We have come to a standby on our bus project.

[Mex-Busnut]

Dear Friends,

My wife and I are are saddened by the series of events that have brought us to put a pause on our dream bus project. Basically, we have had a bunch of setbacks, such as having to replace the air compressor on the engine, replace radiator core and overflow tank, two new engine batteries, fix some structural cracks in the frame and also the engine mounts, and a few other things. Front brakes were thoroughly checked out, and rear brakes were replaced, as were a half dozen air lines. The clutch was also replaced.

But now also my carpenter guy did not come through on his promise to have our kitchen done and installed last Friday, and the A/C guy has not been able to come to do his work, which was also supposed to be done last week.

Next Wednesday we must be on the road, headed North. This will mean our trip will NOT be in our bus. But maybe we can still meet some of you on this trip, if you don't mind us being busless.

We are not giving up: Just pressed the Pause button for a moment. Good Lord willing, maybe in October we will be back home and take up our bus project again. Then in December, we hope to resume our trip plans.

Thanks for letting me purge my air tank here.

[demodriver]

I guess its better to be done correctly then to have it rushed thru. 

Good luck with your trip.

Eric

[Mex-Busnut]

Thanks, Eric!

[wal1809]

Are yall still headed north on us35? 

[John316]

Dr. Steve,

I am sorry to hear that. Don't feel too bad, though. You had a great goal, and you worked towards it. Apparently the Lord had other plans.

Also, be encouraged. You have made more progress on your bus, in the last couple of months, then most in years.

God bless,

John

[Mex-Busnut]

Are y'all still headed north on US-35? 

As far as i know, we will be on I-35 from Dallas up to Kansas City. I will be coming up, Lord willing along the 281 from the Rio Grande Valley and working over to Houston, then Palestine TX, then over to Dallas, and then up to Madison, Wisconsin.

I am open to suggestions for routes!

[Mex-Busnut]

Thanks to all for your kind comments.

By the way, we have to be in the Rio Grande Valley area first, as my wife is speaking at another international women's conference in La Feria, TX, on Sept 9-11, and I will be across the river in Reynosa, MEX at a united gathering of churches for special meetings.

And we have to have our awesome daughter delivered in Madison Wisconsin by 4:00 p.m. Sunday Sept 18th.

[HighTechRedneck]

I am open to suggestions for routes!

Since you are planning to return home in October, on the return, divert east and join in the fun at the rally in Chattanooga, TN October 14-17.  And I think you would greatly enjoy the Gospel concert at the amphitheater on the other end of the park October 16.

Even though you won't have your bus on the trip, I think you would enjoy it a lot.

www.BusConversions.com/rally/

[Mex-Busnut]

May we come to the rally, though our bus stays home?

[HighTechRedneck]

Absolutely!  There will be several attending that will be staying in nearby motels.  (there are a half dozen motels within a mile)

You can access and print out the registration form via that link I posted above.   If you decide you are sure you can make it, then you can pop it in the mail before you leave.  Or if you need to make that judgement call after you are on the road, print it out, make out an envelope and take them with you.  Then when you are sure, fill it out and mail it.

In fact, even if you do decide before leaving, it may be best to wait until in the U.S. to mail it.  Lower postage and probably faster transit. 

[TomC]

This is all normal stuff. You buy a bus for cheap, then find out all sorts of hidden items need replacing.  Then get those things done right is important.  This is one of the many reasons it took me 6yrs to do my conversion.  Mainly-doing as much as I could afford to at a time.  Don't worry, you'll eventually get there.  Just keep up the work when you can, and before you know it, your bus will be in usable shape.  Don't rush it, and don't start buying El Cheapo crap just to rush through the job.  Better to wait to be able to afford what you want, then be satisfied with something you'll always be mad about.  Good Luck, TomC

[Busted Knuckle]

Look at it as a blessing in disguise! This way you can have the bus done by the time she gets out for the summer next spring and the whole family can take a tour of the US when you pick her up from WI. It's better to do it right now than to have problems on the road or have a tragic accident and miss the deadline !
  BK 

[wal1809]

Are y'all still headed north on US-35? 

As far as i know, we will be on I-35 from Dallas up to Kansas City. I will be coming up, Lord willing along the 281 from the Rio Grande Valley and working over to Houston, then Palestine TX, then over to Dallas, and then up to Madison, Wisconsin.

I am open to suggestions for routes!

If your headed 281 and have to jump over to Houston then you route will have to change to US 59 at George West, Texas.  If you stay that course you will be driving by or through the King Ranch while on 281.  When you hit US59 and headed to Houston you will be passing within 10 miles of the house.  Your welcome to stop by, rest your bones, get a fresh start ect.  I promise I will remove all the rattlesnakes out of the spare bedroom if your coming.   It has been so hot here I have had to box them in wooden boxes and get them in the air conditioning.

[bevans6]

I want to say how impressed I am that you are doing the critically important things first, done right, and doing the comfort things second.  Plus - you take the hard decision to NOT drive the bus before it's ready to fly.  Kudo's to you, doing it right the first time!

Brian

[pabusnut]

Dr Steve,

Join the club!!  I just returned from a 6K mile trip w/o the bus! 

My bus had some issues so it stayed home.

I would rather "do it right" and be ready, and not rush and risk safety or breakdown on the trip.

Maybe next year!

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut