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General Sailing Forum

The big trip.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/21/2006 : 22:31:11

Hello all,
The big day has arrived the 3000 mile move is under way. I towed 600 miles today from Jax, Fl to North Tenn. All is going well. Has anyone else noticed the gas prices!!!!!!! Just kidding it is still $3.25 out in Washington. I am getting 9.5 mpg going 65-70. I will report from somewhere in Iowa tommorow. I am happy there is not too much to say with 3 kids, wife, boat, 2 dogs, and oreo the cat.

Tom.

PO of 1988 Wing HN 5775
"Cote d'Azure"
Fleet 25

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2006 : 08:45:58

Have a safe/great trip Tom and crew and and be ready for the prairie winds...usually start about 11 AM.

We did a motor home trip N.Y. to Ca. and back last summer and the winds were something I never thought of. Couldn't understand why all the grass/bushes/trees were leaning until 11 O'clock rolled around

Will you be going KOA?

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue,N.Y.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2006 : 12:23:16

It is true, all of the flora of Kansas looks like there is a gale blowing even when it is calm, it has all simply grown that way in the prevailing winds. This spring has been very mild for wind so far.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2006 : 13:45:42

Stop!!! you've gone to far, turn around... the Pensacola BEER cruise is back the other way!

Have a good trip shipmate! Keep them prairie winds on your stern.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2006 : 23:32:03

Update.

Now in Iowa. Only 1800 miles to go. Trip mileage now up to 9.8mpg with a 5 knot tail wind today! My bearing buddies are leaking a little but that will keep people from tailgating.

The dogs chewed the trailer wiring harness off and ate the gameboy charger. The kids are handling it well.

Only 6-7 $85 fill-ups left. Yeee ha!

Tom.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2006 : 06:23:51

Tom, are you taking pics along the way (or are the kids doing that?)

Paul

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1337 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2006 : 12:59:44

Enjoy the trip Tom... you're making history!!
Henk

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2006 : 23:23:08

Update: 1800 miles down finds us in Rapid City SD tonight.

Today was a test of will power and nerves. The day started on I29 which has to be the worst road in America. We had a nice tailwind and mileage was near 12! We Hit 90 and turned West. The day went downhill from there. The wind started clocking towards South West And increasing in speed. We reduced speed as the wind speed increased to nearly 50 mph! It was CRAZY. I was doing all I could to maintain 50 mph and mileage was down to 4! We called it an early day and pulled in to a hotel that had an awesome indoor water park. The kids went wild over this.

The end of day inspection shows one tire with lots of wear. The intire boat moved to starboard by 1/2 inch from the wind. The rest of the tow rig is holding up...so far. At least the bearings are running cold. With better weather and some luck, we will be in western Wa tommorow.

Tom.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2006 : 07:55:30

Tom, Do you intend to cross at Donners Pass?

Val.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2006 : 14:54:50

Welcome to the west. Not as wild as it used to be, but still windy. Lots of great sailing in the PNW.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2006 : 16:31:07

What is your final destination?
paulj

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2006 : 23:34:05

Hello all. WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!

The final destination is Whidbey Island Wa.

We spent last night in Missoula Montana. The cell phone internet connection found us a Nice hotel. A phone call confirmed the room and we arrived to find the hotel had no parking lot!!! No good when the to rig takes up 7 spots. A half hour later we found a nice place with good parking. It was a quick night as I wanted to get through Seattle before rush hour. We stuffed pop tarts in the kids mouths and only stopped for gas. We got to Seattle at 230 and the traffic was ok.

We pulled into our new house and unhooked the boat at 5 pm. It was a great trip with very minor issues. The Suburban and trailer performed perfectly. Towing is easy with the right equipment. I have a 2500 series Suburban and it towed like a champ. The gas was expensive. I averaged 9.4 mpg which should have been better except for the 500 miles of headwind in Wyoming. I burned 340 gallons which will wind up being a whole lot cheaper than building up another boat. Plus...On Saturday I will spash my cat in another ocean. Very cool.

I lucked out and have off till Tues.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1774 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 00:24:49

CONGRATULATIONS! I'm glad y'all had a good, safe trip ... that's a looooong way.

And it IS cool you're going to splash in an entirely different ocean!

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 07:01:55

Tom,

Glad you have a few days to unwind after the effort. Thanks for taking us along the way, I found your reports very interesting.

I've observed over several years now the capture effect of sharing an ongoing effort with the reader, we vicariously share the experience.

The travels of Jabberwocky captured this site many years ago and I've followed the Vendee Globe a couple of times by reading regular reports from Ellen MacArthur, and followed it on virtual spectator which gave a current fix and the tracks of all the boats, showed the weather fronts, etc and found it facinating.

The drama of your cross country haul though not an Ellen around the world race, was nonetheless interesting and captured my interest.

Right now, one of the Trailer Sailor group is sailing from Port Lavaca, Texas to the Pensacola Trailer Sailor Rendezvous and offering a report back to the forum regularly and again, it captures the interest and seems to put me on board.

A few years back, the Houston Chronical posted a daily running account of a lawyer who'd taken a few years off to circumnavigate. The story was made very interesting by the style of writing and that the account was sometimes written by the mate, a nurse who answered an add for crew for the passage. Both were very good at including the reader in both the travel incidentals as well as the human drama the two independent types shared aboard.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 05/26/2006 07:04:45

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 07:51:38

Fantastic trip Tom and thanks for having us aboard. Now put your feet up, take a deep breath, and relax you all deserve it

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 08:54:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Arlyn Stewart
 ...

I've observed over several years now the capture effect of sharing an ongoing effort with the reader, we vicariously share the experience.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The guys currently sailing to Ireland on a unique boat they built in Chicago certainly qualifies as one of those vicarious adventures. jmurfy posted this link in the 25 specific forum. http://www.sailingtoireland.com/ A very well done website IMHO.

Steve

Steve

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

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171 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 09:35:04

Welcome to the West! I'm glad your trip went so well. Dave & I are taking a little road trip up to your neck of the woods this weekend to check out the port towns along the east side of the Olympic Peninsula. Hope your settling and launching go great.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 11:17:18

Pam,
Are you planning a trip up here this summer?
I have June and July for sailing. Aug and Sept are reserved for the Navy.
Tom.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 11:56:11

Hey Tom, glad your trip went okay. Don't forget to let "the boy" out the boat! I bet he had a heck of a trip riding back there!

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2006 : 13:42:33

I know you are relieved to be there all in one piece (and still one family

). Seems to me that sailboats have their own persona and I know they feel stress when not in the water. Listen closely when she splashes and I'll bet you hear a sigh of relief!
You will be missed here in N. FL. during the interim.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2006 : 14:40:24

Can' believe the dog did it a second time. Maybe he should be anchored in the boat rather than outside to the trailer tongue. WE in Fleet 25 are relieve and happy that your trip was a safe one. Don't forget were your roots are and let the Navy bring you home now and again. Take care and good sailing.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/27/2006 : 19:45:31

Thanks Jerry, It was hard to leave Jax. I will make it back in a few years.

I am dealing with a registration issue and will not get it legal for another week. Non residents need to provide proof of sales tax payment. Mine is in my file cabinet to be delivered on Tues. Oh well.

We stopped by the beach after lunch today to find the Orcas swimming 200 yards off the beach. I felt pretty lucky to see them here already.

I did have a Lampoon vacation moment during the trip. I looked in the rear view mirror to see the dog leash flaping on the trailer winch. I quickly figured out that dogs were inside the truck but I left the leash on the trailer! My wife ran out after we pulled over to MAKE SURE the dogs were onboard. Pretty funny.

Tom.

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