Unbound Teleworker Delurking

[Saguache]

In 2007 I was able to move positions with the company I've been working for a resituate myself so that I could take full advantage of a teleworking contract. We moved from the dreary and damp Seattle area to central Washington state for a while. I made regular tele-living trips over the Cascades to keep management happy while maintaining a better living situation for myself and my family.

This summer we managed to extend this leash considerably. I moved my family from central Washington back to my home state of Colorado. Work-life balance has never been better! Since July I've made similar pilgrimages back to the North West and management appears happy.

I've been working on two vehicles which enable my current lifestyle (so far away from the office). This is a lot of fun for me, and I have to be careful not to let these projects overwhelm me.

1983 Volkswagen Vanagon "Zeno" Diesel (1.9L) Timbertech Hightop
I bought this vehicle in 2009 on eBay. It hadn't just been neglected, it had been abused. The winter of 2009/2010 I lived out of the back of a Toyota 4Runner I've since sold while replacing te ending, rebuilding the transaxle, and completing any number of additional projects turning this former tin-top into a custom home on wheels.

It's not done yet, and last summer I experienced a series of setbacks which I'm slowly overcoming. The good news is that I'm close to having it back out on the road. More news and updates about the conversion to follow.

2006 Subaru Forester "Blackberry" (2.5L) with AutoHome Maggiolina Grand Tour
When Zeno started to experience a series of cascading failures I needed a replacement vehicle that might work as well as Zeno. After some intense shopping and planning I settled on this all wheel drive peach of a car. In addition to being my daily driver since early August it's made the 1200 mile one way trip to and from Seattle several times and I've lived out of this setup happily stealth camping and boon docking my way far from home.

I love to travel, but I prefer to do the traveling. Hop on an airplane and you've just signed up to be stuck in a series of cheap boxes with nothing better to do but watch TV for the duration. That's not travel, it's extortion and ultimately just lost time you'll never get back.

 

[cyndi]

Welcome, Saguache! Sounds like you've made a great life for you and your family with the best of both worlds.<BR><BR>I need visuals!!! Pictures (of your vehicles)&nbsp;are mandatory!<BR>

 

[Saguache]

Hey Cyndi,<div><br></div><div>I'll start with Zeno, I got a very bad case of machine love for this old mule.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4068/4653478470_a712d74ca4.jpg"></div><div>This is the van pretty soon after I bought it in 2009. &nbsp;Notice that it came with Mercedes CLK 16" rims. &nbsp;Lots of problems with these as the offset on them caused rubbing on the inside of the tire and some other issues. &nbsp;They're due to be replaced this spring after I fix those sagging springs.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4140/4806798213_fc481ecf55.jpg"></div><div>Here I've stripped the interior and used POR-15 anywhere there might be rust issues. &nbsp;Lots of sanding, lots of scraping, lots of fun.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4069/4309859800_882f1d05b8.jpg"></div><div>This is the old 1.6L engine which had M-A-N-Y issues. &nbsp;The cylinder heads were pitted, the previous owner had tried to hack on a turbo from a VW Quatro (LH side), the fuel pump leaked, the coolant system leaked everywhere, and the "exhaust" was literally a rusty pipe bolted to the manifold (nothing more).</div><div><br></div><div>I bought the van in Southern California and drove it about 2200 miles with this engine and a bad trans-axle (had to hold the shifter in 5th) to work on it back in Washington. &nbsp;Get yourself a good rolling tool set and you'll never be stopped for long.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6012/5903606376_148143fab9.jpg"></div><div>More recent shot of the engine bay. &nbsp;New guts and plenty of work went into this.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5132/5465071035_96b5cecb29.jpg"></div><div><br></div><div>Jumping ahead a bit, but here's Zeno with some paint and his new top. &nbsp;This spring I'll be redoing the interior and exterior paint. &nbsp;the wife thinks the black, grey and white make the van look like a destroyer from the Imperium in Star Wars or something (personally I'm down with looking like anyone who might take out a few Ewoks from time to time). &nbsp;The new paint color is a dusty tan or khaki which will help Zeno blend into the South Western landscape a lot better.</div>

 

[Les H]

Saguache, Hi and welcome!

