Thank You

Our first trip out in Expect Delays was, overall, a success. We can’t say that it was exactly easy, constant smooth sailing, or that it was ever even above 40 degrees for the duration of our travels. And pretty much every minor thing that could have broken did, but, two years ago we bought an old school bus from a junk yard in New Jersey, and then we turned it into a damn fun caravan, and then we even made it all the way up and down the East Coast. And this isn’t the last ride for Expect Delays. We now know what kinks to work out, what we really didn’t need to pack, what we needed more of (waste vegetable oil), and next, we head West!

Many people deserve a huge thank you for the success of our first trip. First of all, thank you parents who, when we said “we bought a school bus,” said only “cool,” and really meant it. And also supplied powertools, scrap wood, extra doors, ceramic dishes drawer pulls etc, food, waste vegetable oil, kitchen gadgets, and encouragement. Thank you friends who helped rip apart and rebuild our tiny home on wheels, in particular Cory and Ian for some serious construction time, and Cameron and Sean for moral support. Thank you Mallory for being the queen of crafts and making amazing curtains. Thank you to the entire Bourbon family who let Expect Delays live in their yard for a whole summer, gave us many fresh vegetables, lots of technical support, and adopted Jaco the cat for the duration of our trip. Jaco thanks you for this last part most of all, and Zoey his kitten pal too. Thank you Emma and the staff at the Children’s Museum of Saratoga for letting me have emergency afternoons off to drive to New Jersey and purchase a bus. Thank you to the Fyfe family at the Candleberry Inn who welcomed the bus when I drove it to work at 7am, much to the horror of several guests. And thank you Fyfe family also for the porta potty that Zach never once cleaned, but I assure you he enjoyed just as much as I did. Only the most special employers would purchase an employee a tiny toilet as a birthday gift. Thank you Haroths of Maryland for lovely hospitality, so so so much great food, and coffee roasting fun. And thank you Neills of Virginia for beautiful accommodations, excellent historic walking tours, and more great food. Thank you Haroths of Saratoga Springs for letting Expect Delays live in your driveway for awhile, and thank you Turners and Spiers of Brewster and Connecticut for cheering us all the way. Thank you Beardsleys, we cannot tell you how much our visit with you meant to us. Thank you loyal blog readers, and Hershey, PA for being every bit of cheesy fun promised on your website. And thank you world, because on this month-long outing, we never ever once saw a snake.

There were many times during this trip when things did not go according to plan. I seem to remember a moment by the side of the highway of hoping, harder than I had hoped for anything before, that the engine would turn over. And when Zach turned the key and the bus roared to life again, I thought both, this morning has sucked more than many things have sucked so far, and, that was one of the most necessary moments of life. Expect Delays was an adventure, still to be continued, and though not everything was perfect, I have to say creating this adventure has made me the person I always really wanted to be (now, if only I can get a “real” job). So, the biggest thank you goes to Zachary Haroth, a wonderful traveling companion who remains, even after so many mental melt-downs, waste-vegetable oil filtering catastrophes, delayed departure dates, grumpy afternoons, and constant taunting about crocs with socks (it will never be fashionable, sorry Zach), my best friend. To you, Z, I owe the most laid back, fun loving parts of my personality. Thank you.

And thank you Expect Delays. You are always a welcomed adventure.