#42623 Hardy, AR

Hello fair humans to the continuation. I didn’t realize how much time has passed since I last wrote here. Big pat on the back for me for keeping up…. So more in sympathy than congratulatory.

We did go to the dunes! We had a lovely hike about better captured in pictures

I also made a tikitoki about it. Find link: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRTno4WN/

I did get some pressure to move more quickly through MS to AR from my friends Dizzi and Marissa. It was a lovely visit though. The kids got to hang out and play and build some fairy houses. Galixy helped with the chickens and Atreyu played with R, who is about his age. I also got to hang out a little with Kali and Brandi. It was really nice and could’ve gone longer if it hadn’t gotten so late.

I could’ve stayed there longer, but with the hustle coming up I just felt like I needed to go keep exploring and make the mechanical work happen on Matilda…..

We lost the Lemur tail at a playground and all of us were sad about it. I found a restaurant serving German cuisine in Little Rock, so we made a point of stopping there. It was very nice though I found the flavors more bavarian on the hungarian side than the alps or cities would serve. The mayo and ketchup for the fries were spot on. All in all a satisfactory experience of letting the kids sample things.

We trundled up to here, where Brittany and Andy moved to a few months ago. We’re in a good spot with Andy being a solid mechanical hand, so I got on the fun of ordering parts and things. I got a new left pump and returned the old one as defective. I bought a booster that ended up being the wrong bolt pattern, so the right one should be coming in today…… I also ordered a fly wheel, which turns out is a flex plate in diesels, which… if you know stuff about this stuff, you’ll know it’s a part in the transmission… if you know anything about our mechanical journey and the part I replace the most….

That transmission. It’s an E4OD, and I can’t recommend a transmission less. We’ve had Matilda for over 7 years and replaced the transmission thrice now! When I saw that flex plate in the store, the sheer size made the realization hit of where it was meant to go and I almost cried. I’m so silly for expecting it to be a small and easy piece to pop behind the starter. I brought it back up anyway and Andy was like “What do you mean we’re not dropping the transmission? Not today?” and I’m crying because Imma squish myself trying to do this and I don’t want to even screw in that department because why is part of this transmission already failing????

And then today trying to reattach the lift pump with that nonsense flare nut on the fuel line, the front bolt got cross threaded and ruined the hole threads. gaaaaaaah!

Found under the battery crumpled in a hole.

Every little thing that could go wrong seems to be planting me in this spot for this moment. I’m not complaining……. much. Brittany and Andy are a solid visit with nice kids two of which being close enough to me kiddos. And their new property is beautiful on the hill off a janky dirt road (not having a brake booster has been super fun, but especially on these little mountain roads (East coast mountains, smaller curvier muchier up and downs) but this spot has a nice flowing creek and spring too

So on that level I’m putting intense feelers out for a new bus. Something a bit bigger. Like 6-8 windows apparently max of 30 feet. Diesel engine is required. I’d mucho prefer a manual transmission, engine mechanically sound with low mileage. Also, prefer, the less converted the better, though I wouldn’t mind seats already being out and maybe some more demo or even start of a buil (no must, just thoughts) Definitely need a high clearance that’s low (er) like a neato 10ft max to plop the bug over. I’ve asked Andy if he’d help with the transplant and, though, not like “fluff yes! fun project!” Also not “This will suck.” And he’d take a gutted and trimmed matilda shell for the property….. So if things align, it could align smoothly. We’re still planning on putting the brake booster back on and hopefully the lift pump…. But with it being a 7.3l engine it could be worth anywhere from $550-$13,000 and that would help towards the new bus I’m just going to muse it as Tamilda for now….. It makes me feel trepedation and anticipation. All in all a FLUUUUUUUUFFFFF am I doing??

Save us….. lolol

Jk! It’s the adventure and it will work out……. but I could surely use some help!

On that note, I must reitterate that we do run mainly on your kind donations and I greatly appreciate your contributions. Every little bit helps and gets us to explore just a little more of this exciting world. I accept donations via CashApp: $MatildaBugus and paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/matildabugus

If you’d like to peek at our Amazon wishlist follow the link below. We really appreciate those special wants/wishes/deferred needs finding their way to us possibly via your help! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3LUAOP5L0M5FY?ref_=wl_share

We now have merchandise ready for you to order! Represent and support at the same time! We love these shirts and we love you! Check it out!
https://matildabugus.bigcartel.com

CashApp: $Matilda.Bugus
Venmo: available upon request.

Feel more than free to Contact me. You can establish such via the Contact Me page here on the blog, OOOOOOOORRR! get on your facebooks and join the group “Spotting Bugus” or like the Matilda Bugus Page. Also availble on Instagram, Youtube, and the TikToks.

But like…. also if found bus somewhere that’s clicking all the ticks, or you have a bus….?! I’m just trying to figure it out…

Oh there’s some pretty projects here on this property. Like building a cob oven and clearing the trails to the spring and river…. I don’t want all of my time here to be taken Up with Matilda malfunctions or a whole home move…. though using pieces of Matilda to build Tamilda seems very fitting, and repurposified.