The Bus is Back!

After a few hours of rest we took Ellie's car to Vallejo to find the German Car Clinic where Ted is the chief mechanic and everything else. It's unusual that a one man shop can still survive but he seems to be doing well. His shop is neat and clean and he is a virtual encyclopedia of knowledge about air cooled VW engines. He was kind enough to indulge lots of questions about the work that he did and things that I should do in the future.

Overall the mechanicals seem pretty sound. Brakes are good at 70%, tires are good, cylinder compression is 120, 115, 115 and 120 psi. and we are fitted with a new leisure battery that theoretically runs the on-board refrigerator and otherwise provides power when we are camping. I'm still not sure that the refrigerator works but for sure it keeps food cold when you stick a block of ice into it.

The remaining big problem is the gas bottle for the 2 burner stove. It is not fitted with the currently required OPD style fill valve and it will be difficult to get it filled. Tomorrow we'll go to a large RV center in Vacaville
to see what they can do for us. Meanwhile I have new door seals and halogen headlights to install so I better get to it.

I tried to negotiate our way onto Ellie's base to see the Travis AFB air museum but they do not currently allow public access. Another loss for the taxpayer due to security concerns. With Ellie working 12 hour shifts from 1900-0700 she does not want to go back on base after she gets home.

Windy as the dickens out here. Happy sailing to everyone.