Chris and Marjy (hi girls!!!) This is a smart and creative approach to the problem. Might you be able to post a pic at the googlegroups site? I suspect a lot of people reading your post would like to see it...
~ Matt > Dear Nick, > > My friend, Marjy Fiddler, and I have traveled nationally and > internationally > with our hurdy gurdies as checked luggage with great success and no > worries. Here's what we did (which was mostly Marjy's idea, so I want to > give her credit.) We both purchased large, plastic chest beer coolers > with > wheels and handles. Then, we took these coolers and our hurdy gurdies > (in > their soft, gig bags) to the Custom Foam Guy, who created a foam nest > inside > each cooler, along with a cushion of foam in the (hinged) top. Next, we > glued in straps with velcro to keep the instruments in place. When > you're > ready to travel, stick a bunch of FRAGILE signs on it (though we tossed > our > around with no ill effects) and close the whole thing up with packing > tape. > The TSA people will undo the tape, check around, and re-tape the whole > thing > for you. > > Yes, you need to take packing tape with you on your trip. AND, you need > to > take the crank off and put all your tools in a separate, checked bag. > > We noticed that these cooler-gurdy-mobiles were really good fun. You > can > use them to sit on while you're playing and they have handy little > cup-sized > holes on the lid for your beer as you play. You can wheel them through > airports, on subways, and up and down streets. They have handles on the > non-walking handle end, so a friend can help you up flights of stairs. > When they're being loaded in an English speaking country, you always get > jokes about taking your beer along with you. AND they're light. We > traveled with our hurdy gurdies on Ryan Air and paid NOTHING in extra > weight. Our hurdy gurdies are Boudet lutebacks, so they are not small. > > When you're going through any kind of x-ray, it's helpful to have a > photograph of your gurdy handy (it's nicest when it's of YOU playing your > instrument) to show the people who are trying to make sense of the x-ray. > This stance seems to bring up interest and avoid conflict. > > Yes, I think you should take your instrument. This method is relatively > cheap (far cheaper and lighter than a Pelican case) and extremely > effective. No worries!!!! > > Write me off line if you have more questions or would like a photo of what > I'm describing here. > > -Chris Wright > > On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 1:01 AM, Jeeves <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I'm toying with the idea of taking my HG with me when I travel from >> New York City to the UK for the August Bank Holiday weekend. (I shall >> be at the Sealed Knot event at Loseley Park, and thought the dulcid >> tones of the HG would add an air of tone and refinement to the Living >> History area.) >> >> Has anyone got any recent experience of taking an HG on international >> flights? >> >> My main concerns are whether it's OK as a carry on (wouldn't even >> think of checking it, and don't want to buy an extra ticket) and >> whether there are problems with security either here in the US or >> coming back from the UK. >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "hurdygurdy" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy >> >> The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found >> at >> http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from >> new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "hurdygurdy" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy > > The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at > http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from > new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster.
