The Zephyr Skoolie

01/29/2024

💓

Wishing you magical moments of awake awareness.H.

08/31/2022

I miss my bus! 💗
My dad has started going to work on it in the mornings, preparing it to get the engine out. 🎉

08/27/2022

So I failed to make the major update... 😝 I left on the grande adventure to Florida about two weeks ago meow! 🎉😁🌿 Driving the bus at first was super intimidating, but after a bit, it was super awesome!! 🤘
Somewhere around Topeka, KS, we stopped for the night, and when I popped the hood, I noticed what seemed like an oil leak that I couldn't trace to anywhere specific. I called out a mobile diesel mechanic to ask a bunch of questions, and the overall conclusion was that it seemed to be holding really well, and as long as I kept a close eye on all the fluids, we would be good to go! The power steering pump was being a squealy problem, so I pursued going to a diesel shop that would determine which of the 3 power steering pumps my bus had (1 of them wasn't made anymore, so I wanted to see if that was going to become a huge problem.) So between Topeka and KC, the bus tried to overheat. First time, engine cooled off as soon as I started driving again. Second time, I could tell I needed to pull over to prevent it from climbing past halfway. 4 miles away from the diesel shop (Elite). We go get fluids, refill the radiator fluid that started to disappear by the gallons after Topeka. (Happy I made the choice to go to the shop at that point... 😅) Made it to the shop, was hoping to get the info on the power steering pump, and baby it to Florida, being easy on the turns. We mentioned overheating to the mechanic, and he immediately begins testing a bunch of stuff. 🥹 Basically, he determines that there is a gasket that has busted but is still mostly in place. The recommendation was to take it home, and definitely not try to take it Florida. OUCH.
So I took a day... I needed a quote to see what we could make happen, and where the bus was going to end up... made possible plans, and in the end, decided to still go down to Florida, with a commitment to see if I can make it work while the bus gets fixed! The quote was $6,500 to replace the gasket(s) through Elite Diesel shop. Luckily, the neighbor that watched me build the bus over the last year has a life-time of experience with heavy equipment and diesel engines, AND has the shop to handle the project. 🤘🎉 So the Zephyr went home to get the engine lifted out and get new gaskets. The boys and I all made it to Florida safely & were still able to move! 😁🎉

08/07/2022

Huge day for accomplishments!
✅ I got the fridge secured in place! 🎉
✅ The countertop, stove, water pump, and cabinet are secured, also!
✅ The water tank is secured!!! 😁🎉💯🎉
✅ Flooring supplies gathered.
✅ Problem with vinyl tubing/water pump fixed! 🤘
✅ Solution to mounting the Jerry can outside thought of. Super excited to execute that tomorrow.
✅ A plan to leave tomorrow!?!! 😁🎉🤘
❌ No seatbelt to install, yet... 🤣☠️😝
❌ & The outside of the bus is still pretty ghetto looking! 🤣💩

All in all, I'm looking pretty good to leave tomorrow and caravan with my momma Bee down to beautiful Florida! 💙🐝🌊🌞

08/04/2022

I completed 4 of 11 steps that are necessary for driving the bus today!
🎉 I got the official license plate on the bus!
🎉 The back blinker bulb has been covered! *
🎉 The hole in the front of the bus created from fixing the last problem was temporarily covered. 😂
🎉 The interior lock was corrected so the door stays shut while driving now! 😁👌

07/25/2022

I'm soooo excited for getting trim on the countertop edge! 🥰😁🎉 It feels so smooth to the touch, and much more finished meow! 🤎

07/20/2022

The bus is getting so much closer to being done! Look at this beautiful flooring that has officially begun! 😍😁🌺💙

07/13/2022

Joy at the DMV informed me this morning that I do not need to pass the air brake section of the CDL to legally drive my bus! 😁🤙 Woohoo! And I never posted about it, but I got the bus officially reclassified as a motorhome on title! 🎉 It was an ouchie moment for le wallet ($600+ @ DMV) but it was a HUGE step for being legal with kiddos and living nomadically! So cheers to our LEGAL home on wheels! 🎉😁🤙 Also, I upholstered the headboard, AND the flooring guy is working on the floors this weekend!! 😄🎉💚 YAY!!! 🎉

07/02/2022

Despite my wires falling because of procrastination... today's been a good day! We officially have our stove working, with le first stovetop meal being cooked meow! 😁 I was also able to fix the bus's battery door that never wanted to stay shut. Now it stays closed, woohoo! 🎉 I'll still need to replace the lock on it, but at least it's one step better! 🥳

07/01/2022

I got the title in yesterday! 😁🌼 Now I can get my temp tag! 🤘Also, the roof is now fully painted white, and it helps *tremendously* at keeping the bus cooler! 🎉 I've been figuring out a generator that can at least run one ac units and the fridge for us, and I think I have it figured out! So soon we shall have a generator! 😁🌺🎉

