AARoads Forum

Come one, come all, for a drive on and around the historic, scenic, Merritt Parkway! In addition to a clinch of the parkway itself and a look at many of its unique overpasses, the tour will also feature a 110 year old truss bridge which has been abandoned for nearly 80 years (since the Parkway was built), a couple 1970s-era CT state outline shields, and an original 1930s toll booth from the parkway which has been moved and preserved.

Parking at the diner may be somewhat limited, if no spaces are available, go ahead and park in the lot for Burger King next door - they won't bother you. We will be relocating everyone's car to a nearby park and ride after lunch.

SPATIAL COORDINATES: Parkway Diner, 1066 High Ridge Road (route 137, but no one local is even aware of that), Stamford, CT 06905
41.107912, -73.548063
TEMPORAL COORDINATES: October 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM EDT
2014-10-18 1100 UTC-4

The Parkway Diner is near exit 35 from the parkway in Stamford. From either direction it is a right at the bottom of the ramp, and the diner will be on your right in a couple blocks. As for further or alternative directions: you're roadgeeks, you figure it out. :P

Facebook event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/419078988233024/
It is public so anyone can add themselves. Please do so if you plan on attending. For anyone who doesn't have a Facebook account, you may simply reply here and state your intent.

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(original post)
I've hinted at it before and I've basically already got it drawn up, now I just need to get people expecting it so that I'm forced to actually commit to doing it. :P

The Merritt Parkway is at its best when the leaves on the trees are all changing colors, so the general timing of the meet will be in October. Please vote for what specific date(s) work(s) for you.

The meet will at its core be focused on clinching the parkway and seeing as many of its famous bridges as we can manage (this involves repeatedly crossing it on local streets), but it will also feature a 110 year old truss bridge which has been abandoned for nearly 80 years (since the Parkway was built), both of the 1970s-era shields depicted in my avatar, and an original 1930s toll booth which was relocated to a local park after tolls were removed from the parkway in the 1980s.

As much as I would love to come to this, I'll be in school during all those weekends. But as I said at the NYC Meet, I'll let you borrow my Merritt Parkway shield for the group photo if you'd like.

I'm totally up for clinching the Merritt.  As far as I know so far, any of those weekends will work for me.  Looking forward to it!

If you're really trying to catch fall color, southern Connecticut tends to peak in the latter half of October.  Just something to keep in mind.  The 18th and 25th dates are the closest to the average peak.

I'm a maybe for this.  It's close enough to do in a (long) day trip, but it will depend on how things are going with college.

Not that there is a terrible geographical overlap, but when is Cody Goodman's Alabama meet? It's sometime in October.

If I win the lottery, maybe. But that requires having the spare cash to buy lottery tickets.  :ded:

Cody's meet is October 25 and Steph and I are set for that meet, as for this one I am a no go for this meet unfortunently but back when I opened the Milford, CT Barrel (1997) I was able to clinch the merrit and yes it is a nice scenic alternate to I-95 and I-91. Hope you all have fun! :-)

It's in day trip range for me, and I don't have any conflicts, so I'm sure I'll be available for this one.

I can do any of the above dates except for October 18th.

I would anticipate being at the meet, whenever it takes place.  I could make it as an easy day trip or combine it with visiting friends/family on Long Island.

Depending on when it is, there is a remote possibility that I could come to this. It would be a new state for me.

Quote from: Dougtone on July 09, 2014, 07:09:17 AM
I would anticipate being at the meet, whenever it takes place.  I could make it as an easy day trip or combine it with visiting friends/family on Long Island.

Ditto!

Quote from: codyg1985 on July 09, 2014, 07:09:42 AM
Depending on when it is, there is a remote possibility that I could come to this. It would be a new state for me.

I am sure 10/25 is out for you ;-)

At the moment, this one's a Maybe for me.  I'll let you know either way as the day (whichever one is selected) gets closer.

Quote from: Duke87 on July 08, 2014, 12:51:14 AMboth of the 1970s-era shields depicted in my avatar

FYI, your avatar's showing up as a red X on my computer.

Something else I am going to throw out there: while it is atypical practice, I can do this on a Sunday just as well as a Saturday, so if that is preferable to anyone, do say so.

This may be worth doing if the first weekend in November proves to be the best option. I don't know how many people will have scheduling issues going to a road meet the day after Halloween (up late partying and all), but it is a consideration.
On the other hand, if anyone has been itching to see the famous NYC Halloween parade, that weekend could enable it for people not from the area.

I'm probably going to remove 10/25 from consideration simply because having two meets on the same day would be sloppy coordination, even if they are 1000 miles apart from each other. People have traveled further to attend meets so it could needlessly create conflicts. ;-)

Quote from: PHLBOS on July 09, 2014, 07:35:43 PM
FYI, your avatar's showing up as a red X on my computer.

