Nick purchases his bus on Burnet Road in Austin, Texas. If you've never been on Burnet Road, let's just say it's shopper's paradise from pawn shops, to second-hand stores, to used car lots. Shoppers of the world unite! Final price $3999.57

After the final payment, the Bonnie Lass is ready for her first ride across town.

We start to get excited about the big bus project. We start sketching ideas for lighting, the bed, and the dining room while eating out one night. Exactly which is which on this original drawing, I just couldn't tell you right now!

Nick's friend Mickey (L) has graciously offered to let Nick (R) work on the bus at his place. Mickey lives in East Austin and apparently has nicer neighbors than we do! Mickey is also somewhat of a fabulous craftsman himself and helps with the original ideating.

We were glad the bus was in such good shape. The ceiling paint is literally in perfect condition as are the bus seats. We know the first step is to take the seats out, and after research on the web, we learned you have to unbolt them from underneath no easy task!

Before setting out to remove the seats, Nick decides to work on the floorplan. So, here is part of Drawing #2 on patched together pieces of graph paper. Note he's already decided to put the bed towards the back of the bus, with the toilet across from the closet and kitchen.

Seat removal turned out to be harder than anticipated! It took 2 guys the better part of a day to get the seats out. The bolts were resistive and cranky. Nick gave some of the seats to a fellow with a pick-up who took them down to Mexico for his family.