40dad.....skipping the small talk, I love the look of your boat! I could retire on that just fine! 40' will be my next stepping stone. Merry Christmas, enjoy Fl and be safe.
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No......we travel with our dogs so where we stop for food, fuel and pit stops, and what we can combine has an influence on the total elapsed time. We have found that the following is the best route to the beach from Montgomery:
As you approach Montgomery on the north side of town, take I-85 east toward Atlanta, go 9 miles to the Taylor Road exit (#9), exit to the right. Follow Old Taylor Road until it dead ends into hiway 231; turn left and stay on 231 to Troy,AL. At Troy, turn right (at Country's Barbecue) onto AL hiway 167, Stay on 167, at Enterprise, take the by pass by following 167, but you will turn left as soon as you get to the stoplight in Enterprise. Follow 167 all the way to Esto, FL where AL 167 changes to FL-79. Stay on 79 all the way to PCB. It dead ends at Back Beach Road (at the "Y"), turn left on Back Beach and go to the marina.
This route is all 4 lane or very good 2 lane, minimum turns, and it is safe at any time of the day or nite. You are never far from a town in case you have a problem.
And between us, Vic is a service writer; try to work thru Roland and build a relationship with him.
Thanks Satellite. glad you enjoyed it.Satellite Office
Re: Florida bound
One of the best threads I have read. Thank you for sharing and great input from all!
Hi 40dad,
Saw your boat today, we keep our little Scout in dry stack at TIM. Yours is still floating and looking fine. We're looking for a Dancer in the 28 -32 range.
We spent a lot of time on Barkley and Kentucky lakes, lived in Mayfield after graduating from WKU and learned to sail there. Used to spend some vacations there but now we have a house in PCB. Try to get down here about once a month. Maybe we'll run into each other at TIM before you head back.
Tim,
I didn't mention it because the boat is fine, but I did check your lines on 1/7/13. The weather/winds moderated and I spent some time at the marina on Monday after the guys came back. The lines were good and canvas in place, all but the panels Shaun had taken down while he worked on your interface issue. In fact, I spent about 30 minutes on your bridge visiting with Shaun......you have a beautiful boat and it always gets comments from the locals.
We are doing an addition on our house so I was a carpenter this trip instead of a boat driver. Sorry we missed you again. Don't know your return plan, but get ready for pandemonium during Spring Break. We've enjoyed no lines in restaurants, but everything will be open and full of loud kids beginning about 3/1 and running thru the 2nd week of April. The time from April 15 to Memorial day is golden........the later the better, because summer weather patters return and the water is warmer.
Here is the college spring break schedule so you can see how many students are out of school during what week.
http://www.tripsmarter.com/travelinfo/panama-city-beach/spring-break-college-university-dates
I would (and do) avoid the beach altogether during Thunder Beach bike week........5/1- 5/6. The marina will be quiet, but all you can hear everwhere are Harley Davidsons.....from dawn until 3-4AM. There are about 65,000 of them that show up the first week of May so the streets can be gridlocked in spots like Pier Park, Front Beach Road and St. Andrews. If we go then, we'll be anchored out somewhere for the weekend instead of at the house.
Tim,
I am just finding this thread. Good read and Great Pics. Thanks for the posts.
Tim,
Shaun wasn't done, but was having difficulty following the wiring the morning I was there.........he's isn't a give up kind of guy, so I'd bet he has it figured out.
And, on pumping your own fuel, given the guys they usually have on the dock, I'm going to pump my own anyway. But there is a story behind why they don't do it for customers any longer....on one holiday weekend several years ago, the same guy filled a gas boat with diesel, filled a water tank with gas, and put water in a diesel tank while trying to hook up the pump out nozzle to the deck plate. They later figured out the guy couldn't read or write. So, now we all do it ourselves. Bob, the night guy is the only one I'd trust and he is a good guy to have around.