Jaye Foster - Nomads and The Bus Stop - Ep27

WEBVTT

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Music.

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All right, guys, welcome back to Dub Life Diaries. Today's guest is a modern

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nomad, a self-taught VW bus builder and the owner of an air-cooled shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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But what really made Jay's story wild is how it started in a garage during the

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lockdown. We're going to hear all about it.

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And what came next will blow your mind.

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Jay Foster, welcome to Dub Life Diaries.

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How's it going, man? What's up? What's up, man? Thanks for joining.

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We're going to have a great time. I know I got a killer episode prepared for you.

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Before we dive in, I do want to give a shout out to my sponsors, Volksmania Magazine.

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I feel like it's the flyest VW magazine on the face of the planet.

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Why? Because it's quality.

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All the pages, the glossiness, and then just the staff that's there, man.

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They hook you up and really, they're about the community. So shout out to Volksmania.

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If you guys want to get hooked up with them, visit Volksmania.com.

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This episode is sponsored by Salty Dub. From the beach to the bay,

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Check those guys out, www.saltydub.com.

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All right, dude, that's it. Back to you. Back to you, my brother.

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All right, let's take it back.

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You know, take us back to what inspired you to build this, this 77 bus from scratch during COVID.

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So really where it started, I was young, you know, I was, I think I was 19 or

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20 and, and, and that's when I really got my start kind of messing around with

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VWs and it was unintentional, honestly,

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but I was in college and I was working a full-time job and my car conked out on me.

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So I had, you know, I was walking to class and one day I just,

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I took a different route to see if it would, you know, get me there a little bit quicker.

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And I was walking pretty far, you know, And I get down that road and there's

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this little gray rust bucket sitting off in this yard and it had a Vercel sign on it.

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And I was like, well, I might as well just call it. It looks cheap, you know?

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So I called the guy's little old man. He walked out and he's sitting there telling

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me about it. And to be honest with you, I didn't even know what the car was. I had no idea.

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And turns out it was an 87 Golf GL, you know, a little 1.8, nothing special.

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It was a, it was a, it was a five speed. It looked like it had definitely lived

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about 100 lifetimes, and,

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You know, he's like, well, I want a grand for it. And I was like, shit, I can't do it.

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So I was like, well, thank you for your time. And I took off walking and he yelled for me.

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I got halfway down the road and he's like, hey, come back. And I was like,

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okay. He's like, how much you got on you?

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I got 500 solid guy. He's like, I'll take it. Just drive it away. I was like, shit, okay.

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And that was my first VW. And it, I can't even say it spiraled after that.

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Cause I mean, it was literally like a tornado. I just, I just,

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I fell in love with that car. It leaked everything known to man.

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I'm talking water, oil, you name it. It leaked it all.

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And I just started buying more. So for about, for a long time,

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I don't even know how many years it was.

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I was really into just the water cooled stuff and how I got into air cooled.

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I was at Bugapalooza in 2018.

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I think it was 2018.

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And I had a little Agner edition Cabriolet.

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They didn't make many of them, but that thing was junk. I got paid by a guy

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to get it out of his yard because he was so tired of looking at it.

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And, you know, so I got it running ish. I mean, it died like six times on the

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way to Bugabalooza, but I wasn't going to miss it.

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I get out there and I'm kind of walking around. I come back after about an hour, just kind of perusing.

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And my dad, he was there with his he's he had a 74 gear. It was beautiful.

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He sold it. But man, I wish he wouldn't have. But anyways, he was like, hey, some guy came by.

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I mean, he wanted your car, you know. I was like, oh, okay.

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Do you want to buy it? He's like, no, he said he had a bus to trade.

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I was like, oh, shut up. I don't believe you at all. He's like, no, really. He had a bus.

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And I was like, where's he at? He goes, well, he was parked across the street right there.

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And he had a trailer full of buses. He had like five on the back of it.

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He had, you know, a big car holder.

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And he was gone. I was like, shoot, man. I kind of missed out.

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I was so upset about it. And he said, well, he said he'd be back tomorrow.

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I was like, well, I hope he is. He's like, well, I hope he is.

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I sat there all freaking day Sunday in my chair and did not even move. Didn't even move.

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And finally, the show was already over. Half the people had already left.

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I mean, it was like five o'clock and all of a sudden here comes this car hauler

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with a bunch of buses on the back of it. And I walked over there.

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I was like, did you want to trade one of these for that car?

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He said, yeah, yeah. My kid likes it. I was like, oh, God.

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So I picked the nicest looking one. And nice is definitely not a definition

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that I'd use for this one.

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But it was a 72s. I named her Mabel and that's the one I actually started building, believe it or not.

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Nugget didn't come until 2021. Yeah. Nug didn't even come until 2021. No.

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Yeah, it was late 2020. She didn't come until then. So I'd actually built that

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72 in my garage for, I mean,

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I bought it in 2018 or traded for it and I didn't mess with it until realistically

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it was like 2019 and that's when I actually started getting really heavy into it, you know,

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getting the engine built and the transmission and doing all this stuff and ended

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up, she had some rust in the back after I put the engine and transmission in,

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the whole torsion bar just kind of fell out of it.

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And I was like, okay, well, I can't fix that. You know, I mean,

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I can, but it costs more to fix that than it is just go find another bus.

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And I posted on one of the, I think it was East Tennessee Air Cold Club Facebook page.

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I said please i'm in desperate need for

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a bus you know and this guy commented back and he said well i've got hundreds

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i was like okay cool yeah hundreds no and this ain't no joke he has still got

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so many freaking buses and he commented back and i went you know i messaged him i said look.

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I've got the cash sight unseen. I need the nicest looking one that you have, like the cleanest one.

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He's like, well, they've all been sitting. I said, that's fine.

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I want the one that's got like the least rust.

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And it was like the next day he sent me a picture of some trees.

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And I was like, hey, cool. He said, no, there's a bus in there.

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And I looked real close and sure enough, there was. I was like, holy crap.

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I was like, dude, that's your cleanest one. I don't know that I want.

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And he's like, no, it's pretty solid. It's been here for like 30 years.

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And I was like, whatever. I went out on a limb. I said, here,

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I'll take it. I'll be up there tomorrow to pick it up. Or I think it was Saturday

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or Sunday. I'll be up there to pick it up.

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And it was what, you know, became Nugget. And it was the same bus.

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And I was like, and it was cleaner than I thought it was.

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I was like, oh my God. So everything out of that 72 went immediately into Nug. Into the 77.

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Right on. And real quick too, I like your hat.

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Shout out Chris White. riverbank customs what's up my

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brother he is such a good guy i love chris

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he is man i met him we we both

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worked uh at the same place and i met him my dad had known

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him for forever and my dad was like because they all work together and my

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dad was like so this guy i work with you

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know he's got a bug right i said no i didn't

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even know that and sure enough it was it was chris and

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we became friends now anytime i mean they got

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a show going on most of the time all crews down there they got a tech session

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i mean i haven't been to many but you know i try to make a point

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to hang out with them i think that's also such a great idea tech

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sessions man those are those are fantastic i had another guy that was on the

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podcast out of colorado and they do those two for the community once a month

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to having one where it's uh tacos and carburetors next oh man that's cool so

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they're gonna break down the carburetor and serve tacos i'm like dude what a cool idea.

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Yeah, it's usually what Richard and Christy Hill do out there in Moody,

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Moody, Alabama near, you know, near where Chris is at.

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And I mean, they last time, I mean, they do a big cookout. It's just a fun day.

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I didn't get to stay all day, but man, I had fun when I was there because,

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you know, it's just a small, it's, it's, it's, it's a small community and everybody's involved.

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So at what point in, you know, building this, this 77 during,

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during the lockdown, during COVID, at what point were you like,

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you know, maybe thinking either one, I'm onto something or two,

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something that you haven't said yet is that, and I think I caught this from

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your background that you actually sold a lot of your stuff and ended up moving

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into this bus for, for a little while, right?

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I did. So at what point in the build did that motion kind of start?

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How were you inspired to move it? Man, so my intention when I got the bus to

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begin with, even the 72, my intention was I wanted to get it running.

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And I've always wanted to go visit Yellowstone or, you know,

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the Grand Teton and stuff like that. I've always wanted to go.

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I always wanted to. And I was like, you know, what better way to travel across country than in a VW bus?

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I've always wanted one. And my grandmother showed me the Woodstock film when I was young.

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And after that, I was like, I got to have one. I've got to, you know.

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So, you know, I never thought that I'd have one.

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And, you know, the Yellowstone idea was very persistent for years.

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And then I put the solar panels on my bus. And then I got the fridge in my bus.

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And then I got the bed put in and all this and lights and extra batteries.

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And, you know, you name it. I had the big off-road tires and stuff.

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And I had an off-grid shower.

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I was like, you know, I'm going to go make a month or two out of it.

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And then I started watching, it was a doc, I can't even remember the name of

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the documentary, but it had Kit and JR.

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And they have Sunshine Bus. They've lived in their VW bus for,

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I mean, at the time it was 10 years. Wow.

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You know, and I watched that documentary they were in and I was like,

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that's the most amazing life I've ever seen.

