Westies at Watkins 2008

October brought with it Westies at Watkins, the PREMIER annual Volkswagen event in NY state, excepting, of course (Hi, Dan!) the Salt City VW Show.




Once again, the amazing Joel Cort used his array of super powers to pull this thing together in his "spare " time (when he's not busy levitating dogs).




We were blessed with good weather, fine early foliage, & sweet, open roads down to Watkins Glen & back.














Our back window, appropriately adorned for the trip down (Mark pic, from LIMBO).




Campsite pics...


































Pics from our Saturday adventures:















Lower end of the gorge...



















Fulkerson & Cascata wineries.

Can't recommend these highly enough.

Mmmmm...Wiiiine...




These pics from Saturday night's campfire will prove, once and for all, that Empire VW Camping events are conducted in an atmosphere of strict decorum and good taste...











































Enough of that; it's a family blog...










VW jack-'o-lantern, and one of Mary Jo's luminaria...












































Sunday morning, the day the hamsters had been waiting for finally arrived...

!!!!!!!!!!!! RACE DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Mark pic)




























(Joel's pics of the track here)























It may look like we're in the lead, but all those cars in the rear are about to pass us in the next 30 seconds, while we're struggling up the hill.

I THINK I can! I THINK I can!

I KNOW I can! I KNOW I can!









































































The road home, to our day jobs (sigh).


YouTube links:


Video from Westies at Watkins--- Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydjv225USyg

Video from Westies at Watkins--- Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQtMsnjWqk

Video from Sue, Putt Putt whizzing by (ahead of the pack??) on the track.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtcSqgwbneM


And then also from Sue, the rest of the VW pack, complete with honks and waves.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgqlUZ4Rg7M



Video from Westies at Watkins---Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc_XwWYWPZE

Camping at Southwick Beach

September found the Empire VW Campers at Southwick Beach State Park in Henderson, NY on the shores of Lake Ontario.

We were in sight of the nine Mile Point and Fitzpatrick nuclear plants (you could watch the cooling towers blink at night) but I'm sure that we all came back with the same number of toes that we started with.









For the record, there is NO truth to the rumor that the dead fish Phil and Ethan poked with a stick had three eyes!

Sign pic by Sue, beach pics by Phil, from the LIMBO website.





















Mark out kayaking, another Phil pic.










Shots of both these beautiful splitties are Mark's, also from LIMBO.





















Roger's here
pretty in pink (bumpers).






(Bus & camper pics by Joel.)






Aaron & Kim's orange '73 was just one of many
classic Vw's at Southwick.









They were accompanied by equally wonderful people, whose names, for the most part, have escaped my sieve-like brain.

No, the 9% beer had NOTHING to do with it!











A Eurovan here, and some sweet Vanagons.















































Some really nice Canadian folks, with their Vanagon camper.









Kevin's hightop, with the obligatory kayak. I think it improves the aerodynamics for better gas mileage.









Friday night's sunset, and a closeup of the bonfire.



























Just chillin' by the fire, with good friends (Joel pic).


































Mark wanted to try on Sherrie's hat. I have no further explanation.


























More Busses by the dunes..




















































































































Saturday's potluck lunch.






































When you come right down to it, what is camping but an excuse to play with fire?



























A nest of baby snapping turtles hatched out nearby. This is one of them. (Sue's hand here).



























Joel keeps discovering new super powers. He now has the ability to levitate large dogs.




















No trip is complete without a Bigfoot sighting....



























Just sitting on the beach, "reading" ZZzzzzzz....














"Our Baby" by the shore (Mark pic).






































Campsite shots, featuring the now famous "Taj Mahal" side tent.




























































































































































































Saturday night's sunset.
































































































Saturday's campfire. White blob to the left is a marshmallow.

Not flaming, I might add.

Unusual.









Breakfast Burritos, Sunday morning (Joel pic)



















Saturday night, Phil became angry with one of his lawn chairs (wouldn't fold or something) and threw it into the fire.

Kevin, never being one to see good stuff thrown away, grabbed the frame Sunday morning & decided to rescue it.

A couple of sticks, some duct tape, and the Phoenix Chair rose from the ashes!

Phil has to keep it in his living room now...