Has it always been doing that or is it recent? It's hosted on AARoads so there should be no hotlinking or server downtime issues. Anyone else having the same problem?

His avatar looks normal.

It could be a web filtering issue.  It looks fine at home but at work it's the red X for me.

QuoteI'm probably going to remove 10/25 from consideration simply because having two meets on the same day would be sloppy coordination, even if they are 1000 miles apart from each other.

Unfortunately, you're taking out what is likely the best date for peak fall colors (unless we have a late season this year).

By the way, if we're clinching the Merritt, we should continue up I-95 for a few miles to New Haven and check out the status of the I-95/I-91/CT 34 interchange and Q Bridge construction.  This could be one of the last opportunities to go on the expressway section of CT 34, since they're supposed to be taking it down.

Oh, I want to go! That would let me finish U.S. 7 and U.S. 5 once and for all! :p

I'm a probable for this, for any weekend in October (not sure about the first weekend of November).  No known schedule conflicts, but enough time for one to develop.

If this and Quebec were on consecutive weekends, I could combine the two trips, but that's no biggie. 

Sundays are an automatic deal-breaker for me.

Quote from: dgolub on July 10, 2014, 08:53:53 AM
By the way, if we're clinching the Merritt, we should continue up I-95 for a few miles to New Haven and check out the status of the I-95/I-91/CT 34 interchange and Q Bridge construction.  This could be one of the last opportunities to go on the expressway section of CT 34, since they're supposed to be taking it down.

Not going to have time to fit that into the tour (as it is it will be a long tour even with just Merritt stuff), but it could possibly be an after-meet event.

As for opportunities to drive on the CT 34 expressway, the part between exits 2 and 3 already closed last year and a new building is under construction on the land it formerly occupied. The part between exits 2 and 1 is also supposed to close at some point but I'm not sure when.

So half of the part to close is already gone and there is a chance the other half may be before this fall as well.

We drove on it all at the 2011 New Haven meet.

Quote from: Duke87 on July 10, 2014, 11:03:09 PM

Quote from: dgolub on July 10, 2014, 08:53:53 AM
By the way, if we're clinching the Merritt, we should continue up I-95 for a few miles to New Haven and check out the status of the I-95/I-91/CT 34 interchange and Q Bridge construction.  This could be one of the last opportunities to go on the expressway section of CT 34, since they're supposed to be taking it down.

Not going to have time to fit that into the tour (as it is it will be a long tour even with just Merritt stuff), but it could possibly be an after-meet event.

As for opportunities to drive on the CT 34 expressway, the part between exits 2 and 3 already closed last year and a new building is under construction on the land it formerly occupied. The part between exits 2 and 1 is also supposed to close at some point but I'm not sure when.

So half of the part to close is already gone and there is a chance the other half may be before this fall as well.

We drove on it all at the 2011 New Haven meet.

After-meet could be cool.  Any thoughts on which end we'll be starting at?  Milford or Port Chester?

Quote from: dgolub on July 11, 2014, 09:02:57 AM
After-meet could be cool.  Any thoughts on which end we'll be starting at?  Milford or Port Chester?

Neither, we will be starting in Stamford. I have the restaurant already picked out. It is a place I know well, which is convenient as a starting point, and which is thematically appropriate.

 

I'd be interested in attending this, having missed the NYC meet (and never having attended any meet). As of now, I can do any of the five weekends, but I'd probably need to know ASAP which one it's going to be.

Quote from: Kacie Jane on July 11, 2014, 10:09:25 PM
I'd be interested in attending this, having missed the NYC meet (and never having attended any meet). As of now, I can do any of the five weekends, but I'd probably need to know ASAP which one it's going to be.

Same here in needing to know ASAP. If I come to this meet, I will be flying this time so I won't have to take a lot of time off work.

Alright, I set the poll to run through the beginning of September, but seeing as we have some potential attendees who need to know more urgently, I am going to decide the date based on results at the end of this week.

Currently it looks like it will be either 10/11 or 11/1 based on voting.

Looks like the 25th is now in the lead.  Yeah, that's the same date as Cody's Alabama meet, but IMO the two are far enough away geographically to where the potential conflict is minimal.  Plus, climatologically, it's the best potential date for peak fall colors (that or the 18th).

Alright, so the last four dates have about the same support.

Therefore, for maximum foliage experience, and to avoid conflicting with the Alabama meet, the date will be October 18th.

I will create an event page and follow up here afterward.

Opening as a maybe.  No vacation days and already exhausted my funds via NYC and some additional purchases.  Plus if I do attend a meet during October, Cody's Alabama meet is competing and there are more midwesterners that could possibly pool if offered.

