bye bye booty :(

having finally spoke with Dave again, we were sad to hear booty has been sold off like a cheap hooker on dort highway to the highest bidder.  sad because no one can love her like we would have.  sad that she'll never be the proud new owner of two humans who would captain her across the nation on an adventure like no other.  oh, booty .. we'll definitely miss you and the memories we dreamt of making with you.

okay, "sad to hear" doesn't paint the picture so well .. i'd say it's closer to a slopped on paint by number as compared to the mona lisa.  downright crushed is more like it .. heartbroken .. empty .. (hold on, i'm enjoying my dramatic episode!)  really though, it sucks.  i think both of us had already become attached to her and had somehow already let it sink in that she'd be ours.  but "booty" is far more than just a halfway finished bus conversion project that we found on the side of the road one fateful sunday afternoon .. "booty" is more the state of mind she gave us.  a taste.  a vision.  and for that, i'm thankful.

all fluff aside, i'm still pissed.  grrrr.

as Joe's so helpfully reminded me .. repeatedly .. we'll find another bus.  (bless his heart, he think i'm actually listening.  -snicker snicker-)  and i know this to be true, we will find the one.  i'm just in morning and pining away for what i already had my heart set on.  i do know the old saying about doors closing and others opening .. and as it always is, it's easier to say than accept.

so .. the hunt is back on.  back roads beware, here we come!

Today we say goodbye...

Yesterday started out as any other.   A slight resistance to motivate, a strong craving for Juan Valdez,  and some browsing of emails and ads.  The work day passed by a little blurry but with a feeling of accomplishment.

Both our vehicles have been for sale for some time now, and due to our thriving economy the only thing that has moved are our prices, in a downward trend, which has not been conducive to our goals.  I have been meaning to call Dave (motorhome owner) back just to check in and see if by chance his stubbornness has subsided momentarily.  I knew somehow, the news I was about to receive even before he had answered my questions.  "She has been sold!!??"  I screamed in own head with disbelief!  Ending the conversation abruptly I set my phone down, sighed and hung my head.  "How am I going to tell Brandee ?" I asked my self.  I felt her heart sink in the silence that followed the undesirable news.

So today we say goodbye and continue looking for a welcoming prospect so we can begin our journey. Goodbye Booty!  We had high hopes for you, and as we move on we will come to realize that you were meant as an enticement for us.  Without finding you we would have never met our new friend Larry, who has encouraged us and has proved to be an invaluable resource of information as he is also a bus lover.  A couple snapshots of Larry's buses he has restored for your appreciation. 

A New Beginning

Well Fastro, we have definitely had some good times together.  Many camping trips and back road adventures this summer.  Not to mention how you loved to race around back streets home.  You put up a good fight even against the mighty Dodge V10 ;-)  Today we are offering you up on a silver platter to a stranger who will hopefully enjoy you as much as we have.  You are still young and spry and have many miles of adventures ahead of you.  We are however forced to part ways, our newly found treasure stomped her feet and whined when she seen us.  We felt so sorry for her, only partially finished, her dreams of roaming the countryside unfulfilled.  We seem obligated to unselfishly satisfy her now. Her current owner is not quite convinced, he is yet unaware of the Fastro's true value.  Despite his lack of flexibility we are confident that a resolution will come to light.

What are the chances???

On Saturday, August 21st we had attended a wedding in Mio, MI.  Earlier in the week the both of us had expressed our aggravation with not finding a coach suitable to our needs (and wants) that was in a remotely local area.  Usually we try to avoid toll roads and expressways while travelling.  There is always more to see if you're off the path a bit.  

Travelling east on state highway M55 we had seen a style of coach that we were interested in on the side of the road, and FOR SALE even!!

From Got Booty

Immediately we turned around to stop and get a better look.  We were so excited, I'm not sure I even allowed the car to stop before throwing it into park.  Brandee climbs over the center console from the passenger side and into the ditch with me.  We both started to check out this new treasure, finding the door unlocked we decided to climb on in and have a closer look.  The previous owner has already began converting this bus into a motorhome.  I had been sitting in the drivers seat examining the controls and saw no ignition key? but there was a button labeled "Start" sooooo, of course I just had to push it.  Much to my surprise she fired up almost immediatly!!  Running pretty good even and after a bit of smoking the air system started to pressureize.  Wait a minute though! With no ignition switch, how do I shut this thing off?? Uh oh, and here comes the guy now.  

Not quite sure how he is going to take my trespassing I approach him happy and eager.. Yelling over the loud purring of the diesel engine, I learn that the property owner does not own this coach and instead of being upset with me invites the two of us in to the garage to check out his Mopar projects.  How cool is this I'm thinking.  Just one of the many Mopars he is working on is a Plymouth ?  which is tubbed, roll cage installed and a stroked 440 setting next to ready to install.  "Oh you gotta see my wife's car when she gets home too!" he tells us. lol

After calling the coach's owner David, who said he could meet us there in about a half hour, we decided to head into town (East Tawas) for lunch.  After a quick bite we returned to find David and his wife already there, engine running smoothly, and air system pressurized which is necessary because this coach has air ride and air suspension.  A quick ride down a few back country roads shows that the new air bags and tires under her really make a difference.  This 41 year old, 40 foot long jewel rides better than my car!!  To top it all off he may be interested in a trade too!!

After spending about three hours there we decided to get back on the road.  We are still quite a distance from home after all.  As our journey home is coming to and end I see clearance lights off in the distance which look very similar to the bus we have been playing with all day!!  Of course we turned around to get a better look and find  this old girl being tucked into the garage and another one all pretty setting in the driveway!  Reluctant to approach we just hang out in the yard for a minute.  After a minute a man emerged from the door looking a the two of us like WTF are these people doing?  After warming up to Larry by telling him our story of the day he starts telling us the story of how he used to ride this particular bus to school when he was a kid.  Larry (who also seems to be a Dodge fan) restores these buses back to original.  He has three of these prize pieces of road fun hidden here and is eager to share all the stories of them with us.  This man has probably forgotten more about these buses than I will ever know.  After a few hours touring Larry's treasures we jump back in the car and head for home.  Both of us anxious and smiling, we look back on the highlights of our day.  Knowing these events are not just coincidence we can't help but say to each other " What are the chances?"