With the counter back in place, the fridge where it goes and the items previously left in storage reclaimed, we are back to Version 2.6. The same as when we left Albuquerque plus sparkles.

Feel free to compare the following build list with your own notes:

1. Version 1 is as when we left the Chicago area: cupboards added; back storage built; built in cross bus sofa in place; 2 reused school bus seats installed; passenger chair installed; drivers chair replaced; fridge purchased, on board and unpowered; all the repair work done by the garage; new paint; a tow strap; and an ax and a pitch fork which I am told are very important.
2. Version 1.1: adding a second way to lock the back door (via a shoelace as it turns out). The deal is the the bus won’t start if the back door lock is not retracted properly. Given it’s pretty rusty, it seemed like I was setting us up for a problem if we continued to use it.
3. Version 1.2: tightening the seal on the double doors hoping against hope for relief from the noise.
4. Version 2.0 included major interior and functionality updates: extending the sofa and adding the mattress; getting the in-house electric working; “installing” the counter; powering and moving the fridge into place; taking out the original school bus seats; that ultra portable port a potty; bikes on board; and new shocks.

1. Version 2.1: Getting a cordless drill and shortly thereafter changing the position of a shelf support to allow for slightly larger bins to actually fit; and an electric tea pot which means we don’t have to take out the stove to heat water for tea or coffee.

1. Version 2.2: New windshield wiper blades. On the list because they were bad all the way back when the bus was purchased.

1. Version 2.3: Getting battery cables. I’m guessing somewhere in South Dakota. Actually, quite a while later we were on Long Island trying to figure out how to get to a genuine ocean beach while simultaneously avoiding parkways in some parking lot when a guy needed them! How cool is that?
2. Version 2.4: The 5 gallon drinking water container. Much easier than having a bunch of single gallon ones. Also doubled our capacity.
3. Version 2.5: Keeping the little stuff in small boxes in the cabinets, in turn making it so things are much less likely to fall out.
4. Version 3.0 means just done, in the works, and near future plans: new brakes and a working wind shield wiper fluid thing (scheduled for October 2); new way to store the bikes which takes less room (done); a lock that can be opened from the outside for two back doors identified though needs yet to be acquired; the shower (tank on order as of this morning); and attaching the outlet strip underneath the counter.