One Year VANiversary!

Much better than a pot of gold!

It feels as though we've owned our Westy for a lifetime, but it has only been one year since we brought her home from central Maine. 12,000 miles later, 9,000 of which we racked up during our cross-country summer road trip, our lovely Vanagon is still running strong. The odometer just rolled over the 186,000 mile mark. Miraculously, the engine has not required a bit of work since we've owned it, and we're still averaging a consistent 20mpg. That's not to say the van hasn't needed work--I've invested many hours myself and many dollars with the mechanic--but all in all it hasn't been the nightmarish money pit that deep down I feared it might be.

Parker the dog was the first addition to our family, Ruby the Vanagon was the second, and coming along shortly will be a baby boy (we're still working on a name). We'll need to invest in some safety upgrades, the first of which will probably be GoWesty's three-point shoulder belts on the bench seat.  This will allow for safer installation of an infant car seat, as well as added security and peace of mind for our adult passengers. At the moment, one of the lap seat belts is secured to the buckle with an overhand knot.  It's about time to fix that.