About
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the big picture? To drop all you have ever known, to experience life… This is the story of two travelers, one bus, and an open road.
I believe St. Augustine said it best, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Hello, and welcome to schoolbustobaja.com. Anthony and Brian grew up on Long Island, New York a couple towns over from one another and just a few miles from one of the greatest cities in the world. They started working together in the summer of 2001 at Camp DeBaun, a local day camp in Anthony’s hometown. They spent 6 years there creating memories and friends that would last a lifetime. But at the end of their sixth year, they realized that behind their lifeguard tans, and their bimonthly paychecks, burned a true desire to explore and leave what they’ve ever known, and experience life. After their realization, they came across some vital information that would soon lead to an adventure that has been dreamed of by many surfers before, but that few have made reality. They were informed of a 1985 Chevrolet school bus that the camp had up for sale that summer. As soon as Anthony and Brian heard about this opportunity they knew they had to give it a look. When they caught eyes to the beautiful yellow short bus, they were in love - and so began the planning and preparation for a two month road trip.
The plan is to drive cross-country on the northern route of the United States - hitting Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and many more spots. This would then wind them up in northern California, and start them off on their way down the coast to the Baja Peninsula. They hope to make it out to San Diego in two weeks, leaving them six weeks to travel the open desert, and uncrowded waves of Baja Norte and Baja Sur. They don’t know what or who they might encounter along the way, all they know is that it is going to be a trip of a lifetime, and an opportunity that should not be wasted.
Once again, welcome to schoolbustobaja.com, and enjoy!
These are the travelers:
| Brian Caruso | |
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Hometown: East Rockaway, NY
Age: 19 Favorite Music/Band: The Format Dream Surf Trip: 3 week surf charter to Indo with all my friends Favorite Quote: “The purpose of our lives is to be happy” - Dalai Lama |
| Anthony Romano | |
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Hometown: Oceanside, New York
Age: 22 Dream Surf Trip: 6 month trip throughout Europe Favorite Post-Surf Meal: Green Cactus Burritos Words to live by: Live 2 Love, Love 2 Live |
The Route:
Mike :: Jan.02.2007 :: Uncategorized ::
Hey guys, really cool stuff….me and 2 friends have also been planning for a road trip this summer. amazingly similar too, me and my friend also live a couple towns apart on long island and surf together.
Heyy man, one of your guys were on NewYorkSurf.com and asked about surfspots. HIt me up I have a few surfsports you guys would die for that nobody else knows. Peace.
Hey flip,
This is Ant, Brian posted on NewYorkSurf.com. Listen we def are psyked to hear about some of the spots you know man, And if you are willing to tell us we are all ears! P.S. Sweet Website!
Hey,
My friends and I live in Jersey and actually just bought an RV that we are taking to southern cali over the summer. We were planning on taking the same route and wondered if you guys maybe wanted to follow us and do like a convoy. Thats a great idea to go into baja. Well go also but do you know of any good surf spots. OK let me know if you guys are intrested. Spread the dream and live the stoke. Enjoy life.
Sam
“Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still.” — Lou Erickso
What’s up Sam
Dude that sounds siiiiick, i would totally be down for a little convoy, fun drive across the country. We just hope our bus will make it - haha.
We’ll keep in touch
Nice quote!
http://www.sportsmobile.com/index.html you guys have to look at this website for ideas. Oh yeah, this is dangerous!
hey guys,
I love that you guys are doing this. My friends and I are planning a trip to Europe for the summer. One month of attempting to navigate our way around another continent…its going to be fun
Good luck guys. The bus looks great and i’m sure you’ll make it.
Ali
WE MISS ANT!!!!!!!! hope DR is sick man!!
I am so excited for you guys.. I wish I could go too!!
You guys are awesome! I’m so happy for you both! Loved the video! Lots of love comin at ya, be safe!
your livin the life! im so jealous! hope you guys have a kick ass time and your bus doesnt break down too much, lol, cant wait to hear about it….hope coco is doing great, i miss her and everyone there at Ali’s!
