So now we are finally up to last summer. We were busy brainstorming ways to keep getting Serenity where we wanted her for our big trip, when the Facebook Marketplace spoke up again. I stumbled across a 1982 Toyota Odyssey that needed work, but was reported to be mechanically sound with operational appliances, for only $1,000. People had been gawking about the work we had done to Serenity, so I showed the listing to Laura and asked her, “What if we did it again? Maybe we could sell it afterwards and save a Toyota Motorhome from becoming junked?” She agreed. out of our savings we could afford a $1,000 for the investment, just afterwards progress might be slow due to budget but at least we could ensure it would have a life again. I had a particular friend in mind I wanted to fix it for.
Backstory: A buddy of mine was so inspired by what we had done to Serenity, he bought a Dolphin too! He bought one with a blown engine- and hadn’t had any luck getting it situated to have a new engine put in it. After a year he was starting to talk about throwing in the towel on it- so I thought this might be a perfect opportunity to get him closer to his dream, give this one a new life, and we could figure out how to salvage his at a later time. He would just be dealing with the opposite problem he had before, trading engine for Motorhome work. So I sent an inquiry…
…And a day later received a response! It wasn’t quite what I hoped, it said there was someone in line in front of me that was coming to look at it. 😢
So I waited a week, and when I didn’t hear a follow up so I inquired again, and received the same response. This time I replied that we were willing to come look at it now, and possibly buy it. But I suppose the seller wanted to hold out for a friend or something, because they didn’t reply. I was starting to get concerned the rig was going to be purchased at the selling price by somebody that just wanted to use it as a hovel until it fell apart to the point it was not going to be salvageable.
So I waited another week, and this time messaged it was my final offering- that I was going to invest the money elsewhere if we couldn’t arrange a showing and maybe sale. I sent some pictures of Serenity and let them know we intended to make sure this girl received a second shot at a good life. This time they said they would check with the person in front of me, and got back to me shortly thereafter. They said it was ours to look at, and messaged me directions up to Ninilchik. (Remember the small town where they host Salmonfest? Yeah! That place. 🙂 ) This is where I began to learn a little of the motorhome’s situation.
It turned out The Odyssey was living in an RV park, and an employee had purchased it and was living in it. Plans must have changed, because the employee moved on but the RV did not. So we drove Serenity up to meet her possible new family member, and it was rough- but not gone. 🤞🏼 They had a small mechanic crew that worked at the RV park- and after checking in with the front desk and getting the keys, the head mechanic lead the way to the Toyhome. We took a look at it, and the camper was rough, a sagging interior ceiling in the rear- due to a broken rear bathroom skylight that had only been covered by a board. He fired it right up and she ran smooth. He explained to us that they had went through the mechanical end of her and tested the appliances and all seemed to be operational. Overall though- she was going to be a project. We went ahead and took it for a test drive around the neighborhood and decided it was a go.
So we drove her down to the RV park’s shop, and realized one of the rear dually tires was in desperate need of replacement. We looked it over with the shop hands and decided we could fix a flat it enough to at least get her down to Homer, and home. They were happy to do it, and we aired up the tire for the drive home. After paying for her, I had Laura drive Serenity and I drove The Odyssey. It was a beautiful day and a perfect one for the test drive. She drove nicely, even a little bit smoother of a ride than Serenity. I assumed it was maybe a different suspension along with her maybe being gear ratio-ed a little differently as well. Nothing eventful, just a nice drive on a nice day all the way home. 😀
And So Began The Odyssey.
Geoff Murphy 2/1/2020