Annual Migration

[captd]

Starting this morning we tackle the 3000 mile trek along with all the other snow birds. Florida here we come. Ocala will again be our base. No big cruising trip this winter, maybe the St Johns River for a few weeks.
Dee might have knee replacements which will hinder her having to much fun. In fact is may be no fun at all.
Any of you Tuggers coming down our way let us know, maybe we can get together.

captd

 

[Garry and Victoria]

Come on down!

You won't be far away from our year-round home in Crystal River. Let us know when you get into town.

 

[Zuma]

Looking forward to hearing about your trek south... Loves to Miss Dee

 

[Ainokea]

Look foward to seeing you and Miss Dee on the river. Maybe we can meet at Hontoon Island or the Silver Glen. Let us know and have a safe trip. I hope we will have a warmer winter this year!!

Frank

 

[sportner]

Toni and I are Pensacola, Fl. now, on Traveler. We have been traveling since before the gathering in Bremerton last September and have been on board all but 4 days. We plan to drop the boat off at Wefings next week to have a few things done while we travel inland and then eventually continue south to the Keys. Hope to see you along the way.

 

[steveandtina]

captd,, just dropped frank a question and came accross your post. i am currently negotiating with the owner/admiral about going to florida probably in jan or feb.... will keep you posted... Tina will need a convenient airport near a marina in which to fly. amazingly,, we spent 17 glorious days [most on the hook] in canada this fall,, but 2 days in the same cab of a pickup and its file the divorce papers!! in the end it all works for me [classic country music and right wing XM talk radio will get me to the St Johns river----- keep us all posted on your travels----steveandtina ps-- the BEE may have a 4 sale sign,, thinking about a 27!!

 

[captd]

Bell Fouche , So Dak. Prime rib at the Jumpin Jacks. Now 7:30 PM. About 800 miles down range.

Blow out on the trailer toward evening last night. 50 miles in either direction to get help. So who would think you need help changing a tire? ..............ME! and Dee. No blocks, but two short jacks. Tortion suspention, you need a high lift to get the wheel of the ground. Progressive was going to send someone, but they couldn't get any of the sheepherders out of bed. Maybe they were busy with one of their clients. Could not find any blocks along side of the road. Took me an hour and a half to get it done. Tire shop had no hints to make it easy.

Ya you guys heading toward Florida, lets keep in touch. Frank, we will be able to adjust our time for a trip over to the St. Johns River when you are ready to do it. quite flexible this winter................I think. Depends on Dee's knee.

Dee says " Hi Jeanne back at you. Loves ya too!"

Where is Frank and Pam????? What is going on? Come on back.
😀 😉 :lol: :roll:

captd

 

[captd]

Sorry to the folks at Belle Fourche for miss spelling their name. Must be French.

20.5 degrees outside right now. At 6:00 AM. Interesting stats for the Wallas stove wide open........Temp in the boat right now is 54.4. It has been able to keep the boat about 30 to 35 degrees above outside or ambient temps. In other words when it gets down to below 30 degrees outside it will be a little chilly inside. Much to Dee's chagrin. Next couple three days it is suppose to be in the 70's with a low of 45. Course we will be a lot further south by that time.

Time to hit the road. Talk to you-all later.
captd 🙂

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hey CaptD,

You're were in our old stompin' grounds in the Black Hills. Yep, it can sure get chilly this time of the year. One quick question for you: do you stay in campgrounds or do you find overnights at Wal-Marts, Flying J, and the like? When we travel pulling Wild Blue in the cold (and try as we might, we do run into some cold), we hit up campgrounds so we can have a 30 amp plug in and not have to run the Wallas. An electric heater is generally enough... and we frequently get cable TV and can use their shower house. If the weather is decent, I have no issue with "Camp Wal-Mart" for an occasional night.

Since we also travel much of the year with our RV, we have a Passport America membership that saves us 50% on member campgrounds. That paid for itself the first week we used it. We even used it in Florida a couple years ago when it was SO darn cold in November there. And the locals always say, "It isn't normally like this."

It was in the mid-50s on the water this morning in the Tropical Tip (it isn't normally like this 😉 ); and a chilly north wind. Hope Mother Nature treats you kindly on your trek southeast.

Travel safe, have a great winter.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[captd]

Jim,
We did get into a camp ground tonight.It is 36 degrees outside now. Kind of expect it to get below 32. Passed up a KOA just out of Mitchell, So Dak. I hate those KOAs. About 30 miles east, this one is called Campground of America. Private name. $15.00 a night. I love it. Water is shut of for the winter but shower and toilets are open..Will head South on 29 in the morning. I like stopping at Cabellas in Mitchell. 🙂

We stay in Flying J's when possible and always stay in truck stops. Rarely ever in camp grounds.

Diesel fuel has been From $298 to $335.

captd

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hey CaptD,

Yeah, that Cabela's in Mitchell is one of my favorites. For fuel, there is a Flying J at Sioux Falls, just after you turn south on I-29. They usually have the best diesel price in the area. We make that "route" at least once a year and were just through there last month.

