“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Mark Twain
Gypsy Lee among the cactus at Pancho Villa State Park near New Mexico's border with Mexico. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Travels With Maggie
The 114,500 miles I’ve put on my VW Vista RV, Gypsy Lee, the past seven years have been good ones. I bought her new in 2004 and she’s gotten me everywhere I’ve wanted to go, done it averaging 15 mpg of fuel, and never broken down on the road, well except for a blown tire.
Together – Gypsy Lee, my dog Maggie and I – have traveled from ocean to ocean and from the Mexican border up into Canada. In return for her faithful service, I’ve had her oil changed every 3,000 miles, bought her several new sets of tires, given her a complete tune-up at 65,000 miles, one new fuel filter, and one new set of brake pads. That’s It.
But now she’s in the shop getting a major, and expensive, facelift. This time when I had her checked out to make sure she was road ready, the VW technician – that’s what they call mechanics and grease monkeys these days – found some significant wear and tear. He pointed it out to me as I stood beneath her lifted body, which still looked pretty good he said.
Gypsy Lee got me to Canada so I would walk through a marsh in Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. -- Photo by Pat Bean
While a transmission service and new brake pads are the only things nearing an emergency breakdown, I opted to do all the work the technician recommended. The cost, while it hurts, is actually less than that of the new roof I put on my last home.
And Gypsy Lee is my home. Or she will be again when I get her back Monday. That’s my 72nd birthday by the way. And I can’t think of a better present than having my RV ready to hit the road again. Hopefully Gypsy Lee and Maggie will be up to the next 100,000 or so miles. I sure am.
Pat Bean's blog 
your RV will thank you for the full service — getting an entire wear-cycle of stuff done at once saves you time and money, too. Very smart, if painful.
happy trails, and happy birthday…
Thanks for this post, Pat. I am only 6+ months into full-tiiming, the Jolly Swag is older than your coach but has fewer miles. Small fixes seem a steady part of her diet. Anecdotal info seem to indicate that at 100,000 miles some major components are nearing the end of their life. I am happy to hear that life on the road can stay vibrant for seven years and that your honeymoon is nowhere close to being over. AL
Ride with me and Lightnin’ on our Year on the Road at http://allevenson.wordpress.com/
I am glad you are getting Gypsy Lee all fixed up; what a wonderful journey! I think of you are you Maggie often. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Kind regards,
Karen
Glad you’re getting road ready and safe. Happy Birthday- (it’s mine today and it’s a great one so far!) -enjoy it wherever you may find yourself.
Happy to hear that you, Maggie and Gypsy Lee are almost ready for your next adventure! Look forward to following the happy lot of you off into the great outdoors!
Happy (slightly early) Birthday! Thank you so much for the inspiration your journey and your spirit provide. I hope, when I am 72, I have that same energy and sense of adventure. You are living proof that age truly is an issue of mind over matter.
Always do everything you can in one hit. Saves time, when you’ve got it in pieces go for the lot.
Hope you’re back on the road soon,
Jim