ALL ABOARD
Winter proofing
W Ali Jones Writer, broadcaster, and housebus adventurer @housebusdylan @dylanthehousebus
e’ve been on the road for about system to spread the log burner heat to the three months now, and it feels like back of the bus where the bedroom is; there’s a new way of living rather than tiling to do, curtains to put up to keep the heat an extended holiday. The minimal living is in, and finally, painting inside to finish. Other fantastic, with very little clutter helped along things like somewhere to put wet clothes and with mindful decision making about what we jackets when coming inside has to be sorted. bring on board and whether we really need it. While Dylan is being prepped for winter, we Most work-related meetings are still done via are staying in Methven and really enjoying it. Zoom, creating interesting feedback when my There are two toilets and a washing machine. background is a line of campervans or the inside Wahoo! But we miss the coming and going of of the gazebo. At one recent video meeting, other campers and motorhomes and caravans someone asked if I was at the Cranmer Square being directed into a site as though a jumbo protest in a tent. The last time I sat in Cranmer jet is being brought to land. “Ok… ok… plenty Square was in the mid-1980s, and I was wearing of room….. STOP!” a Christchurch Girls’ High uniform. We miss giving other campers names like “Mr Our thoughts have turned to being ready for Underpants” (who always wore his jocks when winter with the cooler weather approaching. riding his motorbike around the campground) Rob has put in a new bench. It’s fabulous or “fluffy dog people” (there should be laws and gives us much more space in the narrow about how many fluffy dogs are allowed in a walkway where the kitchen is. It also doubles campervan). We miss waking up to a different as a stand-up desk. Underneath is space to view when we move somewhere else and being put shelves for shoes, the dog bowls, and able to just drive, anywhere. However, the price other things we’ve been tripping over. of fuel will be dictating that a bit more. The gruntier winter-proofing includes Dylan isn’t going in for work until the installing a diesel heater because although the middle of this month, so we’re off to the log burner is wonderful, it does smoke a bit, Pukaki canals near Tekapo for a week or so. creates dust in a small space, and is actually Fishing, biking, sleeping, and more ZOOMING too efficient. We will need a heat transfer with a different background. 62
