Cross Country Festool Roadtrip

[Staniam]

Hey guys,

    As we all know, life has plenty of ups and downs and even more learning experiences. We come across opportunities that are life changing, scary, exciting and also unknown.

    To make a long story short, a multi year relationship just came to an end  (thankfully it was mutual) and I will be moving 1,500+ miles east. From the beautiful central coast of California I will be heading to Ft. Smith, Arkansas for the second time. So, after knowing about this road trip for a couple weeks this thought just crossed my mind....

    There has got to be a TON of of Festool dealers along the way. Even with dealers being harder to find than the big box stores, there's gotta be a good number them within 1,500 miles right?

    I have two options on route. I can go through middle California, N. Arizona, N. New Mexico, N. Texas and middle Oklahoma or I can go through southern California, S. Arizona, S. New Mexico, middle Texas (to visit my brother in Austin) and up through Oklahoma to Arkansas.

    So my questions/request is if any of you FOGgers (or dealers)  know of dealers along that route, would you give a shout out? I'm thinking of making a mini map of Festool destinations along the way.

    I had to sell my brand new TS 55  [crying] as well as some other tools including trying to sell my Bosch IDH. I'll be able to replace some of the tools I sold, on my drive (had to pay for deposit and first months rent and all that) so I'm hoping to find some good dealers along the way.

    Sorry if this was too much info or reading and Tha ks in advance for any replies! [big grin]

 

[rvieceli]

Southern route. Skip the dealers on the way. Keep scanning craigslist in front of your route for interesting stuff.  Stop in Austin visit brother. Go see Tom Bellemare at Tool-Home. New digs. Looks to be good depth of inventory and rumor has it he'll let you buy him lunch  [big grin]

 

[Staniam]

Wow those guys deliver? That's pretty awesome. I was looking at places in  Austin and was thinking about Woodcraft. I may check out Tool-home instead just because I may not have time (or funds) to visit both places.

I like your Craigslist suggestion. Never thought about that.

 

[rvieceli]

Here you go Tom's new place.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-sales-dealer-area/my-new-shop!/?all

Ok I can't get this link to work right  [sad] BUT scroll down to about the middle of the page where it says Tool-Home LLC has a new shop

 

[tbellemare]

Please come by Stan!

I am about a mile or so south of "Lady Bird Lake", which for most of my life was called "Town Lake". The lake defines the southern border of downtown. I'm on Lamar, which defines the western border of downtown, so that makes me about a mile or so south of the southwestern corner of downtown.

To my knowledge, I have by far the best Festool stock and customer experience in several states. I also happen to be sort of in the center of one of the most happening scenes in one of the hottest cities in the nation.

Oh, and I also have customers in Ft. Smith who get free deliveries w/ no tax...

Tom

 

[Staniam]

I'll definitely stop by, Tom and hopefully get my hands on some Festool items I haven't had the opportunity to check out before. I'm pretty sure my brother is in the center of town so finding you shouldn't be too difficult.

I almost chose to move to Austin, it definitely would have been a more exciting city overall. But in the end chose where I had more friends.

And as far as far as your delivery to Ft. Smith..... Wow I think you just found a new regular!

 

[RobNJ]

Have a good trip, Stan. It sounds like a great way to unwind, see the country and meet some people. NJ isn't on your way so I won't see you, but take pictures, have fun and drive safe

 

[Gary in Texas]

Stan,

Good luck with the cross country trip.

Even better luck with Tom (getting away without spending all of your gas money....)

Being around friends is good therapy when life changes occur.  All the best!!!

Gary

 

[dltflt]

Have you been to In-Touch Tools in Palm Desert?  They usually have a one of everything in stock.

 

[Staniam]

Thanks for the good wishes, guys.

Don, I haven't been there. I'll look it up right now and see its location.

And as far as luck with Tom, yeah luckily Austin will be my last stop before the final leg of the drive so I should still have enough gas money  ;D

 

[tbellemare]

Thanks for the good wishes, guys.

Don, I haven't been there. I'll look it up right now and see its location.

And as far as luck with Tom, yeah luckily Austin will be my last stop before the final leg of the drive so I should still have enough gas money  ;D

If you are low on gas, Stan, I know a couple of Mexican restaurants that can fix that...

Tom

 

[wow]

If you decide to swing through MN I'll buy you lunch. And we have Acme Tools up here...

 

[Staniam]

Just looked up In-Touch tools and it seems to be on the way considering I will be going the southern rout.

Wow, thanks for that! you never know what the road will bring.

Tom, I can tell we'll have a good interaction. You've got jokes. On second thought, what you said is actually true... Hopefully for you I'll have plenty of gas and not enough green and black in the back of the truck.

 

[tmccowan]

I spent 10 years in Austin before my company relocated me to NC. You should definitely stop and see your brother and do some sight seeing if you have never visited. If you stop in Austin you need to eat at The Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX.

Safe travels.

-
Travis

 

[Staniam]

I spent 10 years in Austin before my company relocated me to NC. You should definitely stop and see your brother and do some sight seeing if you have never visited. If you stop in Austin you need to eat at The Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX.

Safe travels.

-
Travis

Not sure how long I'll definitely mention that to my brother.

 

[tbellemare]

I spent 10 years in Austin before my company relocated me to NC. You should definitely stop and see your brother and do some sight seeing if you have never visited. If you stop in Austin you need to eat at The Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX.

Safe travels.

-
Travis

I don't know how long you've been gone, Travis, but the BBQ trailer (Brown's BBQ) a few steps from my shop is better. The Salt Lick is more of an experience but Brown's can't be beat for food and value.

There's also a BBQ shop (Franklin's) in near East Austin that has people literally waiting in line for an hour or more everyday. Then there's another trailer in East Austin (La Barbeque) that has long lines all the time. All 3 of them are awesome.

Tom

 

[tmccowan]

I don't know how long you've been gone, Travis, but the BBQ trailer (Brown's BBQ) a few steps from my shop is better. The Salt Lick is more of an experience but Brown's can't be beat for food and value.

There's also a BBQ shop (Franklin's) in near East Austin that has people literally waiting in line for an hour or more everyday. Then there's another trailer in East Austin (La Barbeque) that has long lines all the time. All 3 of them are awesome.

Tom

Almost 2 years. I never made it to Franklin's, because I worked in San Marcos and lived off Mopac and Slaughter. I'll be moving back one of these days, we're renting our house out. I don't think you can go wrong with BBQ and breakfast tacos in Austin

The BBQ in Charlotte is awful and makes me miss Austin.

-
Travis

 

[hcoyote]

I don't know how long you've been gone, Travis, but the BBQ trailer (Brown's BBQ) a few steps from my shop is better. The Salt Lick is more of an experience but Brown's can't be beat for food and value.

Salt Lick is more for the tourists, honestly.  I live a few minutes from it and much prefer going into Austin for BBQ (or down to Lockhart if I want a short roadtrip).  My personal favorite is Terry Black's BBQ on Barton Springs Rd in Austin.  The original place, Black's BBQ is down in Lockhart.

Another good place is Ruby's BBQ (note:  not Rudy's BBQ, which is different, crappier, and only worth going to if all the other BBQ places were closed for Meatless Mondays).  It's up off Guadalupe and 29th.

 

[Staniam]

Reached my first stop after a long 12 hours of driving. Another 14 tomorrow before Austin then a day to relax. Off to Arkansas after that.

Here's how I packed the truck this morning...

 

[tbellemare]

'See you soon, Stan...

Tom