Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
HeavilyLaden
Member
Trying to wrap up one final bit of logistics--getting my truck from Tampa to Key Largo.
Currently, I am considering driving from Ft Desoto to Key Largo early on Thur Mar 2, leaving my truck in Key Largo, and renting a car to return to Ft Desoto/Tampa the same day.
Anyone interested in making the trip & sharing a rental car?
or
Any spectators/crew/family willing & able to drive my vehicle to Key Largo? Timing wouldn't matter so long as it was in Key Largo by Sat, Mar 11.
HeavilyLaden
Member
HeavilyLaden wrote:
Trying to wrap up one final bit of logistics--getting my truck from Tampa to Key Largo.
Currently, I am considering driving from Ft Desoto to Key Largo early on Thur Mar 2, leaving my truck in Key Largo, and renting a car to return to Ft Desoto/Tampa the same day.
Anyone interested in making the trip & sharing a rental car?
or
Any spectators/crew/family willing & able to drive my vehicle to Key Largo? Timing wouldn't matter so long as it was in Key Largo by Sat, Mar 11.
bump
Third alternative, if I leave my truck at Ft Desoto, is there anyone able to provide a ride back from Key Largo on Saturday?
PaddleDancer
Member
We won't leave you stranded, Danny. I'll probably have room in my car but I most likely won't be heading north until Sunday. I plan on giving Chief a ride too. Ranger Chris at Ft. DeSoto said folks can pay through Sunday if they need to.
In the past folks have been able to coordinate drives down, back, back, down on Friday during check-in and at Key Largo. It's amazing to watch Kindred Spirits working it out.
I have done the rental car thing a few times. It actually works out pretty good. If I remember right, I used Enterprise the last time I did this. They will actually pick you up at the Pelican and take you to their office to rent the car. Then I returned it at the airport in Tampa and took a shuttle to Fort Desoto to pickup my car. Then I drove down to Key Largo with my trailer to pickup the boat.
If you have a kayak and you plan ahead with some nice rubber-block holders and some long straps, you can put the kayak on top of the rental car. Drop off your boat at Fort Desoto and then return the car to the airport. Take a shuttle (or Uber these days) back to Fort Desoto.
I know this sounds like a lot of hassle, but it really wasn't that bad. I have done this three or four times.
One year I took the bus to the Miami airport. Flew to Tampa and took a shuttle to Fort Desoto. The bus stopped right near the Pelican and the cost was roughly the same as renting a car.
But of course it is much easier if you can hitch a ride with other WaterTribers. I have done this a few times as well. I always insist on paying for the gas.
Of course the absolute best option is to have your family down at Key Largo. They can have a great vacation while you are busting your butt.
Just curious -- has anybody ever rented a UHaul truck from the Key Largo area, delivered their boat to Ft Desoto, deleivered UHaul somewhere near Tampa, and taxi/etc. back to Ft Desoto? I had planned on this for 2011 EC but didn't finish to test the notion out. Part of my EC survival manual was a list of UHaul places down through Key Largo. -- have fun, everybody! -- Wade/TTIN
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