The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

Jim,

I'm really glad that you guys appear to be ok. Believe me I know the feeling.
I have been rear-ended 5 (count'em) 5 times sitting at red lights. As a result, I
have chronic lower back pain and am on pain meds 24/7.

The last time I was rear-ended (Dec 07) we were sitting at a red light in my 05 Dodge Ram 2500. (7300 lbs.) The car behind us was hit by a Jeep Liberty at what I would estimate was traveling approx. 40mph. The people in both vehicles behind us were hauled off on backboards and were complaining of big-time back/neck pain. They had to use the "Jaws of Life" on the vehicle that hit us. As an ex Navy Corpsman that served with the Marines in Vietnam I was in my combat/triage mode bigtime. Although we received quite a jolt in the Dodge my wife had no apparent injuries but my lower back started to really bother me about 15 minutes after the accident. We had planned to leave the next morning to drive to Atlanta to be with our oldest daughter who was due with our 2nd grandson. So the timing of this was crappy to say the least.

Bear with me, I'm not what you would call an eloquent writer.

Although the Dodge appeared to come through unscathed except for the frame mounted hitch being bent slightly and the factory rear bumper being dented,
the rear cross member was bent slightly and the exhaust pipe and muffler assembly was displaced forward approx, 2 inches from the collision.
The tail pipe, muffler and hangers are extremely stout to say the least and I
never would have expected them to be displaced forward like they were.

I know that you are probably already aware of all of this stuff, but I had to point
a lot of this out to the insurance adjuster and body shop estimator.

Sorry to ramble on, but I know exactly what you're going though.

Mike
 
Had a Jeep Grand Cherokee rear ended -- bumper and trailer hitch took the whack. When they put it on the hoist at the repair shop you could see that the factory hitch had bent a little and a couple of welds had bulging paint indicating internal damage. Cost the errant driver $750 as I recall -- if the bumper cover plastic hadn't displaced 1/2" on one side I probably wouldn't even have gone to the repair shop.

Bill Uffelman
In Carson City NV until June
 
Jim,

Thanks for saying "thanks" to the service man. Hope he made it home OK.

Glad you and Joan are OK too. Wow Almost made it. To bad you weren't playing horse shoes. As a pilot, you know the chance of an accident is considerably greater getting to and from the airport than in the air.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Jim, I am glad you and Joan are OK.Be sure to measure the hitch side-to-side. I got T-boned once in Salt Lake while pulling a camping trailer. The impact shifted my hitch a couple of inches to the left. I had to get an emergency replacement done in Mt. Vernon WA when I bought a boat there and had to get it back to Utah.

Warren
 
Thanks for your concern, folks. I intend to get the truck inspected; we did find one little dimple in the bumper. The electrical all works. No visual evidence of any paint buckling or movement of the hitch. I will let someone more qualified check it out once we hear from the guy's insurance company. I did call them today, but was told, "The boss will have to call you back." :roll:

We won't be able to get a copy of the accident report for about 10 days, so I'm not sure what we can do prior to that.

We are both a bit sore today, but not enough that either of have any desire to visit a doctor.

On the boat front, Wild Blue was as dirty as I've ever seen her - we had a lot of wind while I was gone, and there is some construction going on across the island from us... lots of blowing dirt. It took a while to get her all cleaned up, then we went out into the Gulf and got her sprayed with some salt water. WAY more satisfying to clean up the second time. 8)

The temps are now around 80º this time of year - it's the lazy, hazy, crazy days of spring. I'm sure we'll see some real heat before we head north in a month or so. After being in the snow while in Iowa, it is great to be back in shorts again.

GREAT time out in the Gulf!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Just got the big white truck (bwt) back from the body shop this past week... I was parked in the post office lot so Char could mail some packages... I'm dozing in the drivers seat and "blammo" the rear end of the truck lurches to the left...
Long story short, Grandma Leadfoot and her Killer Buick came flying backwards across the lot and got me... $2800 worth... She hit the bumper and pushed it sideways about 1 inch, bending the end of the frame and jamming the fender against the tailgate... From ten feet away there appears to be no damage, not even wrinkled sheet metal...

Funniest thing, she pulls forward the length of the lot and just sits there... So I walk over and ask if she is injured, she says no and then asks if I am the guy 'who hit her?'... Well, noooo, not with the seat tipped back and the engine off... I say I will call the police so our insurance companies will have a report... She glares at me and says, 'this is Michigan and you have to have your OWN insurance.' And with that just like the hero in an old western B movie, she saddles up Old Paint and rides off into the sunset! (paint seemed a bit lame on the right rear as he dwindled into the distance)

When the officer arrives I give him her plate number, he punches it into his computer, looks, then laughs and says, Oh, it's Marie again. I'll go talk to her husband." Apparently she and old paint get around a bit...
 
And these people can still get a drivers license??? :shock:

Funny after the fact, Denny-o. That reminds me of an old Beetle Baily cartoon: Beetle is sitting in his jeep at a stop sign when General Halftrack hits him from behind with his jeep. An MP comes to the scene, looks things over, and says to the General, "How fast was he going when he backed into you, sir?"

