Blood, Sweat, and Fiends: A Fort Fourth!

[MetalDad 33]

Day Five:

Music: Motown

Drink: Diet Coke and Water, not mixed.

Smell: Sweat, Lysol wipes, breakfast

The Last Day!

As per usual, I’m up early, before anyone else, Ben is not far behind.

I’m not sure why this happens, because I can’t wakeup to save me at home!

The routine begins, Lysol wipes, folding, rolling, stacking, packing.

It’s so much easier before the kids wake-up.

Then when they wake, we try to get them involved, takes longer, but they need to participate.

The first order of business is to go out to overflow to get the boxes and doo-dads to pack the truck, van, and trailer.

Once we make the left at the 4-way, we hit a back-up that ends somewhere between the 4-way stop and the hitching swerves.

It wasn’t that it was bumper to bumper, but more pure chaos.

Notice everyone pointing in the wrong direction.

And notice the double-yellow stripe in the road running the length of my drive train.

And why am I in the passenger side of my own truck?

Damn, left the color filter on again.

Ben has a quick phone chat with Sir Kenneth of Cart.

They’ll be by shortly to get one of the carts, the black one I’d been using.

Once back at the site, everything is being boxed and ready for home.

We get ready to crank the popup back down, and the last thing we do before we strike the door, is get all of our keys that stay a special secret spot.

Not the one by Bay Lake… different special secret spot.

Gracie and I have meticulously packed the truck like a game of Tetris.

All of Ben’s stuff is packed and stacked.

We’re about 10 minutes from hitting the road.

“Honey? Where’s the key to the cart?” bellows MetalWife.

Guess where they weren’t.

Anywhere…

We unpacked, unrolled, unzipped, opened, shook, tossed, and felt….everything.

Now, I was soaking wet with sweat, I saw my pulse pounding away in my vision, and I was losing control.

“Where’s the emmereffen key? ”

Ben calls Kenny to advise that we’ve lost the key.

"No problem, happens all the time", he’ll send someone over with a replacement to pick up the cart.

Kenny’s friend comes to the rescue, with a key.

She has it on one of those curly bands, like a manager from The GAP.

We joke a bit, and they head off.

Ben’s met her on other trips.

I ask Ben “who is she?”

That’s Judy, she’s a travel agent!

Ah-hah! That was Fiesty!

She’s a fiend.

We feel like dumbasses!

And relieved.

And the kids had go to the CS, so I escorted.

Parting shots…notice the hat on Annie!

And John 2 with the Dodge Ram hat on!

We repacked, restacked…

Once again, we need to do “the dance”.

That’s the shuffling of, and dropping off and picking up carts and vehicles from overflow, getting the trailer back out there so Ben can bring his garage back home.

It’s like the old logic riddle about the fox, chicken, and corn, how do you get them across the river, one at a time…

The final sequence has me dropping off the last cart and hoofing it all the way back out to the farthest part of overflow.

Grab a scenic shot before I hit the freshly sealed asphalt, and Farenheit kicks my ass.

As we assume our places in our own vehicles and hit the road, I always feel like this is the threshold.

Once you pass here, it’s over, and it’s just “hang in there til’ next time!”

We cue up some Motown.

I know you wanna leave me, but I refuse to let you go…

Fitting, I ‘spose!

It’s actually homework, my next beach gig is going to be a Motown throwdown to open the new outdoor bar.

The spot that I was playing in at the reggae jam was destroyed by TS Debby.

Like the ride in, but in reverse, I hand the phone-cam to the Mrs. for some highway shots!

Home is to the right.

Don’t rub it in!

These are heading southwest. I love this detail.

The kids assume the position.

If you’ve read along before, you know we no longer eat breakfast at the campground, but hit a roadhouse on the way home.

This one was crowded, had to park my rig in the field next door.

Well, partly because it was crowded, and partly because I suck at backing a trailer.

Wanna guess where we are?

I’ll give you a hint.

Here’s the gang celebrating a victory meal at Cracker Barrel.

Me and my girls…

MetalWife and MetalSon!

With William…Ben took this shot.

Here’s a great shot of Ben and William, in fact this shot may be my favorite of the trip.

