A First

[Captain Kidd]

Friday I had a first: took a short sail on Disciple Ship and for the first time with crew.

My daughter (same one who sailed with me in P'cola) was home for a week with the grandkids since they were on spring break. She loves the outdoors, the weather was right, so we took off for a short sail. I had her sit in the floor forward of the thwart to keep her weight low and center. We had a couple good puffs and saw a little speed.

My wife drove over and met us afterwards for a picnic lunch at the pavilion beside the ramp. Tiffany decided she had not had enough fresh air and decided to ride home in the convertible.

A nice little outing on a beautiful day.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

[Ed]

Your wife's convertible looks like a 2nd Generation Toyota Solara.  Do I win a prize?  My wife drives a 1st Gen convertible and loves it.

[Captain Kidd]

Your wife's convertible looks like a 2nd Generation Toyota Solara.  Do I win a prize?  My wife drives a 1st Gen convertible and loves it.

You win!!!! One free round of applause!

2008 - last year they made them. We love it too!!! Bought it about 6 years ago. That's a neat story in itself. I was looking for one and found this listed in FL near Merritt Island. Turns out the guy who was selling it is a missionary. He used to teach at my daughter's college here in Chattanooga. In fact, my daughter is FB friends with at least one of his two daughters! Small world. Gave me some confidence in a sight-unseen purchase

We had to have it towed Monday. Water pump, cracked radiator and valve cover gaskets. OUCH! But we plan to keep it for a long time. Only drive it about 6K a year. It is nearing 150k - not too many miles for a 17 year old car.

[Norm L.]

I guess I could make a challenge with the "new" car I just bought. 14 years old, 62k miles, and two owners, the last one known.

I also know an amazing guy, with earned money and an amazing way of living that can jump from posh to amazing hobbies. I think his Toyota Soleras count is 4, in a full range of condition, and he drives them all. 

[Ed]

CK, we bought my wife her 2002 Solara Convertible when I dinged the quarter panel of my truck backing the Sea Pearl Trimaran in, instead of dropping it off the hitch and using the Harbor Freight push thing, and pushed in the rear quarter panel.  I thought I could just pay cash for a PDR, but they wouldn't do it, and the collision company my insurance likes wanted $5k for the repair.  They told me it would be 6 - 12 weeks due to supply chain issues, I looked into renting a car since we had given our daughter our Prius when we moved up north, and was shocked to see $80 - 120/week to rent a car (I don't drive econo boxes).  Went looking for a car, my wife likes convertibles, and found Dora for a great price, but she needed work, turned out, a lot of work.  The collision place called me up 12 days after I dropped the truck of to let me know it was ready!  Dora came with a new Ebay top, but I quickly found out replacing it was beyond my ability, so outsourced it for $800.  Read on the FB Solara page that every 80 - 100K you needed the timing belt, water pump, crank seals, cam seals, belts, and a few minor things replaced, and the CarFax didn't show any of that.  Had shocks/struts/radiator replaced after I switched car mechanics.  Still love driving Dora with 115K miles!