I dunno. Outlook isn't so good. Probably not comfortably by the 20th of this month. The used bottom end on the current 1600 is looking questionable after less than a thousand miles. All of a sudden its developed approx 1/32 of end play and oil looked glittery. Changed it the other day for the third time. If in a few hundred more it looks glittery again and/or the end play gets much worse, I doubt I'll be driving out of town any time soon. Trans of course is also unknown in the truck and I have to pull the flipseat trans apart to install the new center section Bill is building. That said, the flipseat can't be put down for a trans rebuild b/c I'm using it for work. I need another driver. I guess I'll haggle Lance about that 40 horse again, but he keeps giving me the runaround. I could really use a spare running engine.

K

I'd like to go on this here adventure,might have to get some better shoes on the bus,them city tires I got from K are about done for.
I can't make it the first or second weekend in April

Hey K what do you think 185/75/14 or 195/75/14?

Damn, thems small tires. I'd go with at least 195/75's. Don't know if you are familiar with tire specs, but the first number is the tread width (bigger is wider), the second is the aspect ratio, which is tread width in relation to the sidewall (bigger number is taller sidewall compared to treadwidth -75 is the tallest you can get in a standard 14"/15" radial), and the last number is of course the wheel diameter. Make sure you get tread with lateral cuts this time. That's the most important thing.

K

Yeah I know about the tire size dealeo somewhat..
I just want to keep it around the stock size which seems to be 185/14(vanco's ) metric and = out to be 195/75/14? I probably go with the 195's the rack has some decent ones
The tires you sold me were great for the highway but not worth a flying flip off road
If I don't like them I can just put them on the '65 if I ever get back to working on it...

185R14's, aka 185/80 14's, closest modern equiv. 195/75 14's, which are only a tad wider.

K

So....I'm looking at the calendar and thinking we need to nail down a date soon on this backroads trip. With the camping and VW event season just around the corner I'm thinkng we could just make this a day trip. There was also some talk on the MO Micros list about detouring by the new and untested "Dam Campout" site near Osage Beach, MO and stopping by B&C.

This is what I propose:
Since everyone is coming from all directions how about trying to meet at B&C ~10am then depart around noon on a backroads trip stopping by the proposed campground then terrorize all the little squiggly lines on my MO Gazeteer between B&C (Freeburg, MO) and LOTO (Osage Beach, MO) for a couple hours then meet up at the little restaurant right on the Gasconade that Mike & Laurie took us too last fall for some grub and cocktails. There is the conservation area camp right there at the restaurant / public ramping spot for those that would like to stay the night and/or fish all night.

I am really leaning toward March 20th but April 3rd (day before Easter) might be a good backup day if the weather is crappy on March 20th.

Oh yea...this new "mostly paved" route would open it up to all VW's...even Daniels slammed looker.

We should also do a hard core Ozarks Backroads Bus Trip sometime this year when Kevin has a more proven drivetrain and can lead us through a challenging route.

What's everyone's thoughts on this?
Roy

sorry but i will wait until we do something good. i do need to get over to b&c b/c i have never been there but osage beach is totaly gay as well as any camping near by. imho

anyway its totaly far for me. i will see you guys plenty this summer.


jb

camping on the osage river is pretty nice,way different than osage beach
I knew you were a putt-putt hater! how bout some go carts and old time picture taking?

This is turning into a cruise, not a backroads trip... but, that's fine. Maybe later. I'm totally not prepared at the moment, although next weekend I'll be heading to Tulsa to pick up the trans and party with JB. Probably install the following week while I drive my gay best friend's gay Austin America. Soon as I get my bus up and functioning, I'll probably be doing my own thing for a bit. It will be about 3 months since I've camped out of town. I'm feeling slightly insane.

Putt! Putt!
K

didnt know we were all politicly correct here. you'll have to forgive my california talk. where hella shits totaly gay dude. but not nessasaraly homosexual. ya dig...

jb

Talking to Daniel last week and we thought about making the backroads "cruise" end up at lead mines after starting at B&C passing by the Osage River camp.

March 20th, 2010 10am...meet at B&C (5393 Hwy-63 Freeburg, MO 65035)

Depart B&C ~noon on a backroads "cruise" to the Dam Campout site
http://www.crybabycampground.com/

Then more cruising until we end up at Lead Mines to camp.
http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moa ... reaID=8024

Play at the Conservation area Sunday for a bit before heading home.

No putt-putt, no bumper cars, no old time photos...
So...who's in?

a cruise sounds great to me. a camp out, even better! I have no idea on the schedule though. Gotta check with Lisha.

Guys. If your heading to Osage Beach, make a pitstop in Brumley, Mo. Down that gravel road is a great camping spot down at swinging bridges. Very old school swinging bridge with wood plankes that you drive over. Lots of good gravel roads down that way. On the way you can spot a real nice cave on your right hand side. Last time I was there it had sheet metal covering it up.

That sounds like a great place to see.
Putting that on the trip itinerary.
How exactly do we get there?

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=p&ie=UTF8 ... 38495&z=15

Follow this map. Down Swinging Bridges road you will cross over a bit more modern swinging bridge. Continue down and make a right and you will cross over the old bridge. Study the map a bit and you should have no problem.

You will have to look close for the cave on the right hand side of the road before you get to the bridges. You will see steps closer to the road. The cave was used as tourist site in the early 1900's. Don't know if you can access it or not. It's been several years since I've been there. Camped below the bridge 3 times. Great bass fishing down there when the white bass begin to spawn around May. Maybe sooner.

I won't be joining in on this one. Enjoy