Bit of an update:

I took one more small ride in Idaho on the 13th, then headed over to spokane, then decided to skip that area and headed straight up to Kamloops, BC! I picked up a few hitch hikers along the way shortly after crossing into Canada. They were a younger couple, backpacking from place to place working in the fruit fields.

I made it into Kamloops around 11pm. I slept at a truck stop, right next to the train tracks. Let's just say I didn't know there was tracks right next to the place until I was almost asleep, so I didn't really get a good nights rest.

Woke up, tried to go find some trails, couldn't find anything that was really my style of riding, and having a bad nights rest, and an aching body, I decided to skip riding there as well. I headed off to whistler, was about 70 miles away, heading up the mountain, when my brakes stopped working! I turned around, and went back into the nearest town, the guy topped offmy brake fluid but my pedal was still going to the floor, decided to head towards whistler anyway. Along the way, brakes slowly got back to normal, not sure if maybe the master cylinder sucked in a bunch of air with the low fluid level and steep grades but it's working fine now thankfully cause a new master was looking at 320 dollars!

The last leg of the drive, over highway 99 was amazingly beautiful! I parked the vw right on the edge of a snow caped mountain lake, ate dinner and enjoyed the view for a bit. That has been the most scenic drive I've taken in my near 13,000 miles so far.

Currently I am in Whistler, guess there is one lot in town with free overnight parking, so I am going to sleep there and ht the bike park all day tomorrow! I'll do one XC ride here the day after,then head to squamish and vancouver areas. I am off to get some much needed rest!

I know I keep saying this but I WILL, get pics posted sometime soon!

 

There is a huge motorcycle rally happening on Saturday, originating in Richmond that ends in Whistler. Should be interesting.

Might be too weenie for you, but looks neat.
Whistler Blackcomb - PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola

If into rock climbing check out the Chief near Squamish. (Brother in law recommended)
Stawamus Chief - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SQUAMISH CLIMBING

 

Woke up today to bad weather, pouring ran, so I decided to head down to vancouver, forecast calls for posibly one clear day in vancouver tomorrow, and rain in whistler, squamish, and vancouver until at least monday My master cylinder died today completely, I've pretty much got next to no brakes. I lucked out in finding a vw shop a long the way, right about a mile and a half from where it stopped working, they are gonna do the cylinder for me in the morning. Currently parked on some random side street, I will be spending this evening and part of tomorrow morning here as it is much too dangerous to drive anywhere far.

I've owned a lot of vehicles in my short life, bout 15, fords, dodges, chevys, volvo, jeeps, toyotas, many of them older than this vanagaon. This VW takes the cake as far as worst vehcle/most break downs/leaving me stranded/most frustrating/biggest money pit of them all. So far this trip, it has gotten:

New ignition switch
New ignition coil X2
New plugs
New cap
New rotor
New wires
New fuel filter
New blower motor
Speedometer rebuild

Now getting a new master cylinder, gonna need a cv shaft eventually, possibly a wheel bearing.

I am gonna have to cut the trip short because of how much money I've had to spend on this thing. When it's working right, it's fine, but when it's busted, man I sure do hate it. I woulda been better of taking my dodge stratus with a bike rack and a portable stove at this point.

Excuse the rant, its just very frustrating, I am going to loose the only one possible riding day tomorrow to get this thing fixed. I'll probably head back to the states after that. Motivation for a return trip to this area though!

 

I don't really see coil, cap, wires, rotor, plugs or fuel filter as a breakdown item.
More like tune up items that probably should have been replaced before this trip started.
Speedo isn't stopping you.

So... an ignition switch, and a blower motor for comfort.

Not defending the Bus, just sayin...

 

True, but something kept makin it break down over and over! Just more o you can get an idea of where a lot of my money has gone, definitely could of had a lot more left for the trip! Prevous owner also said this van needed "nothing",no mechanical problems! grr

 

Maintenance, parts and repairs to this thing after tomorrow will have cost me close to 1/6 o my total budget for this trip!

 

If you are heading into Oregon I know of a VW re-builder, that may have parts or at least info that could help you out.

 

Chris, that would be great! What town is he located in? I am having a shop do the master cylinder tomorrow morning but the van is still gonna have other issues that need attention!

Currently decided to be stranded along this side street about a mile from where the VW shop is, lucky enough to have a wifi connection here. I could drive somewhere else but ts highly unsafe as I only have about 10% braking power, the master cylinder has just enough life left in it to make it back to the shop so I am not gonna chance goin anywhere else other than there!

 

The shop is in Beaver, Oregon south Tillamook County

 

Thats awesome! I'll be staying at a buddies place in portland for a bit I could definitely go over and check that out!

 

If you do let me know, The shop is Beaver Creek Bob's

 

Looks like Wes will get you hooked up when you get to Ky! I'm all over this state at any given time, so when you get close give me a PM and I'll get you my cell number. I live close to the Cincinnati Ohio area.

 

Thanks, appreciate it! Looks like it won't be outta the way at all!

Thanks! I may be traveling back up that way as I forgot to go to the rock & roll hall of fame in cleveland and the indoor mountain bike park that they have in Ohio!

Currently I am in Seattle area, met up with a guy who I met in moab utah, we rode slick rock together down there. He brought me to some awesome trails here today, I am gonna do a bt more riding in the area tomorrow and then head down to the Olympia area to see some distant family!

Also bought the Chest mount For the GOPro, should be nteresting to see how those shots came out!

 

Hello everyone, currently I am in Olympia, WA, spending a day or two here at my dad's cousin's house! Did some more riding yesterday, went back to one of the same spots, duthie hill, because my footage with the chest mount didn't come out good the other day!

Tried a few more stunts at the bike park this time, bigger drops, also got a nice step up under my belt now to. I've actually got a decent internet connection here, I'll try uploading a few videos and linking them here!

 

This is what the step up looks like (not me riding):
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/c...t=GOPR0151.mp4

Here's a portion of the trail with me hitting the step up:
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/c...t=GOPR0160.mp4