Come on Springtime!!!

pabusnut · February 20, 2016, 06:26:54 PM

After the snow melted (mostly), I unbolted the 2 sets of seats on the passenger side—needed my wife's help because on the upper deck I removed the slotted rail when I replaced the floor. The bolts holding down the second set go through the floor, but end up in the center tunnel—over the fuel tank and above all the conduits and air lines, which makes it not exactly easy to get to. I partially forgot how hard it was to put on those two nuts on the bolts(it should be three, but two was all I could bear to do.

Yesterday I finally got to take them over to Bergen Upholstery in Teterboro, NJ to have them recovered. I had contacted several local upholstery shops, but most were not exactly excited about redoing bus seats. So I contacted Bergen, which does primarily bus seats. They have a wide variety of fabrics to choose from, and are truly experts in bus seats.
That hideous red with orange is gone forever!
After unbolting the seats, I decided to try to start the bus---and discovered dead batteries, because some idiot left the switch on(idiot typing). I tried to charge them with my fancy-dancy electronic battery charger, but it said no can do---voltage is too low. So I went over to Mom's and got the battery charger that Dad used for as long as I can remember. It only took one day on each battery to bring them back.

Today, since it was over 50 degrees here today, I tried to start it, and is popped right off! I needed to get the air up so I can replace a tire that was cut by a vandal. We have not had any type of crime in our neighborhood in the 10 years we have lived here, except for one other spray paint vandalism shortly after we moved in. I am perplexed by what kind of thrill someone would get out of cutting two tires with a knife?! Fortunately only one was a bus tire, and both are covered by insurance, less the $200 I am out for deductibles($100x2 different vehicles)

Punxatawny Phil said there is only 6 more weeks of winter, but I don't think today counts as winter, but I will take any excuse to get ready for spring camping!

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

Scott & Heather · February 20, 2016, 07:43:19 PM

Good read Steve. I kinda envy you guys that can work on your buses whenever it's convenient and store her for the winter. With our schedule, I try to get in a bit of maintenance here and there as we stop long enough between tours. I'm never caught up I feel like. Anyway, always exciting to get her running and ready for camping!

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TomC · February 21, 2016, 08:16:46 AM

We have 3 seasons here in L.A.-Fall, Spring and Summer. Good Luck, TomC

pabusnut · February 21, 2016, 09:21:09 AM

Scott,

I always tell people when time and money collide, I work on the bus! I had two days off work the other week, but spent it mostly shoveling 20+ inches of snow. The drifts around the bus were about 4'.

Tom,

Most times it feels like we have four seasons --Winter-Winter-Winter & spring

eagle19952 · February 21, 2016, 09:28:26 AM

not there today, but Alaska has winter ... and waiting on winter

lostagain · February 21, 2016, 11:29:57 AM

If we are lucky and summer falls on a Sunday, we can have a picnic...

JC

Scott & Heather · February 21, 2016, 01:29:48 PM

Lol. 4' drifts are no joke Steve. Btdt.

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MB LeMirage · February 21, 2016, 06:54:34 PM

Those look like just another day here just East of Winterpeg in the great province of Manisnowba.

Ryan.

Iceni John · February 21, 2016, 10:12:14 PM

It may reach 90 here tomorrow. I was working at my bus this weekend wearing just shorts and flipflops, and they're not even my winter-weight flipflops. Hate to say it, but I got slightly sunburnt today.

Only the toughest can survive Southern California winters, when the temperatures can plummet down into the seventies with a windchill of 69. Brrrr.

John

goutoe · February 22, 2016, 07:16:49 AM

We have had some mild temps here in central Nebraska was close to 60 saturday, spent some time working in the bus, Started the engine yesterday first time in 5 months, That really gave me spring fever but the calendar still says February so we could still have some winter, no sun burns here!>>>> John.

TomC · February 22, 2016, 07:52:16 AM

I don't know how anyone stands being in snow country. I realize it maybe home, but as you get older, just puts another many layers onto making life difficult. This is why there are so many retirement communities in the south. Good Luck, TomC

rusty · February 22, 2016, 08:24:37 AM

On the other side of the coin is how can anybody stay in a retirement community for 4 months out of a year. To play cucumber ball at 10 oclock on tuesdays and thursdays , drink wine at 3:30 everyday, go to dinner and bitch about the price, and live in a motor home the on most days is to small. I will admit that the winters are getting a little colder every year. I don't mind moving snow in fact enjoy it. The shop is only a few steps from the house and the day goes by way to fast when working on some project ( mostly a bus ). Now with all that said I have a wife that is just fine with the retirement community and after 46 years I am going to lose that argument and I see a lot of wine ( coors ) drinking in my future.

Wayne

pabusnut · February 22, 2016, 10:46:19 AM

As far as my wife is concerned, she would move South next week----BUT I am the only one who works, and after age 50, changing jobs is infinitely harder. Three of my(our) four kids are still in the local area(one is super local--14 yr old

) and all three grandkids. I know for a fact that they wouldn't come visit very frequently if we moved south, not that we see them every week, but at least this way the opportunity is not expensive for them. My mom is 78 years young, and the only parent we have left between us. She lives alone, and I expect that to change in the next five years, but she will only go to a "assisted care" place kicking and screaming. I am building my new house with a spot for an apartment for Mom.

So, which is more selfish--to move South for ourselves, or to stay in the frozen tundra to be close to family??

Scott & Heather · February 22, 2016, 10:56:58 AM

Honestly, since we travel extensively for a living I can truly say that being near family and close friends is more important than climate unless your health is majorly suffering. If you have good family and nice friends that is.

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zimmysurprise · February 24, 2016, 05:41:35 PM

Family and Friends are first Scott, but Steve- probably the best part about living in the winter wonderland is how much we enjoy spring and traveling to warmer parts when we get the chance. Common Memorial Day!!!