Quote from: SSOWorld on July 19, 2014, 10:40:59 AM
Opening as a maybe.  No vacation days and already exhausted my funds via NYC and some additional purchases.  Plus if I do attend a meet during October, Cody's Alabama meet is competing and there are more midwesterners that could possibly pool if offered to his meet.

I figured you'd pick this date - it's the best one. We won't be able to attend - that's my Homecoming and 5th year reunion weekend in Lynchburg, Virginia.


iPhone

Will not be able to attend the 18th, as that's our model railroad club's annual dealer show and open house.

Count me as a Maybe for now.  I'll give you a more definite answer sometime in September.

I won't be able to attend.

If you all have time, be sure to check out the CT-25 expressway signage before it's replaced next year and the non-reflective BGS on nearby I-287. 

I had wanted to attend, but now, this road meet is an impossibility. A medical appointment which was rescheduled twice now falls late in the morning on the Friday before, and I have previous commitments the next day (Sunday). Making a day trip might be an option, but I don't think I can handle that much driving at one time, anymore. I hope that you have a good time.

I'm still not sure as to circumstances that would allow me to attend this (and again, I'd have to choose between this and Alabama) but it's been suggested/recommended to me that I attend a conference in Louisville on Thursday the 16th. If I go, that would probably effectively eliminate my presence at this meet.

Which is a shame, because I do want to drive the Merritt Parkway and this might give me a chance to visit Suffolk and Nassau counties, NY, which are the last two counties I need to complete New York.

Mentioned on the Facebook page, but I'm no longer able to attend.

Tour route: http://goo.gl/maps/piqXh

Target end time is 5:30.

Registered today for that digital media conference in Louisville on the 16th. That pretty much makes this officially a no-go for me.

I've been directed by work to go to Memphis for the week so I'm definitely out of this one.

Scott- Memphis??? You would be 3 hours from me! If you have any down time, check out the I-269 construction, or for that matter if you are around Memphis on 10/24-25, Cody's Guntersville road meet on the 25th is around 4 hours away ;-)

Quote from: jpi on October 06, 2014, 09:17:22 PM
Scott- Memphis??? You would be 3 hours from me! If you have any down time, check out the I-269 construction, or for that matter if you are around Memphis on 10/24-25, Cody's Guntersville road meet on the 25th is around 4 hours away ;-)

There is also a big interchange rebuild at I-40/240 on the east side of Memphis that is worth checking out.

And yeah, my meet isn't too far away if you can squeeze that in. :)

Sorry - can't squeeze in on work's dollar - and as soon as I get back, I keep going NW to Rochester, MN (flying in/out of O'Hare)  I'll try to *find* the I-269 construction as I have some time Sunday after flying in.  Otherwise I expect to be super busy (likely to have quite a bit of overtime under my belt when done and reach 60 hours+ and working weekends would not be out of the question either)

Confirming that I'll be there.  I just returned to the U.S. via Detroit (did some highway and county clinching along the way), making what hopefully will be my last toll contribution to Matty Moro(u)n's coffers before the new river crossing is completed. 

I made the reservation yesterday. We're clear for 11 AM on Saturday at the Parkway Diner.

I mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again: the diner doesn't have a big parking lot. If not spaces are available, park in the lot for Burger King next door. No one will bother you. Everyone's car is getting moved to a park and ride after lunch anyway.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/1939852_686100718155512_9081457718898772075_o.jpg)

Great meet, minus the group photo location and the walk it required. The photo is taken at Boothe Memorial Park in Stratford, CT at the former Merritt Parkway toll booth, in use until 1988.

From left to right: Adam Moss (me - NJ), Daniel Greenstein (MD), Mike Tantillo (VA), Robert Malme (MA), Valerie Deane (NY), Daniel Case & his son (NY), Doug Kerr (NY), David Golub (NY), Mark Sinsabaugh (NY), Connor Lauzon (MA), Oscar Voss (VA).
On the ground: Anthony Costanzo (NY/CT)
Not pictured but at meet: Anthony's girlfriend.

Here are the two usable meet photos I took.  The first came out better.  Some light-colored shirts got washed out in the second, but it includes Anthony's girlfriend, who got him to stop lying down on the job.  Take your pick.  Use Adam's post for the captions.  BTW, Mike is from DC, not VA.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2Fmerritt-parkway-meet-photo1_DSC5423.jpg&hash=84732c139dbf5d3d7dcb7c3e24e5f65e0ee54437)

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I limped back home yesterday night, after goofing off on Long Island's parkways (clinched all the major ones I hadn't already covered). 

Photos are up at http://www.greaternyroads.info.