The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...
- Thread starter JamesTXSD
- Start date
Hi C-Brats; it's been a while since we've posted here. We made a "great circle loop" of the mid-west, and are back in the Lone Star State... we have about 500 miles to go to get back home. We are anxious to see what kind of shape the house is really in, since we've had calls from several neighbors... each pointing out something different. :disgust
We have been on a search for a new vessel for land traveling; that took more time than we originally figured. Toy Haulers seemed to make good sense, but didn't have the livability we were looking for. Nice for hauling your "stuff" around, though. Yesterday, we pulled the trigger: we have ordered a 2009 Nu-Wa 5th wheel. We toured the factory on Wednesday, visited with a dealer and placed our order on Thursday. Incidently, they have a very enthusiastic owners group much like this one... and active participation by some factory folks.
So, what does this mean for our C-Dory traveling? Shouldn't change things much - Wild Blue survived Hurricane Dolly (so we are told), and we are anxious to get back to some more cruising. The 5th wheel just means we will spend less time around the Tropical Tip homestead. We intend to fix up whatever needs fixing up at the house and head back out again.
Thanks for the PMs and e-mails. We'll let you know what we find at the house.
Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
We have been on a search for a new vessel for land traveling; that took more time than we originally figured. Toy Haulers seemed to make good sense, but didn't have the livability we were looking for. Nice for hauling your "stuff" around, though. Yesterday, we pulled the trigger: we have ordered a 2009 Nu-Wa 5th wheel. We toured the factory on Wednesday, visited with a dealer and placed our order on Thursday. Incidently, they have a very enthusiastic owners group much like this one... and active participation by some factory folks.
So, what does this mean for our C-Dory traveling? Shouldn't change things much - Wild Blue survived Hurricane Dolly (so we are told), and we are anxious to get back to some more cruising. The 5th wheel just means we will spend less time around the Tropical Tip homestead. We intend to fix up whatever needs fixing up at the house and head back out again.
Thanks for the PMs and e-mails. We'll let you know what we find at the house.
Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
JamesTXSD":epsnlxjl said:
Congratulations! Which model did you choose, and why?
I bought a white 2008 GMC 2500 Crew Cab 2LT Duramax yesterday. Will pick it up last week in August -- after Bellingham and a quick trip to Salt Lake. I see our trucks are rated to pull 13K#, so I suspect that factored into your choice of trailer, no?
Warren
Congrats on the new truck, Warren - you're going to like that! Our GMC is a 2006 and is rated to pull 14,400 with a 5th wheel. The Nu-Wa we ordered is the LS 32.5 FKSBG. We originally went in with the idea of the 29.5 FK to keep the length as short as possible, but decided just a bit more room around the bed and more storage underneath would be good for extended traveling. They're pretty much the same floorplan.
We spent a lot of time and research on this. Joan was leaning towards a bigger toy hauler and that sure seemed convenient... we just couldn't find one that had the same build quality that didn't weigh more than our truck could handle (and also wind up 41 feet long). So, we decided to go with what we felt was the best built and add a small cargo trailer on trips where we want the motorcycle.
Yeah, that doesn't really "minimalize", but we still have too much wanderlust. I don't see a lot of reason for keeping the house, but we're still in the discussion stage on that. For the near term, we'll be focused on getting the house back to 100%. Then we hope to do some traveling with Brent and Dixie. Joan is already talking about coming back to the PNW next summer. I hear the NE calling my name, with Florida whispering in the background. Molly just wants her 4 square meals a day and lots of belly-rubbing... she has her list of favorite places, too, but until she starts chipping in for gas, it'll be a while before we go to Mouse-World.
Best wishes,
Jim
We spent a lot of time and research on this. Joan was leaning towards a bigger toy hauler and that sure seemed convenient... we just couldn't find one that had the same build quality that didn't weigh more than our truck could handle (and also wind up 41 feet long). So, we decided to go with what we felt was the best built and add a small cargo trailer on trips where we want the motorcycle.
