TOPIC: Super Duper BIG Thompson road trip

Hitting the road Thursday before dawn. Heading to Boise, Idaho to pick up "Super Duper Big Thom", the 22 foot Thompson lapstrake inboard/outboard cabin cruiser. Hauling her back to the Midwest where she started her life at Peshtigo, WI in 1962.

1,400 miles from the western fringe of Minnepaolis to Boise. Prairie snow and wind in North Dakota, mountain climbs and descents in Montana and idaho and I imagine more snow. Empty hitch on the way west and the Big Thom on the way back following me. Should be a neato journey.

Will my 1/2 ton Dodge Ram 2 wheel drive be able to handle it??? I certainly hope so!

Andreas Jordahl Rhude

Follow my road trip on facebook

Truck should be able to handle it,can your wallet?

Godspeed and best of luck to you AJ, and please be careful on the road!

Excellent! Best of luck on the trip. Some of us you'll have to update here, since we don't have facebook.

Andreas,
Good looking boat, have safe trip and to quote Leslie Nielsen "God luck we're all counting on you!"

Bob

Have a safe trip Andreas and if you fall in love with Idaho you are more than welcome to move out here!! But come north where the trees are.
Neil

Very cool boat. Hope the trip goes well and you make good time. Be thankful you are in southern Idaho. We just got 3" of snow this morning up north.

I'm home!!! 5 days of driving. 3,072 miles driven!!! half of that with the boat of course.

Luckily the bad, snow packed icy roads were on the trip out with NO boat. Apparently Monatana and Idaho do not salt/sand their roads. Boy oh boy are they sippery. Took me two hours to go 60 miles in eastern Monatan on day two. Day three it was slow going west of Pocatello, idaho - 90 miles of slip sliding away. Saw two roll overs ahead of me.

Never been to Monatan or Idaho previously. Was so surprise how barren it is and must be very arid. Tumble weeds and little scrubby brush for hundreds and hundreds of miles.

I must have been on Monatana's most wanted list. Had three, yup, three, state troopers pull me over west of Billings. One walked up on each side of my rig after I came to a stop, ready to pounce if I made a wrong move. They said they reeived a report that I was drinking a beer while driving and throwing trash out my window. If anyone knows me you know how utterly laughable both are. I do NOT drink alcohol (have not for 21 years, 5 months and 25 days) and I go out of my way to pick up trash and litter.

45 minutes later the upshot was that they presented me with a $85 fine for not have trailer license!!!

I-94 in North Dakota is bumpy, bumpy bumpy. My teeth and kidneys are still jumping around. Broke the winch cable clamps attaching boat to trailer, twice!!!

Boat needs plenty of work.

Will report more later.

Andreas

Glad to hear that you made it back. Sounds like you met the local wildlife in Montana, been there done that. Can't wait to see the pics. Skip.

$85.00 I guess they had to write something up. Sounds like quite a trip. I'm looking forward to the restoration thread.

We picked up my second boat also this last weekend, beat the storm back to MI.

Big rig parking at the Motel 6 in Dillon, MT!

Holy cow, it's this big. In Boise, Idaho at the trade-off, no snow on the ground, no coat. What, is this summer?

Sweet, you made it back in one pice with the prize! To bad about the hassels though.

Bob

Next time you come out to Idaho, just fly over Montana and wave!!
Glad you made it home safe with the boat.
Neil

She is a beauty!!! Sounds like you had quite an adventure. Can't wait to see it done. I haven't seen a Thompson Cabin Cruiser up close. See you in Marinette in June.
Bill

I know I'm late to this post but sure glad you were able to save the old girl.

What's happening in Marinette in June, it's only 40 miles from me.
cal

22 June 2013 is the THOMPSON ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT RALLY. Held at Nestegg Marine on the Menominee River. Non judged, no award gathering. Open to any and all classsic watercraft but focusing of course on Thompson; Cruisers, Inc.; T & T Boats; Grady-White Boats., etc....

Past events have had 32 to 62 boats on display. Free and open to the public.

$20 fee to display a watercraft.

Andreas