May as well go ahead and announce it since the schedule for springtime meets is beginning to take shape.
Saturday, April 6, 11:30 a.m. EDT at a restaurant to be determined in Ashland, Ky.
Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/397265313697833/ No invites have been sent from there yet; feel free to add yourself for the time being.
Meet page at http://www.millenniumhwy.net/2013_meet.html
An itinerary, restaurant choice and drop-dead RSVP date will be posted when I figure them out.
RSVP's to the Facebook page, or if you're not on Facebook, rsvp@millenniumhwy.net.
Updates will be posted to the FB page, the meet page and here.
That date should be safe...not because I'll be there but because I'll be in Vermont and so won't be doing a Hampton Roads meet that weekend.
I actually picked the date yesterday, after looking to see when Easter and the Final Four fell this year, and was going to wait to announce until after I get up to the area tomorrow to see the progress on the Ironton-Russell Bridge, but I figured I should probably go ahead and schedule it.
That is Final Four weekend, but I highly doubt there will be any teams from the Commonwealth of Kentucky still playing in the NCAA Tournament that weekend. The start time may be adjusted if by some miracle UK ends up in the Final Four.
I'm afraid I can't make this one, thats the weekend of Steel City Con in Monroeville, PA so I will be in the keystone state that week and weekend. I plan to work with Cody on getting a date set for a Chattanooga road meet next weekend.
I will be getting on a plane to go to Phoenix that day, so any ideas of me attending are out.
Did some recon for this meet today. Going to add the new and old Ironton-Russell bridges to the tour itinerary.
Still no idea where we'll do the lunch.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 11, 2013, 08:59:20 PM
Did some recon for this meet today. Going to add the new and old Ironton-Russell bridges to the tour itinerary.
Still no idea where we'll do the lunch.
Looks like a lot of places in Huntington, some of them promising.
Barboursville has a number of chain restaurants near the mall, including my place of employment.
The lunch will definitely be in Kentucky. It works better for purposes of the tour I have planned.
Ashland would be a nice drive down from central Illinois ... I may be able to make this one!
It's certainly enticing, to say the least. I'm considering going to the meet at this point and it may be a game time decision on my part.
I'd say it was going across the different Ohio River bridges in this region, and watching the newer bridges being constructed in the 80s and 90s, that really got me interested in roads and bridges when I was growing up. Especially the Ben Williamson Bridge (Ohio-bound bridge from Downtown Ashland), which opened in either '83 or '84. I'm pretty sure either my mom or aunt took me across it on the day it first opened.
Mega tempting... Definitely considering this meet, especially since it is closer than I originally anticipated from Baltimore.
Meet page is updated with the planned itinerary at http://www.millenniumhwy.net/2013_meet.html
Suggestions for additions to the itinerary are welcome.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 29, 2013, 11:40:44 AM
Suggestions for additions to the itinerary are welcome.
There's a state route through the rail yards in Russell KY (I think). It's KY 244 or 224 or something. I found it pretty interesting when I went there.
Yes, and it goes through a big honkin' underpass on its north end. I drove it a few years ago. I think that area is technically within the city limits of Worthington. A lot of those incorporated cities in Greenup County run together.
I put together a Flickr set of pics from the meet tour route (minus the Ironton-Russell Bridge) that I took in May of 2011 at http://www.flickr.com/photos/hbelkins/sets/72157632643094430/with/5939785289/
I hope to have a lunch location determined by this weekend.
Quote from: hbelkins on February 21, 2013, 12:10:18 PM
I hope to have a lunch location determined by this weekend.
Something local is highly preferable. And Shawn's loud.
Quote from: Steve on February 21, 2013, 11:49:21 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 21, 2013, 12:10:18 PM
I hope to have a lunch location determined by this weekend.
Something local is highly preferable. And Shawn's loud.
WHAT? :-D
sorry, had to do it.
Quote from: Steve on February 21, 2013, 11:49:21 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 21, 2013, 12:10:18 PM
I hope to have a lunch location determined by this weekend.
Something local is highly preferable. And Shawn's loud.
