February 2016 Pre-trip and Trip Reports

[SouthAlabama5er]

We went to Disney in November and I do not recall any issues with construction. There was a wreck on the turnpike that we navigated around, but that was about it. If there are any trouble spots, I will let you know. We are going to be a little behind what I thought because of soccer practice for my son.

DDo5 (a.k.a. Mike)

Hey Mike I appreciate it,

 

[tiggerdad]

Hey I just noticed I made it to DIS veteran, cool!

Congrats man! It makes for a big deal, and then you look and people like Ed, Denise, Scupper, and some of the others totals and you are just like...

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Exactly!!

Yall are full of useful information, I just sit back and follow along and speak up every now and then.

 

[bama_ed]

Nah, we just old.

 

[jbrostek]

Anyone planning to take I77 today and possibly for the next week, be aware Southbound in VA is currently closed due to a damaged bridge.

http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/salem/2016/traffic_alert__damaged92103.asp

TRAFFIC ALERT: DAMAGED BRIDGE CLOSES SOUTHBOUND INTERSTATE 77 IN CARROLL COUNTY
Traffic using ramps at exit 14 (Hillsville) around closure




SALEM – Both southbound lanes of Interstate 77 in Carroll County are blocked at exit 14 (Hillsville). Traffic is diverting around the closure by using the exit and entrance ramps at exit 14.


This incident involves several vehicles and damage to the bridge over Route 58.


No estimated time for reopening southbound I-77 has been established.


For updates on the southbound I-77 closure, visit www.511Virginia.org​

 

[PaHunter]

Nah, we just old.

And with that Post Bama Ed is trying to nudge himself over the 5,000 post mark.

 

[bama_ed]

Oh and I want to be clear that although I have never met Denise/2goofycampers, I'm sure she is eternally young and not getting old like I am.

Didn't want to get sideways with her.

Bama Ed

 

[jbrostek]

Lots and lots of progress this evening. Body and trim is on, made a little mod by adding a marine grade USB charge port on the dash (lets face it these days its needed.) The battery pack is powered back up. If all goes well by tomorrow I will be reinstalling the lights and top only leaving the seats and tail panel to take care of. I may get a little more done tonight, but I had a work call to deal with at 9pm. Worse case I will pick at it some more tomorrow.

 

[PaHunter]

Slick looking cart.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

I like the lowered look best myself, if I had a cart it would look like yours but I think I'd have to put a big Alabama "A" on the hood!

 

[jbrostek]

The cart is not lowered, that is stock height on 10" rims. I don't like the big lifts, but my track golf cart has a 4" lift and its worth it around the mud and muck. If you go with 12" rims you do need a factory 2" lift otherwise it rubs. The blue cart we built last year has 12s on it and we still want the small lift for better tire clearance. But damn it looks slick at stock height with the bigger rims.

I did get more done last night after my call, the top is back on, all the trim pieces are on and the front headlights are reinstalled. Tonight I have some errands to run first, but I hope to get the rear tail lights installed and start painting the rear seat bracket and taping the tail panel. I still have the seats to recover, but I hope to get to that later this week.

By end of the week I hope to have most of the trailer loaded. I may try to top off the propane bottle I been drawing off of when I been out there, or I might just top it off when we stop in SC for the night. Instead of bringing an extra 20# to run my patio heater and grill I am going to take an extra 30# that I picked up this year.

I would make a sign, but my site is not that hard to find when I am at FW, the harder part is catching me after 11am as we are usually only there for an hour or so to walk and feed the pups before heading out for dinner after some time in the parks.

 

[jbrostek]

The packing and projects continue. While it was not the leaps and bounds from the night before, I did get a decent amount of things done. I made it to the store for some household items I needed, a few things for the truck, and got two 5 gallon refills for the trip. We started taking the 5 gallon bottles with us on trips when I and a friends dog seem to have issues when we traveled. We tried diet, pills to help with car sickness, and then did an entire 4 day weekend with the dogs on a 5 gallon jug of water....no issues!! So that has become the main stay now once I leave the local water supply. And really compared to FL water it makes better coffee too.

I did get the tail lights and rear bumper back on the cart while it was a small addition to the task it is progress. The last of the rear seat hardware was sanded, primed and painted to deal with the surface rusting. All that is left to paint at this point is the tail panel, and I plan to start that tonight but given its general size will take a few evenings to complete. That leaves the largest job at this point re-upholstering the two seat sets. As I am not an upholstery professional it is a 2 person job to get it to look professional. So I have Friday evening planned with my buddy to go to the shop and knock out the seat sets. With all of that planned should have the cart complete by Saturday.

Also started to sort through clothes to pack up for the trip, its supposed to rain all evening today so I will wait till tomorrow to start loading everything up.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Well the lady from Tee Time called me this morning and set up our pick up of 3 carts Saturday. Everything is good, this evening I received a text from her, seems to be one of the carts will be in the shop, so she asked if I was ok with a 6 seater cart instead, I told her that would be fine, I'm use to having a hard time finding a parking spot for my F450, why should it be any different with a golf cart? I told my wife I could charge rides in the extra seat and make some money back haha! It's all good, I'm going to the Fort in 3 days! I'm happy!

 

[tiggerdad]

Well the lady from Tee Time called me this morning and set up our pick up of 3 carts Saturday. Everything is good, this evening I received a text from her, seems to be one of the carts will be in the shop, so she asked if I was ok with a 6 seater cart instead, I told her that would be fine, I'm use to having a hard time finding a parking spot for my F450, why should it be any different with a golf cart? I told my wife I could charge rides in the extra seat and make some money back haha! It's all good, I'm going to the Fort in 3 days! I'm happy!

Randy, I'll bet PaHunter's favorite rifle that you can't get that 6 seater up to the same speed I got Kenny's rental cart up to during my October visit.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

We'll see about that!

 

[peg110]

Ooooo.... A challenge. I love these!

 

[bama_ed]

I'm curious to know what Kenny's rate for the 6 seater is. A long time ago people mentioned they had gotten one from him but I had not heard it mentioned in a while. Maybe I just missed it. Randy, let us know if you can.

Bama Ed

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Bama_ed, a 6 seater is $55 a day from Kenny.

 

[jbrostek]

Not too bad of a price for a 6 seat cart per day.

Last night I had more evening work and it rained in the DC metro area which meant bus was late getting back to the commuter lot. I still made it home in time for work which took 2 hours. After hours work is a love/hate item for me.

Once that was all said and done I did get to work on the rear seat tail panel. Got all the rust and flakes wire brushed off and scuffed. Then got a coat chassis sealer/primer down and the final chassis coat on it. With the bottom dry and cured, I can work on the top half of the panel tonight. All that is left at this point will be that final assembly and the seats being recovered.

I got more clothes sorted out, but Caren is well ahead of me on that front. But hey I started so that's a good thing.

 

[tltay2005]

For those heading this way next week the weather is turning chilly (ok, downright cold for us native Floridians) so pack your jackets and heaters and something to warm you from the inside.