Grey Skies, Monetize, Cockpit Flies, Muddy Tires, Palletize And The Beginning Of The End.

​I finally found a trailer to transport the hulls. It's 235 miles away. I booked it. At least it's in the right direction (South, in Houston). The stars were aligning. The plan was forming. The logistics were logisting(?). On Tuesday I started my nightly walk. The breeze was warm at my back. In a heartbeat the wind temperature dropped 15°.  I turned around and went home. The temperature dropped to 35° and thunderstorms on Wednesday. Thursday was not much better. See? See? God found out! I tried to not say much about the move so it would be a surprise to all, but it didn't work. Oh well, The rain permitted me the chance to pack and pack I did. It's just a tiny place! Where did I get all this crap? Not only do I have to pack it up, I also have to find it later! My solution: all those cabins. Everything is stowed in the cabins where it probably will be needed later (I hope). 

The terrible weather also permitted a bit of sewing. We needed straps under the pod to help support it. I needed two loops sewed into 2" webbing. Of course I forgot all I learned about sewing. A frustrating couple of hours later, I gave up. The next day I tried again: Success! Two loops sewn. Much cursing  accomplished.

And there they is.

Why is it that no matter how organized and efficient your packing skills, you always end up dumping entire drawerfuls of stuff into boxes and just stuffing things anywhere they fit? I now am in a transitional living existence where the most rudimentary tasks of daily life are a chore. I look for something.......oh, I packed that. You know how it goes. You plod along. You pick up something, anything, and make the trip to the boat and put it somewhere, anywhere. Don't think, numb your mind, Just go back, pick up another anything, make the trip to the boat and put it anywhere. Keep doing it until you are tired, then go get some more until you run out.

I also made a bunch of those. They're about 8" long.

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​After a lot of time spent trying to get an extended reach forklift for a cheap price, I gave up and paid for one from a commercial rental service.  I contacted many people. The people that had one did not return my calls.  On Tuesday I used the tried and true method: throw money at it. I booked the forklift from the reputable, but expensive dealer. Here it is, delivered Friday morning, the mother of all fork lifts. 

We immediately put the mother forker to work. Budge had borrowed a 16' trailer from his dad and we went to work. Budge rigged up two GoPro cameras to produce a video (one worked). We placed a video on the video place. We decided to fly all the parts. We removed the two cockpit side decks by hand and rigged the cockpit through the 4 drain holes, much as we did when we raised it up many months ago.

We flew the two foredecks and stacked them on the trailer

Next, the mast case. We put it aside for a bit.

 We flew out the center deck and stacked it on the trailer.

Next came the motor boxes. The starboard one came out easily. The port side jammed up. We had no clearance. Much colorful language later, we had to lower it and carry it by hand to the trailer. We couldn't take a picture of us carrying it. Our hands were full.

The last deck removed and stacked on the motor boxes.

Then back to the mast case and stack it on the trailer.

Of course, Saturday was rainy so we didn't get started until after 1:00 PM. I forgot to take pictures for a while. We had to wrestle with the center mast beam. My tolerances necessitated  pivoting the ptfe on the beam sides out of the way.  We stacked the beams on a pallet. 

We palletized the outboards and batteries.

Flying cockpit tops, stacked beams. We are tired with much to do. 

Our documentation of the event; writ in the driveway mud of Texas.

Rocky (you remember Rocky, don't you?) said the upholstery work will be finished by 5:00 PM on Sunday. Talk about last minute.

Monday, we drive the trailer to the boat yard and pick up the gooseneck trailer and drive back. Then two more trips for the hulls. Blank my mind and just do it.

The Music: Red Green "Drinkin' With The Boys"

One of the most heartfelt renditions. My mood tonight.