam in the drives seat from my puckered A hole!!! never again!! Fix the leak and flat spot and Bobs your uncle!! Great buy for $2400!!! at least I think so. 

First off, Bob is not my uncle he is my hubby.

Second, where are the pics???? We want pics.

Sounds like a fun trip. Wish our days off would be the same would have loved to travel along with you guys.

Why didn't you guy's just spend the night in Fort Bragg or Bodega Bay? That would have been even a better trip. They do have motels up that way.

Here are some Pics, Ian ready to roll.

Clear Lake Ca.

Willits and some needed lunch.

Glass Beach, Fort Bragg Ca.

Mendocino Ca,  for years I have wanted to take Judi to a cafe that I went too on a motor cycle trip. So after a 7 year wait   we were there... but alas not the cafe...sniff sniff.. I guess I should not have waited that long!!

Van Dame park, sorry for the fuzzy picture our camera was starting to take a dump. In the end it died. But it at least waited for the dark before it did.

Point Arena Ca.  Once again......to late  

Point Arena is where I adjusted the timing the first time....wrong... and the camera died. Sorry

Awesome read, awesome pics, awesome trip!! Thanks for sharing!