[1100]

The trip was fine on the way up except for the EXCESSIVE amount of $$$ I had to pay in tolls! I spent $25 by the time I got up through Deleware and another $15 through New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusettes. I was charged double and triple tolls for towing a tandom axle trailer....kind of outrageous if you ask me. The trip back was cheaper in tolls, since I now know how to avoid a few of them, and the snow storm was miserable. I drove through 1/2 of Connecticut, all of New York, and 1/2 of New Jersey at 0 to 25 mph so it took me 4 hours longer than normal to drive through those areas. I was stuck in major traffic behind at least 6 accidents through there as well. I also had some stupid chick in a black Durango try to take me out when she lost control and slid sideways down the center lane ending up literally two feet from my drivers side door and even closer to the trailer......she was so close I can even describe her appearance and tell you the type of cell phone she was talking on! It scared me a little, but I guess she was not bother by it a bit since she flew by me again about a minute later in the center lane....Crazy B!TCH! The 4-Runner was towing the loaded trailer in 4-wheel drive high until about the Trenton, NJ area. About that time I was finally able to get into 5th gear since the roads were cleared. It started towing horribly so I stopped and figured out that all the snow and ice had gotten kicked up on the trailer and packed up all over the front of the "Grape Ape" messing up the tongue weight. I cleaned it off and did 60-70mph all the rest of the way home in the driving rain/sleet/snow mix. I left at 8am from Tom McDaniel's house and arrived home at 11pm that night....15 hours of straight driving! As I said in a previous post before I left.... I must be insane! The good news is that there were no trailer or automotive type problems at all thereby breaking the cycle of bad trailer karma that I have had in the past. What a trip!

I do want to say thanks to all of those people that helped me along the way and especially yo Tom (TKAT2K) and his wife for giving me a place to stay for the night.....oh, and for the Margarits's!

Thanks Guys!
Sean (Still dead tired!) DeVinney

 

[rockrat]

Glad to see your trip was uneventfull, and you made it safe.

 

[87zuke]

Was kinda wondering how you did with all the crappy weather. Glad you made it home in one piece. Great talking with ya. Jim

 

[tuneman]

sean
if i had known that you were spending the night i would have tried to get together with you and tom im glad you made it home safe and sound
andy

 

[1100]

Andy, I had no idea where I was staying until Saturday night. I had several offers, but could not make it that far. Tom graciously offered to put me up for the night at the last minute, because the trip put me in Mass at about 10pm. My only other option would be to stay at an overpriced hotel. Hanging out with Tom and his wife sipping margarita's and watching MAD TV definately beat out a hotel any day!

Thanks again!

Sean DeVinney

 

[2781]

Sorry I didn't get your message till Monday morning. I called and spoke w/ Scott on Monday, he told me you got home OK. Sounds like one heck of a trip!

Just in case your up in this area again, my house is in south Jersey, closer to the Deleware Memorial Bridge.

Glad you're back safe!