The Final Pivot Towards Travel Content

I have promised travel content for a long time, and not delivered. I haven't been idle. I've been trying to fix my bus. And thanks to all of you, it's ready. I fixed my spark issue. I'm waiting on a friend to help me time it, but I got it to backfire, and that means I have spark. Once it's timed, it'll run in a basic way.

And once it runs in a basic way I'm going to spend a significant portion of the money you gave me having my work double checked, the new parts dialed in, and the things I missed sorted out by a Volkswagen professional. I've been saving a ton, and it's about to bear serious fruit. I wanted to have travel content sprinkled throughout the year, but I've been out of a car pretty much all year again. All I've had is my expensive bus that doesn't run and a $500 runner the transmission went out on. So that was then end of that, and I've been housebound another summer. 

But here's everything that's been done to the bus over the past three years, in painfully slow incremental steps:

--New carburetor, genuine Weber 32/36 to replace defective knockoff.

--Reversed accelerator cable to correct side, carburetor was previously reversed and this was never corrected. 

--Replaced all fuel lines, swapped in electric fuel pump.

--Replaced Ignition coil.

--Replaced entire wiring harness to repair vandalism (someone cut all the wires in the engine compartment last summer, so *all* the wires had to be replaced.

--New distributor, upgraded mechanical centrifugal to electric vacuum advance. 

--New spark plugs and wires.

--Upgraded exhaust from a rusty single pipe to dual exhaust.

--Fixed turn signals.

--Swapped out roof: took off camping pop-top, put on a rare fiberglass adventure topper. It lets you stand up inside while the bus is moving, and also provides an attic.

--Restored wall outlet for household power.

--Installed radio.

--Replaced folding bed and closet with solid wood frame.

--Rebuilt accelerator pedal hinge.

--Replaced brakes. (Professionally done.)

--Installed engine compartment lock.

--Reconfigured folding table for better office use. 

--Replaced 5 tires, all four and the spare. 

--Replaced OEM oil dipstick with a temperature sensing one. 

--Put on cute metal eyebrows.

There's still a ways to go. But the money's there. Your money. This is what I'm using it for-- I'm turning this thing into an actual, workable, motor home for two people and one dog. 

My girlfriend and I have been trying to get to this step for a long time-- both of us. We both want to live in the bus and travel freely. When our lease is up in November, we will be putting the majority of our things in storage, and moving into the bus full time. We're going to take another month to save money and then head south.

Because I make the majority of my money online, we can do this without compromising video production . I've deliberately been customizing the bus to function as a mobile office. We have a 4G hotspot solution for internet, and can plug in anywhere for power. Later on, we're investing in a solar solution as well. 

There'll be more later on in a formal youtube announcement, but I'm putting everything I have into this, and my girlfriend is too. This is the plan: take the show on the road. 

I'm not asking for more money for this, but it is what I'm doing with all the money you're giving me and you should be aware of it. If you're skeptical and wish to drop your donation, that's totally okay! For people who are on board for the idea, all I really need is for you to continue your patronage. 

HOWEVER, and this is the last thing, this has come at the expense of another thing I wanted, which was editing for my audio and my scripts. It's getting down to the wire on my lease and I had to choose:

--Another year in the city, dug in deeper, with professional expenses covering professional growth?

OR

--Go all-in on the ridiculous crazy thing I've been trying to do quietly in the background this whole time.

I will give you all the refunds you like if you're unhappy with this decision. But once this bus situation finally comes together I think you'll be happy with the results.