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And yeah. And, and, and every single day it was like, that was an ever so inclusive

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thought all day, every day I'd be at work, you know,

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cause I actually worked for Volkswagen at the factory over here in Chattanooga

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cause we've got the only one in North America and I was there for six years.

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And you know, when I was, when it finally dawned on me that I'm not just going

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to Yellowstone, I want to go everywhere. I want to go wherever the hell I feel

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like going and, and, and not turn back until I decide to. And, and.

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I, it just, it was always there. I thought about it every day.

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Was Yellowstone one of your first long hauls? Was that one of your first big trips?

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Believe it or not, I'm not going to lie to you. I haven't even went yet.

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Oh, I went everywhere else. I went everywhere else. So what,

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everything else. Give me your, give me your location.

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What was the first big trip that you took?

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High Country Bus Festival was the first trip that, that I took in the bus.

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That was the first one. any problems on that trip

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no i mean apart from trip stuff no

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apart from getting kicked out of a parking lot for sleeping because i was

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tired but other than that no like you know stopped off

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in ashville for a couple of days oh i love ashville but we stopped off there

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for a couple of days and hung out with some other nomads because it's a big

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nomadic city and and you know i was like well here's you know high country bus

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fest is happening so might as well just go So I went up there and spent a couple of days,

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and after the show was – or after the campout was over, I was like, crap, man.

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That was so much fun. I've never been to a VW campout, and I want to do it again.

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And this is the real long haul. This next trip was the first long haul, technically.

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Like, the high country is in Crumpler, North Carolina, which is on the Virginia border.

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That's far, but nowhere near as far as the second leg of the adventure.

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Well, let's touch on that, though. So paint the picture for us.

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Give me some of the most amazing, like jaw-dropping places that you've ever,

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like for a backdrop or that you've ever parked your bus.

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There are just, there's so many

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to name. I mean, I think one of the best places that I've ever stopped.

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And I stayed for a couple of weeks because it was just gorgeous.

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But it was in the Verde Valley in Arizona.

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And you're positioned in between the Mangus Mountains ahead of you.

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And behind you, you've got the Red Cliffs of Sedona. And you're in this valley.

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You've got Jerome, which is a teeny

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tiny little ghost town in the mountain right up at the top of Mangus.

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And you can see the lights at night there. You can see all the stars above you

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And right behind you The moon is just glaring off of The bright red cliffs in

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Sedona That was one of the most Beautiful spots that I've ever,

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Stayed It's gotta be I don't know Anytime I'm in Arizona I make a point to go

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there I lived out west in Colorado For many years And we made our rounds Through Utah,

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through Arizona Through all of the Oh, yeah. Yeah.

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I've got a lot of friends in Durango, Silverton area, and I love camping out

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there, you know, near what's it called? Purgatory. Love.

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There's no humidity out there, dude. No, it's awesome. I'm dying right now.

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I'm dying. I'm down here in Florida. I'm in the humidity.

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So let's talk about on the road. Like what's what's some of your your sketchiest

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moments of maybe even driving that you faced on the road?

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So one of the sketchiest moments, I was out west, Arizona again,

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and I had looked on Google Maps, and it just said something about there's an

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abandoned train tunnel that was built in like the 1880s,

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used to how the Santa Fe used to roll through there.

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And I was like, let's go find it.

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So we're using satellite to figure out where to go, because,

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I mean, it was out there. There's no roads. You know, I'm out.

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We out. and we're coming

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down through this wash and it didn't

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look as deep as it was at the time

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you know at the top I was like I can make it up it you know

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whatever so we got like five people piled in the back of my bus and I get to

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the bottom and I forget that I'm like six seven thousand feet in elevation and

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I haven't adjusted my carbs yet because I've got dual carbs back there and as

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As soon as I get halfway up, she just stalls.

00:15:42.243 --> 00:15:44.903
I was like, oh crap, this is not good.

00:15:45.763 --> 00:15:48.703
So everybody hops out and I'm like, yeah, y'all want to get out for this one.

00:15:48.863 --> 00:15:52.143
And I tried to crank it and she wouldn't do it. I had to put my foot on the

00:15:52.143 --> 00:15:55.543
gas, but I couldn't, you know, there was nothing I could do.

00:15:56.203 --> 00:16:00.423
So I just, as soon as I finally got her crank, she just rolled completely back.

00:16:00.863 --> 00:16:05.243
And as soon as she goes back, she hits this, uh, it turned, the wheel turned

00:16:05.243 --> 00:16:10.303
a little bit and I hit this little boulder and it just rolled her on her driver's

00:16:10.303 --> 00:16:11.983
side, just completely flipped the bus over.

00:16:11.983 --> 00:16:16.083
I was like, so that, that was pretty sketchy.

00:16:16.283 --> 00:16:19.343
So I hop out and everybody's freaking out and I'm over here laughing.

00:16:19.543 --> 00:16:22.123
I mean, it was the most fun I'd ever have. I was like, awesome.

00:16:22.663 --> 00:16:25.263
So we just flipped her back over and I just, I made it up the wash.

00:16:25.283 --> 00:16:28.923
I wasn't going to turn around. I mean, really I couldn't, but I just had to keep going.

00:16:29.143 --> 00:16:34.563
So that's one of the sketchiest. I mean, that's a pretty bad one. Hey, you rolled.

00:16:35.423 --> 00:16:39.403
Yeah. That's a pretty, that's a pretty good one. Now. Okay. She's got a nice dent.

00:16:39.863 --> 00:16:44.423
That's for the bus. How about maybe for people like what's the wildest person

00:16:44.423 --> 00:16:46.523
or human encounter that you've had on the road?

00:16:46.703 --> 00:16:51.003
A lot of people think that, you know, when you're on when you're on the road

00:16:51.003 --> 00:16:56.223
that you're you're you're constantly or even occasionally coming up against crazy people.

00:16:56.403 --> 00:17:00.363
But I mean, to be honest with you, I think we only ran into like one person.

00:17:00.783 --> 00:17:06.663
Well, a group of people that I didn't think were sketchy at the time until the

00:17:06.663 --> 00:17:08.003
story came out a week later.

00:17:08.003 --> 00:17:17.343
And, you know, the guy, the, the, the guy had murdered his girlfriend and they were fellow nomads.

00:17:17.503 --> 00:17:19.623
And that was probably like one of

00:17:19.623 --> 00:17:23.723
the sketchiest things that I've ever experienced, but we didn't know it.

00:17:24.123 --> 00:17:27.883
You know, they always say that as, you know, you, you can't,

00:17:27.983 --> 00:17:31.643
it's kind of like these people, you know, when you watch documentaries on serial

00:17:31.643 --> 00:17:33.763
killers and stuff like that, it's like, well, how couldn't you have known?

00:17:33.943 --> 00:17:39.643
Dude, they hide it. Yeah. They will never Totally normal people or from what they seem to be. Yeah.

00:17:40.203 --> 00:17:42.743
And that's, that's probably the sketchiest. I mean, honestly,

00:17:43.383 --> 00:17:46.203
haven't really had too many things happen. I mean, I don't know.

00:17:46.443 --> 00:17:49.103
Like I always just, I guess I just pick nice spots. I don't know.

00:17:49.403 --> 00:17:53.143
Well, full, full-time van life is not for the faint of heart,

00:17:53.263 --> 00:18:01.723
but, but what do people not understand about live, living full-time in a, in, in a VW camper or bus?

00:18:03.063 --> 00:18:07.963
And it's it's one of the most eye-opening experiences

00:18:07.963 --> 00:18:13.263
that i've ever gotten the pleasure to experience you know a lot of people think

00:18:13.263 --> 00:18:17.343
that it's all just you know you're you got a different backyard every day and

00:18:17.343 --> 00:18:21.243
stuff like that but i mean unless you're rich you you don't have that you know

00:18:21.243 --> 00:18:26.503
you've got to work every day or you've got to work you got to make money to get to the next spot and,

00:18:27.371 --> 00:18:29.831
You know, that's the thing that people don't understand about it is that it's

00:18:29.831 --> 00:18:33.491
hard. It's hard. But I'll tell you what, it is the most fulfilling thing that

00:18:33.491 --> 00:18:34.331
I've ever done in my life.

00:18:34.491 --> 00:18:38.671
I came back from it a totally different person.

00:18:38.911 --> 00:18:41.611
You know, I had a different outlook, a different perspective on life.

00:18:41.791 --> 00:18:43.711
Because when you have nothing,

00:18:44.351 --> 00:18:49.631
and I mean nothing, there's spots where there's times where I've been standing

00:18:49.631 --> 00:18:52.711
on the side of the road with a gas jug, just like, please give me like a dollar

00:18:52.711 --> 00:18:57.091
so I can make it the rest of the way to where I can go work and make some money, you know?

00:18:57.371 --> 00:19:03.111
And there's been times where I had enough after working and I was able to go

00:19:03.111 --> 00:19:04.331
wherever I felt like going.

00:19:04.571 --> 00:19:09.511
And that's the best part about it. And the people you meet, it's like nothing else.