 

[Saguache]

Completed some work on Zeno the Earth Rover this week. &nbsp;He's now sporting a new set of cabinets and a complete storage system.<div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6635660691_d0ec323bfc.jpg"></div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6635665359_85efc32a51.jpg"></div><div><br></div><div>The two of us will be leaving this Friday on a ~3000 mile trip to the North West (for work). &nbsp;This will give us some time to work out the kinks and test the new digs.&nbsp;</div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><span id="post_message_1271586899">&nbsp;Hey Saguache, </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span></span>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span>Zeno is looking good with your new interior. Where did Zeno get the new topper?</span></p>

 

[Saguache]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="'Times New Roman'">John Carlton runs a small operation bringing these TimberTech high tops over for VW enthusiasts. &nbsp;I got mine the spring before last. &nbsp;You can learn more about what he's got in your area and how its done at <a href="http://canadianhightops.ca/" target="_blank">North American High Tops</a>&nbsp; or you can wrote to him at<font class="Apple-style-span" size="4">&nbsp;<font style="text-decoration: none; "><a href="mailto:[email protected]" style="text-decoration: none; " target="_blank">jacharl_(at)bell.net</a>. &nbsp;He's a real sweetheart of a guy, beside the moment where I cut a 4x4' hole in my roof it was a delight working with him.</font></font></font>

 

[Stillwater]

I'm looking forward to the Forester pics!

 

[Saguache]

Blackberry is far less complicated, but here's some photos from recent trips.<div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6100/6274697296_245b1e49b0.jpg"></div><div>This photo is from the Alpine Loop here in Colorado. &nbsp;I plan on lift Blackberry about 2" and putting some stiffer springs and bigger tires on her sometime soon, but this is me, the car and my infant son coming down the backside of Engineer Pass.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6384743537_900e9ccd77.jpg"></div><div>Road trip for business in November. &nbsp;This is a photo of the MGT fully deployed in the parking lot of my company. &nbsp;That night was chilly.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/6345888039_6876d20b5f.jpg"></div><div>On my way out to the Seattle area in ran into a few storms. &nbsp;This is at about 4500' in Steven's Pass. &nbsp;That night we saw about 7" of snow. &nbsp;That night was cold. &nbsp;The night before I camped up in the Sawtooth Grasslands (NF) in Idaho and while the snowfall was about the same the wind was much worse. &nbsp;In any event the MGT worked out well, I was warm and happy.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6159/6185454361_c0126b4e14.jpg"></div><div>Above Chinook Pass in WA in September. &nbsp;Rain, rain, rain and a really enjoyable view because I could look out over the valley to the left and watch it roll in.</div>

 

[Journeyman]

Welcome Saguache. nice VW conversion.<div><br></div><div>Dennis</div>

 

[Stillwater]

I'm jealous of the rooftop tent! Nice rigs!

 

[Saguache]

Howdy Folks,<br /><br />My nomadic days seem to be at an end, at least in anything with internal combustion. &nbsp;Last March I came down with a might bad seizure disorder which has grounded me. &nbsp;Since then I've lost my job and a great deal of my sanity.&nbsp;<br /><br />I've already sold my van Zeno, but I still have the AutoHome <a href="http://rockies.craigslist.org/rvs/3411733168.html">Maggiolina</a>. &nbsp;Can't use it any more so if you're in the market and or my neck of the woods please come take a look. &nbsp;Great buy at 2/3rds the original price and only a year old.<br /><br />My next mode of self transportation is going to be by bike, can't stand being cooped up in the cabin all day long.

 

[offroad]

Saguache - hope you have medical retirement and can now focus on other travel methods. Assume you can not drive now? &nbsp;See my other post about world traveling for inspiration of doing it on the cheap.&nbsp;

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Sagauche, so sorry to hear about the disorder, AND about it grounding U.&nbsp;</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Man, that's a tough lick to take, for sure. Hate to hear U have to part&nbsp;</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>with your beloved machines, too. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Best of luck to ya.&nbsp;<br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[HoboBerg]

Sorry to hear about your disorder as well. Best wishes to you!

 

[Saguache]

Thanks for the kind wishes folks, and yes I do plan to continue my travels I just cant drive there any more. &nbsp;I've got about 40,000 miles under my belt bicycle touring so the transition shouldn't be that difficult. &nbsp;Just time consuming.<br /><br />Another good bit of news is that I usually have some idea when a seizure is coming on which gives me a moment or two to find some place safer to have it.<br /><br />Just in case you were wondering, I plan to use the money I raise from the sale of the <a href="http://rockies.craigslist.org/rvs/3411733168.html">Maggiolina</a> to buy a new bike for touring. &nbsp;I can make due with what I have, but that car top tent isn't doing anyone any good on top of my car (parked forever more) so its a bit of a budget transfer. &nbsp;Once I find the right interested party I'll order my new set of wheels (already have most of the gear and panniers and other things I need).<br /><br />

 

[bobbert]

