09.28.26 Water, water, everywhere....

     Well if I wanted to catch a true King Tide down here in the Lowcountry I think I did it. It was this September's Harvest Moon that was one of the biggest tides of the year. Couple it with some constant, but not like the northeast if getting, north to northeast winds, and the water was way up. 

     It's been a bit since I have gone fishin' in the dark. Well, actually it wasn't fishing but it was getting down to the flat before the water rushed in. With high tide say around 10 I arrived 

and was on the mud by 7 am. When I got to my spot I had the moon behind me and first light in front of me. It's funny how lit up it can be when you turn around when the sun has the west lit up, but then how dark it is when you're looking east as the sun rises. 

     Something I noticed was the difference in the mud and the flat as I walked around before the tide rolled in. Usually I am covered in mortar-like mud as I walk around. But yesterday, at least here, it was different. The mud, or ground, was more compact, and easier to walk around in.

     I don't know if it's because of the moon tide that moves loose detris, silt, and mud from the upper layer and puts them somewhere else, or is it just more compacted? Not sure. Down here that's like forgetting your fly rod. I'm thinking it might be because it's due to the cooler temperatures and gentler sun. When it's like sun is beating down like we're near the equator it dries everything out on a low tide, creates splits and fissures, and then the water fills in and makes it sloppy. So my legs weren't covered in mud but they were in no-see-ums as I rushed and forgot to apply bug spray. 

     Soon the water started to fill in but I didn't seen a tailing nothing, in fact there was less life than I had seen in the past. And then it just flooded, like higher than I've seen in the dozen times I've been at this spot. One thing I can also say that on a big tide everything that can be picked up and pushed to the banks does, which makes the first 20 feet full of reeds and anything that floats. 

      I knew my window was shut so I headed back to my truck. I met a few fly guys who had got some intel that this was a good spot. We kind of ran some thoughts between us and they had learned the ebb tide was good, but I don't know about that. For me, I would think the fish come up on the flood, hungry, and do their best chewing up until the high tide, and then retreat as the water recedes. Yes, they could set up in the fingers or channels as the bait gets flushed out, but that's in deeper water that is hard to access while on foot. 

     As I headed out I thought there must be tailing redfish somewhere so I passed home and drove towards Beaufort. Not only was I looking for fish I wanted to see what big tides looked like there. 

     Well you can see I couldn't get very far. There was water everywhere and driving down along the bridge was out of the question. To compare look at the image below and where the water is, that's a picture from a few weeks ago. 

     On that day I think I parked way up, and it was most likely shortly after I sunk the Suburban in a large hole that always seems to hold water. Below I just added my truck stop the picture so you can see just how floody the flood tide gets in this spot. 

     There was a touch of wind but it was flat enough where you could see if any redfish were tailing or a crab fart. I saw nothing, no birds, no crabs, no fish. And I also didn't see any boats out there, and like usual, no one out on foot.

     Above is one of my favorite places to walk and wade that was completely under water. I watched for awhile looking down from the bridge thinking I would see redfish swimming along or coming up and over the bar.... nope, nada, nothing. So, my day, as far as fishing, was no casts made, but I'm glad I went and learned even more about the places I've fished over the last month. 

     And of course I had to pass "the truck" on the way home. I know, enough already. But with us heading back to New Jersey on Thursday either this is going to happen or it's not. 

     Today she gets a good spa treatment from the detailer and tomorrow a visit to the mechanic where she'll be put up on the lift and taken for a test drive from someone that's in the know. All this over a 16 year old pick up that is past it's prime. I can't wait for it to be over no matter which way things go. 

     And then I saw on Facebook a post from a dealer in Hilton Head. They were congratulating Adonis from Beaufort who just purchased a new 2026 Silverado 2500 HD. That's a lot of truck and has a price tag of about $60,000. 

     I don't know what Adonis does for a living but either way, buying or leasing, those payment have to be well over $600 a month. So when the dealership posts, "Enjoy the new ride", I think they should have said, "Good luck with the payments". If he leased it this truck will be one of those that will show up in a few years with 60,000 miles and a price tag of $45,000. And that's why I'm looking, and grateful I found, the truck I'm obsessing over. 