00:19:10.551 --> 00:19:14.571
The nomadic community is honestly, and I love the VW community,

00:19:14.691 --> 00:19:18.051
don't get me wrong, but there's something so different about the nomadic community

00:19:18.051 --> 00:19:22.371
because you've got all of these people in one little place, one spread out place

00:19:22.371 --> 00:19:24.271
in the desert or in the mountains or something like that.

00:19:24.271 --> 00:19:28.471
And you've got some that live in million dollar RVs and you've got these people that live in tents.

00:19:28.651 --> 00:19:33.691
And I'll tell you what, we have these gigantic community dinners and breakfasts,

00:19:33.791 --> 00:19:37.071
lunches and stuff like that. And everybody just brings something.

00:19:37.291 --> 00:19:42.031
And you've got a little piece of that person's background and that person's culture.

00:19:42.691 --> 00:19:47.471
And it's it's just harmony all day, every day, you know.

00:19:47.991 --> 00:19:52.831
So paint the picture for listeners, especially ones that are maybe even motivated

00:19:52.831 --> 00:19:56.311
by this episode to maybe go live in a bus.

00:19:56.491 --> 00:19:59.751
What a daily life actually looked like. I mean, cover sleeping,

00:20:00.131 --> 00:20:04.411
eating, you know, your, your hygiene, like how, you know, yeah.

00:20:04.671 --> 00:20:08.231
Like cover, cover some of those things. Like, so, so listeners can really fully,

00:20:08.551 --> 00:20:13.411
I guess, understand, you know, what it is that you do full-time on the road like that.

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:19.980
So you have to get used to being uncomfortable. That's the easiest way to describe it.

00:20:20.760 --> 00:20:24.940
It's uncomfortable. It really is. But it's something that you get used to.

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:28.660
You know, like, I don't have a Westie. I've just got a 10-top bus.

00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:31.820
So putting your pants on in the morning, you're laying down.

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.500
You're not standing up to put your pants on.

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:37.700
Not standing up to cook food. But the thing is, is that I'll be honest with you.

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:42.440
I ate better on the road than I have since I've been living off the road.

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:49.840
You know because we you have the ability you have the capability realistically to to go out and,

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:53.540
find better foods than you're going to get at a walmart and stuff like

00:20:53.540 --> 00:20:58.180
that because i lived off grid i met other people who also lived off grid you

00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:03.020
know so we would have fresh veggies and fresh fruits and stuff like that and

00:21:03.020 --> 00:21:07.820
and we ate really good i mean this wasn't like you know ramen noodles every

00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:11.420
night i mean yeah sure we had days where we're like ah screw it we don't feel

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.280
like making anything crazy.

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:17.180
So we do that, but you know, we ain't good. And then showering and stuff like that.

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:20.600
Yeah, obviously you're, you're going to waste a lot of money if you're,

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:24.360
you're riding into town every single day, because I didn't sleep in a parking

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:29.480
lot in town. I was 30, 40, 50, 60 miles out in the middle of the desert where,

00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:31.460
and you don't even have cell signal.

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:36.500
So you're going a couple of days, you know, and that's the realistic part of it.

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:38.580
You know, Everybody's like, oh, it's so gross. But it's like,

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:41.080
I mean, you get used to it.

00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:46.480
So what I did is I had a Planet Fitness subscription.

00:21:47.280 --> 00:21:53.440
And I made a point to be at least within driving distance an hour or so of Planet Fitness.

00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:56.740
And I went in there, got a hot shower, went to a laundromat to do my clothes.

00:21:57.660 --> 00:22:02.680
So if I wasn't totally off-grid out in the middle of nowhere, you'd never know it.

00:22:02.800 --> 00:22:06.420
Because I didn't look any different. I kept up with my facial hair. Sure.

00:22:06.800 --> 00:22:12.120
But, you know, daily life was a lot of, if you're not working, you're exploring.

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:18.340
Hiked every day. I was healthier on the road than I am now, you know.

00:22:20.062 --> 00:22:22.622
I was always hiking. I wanted to see what was around the next corner.

00:22:22.782 --> 00:22:25.842
You know, I want to go look at this big tree or this big hill.

00:22:25.982 --> 00:22:28.402
What's on top of this hill? Let's go find a cave, you know.

00:22:28.722 --> 00:22:32.622
So I stayed active. I stayed moving. You know, my little dog over here,

00:22:32.822 --> 00:22:34.362
she stayed active and she stayed moving.

00:22:34.442 --> 00:22:36.962
That's why I like she never even has a leash on her half the time unless I'm

00:22:36.962 --> 00:22:39.722
around other dogs because she's used to being by my side, you know.

00:22:40.742 --> 00:22:45.062
And at night, you get to watch the stars and, you know, depending on where you're

00:22:45.062 --> 00:22:46.962
at, you can see the galaxy. You can see all of it.

00:22:47.062 --> 00:22:49.622
I mean, there's no light pollution if you go far enough out.

00:22:49.622 --> 00:22:51.562
And there's no people when you go far enough out.

00:22:51.702 --> 00:22:54.162
So it's a lot of, it's a lot of alone time.

00:22:54.442 --> 00:23:00.842
It's a lot of yourself to your own thoughts, you know, campfires. And I love it.

00:23:01.042 --> 00:23:05.282
I miss it every day. You know, it's hard to transition back to,

00:23:05.542 --> 00:23:09.482
I guess, real life, you know, if you want to call it that, but it's hard to

00:23:09.482 --> 00:23:11.882
transition back to it after being on the road for so long.

00:23:12.142 --> 00:23:15.662
Let's talk about that transition though. Was like looking back,

00:23:15.862 --> 00:23:21.222
was there maybe a specific day or a specific time in your life where you said

00:23:21.222 --> 00:23:26.502
to yourself, all right, it's time to go get a real roof again? Man, yeah.

00:23:27.642 --> 00:23:30.622
Tell me about it. The burnout happened, you know.

00:23:31.802 --> 00:23:37.542
It was just a series of unfortunate things that had happened to where it just

00:23:37.542 --> 00:23:41.662
wasn't feasible anymore to continue doing it.

00:23:41.882 --> 00:23:46.782
You know, had a crappy boss at this one job. We're working not too long.

00:23:46.962 --> 00:23:48.302
You know, he was a terrible person.

00:23:48.522 --> 00:23:51.722
Barely paid. So we didn't have enough money to go to the next place.

00:23:51.882 --> 00:23:54.622
So then we just kind of got stuck and then finally went back to Alaska.

00:23:54.982 --> 00:23:59.822
You know, they flew us out and then ended up not making enough money there either

00:23:59.822 --> 00:24:03.942
because of some worker strikes and stuff like that. So they get enough there.

00:24:04.642 --> 00:24:08.442
So we make it back and it was like, I don't even want to be here anymore.

00:24:08.942 --> 00:24:10.702
You know, I don't want to be in the bus anymore.

00:24:11.222 --> 00:24:13.962
You know, it, it, it, it was just a

00:24:13.962 --> 00:24:16.702
year or two of just straight straps it was just

00:24:16.702 --> 00:24:23.382
it was tough you know and I didn't even plan on just staying in a house or whatever

00:24:23.382 --> 00:24:30.122
for too long and now it's been two years you know so really I mean the burnout

00:24:30.122 --> 00:24:35.902
was coming and it was just a series of unfortunate things that you know just it just happened and

00:24:36.082 --> 00:24:42.722
it just made it harder needless to say we had pushed through it for years before that but And, you know,

00:24:43.062 --> 00:24:47.982
finally got to the point I was like, I'm done with this and wanted to do more with these cars.

00:24:48.582 --> 00:24:55.462
So you so you stopped traveling full time. What what made you decide to settle on Chattanooga?

00:24:55.642 --> 00:25:00.382
Well, I've lived here. I think now it makes about five or six times I've lived in Chattanooga.

00:25:00.542 --> 00:25:04.122
I just I don't know. I love this city. I love this city. I love the community.

00:25:04.382 --> 00:25:05.922
I love the little VW club we have.

00:25:06.991 --> 00:25:10.351
You know, and I love all my friends here. What's the name of the club?

00:25:10.571 --> 00:25:12.611
Well, we've got the Scenic City Volts folks here.

00:25:13.151 --> 00:25:17.071
And then you've got Dubbin for chat and stuff like that. And really,

00:25:17.231 --> 00:25:20.691
I love being a part of the East Tennessee Air Cool Club.

00:25:20.891 --> 00:25:23.291
That's the one that I guess I associate myself with more.

00:25:23.971 --> 00:25:27.951
I hang out with those guys all the time. AJ Batista and them, you know, Roe and Jen.

00:25:28.191 --> 00:25:31.371
And I mean, those guys are just incredible. They don't even put on car shows.

00:25:31.491 --> 00:25:34.671
They put on cruises and they could care less. You know, like one of the best

00:25:34.671 --> 00:25:37.451
ones that they put on. And it is one of my favorite ones in the country.

00:25:37.451 --> 00:25:39.971
I'd make a point to drive back from California just to go here.

