It’s the American dream. Kerouac, Kesey and Furthur, even Bugs Bunny (why do you think he always tunnels in at the beginning of each cartoon?) have all experienced the road trip. Now, it’s my turn.
Last Friday, before a pretty decent Mirah show at the Aladin, I cleaned out my savings account on my new ride — a midnight blue, 1983 VW Vanagon Westfalia. Fully camperized, she contains a pop-top tent, two beds, a stove, fridge and sink. I love Ellyn, but I also have a second girl in my life now.
A bit of rust on the hub caps, a horrible, peeling paint job and 200,000 miles are her only drawbacks. The pop-top is a little moldy, as well. Nothing that can’t be fixed over the next 8 months. Why 8 months? Well, come next March, I hope to call it quits as the editor of the Tri-County and embark on an adventure to all 48 continental states. Hell, I might even try to make it to Alaska, why not?
Of course, I will be updating my adventure on the blog — including the countdown and my work to get the van ready.
So stay tuned. And here are some of my first adventures…
What’s in a name?
So… the list is pretty short right now. She needs a name.
Elly suggested Guenevere, which has a cool King Arthur/Death Cab thing going for it. But at the same time, it has a nerdy King Arthur/Fake-Padded-Sword-In-The-Park thing going for it, too.
I like Penelope. Not sure it fits, though.
I could use some more ideas. Help name my van, if you want.
Inside
One of the best parts is the analog clock in the dash.
And, of course, there is the stove and sink.
And the part that seemed to impress the guy I bought it from most… the tiny ice tray.
The DMV
So, after driving my beauty home from Portland, and then driving it around uninsured and unregistered for two days, I went in to the DMV on Monday to take care of things. So, the DMV in Junction is tiny, staffed by two women, who were about as helpful as you can expect DMV employees to be.
So, I walk into the tiny, one-room DMV, expecting a fast trip, seeing that it is empty save me and one other young guy looking to renew his Jeep’s tags. So, I take my title and begin to fill out my forms. I grab the “Title Transfer Form,” seeing that I am transferring a title. All goes well. I take my form up and… its the wrong form. I need the form with the blue boarder, called the “Title registration Form.”
“But, I’m transferring a title,” I say.
“Yeah, but you are also registering it. Get the other form,” she replies. She was gruff, for no reason.
So, blue boarder. Done. Back to the desk.
Things move along. She types in my VIN. Ahh…
“Looks like this is registered as a motor home,” she says.
“What’s that mean,” I ask. Obviously seeking the repercussions of such a vehicle rating.
“It means it has a stove and stuff like that,” she says, shortly, as if I’m a moron.
NO FREAKING WAY! I know what a motor home is… but why do I care, as far as registration is concerned? But, I am polite. I move on.
“Looks like your tags expire in September. Want to renew now?”
Tags don’t cost a ton. “Sure,” I say.
So, this is when she pulls out a calculator, and I know I answered the last question wrong.
Entering a series of totals, she rings me up for something like $300.
“So that’s what a motor home rating means,” I say. “That’s what I was getting at.”
She looks up. Just with her eyes. Daggers.
“Yeah. It is done by the foot. Length costs with motor homes.”
Thanks. I cancel the tags, and just transfer the title, which is still $55. No cards. $1.90 fee on the ATM.
I hate the DMV.
Her history
Born in Germany, she moved to Portland shortly after her birth. After a few years in the Rose City, she was taken away to San Fransisco, where she lived most of the 1990s. In the early 21st century, she moved back to Portland, where she was bought by Chris and his wife, a late-30s couple from North Portland. After two years of weekend camping, the couple listed her on Craigslist. That’s where I found her.