The intrepid cross-country adventures of Arthur Dent

[DeliKit]

So, we're planning to drive around 3,000 miles soon, across the country.

After several years of owning this Delica, it's become our home away from home. We plan to live in it for the couple weeks or so that we'll take, first going up the west coast, and then heading east. Thanks to the Napa meetup with @Growlerbearnz and friends, we're coming to have confidence in this vehicle. Plus all the maintenance and improvements we've done thanks to this forum over the last few years, particularly the new D4BF engine!

We're not leaving yet, but I thought I'd start a thread that will include pictures along the way of the Delica in unusual places, plus documenting any issues that may come up. Our first main attraction will be Carhenge, a place I've wished to visit for almost 30 years, and yet I've never been out to Nebraska!

Has a Delica ever been to Carhenge before, I wonder?

More to come...

(p.s. Tabs around passenger window are readying for our install of the new monsoon deflectors, so we can have fresh air while sleeping, even when it's raining)

 

[greendel]

May your trip be Vogon free. My '71 Norton Commando was christened Heart of Gold because of it's Infinite Improbability Drive. I have to say that fewer cups of hot tea have been needed with my Delica than was the case with the Norton.

 

[Newdeli]

Remember your companion
Don’t panic

 

[DeliKit]

Whew, took awhile but we’re almost on the road, complete with our cat! Van didn’t even seem to notice the trailer after we hooked it up… I only partly took my foot off the brake and off it went, as if the van is raring to go (the cat’s not, but we are)!

We’ll be on our way tomorrow sometime, I just have to go up on the roof again and rearrange some of those items (but it rained in California today, how’s that a thing?!… so I put off doing my final tie-downs ‘til tomorrow). Oh, and we decided to detour up the west coast, adding 700 miles… so our goal is 3,708 miles, give or take… I love doing things that seem more than a little crazy to family and friends!

Appreciate everyone here that makes these sorts of crazy ideas possible. I’ve learned so much… and I’m sure there’s more to come yet!

 

[ShelbyD]

Sweet setup! updates from the road please

 

[DeliKit]

No vogons yet, though the zombies and other ghouls in the small town of Burns, Oregon certainly gave us a good look on 10/31

Northern California was fun, I didn't sleep for a night and just drove (so as to avoid other drivers while getting used to the trailer)! We rested on the southern Oregon coast...



Spent a couple days in Oregon's high desert too (21 degree low the first night caught us by surprise... there were ice crystals all over the van, though I took this once my fingers unfroze, and by then the sun was warming us all up)!



Awoke in Idaho earlier this week (and ended the day in Utah)!

 

[ShelbyD]

Wow you could put your whole van in the sleeper on the red truck lol. Nice setup, adorable trailer. ”pillows are my copilot”

 

[bikerjosh]

Waiting patiently for the next trip report, sort of.

 

[DeliKit]

I’ve not added more pics to this thread because I’ve been so busy troubleshooting all the blue smoke in the last four hours of our trip… but we did make it to Carhenge, out in Alliance Nebraska, as I hoped we would!

 

[DeliKit]

”pillows are my copilot”

Just wanted to say I laughingly think of you saying this whenever I look at the massive pile of pillows/cushions that, for whatever reason (when space was at such a premium!), we brought with us on our trip anyway!

Our Delica is finally back with us in good mechanical shape again...with more pillow-filled trips to come, for sure! At least they're light?!

 

[DeliKit]

Occasionally (especially in sudden changes in the weather like the downpour and freezing weather that followed the day after taking this photo), something heated and a little more spacious is a welcome break… somehow we found this little caboose all kitted out, on our 1,000 mile trip through Pennsylvania to break in cylinder #4!