I hope that you find the right bike! Have you made the right decision on a bike? The Surly Long Haul Trucker is a great machine for long distance touring &amp; etc. About $1300.00 new, with great components.<br>Are you going to stay in one area, or travel across the country?\Make sure you stretch before &amp; after each ride (to keep the iliotibial band from flaring up). <br><br>

 

[Saguache]

<span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">I hope that you find the right bike!&nbsp;</span><br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Have you made the right decision on a bike?&nbsp;</span><br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">The Surly Long Haul Trucker is a great machine for long distance touring &amp; etc. About $1300.00 new, with great components.</span>

<span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /><br /></span>I've looked at the LHT, and even the deluxe LHT with S&amp;S couplers has some advantages, but the bike has to be completely compatible with stage two of my life.<br /><br />I just turned 40, have a 15 year old and a 2 year old, and no job prospects to speak of (my skills are transferable, but no one will hire me, understandably, with the seizures and memory loss).<br /><br />Stage 2 involves finding my earthworm, which is cycling and long-distance, self-supported traveling. &nbsp;I want to write, film and travel. &nbsp;Think of me as the Rick Steves of overland bicycle touring, yet unpublished.<br /><br />The bike I really want is a Co-Motion Pangea with S&amp;S couplers. &nbsp;It should be the last bike I ever own. &nbsp;The S&amp;S couplers are very important to me (they make it easy to fly or sail to new locations) and the difference in cost between the Deluxe LHT and the Pangea is negligible. &nbsp;Although as I type I am thinking that there are things (like a SON hub, brooks saddle, and butterfly bars) that I'd rather put on the frame. &nbsp;Maybe I should reconsider?<br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">

Are you going to stay in one area, or travel across the country?

<br /></span><br />Next summer I have tour planned with my older son, we're planning on covering about 1700 miles together. &nbsp;It will be his first real tour. &nbsp;Its exciting for me because this year I got to spend about 8.5 days with him. &nbsp;2013 will be different, and potentially an amazing and inspirational experience for him.<br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" />

<span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Make sure you stretch before &amp; after each ride (to keep the iliotibial band from flaring up).&nbsp;</span>

<br /><br />You bet I do. &nbsp;I've toured about 40,000 miles since I started this when I was 14. &nbsp;Now that I'm older and freer (than I've been in a long time) and since my future career plans sort of rest on me being able to continue to do this I've got to take care of myself.<br /><br style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" /><span style="line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">

Would that tent fit on my 2012 Forester?

<br /><br />I don't believe that there's much difference in the roof dimensions between the G2 (mine) and the G3 (yours) Forester. &nbsp;I mounted a pair Yakima bars on the factory rails and it hangs over about 1.5" on each side, but I don't notice it at all. &nbsp;That said I'm happy to break out the tape measure if you need to compare.</span>

 

[blkjak]

<p><span style="font-size: small;">welcome .... blkjak</span></p>

 

[Saguache]

Step Two:<br><br>Last week my doc gave me permission to get behind the wheel again. &nbsp;Somewhat of a relief, because while I love to ride my bike, its been cold out side baby.<br><br>So where does that leave me? &nbsp;We'll I'm no longer a teleworker for sure. &nbsp;In fact, my career seems to be effectively over, and not without some cause. &nbsp;I mean would you trust a nearly $200M capital investment portfolio to a guy that might fall over and choke on his own tongue during the next meeting with your business partners? &nbsp;Probably not, I know I wouldn't.<br><br>What's next? &nbsp;Well, I've spent nearly the last year managing a house and a two year old. &nbsp;Which I can do and I've gotten somewhat better at. &nbsp;Still, not really what you'd call a passion of mine. &nbsp;Regardless, it is a responsibility for a while yet so I'll continue to do my best. &nbsp;As far as passions are concerned, travel, health, and exploration are still very high on that list.<br><br>Which brings me to the second half of tonights program. &nbsp;I'm about to raid my own piggy bank. &nbsp;My wife has said that now that I'm allowed to drive again, it would be a good thing for me to get a car. &nbsp;Caveat there is that this car <strong>has to last me the next 10 years</strong>. &nbsp;She's fed up with me working on car after car and then selling them. &nbsp;So, I've embarked on a mission to search out and find the car I can be happy with for 10 years.<br><br>Nine out of ten dentist agree that the perfect car for me is a first generation Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab 4x4 with a shell and my AutoHome Maggiollina mounted. &nbsp;This project list grows every time I think about it and the CDO (OCD in proper order) has had me fixated on the idea for weeks.<br><br>Right now I'm still putting together how its going to work, but sooner than later expect to see ol' Saguache riding around in a pimped and comfortable overland Taco.