In honor of Lee's trip to LA to get his new trailer, I figured I'd share my trip to pick up the new to me 225 Tournament. I sold the last one back in March and, while looking for a 209, came across another 225 that was too good of a deal to pass up.
Sea trial and check out came back positive......shopped and ordered a trailer which, because of the essential/non-essential shutdowns in Florida was a bit more of a challenge, and hit the road.
Thursday: April 9th:
2 PM. Headed south on I-75. Destination: Vero Beach, FL.
5:15 PM. TPMS warning light comes on near Valdosta...approximately 250 miles south of Atlanta. As a loyal Discount Tire customer, I knew the next locations were either in Lake City or Gainesville - another hour or so down the road. Would I make it before they closed at 6PM? As luck would have it, Discount Tire had just (like a couple weeks before) opened a new location in Valdosta. Pulled in - 20 minutes later pulled out with the tire patched.
9:45 PM. Arrive Vero Beach. As Lee noticed too on his trip, a surreal experience when the hotel is virtually empty. As we know now, this will be the new normal.
Friday April 10:
8:10 AM. Arrive at Float-On. They are performing final QC on my new trailer. They bring the paperwork out to me so I don't have to go inside. They suggest (or insist actually) that I stop back by there after I put the boat on the trailer to make sure everything is A-OK. I figure I'll make that call if necessary.
8:40 AM. Depart Float-On. Head south to Stuart.
9:30 AM . Arrive Stuart. Relief as the boat ramp is open (Sansprit Park). This has been my chief worry as it's been open, closed, open during the week, closed on weekends, etc... Back up plan was a lift and set at Sailfish Marina but thankfully turned out to be unnecessary.
10:00 AM. Boat is on the trailer. Decide that I will take Float-On up on their offer to check the adjustments and retorque everything. Off to the bank now to complete the paperwork with the seller.
10:50 AM. Headed North. Tows good but a little light on the tongue as I get it up to speed on I-95 North.
11:50 AM. Back at Float-On. Crew jumps on it immediately. An adjustment here, a reposition there, and it's good to go. They also measured my height at the ball and at the back of the trailer and determined that my ball mount was too low. Suggested flipping it over for better braking action. Suggestion taken.
12:20 PM. Headed West on 60, then North on the Turnpike.
5:00 PM. Cross back into Georgia. My scenery pictures, if there were any, would not be nearly as exciting as Lee's. Not much to see through Florida and Georgia along I-75
9:15 PM. Comfortably in her parking space at the top of my driveway. Safe and Sound
Sea trial and check out came back positive......shopped and ordered a trailer which, because of the essential/non-essential shutdowns in Florida was a bit more of a challenge, and hit the road.
Thursday: April 9th:
2 PM. Headed south on I-75. Destination: Vero Beach, FL.
5:15 PM. TPMS warning light comes on near Valdosta...approximately 250 miles south of Atlanta. As a loyal Discount Tire customer, I knew the next locations were either in Lake City or Gainesville - another hour or so down the road. Would I make it before they closed at 6PM? As luck would have it, Discount Tire had just (like a couple weeks before) opened a new location in Valdosta. Pulled in - 20 minutes later pulled out with the tire patched.
9:45 PM. Arrive Vero Beach. As Lee noticed too on his trip, a surreal experience when the hotel is virtually empty. As we know now, this will be the new normal.
Friday April 10:
8:10 AM. Arrive at Float-On. They are performing final QC on my new trailer. They bring the paperwork out to me so I don't have to go inside. They suggest (or insist actually) that I stop back by there after I put the boat on the trailer to make sure everything is A-OK. I figure I'll make that call if necessary.
8:40 AM. Depart Float-On. Head south to Stuart.
9:30 AM . Arrive Stuart. Relief as the boat ramp is open (Sansprit Park). This has been my chief worry as it's been open, closed, open during the week, closed on weekends, etc... Back up plan was a lift and set at Sailfish Marina but thankfully turned out to be unnecessary.
10:00 AM. Boat is on the trailer. Decide that I will take Float-On up on their offer to check the adjustments and retorque everything. Off to the bank now to complete the paperwork with the seller.
10:50 AM. Headed North. Tows good but a little light on the tongue as I get it up to speed on I-95 North.
11:50 AM. Back at Float-On. Crew jumps on it immediately. An adjustment here, a reposition there, and it's good to go. They also measured my height at the ball and at the back of the trailer and determined that my ball mount was too low. Suggested flipping it over for better braking action. Suggestion taken.
12:20 PM. Headed West on 60, then North on the Turnpike.
5:00 PM. Cross back into Georgia. My scenery pictures, if there were any, would not be nearly as exciting as Lee's. Not much to see through Florida and Georgia along I-75
9:15 PM. Comfortably in her parking space at the top of my driveway. Safe and Sound
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