00:25:40.051 --> 00:25:43.491
And I've done it a couple of times. I was in Cali or Arizona and I was like,

00:25:43.591 --> 00:25:45.031
I want to go do this cruise.

00:25:45.211 --> 00:25:48.491
So I would drive all the way back across the country just to do this cruise.

00:25:48.631 --> 00:25:49.711
But it was bugging the dragon.

00:25:50.111 --> 00:25:54.751
Yeah. Like, so yeah, I've, I've done that once or twice now.

00:25:54.791 --> 00:25:58.471
And that's one of the most fun cruises in the Southeast.

00:25:58.971 --> 00:26:01.071
Nothing tops it. I'm sorry. What is it?

00:26:01.971 --> 00:26:08.091
It's bugging the dragon. And so we just take over the dragon for a day and it's just, it's fun.

00:26:08.191 --> 00:26:12.971
You know, this year, I think there was like 108, 109, Chris and all of them came up.

00:26:13.091 --> 00:26:15.551
The entire Alabama crew came up. I mean, it was just awesome.

00:26:16.011 --> 00:26:18.171
Next year, they're trying to get the Florida guys to come up.

00:26:18.271 --> 00:26:21.991
Hopefully I'll show out because it is so fun and it's free.

00:26:22.331 --> 00:26:26.791
You just drive your car. We got to do some mingling because we got some stuff

00:26:26.791 --> 00:26:28.991
down here. We want you boys to come be a part of too.

00:26:29.111 --> 00:26:33.431
You guys know about Bug Jam. I know Chris is a sponsor and sets up there,

00:26:33.471 --> 00:26:38.051
but a little further south of them is us down here in the Tampa Bay area.

00:26:38.171 --> 00:26:42.511
And we've got V-dubs on the pier and we've got V-dubs over the Skyway.

00:26:42.731 --> 00:26:47.811
The Skyway Bridge is like this monumental, epic, major, 400-foot tall,

00:26:47.891 --> 00:26:52.051
just amazing, architectural, just badass bridge.

00:26:52.411 --> 00:26:59.091
And we get together, come over the Skyway. And last year we had 240 cars.

00:26:59.091 --> 00:27:05.951
The year the year before was the 25th anniversary ride and we had over 400 dude.

00:27:06.631 --> 00:27:12.791
Dude that's crazy the line was over two miles long it was crazy it really was

00:27:12.791 --> 00:27:17.031
insane yeah so yeah i need to get down to florida and do more stuff i haven't

00:27:17.031 --> 00:27:20.951
done a lot in florida we'll come we'll come see you and then you just make that

00:27:20.951 --> 00:27:24.231
promise to come down and hang with us for our stuff too.

00:27:24.571 --> 00:27:30.851
But yeah, so let's go back to the garage hobby that really kind of became a

00:27:30.851 --> 00:27:34.531
full-blown air-cooled VW business, which is what you're doing now.

00:27:34.891 --> 00:27:39.351
Before the podcast started, you took the phone and you showed me around.

00:27:39.491 --> 00:27:44.371
You got about eight or nine dubs in the shop right now. And that was really, really cool to see.

00:27:44.811 --> 00:27:50.271
But rewind the clock a little bit of when you You stopped tinkering. You took it serious.

00:27:50.571 --> 00:27:53.591
Do you remember your first paying client?

00:27:53.871 --> 00:27:59.911
The first paying client I had, I think it was Christy, little lady Christy out of Sevierville.

00:28:00.651 --> 00:28:04.111
At the time, I didn't have a shop. I just did it mobile work.

00:28:04.795 --> 00:28:10.635
You know, so I would get I had my bus full of tools and I would just drive to wherever you were.

00:28:10.815 --> 00:28:16.715
And my first my first client was Christy and I worked on Little Beetle Bailey's.

00:28:16.815 --> 00:28:21.035
He's a little 77 or 78 bug was fuel injected.

00:28:21.215 --> 00:28:26.055
He's carbureted now. But that's one of my favorite bugs in the world just because of the owner.

00:28:26.715 --> 00:28:31.235
He is you know, he's got he was she's from key, you know, from the from the

00:28:31.235 --> 00:28:35.475
Keys. So Beetle Bailey was down in the Keys and he looks like he was in the

00:28:35.475 --> 00:28:36.715
Keys, but I, you know what?

00:28:37.495 --> 00:28:41.015
She loves that little car to bits, man.

00:28:41.175 --> 00:28:44.935
And I, I went up there, I did some brake work, did some valve adjustments,

00:28:45.255 --> 00:28:49.875
you know, just a couple of small odds and end things. And that was my first client.

00:28:49.995 --> 00:28:54.955
I felt so bad to tell her the total because I was I was trying to get used to it.

00:28:55.075 --> 00:29:00.595
You know, I had worked for other shops before and it just it didn't work out

00:29:00.595 --> 00:29:02.615
the way that that I really wanted it to.

00:29:02.915 --> 00:29:07.995
You know, so when I got let go of that last shop, I was like, what am I going to do?

00:29:08.135 --> 00:29:14.215
Sit at home and pity or just continue doing what I've been trying to do for

00:29:14.215 --> 00:29:19.995
the past couple of years. And, you know, that's when it went from a hobby to to doing this.

00:29:20.195 --> 00:29:24.735
And I don't know, I still every day somebody calls me and I'm like, why do they pick me?

00:29:26.075 --> 00:29:29.995
You know, it really. Yeah, it's it's a little overwhelming at times.

00:29:30.135 --> 00:29:33.455
But, you know, I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

00:29:33.615 --> 00:29:37.795
And, you know, I'm not the best at all, but, you know, I'm trying to be.

00:29:38.395 --> 00:29:43.235
So let's touch on that, because there's there's going to be magic probably in

00:29:43.235 --> 00:29:47.555
this answer. But anybody that works on these cars full time,

00:29:47.815 --> 00:29:49.635
there's something about them, right?

00:29:49.795 --> 00:29:53.595
Like, what do you love most about wrenching on old Volkswagens?

00:29:53.875 --> 00:29:58.135
It's kind of a love-hate thing, you know, and if you have one,

00:29:58.435 --> 00:30:02.075
you know, anybody that listens to it, if you've got one, which I'm sure everybody

00:30:02.075 --> 00:30:04.455
that listens to it does, you know –,

00:30:05.254 --> 00:30:09.534
If you have one, you understand that your car has its own personality.

00:30:10.114 --> 00:30:13.734
It's got its own personality. It has its own traits. It has its own attitude.

00:30:14.774 --> 00:30:18.834
And that's the thing that I love and I hate the most about it is that some of

00:30:18.834 --> 00:30:21.974
these cars have such a negative attitude.

00:30:22.214 --> 00:30:26.274
I'm over here like, just work. Just work for me, please.

00:30:27.154 --> 00:30:31.474
You're fine. You want to run. I know you don't want to stay dead,

00:30:31.574 --> 00:30:34.774
you know. And you talk to them too, for sure.

00:30:35.294 --> 00:30:39.614
Oh, dude, I talk all day long, every single car in here. I talk to every single one of them.

00:30:39.794 --> 00:30:45.434
And some of them, you know, their attitude about it is, I want to be back on

00:30:45.434 --> 00:30:47.154
the road, so here, I will help you.

00:30:47.414 --> 00:30:50.374
You know, and that's the coolest part about it, is that you get some of these

00:30:50.374 --> 00:30:53.534
that are super grateful for you touching the valves, and then you've got some

00:30:53.534 --> 00:30:57.934
that would much rather spit a push rod out at you or break a valve spring,

00:30:58.114 --> 00:30:59.914
you know, like this little buggy over here.

00:31:01.374 --> 00:31:04.534
And that's the thing, that's the beauty, and,

00:31:05.335 --> 00:31:10.215
The negativity about doing it is these cars have their own attitudes,

00:31:10.235 --> 00:31:12.355
and that's what I love about them. And they reflect.

00:31:12.695 --> 00:31:16.815
They really do. They're a reflection of their owners. Not saying that the ones

00:31:16.815 --> 00:31:22.875
that have bad attitudes or have bad owners or anything like that, but my bus, for example.

00:31:23.215 --> 00:31:26.735
Excuse my language. My bus is an asshole. She is rude.

00:31:27.175 --> 00:31:31.735
God, she's so rude. When she works, she works, and when she doesn't, she does not care.

00:31:32.295 --> 00:31:35.775
I mean, I was going to a show a couple of years ago and she broke down four

00:31:35.775 --> 00:31:37.955
times on the way there and it was four different things.

00:31:38.155 --> 00:31:40.595
I mean, throttle cable snapped, then my clutch cable snapped,

00:31:40.595 --> 00:31:43.695
and then this happened and I broke some linkage on my cars.

00:31:43.735 --> 00:31:48.115
You know, it's literally like some days she just wants to be put back in the

00:31:48.115 --> 00:31:50.455
woods that I drug her out from and I'm not going to let it happen.

00:31:50.695 --> 00:31:53.255
So and that's how some of these cars act. They're like, no, no,

00:31:53.255 --> 00:31:56.175
no. Put me back in the shed. I don't want to come out. Not yet.

