Volkswagen : Cruising USA with "the thing"

'I've had the store since 1957,' says the spry senior, and immediately offers a rice and sausage dish that's a local specialty.

Celebration during evening commute

After filling the spare canister, it turns out the tank had not been empty at all, but that the gas pump had given out after a distance of nearly 1,000 miles. Two hours later it's back in service, and I drive the next 60 miles at lower speeds and with ears pricked via highway 82 to the town of Lake Charles, where people for whom Las Vegas is too far away like to party.

The trip's final destination is Houston, but I don't take the direct route. Instead I head toward the southern coastline via highway 27 to 82. On the final leg of its tour, the old car gets lots of attention during the evening commute. Here the yellow oddball is even more celebrated than before.