Year Four in Review

Well another trip around the sun in our rolling home, the Busse Bus. We have now completed the fourth year of our stated year and a half adventure. Here is the picture of our travels this year that we completed.

We did add another 14,000 miles to the coach bringing our total to 61,000 since day one. This past year has definitely seen some changes in this adventure, as we have our ”home” Myakka River Motorcoach Resort (MRMR) where we spend about six months there every winter.

Last year we had purchased a lot in MRMR and we had planned on building a casita on the lot when another lot with a completed casita went up for sale. We decided to purchase that one and sell the original lot that we had. Over the summer months we added in screens and a bar in the front by the road.

It was truly a success as we hosted many parties over the winter months.

So our typical year has become – winters in Florida then maintenance work on the coach (chassis at Freightliner at their headquarters in Gaffney, NC and house at Newmar at their headquarters in Nappanee, IN) then summers on the road wherever we decide to travel. We have started to drive less and spend more time at each spot. That way we can explore the area in more detail.

The summer of 2021 took us back out west as we had scheduled some rallies with the All Inclusive Motorcoach (AIM) organization. We have decided that we like their rallies better than any other ones that we have attended based on the locations the chose, the food, the entertainment and the excursions they provide. The last rally we attended was in Colorado so we decided to head up near Jackson, WY so that we could meet up with friends (Molli and Jeff Wills) from MRMR who were hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) for five months. We had a wonderful reunion where Katrina spent a day with them on trail and I prepared a feast for their return.

From there we headed farther west to Washington State where we were able to meet up with the people (Mike and Carol Johnson) that we purchased our casita from in MRMR. Since they knew the area and are wine enthusiasts they showed us around and recommended wineries where we could get some big reds. Wonderful stop! From there we went over to the Olympic Peninsula in the upper most northwest spot in the contiguous United States. Beautiful area!

Then we headed south to see some sites that we had missed on our first trip this way in 2018. Unfortunately the California wildfires had some different plans for us and we didn’t get to go everywhere that we wanted. However, we did get to Crater Lake, Bend Oregon, Reno (the biggest little city in the US), and Death Valley. Along the way we stayed with other friends of ours from MRMR, Jessie and Kris Minton, in Eugene where we were able to park on their RV pad on the side of their house. It’s always a good time when people you know can take you around their city to show you the sites, especially the little off-the-road locations. Another place we went to see friends, Harvey and Shelley Ward, was in Paso Robles, CA. We always have a great time with them and we love the area and the wines.

From there we went to Albuquerque for the balloon fiesta rally with Fantasy Tours. Keenan was able to meet us there and it was so much fun seeing the balloon launches and spending time with him. We had some other friends from MRMR (Steve & Laurie Chubb and Tom Connor & Alice Clark – affectionately known as T&A) at the rally and continued traveling with them until Moab, UT where we met up with other Myakkans. We had nine coaches in all and had a blast at the National Parks, jeeping, renting side-by-sides, eating and drinking. So much fun!

From there we made our way across the southern states until we got back to our Florida home. We were excited to get back to see the finished product of transforming the ”carport” into an outdoor entertainment area. Throughout the winters months we hosted many a gathering there. It was great as we had installed a kegerator and I started to brew beer again. It’s nice having side projects!

What we have found at MRMR has been described my Katrina’s mom, Rita, as paradise. Or as Molli has coined the place ”Pleasantville on steroids”. We purchased there because the other people are so nice and everyone seems to get along. What a great feature for a place that is fairly small, 99 lots, because of all the events that are hosted. Throughout the season there are your expected parties (Thanksgiving feast, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.) but in between those we have thrown in block parties, game nights, card runs, cosmic pickleball, pickleball tournament, Mardi Gras, Derby day, cooking classes, rock paintings, pool parties, Meet & Greets, Superbowl, chili cook offs, boating excursions, bike riding, crawfish boils, and the list goes on and on. Our kids tell us that we are retired and that we should have plenty of time on our hands, but in reality we are quite busy – almost too busy. But that’s why we love the place and are so happy that we found it and bought there.

It’s because of the great people at MRMR that we have now started to meet up with some of them over the summer during our travels in exotic places as outlined above. We will probably continue to do so over the next few years as we haven’t decided yet on where nor when we will stop this adventure. With that said, I’ll be writing about year five in no time. Until then, safe travels!