The phone call situation was not as horrible as it seemed that it might be. Agreement was reached on how to fix the bus satellite receiver and dish and the “old” stuff is on its way back to the manufacturer for fix or replacement. The 30 amp electric problem has been resolved and so the garage electric service project is complete. Plan B remains open until the satellite equipment has been returned and installed but at the moment, we’ve progressed as far as possible with Plan B.

No, not the ENTIRE bus… Starting from the beginning…our plan as of last week would have been to be leaving for an RV group get together in South Carolina, but our recent escapades in “under the weather-land” caused us to rethink and we decided early in the week that it was just too much in light of work and other issues to make the get together.

But, things to do to get ready to go to Montana so the bus was pulled out yesterday to do some of that.

Then… Bill announced that he had a couple of things for me to do…on the roof of the bus. I’m the roof person being that the ladder to the roof is not all that sturdy and I’m the lightest and most agile.

The things to do were painting a bathroom vent pipe and front spotlight…

REALLY???? “Isn’t this all a bit a*al??” I asked. Decidedly not from the answer I received which is not printable even with “*”…

So this afternoon:

Ok - not that bad to do…the sun was out, not too much breeze - it was pleasantly warm up there! And have to admit, it did look better after…

Can’t even see the plumbing thing-a-ma-bob…I HATE it when he’s right…

**Update July 2008…The Winnebago is back in Montana - near Kalispell. Currently, she is getting new slide toppers. After that, into the auto shop for lube/oil/filter change/checkup, then to the tire shop for new tires all around. I do not have her listed anywhere and will continue using her as I can…not really a seller’s market … But, if interested per the details below, my email for contact is:
ann at beardogco dot com.

Details for the Winnebago (2003 Winnebago Adventurer 33V):

Living room with slide out - passenger dash area has a pull-out workstation where I set up computer, printer and external monitor on top of the printer. There is power (110 and a 12 volt outlet) under the passenger window.

Not a bad galley space - I cook the same things on the road as I do at home. I’ve cooked my homemade pizza, cherry pie and all manner of baked items in the gas oven. For Christmas in AZ (12/05) I baked a prime rib roast in the convection oven.

Dinette has under seat storage as well as making into a bed - for short people or kids! But the sofa is an electric multi-position which makes into either a double recliner with foot rest or a queen bed.

Nice shower! - separate from commode. The shower/commode area can be separated from the forward area and the bedroom by the pocket doors, thus giving 2 sleeping areas private access to all of the bathroom facilities.

Bedroom - RV Queen and a bedroom TV. Lots of storage and plenty of closet and drawer space. I especially like the windows on the ends of the slide which makes for plenty of fresh air.

Windshield shades - daytime, you can see out, but no one can see in. Additionally, keeping the heat off the windshield keeps the forward interior cooler in hot weather.

There is an awning shade which makes for shade and privacy under the awning.

Wyoming Sunset - Don’t ya just want to go RVING????

The 2002 Jeep Wrangler Sport (hardtop) with Blue Ox baseplate (31K), Blue Ox Aventa II tow bar, and Blue Ox Apollo supplemental brake system with breakaway and in coach monitor are also for sale - special deal if you buy the whole shebang!

2003 Winnebago Adventurer 33V $72,000
Blue Ox Aventa II tow bar 500
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sport, baseplate and Apollo* 14,000

Everything to one buyer $82,000.

*There is some stuff installed in the Jeep for the Apollo, as well as the baseplate (bolted on) so both being sold with the Jeep. The Aventa II tow bar is complete as a separate item and can be used with any vehicle (10,000 lb max) set up for 4 wheel towing with a compatible baseplate.

“The show must go on”… our singles RV group has a new director and Bill and I committed, even before we were a couple, to a group get together in South Carolina this month.

The Magic Bus was already outside at the power/water/sewer site serving as guest house for visiting friends. The weather was gorgeous at 70ish and sunny so we took the opportunity to do all the maintenance and cleaning chores for our upcoming trip.

In RV lingo, the storage “under” the living space part of the motorhome - usually only accessible from outside - is called the basement. We have one long trip - together - under our respective belts so had a better idea of what should go where both inside and out. Since we were rearranging some we cleaned some too. A fun time was had by all!

Karl dug a hole in the sand in a shady spot in front of the garage and gave morale support by his presence. There is no photo of that as digging is a sore “spot” in the “Bill has a dog” scenario… Bill did convince Karl (with the help of the water hose) that digging INSIDE the barn was not acceptable - peace reigns.

Ok, not so much mist as fog - as in 100% humidity - as in “dear Lord will my hair ever look normal again???” … but anyway, the bus is parked at the guest spot - FULL hookup spot. Magic Bus has had his tanks drained, rinsed and cleaned out and is full of nice, fresh water. The engine has been cleaned and all stuff that should be checked has been checked - I’d elaborate but the diesel engine is a bit of a mystery to me and I’m THRILLED that it is not to Bill and that he seems to enjoy messing with it a bit… I did clean the windshield inside and out and my area of responsibility is the interior - our clothes, toiletries, food, cooking utensils, etc. - anything missing I guess I walk the plank or more likely have to run into a WalMart super center on some gawdawful busy day while Bill and Karl nap in comfort in the peace of the bus. I’ve done my best.

The 4 wheeler does double duty as a cart to take supplies back and forth as well as the workbench for all of the pre-trip chores. Plus, it is FUN!

The truck has been readied for it - a special bed extension goes on to lengthen the short bed to a long bed. Karl is thrilled…

Yep, I’m excited, ready to roll - going to places I have not been before and meeting Open Roads Singles members that I know from chat, email and the message board but have never met. Plus, we are taking our time - a dawdle of an 850 mile drive spread over 5 days so I’ll get up at my usual early time and get my work day (1/2 a work day) in before His Majesty awakes… we’ll have a leisurely breakfast and then hit the road for a couple of hours making sure we stop in time to get set up and for me to go for a walk with Karl so Bill can get a nap and all wake/return for cocktail hour! - then a nice dinner and there goes the day!

We roll in 2 days!

Oh - first photo above - yes, that is the Magic Bus’s house - just completed in late October…mostly completed - there are a few more finishing touches. And for those who heard bits of the story, that IS the rollup door that took out the passenger side mirror - which was nearly brand new having been replaced after a bit of operator error on a July trip. Door and mirror are both all better now and the air in the vicinity has finally lost it’s blue tinge.