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The Early Plans and Research
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The idea of finding a double decker bus came about a few months ago. My stepfather Jim Howard had sent me a link about the Mongol Rally as I had previously mentioned my desire to drive to somewhere stupid. Banjul, Timbuktu and Khartoum had been mentioned before.
I spoke to Steve Parker about the idea at his birthday BBQ. Whilst we were both drunk, he agreed to come along, although he couldn't make the dates for the official rally. Both of us were to find a car and travelling chums and do it independantly. Reliant Robins were suggested.
A week or so later in The Dorothy, Steve asked me if he had agreed to do something stupid whilst drunk last week, so I reminded him. He looked dubious. It occurred to me then as he mentioned some large people that he wanted to take that they would never fit in a Robin. I put an alternative to him. How about acquiring a double decker bus ? It appealed a bit more to both of us.
So, on to the reality. Where on Earth do you find a double decker bus ?, Can I drive it ?, How much will it cost ?, Can I export it ? There are a million questions, but the main one has to be can I get a bus?
Enquiries with First National at first appeared promising. The director suggested writing a letter after a friendly conversation on the phone. I felt positive, it looked like he would come up trumps. I sent off a letter outlining the trip to him and waited.
During the wait, I found out that Ian Tibbles was already raising money. He's got £150 already without really trying. This put the pressure on, now I needed a bus.
Several others expressed an interest when I mentioned the trip. Jim, my mother Lucy (that suprised me), my brother Adam (can he raise the money?). Steve Priddy, a travelling friend and accountant we found in Venezuela who recently came to Borneo with us. Neil Pinney, a school chum who came to Ethiopia with me a few years ago and said he wanted another big adventure before settling in to middle age. Ricky Flatt an ex-copper and vastly experienced traveller, amongst others.
The letter to First National came to nothing. A months wait and I phoned them. They aren't disposing of any buses before April 2008. Why couldn't they tell me that a month ago ?
Yesterday I took a trip out to Sureline Buses on Portland. There in the yard was a blue P reg (P at the end, not the beginning) double decker advertising Monkey World at Wool in Dorset. A bit tatty looking, but certainly the right end of the market. I enquired and found it had been there a while. Sureline had sold it to someone who seemed reluctant to collect it in a 2 for 1 sort of deal. They gave me his details.
That evening I made the phone call. He quoted me £2000. The bus is 33 years old, has a removeable roof (hoorah !) and hasn't moved for about 2 years. It seems a bit pricey. I told him I would need to check it over and see what cash I could raise and I would get back to him.
Later that evening I updated Steve Parker. Soon after he phoned back saying he could give me £500 up front and more to follow. He was determined to raise lots more than the £500 minimum I was setting everyone and had I thought of going to Romania instead.... Having informed him that Romania was sort of on the way, he told me his new girlfriend Kelly wanted to come too.
So, now the real work begins. Visa information, insurance quotes, etc. DVLA confirm that I can drive the bus on my driving licence, as long as it has 16 seats or less (we'll take most of them out and put a bar in, maybe a putting green and beer terrace on the top deck.) and it weighs under 7.5 tonnes (how much does a double decker weigh ?).
For your information a Routemaster double decker bus weighs 7 tonnes. Hopefully ours is similar, less the weight of the roof, less the weight of 60 seats. I think we are ok. My wife Jo thinks I'm becoming a bit of a bus anorak at the moment, digging up facts and figures about Routemasters and dimensions of Leyland Olympians. I've even got a magazine called RouteOne for bus operators. She has drew the line when I wanted to wear a bus conductors hat in bed last night though.
Next task is to take a mechanic up to look at this beast and find somewhere to store it should we buy it. I think I'll have a word with the boss at work....
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