Yeah, that doesn't really "minimalize", but we still have too much wanderlust. I don't see a lot of reason for keeping the house, but we're still in the discussion stage on that. For the near term, we'll be focused on getting the house back to 100%. Then we hope to do some traveling with Brent and Dixie. Joan is already talking about coming back to the PNW next summer. I hear the NE calling my name, with Florida whispering in the background. Molly just wants her 4 square meals a day and lots of belly-rubbing... she has her list of favorite places, too, but until she starts chipping in for gas, it'll be a while before we go to Mouse-World.
Best wishes,
Jim
Pat Anderson
New member
Here is the floor plan of this bad boy...mind sharing your thought process on why new instead of say, 3 or 4 years old?
Hi Pat,
A great deal of updating went into the 2009 model. Plus, we were able to order it out just the way we wanted. Plus, I like that "new" smell. :wink: Nu-Wa 5th wheels are much like C-Dory boats - they hold their value better than much of the rest of that market. When we go to pick it up, there will be some "shake down" (sound familiar) and a dealer and factory standing behind the product.
------------------------------
Well, we are home. We didn't escape unscathed. Some of our dock is gone. Some of the facia on the roof is gone. The hurricane shutters did their job and kept the house from being breached (the scuffs, dings, and debris stuck in them shows that). The siding on the house looks OK. Not sure about the roof, yet, since I haven't gotten up there. And, the kinda bad part: with 22 inches of rain and 120+ mph winds, and 24+ hours of hammering, we got some water in the ceiling and walls... likely that it came in the roof vents. So, not real bad, just kinda bad - we are going to have to tear out some ceiling and wall drywall to find out where it came from and how much damage it did. We are in line for the insurance adjustor, and the contractor who built our house has said he will do the work; it may be a while. There are a lot of people here whose homes are in bad shape.
While cleaning off the hurricane shutters so I could roll them up, a couple neighbors came by to welcome us home. We heard the stories of debris so thick you couldn't see the streets; the docks and boats on the bay side of South Padre Island were devastated; homes, too. The eye wall of the hurricane passed just north of us, so we had winds from every direction.
The outside of the house is a gawd-awful dirty mess... nothing that some water, a scrub brush, and some elbow grease won't fix. There is some facia under the eves that is hanging funny. Our underneath storage area walls are still wet all the way through.
On the bright side, we are in air conditioned comfort and will be sleeping in our own bed tonight. The damage is confined to one bathroom and adjoining small bedroom, so it should be easy enough for us to live around it for a while, if necessary. The satellite dish on top of the house was flattened, but the cable TV is working. We parked the toy hauler beside the house, plugged it in, and will be able to take our time unloading it. We didn't know if we'd need to stay in it, but we were ready with full fresh water and empty holding tanks.
No idea yet when we'll get Wild Blue back in the water... I think there is a lot of debris in the canals, so I'll get the inflatable out and "poke around" when I get the chance. That may be a while.
We only saw the main highway into Port Isabel and the road to our island; there is plenty of damage. Seems like when the hurricane came inland, the national media coverage of it moved on. July and August are the busiest tourist months for South Padre Island; a double whammy for businesses there.
On our little island, neighbors and workers pulled together. They've done an amazing job of getting it back in shape in just 2 1/2 weeks. Our friends who watch our place while we're gone have a lot of damage; they are moving out of their house tomorrow so the walls, floors, and ceilings can be torn out and replaced. Another neighbor told us that he knows of only 5 places, out of nearly 1000, that didn't have some kind of damage.
We're counting our blessings.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
A great deal of updating went into the 2009 model. Plus, we were able to order it out just the way we wanted. Plus, I like that "new" smell. :wink: Nu-Wa 5th wheels are much like C-Dory boats - they hold their value better than much of the rest of that market. When we go to pick it up, there will be some "shake down" (sound familiar) and a dealer and factory standing behind the product.
