80's Subaru report:Northern New England-The Griswolds '84 wagon tours Yankee country

[moosens]

Maine seems to be a decent place to find a few left.Lots of '87-94's I didn't notice many '85-6 grills though.

There was at least (2) '80-84 wagons up there including a near double of the one we were in.

 

New Hamphire still hanging tough as well.Saw many '87-94's.

 

Vermont-not much of a report since I mainly tore through I-91 southbound leaving a trail of dust.Did stop for dinner and there were plenty of newer Legacys.My car got many looks,and smiles at the eatery.

 

I saw the infamous 7K '78 wagon that sold on eBay a while back.It's now at a dealer in NH where they're asking $10K !!!!!! yes,that's ten thousand dollars they're asking......no comment on the pricing needed please,but it sure made me feel good about mine.

 

No Brats on the roads during my trip-that I saw.

 

I stopped in one Subaru specialist shop.Got tons of smiles,talk with the boys about all sorts of older Subarus....we all know the same sources,funny,they even know the guys here in CT and who's a rip-off as well.LOL!!

 

So,you want to hear about the "Griswold's" eh??

Well,there we were looking totally vintage touring chic when this bitchin VW microbus pulls up a few campsites away.Well,I gave him my best thumbs up and told him "nice bus!".He didn't notice my wagon untill they split,when he was driving out,and said "hey,sweet wagon you got too!!".

 

Otherwise we were definitely touring in the oldest car of all the vacationing folks.

 

The car did great.Great gas mileage-well considering it was packed.Had one instance where the car wouldn't start but it was wet wires and poor connections only.Found this out after hitting a junkyard,but it was ok because I scored some cool parts for a decent price as well.

 

So,speaking of junkyards,there I am scrambling to get to Freeport to see Gabe at his yard.In the back of my mind I know his place closes early but I'm trying like hell to get there for 3:30.....round about 3:38 here comes Gabe going the other way.He didn't notice me and I didn't have any phone numbers for him to let him know I was coming,or that he just passed me.Luckily there's 2 yards in Freeport and the other was open 'till 5...decent enough people too.

 

We never did get a picture of the car all loaded up like we wanted to.It was a sight to see.Total submarine technology,everthing packed to save space.Had the Sears "exCargo" pod on top of mint condition vintage Thule racks.The car and set up looked like they were 3-5 years old,not 20!!!The rack parts were mostly new,just unpacked the day before we left as I had a ton of stuff from my windsurfing days still new!

 

All was great.Thr trip started with a visit from "rogue43"-a.k.a. Milt and his wife.They are from Maine but picked up a car in NJ and drove it back-stopping at my workshop to make it more roadworthy.THat was Friday afternoon/evening.Then I KERRRRRANNNNKED out an all nighter on my packing and got home around 4:30 AM,hit the bed for a short nap and then back to meet Milt and his wife after loading up my family here.

 

We tandem'd up for quite a strectch untill I sort of broke away near NH.Somehow we got more delayed after that and they were at our campsite waiting for us.Good thing our cell phones were working so they didn't wait for us after a conversation.We got caught in some wicked fireworks traffic....oh well.

 

Camped at Camden Hills State Park then Bar Harbor-Acadia Nat. Pk. (Blackwoods),then hit Rogue Bluffs and camped on the ocean at Milt's place.I call it heaven,very hard to leave.Hit the Bah-hah-bah area on the return,then NH for Storyland for the kiddies.Ahh,the White Mountains!!!

 

Thanks to Milt and his wife Norma for all their help and kindness.

Gabe,sorry I missed you.The yard looks great from the outside.Hope to make it up sometime before the end of summer.

 

Downeast Maine is highly recommended.

Hope you guys get a great vacation in this year too.Thanks for reading.

Cheers!

[Hocrest]

Hope you guys get a great vacation in this year too.Thanks for reading.

Cheers!

Thanks for writing

[ByTheSea]

I am the Sofa King of Embarrased. Paul, I could have sworn I saw you as I cranked out of the Charlton MA Turnpike Plaza. It actually started to click seeing the "Husband waitintg for family" looking guy with the tan 80s wagon equipted with what could only be described as a giant white boil on the roof. It was too late to turn back when I got it all figured out but if you wondered who the balding guy in the green Imp sedan with a huge blue duffel on the roof,,,well that would be me with my kids/mom headed to the Cape. I thought I'd see you in a touring wagon or gl-10. How was camping? My 10 man dome almost blew down at the Cape. Huge wind and rain one day. Sitting right on Cape Cod Bay in front of a friends beach shack.

 

Brad

[moosens]

Hey Brad!! Good to see you around.I'll trade you the boil for the ten man dome.

 

That sounds like me/us.Must have been Saturday the 3rd around 2PM??Maybe a little later.Sorry I didn't notice you.Too many Legacys and Imprezas in New England to take note these days.

 

Ahhh,the Cape...so when do you pack it up for the season?I plan on hitting lower Maine sometime in the next couple of months.Could stop by there or B'town if you're back at the winter quarters by then.Minor email coming right after this.