Load, Party and Go!

It would be a few more days before the Smitanic was released from some last minute service items. So it's crew was back home empty handed to organize for the final load and departure.

Kevin struggled with how to secure his 3 remote control airplanes and found a idea for a rack that could fit in the back of the tow vehicle. After carefully measuring the Jeep's constrains, Theresa recalled a bit of geometry to figure out the length of the hypotenuse on a right triangle.  She then drew the diagram inserted here.




With that info and a solid design, an estimate of the PVC materials was made for the trip to Lowes. A handy PVC pipe cutting tool was recommended by the Lowes handyman, which made construction eazy-peasy. Within 20 minutes, one side of the rack was assembled. The parts were duplicated for the opposing sides.





Then a quick test to see how it fits in the Jeep... not bad, but a few minor adjustments would make it just right! After some more quick cuts the rack was inserted into the Jeep and Kevin successfully loaded up all 3 planes. 

A call was made to Campers Inn who promised all service items would be completed as well as the tire rims polished and a full tank of diesel and DEF four days before the planned departure. A trip to the RV dealer was planed with High Expectations. Upon arrival, the service technician greeting us with an update on the status of all the items. Most of the items needed parts so those were put on order and would either wait until April or be shipped to a sister location in Florida. The rims were being polished as Kevin asked about the fuel levels. Diesel was full, but the DEF was not topped off. Rather than make a trip to a Truck stop for the DEF, Kevin and Theresa offered to run to the nearby Tractor Supply Warehouse for a 5 gal container of DEF to top the tank off. By the time they returned the last rim was shining and the Smitanic was ready to Roll! The toad had not been tested since it's installation, but with one minor adjustment by the service tech all systems were functioning, (accept all the items on order and not yet delivered)! Off to introduce the New Smitanic to Tasman Ct.

Theresa had sent out the Smitanic invasion email notice as well as an invitation to an open house before the final exit! Several neighbors and biking/scuba friends stopped by to get the grand tour and see the upgraded Smitanic. The Smit's shared their travel plans that would extend the next 5 months. Those planes include the first destination of Florida for the month of November to visit Kevin's mom and sister. The Smitanic and its crew would then work west to Hemet, CA to visit Theresa's mom and family for Dec-Feb. Then navigate back to FL for March, with a return home in April. An invitation to all was extended to join the crew for any part of the trip to experience the “go-go” lifestyle! As a parting toast Kevin and Theresa handed over the Pickleball net to Terry Gilda with the challenge to the neighborhood to play often during the next 5 months!

When the crew took possession of the Smitanic at Campers RV Inn they had spent hours transferring items from the 2006 Smitanic to the newly commissioned 2016 Smitanic. Items that needed to be added to the ship stores were added once the Smitanic had docked at Tasman Court. The kitchen cupboards needed lined and some sort of organization applied to storing items. The Tasman living room as well as an area in the garage had been staged with items that were essential for the trip. Countless trips from the house to the RV, racked up Fitbit steps, as items were hauled and tucked away for the pending journey. Stowing items became a game on concentration as Theresa and Kevin kept saying “where did we put XYZ?” Cloths and food were the last items to be loaded. If anything was left at home... it will just be purchased or missed.

A few last good-byes to the neighbors and the Smitanic had an on-time departure headed South.