     With Theresa out for her Sunday search for a good church I took it upon myself to swing back over to the trailer park and pick up those Hardie boards that I found posted on Marketplace.  

     They've been out there for awhile but for $40 I'll take my chances. A 5/4 x 12 x12 board runs $70 brand new, and I scored three of those, plus three 1 x12 x12, which go for $48 each.  He threw in door trim and a couple of pieces of other stuff. 

     I'm glad I did this move without Theresa because she was out the minute we rolled into the guys driveway on Saturday. After the seller and I loaded them in the waft of moisture filled the Suburban so I just took it all to The Fly Barn, cleaned them off, and stacked them with wood between them to air out. This isn't wood, but concrete fiber, so they should be fine. Hey, these aren't for our house, and I hope to find more stuff on Marketplace, just maybe ones that hadn't been out in the elements for so long. 

And while I hate to use the Suburban as a transport vehicle, most of these Hardie products come in 12 foot lengths, ones that I will have a hard time fitting in the 5'6" bed on the new truck. It's all part of my Master plan, a plan, like so many, that Theresa is sick of hearing about and living through. Saving money is saving money, especially on stupid stuff like siding for The Fly Barn. 

09.27.26 Things are ugly up north and a Fly Barn free Saturday...

     It's just another nor-easter. A bad storm where low pressure from the south meets high pressure from the north. Add air flow along the Gulf Stream with strong Northeast winds and precipitation and things can go sideways pretty quick. And then there's the timing. If it hits on a moon tide then that's where the flooding comes in. The intersection where it's usually the worst is around the tri-state area, and then a little north into New England and south to the Mid-Atlantic states. 

     We've all seen the pictures and videos of what this storm has done, and will continue to do, throughout today. Above is the usual kind of picture from Sea Bright that happens with each storm. I thought after Sandy the towns that sit on barrier spits, where the ocean is on one side and the bay or river on the other, would rethink their position and make adjustments. But they mostly just rebuilt with some homes and businesses just raised in hopes of being higher than the next storm. Well, that didn't work out that well. 

     And there's no names for these nor' easters, they usually go by the dates they happen. The World World Meteorological Organization, or WMO, only names tropical storms and hurricanes. Sandy, which hit in October 2012, was named because it met criteria as a hurricane or tropical cyclone. There's no doubt this storm will have caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to homes, business, and vehicles. Add to that the beach erosion, and the cost of the last replenishment, and then the next one, and it's just throwing money out into the ocean. 

      I took a day off from working at The Fly Barn. That left me with some time to visit Julio and the Silverado over at the used car lot. I think they think that my idea is to beat them down with visits so they just tell me take the truck and finally leave them alone. 

     I grabbed the keys from Julio and took it for a 40 minute test drive. I drove it on the local streets and on the highway. I even took it off road to test the four wheel high and low. I don't what more I can do to expose it's flaws. My goal was to watch the oil pressure gauge. This model Silverado has an Active Fuel Management (AFM) system built in and one of the early signs it's bad is fluctuations in the oil pressure, but I didn't see any. A tire monitor light came on, but I can live with that.

     I then checked the glove box for the codes for this truck to make sure it's a true Z71 which means a better tow and suspension package. It was there. So more things going good for it. The decision will be made after it goes up on the lift, and after a scanner reads the vehicle history, and a mechanic gives it a thumbs up or down. 

     And while there's all this attention to the Silverado there sits the Suburban. She must feel like when old dog owners visit with a puppy, like there's my replacement, great. One thing I decided 

was to pull her off of Marketplace. Why sell it? Why beat up the high mileage pick up with around the town and to the store mileage? Besides, it's hard to fit 12-foot wood in a 5'6" bed. The Suburban can handle those long Hardie trim boards just fine. Besides over the three days I had it listed only 393 people clicked on it and I only got a handful of inquiries. I thought people would have jumped on it, maybe that not selling is a sign from the Chevy Gods. 

     So she watched yesterday as I got down and crawled underneath to do yet another inspection. This time I checked out the running boards, or steps, which are basically being help on by a thread. Those aren't usually made with any type of heavy construction, and they routinely rust out, even when there's no rust on the body. 