00:31:56.715 --> 00:32:00.035
And I'm like, no, you're going to. So that's the magic in it,

00:32:00.155 --> 00:32:06.435
you know, is hearing them work again when they haven't in either so long or,

00:32:06.615 --> 00:32:09.075
you know, they haven't ran great in forever.

00:32:09.075 --> 00:32:12.655
And you finally get the owner, you know, the owner comes back to drive it and

00:32:12.655 --> 00:32:16.435
they're walking up to you like this is can't remember the last time my car ran

00:32:16.435 --> 00:32:18.915
like this. That's what I love the most about it.

00:32:19.135 --> 00:32:24.275
Give me some advice for somebody that wants to potentially get into the VW world,

00:32:24.395 --> 00:32:27.335
maybe not even the camping world, but as a mechanic, too.

00:32:27.335 --> 00:32:32.675
You know, give me advice from your perspective of somebody that would be interested

00:32:32.675 --> 00:32:37.335
in becoming a VW enthusiast in today's society. Man, be patient.

00:32:39.435 --> 00:32:43.895
Would you recommend buying one built or would you recommend building one?

00:32:44.115 --> 00:32:50.155
Everybody, I think your first VW that you get should be a project because for

00:32:50.155 --> 00:32:54.735
the people that buy them already built, already running, because theirs don't run great. I'm sorry.

00:32:54.975 --> 00:32:59.475
Most of the they don't. But the people that don't buy their way into it and

00:32:59.475 --> 00:33:04.875
they want to learn and grow with the car, those are the ones that theirs is

00:33:04.875 --> 00:33:07.875
always the best reflection of them. You know.

00:33:08.891 --> 00:33:13.071
So I tell everybody, if you want your first one, get a project, man.

00:33:13.271 --> 00:33:16.791
You will respect these cars a lot more. You will treat them better.

00:33:16.951 --> 00:33:20.991
You will understand what they love and what they don't like than if you just

00:33:20.991 --> 00:33:23.751
go and buy one for $20,000 that already runs.

00:33:24.251 --> 00:33:27.751
That's cool and all. You can buy a project that runs, but learn how to work

00:33:27.751 --> 00:33:30.891
on it in the process because they're going to leave you on the side of the road.

00:33:31.271 --> 00:33:33.531
It's going to happen. I'm sorry. It will.

00:33:34.091 --> 00:33:37.771
I promise you. Even us. people say

00:33:37.771 --> 00:33:40.931
that the mechanics oh y'all's are supposed to be no ours are

00:33:40.931 --> 00:33:44.291
always the worst ones i promise you so you know

00:33:44.291 --> 00:33:47.351
but no buy a project

00:33:47.351 --> 00:33:50.311
save one because if you're buying one

00:33:50.311 --> 00:33:53.131
that somebody's already saved yeah it's cool you're

00:33:53.131 --> 00:33:56.551
exchanging hands but no be the be the change save

00:33:56.551 --> 00:33:59.251
one save that car so it

00:33:59.251 --> 00:34:02.111
so it's like the adopt don't shop right

00:34:02.111 --> 00:34:05.411
exactly yeah save one so

00:34:05.411 --> 00:34:08.731
the VW culture as we know it it's vast

00:34:08.731 --> 00:34:11.871
it's huge you know because we're ingrained and we

00:34:11.871 --> 00:34:15.091
go to these big shows we you know we see I guess

00:34:15.091 --> 00:34:18.091
the the the culture as it is today I

00:34:18.091 --> 00:34:22.831
remember it from high school too first time I ever went to a bug jam I was blown

00:34:22.831 --> 00:34:28.111
away that that many people cared about classic Volkswagens especially back in

00:34:28.111 --> 00:34:33.651
the 90s but do you think the culture the VW culture is growing or do you think

00:34:33.651 --> 00:34:35.231
that it's fading over time?

00:34:36.187 --> 00:34:40.727
Oh, man, it's growing and it's growing substantially. I mean,

00:34:40.747 --> 00:34:42.567
it really, truly is. It's growing.

00:34:42.687 --> 00:34:49.847
I mean, I've seen it personally around, you know, Chris White's area.

00:34:50.467 --> 00:34:56.547
I've watched, you know, I've watched him and Adam grow that community in a very

00:34:56.547 --> 00:34:59.827
relatively short amount of time. When I was hanging out with Chris,

00:34:59.967 --> 00:35:03.747
when I lived in Alabama, because it's where I'm originally from, it was two years ago.

00:35:04.687 --> 00:35:09.107
And, I mean, there's maybe three VWs that would hang out over there. That's it.

00:35:10.547 --> 00:35:15.527
Now there's 20 to 30 that always show up every time. They're coming out of the

00:35:15.527 --> 00:35:16.967
woodworks now, you know?

00:35:17.247 --> 00:35:20.887
Adam Simpson. You said Adam, so I got to shout out him, Adam Simpson.

00:35:20.887 --> 00:35:22.927
Another guy that's been on the podcast.

00:35:23.127 --> 00:35:28.207
Another super stand-up guy. I had a really, really awesome time interviewing him.

00:35:28.527 --> 00:35:32.647
But shout out to him, too. I heard you mention it. So I want to say what's up to him.

00:35:34.207 --> 00:35:40.227
Yeah, I mean, those two guys are doing magic. I mean, Adam with the Tannehill Show and Chris White.

00:35:40.747 --> 00:35:45.107
Just like, for example, you know, it was last year.

00:35:45.267 --> 00:35:50.827
There's a local show in Pell City, Alabama, and it's called Lakeside Live.

00:35:51.367 --> 00:35:54.087
Lakeside Live. And it's not a VW show at all.

00:35:55.207 --> 00:35:58.047
But Chris had been talking to them and

00:35:58.047 --> 00:36:01.407
begging them like hey give give the VWs an award like make

00:36:01.407 --> 00:36:04.167
their own category you know this mostly American cars and stuff

00:36:04.167 --> 00:36:06.847
like that and we go out there and and he was

00:36:06.847 --> 00:36:09.747
like he told everybody before we came he said look I want as many

00:36:09.747 --> 00:36:14.927
VWs as I can get out here because they told me that if I can get 20 I think

00:36:14.927 --> 00:36:19.367
it was either 20 or 25 they will come up they will do their own category for

00:36:19.367 --> 00:36:27.127
VWs next year this year meaning and I think he brought 40 something nice. You know what I mean?

00:36:27.387 --> 00:36:32.307
And that was just, it was a beautiful moment because you,

00:36:32.757 --> 00:36:37.157
I would never have imagined that many in that area in three years before that,

00:36:37.257 --> 00:36:39.457
two or three years before that. I'm just not at all.

00:36:39.957 --> 00:36:42.937
I'm seeing more. It's growing. It is not shrinking.

00:36:43.457 --> 00:36:46.457
Good. And I'm going to have to agree with you. I think it's growing too.

00:36:46.717 --> 00:36:50.437
And I'm hopeful that, you know, the next generation, you know,

00:36:50.657 --> 00:36:54.497
appreciates the air-cooled vibes as much as we do.

00:36:54.677 --> 00:36:58.317
You know, those of us that kind of came, came up in it. When I got my first

00:36:58.317 --> 00:37:03.357
car, it was only 20 years old, not 50 years old, you know, so they're a lot older now.

00:37:03.597 --> 00:37:06.997
I'm a lot older now, but it's just something I noticed, you know,

00:37:07.057 --> 00:37:11.277
the next generation, if you will, they have interest.

00:37:11.317 --> 00:37:13.417
They are, they're showing up at these beats.

00:37:13.537 --> 00:37:15.657
They got young, young kids are getting into these things.

00:37:15.817 --> 00:37:20.237
And whether you approve of this or not, they even have a lot of the EV conversions

00:37:20.237 --> 00:37:22.417
taking place by the new younger guys now.

00:37:22.577 --> 00:37:26.897
And you know, to me, it's like, Hey, whatever gets you in an old dub,

00:37:27.257 --> 00:37:30.137
like, you know, however the shoe fits like cool

00:37:30.137 --> 00:37:33.137
i'm okay i think there's a place for it but i

00:37:33.137 --> 00:37:36.197
think that's the coolest thing about them man is that they're they're they're

00:37:36.197 --> 00:37:38.937
so you can mold to these cars i mean

00:37:38.937 --> 00:37:41.837
whatever your lifestyle is you know

00:37:41.837 --> 00:37:45.277
you've got the guys that turn these into volks rods then you've got the guys

00:37:45.277 --> 00:37:49.977
like me my bus is covered in stickers and she's not a looker but i can tell

00:37:49.977 --> 00:37:54.197
you right now she'll tear down some interstate miles you know what i mean and

00:37:54.197 --> 00:37:57.877
then you've got the guys that want theirs to be drag bugs and then street bugs

00:37:57.877 --> 00:38:00.297
and then sleepers and rat rods.

00:38:00.497 --> 00:38:07.617
If you know, there, there, there, there is a place for every single one of you in this community.

00:38:08.217 --> 00:38:14.137
Yep. I might have to agree with you. So let's talk about your bus nugget or nug.

00:38:14.717 --> 00:38:18.697
I like, yeah. Hey, I spent many years in Colorado. I know all about nugs.

