The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...
- Thread starter JamesTXSD
- Start date
DuckDogTitus
New member
It is a humorous sight to see RV RV RV C-DORY RV RV, but it's a sight for sore eyes as well :beer
Funny stuff Jim! Some RV parks don't get the zen of boats. I make double sure to leave a good impression at ones we stop at. The gen set is off by 0200, the loud music stops by 0300 and all the girls are gone before that. This way for boats following behind it's all good. I think part of the issue is that there are so many high end rigs out there rv'ing they don't want boat rif raff in there. Too bad. They miss some good folks. Like you, we were polite and just gave our money to some other park. Most were delighted to have us and at some we became the park mascots! See you at FH.
potter water
New member
Jim, please repeat your two two and two traveling guidelines. Or was it four, four, four. I don't remember and was trying to tell my wife. It sounded like good advice. I couldn't find it on search.
Something like 200 mile runs, stay 2 days, anchored or parked by 2 pm. We try similar Also we stay put Fridays ( weekend warrior travel issues). We don't do laundry on Sundays, (seems all the retired folks do laundry on Sunday). Attempt to pass large cities to get to towns by 2 pm.
potter water
New member
I was thinking jim's guidelines had to do with travel over the road on those long road trips.
Thanks, guys. We are in Anacortes. Wild Blue will spend her last night on land tonight for the next few months. We will launch tomorrow! (And all three of us are looking forward to that.)
The details: http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/ra ... -land.html
The 2/2/2 Rule is:
Drive no more than 200 miles.
Be off the road by 2:00.
Stay two days.
My corollary to the above is: if you can't do all of the above, have two drinks.
The 2/2/2 Rule was tossed to the wind this trip - it was somewhere between a sprint and a marathon.
We traveled just about 3,000 miles in 11 days. 3 days were spent with family to attend a funeral. Most travel days this trip were about 350 to 400 miles. We made changes to the route according to Mother Nature, having figured routes up the east side of the Rockies, as well as along the Wasatch.
We are on our 3rd decade of RVing, so we know what we like along the way... we have done boondocking, Wal-Marts, and truck stops, but we prefer to stay in RV parks so we can have electric and quiet. Cable TV is nice, but we have satellite, too. On the boat, dumping water overboard while on land is a no-no (and one of the reasons boats are not allowed at some RV parks), so we can't use our shower and sink. We have done the "running the hose from the thru-hull" thing before, but it doesn't look like the sewer hose RV parks are used to... and it's easier for them to say "NO!" than to have to explain to others in the park why there is a boat "pissing all over the place."
I get it. We play by the rules. There are even "guidelines" for staying in Wal-Mart parking lots, set by groups like Good Sam, Family Motor Coach Association, and others. Those guidelines were set to keep Wal-Marts from forbidding RVs to stay overnight. There are already plenty of Wal-Marts that do not allow overnight parking, either by the manager's decision or by city ordinance.
The RV parks that don't allow boats have generally had a bad experience with someone in a "non-traditional" RV. They also don't allow school bus conversions, RVs more than 10 years old, or ANY conveyance that is not RVIA certified. I am not aware of any boat that is RVIA certified, just like there are no RVs that are ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) certified. Pretty sure your favorite marina would be less than excited if you brought in a travel trailer on a barge, looking for a slip.
I have no malice towards the RV parks that don't allow boats... it just frustrates me that someone had to create a problem to sway their thinking. This trip, I had to "convince" a couple park managers to allow us... and I think we made friends along the way.
We put new tires (10 ply instead of 8 ply) on just before this trip. I serviced the bearings before we left. I checked tires and bearings at each stop, and there was never more than 5º of difference between them. We usually tow at 60 mph (+/-); talking with "tire experts," there is more of a problem with trailer tires due to speed, heat, and age.
Wild Blue and her trailer are champs; we do whatever maintenance they need so we can make these kinds of trips.
We are looking forward to a fun summer - see you at the Friday Harbor gathering!
Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
The details: http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/ra ... -land.html
The 2/2/2 Rule is:
Drive no more than 200 miles.
Be off the road by 2:00.
Stay two days.
My corollary to the above is: if you can't do all of the above, have two drinks.
The 2/2/2 Rule was tossed to the wind this trip - it was somewhere between a sprint and a marathon.
We traveled just about 3,000 miles in 11 days. 3 days were spent with family to attend a funeral. Most travel days this trip were about 350 to 400 miles. We made changes to the route according to Mother Nature, having figured routes up the east side of the Rockies, as well as along the Wasatch.
We are on our 3rd decade of RVing, so we know what we like along the way... we have done boondocking, Wal-Marts, and truck stops, but we prefer to stay in RV parks so we can have electric and quiet. Cable TV is nice, but we have satellite, too. On the boat, dumping water overboard while on land is a no-no (and one of the reasons boats are not allowed at some RV parks), so we can't use our shower and sink. We have done the "running the hose from the thru-hull" thing before, but it doesn't look like the sewer hose RV parks are used to... and it's easier for them to say "NO!" than to have to explain to others in the park why there is a boat "pissing all over the place."
I get it. We play by the rules. There are even "guidelines" for staying in Wal-Mart parking lots, set by groups like Good Sam, Family Motor Coach Association, and others. Those guidelines were set to keep Wal-Marts from forbidding RVs to stay overnight. There are already plenty of Wal-Marts that do not allow overnight parking, either by the manager's decision or by city ordinance.
