All Set Up

The lions share of unpacking and organizing behind us,
the bus was now neat and livable.  It was time to move on to the next step.

We left  Bothell, Washington on Monday morning.

Kate, driving the F150,  followed me 300 miles south to Eugene, Oregon.

The truck was loaded up with the residue of 2 RV's consolidated into one.

We had clothes, suitcases from our trip to Europe, parts and supplies that

were not needed in the bus and so we put them in separate bins for 

eventual transport back to NC.

Kate really enjoyed driving the new truck.  It was much easier to maneuver than

the Dually...    I wonder if I will ever get it back.

Tuesday morning we had an 8am appointment at Hitch Pro & Tow in Eugene.

They supplied us with a Blue Ox Towbar, plus installed  a tow plate, an Air Force One

Braking System, and electric lights on the truck.

These modifications were necessary in order to pull the truck behind the bus.

It took all day from 0800 to 6pm to finish the work.   In the meantime I worked inside

while Kate read and watched the tube.

We did go to the bar next door for breakfast.  I had one of "Rays Bowls" a gigantic

concoction of Home Fries, Ham, Bacon, Sausage, Cheese, and eggs.

It was quite good!

The next morning we resumed our journey southward, this time towing the truck

behind the motorhome.  It was Kates first time riding in the bus.

As you can see by the picture - she settled in to the fine ride in style.

Stopping at a rest area along I-5 in Oregon, the truck in tow.

It was also the Doodles first ride in the bus.

The new sounds (air brakes etc) concerned them for a while but they

soon settled into the routine.

Meanwhile Gracie took a turn at the wheel. 

Our first stop after Eugene was 7 Feathers Casino.  

It was only 100 miles but I had planned short day because I had a lot of office work to do.

7 Feathers is a beautiful park.

In another month or so all the Rhododendrons will be blooming.

We are now at DoodleCamp - Ron & Maxines.

Our temp registration on the Car and Motorhome have expired...

Washington only provides a 3 day temporary tag and I had 3 of them,

which is the maximum amount allowed.  I had hoped that by the time

they expired I would have my new plates.

I have been trying to get my plates from NC and my dealer has not 

been real competent in this regard.  Numerous phone calls and texts to my dealer have

been exchanged...  I'm hoping that by the end of next week we'll be legal.

I did go to California DMV and get a trip permit for the Bus.

It provides me with a temporary registration from point a to point b.

It should cover me for now but one never knows...  every little state has their own

rules and driving around the US can be like driving thru 50 difference countries.

I will be glad when the legal stuff is done and behind me.

Meanwhile life in the bus has been fantastic!

We are thoroughly pleased with our choice and not looking back.

I am going to be installing my energy monitor in the bus electrical system this week.

As always - its my first step in preparing the bus for off of the grid living.

The monitor will allow be to precisely determine our electrical requirements,

and allow me to size our solar system accordingly.

Beauty and the Beast

It has been a busy busy few days as promised.

We are now the proud owners of a 2012 Tiffin Phaeton 40' Class A Motorhome

and a 2014 Ford F150 Pickup.

Here are a couple of the Dealership photos of the new bus.

Looking forward from the rear of the main living area.

There is a 1/2 Bath at this end.

After the main living area you enter the master bedroom.

Aft of the bedroom is the full master bath with additional closets

and a clothes washer and dryer.

Master bedroom - foot of bed looking across the coach towards the passenger side.

Main living area is to the left - master bath thru a door to the right.

We are in Bothell, Wa - just outside of Seattle.

Exhausted.... sore....  but enjoying our new home.

We arrived in Seattle on Weds.   First order of business was to find a new truck.

We no longer needed the Dually since both the Montana and the Dog House would

be gone, and the Dually is too big, too heavy, too expensive and rough riding as a daily driver.

Plus - you can't flat tow it (on all 4 wheels).

I had made tentative agreements on a truck before we got here so Weds we headed

to Bicford Ford in Snohomish Wa to seal the deal and ink the paperwork.

Thanks to Jim for Suggesting Bickford.   They are a great dealership.

Here is the new truck next to my "Peterbilt".

We were able to make a good deal on a 2014 leftover.

It drives much easier and now Kate will enjoy taking it for a spin.

We both will miss the Dually.  It was a fantastic truck.

Once it had a load on it it rode comfortable and never gave us a once of trouble.

But it was built to work hard and we no longer had the hard work for it to perform.

Thursday was moving day.

We had to move out of the Montana and the Dog House and that is when

you really find out just how much stuff you have packed into them.

About the time we started to transfer our stuff it started to rain...  A steady

Seattle style drizzle mixed with some steady rain. 

I had wanted to be done before dark so that my first day driving 

and parking the bus would be done in daylight.  

We started the move at 10am and by 6pm we were pulling out of the lot in the rain 

and....

You guessed it...  the dark!

We drove to a KOA nearby and I backed it into the spot.

The day before there had been workers scurrying all over the bus.

Washing the insides... waxing the outside...

Changing the oil, checking all the systems....

In a few short hours we had turned it into a disaster area!

 

Our master bathroom was filled as was the basement storage areas, the couches etc.

Kate... AKA the energizer bunny and I got to work sorting thru the piles.

Discarding what we no longer needed...

36hrs later we are not yet done for sure...  but great progress has been made.

We are here for tomorrow as well so we will have one more full day to organize.

Monday we will head 300 miles south to Eugene, Oregon.

Kate will follow me driving the pickup.

In Eugene I have an appointment on Tuesday to get the truck set up for being towed.

They will mount plates on the truck, install a remote system for the brakes, 

wiring for the tail lights etc.

Once that is done - Kate will get her first taste of riding the the bus and

can go back to being my right seat co pilot.