We just came into the house after watching our Foretravel drive down the road in the hands of its new owners, Wilson and Rose Meaux, from Rayne, Louisiana. So we are now "motor-homeless!" The sale started last weekend when Barry Brideau sent me a political cartoon that I just had to respond to! At the end of my email to Barry, I mentioned that we were thinking about selling our motorhome after we returned to Tucson this coming fall. Shortly after sending the email, Barry called and asked if we were interested in selling it now because he had a friend that was looking for a coach exactly like ours.
After a short pause I responded, "Well, yes, I guess we are." Last Monday, Wilson called us as we made our way north on highway 550 in New Mexico, heading for Cortez, CO. Wilson explained that he had been looking for a 2003, U-295, 36-foot since his coach was destroyed in a fire in March. Ours was almost identical to the one he had lost. Wilson and Rose have owned several FT motorhomes and many Forum members may know them from the numerous motorcades they have joined. Three days later, last Thursday to be exact, the Meauxs arrived in Tucson after a 2.5-day, 1200-mile drive from Louisiana. We had arrived from Cortez the day before and unloaded the coach that night with the help of Foreforums friends, Carol & Jeff Savournin. By the time the Meauxs saw the coach, it was in good shape.... as Pat said, "just like they would see it at MOT." They liked what they saw; we agreed on a price; completed all the paperwork; and they left this morning at 5am (Tucson time) on the return trip to Louisiana... six days after casually telling Barry our thoughts about perhaps selling the coach!
Of course we have mixed feelings about the sale. But we have traveled all over the country since we bought back it in 2009. We put almost 40,000 miles on it and visited numerous friends, family, parks, and other sites of interest over that period. We had a great time! And to say the least, the Forum has been a big part of our Foretravel experience. Between the two of us, we've posted over 1700 times! Not only have we received some great advice from Forum members, but we've also met so many wonderful people through the Forum. It has been such a great experience.
Wilson and Rose are not yet members of the Forum, but we encouraged them to join. Great people! The whole transaction was a great experience and a good way to end our FT ownership. What is next? We're thinking of a summer place (without wheels) in Anacortes, WA. Another new experience!
George & Pat
P.S. Thank you Barry!!
Good luck George & Pat. It was our pleasure meeting you guys and hope to see you again down the road. :D
It was our pleasure to meet you in person a couple of time. Best wishes on your continuing journeys.
Dave & Marilyn
Shocked!
We have never met in person, but you two are among our very favorite acquaintances.
We wish you our very best and hope that you will still visit the fireside, just to keep us all "in the loop".
Neal and Brenda
Hi George & Pat,
I will miss your posting here. I'm sure we will hear from you as you experience your new adventures. It has been a pleasure to have made your acquaintances here. Best of luck to the Hatfields!
Raymond & Babette
Happily ... they are still my neighbors here in Tucson ... I do not need to say farewell! :-)
We are as shocked as everyone else here, but glad to have met you and Pat and seen your coach. No doubt you will miss your coach at times but glad the sales process was so smooth. Our best to you and Pat... we will miss your posts.
Don & Tys
Our best to you and Pat. We are the owners of your recycled Tracstar.
Congratulations, and yes a shock.
Will you be getting another coach/smaller coach or staying off the road for awhile?
Brett
It will be a sad day for any of us when we need to give up the RV life. I'm hoping that this is not your last post and that you will keep us informed as to how it is going and what is good and bad about selling your MH. We will all be apprehensive when the time comes and maybe you can give us all some things to consider. Happy trails and may God bless you folks. ---- Fritz
Anacortes seems to be a popular place to summer... and there is a Thousand Trails resort (my favorite of those I am familiar with) only a few miles away. Sue and I love Anacortes, too. I lived there in the early 60s as a young Highway Department employee (the four-lane from the big bridge to the cutoff to Whidbey was my introduction to civil engineering) back when it was mostly a paper mill (Scott Paper) and fishing town. I'm not sure what it is now. LOL. But it's a beautiful place, still.
But you do realize that you don't have to actually OWN a Foretravel to keep on posting here, right? :D
Craig
Wow, did not expect this when I opened the post. It is always a big decision. Good luck in your new journeys wherever they may take you.
George & Pat,
I will miss both of you for your common sense response to interesting views & info.
Best wishes moving forward.
Dave M
We were so pleased to have made your acquaintance on I 40 W. this past year. The forum will surely miss you, but relish the fact that we are Facebook friends and will always be in touch where ever we may be.
ForeForums will miss George's expert how-to photos and concise descriptions and Pat's sense of humor and thoroughness. Good luck in all your future endeavors. And, of course, those who met him, Cosmo's sweet personality.
What can one say except it was good meeting you both and to share in your hospitality in Tucson. Thank you for your help with VMSPc George, and when up in Anacortes please drop in it is only a few hours to here. We have a very comfortable guest house looking at our Lake for you any time.
Take care, and best wishes
JohnH and Ruth
George and Pat: We were stunned to say the least to learn of your selling the 295, but it looks like you are starting a new chapter with the building of a summer place in Anacortes. Trudy and I have enjoyed our dinners with you here in Nacogdoches. Best of luck to you two in your new endeavors.
