Pano Episkopi this Winter... (mini blog)

[cyprusmax47]

Many people are visiting Episkopi village, down of Tsada Golf, with it's impressive rock formations.
But only a few are taking the route which the old bus line did, passing the village cemetery on the way to Letymbou through the Ezousa Valley.
The road starts at the Environmental Center at the beginning of the village.....

I wonder what's in the rocks above the church. Perhaps eagles are nesting there?


Next to an house with an nice garden


Not only lemons are growing but also Maracuya, and what a view they have...


Continuing the road, very soon you pass the abandoned village bus, which number plates indicate that it was in service in 1950-1956


This was not only the drivers view on the way to the cemetery and later down to the valley and to Letymbou


Down in the valley one can see the usual track towards Letymbou along the Ezousa river


and this is the view backwards showing the winding road to Nata village.


Majestic position of the church overlooking the village


Close up


Here you can see the church from down the valley, overlooking the village


I continued the road up to the cemetery and turned there. Here I got the attention of this donkey, begging through the car window..


Did he perhaps know that I had cough sweets with me?


Yes, he enjoyed it a lot and made his friend nearby jealous.


So that's it for this mini blog as the capacity for more pics is not available.

Max

[PaphosAL]

Smashing blog thanks, Max!

This is a truly beautiful area, which I've walked many times (alone and with friends) and driven, between 2000 and 2008. Usually finishing up with a nice lunch and refreshing beers at Pericles Taverna, Nata.

AL

[PaphosAL]

Your photo of the old Episkopi village bus abandoned there raises a new mystery, Max.

You suggest that its TM 69 plate means it was registered in Cyprus between 1950 and 1956. Over in Dom's village bus blog, we are generalizing that all these old buses were coachbuilt onto a Bedford J Type chassis cowl.

This means the old Episkopi bus could not possibly be a J Type, for two reasons:
1. The J Type didn't begin production until 1958, and
2. The J Type had a single windscreen, whereas yours is a split screen.

Further research reveals that the predecessor to the J Type was the A Type, built from 1953 until 1957. It then received a GM facelift and became the J Type in 1958!

AL

[cyprusmax47]

Your photo of the old Episkopi village bus abandoned there raises a new mystery, Max.

You suggest that its TM 69 plate means it was registered in Cyprus between 1950 and 1956. Over in Dom's village bus blog, we are generalizing that all these old buses were coachbuilt onto a Bedford J Type chassis cowl.

This means the old Episkopi bus could not possibly be a J Type, for two reasons:
1. The J Type didn't begin production until 1958, and
2. The J Type had a single windscreen, whereas yours is a split screen.

Further research reveals that the predecessor to the J Type was the A Type, built from 1953 until 1957. It then received a GM facelift and became the J Type in 1958!

AL

If you have a look at the latest pics from this bus on Dominic's blog, maybe seeing the engine and the interior you will find out which model it was...

Max

[PaphosAL]

Yes, it is definately a Bedford A Type, Max (1953-57). It has the same straight 6 cylinder OHV petrol engine that was carried forward into the 1958 J Type.

AL

ps: Love the donkey!

[Dominic]

Yes the donkey looked in remarkably good nick.

[PaphosAL]

Just a thought, before I collapse into bed. Are there any half decent family run Tavernas in Episkopi? Can't say I've really heard of any in the village itself, but I stand to be corrected. Perhaps Pericles up the other side of the valley is the nearest?

Have an idea for the TM 69 wreck village bus dumped in Episkopi, which I'll expand upon avrio.

AL )

[brengreen]

Turn it into a camper van Al?

[PaphosAL]

No- restore her to her former glory, and earn tourist bucks for the local villages economy most days a week, with 20 (ish) passengers for a nice sightseeing trip and lunch up into the hills!

[PaphosAL]

Oh blimey, I'm out of bed again on late shift...

All the photos of the TM 69 wreck bus in Episkopi village from Dom's and Max's recent blogs (and other allowed web sources) certainly make it look like a wreck. It was built between 1953 and 1957, and would certainly have had a hard life, on the daily route that Max describes, on those tracks and hills...

But hang on, I've seen restorations of similar coachbuilt examples of the same era all brought back to pristine showroom condition. Motors like Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin etc. All with a ladder chassis, then bespoke bodywork bolted on top. TM 69 (like Phoenix arising from the ashes) could possibly be running again, if there are a small group of local motoring enthusiasts willing to take the task on, perhaps with some funding help from the local municipiality (Agrotourism)?

Parts for the Bedford A and J Type would be readily available and dirt cheap. Will expand more avrio, as definately night night from me now, folks.