------------------------------
Well, we are home. We didn't escape unscathed. Some of our dock is gone. Some of the facia on the roof is gone. The hurricane shutters did their job and kept the house from being breached (the scuffs, dings, and debris stuck in them shows that). The siding on the house looks OK. Not sure about the roof, yet, since I haven't gotten up there. And, the kinda bad part: with 22 inches of rain and 120+ mph winds, and 24+ hours of hammering, we got some water in the ceiling and walls... likely that it came in the roof vents. So, not real bad, just kinda bad - we are going to have to tear out some ceiling and wall drywall to find out where it came from and how much damage it did. We are in line for the insurance adjustor, and the contractor who built our house has said he will do the work; it may be a while. There are a lot of people here whose homes are in bad shape.
While cleaning off the hurricane shutters so I could roll them up, a couple neighbors came by to welcome us home. We heard the stories of debris so thick you couldn't see the streets; the docks and boats on the bay side of South Padre Island were devastated; homes, too. The eye wall of the hurricane passed just north of us, so we had winds from every direction.
The outside of the house is a gawd-awful dirty mess... nothing that some water, a scrub brush, and some elbow grease won't fix. There is some facia under the eves that is hanging funny. Our underneath storage area walls are still wet all the way through.
On the bright side, we are in air conditioned comfort and will be sleeping in our own bed tonight. The damage is confined to one bathroom and adjoining small bedroom, so it should be easy enough for us to live around it for a while, if necessary. The satellite dish on top of the house was flattened, but the cable TV is working. We parked the toy hauler beside the house, plugged it in, and will be able to take our time unloading it. We didn't know if we'd need to stay in it, but we were ready with full fresh water and empty holding tanks.
No idea yet when we'll get Wild Blue back in the water... I think there is a lot of debris in the canals, so I'll get the inflatable out and "poke around" when I get the chance. That may be a while.
We only saw the main highway into Port Isabel and the road to our island; there is plenty of damage. Seems like when the hurricane came inland, the national media coverage of it moved on. July and August are the busiest tourist months for South Padre Island; a double whammy for businesses there.
On our little island, neighbors and workers pulled together. They've done an amazing job of getting it back in shape in just 2 1/2 weeks. Our friends who watch our place while we're gone have a lot of damage; they are moving out of their house tomorrow so the walls, floors, and ceilings can be torn out and replaced. Another neighbor told us that he knows of only 5 places, out of nearly 1000, that didn't have some kind of damage.
We're counting our blessings.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Sorry to hear that there was some interior damage, but glad it was not worse.
Interesting how there is not much publicity about the damage about this hurricane. Probably relates to just what Jim eluded to--the people there are prepared and just get to work setting it right.
We well know what you will be facing, from our experiences thru the last few years with storms--good luck on getting the repairs done in a timely manor--you sound fortunate to have a contractor who is there for you. It was almost impossiable to find legit contractors in Pensacola after Ivan.
Interesting how there is not much publicity about the damage about this hurricane. Probably relates to just what Jim eluded to--the people there are prepared and just get to work setting it right.
We well know what you will be facing, from our experiences thru the last few years with storms--good luck on getting the repairs done in a timely manor--you sound fortunate to have a contractor who is there for you. It was almost impossiable to find legit contractors in Pensacola after Ivan.
Captains Cat
New member
Glad you're back home Jim. Sorry for the damage, sounds like you came out better than most though. Bet you're glad to be there, thanks for the update.
Charlie
Charlie
marvin4239
New member
Jim glad you made it through with minimal damage. As Bob said we saw minimal news coverage here in Florida. Thats great you have your original contractor to do the repairs. Sadly these type of disasters attract so many scam artist. New Orleans is still plagued with them. Locally the inspection department has been running a sting operation on these guys and really getting them off the street.