Actually… this one is my favorite…

To the right is a kid fishing, and it says “I caught a bass”

To the left is the firepit, the EZup (looks like a robot), and the camper.

Look, they even drew the wheel chocks… and prominently.

Gotta love a kids perspective… which I guess is why we go in the first place!

Back in the truck, I lock it in at 59mph.

And let it rip… I guess you’d say…. What can make me feel this way?

Back by the Airstream garden, Tampa’s getting closer.

Look at the campers in the mirror in the lower left, what a cool quirk of photographic luck!

We get home, unpack, unhitch, unwind…

And there’s MetalWife with the cat that ate the canary look.

As I carried in all the stuff she sorted it all out, emptied backpacks, purses, pockets.

Pockets.

In her pocket was the contents of my pocket the night before.

Good thing we’re married.

She had all my cash.

And wrapped inside?

That’s Kenny’s key!

I hope you enjoyed living vicariously through the absurd observations of my family and best friend.

It was a Fourth of July extended weekend chock full of bugs, beer, bass, brats, blood, sweat, and fiends.

And we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Thanks for noticin’

See Ya Real Soon!

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

the end is so sad... and as an ex-airstreamer I just can't decide how I feel about all those lovely silver tubes stuck in the ground.

[ImDownWithDisney 342]

I don't know how I missed this TR. Now I have to go back and catch up.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Genny Screamers....the drink of my youth. That and regular Genny in the 16 oz bottles aka Pounders. Or if we were really lucky, someone would have access to a beer ball of Genny or a quarter keg.

Really, how good can beer be made from Genesee River water?

[BassMaster 7]

Good food, good beer, good fishin', good friends (with a silent 'r'), good memories.

Plenty more fort trips headin' our way,

Zip a dee do dah, zip a dee ay

[stefa70 205]

Nice flashback with the Genny beer. I have family members that worked there for many years.

(Didn't everyone, who lived in that area, work for Genny brewery or Kodak, at some point?)

I'm sad to see your report end, but it looks like everyone had a great time.

You got some really good family pics and that's what it's all about.....well, that and the hokey pokey.

Enjoyed it as always!

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Great TR, John! It was great meeting you and Annie, I think of her every time I go in the MH and see my purple kooshie flamingo. Next time I hope to spend more time with you and meet the rest of your family!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Very awesome trip report!!!! And now you really have an excuse to go back to the Fort, you have to return the key!!!!

[caveat lector 181]

...Now, I was soaking wet with sweat, I saw my pulse pounding away in my vision, and I was losing control.

"No problem, happens all the time", he’ll send someone over with a replacement to pick up the cart.

Dude, your first sentence is spot on. Here's what I'm thinking. I create a tshirt that senses blood pressure. We put your sentence across the front, with a small red LED that draws attention to it when our BP gets to certain level. We will make millions, or at least enough to each have our own fort site for life.

Note 1: Kenny is great!

Note 2: your truck is a good looking hot rod

Note 3: your TR is epic. Nice job and thanks.

[Lou... 3,118]

Ya, ok, it's an alright TR, I guess.

What's up with the Blue Grass Festival at Indian Rocks Beach t shirt?

I lived there for a number of years before moving to the Orlando area and never saw it.

[MetalDad 33]

the end is so sad... and as an ex-airstreamer I just can't decide how I feel about all those lovely silver tubes stuck in the ground.

Better than a landfill, and at least they look cool and draw attention to the place that sells new ones!

I don't know how I missed this TR. Now I have to go back and catch up.

Cool, let us know what you think when you get back here!

Genny Screamers....the drink of my youth. That and regular Genny in the 16 oz bottles aka Pounders. Or if we were really lucky, someone would have access to a beer ball of Genny or a quarter keg.

Really, how good can beer be made from Genesee River water?

Holy crappola, I forgot about beer balls, or, at least they're different now.

Nice flashback with the Genny beer. I have family members that worked there for many years.

(Didn't everyone, who lived in that area, work for Genny brewery or Kodak, at some point?)

I'm sad to see your report end, but it looks like everyone had a great time.

You got some really good family pics and that's what it's all about.....well, that and the hokey pokey.

