Community Forums

amyBus52 · 12-10-2011, 03:45 PM

Hello!

I've joined up to this website because I'm part of a non-profit project called Bus 52. Five of us will be traveling around the country in a converted school bus for the whole of 2012. We'll be producing a web-series of video interviews with people who are doing inspiring things in their communities, accompanied by articles and photos. We'll also be writing blog posts and uploading photos and videos about life on the road.

As none of us have spent a year in a converted school bus before (or anything close to it), I thought it would be fun to join a forum that would show us some of the great things that we can expect to experience. Some of us have already driven and slept in the bus when we drove it from Texas to Washington, DC but that was only a few days of travel so we're all really excited to get going for the trip itself.

[moderator edit]

If you have any tips about great recipes to cook on the road or great places to stay and visit, do let us know. We're excited to be able to get on the road and to see as much as we can in a year.

Thank you,

Amy

read & learn · 12-11-2011, 07:36 AM

amyBus52 welcome to iRV2
a
A great place is Factorytoursusa.com many places where you can find Made in the USA

RVThere · 12-11-2011, 08:16 AM

Checked out your website and the bus looks pretty funky inside!

One word of advice is to make sure the toilet works and expect problems/opportunities along the way. Does anyone on the bus have any mechanical ability? I see Star Trek and Pokemon experts on the team, but no one reveals any skills in 'replacing water pump or enjoys getting hot trans fluid dropped on my head'!

You may want to join AAA and get their RV membership as you will need a tow from a heavy duty tow truck ($500 PLUS) sometime in the next year.

Have you thought of burning used veggie oil in that bus to be more green? If you come through NJ, I can introduce you to a bunch of guys who are starting up a WVO recovery company and all kinds of other people doing great things in their community.

NJ also has one of the most diverse food communities in the world. From diner food, to truck stops, to deep fried twinkies, to sustainable restaurants, we have it all. If Stephen wants a great way to cook in camp, make sure he packs a Dutch Oven where he can make everything from pizza to pineapple upside down cake.

Feel free to reach out for any help you need along the way. I've driven to all 48 states in the last 14 years so I can give you any advice you need.

Good luck!

Ed-Sommers · 12-12-2011, 06:14 AM

And your motive for doing this trip is?

Ed

jackrobinryan · 12-12-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers

And your motive for doing this trip is?

Ed

If the motive is to post stories of good folks doing commendable things in their communitites, posted in the place our younger generation feels very comfortable, the Internet, I'm all for it. Turn on the TV and there's not enough about what is going right with the world.

Exception being last night's CNN Hero's Awards show. Very inspiring folks.

Go have fun, Amy. Lots of good advice here, especially about mechanical expertise.

safe travels

j

RVNeophytes2 · 12-12-2011, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere

I see Star Trek and Pokemon experts on the team...

Star Trek? Pokemon? Oh, so these ARE older people

Forty years ago, we had young RV pioneers, old buses and VW campers were their weapons of choice. We called them hippies.

Okay, seriously, we applaud you. All of us elderly folks wish we could turn back the clock and do something this daring. Enjoy, and be safe!

Bus 52 Project Site

jackrobinryan · 12-12-2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

Oh, so these ARE older people

Bus 52 Project Site

Maybe not, have you seen the TV show Big Bang Theory?? Trekkers and yet, 20 somethings. Those guys crack me up!!!

And all the real and accurate references to science, physics and technologies.

Arch Hoagland · 12-12-2011, 07:19 AM

Would this site qualify as people doing good things for others?

I've been on here for several years and have seen a LOT of people contribute time and effort to help others in our "community".

If you experience a problem and post on here you'll be amazed at how fast someone comes to your rescue.

amyBus52 · 12-14-2011, 08:47 AM

Thank you everyone for your kind responses.

@read & learn: thank you very much for that site, it looks very interesting.

@RVThere: we are going to join Good Sam Club and Coachnet, which should provide us with the cover we need. We had thought about veggie oil but thought that it might cause too many mechanical problems along the way so decided not to.
I'll be sure to tell Steven about the Dutch Oven - I'm sure he'd have a great time cooking with one?

@Ed-Sommers: jackrobinryan is right; we want to try to show a more optimistic side of life than is shown on daily news shows and hopefully we can inspire others to help their own communities where they can.

@jackrobinryan: that's exactly right, I couldn't have put it better myself! Thank you for the encouragement.

@RVNeophytes2: we are old at heart! Not everyone on the team is Star Trek fan but we'll have converted them by the end

@Arch Hoagland: absolutely and we'll be staying in RV parks all across the country so we might get the chance to meet some of you, which would be great. If anyone has any great stories to tell us about people, do let us know!

Thank you again for all your kind replies and words of advice and encouragement!

Amy

Bee950 · 12-14-2011, 09:21 AM

So you got a group of people who have never traveled together crammed into a converted school bus for a year on the road. Why am I thinking about the TV show Survivor.....

SarahW · 12-15-2011, 12:12 PM

Good luck and have fun, Amy!

Ed-Sommers · 12-16-2011, 09:15 AM

Well, I have to say that my impression is that the people involved are just some modern day hippies that have found a way to get others to finance their year long trip.

Not saying there's anything wrong with it, but it's a touchy/feeley thing that serves IMHO, no redeeming social value or need. But again, go for it.

Ed, the grouch

Ramblin · 12-16-2011, 09:54 AM

Good luck, and Godspeed, Amy. Make sure to do a lot of video of 'life aboard the bus', because that will be most entertaining for us here.

jackrobinryan · 12-16-2011, 02:02 PM

Amy,

If your group would like to see, meet and get to know some of the best (and least grouchy and skeptical) of us RV'ers while on your trip, let me make a suggestion. Be a part of, instead of an observer to good things happening while on the road.....

RV Care-A-Vanners -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l is a link to the Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners sub group. It's something many good hearted travelers like to do while on the road. Helping Habitat build affordable homes for deserving folks all over the US while travelling.

Join a build, stop in Americus to see the HQ, find an ongoing build to drop in and help out. No experience needed.

An experience that will make you want to do more.

safe travels
jack