The Fine Art of Shipping

  . . . Which, of course, we know nothing about. Yet.

But here is the story of our first experience:

1. Spent three weeks packing and unpacking what is supposed to be "essentials that cannot be bought on the island."

Mike zip-tied all of the bins and taped some spares on the inside lids in case Customs needs to inspect the contents, and with the hope they will zip tie what they open.

2. Assigned values and prepared the manifest.

Results for this current shipment to Camp Bay Lodge were:

eight (8) 26-gallon bins

one (1) 64-gallon bin

and one (1) large suitcase

3. Rented a U-Haul Van, got gas, and loaded it up!

4. Drove 68 miles to the Miami DipShip. With traffic, it was an hour and a half drive one-way. 

The Guitar Hotel at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood, FL

5. Arrived. It took a bit to figure out how to get in. 

Hint: Drive around to the back of the warehouse.

The staff here are just as helpful and courteous as the people we've built an online rapport with. We feel assured our belongings will get where they are going in about two weeks. The guys unloaded the van and we did some paperwork. Most of it was already completed by the time we arrived so it was painless. 

Total Cost - $625 USD

6. We did make one important stop. Cookies! Fueled by sugar for the 68-mile trip home.

Traveling in Miami's I-95 Friday afternoon traffic leads to rethinking the time of day for the next trip. Just saying.......

7. Stopped home to pick up the car, return the van to U-Haul, and called it a day!

We credit Dip Shipping Company for what turned out to be an easy, smooth process. Good thing, too - because we've already begun packing more bins for the same trip next Friday!

Twenty-Three (23) days, folks!