I agree with the statement that something more local is preferable.
I would really like to do it at Fat Patty's, based on everything I have heard about the place. The biggest problem is that they just have street parking, except for a small lot that has only about 14 spaces, which makes it inconvenient for getting everyone together prior to lunch and when we depart for the tour.
Quote from: hbelkins on February 22, 2013, 02:02:26 PM
I would really like to do it at Fat Patty's, based on everything I have heard about the place. The biggest problem is that they just have street parking, except for a small lot that has only about 14 spaces, which makes it inconvenient for getting everyone together prior to lunch and when we depart for the tour.
must be a downtown place.
Quote from: hbelkins on February 22, 2013, 02:02:26 PM
I would really like to do it at Fat Patty's, based on everything I have heard about the place. The biggest problem is that they just have street parking, except for a small lot that has only about 14 spaces, which makes it inconvenient for getting everyone together prior to lunch and when we depart for the tour.
If you know of another location where there's ample parking, we can always eat there and then bring our cars offsite.
Quote from: Steve on February 22, 2013, 04:30:05 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 22, 2013, 02:02:26 PM
I would really like to do it at Fat Patty's, based on everything I have heard about the place. The biggest problem is that they just have street parking, except for a small lot that has only about 14 spaces, which makes it inconvenient for getting everyone together prior to lunch and when we depart for the tour.
If you know of another location where there's ample parking, we can always eat there and then bring our cars offsite.
Brandon did such at Joliet (parking at the mall north of the pizza shop). I have the same challenge in Dubuque as all the local joints are downtown - and street/garage parking is not free downtown even on weekends. The place I selected has ample parking, but I just don't want to take up customer space when there is the threat of towing. I have the luck of a mall to the west and a free parking garage at the Port of Dubuque so I'm seriously considering those options.
Given the limited parking, the best option may be to all meet at the parking lot, and then carpool to the restaurant from there. (This has been done at meets where there's an hour tour pre-meet, and why don't hour and tour rhyme?)
Quote from: SSOWorld on February 22, 2013, 06:19:30 PM
Quote from: Steve on February 22, 2013, 04:30:05 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 22, 2013, 02:02:26 PM
I would really like to do it at Fat Patty's, based on everything I have heard about the place. The biggest problem is that they just have street parking, except for a small lot that has only about 14 spaces, which makes it inconvenient for getting everyone together prior to lunch and when we depart for the tour.
If you know of another location where there's ample parking, we can always eat there and then bring our cars offsite.
Brandon did such at Joliet (parking at the mall north of the pizza shop). I have the same challenge in Dubuque as all the local joints are downtown - and street/garage parking is not free downtown even on weekends. The place I selected has ample parking, but I just don't want to take up customer space when there is the threat of towing. I have the luck of a mall to the west and a free parking garage at the Port of Dubuque so I'm seriously considering those options.
Do they charge at the racetrack/casino?
Mike
I don't think so. That's a surface lot though so there may not be much parking there. I'll have to check. The garage at the port is connected to the Diamond Jo Casino.
I went to Ashland Saturday to scout out possible restaurants.
The parking at Fat Patty's won't be an issue. There are two decent-sized parking lots nearby where we can all gather and people can leave their vehicles during the tour.
However, the restaurant doesn't take reservations on Saturday. It appeared to be pretty busy when I was there at 12:30. I asked, and the hostess said we could let them know a half-hour or so ahead of time how many people would be there, and they'd try to have a table or tables ready. Since we're going to eat at 11:30, hopefully it won't be an issue.
After going to Ironton to check out progress on the new bridge, I went back to Ashland to check out another option I had in mind, Texas Roadhouse. The place was packed and the parking lot was full. I walked through the restaurant and they may have a place that would have tables to accommodate our group, but the majority of the seating there is booths.
The third option I had under consideration was Cheddar's. I didn't go in there, but I had eaten at one in Lexington earlier in the week and was told that the layout is pretty much the same in all of their restaurants. I'm not sure they would be able to accommodate a group at tables. And their parking lot (and the adjacent mall parking lot) was jam-packed as well.