     They'll have to be replaced so Theresa, and or my Mom, can easily get in and out of it. It's got some lift and I'll need them as well so I don't drag my ass across the corner of the driver's seat which kills the padding and seat cover. So I might expect to hear, "Now more money...", well you know me. 

     I've already hit Marketplace and found a rust free pair in chrome for $40, and they're right around the corner. I've been back and forth with the seller and he said he'll even help me put them on. Not bad for a pair of twenty dollar bills. 

     This morning I'm going to catch the full "Harvest Moon" flood tide and see if I can finally find, and maybe even catch, one of these tailing redfish. If I don't get it done today, then surely I'm in the wrong spots at the wrong times. But one day I'll be dialed in, but at this pace I'll be doing it with a walker. 

09.26.26 Compliant, and cautious...

     Back at The Fly Barn for more. One thing that's for sure is that fall has arrived in the Lowcountry, at least this week. I woke up this morning to, believe it or not, a chilly 61 degrees. 

     I know it has a lot to do with the Northeast winds coming from the storm that's hitting New Jersey as I write. The last I heard it was going to hit Ocean County, with of course, heavy rain along the Delaware River in Titusville. People are either thinking this will be another Sandy or just a storm with some beach erosion. Like I'm said earlier this week, I think it's going to be bad for a lot of people. 

    Yesterday was go-time to cut the side fence down. I was a little nervous because once it was cut down it is what is it is, there's no adding height to it. It would change the look, and the view that the neighbors would have everyday. 

     It all went as planned and the fence's new height sits around 48 inches which is in compliance with the Town's requirements. It also changed the view the neighbors have, now looking more residential, in my mind, rather than a storage yard, or a place where a serial killer, or a hoarder, hides things.

     In the end I just straight cut the height and may revisit possibly cutting the tops for that scalloped look. But that'll be for another time. Inside the yard looks like a yard and is ready for Luke to run free, a space to practice casting with a fly rod, or a place to have a killer party. At some point I'll have to construct a fire pit, get some Adirondack chairs, and hang some yard lights.

     The only things I have left are to cut down the large and small gates that give access to the yard. There's a small fence section, above, that needs to be cut down and I think I'll tackle that when I re-side the house with Hardie Board and batten. That big old air conditioner, which no doubt has Legionnaire's disease in it, will get removed and in its place maybe a mini-split or a wall unit for some consistent climate control inside. 

     Above is the new view we have of our neighborhood. I think we have definitely improved the corner and added value to this place. In the end it'll be a good investment, I just wish the "house" was a tad bigger. It's a cross between a tiny house and a studio, one where a single person could live, or definitely where a buddy or guest could stay for a while. 

     I am going to try and stay focused and complete one thing before moving onto the next, but my brain doesn't usually allow that. Above is one of two 12 foot sections of rotted boards that will get the board and batten. On the flip side of one is an old farmhouse sink that I'm getting rid of which will clean the place up a bit. I wish I just had a dumpster and a delivery of all the Hardie products I need to just bang it out and get it done in one shot. But I'm doing pretty good taking things to the dump in the Suburban and buying a piece or two of material at a time from Lowe's or Grayco. But soon I'll need to buy those 4 x 8 or 4 x 12 sheets of Hardie Board, one's I don't want to load into the Suburban. If I only had that pick-up truck... I know, enough already. But this continuing saga is interesting to somebody out there as yesterday 14,978 people checked in to read the blog. 

     And then on the way home I had to pull in and see about the pick-up. Not the big monster with the bad radiator, but the one with high miles and recently replaced transmission. In the end I guess it'll come down to the lesser of two evils. 

     I know I'm driving Theresa, and Julio the salesman, nuts, and yesterday I did more of the same. I purchased a code reader off Amazon and plugged it in. I ran the truck, checked the fluids, and inspected every inch inside and out. As Julio and I were sitting in the cab Theresa called and opened with, "Don't even think about it...."

     But earlier in the day when she was picking up her dress for the upcoming weddings she sent me a text, "... Clearview Automotive from the seamstresses husband". Now that to me is a mixed message. But I took it as if you are going to continue this insanity at least have a mechanic look it over. So I called and made an appointment and at 11 am on Tuesday it'll be up on the lift. If the owner of the lot was trying to pull a fast one he would have said no, but he was like go ahead take it. 