06/28/2022

😁😻🎉 Yayy! 🎨 Look at that difference!! Thank you Benjamin! 💕🌞

06/27/2022

The bus is about to get a makeover!! 😁 White rooftop, I can't wait!!! 🎉😁👌

06/27/2022

I painted the bumper today and got some blue started! 😁💙🤘 Still kinda experimenting with what I want it to look like... ✨🎉

06/25/2022

Finally found a home to sew my first real embroidery! 💙 A good friend today asked me why I named the bus the Zephyr. Well, a zephyr means a cool breeze. And, it was also the name of an amazing traveller I met years ago. She had such an inspiring and honest soul. 🥰 So, meet the Zephyr, in all of her glory! 🎉 May this home experience the cool breeze often, and be a home of inspiration and honesty. 🪷💕

06/24/2022

The bus is technically registered, woohoo! 🎉 Buuuuut...... I'm legally illegal! 🤣
So I'm registered, but no tag... Boy did I cause a lot of questions to be asked at the treasury office today. And on a Friday, too. Oh man. 😂 So the (DMV) lady starts processing everything, then realizes she doesn't know whether to register it as a school bus, or motorhome. So she is suggested to call the state people. She does. Basically,(from my understanding) they said for her to register is as a school bus until the appraisal office can get someone to go look at it, and sign off that it is now converted into a motorhome. (I confirmed they were not assessing the VALUE, just changing the classification for registration.) The lady at the appraisal office immediately had no idea what to do because they only assess value, not change classification. So she called the state people above her. Basically, she's confused, the bus is registered, but with no tag. (Since KS school buses don't have tags apparently.) I'm legally illegal, y'all. 🤣
Oh, and she'll get back with me on Monday. 👌✨🤘

06/24/2022

We got our VIN inspection redone last night, and finished getting liability insurance this morning! 😁 It is only $10/month! 😲👌😁 Now for registration! ✨

06/23/2022

Progress comparison! 🎉
Painting the bus has been something I've been looking forward to since day ONE. 🤩🐘
I'm not entirely sure how I want it to look in the end, but most likely grey, with some black and teal. Perhaps a dash of pink and lime green, also. 🪷🌿

06/21/2022

😁😁😁 I'm sunburnt. My phone has oil paint splatters on it. But it's ALL worth it. 🤩✨ Couldn't resist putting paint on more of it, and I'm so excited to see the final result! 🐘

06/21/2022

Hand washing the bus, and it looks so good! Look at that shine! ✨💕

06/21/2022

Some fresh paint makes us one step closer to being road legal!! 😁🎉 Woohoo!!

06/20/2022

😍🎉 Magical moment! I discovered that my water pump DID in fact work correctly, and was pleasantly surprised to find that I could wash dishes in the bus tonight! 😁👌 Before now, it has only had "shore" water from the water hose, which required us to walk a decent distance to turn the water on and off. I am SOOO excited and thankful! 🎉🌊🤘

06/19/2022

I *finally* got the water tank installed and in its permanent location! 😁 It's not secured yet, but so far every port tested is sealed! 🎉 YAY! 🤩👌

06/18/2022

I got my stovetop in yesterday! 😁🎉
The plumber has to run the gas line officially, and it still needs trim around it, but HOLY MOLY, I'm so excited! 🤘⚡

06/14/2022

The list of yet-to-do before relocating:
• Stovetop installation
• Replace the door
• Seatbelt for drivers seat
• Insurance
• VIN inspection
• Registration
• Finish fresh water setup & start grey water setup
• Secure everything (fridge, futon, mattress, microwave, ect.. )
•Uninstall diesel heater
🌞👌

06/14/2022

I was finally able to secure my electric lines, and run the bracing for securing the cabinets into place! 🤘 All of this is preparing the area for the stove soon! 😁 Yay, progress! 🎉

06/12/2022

When things backfire... 😹 My dad and I went to secure the cabinets yesterday, and I was out of 2" screws. 🤦🏼‍♀️ So next project: water tank. I had a couple problems with the installation. The first is that since the tank is used, the drain opening was pointing down, making it flush with the bottom of the tank. It forces the tank to be lifted off the subfloor, and the area under the bed is only so big. Second problem is that my water pump's pressure switch appears to be bad. 🙈 So upon recruiting my dad to help, the tank is now LESS installed than it was. 🤔🤣 On the bright side, I installed another valve to bypass the tank, so we have shore water again for showers! 😁🤘 Also still waiting on plumber-dude, Greg, for the stove installation. 🔥👌

06/09/2022

I found the PEX crimpers this morning and finished installing the water tank!! 😁🤘

06/09/2022

A year ago today, my dad and I got electricity to das bus! 😁🤘

06/09/2022

Decorating today! 🎉 💕🌿

06/09/2022

The 12 volt water pump lines were (roughly) planned out and çonnected today! Once I can find my dad's PEX crimper (😹🤦🏼‍♀️) I can finish installing the water tank and test it all out! 😁 Small wins from today and yesterday are getting the bathroom painted more, decorating, and getting the new paper towels holder in place! 🤘