00:38:21.717 --> 00:38:27.617
So if, if, If Nug could talk, if your bus could talk, what would it say?

00:38:27.817 --> 00:38:30.217
What story would it say? What would it tell you?

00:38:30.957 --> 00:38:34.157
Put my ass back in the woods. No, she wouldn't.

00:38:34.917 --> 00:38:39.997
Right now, man, like, I don't know. That's a hard question to answer.

00:38:40.877 --> 00:38:44.897
You know, I know that she's missing the road right now. We haven't been on a

00:38:44.897 --> 00:38:50.617
road trip in forever since last year. You know, I rebuilt the engine and the

00:38:50.617 --> 00:38:54.217
first maiden voyage, I drove it to Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

00:38:54.517 --> 00:38:57.657
So, you know, and that's kind of what it is.

00:38:57.757 --> 00:39:02.917
She's she's made to eat up highway miles, you know, with the way the transmission

00:39:02.917 --> 00:39:04.077
is built and stuff like that.

00:39:04.157 --> 00:39:08.117
And the engine, this is what she wants. And and I know that she's missing it

00:39:08.117 --> 00:39:10.957
right now because she's she was very happy on the dragon.

00:39:11.517 --> 00:39:14.777
But on the way back, she was very unhappy because I think she knew she was going

00:39:14.777 --> 00:39:17.897
back home. So, you know, if...

00:39:18.615 --> 00:39:23.175
If she could say anything is take me on a road trip and she's getting one in

00:39:23.175 --> 00:39:24.635
two weeks. We're going back to high country.

00:39:24.855 --> 00:39:28.275
So, or I say two weeks, whenever that is, but you know, we're going to high country.

00:39:28.475 --> 00:39:32.115
So she's going to get a little road trip in and then back to buses by the bridge

00:39:32.115 --> 00:39:34.135
in January. So that's going to be a long haul.

00:39:35.835 --> 00:39:40.815
I saw all the pictures of that one. I got to come to that one one year myself to buses by the bridge.

00:39:41.075 --> 00:39:45.075
I've done it three years, man. I haven't done it. I haven't done it.

00:39:45.075 --> 00:39:48.595
I didn't do it this year or last year, and I've got to go back.

00:39:48.735 --> 00:39:52.235
That's one of the most amazing VW bus shows in the country.

00:39:52.455 --> 00:39:59.155
God, it's so good. We had a couple guys that went in a bus and drove all the way out there from here.

00:40:00.075 --> 00:40:04.515
It's fun. Yeah, they documented it. I was following the pictures and everything,

00:40:04.655 --> 00:40:05.635
and it really looked interesting.

00:40:05.795 --> 00:40:11.695
I'm definitely – I'd like to set up my podcast out there as a support.

00:40:11.695 --> 00:40:16.815
Oh, there are so many people to talk to. Dude, I bet that that'd be that'd be awesome.

00:40:17.495 --> 00:40:22.075
You get people from all over. I know. I see. I mean, worldwide.

00:40:22.655 --> 00:40:28.695
I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah. Just worldwide. It's it reminds me of buses on the pier

00:40:28.695 --> 00:40:34.035
in Huntington Beach, I believe, in California, which is like it's the sickest,

00:40:34.235 --> 00:40:35.795
you know, coastal looking,

00:40:36.215 --> 00:40:38.515
I guess, cruise slash car show.

00:40:38.515 --> 00:40:41.555
So I'm motivated to get out there at some point myself.

00:40:41.775 --> 00:40:46.115
I'm going to come up and visit y'all's scene, especially with Adam.

00:40:46.355 --> 00:40:52.915
I know I'm going to meet Chris in person, probably Adam too, at Bone Jam.

00:40:53.804 --> 00:40:57.004
Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yes, I also do want to support them,

00:40:57.124 --> 00:41:02.584
go to their shows, set up as a bender for the podcast, so for sure.

00:41:02.824 --> 00:41:08.884
But what I wanted to say earlier was you've been all over the country.

00:41:09.304 --> 00:41:13.924
You have faced trials and tribulations. You've told us some pretty awesome stories.

00:41:14.544 --> 00:41:21.404
What would you say to a VW enthusiast that might be feeling stuck in life right now?

00:41:21.944 --> 00:41:26.644
What would you tell them? because you have faced a lot of adversity and pushed through it.

00:41:26.744 --> 00:41:30.204
So I'm interested and eager to hear what you would tell them.

00:41:30.584 --> 00:41:34.784
I got chill bumps on that question because it is a very personal question.

00:41:35.004 --> 00:41:39.704
You know, the thing is, and it doesn't matter whether you're an enthusiast or not.

00:41:39.904 --> 00:41:48.584
It's just as humans, you know, we get so stuck in this nine to five grind, you know,

00:41:48.764 --> 00:41:56.044
and a lot of people out there think that money brings happiness and stuff like

00:41:56.044 --> 00:41:57.964
that. No, money brings comfort.

00:41:58.364 --> 00:42:05.384
It allows you to buy things that you gain temporary happiness from and enjoyment and stuff like that.

00:42:05.484 --> 00:42:12.064
But what I like to tell people is never be afraid. I don't care how old you

00:42:12.064 --> 00:42:13.744
are. You're never too old to start over.

00:42:13.904 --> 00:42:16.824
You're never too old to go experience something new.

00:42:17.464 --> 00:42:22.404
You're never too old to just go travel or start that new job and,

00:42:22.404 --> 00:42:26.864
you know, just experience something, change it up, change up your life,

00:42:27.004 --> 00:42:30.304
you know, because we're only here for a very short amount of time.

00:42:30.444 --> 00:42:33.404
If you think about it, I mean, logically we're not here long,

00:42:33.404 --> 00:42:38.804
you know, I'm not out here trying to make waves and stuff like that.

00:42:39.304 --> 00:42:43.564
I'm out here trying to do what I love. And it took me, it took me a very long

00:42:43.564 --> 00:42:48.544
time to figure out that this is what I love. You know, I never expected to be

00:42:48.544 --> 00:42:50.244
working on cars for a living.

00:42:50.404 --> 00:42:54.264
I really didn't. But, you know, I went from working in a factory,

00:42:54.384 --> 00:42:58.164
I started working in a factory when I was 17, 18 years old.

00:42:58.404 --> 00:43:01.864
And then I left there and went to another factory that paid me more.

00:43:01.984 --> 00:43:05.284
And then I left there and went to another one and then another one and then another one.

00:43:05.384 --> 00:43:10.504
And then I spent six years absolutely miserable working at, you know,

00:43:10.624 --> 00:43:13.024
VW here in Chattanooga. Not because of the job.

00:43:13.204 --> 00:43:15.624
It's just because I wasn't happy where I was at. you know.

00:43:16.869 --> 00:43:23.249
I had bought a house at the time and, you know, I had nice stuff and I realized

00:43:23.249 --> 00:43:25.509
that none of that actually truly made me happy.

00:43:25.669 --> 00:43:28.069
What made me happy was getting behind the wheel of my bus.

00:43:28.249 --> 00:43:33.629
And that gave me the opportunity to find the things in life that I truly did enjoy doing.

00:43:33.869 --> 00:43:37.749
And a lot of us, we don't get to experience that because, you know,

00:43:38.129 --> 00:43:40.369
we're all from from birth.

00:43:40.529 --> 00:43:43.609
We're pretty much told, hey, keep up the Joneses. You got to pay your bills,

00:43:43.889 --> 00:43:46.669
have kids, you got to get married, stuff like that. And, you know,

00:43:47.089 --> 00:43:49.629
I've always tried to seek discomfort, if that makes sense.

00:43:49.849 --> 00:43:55.329
Yeah. You know, because I'm a sales instructor and I teach technicians how to

00:43:55.329 --> 00:43:58.949
produce, you know, results in in-home trades.

00:43:59.349 --> 00:44:04.889
And we talk a lot about exactly what you just said in my sales class I teach in Texas.

00:44:05.309 --> 00:44:10.069
And that is people naturally move towards comfort or they move away from pain.

00:44:10.149 --> 00:44:14.149
And that's science. And that's not something that we have really any control over.

00:44:14.649 --> 00:44:18.789
But the best sales guys are comfortable moving towards pain.

00:44:19.329 --> 00:44:21.409
Yep. Yeah. So it's kind of in

00:44:21.409 --> 00:44:24.729
line with what you're saying. You have to be willing to be uncomfortable.

00:44:25.209 --> 00:44:30.789
You have to, because the thing is, is that to anybody that's stuck in,

00:44:30.869 --> 00:44:35.149
in their life or, you know, the life that they wish that they had.

00:44:35.149 --> 00:44:38.229
I mean, my question is what's stopping you?

00:44:38.289 --> 00:44:42.089
I mean, really, you know, because whatever comes out of your mouth is an excuse.

00:44:42.089 --> 00:44:46.909
So what's the future for your shop right now or even your story?

00:44:47.069 --> 00:44:50.329
I know you got a road trip planned and you're going to be taking some time for

00:44:50.329 --> 00:44:53.069
that, but what's the future for the shop right now?