Enjoyed it as always!

Thanks Stef!

Great TR, John! It was great meeting you and Annie, I think of her every time I go in the MH and see my purple kooshie flamingo. Next time I hope to spend more time with you and meet the rest of your family!

Thanks! By the way, on the saturday, I think you guys passed me. I was taking a photo and heard someone yell a compliment about the flamingo on my windshield.

By the time I turned around and saw it was a green cart, it was too late! Looks like you were heading to TE, if it was you.

Very awesome trip report!!!! And now you really have an excuse to go back to the Fort, you have to return the key!!!!

Exactly. Ben was here tonight. We're talking about New Year's!

Dude, your first sentence is spot on. Here's what I'm thinking. I create a tshirt that senses blood pressure. We put your sentence across the front, with a small red LED that draws attention to it when our BP gets to certain level. We will make millions, or at least enough to each have our own fort site for life. Excellent idea! Make them stain proof and I'm in!

Note 1: Kenny is great! No argument here ever!

Note 2: your truck is a good looking hot rod Cool! Thanks. Took a lot of sacrifice, but we're very happy together!

Note 3: your TR is epic. Nice job and thanks. Thanks for joining!

Who knows may sneak up there some time soon!

Ya, ok, it's an alright TR, I guess.

What's up with the Blue Grass Festival at Indian Rocks Beach t shirt?

I lived there for a number of years before moving to the Orlando area and never saw it.

This year was Second Annual. My brother-in-law will be a co-sponsor next spring, I'm hoping to be a bit more involved. Only 2 of the 4 acts were bluegrass this year, we'll need to work on that.

[BassMaster 7]

I'm thinking that may be one of the best ways to welcome in the new year; building a portfolio of pics for a brand new TR. Yep, "Let's do this thing".

I'll remind you all again; and if you ain't whistlin' or hummin' this tune for the next several days, you don't have a pulse or you haven't had a healthy BM in at least a week (and I don't mean BassMaster).

PLENTY MORE FORT TRIPS, HEADIN' OUR WAY,

ZIP A DEE DOO DAH, ZIP A DEE AY

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Awesome trip report!

[Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64]

Awesome TR. Sad it is over. Amazed by how many former New Yorkers there are here.

[BassMaster 7]

Damn, there ain't nuthin' but cabins left between Turkey Day and mid-January.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Damn, there ain't nuthin' but cabins left between Turkey Day and mid-January.

Are you looking just weekends? You really need to expand your date search to at least two weeks starting on a Wednesday

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

For example - November 28 - December 5th - Partial is available

December 9 - 15, Partial, Full, and Premium is Available

[BassMaster 7]

This is what we really want: December 28 - January 6

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

12/30 - 1/23 - A partial is available

[BassMaster 7]

Everybody's still in school till 12/21

[BassMaster 7]

Thanks, Carol. Persistence pays off.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I've tried all kinds of combinations, couldn't get 28-29 for nuttin, but keep trying an opening will appear at some point, folks cancel all the time!

[BassMaster 7]

That's the plan. Those last days of the year are expensive. Then the price drops in half right after new years day.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Bravo, MD!!!

Excellent trip report!

Can't wait for the next one!

TCD

[fortpartyof4 108]

You guys see what I have to deal with?

Indeed indeed. Next time we hope to achieve sloth!

I don't miss it, to be absolutely honest. We go up by you guys kind of often. My sister lives in Orange Park.

Maybe one day we'll have a chance to meet, at the fort or in OP. I'm right across the river (Fruit Cove), but hardly ever go over there - the bridge is too far down from me and the traffic in OP is pretty bad. We store our TT in Green Cove Springs.

Genny Screamers....the drink of my youth. That and regular Genny in the 16 oz bottles aka Pounders. Or if we were really lucky, someone would have access to a beer ball of Genny or a quarter keg.

Really, how good can beer be made from Genesee River water?

Ha! My brother called them pounders.

And I remember beer balls too. Living in the middle of nowhere, a lot of our parties were out on back roads in fields and I can remember people sticking the b.b. in the snow to keep it cold! We had a classmate whose nickname was beer ball. I wonder how he got that?