San Antonio to Minneapolis

[jt@geekopolis.com]

*staggering through the door*

It is 1:10am (give or take a few hours depending upon what time I finish
this) on Monday morning and I just got back from my second longest
road trip.

I flew down to San Antonio on Friday to meet Peter Kratzke and purchase
his 1971 Orange Squareback.  I arrive at the KOA around 5pm and get
settled in.  Peter arrives 3 hours later with his wife, dog, and my
Squareback.  The square has this Cal Look to it but I quickly realize it
is because of all the spare parts in the trunk (complete engine tin and
cooling system and gobs of other stuff) and all the included tools in the
back.

We go over the car and all it's contents before it gets too dark and we
make the deal official.

Darkness falls and we seek shelter in our cabin.  We all chat for a few
hours about VW's, VW fanatics (yes, you are one), life, Seattle and then
fall asleep.

We awoke the next morning, showered, took pictures, and said our goodbyes.
I was on the road and headed back to Minneapolis by 8:30am Saturday
morning.

This was the longest, most tiring, leg of my journey.  I had originally
planned to stop and rest before Oaklahoma City but I got a second wind and
kept on driving.  Kept on driving for 14 hours straight since leaving San
Antonio to a small town called El Dorado Kansas.  Here, I slept for about
6 hours in a very clean and nice Super 8 Motel.  By 6:30am Sunday I am
back on the road.  I had wanted to do the rest of this non stop but by the
time 11:30 rolled around the heat and humidty were killing me and I found
myself yawning too much to ignore.  I saw the friendly sign of a Super 8
Motel as I approahced Bethany Missouri and decided it would be nice to
sleep for a few hours in air conditioned comfort.  The SqBk needed the
rest too.  I wake 7 hours later and hit the road again, next stop
Minneapolis.

The entire trip was so damn uneventful!  I only saw one other aircooled as
well too, a late model type 181 being pulled by an water pumping,
"I'm rich" screaming RV.   Surprisingly, the SqBk's mileage the entire
trip averged 29 mpg.  I was very pleased with this.

The SqBk handled the trip beautifully although I did not feel safe doing
the speed limit, which is now 70 in most states.  She was loaded down too
heavily to do much more than 55 or 60 on flat ground.  I didn't mind
though.

I just love how well the SqBk drives.  Never have I had such a smooter
ride in an aircooled VW.

She isn't the most beautiful to look at and needs paint and new interior
but I love her and she has many more miles left in her for us to enjoy.

One of the first things I need to do is change out the front seats with
some Scat ProCars or something.  The stock seats are very uncomfortable
for my 6'2" frame and the headrest does not reach.

It is good to be home with my new Squareback. :-)  I need to go get some
more sleep I think. 

---
 John T. Croteau {jt@geekopolis.com}
 Founder, geekopolis.com - Minneapolis, MN - http://www.geekopolis.com