Jim's Up the Mast 11/27/08

It seems months ago that we left Durango packed in the GEO, excited, expectant, hopeful, heading south through Cuba to I-25, then south to the road to Ruidoso, landing in Roswell, NM, at Bottomless Lakes State Park for the night. Geo got 60 miles per gallon on the Durango to Austin leg of the trip. Brooke’s in Austin was an easy jump the next day for some fun, and by Friday we were in Ft. Worth at Moppies (John was there too) for a Moudy family reunion. Then off again on Tuesday for the drive to John’s in Florida. Crossing Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on Hwy 84 wasn’t quite as easy as I had hoped, taking an extra day, but it was beautiful driving through three states worth of lumber farms. We wimped out and stayed in motels due to rain. After John’s, it was off to Ft. Lauderdale and Spring’s and then on to Autumn in Key West for two nights, back to Springs to visit with Ft. Lauderdale people and pinch grandkids, and finally landing at Indiantown 11/20/08. Lots of neat, fun stuff happened in all that, but now we’re already on to new challenges and my attention is elsewhere.

I will give you some Geo info since she gets lots of attention. The old people (50+) marvel that she is still running, and the young wonder what she is. Western driving, the long straight carless roads and dry tail wind, suited her well. Geo grumbled a bit as we got further east and hit Florida. Here are some statistics: *We had to push her once to start her after leaving the lights on while eating really good Mexican Food. * We tried to push her a second time when for no apparent reason after eating Taco Bell (maybe she found the food inferior)… she wouldn’t start. Putting not-distilled water in the pretty new battery and adjusting the battery cables did the trick. * The oil light came on once on the FL Turnpike. Jim had 2 quarts of oil ready. * We struggled with an interior stench after much rain and finally figured out that it wasn’t the wet camping tarp smelling, but the wet carpet under the floor mats. Dried it all! * The constantly revving engine is now louder to the point of embarrassment. Kids think we want to drag. For 100 feet, we might beat them. Our Chevy dealer couldn’t find a cause for that 6 years ago when it began. *Gas for 2997 miles was $147 with a low of $1.89 per gallon. Jim saw $1.78 here in Florida and still moans about not taking advantage of it.

My major responsibility to prep for Summer Breeze’s departure was stocking. I spent $660 initially stocking Summer Breeze making 1 trip to Sams, 2 to Wal-Mart, and finishing with Publix. We had trouble getting it in Geo, but it all fit quite well in Summer Breeze once boxes were removed and items grouped in bags which is my filing system. For example: 3 bags of brownie mix (for stovetop brownie sandies) went in a gallon bag with one cutout set of directions. It is alarming to reduce $660 to 3 square feet or less, and I’ve spent another $120 to boot! Food is our second most expensive life item. Medical insurance is the first. We may decide we’d rather eat than take pills!

Jim tells me (when I’ve had enough of his lifestyle) that there are plenty of women who’d love to be in my shoes. Would one of you please come get him off the mast! That’s where I left him. And, when you do, ask him about his plan for better climbing gear.

Aye, the sailor’s life….

Nancy