WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

[Daktari]

Hi there,

I'm sure lots of folks who own not just our T-birds but really any two seater have been faced with this minor problem. Thing is, in September we are driving down to the gulf coast from up here in North Georgia. A week at the beach.

Problem: I play guitar and cannot go one week without it. I also plan on taking my seven foot two string kite, ideal for the beach. I have also just started playing a 26" tall solid wood djembe drum from Africa. I would like to take that as well.

Not to forget Rachel and maybe some clothes as well.

My first thought was that all of this will never fit into the T-bird and we had decided to take our second car, an Infiniti FX. When the rear seats are folded flat there is tons of space and so that would be the obvious choice.

However, I keep thinking of lovely sunny September days cruising down the beach road with the topless T-bird and how much we would miss that when we got there. There is the option of driving both cars down but that is just too decadent and I don't think Rachel would want to drive all that way by herself.

Here's where I am right now. I'm thinking we could drive there and back with the top up which would leave the space behind the seats free. My drum and a guitar may fit in there. My kite will fold down and hopefully fit in the trunk with our bags. I need to have a practice pre- packing session to just see what we can get in there.

I'll report back and let you know which car we decide to use?

Gordon ??

[Skozzy]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

hmm...leave the drum at home!!!! Your on vacation and the trust me the Gulf Coast will offer plenty to do so you won't have time to "bang the ole drum"!

Gulf Coaster's am I wrong?????

[Ol'Dave]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

It's a V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N. Pack Light. Enjoy the short memory of it. Drive the Bird!!!

As a resident Gulf Coaster, I can tell you we have plenty of variety for you. And as long as you stay North of the Tampa Bay area, Tourists are a few. We're not called the Nature Coast for nothing. Beaches are pristine with white sand, the Gulf glistens, Manatee's and Mermaids galore. Peaceful Beauty abounds with Palms and Spanish Oaks. Oh, did I mention Thunderbird meets and cruises abound also. There is no hustle nor bustle up here (for Floridians), or down here (for others).

One other note. Drive the FX, and you'll stick out as a Tourist. Drive the Bird, blend in, and enjoy the moments while your here.

[Daktari]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi there,

Leaving the drum is an option, leaving the guitar and the kite are also options. What I didn't mention in the last post is that having 'jam sessions' is a big part of the fun. Last time we stayed in a beach house on St George island and met Hank Williams,(he had a place somewhere nearby apparently). It's a great atmosphere and musicians often meet up, usually by accident. It's just nice to have a bit of drum sometimes instead of all guitars and voices.

If we were staying in a hotel the whole time, then I would leave the drum at home, consideration for the neighbours and all that....

I had thought of the luggage rack but on searching through the pics of that, I'm not keen and I wouldn't want to pay nearly $500.00 for something that I'm not keen on. Skozzy, your'e right though, the drum would be the first choice to leave behind if I can't cram everything in...

Gordon.

[Daktari]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi Dave,

Just read your post. Are you anywhere close to St. George Island?

Gordon.

[DavidA]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Get a trailer for the Bird. It really helped on our trip and made packing and extra shopping easy.

Instead of a mess, you have lots of room, even if the weather gets bad.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Instead of a mess, you have lots of room, even if the weather gets bad.

Hey, I ressemble that remark!

Gordon - take the bird at all costs. You won't regret it.

[Ediron]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

You can always do this .Get some ramps and you can fit everything Like Dave said your on vacation.T-shirts,shorts and sandals.

[bronzebird]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi there,
Problem: I play guitar and cannot go one week without it. I also plan on taking my seven foot two string kite, ideal for the beach. I have also just started playing a 26" tall solid wood djembe drum from Africa. I would like to take that as well.

Not to forget Rachel and maybe some clothes as well.

My first thought was that all of this will never fit into the T-bird and we had decided to take our second car, an Infiniti FX. When the rear seats are folded flat there is tons of space and so that would be the obvious choice.

However, I keep thinking of lovely sunny September days cruising down the beach road with the topless T-bird and how much we would miss that when we got there. There is the option of driving both cars down but that is just too decadent and I don't think Rachel would want to drive all that way by herself.

Here's where I am right now. I'm thinking we could drive there and back with the top up which would leave the space behind the seats free. My drum and a guitar may fit in there. My kite will fold down and hopefully fit in the trunk with our bags. I need to have a practice pre- packing session to just see what we can get in there.

I'll report back and let you know which car we decide to use?

Gordon ??

Gordon:

I have this problem when I want to take my golf clubs and other gear.

I simply pack up the clubs and ship them via UPS to my attention at the destination be it a hotel or a golf course. Pack up your guitar and drum and ship them UPS. Make up a self addressed label and ship them back to your home once you get ready to return.

Bronzebird

[FritsB]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi there,
I also plan on taking my seven foot two string kite, ideal for the beach.
Gordon ??

Can't you fold it up before you leave?

[Daktari]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi there,

Fritz, the kite does fold down otherwise I'd never get it in the bird. The struts are still pretty long though.

I told Rachel this lunchtime that we are going in the t-bird. I'll just cram in what we can and anything that won't fit will stay home. I hadn't thought of the mailing possibility. I don't think I'd trust sending this particular guitar in the mail. It's a classical acoustic and would damage easy. Also the drum weighs a ton so that would cost quite a bit.

I've been checking that roof space behind the seats. By driving there and back with the roof up, it leaves that space vacant for a guitar and maybe even the drum. Once we get there, the drum and guitar would be in the house so then we could have the top down, That leaves the trunk spare for the kite and a few bags. I'll try it tonight and see if it all fits.

Gordon.

[BIRD 42]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Gordon

Worst case send the majority of the clothes etc by UPS. We go to South Beach twice a year and it is cheaper than paying the extra for the bags with AA. That might give you more room for the guitar and drum.

What kind of kite to you have? I have a Prism NEXUS that I really like - 60" but breaks down to 29" fits in suitcase. Have you ever flown at night? There are a number of options for attaching LEDs to the kite. Another kite I have seen down there was a custom from the Tampa area, that made quite a buzzing sound when it got to going fast, down for a dive etc.

One of the features for the NEXUS is people link them together. Saw one in Galveston a couple of years ago that had FIVE linked together. Really looked sharp, but again quite a bit of wind drag.

Have you tried a quad yet? Seems that would take quite a bit of getting used to.

Have fun on the beach - Would really try and find a way to take the bird back to the sand!

Mike

[Daktari]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi again,

I'm settling for just taking what will fit. My kite is a Yin Yang, an unusual looking stunt kite that is great to fly on the beach. Where we are in Georgia, we don't get many chances to fly it. Usually when the wind is up, it is accompanied by thunderstorms which is not a good idea for kite flying.

The last time we were at St Georges, I had a crowd gather. A lot of folks had never seen a kite do things like that before. I love it, it's like drawing in the sky. Anyone interested in kites check out: intothewind.com

Can't wait to get there. We plan on setting off around 6.00 am, pass by Atlanta before Saturday traffic and should get there for lunch.

All the best, Gordon.

[ChromeDome]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Gordon, packing the Thunderbird with a guitar for a trip to the beach, brought to mind an infamous nudist colony scene from an old Peter Sellers movie.. A shot in the Dark.

[Daktari]

Re: WHICH CAR TO TAKE, Hmmmm?

Hi Ken.

You got it! That's just like me right there. Course, I'd need a bigger guitar to hide my big BELLY. (Steady on there).

Gordon.