Grateful

Ok, I am preparing to return to my work camp in Enoree. I am excited to get back to my temporary home. Jason, if you are reading this, I hope you will be available this weekend to help me fix my fuel line. If not, we can try again another time.
Jason is the gracious person that is allowing me use of his land in Enoree, to salvage a few items for the bus, and to offer advice and ideas for the bus, as well as the big box of roasting pans that I have multiple uses for. I need to get his picture to include on this blog.
I recently re-united with a friend from the past, Donna, and have really enjoyed discussions about the potential future of my travels. She thinks outside the box with great creativity. There are so many possibilities that once I get the bulk of construction out of the way I look forward to exploring some her ideas.
These two people, as well as every single person I am in contact with, illustrate why I enjoy my life so much more now. Rarely are these relationships superficial, we don't just discuss pleasantries and exchange false niceties. There is substance and depth to my interaction with people now. I feel they take a genuine interest in my life and I fully appreciate all the different perspectives they provide. Jason, for example, had never met me before offering me the use of his land. And yet in my time of need, he was there, the random act of kindness of a stranger.

Ok, this past week I have been working to get money for groceries, gas and supplies. My pantry and cooler is full of food. I feel like a rich man. I discovered Goodwill and Salvation Army stores again. They sell appliances for dirt cheap. Donna even took advantage of this to buy my house warming gift, a bread maker for a $3.50. Fresh bread smelling up my bus, oh the horror. Now if I run out of bread I can just whip up a piping hot loaf of sourdough. I also purchased a toaster oven so I can bake sweet treats and other assorted foods. Now if I can procure a small microwave my kitchen will be complete.

Which brings me to my Wish List... Here are things I still need for the bus conversion that I could use. If you have or know where I can find these items for free or cheap please let me know. I am listing everything big and small, and I'll probably still leave things out. Besides the Clean water holding tank I don't mind if the items are used or not perfect.

Drapes- to cover back windows.
Round things that attach drapes to drapery rod
Sofa or Futon Cushions
Dust Buster (the kind that can be recharged by plugging into the wall)
Small chest freezer
Small Microwave (700 watt)
Kerosene Heater (possibly even small electric space heater)
Small round buck stove
Water Tanks- 50 gallon or larger fresh water tank
----25 Gallon or larger Black water tank
----50 Gallon or larger Grey water tank
12 volt clean water pump
Plumbing lines
Porta Potty or RV commode

1000 watt or larger Inverter (to convert DC power into AC power)
Any Marine type batteries that still hold a charge
Additional Solar panels
Car stereo system and 4x6 oval speakers
cigarette lighter 'extension cord'
Back up Camera- So I don't run over stuff
Battery isolator-
Charge regulator- to keep battery from draining back 'up' to solar panels once sun goes down or clouds come up

RV ladder
Bus Tires (Used or Retreads) I can get exact dimensions if needed
RV Stove/Oven

Well that is all I can think of now for the Wish List. Thank you for looking and feel free to drop me an email if there is something you could provide.


Here are a couple of pics I forgot to include last time

New Carpet on steps and platform. I used a donated floor rug.




Painted Cabinets and (unhung) painted doors. I plan on painting door handle black.

Starting to get cold

Third visit to Enoree

Monday, October 5, 2009

It rained all last night and was a drizzley wet day today. I stayed in and read. Rain is my kryptonite. I would be fine except I have most of my stuff sitting out in it under big blue tarps. I thought South Carolina was experiencing drought problems?? Mother Nature is a cruel mistress.

I do like being out here so much more than the 'urban' camping I had been doing for the past several months. Peaceful and free.

Ok, quick catchup. I arrived here Wednesday night. Oscar, my beefy gray cat, escaped the bus and I couldn't find him before I left. He either hopped out at BiLo on Woodruff or at the Library in Mauldin. I spent several hours searching and calling for him at both places. I will continue the search when I return.

I parked on a different part of the property in my quest to find the perfect combination of sun and levelness, with convenient access to work site. I put my front two tires up on blocks to help level it out. Not perfect but good enough for government work.

I saw my first deer since I have been here. I about made him my hood ornament. I was driving down Browning (name of the road property is on) Wednesday night around 9pm. He was standing right in the middle of the road, front paws on the left lane, back paws on the right lane. He was looking down the road, AWAY from me. Then he turns his head sees me, experiences that whole deer in the headlights thing, and I guess the sound of me hitting the air brakes woke him from his stupor because in about three bounds he was out of the road, over a fence and into the darkness of a field.

Being organized is suppose to help with efficiency but everytime I return here I spend a whole day unloading and organizing so I can work. And even then I still scramble around looking for a do-hickey or a watch-a-ma-callit. But at least I have a place to look for it. And I don't have a lot more building to do on the bus, if you don't include my whole bathroom, plumbing, tank installation stuff. Storage space is almost completely done. I just need a few things that I am really hoping to find on craigslist or through friends. I will put a wish list on here and if anyone has something on the list they don't need I will be more than happy to take it off your hands and put it to good use.

I have found a type of solution for electricity and entertainment. My solar panels are pretty weak as far as solar panels go at a modest 45 watts. This is barely enough to charge my two half depleted 105amp/hr marine batteries on the brightest, longest summer day. It is downright worthless in the rainy, shortened days of fall. So my computer usage is limited. But my rechargeable 'AAA' and 'D' batteries that power flashlights and LED lights last for a week easy. So I picked up some books from the library, which I don't know why I didn't think of before. The library, it isn't just for internet anymore... I was looking at the three books I got and had to laugh to myself because they represented my eclectic tastes in all things in life. I got 'Cell' by Stephen King, 'Jack' by Jack Welch (autobiography of retired GE CEO), and 'Battle Ready' by Tom Clancy (biography of General Tony Zinni). I have already finished Cell, I figured I would start with some brain candy fiction before getting down to the main courses of real peoples lives.

Turned out to be a pretty good trip. Got some progress. I will detail it more in the next post , I have tons to do with this internet access right now. Oscar is still missing. I am still looking.

Ok here's the part everyone likes...pictures.

Cold enough to see my breath


My new location on the property before I set up camp


Making the bus a little more level



New, more organized work camp


New camp under full moon


Old wood before scraping and sanding

some scraped and sanded

completed. Planning on making a bench out of these.


I found out what the big furry mass was on the back of the spiders...hundreds of spider babies.


Some 'nightstand' type fixtures to go over fridge and cat box.


Laundrey day


Fire Prep



Fire Safety (minus hat made of straw)


This fire reached heights of above 15 ft. It was truly awesome.


My neighbors, Mark, Tiffany and Brock Berry. They feed me, water me, and allow me to juice up some of my batteries on cloudy weeks.




Nala waiting for the command to get hot dog off her snout.