[Kili01]

Al, in case you’re interesed, there are at least a couple of old but restored village buses. One of them is called ‘Georges Fun Bus’. It runs from Paphos during the summer with a load of tourists on board. I see it creaking and grinding up the steep hills in Kamares on its way to the Baths of Adonis and beyond! There is also another bus which calls itself a ‘Wedding Bus’ which I have seen around.
But there is also an open topped ex- London red bus whch is also very popular and probably more comfortable, which can be chartered for weddings as well! That one can takes more passengers of course!
Dee

[smudger]

For anyone taking a trip on the open topped buses in the hotter weather - take a brolly or a parasol! You can buy them on board, but pricey, specially if you already have one!!!

[PaphosAL]

The thing is with the old Bedford village buses is that their chassis was made from 1/4" steel. So no matter what awful state it looks in, it can be ground down to remove the rust back to bare metal, then zinc galvanized, then powder coated. To last another 6 decades, at least!

Unlike more modern sports cars like TVR and Morgan, where the whole chassis (made from thinner metal) needs replacing after a few years!

The restoration of an old village bus project would be simple and cheap. Initially, the body / cab would be unbolted from the chassis, to be seperately restored, leaving us with a 'rolling chassis'.

Next, the radiator, engine, gearbox and propshaft come out for overhaul. Also the steering, front and rear axles, brake lines and handbrake cable, and electrics. Drum brakes overhaul. Then it all goes back together in reverse order, looking like brand new again, like Georges Fun Bus!

Cost guesstimate? Around €2,000 probably. End value? Maybe €10,000 or so?

AL

[Yioula]

The thing is with the old Bedford village buses is that their chassis was made from 1/4" steel. So no matter what awful state it looks in, it can be ground down to remove the rust back to bare metal, then zinc galvanized, then powder coated. To last another 6 decades, at least!

Unlike more modern sports cars like TVR and Morgan, where the whole chassis (made from thinner metal) needs replacing after a few years!

The restoration of an old village bus project would be simple and cheap. Initially, the body / cab would be unbolted from the chassis, to be seperately restored, leaving us with a 'rolling chassis'.

Next, the radiator, engine, gearbox and propshaft come out for overhaul. Also the steering, front and rear axles, brake lines and handbrake cable, and electrics. Drum brakes overhaul. Then it all goes back together in reverse order, looking like brand new again, like Georges Fun Bus!


Cost guesstimate? Around €2,000 probably. End value? Maybe €10,000 or so?

AL

It would be fabulous if these old village buses were restored especially for agro tourism.......Al there’s are opening for you here in Cyprus to start a new business.

[cyprusmax47]

The thing is with the old Bedford village buses is that their chassis was made from 1/4" steel. So no matter what awful state it looks in, it can be ground down to remove the rust back to bare metal, then zinc galvanized, then powder coated. To last another 6 decades, at least!

Unlike more modern sports cars like TVR and Morgan, where the whole chassis (made from thinner metal) needs replacing after a few years!

The restoration of an old village bus project would be simple and cheap. Initially, the body / cab would be unbolted from the chassis, to be seperately restored, leaving us with a 'rolling chassis'.

Next, the radiator, engine, gearbox and propshaft come out for overhaul. Also the steering, front and rear axles, brake lines and handbrake cable, and electrics. Drum brakes overhaul. Then it all goes back together in reverse order, looking like brand new again, like Georges Fun Bus!

Cost guesstimate? Around €2,000 probably. End value? Maybe €10,000 or so?

AL

If you can see the bus in front of you Alan, you would realize that your "quote" is unrealistic. For 2000 euros you get nothing done on this wreck.
Perhaps you have a look yourself when you coming to Cyprus.
By the way: for a Carlsberg or two, the 2 village taverns are OK, but if you want food you better go to Nata afterwards....

Max

[merchant_banker]

Some great photos thanks for sharing

[cyprusmax47]

The thing is with the old Bedford village buses is that their chassis was made from 1/4" steel. So no matter what awful state it looks in, it can be ground down to remove the rust back to bare metal, then zinc galvanized, then powder coated. To last another 6 decades, at least!

Unlike more modern sports cars like TVR and Morgan, where the whole chassis (made from thinner metal) needs replacing after a few years!

The restoration of an old village bus project would be simple and cheap. Initially, the body / cab would be unbolted from the chassis, to be seperately restored, leaving us with a 'rolling chassis'.

Next, the radiator, engine, gearbox and propshaft come out for overhaul. Also the steering, front and rear axles, brake lines and handbrake cable, and electrics. Drum brakes overhaul. Then it all goes back together in reverse order, looking like brand new again, like Georges Fun Bus!

Cost guesstimate? Around €2,000 probably. End value? Maybe €10,000 or so?

AL

I did another close up of the interior of the bus for you Alan, where you can clearly see how much repair work would be necessary and how much damage is done through rust etc.....