Don and Trudy
I have been trying to digest this information all day. I still remember meeting up with Pat and George and Cosmo in Aubrey, Texas a couple of years ago (and having a great meal at Prairie House in Crossroads). And then George Stoltz calls George H. on his cell and they talk about how we are meeting each other... it felt like the beginning of a community...
Pat - I will nod in your general direction every time I watch the Splendide "go round and round"... And hang our air-dry shirts on hangers from the bedroom ceiling insert. The Empress of RV Laundry will be missed :'(
George and I would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, as we begin to plan for the next phase of our adventure that started almost 40 years ago!
At the moment, we are sitting admidst piles of bins and boxes that came out of our rolling summer home (anyone that knows how well I can load a dishwasher knows that I did indeed stuff 10 lbs of flour in that 5-lb sack... er, 36-ft coach!). However, the contents of those bins and boxes will serve us well in a summer place up in (one of our) former hometowns, Anacortes.
Like another wonderful Foreforums couple (Two Hams in a Can), we too started out in an Airstream travel trailer, and graduated to the Foretravel. And, to answer Brett's question, we are contemplating the possibility of a rolling "motel room" to go between Tucson and Anacortes each year. So, like Jeff and Suzanne, we are looking at one of the charming little "egg trailers," a Casita to tow behind a mid-size SUV of some sort.
As you can see, it's been a whirlwind of planning, decisions, and WORK... with a bit more to go, as we "turn the page." What a great ride it has been, both in the Foretravel and on the Foreforums. Thank you all for your friendship, advice, caring, and concern! We would not have enjoyed our 4.5 years of Fore-travelling nearly as much without you all!
Pssst.... Michelle.... maybe not Empress of RV Laundry, but (as Karl Brenneman calls me), the "Washer Lady"! :))
Virtual hugs to all,
Pat
Pat,
The great thing about a forum is that all your posts are forever available for all present and future FoFums to read. (I hope, anyway).
Dear George and Pat (THE WASHER LADY)
WOW!!! We where looking forward to seeing you guys this summer out here on the east cost. (Ashville N.C.- Raleigh N.C.) I remember the first time I met Pat at Diamond J RV Park in Tucson and I said, So you are the washer lady. We enjoyed meeting you guys. You have been great friends through out the years. We have had great dinners with you both. We well miss you both and Cosmo I am not saying good by. George remember the AIRSTREAM .....
All the best to you both on your new adventure. Karl and Madelyn
As many have said before, hope the new page goes well, and hopefully you will reconsider the thought of not posting again. Everyone here has received a great deal of information, humor and insight with you guys. Nobody wants to say goodbye forever.
Larry
Our Casita is serving us well when we get "hitch itch". We are able to park it in our driveway, plugged in a loaded to go on a moment's notice since our village doesn't restrict RVs being stored on one's driveway pavement. It isn't Foretravel, but it is an easy tow for Suzanne since my vision prevents me from doing any more driving. However, I do the backing since I'm the backwards member of the family. We are always ready to show it. to anyone who is interested in considering a Casita when that time comes to downsize. There is a Hollywood Casino RV park 30 miles west of our Village of Homewood, IL. Just sayin'. . . 8) :D :P
So glad we were able to meet in Indio this winter and for sure when we blow thru AZ in the fall or WHEN we are in Washington state, we WILL be stopping by! Just make sure you have room for 45' of stainless steel!
Enjoy the next chapter. We will miss you. And you can look back!
Gonna miss your wise input. If that was your last post, can I have your hat?
A real shock! We'll miss your great inputs on the forum, but we'll still see you in winter-time Tucson! Stay in touch!
Well, better than your last breath! You still have ideas, opinions, insights and fingers. Post away even if you don't still FT. Otherwise we will all miss a member of our community. Thanks for being here.
Roger
Rayne, Louisiana will be even more beautiful once your coach makes it's home there! What a great coach for these folks to find. Hope you'll check in from time to time - we need good members like you. Best of luck in your next chapter.
Chris
Sad to hear the news. Happy trails.
Larry and Alice
Pat and George we hate to see you sell that beautiful Foretravel. I know you enjoyed many miles in it, but I realize we all have to take different steps at different times.
We never got to meet you but any day that I signed on to the forum and saw one of your very informative post it helped make my day. Don't deprive us of your knowledge, keep helping us along.
Maybe we will still cross paths someday, somewhere.
Safe travels.
George - thanks for all the good advice when we first headed down the FT path. And Pat, my wife still refers to your washing tip printouts stashed in the laundry drawer! We along with many others appreciate all your insights and shared experiences. We wish you the very best.
Wow!!! Bummer for all of us but understand. When we sold our boat after 11 super great years and launched into our Foretravel adventures it was a similar transition. We still miss the boat but don't regret the decision. It was time to move on. Having our Foretravel has opened up an whole new world of activities and best of all great friends all over the country including y'all.
We will remember our times together and wish you the best.