Saturday, February 24, 2007
we're moved.. and unpacked
So Wednesday and Thursday were hectic, getting the house ready to move. Friends started showing up around 4:30pm Thursday and we were NOT AT ALL READY. We ended up chatting for a bit, then Rob S. and I went over and got the truck. It was only about a mile away, so it didn't take too long.
However, it was a 24 foot truck (24 foot box, plus the length of the cab). So it was almost impossible to back onto the driveway. Finally we got it- but it took up the length of the driveway and the width of the road. Oh well, neighbors will cope.
Once others arrived (Hi Phil and Debb!), we started loading the truck. We loaded the front third of the truck, which was a lot of work, and a lot of heavy stuff. Once more people showed up, we loaded the piano, washer/dryer, tool chest, and other miserably heavy things.
By 6pm the truck was about 50% loaded. As more people showed up, it became apparent that (a) we weren't completely done, and (b) it wasn't going to fit. Still, we got all but a foot or two of the truck loaded.
Friday morning we started actually finishing out rooms. The real estate photographer arrived at 9:30am, so we frantically cleared rooms for photos. In about 45 minutes we had the house unloaded down into the garage for final sorting and packing- the photog thought we were professional house cleaners because we were so quick.
We finished loading the moving truck, then I went to UHaul and rented a 5x8 trailer to tow behind it. (yes, towed a UHaul behind a Budget). Now the rig was REALLY long and heavy. I had to stay on 55th Avenue when I came back, since it was too long to take on our dead-end street. We packed the entire trailer (5x8x6) by walking everything that distance. It actually took all day, and was incredibly exhausting.
Finally, we loaded the Miata trailer with wood and metal, strapped everything, ate our first food of the day, and left town at 4:30 on Friday.
Bad time to leave. Traffic from Seattle to Olympia was terrible- stop and go, which is real fun in a heavy rig like that. Made me think of people I know who have driven trucks for a living and what that must be like on a regular basis. Finally got to Olympia about 7:30, made it to the beach a few minutes before 10pm.
Saturday morning, we enlisted the help of my brother (Tim) and his wife (Becky), my dad, plus two locals. I was shocked- we unloaded the truck and trailer in two hours. It took a full day to load! It would have taken less time but it was stormy- the rain was coming at a 45 degree angle, most of an inch of rain that morning.
Returned the truck and trailer, then spent the afternoon napping.
Next? Need to get the bike from storage, find a couple of little things, then mount the Givi top and side cases. Tomorrow we'll ride on the beach to visit grandma and grandpa. We'll start actually packing the bike, too. Monday we need to do some legal things (power of attorney, signatures at banks), then we may head into Vancouver/Portland.
However, it was a 24 foot truck (24 foot box, plus the length of the cab). So it was almost impossible to back onto the driveway. Finally we got it- but it took up the length of the driveway and the width of the road. Oh well, neighbors will cope.
Once others arrived (Hi Phil and Debb!), we started loading the truck. We loaded the front third of the truck, which was a lot of work, and a lot of heavy stuff. Once more people showed up, we loaded the piano, washer/dryer, tool chest, and other miserably heavy things.
By 6pm the truck was about 50% loaded. As more people showed up, it became apparent that (a) we weren't completely done, and (b) it wasn't going to fit. Still, we got all but a foot or two of the truck loaded.
Friday morning we started actually finishing out rooms. The real estate photographer arrived at 9:30am, so we frantically cleared rooms for photos. In about 45 minutes we had the house unloaded down into the garage for final sorting and packing- the photog thought we were professional house cleaners because we were so quick.
We finished loading the moving truck, then I went to UHaul and rented a 5x8 trailer to tow behind it. (yes, towed a UHaul behind a Budget). Now the rig was REALLY long and heavy. I had to stay on 55th Avenue when I came back, since it was too long to take on our dead-end street. We packed the entire trailer (5x8x6) by walking everything that distance. It actually took all day, and was incredibly exhausting.
Finally, we loaded the Miata trailer with wood and metal, strapped everything, ate our first food of the day, and left town at 4:30 on Friday.
Bad time to leave. Traffic from Seattle to Olympia was terrible- stop and go, which is real fun in a heavy rig like that. Made me think of people I know who have driven trucks for a living and what that must be like on a regular basis. Finally got to Olympia about 7:30, made it to the beach a few minutes before 10pm.
Saturday morning, we enlisted the help of my brother (Tim) and his wife (Becky), my dad, plus two locals. I was shocked- we unloaded the truck and trailer in two hours. It took a full day to load! It would have taken less time but it was stormy- the rain was coming at a 45 degree angle, most of an inch of rain that morning.
Returned the truck and trailer, then spent the afternoon napping.
Next? Need to get the bike from storage, find a couple of little things, then mount the Givi top and side cases. Tomorrow we'll ride on the beach to visit grandma and grandpa. We'll start actually packing the bike, too. Monday we need to do some legal things (power of attorney, signatures at banks), then we may head into Vancouver/Portland.
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Glad to hear you made it out -- moving is never fun, especially when you have to walk your stuff any distance. Hope your beach stay goes well.
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