Hi again! Here are details of my trip, and what I like to do when road-tripping for a tuba! I'll add photos later, my school network blocks just about everything so I can't upload them right now.
I found this tuba on Facebook in the Tuba-Euphonium Marketplace. The seller was looking to get into Eb as his playing needs have changed. I didn't particularly love Eb, and felt more comfortable on F overall. That, and the fact that I'd seen exactly one of these for sale for about $4,000 more than what I paid for this one, made me want this tuba. I'd never played a big Willson F and nobody around me has this particular horn. I had played the compact model but it was really pitchy. Like, really pitchy.
In December I contacted the owner. Somebody was going to purchase it before me but that fell through, luckily, and he was willing to hold it for me until I went on Spring Break. It took a bit, but in February I was finally able to sell that Eb and get a check made for this Willson. I broke even on that sale/purchase, but actually sold the Eb for more than what I bought it for.
So, spring break was coming up, but because gas is what it is right now, neither of us really wanted to drive a long distance. I'm in a 2006 Ford F-150, and have been for the last 3 years. I love it to death, but getting 12 MPG in the city hasn't been kind to my wallet. I had originally planned for my girlfriend to pick this horn up as she and her family were actually on their way to CO over spring break. Unfortunately, that didn't happen as they didn't end up having enough room. Shoot! So, now I was planning to FLY out there for one day, and fly back to IL with the horn. The seller even offered to pay for a seat for this tuba. Really, really nice guy and a great offer.
HOWEVER! He found a 983 Eb for less money than this tuba, was willing to get a rental car, and meet me somewhere in Iowa to help save me some gas. Again, very stand up guy. I very much appreciated that! We decided to meet at a gas station near this middle-of-nowhere town of Atlantic, Iowa. So, he got his rental and headed out, and I hopped in my truck and left a few hours later.
Side-note about vehicle choice: While it may not be the most practical vehicle in the world, my F-150 has been DEAD reliable. It's gone on three or four tuba excursions to Michigan, Southern Illinois, and now rural Iowa, up to 12 hours driving in one day, and it's been absolutely wonderful to me. There's something to be said about comfortability in big vehicles. I complain a lot about my gas bills, but I've only got 60,000 miles on this old truck. Bought it at 42,000. Again, dead reliable. I packed up a few bottles of coke, brought some sandwiches with me, and headed out from my home at about 1PM, and arrived at our destination about 7PM. I set cruise at 65 the whole way there and got 18MPG. Pretty good for the old girl. That's about as good as I can get with an old V8. In total, my gas bill was around $150, which is about what I expected. Gas was cheaper in Iowa by about a dollar a gallon. Sweet!
Anyway, long drive over, we met and chatted for a bit, then both made the drive home, I with tuba and him with money. The midwest is *really* boring. There is literally NOTHING to look at for most of the way. Driving through Des Moines was cool. I'd never been there before. And, I stopped at the world's largest truck stop, which was also pretty cool! I took no photos, I basically filled my tank, grabbed some food, and kept going. At this point it was about 10PM or so, and after 3ish hours on the road, I was ready to be home.
I don't have much to say about the drive, really. Like I said, I set cruise at 65 and never touched my brake for most of that journey. I don't have bluetooth in my truck, so I have a whole lot of CDs. My favorite album is by They Might be Giants, called Flood, and I've listened to that since I was little, so that was my music listening, for the most part. I also love podcasts and listened to several of those. It would be nice to have a passenger for these trips, but I've mostly gone solo on my tuba trips, and towards the end of the drive, you really start to get tired. I arrived home at about 1AM.
I will say, plan these things as early as possible. Nobody likes driving really late at night. For my last horn I left at 3AM but was home by 1PM. That was to Michigan, which was also a super boring drive. I do like seeing new places and I stopped in Des Moines to fill up but just took everything in. Something different than where I live is always a fun experience. So, for a 12 hour drive, it really wasn't all that bad! Bring food, caffeine, and good music if by yourself, and you will enjoy yourself! And you get yourself a tuba out of it!
Alternatively, bring somebody along and make a weekend trip out of it. That would've been great had anybody's spring break lined up with mine. I would love to hang out in new places for a few days. Find some good beer, take in new sights, et al.
That is all. Photos to come later! Thanks for reading!