00:44:54.408 --> 00:44:59.668
I don't know. Just try and get some of this stuff knocked out that's in the air.

00:44:59.928 --> 00:45:04.148
You know, that's that's pretty much it. You know, I just like working on these things.

00:45:04.308 --> 00:45:07.748
I mean, at some point I'd like to grow to a larger shop because it's only been

00:45:07.748 --> 00:45:09.608
a couple of months and I've already outgrown this one.

00:45:10.108 --> 00:45:16.848
You know, I've only had my physical shop in this location since realistically the middle of April.

00:45:17.128 --> 00:45:20.328
And I've not had an empty bay since. you

00:45:20.328 --> 00:45:22.988
know I saw that I was I was fortunate enough to

00:45:22.988 --> 00:45:25.908
have you flip the camera around that was pretty cool to to look

00:45:25.908 --> 00:45:28.788
around there it's obvious that you miss the road you know

00:45:28.788 --> 00:45:32.848
just I can tell and just kind of hearing you but it's also you know you kind

00:45:32.848 --> 00:45:37.888
of get that passion of what you get to you're you're doing what you love and

00:45:37.888 --> 00:45:43.248
you're loving what you do so I'm sure it kind of almost fills a void of the

00:45:43.248 --> 00:45:47.428
same way yeah that road tripping does being able to wrench on these cars.

00:45:47.708 --> 00:45:51.488
So, you know, that's kind of cool, you know, from, I guess, from my perspective,

00:45:51.728 --> 00:45:55.928
where can folks find you if they want to get in contact with you?

00:45:56.648 --> 00:45:59.848
Do you have an Instagram or a Facebook for your shop?

00:46:00.628 --> 00:46:03.968
I do. And it's, it's the bus stop. It's on Facebook.

00:46:04.208 --> 00:46:06.368
I don't even think I'm on Google yet. If I'm being honest with you,

00:46:06.568 --> 00:46:08.928
I really don't advertise much.

00:46:09.068 --> 00:46:15.048
I don't, I'm not big into, you know, social media and stuff. I've got my accounts.

00:46:15.188 --> 00:46:18.648
I used to be when When I was on the road, I'd post pictures every 10 minutes

00:46:18.648 --> 00:46:20.108
of where I was at and what I was seeing.

00:46:20.288 --> 00:46:23.448
And, you know, when I first started doing this over here, I kind of started,

00:46:23.728 --> 00:46:25.748
you know, I was posting a bunch of pictures and stuff like that.

00:46:25.828 --> 00:46:27.228
And then it just got, I was like, nah, whatever.

00:46:27.368 --> 00:46:30.768
I'll just post when I can, you know, when I remember to take pictures and stuff.

00:46:30.968 --> 00:46:34.828
Right. I mean, there's, I've had just a multitude of cars come in and out in

00:46:34.828 --> 00:46:38.028
the past couple of weeks and I haven't even posted the pictures on Facebook yet.

00:46:38.188 --> 00:46:41.748
So, you know, it's just because I just stay, I just stay kind of,

00:46:41.988 --> 00:46:46.168
you know, in my lane here. and occasionally I'll post a picture or two.

00:46:46.708 --> 00:46:48.908
I'm trying, I'm trying to get back to doing it, but.

00:46:50.213 --> 00:46:53.693
No, other than that, I mean, on my little business Facebook page,

00:46:53.793 --> 00:46:57.453
The Bus Stop, you can, I answer back pretty quickly, you know,

00:46:57.513 --> 00:47:02.133
or at least I try unless my hands are covered in grease, but, you know, that's it.

00:47:02.753 --> 00:47:09.133
Chattanooga area. Y'all, if you need a VW mechanic, look him up. The Bus Stop.

00:47:09.393 --> 00:47:11.733
All right, next questions are rapid fire.

00:47:11.993 --> 00:47:14.593
So for me, rapid fire is fast answers.

00:47:14.913 --> 00:47:20.533
Whatever comes straight to the head. Let's dive in. if it brings a story out,

00:47:20.713 --> 00:47:23.993
cool, but it doesn't have to, right? Yeah, I'll try not to.

00:47:25.293 --> 00:47:30.593
All right. In your travels, over time, what's one of the weirdest things that

00:47:30.593 --> 00:47:32.913
you've ever eaten on the road?

00:47:33.113 --> 00:47:36.993
Dude, I had a vegan taco one time. I was not a fan. I'm sorry.

00:47:37.993 --> 00:47:41.093
That's probably the weirdest it got. Okay, that's all right.

00:47:41.213 --> 00:47:45.833
That's fine. For some, that's normal. For others, it's weird.

00:47:46.433 --> 00:47:51.953
Let's talk about a dream build Unlimited budget Favorite VW out there What are you building?

00:47:52.913 --> 00:47:55.633
High top High top bus man High top

00:47:55.633 --> 00:47:58.253
bus Just a high top High top late day With a I want a

00:47:58.253 --> 00:48:02.333
single wheel trailer behind it Just a stock 2 liter Hydraulic lifters That's

00:48:02.333 --> 00:48:06.733
it Okay That's my dream build But obviously decked out on the inside For a very

00:48:06.733 --> 00:48:10.633
long time Long term camping and stuff like that That's it though And that's

00:48:10.633 --> 00:48:14.753
so you can stand up To put your pants on in the morning Exactly Yes sir I'm

00:48:14.753 --> 00:48:16.613
a quick learner brother I can have a guess,

00:48:17.393 --> 00:48:20.393
That's right Best state to break

00:48:20.393 --> 00:48:25.413
down in Best state Oh man I gotta be honest with you man It's either no joke

00:48:25.413 --> 00:48:28.353
It's either Arizona or California Because I'll tell you what Everybody's got

00:48:28.353 --> 00:48:31.953
a VW in their garage And there's a ton of them out there You break down Somebody's

00:48:31.953 --> 00:48:37.773
gonna stop They're nice How about the worst state to break down Probably Texas Nobody gives a shit.

00:48:39.653 --> 00:48:42.333
What's the most overrated VW of all time?

00:48:42.573 --> 00:48:50.213
Overrated oh god this is so loaded man i don't i i don't i'm i don't i'll work

00:48:50.213 --> 00:48:51.373
on them don't get me wrong,

00:48:51.873 --> 00:48:55.313
i would never have a rail boogie a rail i

00:48:55.313 --> 00:48:58.133
would never have a rail like they're cool i would never have

00:48:58.133 --> 00:49:01.533
one that's all right that's all right most

00:49:01.533 --> 00:49:04.333
slept on tool that you use in the

00:49:04.333 --> 00:49:08.053
garage i like my mallets mallet can

00:49:08.053 --> 00:49:11.813
uh definitely persuade a lot of things the little rubber one you're not gonna

00:49:11.813 --> 00:49:15.033
hurt anything with a rubber mallet and you know that's my that's called my that's

00:49:15.033 --> 00:49:19.493
my little my little persuader that's a good that's funny man a rubber mallet

00:49:19.493 --> 00:49:23.993
you know they can plate anything that's awesome coldest night coldest night

00:49:23.993 --> 00:49:26.033
that you ever spent your bus coldest night,

00:49:26.653 --> 00:49:30.873
oh god almighty i was in flagstaff in the middle of january or in the middle

00:49:30.873 --> 00:49:34.373
of december on my way to buses by the bridge and my heater decided to go out

00:49:34.373 --> 00:49:41.473
like a week before and it dropped down to I think it was like negative 10.

00:49:42.113 --> 00:49:46.673
No heater. I was about to die. So we had about, I swear to God,

00:49:46.693 --> 00:49:47.673
it was like 40 blankets, dude.

00:49:48.431 --> 00:49:51.691
Absolutely. No, seriously. That's crazy.

00:49:51.991 --> 00:49:57.651
So I lived in Colorado for a long time, but only one year did we really ever

00:49:57.651 --> 00:49:59.391
have negative temps like that.

00:49:59.491 --> 00:50:07.871
I want to say it was around October, November-ish of 2011 or 12.

00:50:07.871 --> 00:50:12.871
And we, we had like three or four days that, that we had gone through that was

00:50:12.871 --> 00:50:18.491
like, you know, negative 10 plus negative 15, even negative 18 ish.

00:50:18.671 --> 00:50:22.071
It was so bad. Like people, you know, they're, they're, they were losing their

00:50:22.071 --> 00:50:25.371
little flocks and herds of, you know, animals.

00:50:25.711 --> 00:50:30.891
And we had, we had goats on our property at that time. And four of the five

00:50:30.891 --> 00:50:37.351
goats that we had all died from this crazy-ass, freezing, crazy storm that had come through.

00:50:37.611 --> 00:50:41.491
But that year was rough for buses by the bridge. Was it?

00:50:41.951 --> 00:50:45.371
Yeah, because, I mean, there was a blizzard in Flagstaff on the way there,

00:50:45.411 --> 00:50:48.071
which is where the cold came from, and then there was a blizzard that hit on

00:50:48.071 --> 00:50:51.491
the way back. So a lot of people left that year on, like, Friday.

