RocketDog Comes Home!

The small dog is Vinny, a Montana Jack Russell terrier and not the naming inspiration for our new/old VW Vanagon; we call the van RocketDog. That's because it is neither a rocket (we wind it out at about 60-65 mph) nor a dog, in the pejorative sense (it is terribly cute -- all tricked out, above, for a first showing to friends). When Vinny and his buddy Tigre come sniffing this new fellow "dog," we say sternly, "No Dogs!" Kind of funny, but they obey.

Here is the van in Missoula, on pick-up day, a week ago yesterday...

...and here it is from another angle, that day. The boys with their toys are, at right, my husband Alex, at left, Scott Quinnett, restorer extraordinaire of vintage VWs via dragonflyvans.com. He is based out of the Missoula airport. He rents a fleet of restored vans there in the summer to folks who fly in and want the luxe-vintage experience of camping in Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. Over this past winter, Scott restored this van for us. He'd found it -- a 1990 -- rust-free in Montana and was looking for a client. Now, with new engine, new transmission, new fuel lines, new brakes,  raised chassis, new pop-top, new truck fridge, new bumpers, new tires, new awning -- it cost us way less than it would have on the pricey West Coast. Follow Scott on his Facebook page. It's a trip, literally.

One of our first outings is up on Milner hill, with friends Kelsey and Eric. The awning takes a bit getting used to. But it's a beautiful addition, a whole new room under which to arrange fold-up camp chairs and a little table.

A detail of the awning (from Fiamma.)

Again a bit of the kitchen, plus the backseat. The seat pulls forward a few inches and then folds back to meet another big rectangle of foam behind it...

...We plan to camp out next week on it as it is, with a duvet or two added for comfort. But in two weeks, we get our own custom-made, cotton-and-wool futon to go on top of the foam, from the Missoula shop Small Wonders Futons. (Above is a peek into their workroom.)

Here is the van today, minus pillows and old rug. Scott came up yesterday to fix a leak in the sink,
and brought us not only new signature Dragonfly carpeting for rear and...

 

...front, plus mats on top...

...but also a snap-on rear screen to keep out bugs (bears? I think we'll close up tight in bear country).

Meanwhile, neighbors Dave and JoAnn gave us this lovely camper van book, as we all sat under our awning and sipped a little wine.

I bought commemorative Hendrix stamps in honor of my almost-hippie days. This van is reminding us a bit of that time.

Happy little hippie chic, eh? Check out Alex's '70s look...

... One part scary to two parts mellow. He was/is the real deal and deserves this van, right? We both do!!! More to come after our first camping trip.