Well, I had a successful trip to Vermont over the weekend to get my barrels.
I left after work on Friday and drove up to my mothers house in Jericho, VT and spent the weekend doing odd jobs for her and helped get the boat ready for the season. After a disappointing night watching the Bruins on Saturday, I arose Sunday with visions of TBS in my mind! I was on the road at 9:00 on my way to pick up the trailer at UHAUL in Burlington. Took way too long there but got on the road for Middlebury a little after 10:00.
Now, I am going to have give a shout out to Vermont Soap. http://vermontsoap.com/ They were great and worked with me so that I could pick the barrels on Sunday. They are normally closed on the weekends but Jeremiah said he had to come in to check the batches anyway so he agreed to meet me at the factory at 11. Thanks a lot Jeremiah! He started asking what I was going to do with them so I explained the design and that I was trying to duplicate my dad's design. Dad passed away in 2010 and I am kind of doing this as a way to reconnect I guess. So anyway, got all 6 loaded up (my sister is going to make one as well) paid the man $30 and I was off to deliver 3 of them to my sister in Danvers, MA.
I must have missed a turn somewhere because I ended up out in the boonies going down a couple single track roads and then up over Brandon Mountain Gap. I love an adventure don't you!
http://s431.photobucket.com/user/KeeneState83/media/Smoker Build/photo1.jpg.html
I got out to stretch the legs and enjoy the cool air for a minute and snapped this picture. I thought the trailer license plate was appropriate considering I am hauling barrels for a smoker.
It was absolutely beautiful and made me start thinking I might want to move back to VT. I need to look into job options. I followed the White River most of the way until I hit interstate 89 and then the fun was over and the work began. I finally got to my sisters around 3, unloaded the barrels grabbed a sausage that she had just finished grilling and an adult beverage and headed home. I was hot, cranky, and ready to be out of the truck. Pulled into my driveway at just after 5:00, and unloaded the truck/trailer. I was greeted by my neighbor walking over with another frosty beverage which I GLADLY accepted.
So it was a long day in the truck, and HOT to boot, it was about 95 when I got home. Total distance traveled was 285 miles and took me about 6 hours of drive time with 2 hours of misc stops, but, I got my barrels!!!
http://s431.photobucket.com/user/KeeneState83/media/Smoker Build/photo2.jpg.html
Food Grade, and Kosher! All three held organic coconut oil so I'm good to go. I'm trying to decide if I am going to take all the paint off now and repaint in the high temp paint before I start cutting them up and assembling them. Suggestions?
Well I'll keep you posted as I start getting this thing rolling, I will be working as fast as my bank account will allow!
Cheers!
I left after work on Friday and drove up to my mothers house in Jericho, VT and spent the weekend doing odd jobs for her and helped get the boat ready for the season. After a disappointing night watching the Bruins on Saturday, I arose Sunday with visions of TBS in my mind! I was on the road at 9:00 on my way to pick up the trailer at UHAUL in Burlington. Took way too long there but got on the road for Middlebury a little after 10:00.
Now, I am going to have give a shout out to Vermont Soap. http://vermontsoap.com/ They were great and worked with me so that I could pick the barrels on Sunday. They are normally closed on the weekends but Jeremiah said he had to come in to check the batches anyway so he agreed to meet me at the factory at 11. Thanks a lot Jeremiah! He started asking what I was going to do with them so I explained the design and that I was trying to duplicate my dad's design. Dad passed away in 2010 and I am kind of doing this as a way to reconnect I guess. So anyway, got all 6 loaded up (my sister is going to make one as well) paid the man $30 and I was off to deliver 3 of them to my sister in Danvers, MA.
I must have missed a turn somewhere because I ended up out in the boonies going down a couple single track roads and then up over Brandon Mountain Gap. I love an adventure don't you!
http://s431.photobucket.com/user/KeeneState83/media/Smoker Build/photo1.jpg.html
I got out to stretch the legs and enjoy the cool air for a minute and snapped this picture. I thought the trailer license plate was appropriate considering I am hauling barrels for a smoker.
It was absolutely beautiful and made me start thinking I might want to move back to VT. I need to look into job options. I followed the White River most of the way until I hit interstate 89 and then the fun was over and the work began. I finally got to my sisters around 3, unloaded the barrels grabbed a sausage that she had just finished grilling and an adult beverage and headed home. I was hot, cranky, and ready to be out of the truck. Pulled into my driveway at just after 5:00, and unloaded the truck/trailer. I was greeted by my neighbor walking over with another frosty beverage which I GLADLY accepted.
So it was a long day in the truck, and HOT to boot, it was about 95 when I got home. Total distance traveled was 285 miles and took me about 6 hours of drive time with 2 hours of misc stops, but, I got my barrels!!!
http://s431.photobucket.com/user/KeeneState83/media/Smoker Build/photo2.jpg.html
Food Grade, and Kosher! All three held organic coconut oil so I'm good to go. I'm trying to decide if I am going to take all the paint off now and repaint in the high temp paint before I start cutting them up and assembling them. Suggestions?
Well I'll keep you posted as I start getting this thing rolling, I will be working as fast as my bank account will allow!
Cheers!