I love the layout of that 5th wheel. In my last 5th wheel a 33 Praire Schooner I had a Splendid (think that was the brand) washer dryer combination. I loved that little rig. Traveling alone I washed nearly everyday and traveled with far less clothing. It wouldn't hold much but the beauty of it to me was not having to transfer from the washer to dryer and not having to deal with laundry mats. The stackable units are nice also I have a Sears 110 volt model in a rental house in NC and it works well. As far as buying new or used you can find some good used deals today but finding exactly what you want is another issue. For hauling your bike there's a company that makes a lift device that mounts in place of your rear bumper that will haul a bike. With the light weight of your Suzuki that might be and option. I saw a Harley Ultra Classic on the rear of a motor home a while back. Congratulations on your new rig and good luck on your repairs.
I love the layout of that 5th wheel. In my last 5th wheel a 33 Praire Schooner I had a Splendid (think that was the brand) washer dryer combination. I loved that little rig. Traveling alone I washed nearly everyday and traveled with far less clothing. It wouldn't hold much but the beauty of it to me was not having to transfer from the washer to dryer and not having to deal with laundry mats. The stackable units are nice also I have a Sears 110 volt model in a rental house in NC and it works well. As far as buying new or used you can find some good used deals today but finding exactly what you want is another issue. For hauling your bike there's a company that makes a lift device that mounts in place of your rear bumper that will haul a bike. With the light weight of your Suzuki that might be and option. I saw a Harley Ultra Classic on the rear of a motor home a while back. Congratulations on your new rig and good luck on your repairs.
Jim,
Good to hear you made it home OK. Sorry you are having to deal with the damages, but glad it isn't worse than it is. It does sound like you are blessed, and you are (as we know) very capable of handling the situation. Wish you the best there, and you are always welcome up here on the left corner. Stay safe,
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Good to hear you made it home OK. Sorry you are having to deal with the damages, but glad it isn't worse than it is. It does sound like you are blessed, and you are (as we know) very capable of handling the situation. Wish you the best there, and you are always welcome up here on the left corner. Stay safe,
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Thanks for the well-wishes, friends.
After doing some unloading today, we drove around to see the area... it is heartbreaking to see shattered homes and businesses. Lots of blue tarp roofs and boarded over windows. A few "We're Open" signs in front of businesses that have patched together to try to keep things going. One bayside bar looked like the building was ready to collapse, but there were a half dozen people at the bar. Our favorite bayside, sunset-watching bar and grill was open... the roof is gone, there is a tarp suspended over the seating, and they are cooking on a big gas grill... you can order from anything on the menu, as long as it's shrimp or a hamburger. Trying to maintain some normalcy and a sense of humor.
South Padre Island seemed to take the brunt of it. When the wind switched to the west and kicked up, the homes and business on the bayside were really battered. It didn't matter if you were on the ground floor or 7 floors up... lots of water damage. A once-beautiful Luhrs sportfisher still sits onshore above the seawall - evidence of the power of Nature. I took a camera along, but couldn't bare to shoot anything.
The damage we received is minimal compared to many here. The palm tree in front of our place stayed standing (many were snapped off or toppled), but it looks like it's doing an impersonation of Fritz the Cat. We won't be putting Wild Blue at the dock until most of it can be replaced. Right now, other than drying things out in our storage area under the house, we are trying to leave things until the insurance adjustor comes out.
Some of the excursion boats were out today, and there were plenty of tourists on SPI; life and business goes on. Some of the big hotels (like the Raddison and the Bahia Mar) are shut down... this is their busiest time of the year. Some marginal businesses won't recover.
We've seen a lot of changes in this area in the 13 years we've been a part of the community. It was looking good... and it will again.
We have seen what a Category 5 looks like when Iniki devastated Kauai. This was a "weak Category 2" (not "weak" when you talk to those who stayed). It left almost all of our buildings standing, and didn't cost anyone their life.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
After doing some unloading today, we drove around to see the area... it is heartbreaking to see shattered homes and businesses. Lots of blue tarp roofs and boarded over windows. A few "We're Open" signs in front of businesses that have patched together to try to keep things going. One bayside bar looked like the building was ready to collapse, but there were a half dozen people at the bar. Our favorite bayside, sunset-watching bar and grill was open... the roof is gone, there is a tarp suspended over the seating, and they are cooking on a big gas grill... you can order from anything on the menu, as long as it's shrimp or a hamburger. Trying to maintain some normalcy and a sense of humor.
