Day 277 - Mapping the future!

While there are a million little details that have be attended to when planning a move across country, the two things that require the most planning is: 

1.  Budget
2.  Mapping

Mapping the trip is going to have to come first as I will have to rent a truck.  Penske has the best rate by far! 

The cheapest way to rent a truck is by the week.  A flat weekly rate is going to be $781.30.  

That includes:

• $562.10 - 6 days of unlimited mileage on the truck
• $102.00 - a limited damage waiver of up to $60K damage on the truck
• $70.00 - the tow dolly for my Explorer, 
• $30.00 - the tow dolly insurance,
• $17.20 - tax and environmental impact fees

The problems I face with this set up are two-fold.  

1)  I have to load the truck early in the morning, get the truck on the dolly and arrive in Key West within 6 days.

2)  If I use a tow dolly, I have to have the drive shaft disconnected (after it gets on the dolly) and then have it re-attached when I arrive in Key West.

 

Now, the last time I drove to Key West, I had a blow out on the Florida Turnpike.  It turned out all right, everyone was safe and sound.  However, I did have a little bit of body damage and had a taillight broken out (which I got a ticket for in Big Pine Key). 

I went to the auto parts store in Key West to find a body guy who could fix my truck for the trip back and was told there was a 6 month wait!  I can't wait 6 months to get my truck back!

So, the adventure continues.  Now to find a mechanic who can re-attach the drive shaft.

Next comes the biggest expense of the trip - GAS!

I ran into a soldier at the gas station who was moving from Rhode Island to Southern California. He was driving the same length truck (22 ft.), pulling an SUV like mine on a towing dolly.  He said he was getting 8 miles to the gallon!  (that's a new post all by itself!)

So, for all of this, I'm going to get this! 

Courtesy of Chris Rehm (the Dream Maker)

I'm not worried, I got Zac Brown and Jimmy Buffett inspiring me today!

 So, to get you inspired, the lyrics are below!  SING IT LOUD!!!!!!!

Gonna put the the world away for a minute
Pretend I don't live in it
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away

Had sweet love but I lost it
She got too close so I fought her
Now I'm lost in the world trying to find me a better way

Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

Wrote a note said be back in a minute
Bought a boat and I sailed off in it
Don't think anybody gonna miss me anyway

Mind on a permanent vacation
The ocean is my only medication
Wishing my condition ain't ever gonna go away

Cause now im knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair

Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

This champagne shore washing over me
It's a sweet sweet life living by the salty sea
One day you could be as lost as me
Change you're geography
Maybe you might be

Knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

Come on in the water it's nice
Find yourself a little slice
Grab a backpack of lies
You never know until you try
When you lose yourself
You find the key to paradise

It's going to be soooooooooooooo worth it!