The Great Team Chambers REAL TIME Smoker Relay of 2013

OK, here it is.
THE thread documenting the September 7th & 8th BBQ Brethren Smoker Relay to get brother Dan Chambers some of his long missed BBQ gear.

To get a little history on Dan's situation, you have to do a bit of reading.
If you want to do that, start here:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123136

On Monday of this week, I saw a FB post of Dan's where he told of his son BBQ'ing a pork butt for the family on Labor Day on an old smoker that was left at the house where they are staying. During the cook, the pit literally fell apart. :twitch:

I thought.....THIS WILL NOT STAND!

So, the next morning I put up this thread to see what could be done to get his stuff to him, which I've been storing at my home since last November.

This is THAT thread:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170199

As you'll see in the above thread, in less than 24 hours, enough Brethren had stepped up and volunteered to drive/haul his stuff on a "tag team" type relay.
:clap::clap::clap:

In less than 2 days after THAT, other Brethren came out of the woodworks who weren't close enough or able to help with the driving/hauling to donate money to help pay for fuel for the trip. As I type this (and I'm still getting donations now - got one not 15 minutes ago), there has been a total of $1,025 donated to the cause.
:dancer::dancer::dancer::dancer:


SO, here's the layout for the trip. I've estimated durations of the different legs of the trip using Google Maps and then calculated departure and arrival times:


ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL STANDARD TIME

Leg #1: Mooresville, IN to Manito, IL - Wampus
224 mi - 3h 38m, depart 3:00 am, arrive 7:00 am

1/2h load transfer

Leg #2: Manito, IL to Springfield, IL - LTG
56 mi - 1h 15m, depart 7:30 am, arrive 9:00 am

1/2h load transfer

Leg #3: Springfield, IL to St. Louis, MO - 93vpmod
97m - 1h 30m, depart 9:30 am, arrive 11:00 am

1/2h load transfer

Leg #4: St. Louis, MO to Lebanon, MO - nthole
163m - 2h 26m, depart 11:30 am, arrive 2:00 pm

1/2h load transfer

Leg #5: Lebanon, MO to Joplin, MO - Outnumbered
125m - 1h 56m, depart 2:00 pm, arrive 4:00 pm

1/2h load transfer

Leg #6: Joplin, MO to Norman, OK - Captain Caveman
234m - 3h 31m, depart 4:00 pm, arrive 7:30 pm

1/2h load transfer

Leg #7: Norman, OK to Burleson, TX - SmittyJonz
198m - 2h 57m, depart 7:30 pm, arrive 10:30 pm

GET SOME FARKIN SLEEP SMITTY!

Leg #8: Burleson, TX to Taylor, TX - caseydog
147m - 2h 20m, depart 8 am, arrive 10:30 am

1hr load time and BBQ at Meuller's! (lucky bastiges)

Leg #9: Taylor, TX to DAN'S PLACE in San Antonio, TX (78245 zip) - mikemci
143m - 2h 5m, depart 11:30 am, arrive 1:30 pm



I think there may be a detail or two that's changed in that itinerary, but it's pretty close.




SO....here we go.

I just got finished going through Dan's trailer and grabbing a few more things that he asked about and loaded the pits after a good cleaning.


We're ready to get this CONVOY a'rollin!

Taking the Big Steel Keg, the small BGE, some chairs a couple of boxes with some misc BBQ accessories, his week burner, his chimney starter and a charcoal bin.


Loaded....








I'm off to bed. Gotta get some sleep. Not really worried though....I'm a professional competition BBQ'er so I've gotten used to long drives and not a lot of sleep! :heh:


I'll post here when I leave the house.
We're planning on having pictures taken at each drop and they'll be posted in this thread, so KEEP A WATCHIN!






If you pray, please pray for the drivers for a safe trip.
If you don't pray....how about praying just this once? :wink:
If you offer good vibes, positive thoughts or otherwise well wishes, then by all means....do THAT!

Here's to nice weather, smooth roads and the BBQ BRETHREN! :tea:




THIS PLACE ROCKS!!!!!!!
:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

WELL CHIT!!!!

The wife set the alarm incorrectly (set "buzzer" for 3:40 instead of "radio") so it didn't go off until 5:10 (EST).


:mad2:




Pulling out of the driveway now.
Sorry guys. About 1.5 hours behind.

GRRRRRR!!!!!!







BUT......we've got ourselves a CONVOY!

Fuel stop. Didn't have time last night to fill er up.

Card just got declined at gas station.

WTH?


SOMEONE is tryin to thwart our efforts it would seem.
But....the Brethren will not be thwarted!!!




"It's time to put the hammer down!" :laugh:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI5eT4UmyFY"]Convoy Music Video - YouTube[/ame]