Post by toomanyprojects on Jun 6, 2023 14:41:52 GMT
Another unplanned minor distraction from the mentioned elsewhere planned patio distraction, came in the form of the bus last week. On a positive front it does mean that the project has now entered phase II...
I'd previously contacted a well-known and reputable vehicle transport company mid-April for a quote to ship it cross-country from Shropshire to Cambridgeshire. The quote they came back with was agreed and supposedly booked in. Several weeks passed and despite repeated chasing I was getting nothing back. In the interim MPR were quite rightly chasing me as it was in their way in the workshop and they were concerned it may be accidentally damaged with other work going on.
After a few more weeks of emails and calls and getting nowhere, there was nothing else for it other than for me to hitch up the trailer and go get it myself to get it off the 'stress' list.
So last Wednesday after three days solid work on the patio laying, I set the alarm for 5.30 and went for a little drive (yes I did hurt - much coffee was consumed!).
Three and a bit hours later I was met with the sight of what I'd come to get
Given what I'd dropped them off - have a little reminder below
it is quite the transformation. I can't honestly thank them enough for helping out on what was a stalled and frankly frustrating project that's been going on far too long. Communication and updates all the way through have been spot on.
Their last act was to help me load what was now a considerably heavier shell onto the trailer - not easy when the dolly frame is narrower than my ramps. After a bit of head scratching and some careful positioning of things we soon managed it.
The slight issue the loading games caused was knocking out my timing... part of the reason for the early start was that my drop off venue closed at 3pm as they work a 7-3 day. I now had only a 25 min cushion from my new ETA and 3pm. As it was also rail strike day and the M6 around Birmingham had already bitten me once I knew I needed to get a shift on!
As predicted, Wolverhampton and the M6 did their best to disrupt things once more, however the A14/A11 were clear and I had a good run asides the usual issue of lorries overtaking lorries on hills - I measured one particularly feeble attempt and it went on for nearly 4 miles. Still I made it... just. Pulled up with just over five minutes to spare
The guys were great at helping me unload and the bus was soon tucked away in its new home for the next few weeks.
Time for an assessment of where we are overall, but some new parts have already been acquired including engine, gearbox, suspension and brake upgrades. There are a few other minor things still to source, but with a fair wind things should now move relatively swiftly.
More updates as and when they happen.
I'd previously contacted a well-known and reputable vehicle transport company mid-April for a quote to ship it cross-country from Shropshire to Cambridgeshire. The quote they came back with was agreed and supposedly booked in. Several weeks passed and despite repeated chasing I was getting nothing back. In the interim MPR were quite rightly chasing me as it was in their way in the workshop and they were concerned it may be accidentally damaged with other work going on.
After a few more weeks of emails and calls and getting nowhere, there was nothing else for it other than for me to hitch up the trailer and go get it myself to get it off the 'stress' list.
So last Wednesday after three days solid work on the patio laying, I set the alarm for 5.30 and went for a little drive (yes I did hurt - much coffee was consumed!).
Three and a bit hours later I was met with the sight of what I'd come to get
Given what I'd dropped them off - have a little reminder below
it is quite the transformation. I can't honestly thank them enough for helping out on what was a stalled and frankly frustrating project that's been going on far too long. Communication and updates all the way through have been spot on.
Their last act was to help me load what was now a considerably heavier shell onto the trailer - not easy when the dolly frame is narrower than my ramps. After a bit of head scratching and some careful positioning of things we soon managed it.
The slight issue the loading games caused was knocking out my timing... part of the reason for the early start was that my drop off venue closed at 3pm as they work a 7-3 day. I now had only a 25 min cushion from my new ETA and 3pm. As it was also rail strike day and the M6 around Birmingham had already bitten me once I knew I needed to get a shift on!
As predicted, Wolverhampton and the M6 did their best to disrupt things once more, however the A14/A11 were clear and I had a good run asides the usual issue of lorries overtaking lorries on hills - I measured one particularly feeble attempt and it went on for nearly 4 miles. Still I made it... just. Pulled up with just over five minutes to spare
The guys were great at helping me unload and the bus was soon tucked away in its new home for the next few weeks.
Time for an assessment of where we are overall, but some new parts have already been acquired including engine, gearbox, suspension and brake upgrades. There are a few other minor things still to source, but with a fair wind things should now move relatively swiftly.
More updates as and when they happen.
