Florida trip bad ending

L

Lanlocked

New member
After all these months I finally got my courage and headed to my trailer on 2 acres in central west coast Florida. It took a week to pack every thing up. I checked the Resilient and trailer out real good and headed out 5:30 Am on the 13th. My plan was to go to my place and put the C-Dory in the local Marina 5 miles from my house. Cruise Crystal river and use my place as needed for brakes for my Old dog and cat who traveled with me.
Long story short.
I planned to stayed about 6 weeks
Arrived @ 6PM at my place and when I walked up to the door with my key, the door opened bu itself. The lock was torn off. The place was ransacked. Someone stole everything. The central air, dishwasher and dryer, the beds, all the appliances and filled the toilet up with crap overflowing.
I found a hoodie and blanket on my new couch and there were candles every where in the house.
Back door was off the hinges.
I was outraged.
Sun was going down and I put my bedding in the C-Dory, put my old dog and cat in the floor of the super cab of the truck.
I pulled out my 12 ga pump shotgun and sat on the front porch until about 2 AM. I did not feel safe at all.
I woke up the next morning and drove 620 miles back home.
Resilient never got Her feet wet. I never saw the water.
I kinda wish whoever ruined my place came back while I was on the porch. My 12 ga pump would have had a mind of it's own.
 
This is sad. So very sad.
We were robbed over in Durham a few years ago. It breaks you.
I hope you can put things back together, both physically and emotionally.
 
So sorry to hear about the vandalism. But most likely after trashing the place they just moved on....I have had similar circumstances, and put things back together. Hopefully you contacted the police and started the process of rebuilding.

On the other hand, it is fortunate that you didn't find anyone who came onto the property. That might have also have a most unfortunate outcome. Stand your ground, has certain limits.

At least you are OK--and you can take another trip any time...move on. These jerks will get theirs some time, some place...Don't let it ruin your life!
 
Thanks C-Dory Family, I am putting the place up for sale. Would never feel good about leaving anything valuable there again. Don't need it. After my old best buddy Teddy (dog) Passes away I know know I can trailer my C-Dory down south for the winter stay in a marina and live on it. Don't need the property.
The truck pulled the boat fantastic. I don't need courage anymore to trailer it.
I still wish I could have put a cap up their behind.
 
The name of your boat is Resilient. That is what you have to be now after some set backs. To say that you have to wait for the dog to pass on is very depressing in thought. As I have mentioned before you can boat with big dogs--there are always ways to do it, even when the dogs are old or feeble.
Our dogs are as much of our family as our children were--and we have boated with them in their last days.

There are some great boating areas closer than Crystal river, and in the next few months this is the boating time of the year in the Carolinas and Georgia. Also inland there are wonderful lakes. With the lakes you can put the boat stern to the beach for the night because of no tide. --if necessary get a "pet step" and the dog can walk ashore!

You mentioned the C Dory family--it is a great family and there are many gatherings all thru the years. Become involved with this family in person.
 
Thanks Thataway. Teddy's back legs are very bad. I have to lift her to go to the bathroom. She was in bad shape the whole drive down in the truck. She is my best friend now that my wife has passed away. I don't think she would make the 11 drive again. I will be fine and have my day in the sun.
 
So sorry to hear about the vandalism and violation of your property. I had a place robbed when I was around 20 years old (a long while ago!), and I still remember just how crappy it felt. And I can understand your putting the place up for sale. If it's rural, and you don't live there, then it's hard to keep it secured - so that plus your recent experience.... maybe not something you want to hang onto.

But, like Thataway, I felt kind of sad reading about you going home and basically waiting for your older dog to pass on before trying it again. I don't really know you, of course, and it's not my place to tell you what to do..... and yet I find myself wanting to say, "But no! Pack up the pets, hitch up the boat, and go again!" Somewhere.... anywhere that appeals to you right now. A marina (maybe makes it easy with the pets), a beachy area where you can pull right up to shore, a lake..... but somewhere!