South Padre Island seemed to take the brunt of it. When the wind switched to the west and kicked up, the homes and business on the bayside were really battered. It didn't matter if you were on the ground floor or 7 floors up... lots of water damage. A once-beautiful Luhrs sportfisher still sits onshore above the seawall - evidence of the power of Nature. I took a camera along, but couldn't bare to shoot anything.
The damage we received is minimal compared to many here. The palm tree in front of our place stayed standing (many were snapped off or toppled), but it looks like it's doing an impersonation of Fritz the Cat. We won't be putting Wild Blue at the dock until most of it can be replaced. Right now, other than drying things out in our storage area under the house, we are trying to leave things until the insurance adjustor comes out.
Some of the excursion boats were out today, and there were plenty of tourists on SPI; life and business goes on. Some of the big hotels (like the Raddison and the Bahia Mar) are shut down... this is their busiest time of the year. Some marginal businesses won't recover.
We've seen a lot of changes in this area in the 13 years we've been a part of the community. It was looking good... and it will again.
We have seen what a Category 5 looks like when Iniki devastated Kauai. This was a "weak Category 2" (not "weak" when you talk to those who stayed). It left almost all of our buildings standing, and didn't cost anyone their life.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
marvin4239
New member
Doryman":3d9hkge0 said:
Warren that's it but mine was and older model. I think I bought it in 96 at Camper World. It won't do a big load but for one or two people it was ideal.
Captain Jim and the "3 Bs"...
It is Monday morning, and Dan has been busy; here is the latest installment of Captain Jim...
Hope you enjoy; as always, Dan appreciates your comments. I considered passing on posting the strip this week; but this thread has always been about the lighter side of cruising. I figured many of us could use a smile.
Best wishes,
Jim
It is Monday morning, and Dan has been busy; here is the latest installment of Captain Jim...
Hope you enjoy; as always, Dan appreciates your comments. I considered passing on posting the strip this week; but this thread has always been about the lighter side of cruising. I figured many of us could use a smile.
Best wishes,
Jim
We've been home a couple days now. We have fixed the dock, cleaned the air conditioner (amazing what 120+ mph winds can blow into the coils); the toy hauler has been unloaded, cleaned, and put into storage. While there, we got to visit Wild Blue - she has a layer of dirt on her, but she looks great! I thought that we could drop off the trailer and pick up the boat... apparently someone (whose name I won't mention) thinks I won't get anything else done if the boat goes back in the water right now. Well, duhhhh... isn't that the point? :wink:
A few more days of picking up and cleaning outside (still finding parts of shingles in unusual places), and we'll be looking pretty normal again (no smart ass comments). After the insurance adjustor is done with us tomorrow, we'll get the contractor in to assess the drywall and roof. All in all, it shouldn't take much to get us back to 100%.
The tire repair business has been booming in the area - when all those shingles came loose, it took the nails with them... and left "booby-traps" everywhere. :?
And to add injury to more injury... the fuel dock near us burned. Less than a week after the hurricane, a guy was fueling his boat... flicked his Bic... whooosh! His boat, with his dog leashed to it, became engulfed. He tossed the fuel hose on the dock (turning it into a flame thrower), jumped on the burning boat, and unhooked the dog. In the meantime, the wooden dock (not far from the fuel storage tanks) was ablaze. Yep, the fuel dock survived the storm reasonably intact, and then this???
Best wishes,
Jim
A few more days of picking up and cleaning outside (still finding parts of shingles in unusual places), and we'll be looking pretty normal again (no smart ass comments). After the insurance adjustor is done with us tomorrow, we'll get the contractor in to assess the drywall and roof. All in all, it shouldn't take much to get us back to 100%.
The tire repair business has been booming in the area - when all those shingles came loose, it took the nails with them... and left "booby-traps" everywhere. :?
