Another hiatus

Since it's been almost a month since the last post, some folks were wondering if I'd finished the project without blogging it.  Well, rest assured, the odyssey will still take place on line.  What happened is that I took up a couple of other projects that needed to be completed either outdoors or by an end-of-November deadline.  The deadline project was to construct a futon couch/bed for my daughter for Christmas, and it had to be done before we went to Oklahoma to visit her.  This project required one-inch thick oak, which we ended up having to buy in Springfield, Virginia and cart back here to WV.  From two huge 14 foot boards, I completed the following:

It's an oil finish, and we're marinating in the fumes as it dries in preparation for the trip.
I have everything ready, still, for the engine conversion.  I should be continuing on it starting the week of December 19.  This means that I'll be working in a cold garage, but I have a convenient propane heater that provides safe and reliable heat for those working on gasoline-fueled engines.  Or, maybe not safe.  Anyway, this week it's vacuum the Vanagon, load it for the trip, and take off.   We generally have not done long trips in the van, but it's not because it's uncomfortable.  As a matter of fact, the daring can sleep in the bed in back while someone else drives, though I've never been able to sleep well when we're moving.  Also, it doesn't have cruise control, and if there are crosswinds, it's pretty much a sailboat on flat roads.  All in all, though, I'm looking forward to a long cruise that's not in our V70, nor on a motorcycle.  This trip should remind us of why we're doing this conversion.