Feliz almost cinco de mayo… enjoy reading todos your update-os! muchos besos anthony-o!
50 lbs o’ RICE! Wowza! I am so excited for you guys! I will definitely be checking up on the website and sending my love. Happy Travels!
WOW
You guys are insane!!!
Have a freakin blast boys,.. camp won’t be the same without you guys!!
Good seeing you at Jimmy’s Party yesterday. Sorry we couldn’t see you off this morning.
Have a great trip. It’s a long road but you have to drive it, to see it or else it’s just a line on a page in an atlas on a shelf and a “I wish I would’ve…” tales.
“What the mind can perceive, the body can achieve.” — Unknown
Hey guys,
Sweet deal. Love the bus. We are taking a 6-week road trip to Alaska ourselves this summer - and down the west coast - then back on I-80.
We’ve did a trip to Yellowstone and South Dakota a few years back - we can shoot you some places to see if youre interested…email us back.
But we have a site as well - and would love to add your site and your story on our site. “Two trips across North America from New York; one destination to Alaska, the other to Baja California.”
www.OurDriveToAlaska.com
Our site is still in development - but we’ll have it up and running soon enough.
Let us know! And good luck!
-Matt and Bryan
Sunday afternoon my daughter and I caught sight of the bus on the NYS Thruway just west of Syracuse. I tried to snap a photo but I’m all thumbs and missed it. Have a good trip.
Wish you two the best of times, and the best of weather. I hope that you have my cell number, just in case I can be of any help. I am jealousl, and we will all miss you two till you get back safe and sound.
With all our love for a great trip, and please keep in touch and be careful. Uncle Craig and Aunt Annette. P.S. My cell is 516-297-6362.
Will miss you both a tremendous amount, but your in our hearts!!!!
What’s up. Let me know your route - I want to give the people I work with across the country a shout out, especially the guys in California. Are you still coming down through the Dakota’s?
All our neighbors miss the van. They thought is was a lawn ornament for the past 9 months.
PS: Your dog is a mess
Luv ya
Mom, Dad, Julie,Gina,Matt,Cocoa, Bella and Abbey too
Hey Guys!
Looks like you are having a great trip so far, so happy and excited for you both! Camp won’t be the same with out you guys. I love checking out the site, it’s awesome!
Be safe and God Bless
Peace
P.S. I wonder how many people will be calling Craigs cell phone now haha!
Nice trip guys… All the luck to you… I have one precautionary comment.
In the photos, I don’t see any curtains/shades for the windows on your bus. Maybe I missed it. If you don’t already have them, you should get some before you get down south. Not only good for keeping the sun out but also so thieves can’t look in to see all the loot. Let alone some privacy…
So jealous! Enjoy!
Ahhh… i see some sort of paper blinds your using in a couple photos… if/when they get all batered and torn, you can use it for toilet paper. Nice!
Eric from NJ.
Tony,
I work with your dad at UPS Capital out of San Diego. How’s the trip going? Are you guys searching for Captain Zero (Did you read the book? If not, you should read it on the way).
I live in Encinitas Ca. 5 minutes away from Cardiff Reef and Swami’s. I’m sure your going to want to surf those breaks. You guys are more then welcome to park it at my place.
Make sure you contact me when you get close.
I know your heading down from Oregon. Mark Murphy should be able to get you to the right places up north (Santa Cruz, etc.) Only problem they might not have waves up there this time of year. The faster you head south the better the surf is this time of year. Mex is firing right now.
Make sure you surf the Ranch, Cojo, then head to Malibu. After that head into Orange county and stop off and check on the Wedge….Salt Creek after that. You’ll probably want to surf Huntington Beach. After Salt Creek head straight to Testles. Surf Uppers and Lowers. You’ll probably want to stay their for a month. You may never leave. One of the best waves in the world. There’s a few state camp grounds right around there. It gets busy this time of year, so you need make plans ahead of time. I’m sure you can get in during the week days. Weekends it’s hard to get a spot. It’s about 1/2 hour from trestles to Encinitas.