     So buying a used car from a car lot, it's gut wrenching. Just look at what happened with the Duramax the other day when the radiator let loose. It's kind of like adopting a dog from the pound. "Oh, he's great with kids and other dogs......", until he bites little Johnny or tears up the neighbors poodle. Sometimes th pond will take them back, used car lots, yeah not so much. So I did what I could just short of tearing the engine and transmission apart, I went detective mode, and getting the VIN number was my starting point. 

     I broke down each number in the VIN to make sure I knew what make and model I was really looking at. She was born in Mexico in 2010, had the better engine, and was four wheel drive. It has the Z71 package which is better for off-roading, you know I like that,

and is better for towing. That gave me a starting point to work from. Then I hemmed and hawed about spending the $49.95 and running a CarFax report. In the end I just had to and learned 

some things from there as well. It was originally sold in Jacksonville, Florida in 2010, and then over the years had stops in Georgia and South Carolina, where she is now. There's been two previous owners. There's been no accidents and there's no salvage title. I also ran it through the GM VIN database and that just confirmed the specs on the original build at the plant in Silao, Mexico. That 26 million square foot plant builds most of GM's trucks and is located pretty much dead center in Mexico.

     So what to do if the mechanic gives it a decent bill of health on Tuesday? It's 16 years old. Has 205,000 miles on the engine and body. The rebuilt transmission has 140,000 miles with a 3,000/3 month warranty. My early thought is take the Suburban off Marketplace and keep it as my daily driver since I own it and it's low mileage and good, and keep the truck for work, fishing, and towing. Doing that will reduce the daily driver use on a high mileage pick up and give me the opportunity to live in two worlds like I like to, one in the bubble of Sun City and the other in The Fly Barn. I've noticed during my life I always needed to have an alternative life going on, there must be something mental about that. It's kinda like Clark Kent or Superman, or David Berkowitz to the Son of Sam.... Relax, I'm no serial killer.  

09.25.26 Maybe it was a sign, and then some good work...

     So of course I have to drag Theresa into this truck drama. I asked her to take a ride out to Beaufort to check on that 2011 Silverado 2500 HD. Listen, these are not the times, and the Lowcountry isn't the place, to find a solid beater for a few thousand. Down here, even the old ones, basically can look pretty dam good, because they don't have the weather exposure and rust. So those $2,500 trucks back home are $7,000 down here. And they usually have high miles and have been work trucks. And on top of that most are 4x2, or RWD. 

     When I saw the truck my first impression was, it's really nice, but also, it's really big. It's a lot of truck. I don't have a problem with having a little more of a truck than I need, but it's the running costs and repairs that I'm concerned about. We're talking about a big diesel engine and an Allison transmission that calls for it's own kind of tools and expertise to work on. This wouldn't be me ordering up some parts and tinkering under the hood. 

     One thing that was interesting to me was the guy wouldn't let us take the truck for a test ride without. I really wanted to take it back to Sun City but he said that was against their policy. Really bro? What could happen? So we took it for a test ride and it seemed okay to me. It's been a few 

years, remember that one above, since I drove a diesel so I wasn't sure of how they pull out of the gate and ride, again this is a truck truck. I was about 80% in, and still might be, when Theresa took the upper photo. I can say today, that if the next things didn't happen, this beast would be sitting in our driveway. If you look above, under the front bumper, you can just see a little puddle forming. To me, that's not where the A/C drains so I went down and took a look.

     Well it turns out what it was was coolant. The leak wasn't coming a hose either, the radiator was cracked. Can you imagine if this happened when Theresa and I were alone, or snuck over to Sun City? Maybe the guys policy is spot on. So is this a sign? Or is just something that could have happened anytime or anywhere? The truck is mine for $13,500 if I want it, but there's a part of me that's nervous about it. If I was ever going to buy it would definitely just run it past a diesel mechanic to get their quick take on it, just in case there's something glaringly obvious that I'm missing. 

