skipbee
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Re: Trip report: The TC fools (The Bros) do Anza
We've been out of the loop for a bit. What a way back in! You are an amazing writer and performer. We of the beaches and marshes are most excited by these forays in tight spaces and broad views. Thanks for the adventure. Love to all, Skip & Linda628Views0likes0CommentsRe: 2003 lance 1171 and 2017 Srw f350 am I asking for trouble?
This my experience not opinion. We have a 2005 Lance 1121 on a 2004 F-350 diesel 4X4 SRW crew cab LB. We added 19.5" H rated wheels and tires. and have traveled 100.000 miles from coast to coast and from Key West to Alaska with no problems. Weight is around the same maybe a little heavier when fully loaded. The airbags are very helpful leveling fore and aft and side to side. Replaced the tires at 70,000. Will do a second brake rebuild shortly.625Views0likes0CommentsRe: Lance Repair in Southeast?
We're surveying our Lance 1121 at present, the wings have all ready been rebuilt. There are several other places suspect. Unfortunately I forgot a boating repair technique using West System (wood epoxy saturation technique) the epoxy is very thin and turns the wood pretty much completely sealed from absorption. Because epoxy breaks down in sunlight any exposed areas must be painted. I think this method will be a good way of forstalling, and reducing the rot. The West System products are available at West Marine and other boating outlets. Forgetting stuff is getting old, as I am!644Views0likes0CommentsRe: Alaska - Just wing it?
Wing it! (Sorta) Our only reservation was the Alaska Marine Highway (Ferry System) from Bellingham, Washington, which we highly recommend. If we go again we will not take a room but do what is called "sleeping on deck". In a large enclosed and heated space ypu are able to pitch a tent or just have a sleeping bag on a plastic chaise. Showers and facilities are provided and some limited cooking. The vessel has cafeteria food which was excellent. You are not allowed to use your rig except for the dog. we got some dry ice for our freezer, The propane has to be shut off, and put the fridge stuff in a couple of wheeled fold-up coolers from Walmart.There are ice machines as in a hotel. Every day a ferry goes north and south, you are able to schedule getting off for a few days at many of the ports, and catch another ferry north. We stayed awhile in Sitka, it was great, just boondocked a little way out of town, same with Juno. At the end of the ferry route you drive several hundred miles thru Canada to Tok, Alaska. We found the Milepost to be very useful. All about are gravel pits used to build the roads in which we overnighted frequently. The Forest Service Campgrounds were $5.00 a night with dump stations often, we never stayed in a private camp. Denali was wonderful you drive about 40 miles into the park to the RV camp and then must ride a bus to see most of the rest. It is twice the size of Pennsylvania. We also spent more than a month on the Kenai Peninsula. We got a lot of good advice from fishing gear shops and other spots for local highlights. We took the ferry south from Seward after 3 months total, no reservation was needed. The ferry cost was about the same as fuel cost and driving time 4 nights and 5 days with no wear and tear on the rig. TC's are just pick-ups with a load, not RV's which are not allowed in many towns, you have to get in a campground and take a bus, because of limited parking. We were never bothered. The folks we met in Alaska could not have been more hospitable. Fuel and supplies were readily available.588Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trip Report: Across country delivering Sleepy's camper
Sleepy just sent me a detailed PM suggesting how to follow the progress of his rigs renewal. It is provance that we've been able to plug into all of these terrific programs. I have been out of the TC loop for awhile, due to a family tragedy, but as time permits healing, and "when the student is ready, the teacher appears", seems now, most apropos, since Steve, Sally and Sleepy have begun the process of the restoration of Chet and Janet's Storied Rig. We will be able to set in motion the refit of our, much travelled and most recently, not well cared for, Lance 1121. Linda and I lived aboard a 41'Sailing Ketch the "Imagine" for 23 years. At about 12 years we did a pretty complete refit of her. We sailed her over 150, 000 nautical miles for both pleasure and charter work. So we realize these vessels must have some extraordinary maintenance from time to time until they reach the end of useful life. "Imagine" eventually surveyed above her replacement value in other words we could have purchased a less used similar vessel for much less that the cost of restoring her to safe condition. Our Lance 1121 is not near retirement, I believe, we have replaced some skirt wood, have a soft spot in the floor at the door, and the right front jack needs attention. I don't see any discoloration indicating roof leaks. But I know it will require close inspection to determine actual condition. All in all our membership here has been most necessary to guide us to the correct paths. Going from a sailing yacht to a TC has been great, we can still discover new places with a lot less physical effort and a whole lot less $. The only thing that compares with blue water sailing is standing in a cold shower tearing up $100.00 bills! The Gods, they say, to not detract from mans alloted time, those hours spent while sailing or TCing! Love to all, skip PS- Our Granddaughter leaves Maryland 8/16/2017 driving to Seattle,WA, to attend Cornish University. She has lived with us during high school, what a coincidence! I've been reading the Seattle Times, it seems Seattle is offering liberal parking of RV's on city streets due to housing shortage, ain't life grand?255Views0likes0CommentsRe: Trip Report: Across country delivering Sleepy's camper
Steve and Sally, You both are inspirational for all of us. We're proud to share this common interest with you and are motivated to crank up our wanderlust once more. We, too, will prolly need some major refitting and shall follow the progress of Sleepy and Janet's rig. As fate allows good joss, our Granddaughter leaves for 4 years of college at Cornish College in Seattle in a few days so it should be an excellent fit. Watching Sally's enthusiastic participation in the cross-country adventure reminds me that we guys are really very lucky to have been able lure such high toned gals to share in this grand game. Recent circumstances have limited our wanderings but as time heals, we should be underway soon. Thanks again for this excellent effort! Love to all, skip & Linda255Views0likes0CommentsRe: Whazoo goes Gramping
Hi Waz, Linda and I have wandered much with our Grand Kids. Alaska, Florida Keys. Disney World (The Best) etc. We say the reason for the special relationship between grandchildren and grandparents is that they share a common problem, the parents! Love to all, skip312Views0likes0CommentsRe: Post your Sneakiest Stealth Camp
We spent a night on the parking lot of the USS San Francisco Memorial, looking westward ore the Pacific and Easterly to the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay. During the night a guard came by and carefully avoided shining his flashlight on our rig. In the morning the gate was unlocked and we departed. It was a beautiful spot, no one objected!503Views0likes0Comments
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