Dressing Down and Peruvian Chops
Today, I had to ask one of those dumb questions.
Ever since we have been south of the U.S., the typical laundromat as we knew it ceased to exist. For the most part, you have to find a lavanderia in your town and go drop it off and hope for the best. If you are lucky, the place you are staying will do it when they have time. Since we’re camping in the back yard of a hotel, they have folks here that will do it for about 5 soles per kilo (not bad, but not exactly cheap either.)
Anyway, it occurred to me that every time we drop off our laundry there seems to be an issue when we pick it up. For example, we drop off 3 bags and there are only 2 when we return, etc. Eventually it all gets sorted out, but some times things just disappear into the ether. It never works the other way around – we haven’t ever gained anything new.
So, I had to wonder, how do they mix up all those clothes (they do mix them up) and then somehow know what belongs to whom. Unfortunately, I wondered this aloud.
Angela looked at me like an idiot (i.e. the normal look) and said “Easy. They just pile together all the stuff with a VW on it and it’s yours.”
I walked behind the back fence to all the clothes lines and took a look for myself. Seems about right.
The thing is, I’m pretty sure I didn’t own a single VW themed T-shirt (okay, maybe that one) before we left. One of the odd benefits of running into so many VW clubs and great VW folks on the trip is that they have essentially clothed me for the past year and a half.
Thanks!
Oh, and the chops are coming in nicely – just grayer than I expected. Angela said something like “it’s starting to look like you’ve done that on purpose.” Tough audience – I’ll have to take that as a compliment. You try living this close for so long…
NICE one of bode – oh yeah, jason too.
I think the chops give you a kind of Neil Young look. Can you play Cinnamon Girl or Rockin in the Free World?
Just so that you don’t come to think you’re the only ones who did the PanAm with an old VW – here two blog links.
These guys drove all the way it in an old 1952 “Brezel”-Käfer (page in German): http://www.panamericana-im-alten-vw.de/presse.php
and fellow Americans in split-window van (you might know about): http://bumfuzzle.com/
Enjoy!
Hi, guys,
I have just discovered your blog and to say I love it is an understatement. While going through the archives, I was shocked and delighted to see that you had stopped in Hayfork, CA early on in your travels. I had to laugh to see people I know all too well in your photos of the Trinity County Fair. Anyhow, your journey is amazing. If you decide to come to the Trinity County Fair again, you’ve got a place to stay.
Juergen-
no worries there – we just want to be the first to do it with a kid named Bode 😉 There have certainly been plenty of VW Vagabonds. Ratwell has a list of VW bus adventures, and of course our friends Franck and Iris just completed their RTW in a VW bus. The distance trophy goes to these folks, though 😉
Emily-
We really enjoyed the fair in Hayfork, so I imagine we’ll be back one day.
We just may take you up on your offer 😉
Jason, are you also growing adamantine claws?