After a couple of frustrating weeks, I'm able to re-focus on Hapy. I had hoped to be further along on this project by now, but there are always other things that need to be done, so optional projects sit idle. These last couple of weeks have been a great example of that.
Yard of Mulch, Sky of Sleet
I haven't really gone into it, but about a month ago, we ordered and had delivered a dump-truck load of mulch onto our lawn. I spent 3 days in rain/sleet mix weather widening garden beds and spreading mulch. Wee! It looks great now, though. In fact, it looks good enough for the neighbors to come over and give me that "you sonofabitch" look because now their wives are saying they should get some mulch delivered. They remember the rain and sleet and want no part of it. I can't blame them. It does look nice, though.
Oh, Shed!
Then we had a you-assemble shed delivered. We had talked about getting one of those since we moved into a house with a single car garage, so this, too, was a good idea. The timing was a little irritating, but when CostCo slaps a $300 markdown on something you'd been putting off for 5 years, you take it as a sign that you shouldn't wait any longer. I finished the shed on Mother's Day. Its actually nicer than the garage, albeit smaller. Assembling that thing, though, took waaaay longer than I thought. For example, I spent 2 days putting a cedar shake roof on it so it would match the house. Oy vey. I spent most of the afternoon on Mother's Day rehanging the doors so they work perfectly. Of course, now that It's done, I'm thinking of ways to run electrical. Typical. Can't just leave it alone. Of course, that's the attitude that got this whole TDI-sporter thing started.
Garden of Eatin
Last, we put a vegetable garden in for the first time in 10 years. The last time we had vegetables, it was the Summer before our first was born. It will be nice to have fresh veggies this Summer, and working the garden with the boys will be a great experience. Considering the cost of food, this ultimately makes very good sense. The money we save on tomatoes can buy a electronic gadget I haven't yet realized I need :D After letting a couple of days pass, it seems that our list of big projects has been completed. (I know. I'm shocked too) There are lots of little things, but nothing pressing for the next few months, so I can really focus on the bus.
Back to business
There are so many loose threads on this project, its hard to decide where to begin again. The top 2 priorities are completing the engine preparation and getting the radiator in. I plan to focus on those first. Meanwhile, I'll be selling off the rest of the old engine, an extra transaxle and whatever other bits I stumble across so the garage can maybe be usable again. I don't think I'll make my original target date with this project, but I need to remember that the journey is the goal. The completion of the engine install is just a transitional point in that journey.
Showing posts with label the shed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the shed. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2008
Monday, March 26, 2007
Travel planning, the old bus way
For the past few years, we've planned our Summer camping trips in winter. This seems awfully early to most folks I know, but camping in an old bus isn't the same as camping in a class "A". Besides, when better to think about warm weather camping, and swimming holes than during the typical NorthWest ground-soaking downpours. Not to mention the 40 degree temperatures. So far, we've planned a run down through southern Oregon to Lake Shasta, CA and a couple of weekend trips that are more local. The big southern run, though, requires more planning than just throwing a dart at the map.
how far can you sit in that 30 year old seat?
My backside answers: shorter than last year, and you didn't plan it well enough then either. Quiet you. This question, though ties into travel with kids in that they can't stay in a seat for too long either, regardless of how comfy. Seeing how there's no integrated DVD - game console - kid quieting machine in a '72 bus, frequent stops and an abbreviated travel day is necessary. Figure too, that camping in a non-class "A" manner means you have to do more than park to set up. This brings on the second question.
how long does it take to go from pull-in to set up?
Like the first question, I usually underestimate our ability to get set up, but the other way. My wife barely has time to say "we're finally here" between the time we pull in and the kids are tooling away on their bikes. Setting up "the shed" (2 person tent we use for holding the stuff we don't want to trip over in the bus) takes all of about 10 minutes. The rest of the set up of tablecloth, sleeping bags, coolers and stove is much faster than we realize. So, though the class "A" parked next to you may have pulled in and had the tv on faster than you could say "my, that's big", the microbus camper really can go from pull-in to dinner cooking in about 15 minutes. Faster if you put your beer down, but I have to do that enough at work.
now hot will it get?
Without A/C, this is actually an important question. The aircooled bus needs to cool off when the ambient air gets hot. Driving in 100+ degree weather is rough on you and the bus, so frequent stops are necessary to exchange the fluids in your body and to let the bus cool off.
what does the google map say?
I take the google map estimate and add at least half again to it. If they say it'll take 4 hours, I plan on 7. Why? Well, for one thing, the bus top speed is 60. That's straight downhill with a tail wind, etc. It goes 0 to 60 in about 15 minutes, so figure that in the amount of time it takes to go from dead stop to full speed, you could set up a campsite. Besides, between restroom stops, getting drinks and stoppnig to look at stuff, it really is a miracle we get out of the neighborhood, much less our destination.
In the end, we plan our travel around destinations, like everyone else, but we plan around midpoints nearly as much. We will stop every hour for something, even if its only drinks, and we'll get there after everyone else. Since we're making our reservations in March, we don't have to get there early to get the last of the unreserved sites, so it doesn't matter. Now's the time to plan your Summer, and don't forget to consider how far you need to go, who's riding with you, and what you're driving. Stop often, and when you can, take a side road. It can make the trip.
how far can you sit in that 30 year old seat?
My backside answers: shorter than last year, and you didn't plan it well enough then either. Quiet you. This question, though ties into travel with kids in that they can't stay in a seat for too long either, regardless of how comfy. Seeing how there's no integrated DVD - game console - kid quieting machine in a '72 bus, frequent stops and an abbreviated travel day is necessary. Figure too, that camping in a non-class "A" manner means you have to do more than park to set up. This brings on the second question.
how long does it take to go from pull-in to set up?
Like the first question, I usually underestimate our ability to get set up, but the other way. My wife barely has time to say "we're finally here" between the time we pull in and the kids are tooling away on their bikes. Setting up "the shed" (2 person tent we use for holding the stuff we don't want to trip over in the bus) takes all of about 10 minutes. The rest of the set up of tablecloth, sleeping bags, coolers and stove is much faster than we realize. So, though the class "A" parked next to you may have pulled in and had the tv on faster than you could say "my, that's big", the microbus camper really can go from pull-in to dinner cooking in about 15 minutes. Faster if you put your beer down, but I have to do that enough at work.
now hot will it get?
Without A/C, this is actually an important question. The aircooled bus needs to cool off when the ambient air gets hot. Driving in 100+ degree weather is rough on you and the bus, so frequent stops are necessary to exchange the fluids in your body and to let the bus cool off.
what does the google map say?
I take the google map estimate and add at least half again to it. If they say it'll take 4 hours, I plan on 7. Why? Well, for one thing, the bus top speed is 60. That's straight downhill with a tail wind, etc. It goes 0 to 60 in about 15 minutes, so figure that in the amount of time it takes to go from dead stop to full speed, you could set up a campsite. Besides, between restroom stops, getting drinks and stoppnig to look at stuff, it really is a miracle we get out of the neighborhood, much less our destination.
In the end, we plan our travel around destinations, like everyone else, but we plan around midpoints nearly as much. We will stop every hour for something, even if its only drinks, and we'll get there after everyone else. Since we're making our reservations in March, we don't have to get there early to get the last of the unreserved sites, so it doesn't matter. Now's the time to plan your Summer, and don't forget to consider how far you need to go, who's riding with you, and what you're driving. Stop often, and when you can, take a side road. It can make the trip.
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