The Little Land Loop - THATAWAY gets a new home

C

Captains Cat

New member
Well here it is 0240 EDT in Heathsville, VA. Having a cup of tea waiting for neighbors George and Nancy Bartlett to pick me up on the way to RIC (Richmond International :roll: Airport) which is about 90 miles away. Traveling to Pensacola by air (first part of Land Loop) to rendezvous with Dr Bob Austin for the change of command on THATAWAY.

We (George and I) plan to check the boat out today (no question about land/seaworthiness in my book, although I've never seen it, I know Dr. Bob (by reputation only)). He and I have been trading PMs since I made a successful offer in late July. I just hope that the Ford Excursion I'm getting with the deal will pull THATAWAY with all of the gear he's bestowing on me! :lol: .

The plan is to rig the boat for travel today and get underway at 00dark tomorrow AM and head up the big ICH (Interstate Coastal Highway) headed North for new waters.

Hope to take many pictures as the trip unfolds and hope I can be worthy of this great boat!

Stay tuned (and please buy CAPTAIN'S CAT before Sally moves out! :smileo)

Pictures to follow when I get further computer access and the sun comes up!! 8)

Charlie
 
Travel safe and keep us posted. Bob and Marie are two of the finest people you will ever meet - gracious, friendly, and knowledgeable; you will feel like family in their company. Their kind reputation is deserved.

Another friend of ours had an Excursion and towed an 11,000 fishing catamaran (with gear and friends/family) all over. No issues. Those things are coveted by their owners. I will look forward to hearing your impressions of the towing portion of your land loop.

Congrats on putting this all together!

Oh, and one more consideration: there was a time when we had two houses and two boats (one at each location). Instead of getting rid of Captain's Cat, maybe you might consider purchasing another home? Something in the south... like maybe the Tropical Tip of some state? :wink:

Wishing you good times and safe travels on this trek.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
slip is th la conner area are cheap and i could run the motors for you every once in a while. say out to my crab pots and back once a week should keep the gas fro sitting to much :wink:
 
Thanks for all the well wishers! Long day yesterday, up at 0200 EDT in Virginia, arrived in Pensacola about 0830 CDT, Dr. Bob met me and my first mate (neighbor George Bartlett at the airport). We got off the plane wearing green THATAWAY ball caps with names on the back.. (pix soon). Put a hat on Dr. Bob with his name on the back too!

Off to their beautiful home on the water and after about an hour of sea stories and associated banter, got down to business. What a boat this is!! I'll never remember which switch does what but fortunately, Dr. Bob is only a phone call or e-mail away and we'll figure it all out. So much equipment, nav wise and comm wise, not to mention all the ground tackle. The Excursion is full of spares/tools/boat stuff and it holds A LOT! [Sally will kill me!! but there's plenty of room in my Tractor Barn]. Took down the camper top for travel, strapped it down tight to aluminum Float On (and I hope Float Off tomorrow! :wink: ). last night after the temperature and humidity both got below 110 :shock: , Dr. B pushed new grease into the trailer bearings for our road trip.

Will leave this morning (about 3 hours away) for our trip up the ICH (InnerCoastal Highway) to Virginia. Had planned to do the whole 933 miles in one day since I've got a co pilot but on further thinking, we'll stop when we get tired tonight and continue on Sunday.

I do have a bunch of pictures which I will post, hopefully early next week, as soon as I get CAPTAINS CAT off the lift (it has new bottom paint) and THATAWAY on the lift (it has none, which will be great!).

Plan to stop at an exit about 30 miles N of Atlanta to let "cruiserless vinny" come look at a TC255 at exit 111 on I85. Will call him on his cell when we clear Atlanta.

Jim, you are right on concerning the graciousness of Bob and Marie, they are great folks and we are lucky to count among our friends!:love . As for the TX home, I already have a second one in Maine, Dr. B and SC Tom think I should have one in the PNW. I'm pushing my luck with a second TC, I think I'll quit now for awhile. But thanks for the thought! You wouldn't want to trade that TT of Tx home for a home in the snowy wilds of DownEast Maine, would you? You can see the water too, 20 miles out over the ocean, when it's not frozen!! [I thought not...] You like the cold perhaps even less than Dr Bob does!!

Tom, I'll think about it!! Although your boat is longer!!:lol:

Hope all the Brats have a great, safe boating weekend, we'll be in the asphalt channel but will splash on Sunday afternoon in the Potomac River!

Charlie
 
Great minds think alike. We proposed that Charlie keep Captain's cat and station it in the PNW--problems solved! We know that Sally will love cruisng up there! Plus we outfittted "Thataway" with all of the Shrimping, and crabbing gear for that area.

What great people Charlie and George are. We hope to meet up with Charlie and Sally at the Gulf Coast gathering in Oct. We had a great time visiting with Charlie--and then going over the boat. As Charlie said--we had to wait until about 9 PM--which made a very long day for both of them) until it was cool enough to grease the trailer bearings. I had tried to use a "Walmart" grease gun--($14) and it had been a frustrationhe night before, after my older good grease gun died. Yesterday I picked up a $40 NAPA grease gun--and what a difference! The NAPA gun worked like it should and we did all of the Posi Lube bearings until all new grease was streaming out in less than an hour. Lesson--don't buy any type of "tool" at WalMart!