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Years ago we were driving around the Hood Canal and we were stopped in the roadway as someone in front of us was making a turn into a driveway, when a lady backed out of a business and slammed into our car. She proceeded to tell me that she had "a right to be in the roadway", to which I replied "absolutely, but you need to at least wait until other vehicles are out of the way". She then phoned her husband to come to the scene. When he arrived, his first words were ....."not again, she does this all the time!". She then told him that if he wasn't going to be any help to her he should just go back home. He then got in his car and drove away. :roll:
 
And the saga continues...

The guy who ran into the van which then ran into us does NOT have insurance. Oh, his wife does, but there is a signed exclusion on her policy for him. :disgust Their insurance agency seemed to take a certain delight in giving me that fun news. We will get the truck checked out thoroughly, then decide what course to take. I really hope this idiot loses his license... but, that likely won't stop him from driving, since that whole insurance thing didn't seem to deter him.

That aside, we took Wild Blue out today, anchored her in some shallow water, and I cleaned her bottom. She has been in the water now for just over 2 months. The current bottom paint is wearing thin, so she'll need a couple coats this fall when we return. Still, it's doing the job - there was some slime and a few barnacles, but it all came off with a stiff brush and some elbow grease... certainly a lot easier than if there were no ablative paint.

It was a beautiful day: the temp pushed into the low 80s, hazy sky (no sun beating down), light wind, and the water temp was in the low 70s... right at my "I can take that, as long as I'm wearing a wet suit" limit.

Joan made us lunch onboard when I got out of the water. Ever notice how hungry you are after swimming (or bottom cleaning)? Chili-cheese dogs, open face with her special turkey chili. :D Then, some cruising to see if we could feel the difference with the clean bottom. Sure... kinda, I think. :wink:

Insurance buttheads aside, a great day.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,

I'd let your lawyer loose on this guy and his wife. They need to learn the lesson. The "authorities" apparently can't do the job. A 2011 Duramax should be sufficient! :thup
 
Dreamer":m47sqb3r said:
Jim,

I'd let your lawyer loose on this guy and his wife. They need to learn the lesson. The "authorities" apparently can't do the job. A 2011 Duramax should be sufficient! :thup
Click to expand...

Turns out that our damage is less than the deductible. The insurance company said they'll still pursue the issue with the guy. This may be one of those "blood from a turnip" situations... although the guy didn't seem quite as bright as a turnip. :wink:

There are better ways to put this behind us: like once around the island...

The details: http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2011/04/once-around.html

And a preview...

IzCUe.jpg

Dolphins1e.jpg

Best wishes,
Jim B.

(Working on book orders)

JimIzWorkingE.jpg
 
Doryman":3iwyx9q4 said:
So are you selling the TX house any time soon? And when do you head back to the Tetons?

Warren
Click to expand...

Hi Warren,

Are you making an offer? :wink: Our house is still on the market, but there has been close to zero properties moving here. We will take the house off the market before we head north, towards the end of this month. Then, it's a matter of working our way back to the Tetons around the third week in May.

It's a great little house. The only thing that would make it better would be if it would float or if it had wheels. 8) We've been here a little over two months and I already have "hitch itch" - that desire to hitch up and move on.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Pat Anderson":3t8lxu9c said:
So glad you clarified that...

JamesTXSD":3t8lxu9c said:
I already have "hitch itch" - that desire to hitch up and move on.

Best wishes,
Jim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Figured I better be specific... or someone would ask what kind of salve I use on that. :roll: It's an RV term that corresponds with "itchy feet", but it works for trailerable boats, too. :D

Look at all the interesting things to be learned here. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim -- belated sympathy on your mother's passing. The past week was as chaotic for me as traumatic for you.

I feel like I am reading about my 90+ year old mother when I read your blog on the "discoveries" you made. I figure I'll have to have Waste Management bring a roll off box to my mother's house when the time comes.

Best wishes. The pain will pass, the good memories will last forever.

Bill Uffelman
Carson City NV through June
 
Bill Uffelman":3t8wext8 said:
Jim -- belated sympathy on your mother's passing. The past week was as chaotic for me as traumatic for you.

I feel like I am reading about my 90+ year old mother when I read your blog on the "discoveries" you made. I figure I'll have to have Waste Management bring a roll off box to my mother's house when the time comes.

Best wishes. The pain will pass, the good memories will last forever.

Bill Uffelman
Carson City NV through June
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bill. I have many good memories and I am grateful that I was able to be there for my Mother in her last days. Cleaning out her apartment was emotional, going through the things that were important to her. My wife and daughter got me through that, the three of us working together.

And now we move on. We left Sioux City yesterday, heading south with the "Grandma car" in tow. It will be a couple days before we get back to the Tropical Tip... and then we'll start the unloading/repacking routine over again and get ready to head north.

Life goes on for the living. I have some great memories. Our daughter had a special relationship with my Mother. I was Mom's "cheerleader" for several decades... and I believe in that "you can do it" attitude.

My thanks to all the Brats who called or sent a PM, offering encouragement, support, and sympathies. Your positive energy helped and I am grateful.

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
 
Jim,

Condolences from the SleepyC crew. Sorry to hear of your loss. I have not been around here much lately. Wish boating was the excuse but it isn't. Travel safe, and keep the memories, The good ones will stay and the rest will fade with time. Be glad you have the support of your family. That is a very precious gift. And be thankful for all the good memories.


Take care my friend, and know that there are prayers for you and your family from our corner of the world.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Back
Top