The RV parks that don't allow boats have generally had a bad experience with someone in a "non-traditional" RV. They also don't allow school bus conversions, RVs more than 10 years old, or ANY conveyance that is not RVIA certified. I am not aware of any boat that is RVIA certified, just like there are no RVs that are ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) certified. Pretty sure your favorite marina would be less than excited if you brought in a travel trailer on a barge, looking for a slip.
I have no malice towards the RV parks that don't allow boats... it just frustrates me that someone had to create a problem to sway their thinking. This trip, I had to "convince" a couple park managers to allow us... and I think we made friends along the way.
We put new tires (10 ply instead of 8 ply) on just before this trip. I serviced the bearings before we left. I checked tires and bearings at each stop, and there was never more than 5º of difference between them. We usually tow at 60 mph (+/-); talking with "tire experts," there is more of a problem with trailer tires due to speed, heat, and age.
Wild Blue and her trailer are champs; we do whatever maintenance they need so we can make these kinds of trips.
We are looking forward to a fun summer - see you at the Friday Harbor gathering!
Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
When there are a bunch of people in fire-fighting gear on the dock...
... you notice!
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/tr ... straw.html
... you notice!
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/tr ... straw.html
potter water
New member
Nice endorsement of the E-Techs. I see lots of government boats running those engines.
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
JamesTXSD":3nb3uj2y said:
Not only is that funny (the corollary), but true as well! :lol:
Another day, another boat task. The Guest onboard battery charger crapped out on us (again) before we left Texas. This new one is supposed to be "smart"...
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/yo ... -this.html
No photos - pictures of me swearing just aren't nice. :wink:
Best wishes,
Jim
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/yo ... -this.html
No photos - pictures of me swearing just aren't nice. :wink:
Best wishes,
Jim
Another C-Brat gathering in the history books - according to our leader, Barry, this Friday Harbor event was the biggest C-Brat gathering to date.
Lots of good food at the potluck tonight, plenty of friendly faces, some guitar playing, and Barry christened 4 boats...
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/an ... story.html
Thanks to Barry and Patty for putting this on, and to sweet Ruth for taking these photos.
Best wishes,
Jim
Lots of good food at the potluck tonight, plenty of friendly faces, some guitar playing, and Barry christened 4 boats...
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/an ... story.html
Thanks to Barry and Patty for putting this on, and to sweet Ruth for taking these photos.
Best wishes,
Jim
BaseCampAnne
New member
Great to hear that so many came, "iffy" weather and all, and that the rains held off for the grand concert and potluck yesterday! Did Ruth get all the corners of the cake again this year? It looks like lots of new folks came this year, which is super! Barry, once again your weather dance worked; that may be a new career option for you! Thanks to you and Patti for making the Friday Harbor event so successful these past years!
I've been watching your weather from high in the mountains of CO (where it is snowing currently.) One of my little skier granddaughters had surgery scheduled for quite a while so I knew I couldn't join you, but have been following along from afar.
The summer cruising season has officially begun!
I've been watching your weather from high in the mountains of CO (where it is snowing currently.) One of my little skier granddaughters had surgery scheduled for quite a while so I knew I couldn't join you, but have been following along from afar.
The summer cruising season has officially begun!
What a day on the water today! I was on the whale watch boat, not Wild Blue - saw the most active humpback I have ever seen...
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-show.html
If you were near Friday Harbor today, you might have seen this...
Best wishes,
Jim B.
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-show.html
If you were near Friday Harbor today, you might have seen this...
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Another photo from Saturday's trip, courtesy of our naturalist, Kevin (used with permission)...
He was shooting from the back viewing deck of the boat, with a DSLR. Nice image!
I did see a C-Dory heading out of Friday Harbor (green stripe, with a kayak on top) while we were coming back in from a trip yesterday... didn't see the name. Busy holiday weekend at Friday Harbor.
We went through Cattle Pass twice yesterday... beautifully calm. (Once at low slack, returned on the flood).
I had the new boss on my boat yesterday... first that we've had any one-on-one time. He asked how we enjoyed living on our "Sea Sport" this summer; I corrected him and said, "It's a C-Dory. They're both made by the same company, now." I think the only C-Dory he's been around is Bill Carli's, with the commuter interior.
We didn't get "the show of the season" like yesterday, but I found some Minke whales for the guests, as well as eagles, harbor porpoise, seals, other water fowl, and a couple Stellar Sea Lions in the water. I had a lively group on the smaller boat, and we had a good time. I guess I passed my audition. :wink:
Best wishes,
Jim
He was shooting from the back viewing deck of the boat, with a DSLR. Nice image!
I did see a C-Dory heading out of Friday Harbor (green stripe, with a kayak on top) while we were coming back in from a trip yesterday... didn't see the name. Busy holiday weekend at Friday Harbor.
We went through Cattle Pass twice yesterday... beautifully calm. (Once at low slack, returned on the flood).
I had the new boss on my boat yesterday... first that we've had any one-on-one time. He asked how we enjoyed living on our "Sea Sport" this summer; I corrected him and said, "It's a C-Dory. They're both made by the same company, now." I think the only C-Dory he's been around is Bill Carli's, with the commuter interior.
We didn't get "the show of the season" like yesterday, but I found some Minke whales for the guests, as well as eagles, harbor porpoise, seals, other water fowl, and a couple Stellar Sea Lions in the water. I had a lively group on the smaller boat, and we had a good time. I guess I passed my audition. :wink:
Best wishes,
Jim
A few days off together - untie the dock lines...
http://captnjim.blogspot.ca/2013/06/escape.html
Best wishes,
Jim
http://captnjim.blogspot.ca/2013/06/escape.html
Best wishes,
Jim