We wish Charlie and George good traveling--hopefully it will not be too hot--and they are well supplied with tools, water etc.

It was very sad for both of us to see "Thataway" drive down the street. First time in over 50 years I have not owned a boat I coulod take at least 30 miles to sea and spend a night on.

We know that "Thatawy" will be in very good hands, and it is such a pleasure doing business with Charlie!
 
Well, I know some mixed emotions here from Dr. Bob, but Charlie got a great boat, and Dr. Bob knows Thataway got a great home! Not to revive Belllingham v. LaConner, Tom, but my vote for Charlie's PNW home for Captain's Cat would be Hilton Harbor in Bellingham! Out of the water storage, no green gunk, barnacles or slime, sling in/out included in the monthly fee, and WE would be happy to make sure the gas does not get stale!!!!
 
Hi Charlie,

Well, Congrats first. Glad you got the number right, huh? hey, I'll second the PNW home, at least for "Thataway" (and remember, the hands point both directions :lol: ) Upper left side at Three Rivers marina. Inside storage, they do the work(launch and retrieve) to dry storage. Not railer needed.

And for a (I'm sure) very small fee, :shock: I could set you up with some very well qualified "gas doesn't get too old" expert Brat :mrgreen: to ensure that the batteries stayed charged and the gas didn't age 8)

Safe travels and fun wakes,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Ya, well, ummm... I happen to know a great location on Cornet Bay that could keep your new TC ready to go at a moment's notice. And certainly we can take care of the fuel "problem"...there's another Captain here that can see to that! :)


Hope you're having a safe trip though it sounds exhausting.
 
Have a safe trip, Charlie.

Hey, with Thataway now in your possession, do you need those two rod holders you sent to me a couple of Christmases back? (Or, are they anchors?) I still have 'em, and it sounds like you need more gear! :twisted:

Regards,
Mark
 
Ok I'll jump in on this. If the TC comes to Hilton Harbor in B'ham Pat and can share time taking good care of it. In addition with our TC24 already there it wouldn't be lonely!
 
Hello old shipmate!

Cool trip, dear friend, no tits-up stuff. Am I supposed to send money for your spare TC or will you just bring her up? Les said it very well -- got a slip for her already, and after running my 24 TC for a long time out of the same slip, guarantee you can't find a better place in the PNW (that will get a response or two). But 20 minutes from LaConner, Friday Harbor in 30 minutes, the nerd Bill and Jon/Cynthia (C-Lou) home waters in an hour or so. Lots of shrimp, crab, salmon, etc. And I'm sure I could con Tom into being a fishing guide for you.

Travel safely, and give the admiral a big hug for me -- if you see her again!! :teeth

I've wanted Dr. Bob's toy for a long time, so :mrgreen: just call me envious!!

Dusty
 
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Thataway at her first day at "Camp Thataway, June 2006.


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Thataway ready to roll. Not the kind feature of the "Thataway" hats which Charlie presented to Marie and I (Marie gets the "Flag Officer" --Admiral--braid!)

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Marie, Charlie and Bob saying "until we meet again"

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Charlie and the Excursion

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Goodbye "Thataway" Sept 20 2011. One of the greatest boats I have owned!
 
I just talked with Charlie (who is currently ridding right seat--or navigator in the Excursion)--and they are going to stop for the night at Greenville, NC.

They did a 20 plus minute stop to "show" the Tom Cat near Atlanta. No question that Charlie is the best salesman you could ever find for the Tom Cat (the Factory owes him on that one!)

All seems to be going well--and they are enjoying the ride of the Excursion--even with the tires up to max PSI! Maybe this experience will convince Sally and Charlie to make the trek towing to the PNW!

I have this "thing" about boats I have owned going to people who will love them--I know that "Thataway" is in great hands!
 
We are indeed in Greenville, SC in the middle of one of the heaviest downpours I've ever been in. Settled into the motel just as the skies opened up!! Set up a three point moor for THATAWAY in the parking lot in case it doesn't quit before morning. My navigator, George Bartlett is out rounding up various kinds of animals (and some ice) but is having trouble finding two of each kind of the opposite sex. I registered as Noah....

Can a female opossum mate with a male raccoon? George just came back in (he's a Clemson Graduate and knows SC very well) and tells me in SC it doesn't matter, almost anything will mate with anything else.. :roll:

The boat/Excursion pair tow like a dream, much better and easier that my boat/Dodge, primarily because of the diesel vs the gas V-10 and the looser steering on the Dodge. I don't think I'll be selling either tow vehicle however.

Am still determined to sell Captain's Cat, as I said I will finance it for the right buyer, bring all reasonable offers. Will send pictures of the launch tomorrow in the Potomac along with pictures of the two kitties together!

Thanks again Bob and Marie for the wonderful visit and the smooth Change of Command!

Charlie on the ICH (InnerCoastalHighway)
 
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