     After a few hours with the truck thing we headed over to The Fly Barn to get something done. We've started by finishing up the batten part of the board and batten siding. Next will be caulk it and then paint it, but to me, it looks 100% better. 

     We then moved over to Phase 3 of the fence project, measuring and laying out where and how we would trim it down to. 48 inches is where it's supposed to be so I made a few jigs and we went to work laying it out.

     After it was laid it it was time just get out the saw and have at it. My initial thought was to mimic the scalloped top but after we did what we did I may just leave them straight cut. 

     when I first pulled out the saw I explained to Theresa how hard it was going to be to hold the saw, walk, and maintain a straight line while cutting it. While it's not a new idea by any means, I used a pice of blocking on top of the rail and just ran the saw across. It was a beautiful thing. 

     Today we'll tackle cutting down the remaining section of fence and the posts. We'll leave the gate re-do for a later date. One thing's for sure going from six down to four feet does change the view, both ways. That's one reason why I wanted to get that siding off and get the home wrap up before we cut the fence. But looking out from the house we like what we see, and really don't mind who sees in when they drive by. 

     And then there's the truck sitting right outside the bubble. Is it just a lipstick on a pig lemon? To me the price range is above a beater and with trucks you just never know really who did what with and to it so I'd be rolling the dice. Can a piece of shit truck look that good? 

     I might swing by and check for some codes and test drive it again. Or maybe I should just plan on driving the Suburban back to New Jersey enjoy week and dealing with this truck stuff when we get back. There's been a few inquires on FBM but no one is knocking down the door for it. It really shouldn't be this hard. 

    

09.24.26 Sometimes, better to ask for forgiveness, and the truck search continues...

     So at some point when we cut down the fence the "house", as I'll call it, will be more in view and under the watchful eyes of the neighbors and officials from the Town. I don't want to sound important, or paranoid, but when things happen, or don't down here, people notice and talk. Add to it coming from the outside, and you're bound to be a topic of discussion at the water cooler.

     When I first found this dream palace I had our realtor go and give it a look. I thought I was dead in the water, as far as Theresa's support, when she sent some pics and said, to some effect, that this place looks like where a serial killer might live and bury the bodies in the yard. Oh, my poor little tiny house. 

     Even when our friend down here came and took a look he advised that there could be some rot and termite damage going on. If you look above you can see why. The rain just pours off the roof and finds its way around the bottom of the house. The T1-11 siding, which I can say is pretty substantial in build and weight, needs to be ripped off and replaced, or cut and pieced in. I am going for the replace. 

     Above you can see a quick concept drawing I did and shared with the Town. All I'm doing is removing the T1-11 and replacing it with Hardie trim and board and batten. When the zoning official stopped by he just asked that I keep him informed and make sure I pull permits for anything new that I'm doing. There's a house, directly in front of me, but over the tracks, that has been undergoing some kind of Hardie transformation as well. In the window I do see a sign, but I'm not sure if that's a permit or an eviction notice. But that's a house house, a little different than what I have going on. 

       And that's where getting the house ready for siding, before it is in full view, came to be. I had to do some assessing of the sill plate and studs that, no doubt, had seen better days. So out came the tools that I thankfully brought with me and went to work.

     Well, yep the termites were here. Just some old damage working its way from the sill plate up. That plate is pressure treated, thank God, but some of the studs, well, let's just say needed some love. So I cut them out and pieced in new wood. I screwed it all in and it's solid as a rock. 

     I worked from left to right removing and replacing as needed with the goal as getting it wrapped before any "visitors" stopped by. In the end it looks cleaner, and more presentable, and will be a relatively easy to re-side. 

     Working with Hardie products is great, there's nothing going to chew on it, but it is expensive. The 4 x8 sheets run about $65 a piece and the trim boards are about $1.50 a foot, and I have some feet to cover. I just wish Lowe's would kick in some money for the free advertising that goes with using their house wrap. I did do a tour of the new construction area going on at Sun City to see if I could dumpster dive but there was nothing to be found, so new, or someone's extra posted on FBM, it will be. 