00:50:51.751 --> 00:50:54.811
The show started on Thursday. A lot of people left on Friday that had to go

00:50:54.811 --> 00:50:58.611
back east so that they could make it through Flagstaff before the blizzard came.

00:50:58.731 --> 00:51:02.811
And I think the only reason we stayed warm enough that we didn't die was because

00:51:02.811 --> 00:51:06.511
the blizzard came and it covered my bus in snow. And I think that's the only reason.

00:51:06.671 --> 00:51:11.791
I literally lifted the little access hatch in the back of the bus and that kept

00:51:11.791 --> 00:51:12.691
it warm for a little while.

00:51:12.811 --> 00:51:15.471
And we had a little buddy heater, but that barely did anything.

00:51:16.251 --> 00:51:19.211
Dude, what I was going to say though, was it was negative 10.

00:51:19.411 --> 00:51:23.331
And I remember going out and having to do something with my fingers.

00:51:24.131 --> 00:51:28.231
Oh God, I had a, I had a Jeep back then. And I remember doing, I had to do something.

00:51:28.351 --> 00:51:33.331
I think I was, I don't know, checking my air or something, pressure or something.

00:51:33.331 --> 00:51:36.571
I had to do something and use my fingers. And I remember negative 10.

00:51:36.911 --> 00:51:41.891
I remember taking my glove off and, and, you know, to have access to my fingers.

00:51:42.071 --> 00:51:46.131
And I remember touching something. And then within 30 seconds,

00:51:46.271 --> 00:51:47.531
like my fingers didn't work.

00:51:47.991 --> 00:51:52.091
And I was like, oh my goodness. Like, is this what it's like to be in,

00:51:52.231 --> 00:51:54.571
you know, temperatures this cold?

00:51:54.711 --> 00:51:58.091
Like it's very unforgiving, bro. Very.

00:51:58.571 --> 00:52:03.771
Oh yeah. Oh, it's, it's crazy. I mean, I've experienced cold like that a lot,

00:52:03.911 --> 00:52:05.311
you know, when I lived in Alaska and,

00:52:06.184 --> 00:52:09.784
I mean, I can't really say you get used to it because you don't get used to

00:52:09.784 --> 00:52:11.984
that cold, but I mean, you really do get acclimated.

00:52:12.124 --> 00:52:16.284
I mean, living in Alaska was pretty, that first year, like it was summer and

00:52:16.284 --> 00:52:19.724
I was wearing like triple layer out in Bristol Bay.

00:52:19.844 --> 00:52:23.184
I mean, it was like 50 something, 40, 50 degrees in the day during,

00:52:23.424 --> 00:52:28.384
well, I mean, it's all day, but 50 degrees. I learned that too. I've been out there.

00:52:28.704 --> 00:52:32.744
My wife's family lives out there. They do the travel nursing.

00:52:33.424 --> 00:52:37.604
Oh, that's such a good profession for that. Yeah, for sure. And they live out

00:52:37.604 --> 00:52:40.604
near Anchorage and we went out in the height of COVID.

00:52:40.924 --> 00:52:44.684
I mean, height of COVID. Plane tickets were $200.

00:52:46.184 --> 00:52:50.184
Yep. And we were like, all right, yeah, I'm taking all six. There's nobody sitting

00:52:50.184 --> 00:52:53.404
next to you. I'm taking all six of you, my whole family.

00:52:53.564 --> 00:52:57.444
So we went, we stayed 14 days because it was an opportunity.

00:52:57.944 --> 00:53:00.924
And yeah, what a great one it was. We loved Alaska in the summer.

00:53:01.324 --> 00:53:02.584
We missed the salmon rush.

00:53:03.784 --> 00:53:07.924
Alaska's so good. It really is, man. It's probably one of the prettiest places

00:53:07.924 --> 00:53:10.384
I've ever been in my entire life, for sure.

00:53:10.544 --> 00:53:12.584
That is, it is the, I mean, seriously,

00:53:12.624 --> 00:53:16.704
it's the most beautiful state I've ever had the honor to live in.

00:53:17.064 --> 00:53:21.524
I love it. I miss Alaska every single day, man. I really do,

00:53:21.664 --> 00:53:24.964
but I just can't go, I don't want to go work back in the fishing industry again.

00:53:25.284 --> 00:53:27.984
That's hard. That is very hard. I'm still paying for it, and I haven't done

00:53:27.984 --> 00:53:29.404
it in like over two years.

00:53:29.804 --> 00:53:32.064
Damn, dude. So you did that too?

00:53:32.744 --> 00:53:35.904
Yeah, that's what I did. That's some positive work out there, brother.

00:53:36.224 --> 00:53:39.324
Yeah. Well, when you're traveling, that's the... Dude, that's like no joke.

00:53:39.564 --> 00:53:43.364
A lot of people just don't realize that that's an opportunity for you.

00:53:43.484 --> 00:53:46.564
When you're traveling, they pay for you to go out there.

00:53:46.684 --> 00:53:49.644
They put you in a house. They feed you. So all you do is work,

00:53:49.744 --> 00:53:51.024
make money. You're spending nothing.

00:53:51.684 --> 00:53:54.064
But it's... So then you come back. Crazy risky.

00:53:54.884 --> 00:54:00.804
And it's crazy, you know. Well, at least that's what it looks like on... Oh, it is, but...

00:54:01.809 --> 00:54:05.009
Well, you know, I did both. I worked on a boat for two seasons,

00:54:05.009 --> 00:54:10.849
and then I went on... Is it really like it is on Deadliest Catch?

00:54:11.909 --> 00:54:17.989
Yes. Yeah, I mean, it's pretty shitty. It's pretty bad.

00:54:19.989 --> 00:54:24.049
If you weren't into VWs in your life right now, what would you be doing?

00:54:25.349 --> 00:54:29.489
Probably back in Alaska. Fishing? Yeah.

00:54:29.489 --> 00:54:33.289
Going back to Alaska Working in the industry You know Whether it's a plan Or

00:54:33.289 --> 00:54:36.549
on the docks Or whatever I mean really The industry It's,

00:54:37.629 --> 00:54:43.789
It's The opportunity For adventure And you get paid for it Yeah So That's nice

00:54:43.789 --> 00:54:49.489
That's what I love I love Love Love Alaska man I love it I love it I'm gonna

00:54:49.489 --> 00:54:54.949
give you A tough one I think you can do it though Give me Describe your life

00:54:54.949 --> 00:54:57.589
In just three words Just three words,

00:54:58.169 --> 00:55:00.849
Never give up Never give up.

00:55:01.069 --> 00:55:03.909
My man had it ready to go. I like that.

00:55:04.489 --> 00:55:07.769
Never give up. I don't even have any notes right now. That's just the first

00:55:07.769 --> 00:55:08.589
thing that came to my mind.

00:55:08.689 --> 00:55:15.449
Yeah, because, I mean, like you said earlier, I don't let much stop me from

00:55:15.449 --> 00:55:21.089
doing what I want to do or what I feel like I need to do or anything like that. I just don't, you know.

00:55:21.649 --> 00:55:24.629
I mean, this shop, my shop could close down next month.

00:55:24.749 --> 00:55:27.949
And, I mean, yeah, I'd be upset, but I'd just go move on to something else.

00:55:27.949 --> 00:55:35.769
I never stop I just don't Final piece of advice That you would give To the VW community As a whole.

00:55:38.189 --> 00:55:43.429
Man Just keep them running Keep them running Keep them running Save them all

00:55:43.429 --> 00:55:49.329
And drive them And drive them Dude drive them man Drive them Drive them A lot

00:55:49.329 --> 00:55:53.549
of people They just leave them In the garage to sit I mean you gotta think This

00:55:53.549 --> 00:55:57.269
is a time capsule I mean it really is These are all time capsules,

00:55:57.949 --> 00:56:03.989
Get out and show the world that this 50-year-old car can still hammer down the road.

00:56:04.709 --> 00:56:08.409
Enjoy it. They're meant to be enjoyed. They're meant to be driven.

00:56:10.089 --> 00:56:15.889
They're doing nobody any good sitting. And that's a wrap for this episode of Dub Life Diaries.

00:56:16.149 --> 00:56:19.929
Thanks for riding along with us and diving into these incredible stories of

00:56:19.929 --> 00:56:23.809
the people in the dubs that drive their dreams. If you loved today's episode,

00:56:24.049 --> 00:56:28.129
don't forget to subscribe or hit that follow button so you never miss an adventure.

00:56:28.549 --> 00:56:33.069
Do you have a story to tell or know somebody else who's living the dove life? Awesome.

00:56:33.509 --> 00:56:38.429
Reach out to us. You can find us on all socials at Dove Life Diaries or shoot

00:56:38.429 --> 00:56:40.189
me an email. I'm not hard to find.

00:56:40.489 --> 00:56:45.969
Dove Life Diaries at gmail.com. Until next time, keep the engines humming and

00:56:45.969 --> 00:56:49.369
the wheels turning and always follow the road that inspires you.

00:56:49.369 --> 00:56:51.809
This is Joe Person, I'm signing off.

00:56:52.720 --> 00:57:50.486
Music.