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John Haggard

@walkingturtlehermitage

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Christian first, truck driver second, skoolie owner/builder third. Hopelessly impecunious.

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Maybe a little something something while I hang around? 🤔 by @walkingturtlehermitage

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a day ago

I haven't seen the old boy since April! Not sure if he was happy to see me or was pouting. Still, most people need to touch grass; I got there and touched my bus. by @walkingturtlehermitage

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20 days ago

Awesome donation from a new friend! I'm geeked that they are GM Goodwrench covers, given that the bus is a GMC chassis. Ah, the little details in life! Debating whether to paint them yellow like the other tin on the engine, or flat black like the exhaust manifolds. by @walkingturtlehermitage

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2 months ago

Getting organized, going to make lists of what I need. I was going to say I have covered two out of three with some blood and sweat, but the lists may evoke some tears, too.

Anyone notice the oopsie in picture two? There's some tears. by @walkingturtlehermitage

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3 months ago

Initial setup of the "workshop" away from "home". Definitely was fun to start making it happen! by @walkingturtlehermitage

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3 months ago

Oooooo, lookie here! Might start getting some work done! At least soon. 😏 by @walkingturtlehermitage

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4 months ago

Sadly, this beautiful work of packaging art has not made it's way to me yet. Where oh where are you tonight? 😒 by @walkingturtlehermitage

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4 months ago

My friends, I am in deep trouble. It's probably age creeping up on me.

I decided that the best place for the hood during the move would be installed rather than in the workshop trailer. Yes, that means I'll have to take it back off and put it back on again when it's time to install the engine, but as the kids say these days, that's a problem for future John.

So I put the grill back in, and wrestled it down out of the trailer by brute strength (and clever use of some poles). Even just sitting in front of the bus made me stop and take a picture. Then I wrestled it up into position (I used a crane to take it off but had no access to anything convenient today), and even had the bolts handy! Unfortunately, I took the latches off years ago and have no idea where those bolts are.

Then I stepped back to look at it.

And I actually got emotional.

I mean, come on, this is a gorgeous bus! And I have done all of it so far.

Can you imagine what kind of a mess I'll at the next milestones? Like, when the running engine is back in? Or when I can drive it around under it's own power? (Probably should put out a press release at that point to alert the public about the maniac in the bus, right?)

So much trouble. 😬 by @walkingturtlehermitage

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6 months ago

Now that I'll be spending even less time in Indiana with the bus, and more time in California, it's time to pack up the engine, transmission and parts & tools to take them out there with me. I've got access to a secure spot to work, and I think I might be able to have it running this year! Excited!

Also have to tidy up the bus and workshop trailer because those are moving to a different part of town in Indiana. by @walkingturtlehermitage

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6 months ago

I have taken on a new driving route and am going to be away from my bus even more than before. However! Upon clearing the logistics with the various powers-that-be, I will, probably some time in April, redesign that shelving unit (which is actually a piano crate), and pack it full of the engine, transmission, tools and parts, and bring it out to where I am! I'm excited! I just spent this past week at this bunker with nothing much to do, and that will happen on a fairly regular basis. Also, there are gearheads here who can at least give encouragement, if not good help. Definitely a good development.

Unfortunately, moving the entire bus is completely impractical. Ah well. If I get the engine and trans completely finished, then I can worry about the next step.

Unless someone wants to be a benevolent rich patron.... by @walkingturtlehermitage

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7 months ago

Haven't been in the same part of the country as my bus since the beginning of December! So I figured I'd post some proof I was still alive. And back to being fuzzy. I included the second picture because it shows my current glasses. by @walkingturtlehermitage

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8 months ago

OMG OMG OMG!

I am on the verge of wetting myself, I'm so excited! Finally found one of these available online (at 3 am, having woken up and wondering about the fan belts, of which my bus had four, but of which I took woefully inadequate pictures). This has EVERY bit of information I could possibly want regarding the chassis.

Did I mention I'm excited???

#slowbuild #skoolie #skoolies #skoolieconversion #shortbus #wayne_body #gmc #sbc #shortbusconversion #selfbuilt #wdydwyd #skoolielegion by @walkingturtlehermitage

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a year ago