You would cry too

I've been doing a lot of whining and crying to my friends over the pond about the crappy weather and how we have been waiting for so long for winter to end. But I thought it best that I actually show everyone what I am bitching about.

It is nearly APRIL... and I have to tell you this is NOT normal weather. Usually the snow is nearly gone by the end of March (or at least a ton has melted). But this year, the melting hasn't even started yet!!!! This week was supposed to be warm, starting the epic "thaw". But the forecast changes so dramatically from day to day, that we have barely seen a day above 0 degrees for the whole month.

I took this snapshot this morning before I left the house for work.

You would cry too...

More from Air Riders VW.

A selection of some of my favorite pics from the Air Riders VW website. Some of you may recognize the Edmonton Aviation Museum in the background.
http://www.airriders.ca/

Edmonton Air Riders VW Club.

Information on the Edmonton Air Riders VW Club. This is a very active network of VW enthusiasts who are passionate about their VW's and the community that ownership creates.
Annual Rallys, forums, classifieds and much more can be found on their website. There is also a huge amount of photos from their shows and rallys.

www.airriders.ca


Check out my van in their show!

VW Paper Models

Well, still no sign of spring. We have been buried under bad weather, temperatures resemble more January than end of March. We will be lucky if we get the Bus on the road by May.
In the mean time, I have been expressing my urge for all things VW by downloading paper bus cut outs and creating a whole fleet of type 2's to admire in my office.

http://bit.ly/hpfvUF

The website is Brazilian I think, but if you keep hitting the Baixan button, it leads you to the PDF page, where you can print and paste to your hearts content.

Viva Brazil, Rocking the type 2 after all these years.

I've often complained that the western car manufacturers haven't rolled anything amazing off the assembly line for a very long time. Now don't get me wrong, there has been a ton of cool cars come through the showroom floor over the last decade. Attempts at recreating the muscle car or high end, low cost version of European models. But at the end of the day, they have no soul, someone decides to stick a 4 cyl engine in a mustang (Really????) and before you know it everyone has the same thing and the novelty wears off real quick.
That factor probably contributes considerably to my love affair with lil blue. At the end of the day, even if it was stock, covered in rust and barely ran, it would still command attention. Especially in Alberta, these are harder and harder to find.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjonbro/3121413704/
Insert Brazil, still rolling type 2 chassis off the assembly line here. I could die a happy person on a VW lot in Brazil I tell ya. But I still can't help but wonder if I would love mine as much if any Joe blow could pick one up.
Maybe best they stay over on the other side of the pond.

Look what came in the mail!!

Three years ago, my husband and I started a new years resolution which has evolved into tradition. Every month we have to source a gift for each other which is under 30 bucks (not including shipping) and is something that is completely fun, cool or otherwise useless but really awesome just the same.
Over the years, we have come up with some pretty neat gifts, including handmade brass skull beads, skull lanyards, personal rings with our names on it, hitch locks, personalized calendars, ceramic vw bus salt & pepper shakers - really the list just goes on and on.

Well it's March - time for March present!! Woo hoo, you have no idea how much I look forward to present day! And just look what came in the mail!!

I actually got a little bonus in there too, another skull, a bit smaller, without the pistons. Hitch cover perhaps???

So it's off to chrome this spring. Don't know yet what I am going to do with it, my VW on the bus is a decal, so replacing the front emblem with this will be a bit of a process, but once this thing is chromed, it might just need to go on there.

The bug made from a bug

Since I was a kid, this VW "Bug" has been standing just off the highway, west of the village of Boyle. I remember road trips with my folks on the way to Edmonton, and we would all sit up to see the bug as my mother announced we were coming upon it. What I appreciate is the fact that it looks as good as it did when I was a kid. Consistent coats of paint and structural maintenance for the bug has meant that this work of art has stood in place for over 30 years (and probably much more!) And to add to the beauty of it, now it's MY kids who are straightening up in their seats to look at the bug as we drive by!!

Road Tunes

Sirius is out and the Ipod is in, this year I'm in control of the road tunes and I'm starting early!

So here is the sampling of the list, as inspired by my hours of listening to Internet radio at work. Nothing fits one genre and for the most part it is totally random, but rest assured these tunes will do exactly what they need to when on the ultimate road trip, inspire another mile...

If you got suggestions, throw them out there, you never know, I might just have a whole new play list from you!

Eddie Vedder - Guaranteed & Big Hard Sun
The Headstones - all their tunes
The Black Keys - anything by them
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Hit em up style
Gnarles Barkley - random pickings from their albums
Buffalo Springfield - For what it's worth
Deathcab For Cutie - all their tunes
Vampire Weekend - One
Dirty Heads - Stand Tall
Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man & The Cave
Beck - Loser
Wade Hemsworth - Blackfly & Logdrivers Waltz (you might remember this from the CBC)
Infant Sorrow - Just say yes
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Shinedown - Diamond Eyes
Three dog night - Shambala
Paolo Nutini - New Shoes
Apocalyptica - I don't Care (if you haven't seen these guys play - PLEASE do yourself the favor you tube them)
Hugo - 99 Problems
Big Wreck - Ladylike
Broken Bells - Vaporize
Cage the Elephant - No rest for the wicked


Hope it inspires you to check out something new too.

Fukengruven

How do I get this from San Diego CA to Alberta Canada?

Well blogger's I need your help. Found this amazing go cart body in San Diego California, would love to have Meryl transform the rest into a go cart.

Major problem though, LOCAL PICK UP ONLY!

Seller isn't too interested in helping out, so I thought I would reach out to y'all for your suggestions.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VW-bus-hot-rod-twins-stroller-go-kart-fiberglass-body-/260741754297?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb56b6db9

Does anyone know if there is another company who sells these and might ship them up here? Anyone taking a road trip???
I am offering to purchase a fiberglass body for anyone who can help make it happen! And for the costs of the materials, Meryl is offering to build the Go Kart mechanics and frame if that sweetens the deal any!  Can't you just see a fleet of these things terrorizing the local car shows and community parades?? Look out River Rats, here we come!

VW Bus Documentary, releasing to DVD this fall

"The Bus" is a documentary film exploring the history, culture and evolution of the VW Bus. A celebration of one of the most iconic vehicles ever produced

 

www.busmovie.com

 

 

 Some of my favorite quotes from the movie trailer

 

 "Your making instant friends, no matter where you go"

 

"What other car can you drive to work and have 10 people smile and wave as you drive by, I'm guessing they're not doing that to the chevy pick up"

 

 

Can't wait to see the movie, check out the trailer for yourself!