Virginia Tiny House Festival

[dan-fox]

I attended this yesterday with my wife and daughter. Nice thing to do on Father's Day. Tiny houses are not really my thing, but every once in a while you run across some design detail you can steal.

The big take home is that there were a half dozen or so skoolies in attendance, and by the end of the day both my wife and daughter were completely on board with the idea! That in itself was worth the 90 minutes each way. After having seen what you can fit into a bus, my wife said "You know, I see what you mean. I could feature living in one of these for 3-4 months." Yay! Major hurdle overcome.

Also, there was a 40 foot conventional there named NavigationToNowhere or words to that effect. It had been painted flat Navy gray; looked like a destroyer or something. The artwork on the paint job consisted of letting your friends go wild with Sharpies. This bus looked grunge/hippie, and the owner claims that he's never been denied camping in any national park and that he's been to a dozen or more. Maybe he's blowing smoke; maybe the whole national park thing is not too big a deal.

[Rivetboy]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

I attended this yesterday with my wife and daughter. Nice thing to do on Father's Day. Tiny houses are not really my thing, but every once in a while you run across some design detail you can steal.

The big take home is that there were a half dozen or so skoolies in attendance, and by the end of the day both my wife and daughter were completely on board with the idea! That in itself was worth the 90 minutes each way. After having seen what you can fit into a bus, my wife said "You know, I see what you mean. I could feature living in one of these for 3-4 months." Yay! Major hurdle overcome.

Also, there was a 40 foot conventional there named NavigationToNowhere or words to that effect. It had been painted flat Navy gray; looked like a destroyer or something. The artwork on the paint job consisted of letting your friends go wild with Sharpies. This bus looked grunge/hippie, and the owner claims that he's never been denied camping in any national park and that he's been to a dozen or more. Maybe he's blowing smoke; maybe the whole national park thing is not too big a deal.

A National park discriminating against you because they do not like your paint job???

A privately owned park, sure, but a National park?

Color me confused.

[Ronnie]

we went on friday. nice to see other buses. Seems they all used a lot of space for the kitchen, way more then we are planning. Also low ceilings, ours came with the higher ceiling, and sure do like it after being in the others. I can see why those who have the standard ceiling height want a roof raise. Sunday we worked on our bus.

[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by Rivetboy

A National park discriminating against you because they do not like your paint job???

A privately owned park, sure, but a National park?

Color me confused.

The word in the community is that NP rules are 35 foot max (verifiable on their web pages). Many say that they got in no problem over 35 feet by looking "professional"; some say that the rangers size you up by eye and use the 35 foot rule to keep out "hippie buses" when possible. Now we have a hippie/grunge bus saying that isn't even true; they let him in no worries. Just a data point in the conversation.

So, yes, in a word, there have been reports of buses being discriminated against on the basis of their outward appearance. Also reports of overnight parking ordinances being "overly zealously" enforced, etc.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

I attended this yesterday with my wife and daughter. Nice thing to do on Father's Day. Tiny houses are not really my thing, but every once in a while you run across some design detail you can steal.

The big take home is that there were a half dozen or so skoolies in attendance, and by the end of the day both my wife and daughter were completely on board with the idea! That in itself was worth the 90 minutes each way. After having seen what you can fit into a bus, my wife said "You know, I see what you mean. I could feature living in one of these for 3-4 months." Yay! Major hurdle overcome.

Also, there was a 40 foot conventional there named NavigationToNowhere or words to that effect. It had been painted flat Navy gray; looked like a destroyer or something. The artwork on the paint job consisted of letting your friends go wild with Sharpies. This bus looked grunge/hippie, and the owner claims that he's never been denied camping in any national park and that he's been to a dozen or more. Maybe he's blowing smoke; maybe the whole national park thing is not too big a deal.

I told you my loud paint job won't be an issue!

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

I attended this yesterday with my wife and daughter. Nice thing to do on Father's Day. Tiny houses are not really my thing, but every once in a while you run across some design detail you can steal.

The big take home is that there were a half dozen or so skoolies in attendance, and by the end of the day both my wife and daughter were completely on board with the idea! That in itself was worth the 90 minutes each way. After having seen what you can fit into a bus, my wife said "You know, I see what you mean. I could feature living in one of these for 3-4 months." Yay! Major hurdle overcome.

Also, there was a 40 foot conventional there named NavigationToNowhere or words to that effect. It had been painted flat Navy gray; looked like a destroyer or something. The artwork on the paint job consisted of letting your friends go wild with Sharpies. This bus looked grunge/hippie, and the owner claims that he's never been denied camping in any national park and that he's been to a dozen or more. Maybe he's blowing smoke; maybe the whole national park thing is not too big a deal.

Dan, I was there on Saturday, there were only three skoolies there, at least on that day. I think you may be mixing up the very rough looking grey graffiti hippie bus with the NavigationNowhere bus. The NN bus is olive drab with wood trim built and lived on full time by a guy named Mike. My wife and I spent about a half hour sitting on his bus talking with him, nice guy, nice bus.

The only other bus (the 3rd one) there on Saturday was a very professional (too professional?) conversion by another Mike from Lynchburg. It was red and white; wife and I called it the Budweiser bus. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of skoolies there. Sounds like there were more there on Sunday.

[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I told you my loud paint job won't be an issue!

Charlie, this is America. I defend your right to be as loud as you damn well please!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

Charlie, this is America. I defend your right to be as loud as you damn well please!

I love you Dan.

[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I love you Dan.

I don't have any Bud Light. Just sayin'.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

I don't have any Bud Light. Just sayin'.

I don't drink that stuff...

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I don't drink that stuff...

You prefer real beer?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

You prefer real beer?

Absolutely!
Not many mass produced ones that I'll drink.

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Absolutely!
Not many mass produced ones that I'll drink.

Unless they're free...

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by ComfortEagle

Unless they're free...

Not even then!