     I then jumped back to the fence to sand down the boards that are off color after being hidden from the elements. I just feathered them in a bit hoping the color will change on it's own and I won't have to touch them up with stain or sealer. One thing I notice above is that I am looking more like a horse as I get older. If I'm nearing the 200-pound mark on the scales then my legs together weigh 25 pounds, my head about 10, and from my waist to my neck the rest of the 165 pounds. I would be a perfect candidate to get cow tipped like we used to do when we were kids. Running and knocking cows over, or trying to, as they slept upright. That's what we did in Millstone when it was farm country.

     I had a good roll going on and jumped into completing the two front panels. Basically there were two half sheets on plywood barely held on by some rusty screws. They were wobbly and unsightly. I thought it would be nice to change my neighbors view and give the Town a sneak-peek as to what would be coming. 

     Above is a shot that I took after Theresa and I had completed one side. It's so much easier working with another set of hands around. Just holding things level while they get screwed in 

takes half the amount of time with a buddy on the other end. So the left side took me longer but by days end I had them matching. 

     Today we'll install the batten strips which will really make the entrance look better. I don't know if I'm mental, or just wishful, but I think this place will quickly go up in value with each step of refurbishment that gets completed. That T1-11 siding that sits up at the peak? It's staying, but I am going to trim it out with Hardie trim and put the battens over where some of the grooves are, and then it will all get painted off white, I think. 

     And when my day was done and I headed home I passed that used car lot. I've been waiting for a call to come and do the deal for that 2010 Silverado, the one with a blown tranny. Well, to my surprise it was out front and ready for the market.

     I grabbed Theresa and we headed over and talked to the salesman and took it for a ride. They dropped in a refurbished transmission with 140,000 miles on it. It has 208,000 engine and body miles. It's a good truck, but, it is a little concerning to me. It has a backstory, that maybe the guy shouldn't have told us, but he's straight up. He said he didn't mind telling us, because this one, and the other pickups will be gone in a week or so, especially if they have four wheel drive. At $11,500 I'm not taking that risk, for $8,000 I would. 

     This morning Theresa and I will take a side trip to Beaufort to check on that stupidly beautiful 2011 Silverado. It's a 2500HD with a Duramax diesel engine and Allison transmission. There would be no getting stuck in puddles like I did with the Suburban. It's been for sale for a month and I have been back on forth with the seller. Since it's still around is it meant to be?

      Even though I fell in love with this one, virtually, there's a few things that I'm concerned about. One, it's a lot of truck, two, how noisy is it, and three, is the price of diesel these days, which right now is $6.29 a gallon. When I had my last diesel it was running $5 a gallon, so it ain't cheap to fill her up. But that won't last forever, I sure hope not. 

     It has had one owner who babied it. The 256,000 miles, not too concerning as it's a diesel and could go well over 400,000 miles. And since it's a southern truck there is no rust. I can take the lotta truck concern, but rattling my elderly neighbors out of their bunks each morning is a good-neighbor thought I have in the back of my brain.

     Since the truck has been waiting for me the current price is down to $13,900. That's a cash money price. If I had it I would just plop it down and buy it and worry about moving the Suburban later. But that's like buying a new house while you still own the one while it's for sale. It's even more of a pickle if you need the proceeds from one to buy the other. So....

     While I was hoping to trade her in on a new ride, selling her privately may bring in a better take at the till. I listed her this morning on Marketplace for $8,000, which would be great to put down on the new truck. The balance I'll have to figure out as a used car loan on a 2011 truck isn't an option. My goal is to have this all done before we head back to Jersey in October. Fingers crossed. 

     If this doesn't work out then I guess I can just stop by the Chevy dealership and pick a new one out. How much could they be? Well a 2026 Silverado with the Duramax engine....

.... only $69,989, with $13,027 in savings. If I put down $10,000 and financed $60,000 for 84 months, that's seven years, the payment would be $825 a month, if I were get the $3.8 % financing. I would be 65 years old when I would make the last payment, yeah, that's not an option. I paid $87,000 for The Fly Barn, and that value is only going to go up.

I'm going to remember this post. Because in seven years I am going to see what the above truck would worth in 2033, and what the place in Ridgeland is worth, that's if I'm still kicking and still writing this blog. Hell, it's been 17 years and 3,618 posts, I wonder how long I, and this blog, will be around.