And to add injury to more injury... the fuel dock near us burned. Less than a week after the hurricane, a guy was fueling his boat... flicked his Bic... whooosh! His boat, with his dog leashed to it, became engulfed. He tossed the fuel hose on the dock (turning it into a flame thrower), jumped on the burning boat, and unhooked the dog. In the meantime, the wooden dock (not far from the fuel storage tanks) was ablaze. Yep, the fuel dock survived the storm reasonably intact, and then this???
Best wishes,
Jim
Bill Uffelman
New member
Geniuses are born every minute -- glad the dog survived but am ambivalent about feelings towards the Bic user!
Bill Uffelman
Las Vegas NV
Bill Uffelman
Las Vegas NV
Sam Walker
New member
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the beauty of those few people of the public who are here to insure that Dave S and I stay employed. :cake Fire is a beautiful tool right up until it is used by those fit the following statement. You can't fix stupid. :embarrased You gotta luv'm.
Jim, I have been watching your posts since the Yellowstone extravaganza. I worked 47 days in a row on the Big Sur Fire here in Monterey County. I have not had time to write back until now. As that whole thing unfolded to its eventuality, a line from the Shootist w/ John Wayne came to mind. Something like, I will wrong no man and I will expect the same. I was proud of you and Joan for your stance. :wink The beauty of retirement. They need you more than you need them. :smiled
I am still looking at the V-Strom for a 215 mile one way jaunt to Monterey from the Sacramento area. What do you think? :thup or :thdown?
Congrats on the trailer. I am glad to know that I am not the only one w/ that dreaded problem of how to get all of the toys to the toy spot. For a long time, my wife thought that I was the only one w/ the problem. We have spent a lot of time, effort and money to solve it. We are on RV #8. :disgust I have finally determined that the only way to do it is to have a long toter home w/ a very large double deck trailer. Now to afford it...................... :cry Hmm, oops, sorry I digressed. Anyway, thanks to you, Joan, and Molly :cat I can tell my wife that it is not just me. There are others with this terrible disease also. But seriously, I am looking forward to the day when the worst choice that I have to make is whether to take the bike, the jeep, or the boat on the next trip. :teeth
I am glad the house did not suffer major damage. It was providence when you told those Yellowstone folks to stuff the job up ooops. Maybe I had better stop there w/ that.
Anyway, I am truly looking forward to meeting you, Joan and Molly :cat somewhere along the way. I think that we could just spend hours comparing toy and RV notes.
Sorry for the length. I had a lot of pent up writing that needed to come out.
Jim, I have been watching your posts since the Yellowstone extravaganza. I worked 47 days in a row on the Big Sur Fire here in Monterey County. I have not had time to write back until now. As that whole thing unfolded to its eventuality, a line from the Shootist w/ John Wayne came to mind. Something like, I will wrong no man and I will expect the same. I was proud of you and Joan for your stance. :wink The beauty of retirement. They need you more than you need them. :smiled
I am still looking at the V-Strom for a 215 mile one way jaunt to Monterey from the Sacramento area. What do you think? :thup or :thdown?
Congrats on the trailer. I am glad to know that I am not the only one w/ that dreaded problem of how to get all of the toys to the toy spot. For a long time, my wife thought that I was the only one w/ the problem. We have spent a lot of time, effort and money to solve it. We are on RV #8. :disgust I have finally determined that the only way to do it is to have a long toter home w/ a very large double deck trailer. Now to afford it...................... :cry Hmm, oops, sorry I digressed. Anyway, thanks to you, Joan, and Molly :cat I can tell my wife that it is not just me. There are others with this terrible disease also. But seriously, I am looking forward to the day when the worst choice that I have to make is whether to take the bike, the jeep, or the boat on the next trip. :teeth
I am glad the house did not suffer major damage. It was providence when you told those Yellowstone folks to stuff the job up ooops. Maybe I had better stop there w/ that.
Anyway, I am truly looking forward to meeting you, Joan and Molly :cat somewhere along the way. I think that we could just spend hours comparing toy and RV notes.
Sorry for the length. I had a lot of pent up writing that needed to come out.