I’ll hook you up with the local crew here. After that I should be able to get you a contact in Scorpian Bay in Baja. You’ll probably want to spend alot of thim there. There’s surf along throughout Baja. Get past Ensenada and it’s wide open. Park and Surf.
Anyway….Have a good trip and contact when your here.
Tony
hey ant,i luv the website we miss you .it looks like u r having a great time,be careful enjoy yourself.well see you soon,luv jodi,joseph,danny xoxo
Y0ooo guyss, Im so Jelous of you two! I check the site everyy dayyy, so stoked for you guys and I know your having a blast, I’ll call you guys every once in a while to hear how good you guys are scoring and tell you how flat it is at home. Maybe some little fun ones tomorrow am so hopefully get in the water.
Aloha,
TTL
Hey guys, how are you planning on getting back? if you are driving back and makin the USA short cut, i got a place for you to stay in New Mexico, just hit me up on Facebook.
Passed your bus on the 5 freeway today coming home from work— and after reading about ya’ll on your website it looks like you guys are having a blast! Enjoy San Diego- we have good weather for you this week. Be safe in Baja!
what up dudes,
saw your van in encinitas. im a baja nut and just returned from a 2 year around the world surf voyage. you boys have made the best decicion ever. baja is sick, make sure to check out the eastern cape, no waves there but so beautiful. hit up scopion bay when a big steep south comes in 285 degrees or more. Abreojos has lots of waves to work with and is paved pretty much all the way out there. some sic reefs and a good beachie. have fun and make sure your window shades are down when ya surf so people cant see all your gear.
“u must have confidence when you are only half sure”
just pull in and find a way out.
Is this the same Anthony Romano that went to Elwood middle school
in East North Port New York????
Hey guys,
Been keeping up to date with your site over the past 6-8 weeks. Bryan and I crack up at every video you guys post.
We are just about done with our journey - and will soon update and organize our site back home.
Good luck on your journey home!
PS. We’ve put a new link of your site on our home page - to “spread the stoke”.
We’ll stay posted!
Matt
www.OurDriveToAlaska.com
Anthony you are living my dream!
So glad to hear that you guys are ok! Everyone at CDB is so relieved
OMg i go 2 camp debaun! i love that u guys r doing this! CAMP DEBAUN ALL THE WAY BABE!!! BOOO_YAA! OOOOOOOOOOO
Omg Anthony do u remember me! u were my life guard at camp! and my most favorite lifeguard eva!
U were so totally awesome!
I am soooooooooo glad that everything is OK with u guys!
LOVE YOU OUT LOUD AND MAYBE C U IN CAMP THIS SUMMER OF 2008!
Best year eva!
Kathleen owens
Hey,
I’m a volunteer for the Surfrider Foundation and we acquired “El Wanderer” to use to run shuttle trips to Mt. Baker Ski Area. The bus is so killer and runs great.
I’m hoping to get access to the safe combo, as we’d like to use it to store money!
Please contact me with any info, and check out our program:
www.surfrider.org/nws
Thanks,
Anne
annebaker3@excite.com
Hi Brian and Anthony,
I’m a student at Western Washington University doing a story on the second life of the Baja Bus, now known as the Baker Bus. I feel lucky to have learned so much about it’s current purpose, but would love to know more about it’s first life and how the bus made it’s way from Baja to the Pacific NW. It has such spirit - you guys are an inspiration. Any information you guys could offer would be much appreciated. I have loved reading about your travels!
Courtney
(425) 283-8706
Hey there courtney,
Sorry for the delayed response
We would love to send you something! Is there an email we can reach you at? I am so glad that the bus lives on. The story is an amazing one indeed, and we are glad you are all apart of it. Keep me posted
—Anthony