We’ve been living nearly exclusively in the bus for a few weeks now. The temperature outside has steadily dropped while we’ve been out here, and we’ve been persistent in trying to keep ourselves comfortable. Our insulating curtains are not yet complete, and the windows are a great source of heat loss. We took some batting left over from Nishi’s upholstery supplies and covered the windows. Far from perfect, and further from beautiful, it has made a tremendous difference in the temperature inside the bus. The windshield and door, which remain uncovered, can be felt as the massive sources of draft that they are.
I’ve been reading Isaac Asimov’s Foundation lately, please forgive my writing style.
In addition to wood, our wonderful little stove also burns coal, so I made a point of picking up a few bags the other day. We’re still figuring out how to best use this fuel, but it’s incredible. The first night we used it we woke up warm for the first time in days. Sadly, we don’t have the perfect chunks of hardwood necessary for a long burn on wood alone, and our fire usually dies out in the middle of the night. Since our home is less than ideally insulated, most of that heat leaves us before we wake up.
Still no running water, or even a plumbed sink. We can heat water on top of the woodstove, but our cook stove is not attached to propane yet. Our electricity still comes from either an extension cord or a battery bank that is recharged from the mains. But we’re in our own space for the first time in years. I can’t express how happy this is making me. We’re going to make steady progress on finishing our missing utilities over this winter, and we should be ready to move in the spring.
Charlie loves the bus. I’m not sure why in particular, but he’s always taken to it quickly, even on our little road trips. He recently found the warm spot on the bench across from the stove, and will happily lounge there while we go about our business elsewhere in the bus.
As I write this I have a stove half filled with coal and half with wood. I’m continually trying new things to see what works best in here. I’m doubtful (but hopeful) that we’ll wake up to a warm bus, but as long as I keep learning something new, I’m pleased with our progress.