Great weekend for getting the bus out

[Brian Diehl]

It is Minnesota, but you would never know it from the weather.  It was 79 degrees today.  Given the incredible mid-March weather we just had to get out and go camping this weekend.  I tell you, I was thinking about taking a picture of the dash while heading north west last night.  I decided I better focus on driving instead of picture taking.  So, I still wanted to prove that I was out and using the bus.  Attached for your viewing pleasure are pictures proving we are indeed camping with our bus!  Sure felt good to get out on the road and be in one of my favorite places - behind the wheel.  :-)  The weather today was perfect for hiking.  We put in about 3 1/2 miles and actually found ourselves hot.  Very strange for March in Minnesota, but I am NOT complaining.  Right now I'm waiting to see if the wind will die down enough to allow us to start a fire.  Can anyone say "Marshmallows"?  I keep tasting s'mores, and the fire isn't even burning yet.  Anyway, the bus ran great and all systems came out of cold storage with narry an issue.  Gotta love when everything works as it is supposed to!

[gumpy]

Awesome!

[Me Too!]

That is awesome!  We hit 73 up here in Duluth.

[Hi yo silver]

"It just don't get much better than that!", does it Brian?
Dennis

[robertglines1]

Dennis: I'm squatted on your spot . Wish you were here   Bob& Judy

[belfert]

I was out camping in Minnesota, but not in my bus.  I was camping with a troop of Boy Scouts.  It is not normal to be camping at this time of year and have it be 80 degrees.  Most of the boys wore shorts.  It is usually a mud fest this time of year, but the winter was mild enough that the frost was out and the ground already dried up.

I'm hesitant to take my bus anywhere right now.  The spring thaw is hard on roads and I would prefer not to damage my driveway.

[fraser8]

Good on you, it's great to get out and enjoy the outdoors and get cob webs out of the coach. I woke up to snow this morning here on the west coast.

[Brian Diehl]

Roads were great!  They weren't any worse than they usually are all year long.

It was great getting out, but it sure is nice to be home too!  I've got a few minor repairs to make before our next trip later this month.  I'll be combining a little work with vacation.  We will spend a few days out at the Badlands in western SD and then a few days of work at one or our locations in Pierre.  I'm already looking forward to pointing the bus west again.

We had one small hitch when we went to leave the campground today.  I started the bus and the air would not build.  I ended up pulling the governor off the engine and tore it apart.  I found out it has worn pretty badly and will need to be replaced.  I ended up turning parts 180 degrees so the worn edges were at opposite points and put it back together.  After that it worked perfectly building air.  So, I'll stop at Napa and pick up a new one when I get a chance later this week.  This experience just goes to show how important it is to understand how the air system works so a "field" repair can be completed without having to call roadside repair assistance.

Have a great week all!

[FloridaCliff]

Brian,

Good to hear you had a wonderful trip with your family and just a few minor glitches.

I agree with you that if you don't know a little about the basic systems, and how to deal with them, this could be a very frustrating hobby.

I always look forward to the first trip of the season and as fraser8 put it "get the cob webs out of the coach".

Even in the nice weather of Florida, The Kids sports commitments limit heading out during the Winter months and early Spring.

Enjoy your Spring and looking forward to a visit to the badlands myself.

Cliff

[buswarrior]

One of the local truck parts places is advertising a "March Madness" sale.

Governors for $12.99.

Cheap preventive maintenance, whether you buy one on sale, or for regular price.

happy coaching!
buswarrior