Best. Cooler. Ever.

[squirtthecat]

So we decided to send a cooler full of smoked goodies to my wife's cousin (MIL's 1st cousin) and her husband.  They used to travel with us quite a bit, but he's got cancer now and isn't up to long trips.   

I packed it full of frozen brisket, pulled pork, turkey, bacon, and a small cooler of smoked cheese last Wednesday morning.



Covered it in ice packs and an old Snoopy towel. 

It left the office Wednesday afternoon on what was supposed to be a 3 day trip to Tacoma, WA.   Turns out it was going to take 3 *business* days.    Ruhh rhow..

The freakish cold weather we had last week was a blessing in disguise.

It went via truck from Springfield to Decatur.  Then the next day from Decatur, IL to Indianapolis to Louisville, KY to Hodgkins, IN and finally back to Rockford, IL.  (lots of miles on the meat that day)

Sometime during the weekend, it started the long Northern trek and ended up in Portland, OR on Sunday.

Out for delivery yesterday morning.

(at this point, I figured they would open a cooler full of room temperature mush)

Most of the contents were still frozen.  Everything was definitely cold - even the cheese.   I was shocked....

They are cooking up the bacon this morning, and will break out the cheese tonight.   The rest went back into their freezer.


I sent that particular cooler as it was beat to death, and partially melted via an altercation with my gas grill.

Figured they could just cut it open and toss it in the trash.




Maybe I'll get it back from them....   ;D

[classicrockgriller]

That was a NICE thing to do and I know they will enjoy your great

cooking/smoking. Just hate you lost your Snoopy towel. ;D

I have learned that from shipping bread starters out.

I try to ship on Mondays and Tuesdays at the latest using USPS.

If UPS, I ship on Mondays. If fed-ex and they have Fed-ex ground

I will ship by Tuesday.

[squirtthecat]

Yeah, the timing was bad, and all my fault.   The gal doing the shipping was filling in for the day, and didn't realize that a Saturday UPS delivery is a 'special request' going through our system.

It was a comedy of errors, but it turned out Ok in the end.
We started to send it 2nd day - but it was almost $98!  (faint, thud)


We're flying out there in March for probably a 'last hurrah' birthday party - I'll retrieve the Snoopy towel then. 
For that trip, I'm going to check a 2nd suitcase-turned-into-a-cooler full of meat, and bring it back full of seafood.   ;)

[FLBentRider]

Have lots of fresh dungeness crabs.

[KyNola]

You're a good guy STC.  I don't care what Hal says. :)

Those coolers work great.  I've got a couple from SRF that I now use to FTC butts in.

[SnellySmokesEm]

Man, thats quite a cooler.  I'm glad all you goodies made it to your family!

[DTAggie]

The cold weather is really helping with shipping right now for sure.  Glad the box arrived safely for them.

[OU812]

Good to here everything made it safe N sound.

Note to self ship on Mondays.  ;D

[SouthernSmoked]

Awesome Pat, you are truly a good guy.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

[moodyfisherman]

Where exactly does a guy buy one of those coolers again....I can't find them in Tacoma, WA

[squirtthecat]

Where exactly does a guy buy one of those coolers again....I can't find them in Tacoma, WA

These coolers were from Omaha Steaks.   Not sure where they get them from.

[Wildcat]

I order from Omaha also. They are great coolers, but every once in a while I will get one that will leak water when you use ice in it.