Chilly night there. Stay warm. We''ll be looking forward to some Florida posts from you this winter.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[captd]

An other @#$%^%$#@ Blowout right on the freeway with very little shoulder. Flat was on drivers side front tandem . Bumper to bumper traffic all doing 70 plus. I didn't dare open door without waiting for a moment or two for an open spot. How would a person change a tire in a spot like that? Progressive said help was over two hours away. Four to five miles in either direction to get off the freeway. 10 miles back to Columbia. Of course it was Sunday.

Slowly I crept down the shoulder and spotted a storm drain clean out in the ditch. It wasn't so steep. Put it in low range four wheel drive and drove into the ditch to a frontage rd. Now I could get to it. I had picked up some blocks after the last flat. (50 % was left on those tires).............so two more new tires today. Should have changed them all the 1st time. :cry:

We are parked in a Wally Mart in Warrington, Missouri. They do not carry heavy duty trailer tires.

Now to make a phone call or two. 250 miles for the day total. 🙁

Captd

 

[captain's cat]

What kind of tires are you using? That's unusual (I hope). Glad you made it safely!

Charlie

 

[steveandtina]

hey capt d;; we had a blowout about 3miles out of anacortes after the rondivue .. i hAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS YOU with my jack plenty of capacity but not enough throw to put the fully inflated spare on. i was lucky enough to find some blocks on the side of the road and mANaged to get the damned thing changed . an hour+ job that should have taken 15 minutes. :x 🙂 the solution? when i got home i found a piece of old 6 by 10 by 3 ft. standing it on edge i cut it in half at about 70 degrees resulting in areally cheap set of jack stands... the next time i have a flat [THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME] i will roll the not flat tire up on to the stand before i use my jack . idid this on a dry run in my driveway and it works great... hope to see you and ms dee in florida this winter..... safe travels,,, steveandtina

 

[RProffer]

For those of you that have two or more axles on your trailer or RV, you might try one of these http://www.traileraid.com/. They do not take up much space, and they are safer than a jack.

 

[captd]

I will get one of those.

Got five new tires on now. I can relax.

Caruthersville, Missouri, Lady Luck Casino. What a nice spot for camp. Good food, friendly people , cable tv. ( so Dee can watch Dancing with the Stars ) This morning I will give her $5.00 to gamble with. Tell her not to put it all in one machine. It has been nice and warm with the sun a shining. I think we will spend one more day right here. The second part of Dancing with the Stars is tonight so I may as well keep her happy. If she is watching tv she won't be dumping money into the slot machines. 😉

We will have breakfast and go aboard the what looks like from here, a side wheeler. Put this RV camp on your list of spots to eat and spend the night.
.
captd

 

[JerryE]

Hey capd,

Good luck on the trip! Consider Sanford Boat Works as a marina on the St. John's–its maybe 25 minutes from Orlando Intl Airport. I've avidly followed your prior travels while "lurking" on tugnuts for months.

This past weekend my wife and I bought a left-over '09 R25 from the super nice folks at Turner Marine in Mobile, AL (Ranger dealer)–so here's my first post. King Canvas is making a bimini to be installed by Turner who will also put in an Airhead composting toilet (the waste tank becomes a spare 30 ga. of fresh water tank––best to do this before the tank is ever used!). Early in December, I hope, the boat goes to Sanford, FL to spend the winter on the St. John's river at SBW. Frank of the Ainokea in Deland, FL has been more than generous with his time and advice about both the R25 and the river. So I hope to meet you and hear some tales in person, maybe rafting up with you and Frank in Hontoon Island State Park. I plan on some serious relaxation...

Jerry

PS. While I plan to enjoy the Ranger, I have to mention that the hours I've spent lurking on this web site have been a pleasure, too. Its as much about the folks and their stories as it is about the boats that got me to make the leap and buy the Ranger.

 

[wefings]

CaptD , dont you bring that cold weather here top Florida like you did last year !!!!!!!
Stop by for some oysters and shrimp and maybe that fishing trip we have been trying to do for about 4 or 5 years now.......

I got to do a solo tire change on an R 29 in 100 degrees this summer on my way to a delivery in the Keys . I borrowed one of those ramp things to get the trailer up on a bigger set of blocks .That was an experience ! I bought 6 tires in Ocala .

 

[captd]

Jerry,
Sounds like a good plan. Keep us posted. 🙂

Marc,
The cold beat us down there already. We are kind of waiting for it to leave. We are sitting in Alabama. We will be going down highway 75 to Ocala. My Buddy in Panama has to come to see us now in Ocala.

Captd

 

[jpmockler]

Hi Darrel,

Geraldine and I are down here at Fort Myers Beach for the winter. It's sunny and in the 80's. Let us know if you are coming this way. We would love to uncork a bottle of wine and break bread with you and Dee. Do hope she is doing well. Jim