A Bus Will Take You There

travelvw · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject:

John Lago is absolutely awesome! Crazy, crazy, John! One of the most incredible in the bus scene that I've ever met. We connected right off the bat! I highly recommend his book "a bus will take you there", but wished he'd of spoke his mind more. The bus adventures John has been on are the focus of the book, but his personality is even more interesting and simply add so much to the adventure/stories, IMO. Here are a few shots of John's bus I've taken in the past:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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'58 Gilla
'61 Sub
'69 Bug

tubdub · Samba Member Joined: March 29, 2004 Posts: 2274

jmsmilin · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

Mr. Bubblehead · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject:

John is a great guy, very friendly and approachable. I met him a couple years ago and we had a long, enjoyable discussion of his adventures. I even had a bratwurst cooked on his hubcap grill!

Here's some more photos of John's bus:

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OGST
Samba Member #4862

Captoaster · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject:

Camped with John last weekend and bought his new book "The Reference Point, A Journey to the Origin of Belief" It can be ordered for $18/copy, postpaid. Checks or MO payable to:

Lunchbreak Press
Box 703
Oshkosh, WI 54903

Every time that I stopped on my trip I brought the book out and read it! In fact I was done with its 300+ pages by the time I got back to Nebraska!! It is a great read as it is the story of a young Johnny Lago/Bock and his tramping on the rails to Alaska and how he built a cabin and traveled around in the bus! Not as much abut the bus as in his first book but a real good read! Makes me want to take a trip to Alaska in the bus also! John was telling me that he wants to go back to Alaska next year with his son!
Buy the book....it will make you a better human!

Rob

BulliBill · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:32 am Post subject:

Hi all,

Man, I have to agree with Rob! Meeting and knowing John Lago can't help but make you a better human! There is just no one else around like him. I guess you could say he is a kinda "Bus Prophet". I too couldn't put his first self-published book down once I started it. John is a wonderful storyteller and has a talent for living and distilling life and making sense of it all. I haven't picked up the next book yet, but I will when I see him in a couple of weeks at the BNNTA campout. I wan't him to autograph it, as he always writes something personal and witty.

A while back I did one of my "Transporter Talk" columns in Hot VWs all about John and his very unique and wonderful Transporter. I even introduced Bruce Simurda to him at one of the Funfest events a few years and begged Bruce to consider breaking tradition and doing a feature on his "Bondo Condo" in Hot VWs. And although Bruce was obviously impressed with John and in particular the famous bus, he didn't think Hot VWs editorial board would understand and go with it. It would be so cool to see a nice photo spread with explanations about the intricate innovations John came up with to personalize his best friend, his bus. Oh well, I can dream can't I?

If you'd like to camp with, meet and sit around the campfire with John, he is usually in attendance at the BNNTA event in Missouri on Labor Day weekend. He hasn't missed one for probably over ten years now! He also usually is at the Funfest in June too. I'm very lucky to call him a friend, and I hope you get to do that too someday. I can't wait to see him again soon...

Bill Bowman
http://www.bnnta.com
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

chicagovw · Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject:

Bill,

You should contact Ultra VW magazine about a feature. John's bus is in virtually mint condition and has a thousand times more character than the rusted out, fake patina'ed buses and cobbled together rat rods they have in there.

LAGrunthaner · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:00 am Post subject:

travelvw · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:30 am Post subject:

amishman · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:31 am Post subject:

I wonder if he still sells the 1st book, "A bus will take you there"? I figure I will buy both. Hopefully, the 1st one is still $15 minus $2 for the picture (so $13) and the 2nd one is now $18 for a total of $31? That is what I am about to send him in the mail.

Anyone know for sure if that 1st book is still being sold since this thread started back in 2005!

Thanks

tj
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tj (the Amishman)

Come visit my web site!
http://www.vwhippie.com

Riff Raff · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure he still has copies of his first book available.
They are both good reads.
His new book is more esoteric than the bus book, but like captoaster said - reading them will make you a better human being.
After reading john's books and corresponding with him a little, my take is that he would prefer you to send a pic of you and your bus and $13 rather than $15.
You are dealing with a man who is not motivated by money.
I made the "mistake" of sending him $20 CDN for the new book, to cover exchange(0.99) and shipping and all, and I got mildly chided for doing so and received a couple of unique bookmarks from him because he felt I overpaid Smile

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The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin

amishman · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

BarryL · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:52 pm Post subject:

Is that a rope starter? If so how does it recoil and not engage? Is it like a Briggs & Stratton with the centrifugal bee-bees?

d-rick · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject:

amishman · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject:

I just mailed my check on 8/12/08 and received the two books today. That is fast fast fast considering I am in Cali and the check was mailed back eastward.

I even received $2 back because he said if both books are purchased at the same time, he gives $2 discount. So, now I can go buy 1/3 a gallon of fuel. hehehe

Can't wait to read the books. I think I will save them for vacation.

tj
_________________
tj (the Amishman)

Come visit my web site!
http://www.vwhippie.com

travelvw · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

Gotta love John. What a character. Great to hang out with him again this weekend.

K
_________________
'58 Gilla
'61 Sub
'69 Bug

truckersmike · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

What a lovely read. A friend lent me the book while I was in Santa Rosa and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read his next one.
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59 DD panel. Former Romano's TV delivery bus
67 Westy SO-42 pop-t

grumpyveedub · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

very cool guy, got to chat with him too this past weekend at the show. in his bus there is a place for everything and everything has its place.

White99z · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

I am gonna order both books when I get the money!!!


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