A Reserve couple has spent more than a decade renovating an old Greyhound bus to be a “Home away from home.” For close to a dozen years, Joyce and John Curry have enjoyed extended trips in their home on wheels, especially during the winter months. John said he's always working on something on the bus, so it’s hard to say if it’s even finished," he pointed out with a chuckle.

Publisher’s Note: Here is an example of an older couple converting a bus from the ground up.  This just proves that some people still have the ambition to undertake a large project, such as a bus conversion, even in their 80s. Heck, even older people have to have a hobby.  

Their journey began in 2003, when the couple traveled to Fairbolt, Minnesota, after seeing an ad in a magazine for a used Greyhound bus for sale. John was 78 at the time.

“Converting a bus was always a dream of my husband,” Joyce said.

John, a railroad engineer for 41 years, said he has fond memories of his railroad days, when he would travel to Kansas City on the train and back north by bus. He would sit up front near the driver and talk about railroads, trains, and buses.

One day, he had hoped to own his very own bus and renovate it into a motorhome, so when he saw the for-sale advertisement, he and his wife jumped in the car to make their dreams come true.

ABC Bus Company was selling a 1982 Greyhound MCI-9, and they had no way of knowing the accurate mileage. “It wasn’t even on there, but we knew it had many, many miles,” she said.

“I had never driven a bus before,” John added. “My wife asked me if I thought I could drive it home, and I said, ‘You bet I can.’ You guessed it, we drove off that lot with a 1982 MCI 9.”

John said on the way home that the oil light kept coming on, and the bus wouldn’t go above 40 MPH uphill.

“We got home and I asked myself, “What now, where do I start?” he said.

The bus had 48 seats, all of which John removed. He also took out the onboard restroom.

“He basically just gutted it,” Joyce said. “Then he started building the inside from scratch.”

John, age 89, has been retired from the railroad for 24 years and said he has always enjoyed building and tinkering with things. However, carpentry was a new challenge for him, and he received guidance from a family member. The Currys had started their weekend and holiday traveling with a fifth wheel many moons ago, but got the idea by reading BCM and learning from a few friends who have renovated buses. The retired Greyhound bus offered the perfect opportunity.

John installed a double floor and added insulation to both the floor and the ceiling. At this point, it was ready for the 12V and 110V wiring.

“Then I did a mock-up of the interior and proceeded to build from there,” he said.

He framed in the bedroom and used red oak in all of the cabinets, purchasing the wood from the local sawmill. The next project was to frame in the bathroom with a full-size shower, and he added his and hers closets. His closet is a little smaller, Joyce cracked.

“Then I proceeded to the kitchen,” he said. “I put ceramic tile around the backsplash. So far, it hasn’t moved or cracked.”

John then began by installing the TV, VCR, and satellite receiver on the front. The couple made several trips to Colaw RV in Carthage, Missouri, to purchase furniture, appliances, lights, and more.

John said in the bays, they have 100 gallons of black water and gray water combined, in addition to a 100-gallon fresh water tank. In another bay, there is a TV, a BBQ grill, and a refrigerator.

He continues to think of ways to improve their home on wheels. The Currys enjoy traveling to warmer states during the cold season in Kansas, as well as weekend trips to visit friends and family.

John said that gas prices are lower and more affordable than they were a few years back. When the gas tank holds 179 gallons and the Curry’s have to pay $4 a gallon at the pump, as they have had to do on occasion, it is indeed a considerable expense.

The Curry’s have been traveling in the Greyhound bus since the second year they owned it, and there is always something to repair or improve. He stays on top of regular maintenance to keep the bus in good shape. This year, he installed a new starter and a generator.

“It’s hard to say if we are completely done; he's always still tinkering with it,” Joyce said with a smile. “He is a guy who can do anything and everything.”