Bye bye Olli

Good times somewhere in the USA

I wasn't sure how to give old Olli (my trusty van) a farewell goodbye so the mrs suggested doing so via my blog. I thought that would be a very fitting tribute to a vehicle that has shared a very big part of my and many others travels over the last several years.
Olli became part of family when we were still leaving in the states and he made his maiden voyage with me from the east coast to his then new home of Colorado. Since that time he made countless climbing trips to the far reaches of Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming and pretty much drove all of the state of Colorado (and it's numerous dirt roads) from the front range west many times over as well as the highest paved road of the Rockies. He moved us and our belongings from house to another, towed other cars, and survived a bumpy overseas transport back to his homeland of Germany. Back in Europe, he roared over countless passes of the Alps and easily managed two full seasons of driving back and forth from one end of the Alps to the other. But with well over 300k on the original gasoline engine Olli deserved a well earned retirement. Last week my old friend Olli faithfully drove to his new unknown home most likely somewhere in Slovenia. I wish him all the best in his journeys and that he finds a loving new home.

Top of the Rockies

Ciao old buddy!