Driving While Female

The More Energy Bus

The 1956, 36 foot long bus was built in Canada, became a Hood River (Oregon) County school bus, then a cleaned out, state and county Fair transport/camping vehicle. When we acquired it, we were required to paint it, which was the last thing we did before we headed out. The engine was a 316 Ontario GMC V8 with a 5 speed tranny and 2 speed rear end - great for snow, wind and rain travel.

We had 28 inside feet including the drivers seat and dashboard with the already built in sink and propane powered stove on the drivers’ side. First we located a pickup canopy, carved a rectangular hole in the roof and placed the canopy over it so the back window was facing forward. We created a box to lay the canopy’s back window on at a 45 degree angle which gave us better gas mileage then most of the actual RV’s we met along the way! Much care was taken with the welding, sealing and placement to create the sleeping space under the canopy and on top of the storage shelves. Sitting up there, reading or looking around our camping sites led me to dub it the “Catbird Seat”.

Partially under the sleeping area on the passenger side was a portable toilet, a small stove that could be used occasionally when the smoke hole was uncovered and the chimney was attached. We laid a carpet on the rest of the floor leaving room for a sofa, sitting and eating space and sleeping bag room for visitors. Then it was time to paint our traveling home/office: More Energy! We knew we would be visiting friends and family so we did not want them to be ashamed of our vehicle so we chose a beige/tan color and stenciled the business name: More Energy, on the new home, above the back tires.

And now, the house was cleaned out, the Head Start and Vernonia goodbyes were said and we headed for Eugene and then Redmond to say goodbye to the family and head east. I drove the bus the first time between Bend and Burns. It was not as hard or scary as I thought it would be. The “Maiden Voyage” was heading to Las Vegas to meet Brian’s sister at the airport, driving to the Grand Canyon and other southwestern sites and then to Denver where she left us and flew east home to Georgia.

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