Update on the Bus:
Currently I am living onboard but I am leaving on a mission to the Big I for studies, but will likely return to Oregon in June and so I am creating a few informal tours with instructors of various teachings and their students….Tai Chi retreat with a friend, Paul Deering, and maybe a Yoga and Rock Climbing retreat with others. I am planning a few journeys this year with friends/facilitators of specific skills to share and or healing methods to teach that are best done out in nature ‘on retreat’ from one’s habitual/ordinary life trip.

I have worked out my costs of operation and figured out who to call for technical support for the bus. I have a few allies who drive the bus and cook! as well. The bus has been running on bio-diesel for 3 years and some hoses have been changed out. With another $1,400 investment, it could be outfitted to run on oil efficiently enough.


The bus has two six-foot couch/platforms in front, two tables and bus seat benches, a kitchen area and large 8x10 sleeping platform in the back with storage underneath. There is a 8x10 underbelly storage box and my tools take up a little more than half of the space, but there is room for food, gear, etc. There is a 4x16 railed platform up top accessible from a small steep ladder on the side of the bus. Boxes of food, gear etc. can be handed up there with care. Bikes, kayaks, etc. can be handed up from below off to the side of the bus by two people if trained.
It runs with 135 watt solar panel above that charges two 12V house batteries that run the lights, stereo, fans, 12v water pump and small low-amp personal refrigerator, and power the 1500 watt inverter for more lights, battery chargers, (110 electrical needs are kept to a minimum.) I use a larger cooler and block ice when carrying groups.
The bus can comfortably sleep 10 folks and needs to be less than 14 people traveling at once for legal purposes..and 14 can all lay down at once if they squeeze! A glorified carpool in an RV we are when below that number.
I can drive the bus and cook food for groups, where all folks on the bus share cooking prep and cleaning shifts. We can set up outdoors or cook in the small kitchen set up inside the bus. There is running cold water from a 55 gallon storage tank and another 55 gallon back-up is an option. I have a propane on-demand hot water tank ready to be installed. If hot water heater is installed, it will run to an outdoor shower head.
There is a two-burner propane stove inside and two 5 gallon propane tanks on board that can be hooked up for inside burners and/or outside grilling burners. I use a ‘haybox’ for cooking larger amounts of grains or beans efficiently with less fuel. (see Aprovecho’s model). In sunny climates, a solar cooker can be easily employed for all day sun cooked dishes. Or one can prepare all raw food. I have a 12v blender. I have also made Coconut Bliss at Burning Man with a 110v ice cream maker running off the inverter!!
I travel with a 10x10 pop up and will soon design wings for the sides of the bus to provide sun and rain shelter. I have a couple of fold-out tables and camp chairs.
No bathrooms on board, just personal choice with pee jars and composting toilet/sawdust in a bucket option in emergencies.
We collect compost until we find a suitable compost pile or bury it in the nearest appropriate place. We use water sparingly and offer our non-toxic greywater to the earth where appropriate.

We travel as consciously as we are able to, supporting one another’s well-being and learning to navigate the ship as a team. It builds trust and compassion to travel this way, as you know.

If you are interested in journeying with me in this way with a group who has a resonant mission, please inquire further. I have some open times for committed groups this summer. I am booked for Telluride Blue Grass Festival late June, High Sierra early July, but open from the time following Oregon County Fair until Burning Man, and open after that as well.

Tammy Davis
81868 Lost Valley Lane
Dexter, OR 97431

ancientspin@hotmail.com

541-510-9658