"I met Leo Soderman at about 11:30 in Pawtucket, RI which is the first city in Rhode Island after the Massachusetts border (exit #1 off route 95 South). We met and talked VW's in the rain for about an hour, before we called the next driver Rich. Rich figured it would be easiest for me to meet him at a truck stop in Connecticut (exit #93 route 95 South), so off I went after signing the "baton" and taking the trip box. The drive was rather uneventful as it was raining and traffic was light thru the capital city of Providence. My leg of the "Great Bus Tour" covered 49 miles from border to border, proof that Rhode Island is a small state. Along the way I did see one Eurovan, but the driver didn't return my wave and "beep, beep". My Westy "Peanut Butter" seemed to like the drive until we neared the CT border. On route 95 there is a long hill that I had forgotten about. Usually I speed up to 75 for these, but we made it over the crest doing 60, and I didn't need to downshift into third.
I met Rich in the truck stop and we talked about working on our buses, and Rich gave me a few pointers about changing my ball joints. We checked out each others busses and I learned a little about his 72 sunroof Westy. I passed the "baton" over to Rich, and headed home. The drive back way better than the trip down as a new yellow beetle owner beeped and waved at me ! Must have been an ex-Bus owner.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it....."
John Perry
'79 Westy Deluxe - "Peanut Butter"
'78 Westy - parts donor