When my best-buddy dog got old and had physical problems, we still packed up and hit the road/water -- just like always -- but with some adjustments (more frequent stretching stops, I helped him in and out of the car, I got a trailer to pull with my bicycle for long "walks," etc.) My vet knew what we were up to and I went with his approval -- he gave me some things to bring along just in case (that I could administer myself if need be), and also pre-wrote a couple of prescriptions I could have filled along the way if we needed them. I didn't wait for him to die, but instead we took off and lived it up :thup

Now granted, this would not have happened if it had not been enjoyable for my dog - and you know your dog. Maybe it's not cool to be heading out on a trip, and then please never mind what I said above. I was lucky. But.... maybe you can make it work. I hope you can at least saddle up again and give it a try. And then of course regale us with your tales of adventure :D

Sunbeam

PS: Glad you shared this tale, even though it wasn't a good one. Traveling definitely has downs as well as ups.
 
That is terrible!! I feel so bad for you. Things like that are just rotten. But the good news is that it will pass. C-brats are with you.
 
Life is strange. When I was 23 yrs old I used to throw 140 lbs of WWII TNT over the back of a rolling ship with a wet wave washing deck. 70 lbs of TNT in each Haversack over my shoulders with a 6 FT fuse on each one. I did it for 8 hrs a day.

I never thought twice about the danger\
I Made 4 Trans Atlantic crossing on an old 1929 208 ft converted sailing cruiser including a trip to Antarctica with 20 to 25 ft seas.

I Was in a machine gun shoot out in the mountains of Columbia on a train.
I cris- crossed through the Jungles of Panama

Now I am 62 yrs old and it took me 6 months to get the courage to trailer my boat 620 miles to FL.

I needed to do this trip. I am glad I did. My world was getting smaller and smaller staying in the house all winter looking out the windows.

I will be out at Cape look-Out again soon and fishing and having fun.

I hope you don't mind the candor. I have always been this way.
 
You have a lot of friends here, we all support you in hitching up, loading up and getting out of the house. Teddy will do fine. My old pooch Madi just needed a bunk and a hug. They tend to perk up just like we do. A change of scene is good. How about Cape Lookout for a few days? I was in a funk the other day in Lake Powell in the snow. My way out is to take action. Hey we're warmer now in Salt Lake City if you can imagine I encourage you to file the claims then load for a 100 mile tow somewhere pretty you like and enjoy Teddy's time with you. Best. George
 
We appreciate the candor. So sorry to hear about the break-in, theft, and damage. You have to do what feels right for you, but I am in the camp that is encouraging you to get back out there. It doesn't have to be Florida... that old pooch is family - take the family somewhere closer. You may find that getting to see new territory and just being with you is just what the dog needs. And just maybe what you could use, too.

We've all seen people who "quit living" a long time before they died. Your dog will tell you when it's time. I hope you get the opportunity to make some good times with the time he has left.

I believe in karma... the low-life that trashed your place will get what's coming to him. Good luck moving on.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Thanks and love to all the C-Brats for your warm advise. It will be warm enough in another month to hit the NC coast with Resilient.
Teddy will be going with me.
You will never know how good it feels to have a family with good advise with good people who who have never met face to face.
THANK You C-Brats!!!!!!
 
What a great bunch of old salts we have here.
I thank you for all the love and encouragements.
All my love back and then more some. I hope to meet each and everyone of you and tell tales before the final rouge wave takes us all.
Many thanks and lots of love from Teddy, Blinkie the cat and yours truly.
 
If you get tired of the NC coast this summer haul up to our place on the Delaware shore for something different.

Between Lewes DE and the north end of the Cheaspeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel there is lots to see and do on your boat. Drive up the other side of the peninsula and you have the Chesapeake Bay.

We have a fenced yard and two rescued Golden Retrievers (10 and 7) who love when other dogs visit so we can entertain the dog too.

BTW I am almost 66 and can't do 1/2 of what I used to do so hang in there.

Bill Uffelman
Ocean View DE
 
Sorry to hear about your recent troubles. I can't really add anything of value, but reading this thread makes you realize that for every bad person that's out there, there are far more good people. The ratio seems even higher on this site.

If you are anywhere near the Currituck Sound in late July, I'd be happy to meet up with a fellow brat for a coffee / beer / etc.
 
I read about someone who had a vacation place in some remote area. To prevent vandalism he made a house using shipping containers. Once it was closed up it was pretty much impervious.

Used containers are pretty cheap (a couple of thousand $). If you're handy you can fit them out quite nicely yourself. You can do the fitting where it is convenient and then fairly easily have the whole thing delivered to your site and dropped in place.

There examples on the web. Some are very nice.
 
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