The only other local place I know of is out on US 60 closer to I-64, but they allow smoking and got a lot of bad reviews on Yelp and Urbanspoon, so I scratched them from consideration sight unseen.
I'm tempted to just go with Fat Patty's and let the chips fall where they may regarding seating our group. There are 10 people who have already said "yes" on the Facebook event page, and a number of others who are "maybe" at this time. No one has RSVP'd privately yet. I can see us getting to 15 or 20 people easily.
I tend to obsess over these things. Anyone have any suggestions?
The only other place I can think of that may have seating is O'Charley's up on the hill overlooking downtown, just off of US 23. My only other suggestion would be the now-closed Ponderosa for giggles.
There's an Applebee's next to Texas Roadhouse, and an Outback up on the hill near O'Charley's, but Applebee's and O'Charley's are not my favorite of the chain casual restaurants, and I'm not a fan of Outback after having eaten there a couple of times while on trips.
We could always hit Golden Corral or IHOP in Russell. :-D
Here's an idea: don't do a meet lunch...meet up somewhere and go straight to the tour, then if folks would like to have a decent meal, you can do dinner. I find myself more and more in favor of this model. It eliminates craziness from trying to rush through lunch to get to the tour, or potential issues with figuring out a large bill (i.e. a certain SEPA meet). A lot easier to find a place with parking for tour attendees that doesn't involve a business (who might be stingy about such things). Getting dark during dinner is more preferable to it getting dark during the tour.
Quote from: froggie on February 26, 2013, 05:55:14 PM
Here's an idea: don't do a meet lunch...meet up somewhere and go straight to the tour, then if folks would like to have a decent meal, you can do dinner. I find myself more and more in favor of this model. It eliminates craziness from trying to rush through lunch to get to the tour, or potential issues with figuring out a large bill (i.e. a certain SEPA meet). A lot easier to find a place with parking for tour attendees that doesn't involve a business (who might be stingy about such things). Getting dark during dinner is more preferable to it getting dark during the tour.
I won't be able to do dinner. So I'm looking forward to the traditional lunch. Plus, that's a way to meet and greet before the event in a nice ice-breaking atmosphere. Fat Patty's sounds fine./
The time will have changed by then so darkness during the meet tour will not be an issue. Besides, we have an offer for a post-meet visit to an abandoned railroad bridge on the property of the family of one of our attendees. It will be in the general direction of my way home afterwards, so that works for me.
I'm probably going to do a meet in Lexington once a couple of the projects scheduled for there get underway, and dinner or a mid-tour meal would probably be more eminently doable then. It's a good suggestion, Froggie, thanks.
It's official. I'm going with Fat Patty's, 1442 Winchester Ave., Ashland, for our lunch site.
I have updated the meet page at http://www.millenniumhwy.net/2013_meet.html and it has a downloadable itinerary and RSVP info.
Please RVSP either by email at rsvp@millenniumhwy.net or on the Facebook event page by Thursday, April 4.
We will gather in the Paramount Arts Center parking lot and walk the block and a half to the restaurant. Please be there by 11:20 a.m. so we can get to the restaurant by the planned 11:30 start time.
Looking forward to a good crowd.
Hey can we get Jolly Pirate donuts at some point? Gotta try even more of the local flavor!
Quote from: Steve on February 27, 2013, 06:24:08 PM
Hey can we get Jolly Pirate donuts at some point? Gotta try even more of the local flavor!
Melissa had Jolly Pirate donuts when she was in Columbus (Grove City) last year or year before last and said they were great. I didn't know they had an Ashland location until you mentioned it. I Googled it and they are about 5 1/2 blocks south of Fat Patty's. So it's definitely doable.
I propose it as the after-meet stop before we head down toward Grayson.
Quote from: Steve on February 27, 2013, 10:42:17 PM
I propose it as the after-meet stop before we head down toward Grayson.
Works for me. I'll check their hours to see if they'll be open.
This may be our version of the ever-popular after-meet ice cream stop.
Quote from: hbelkins on February 28, 2013, 12:08:32 PM
Quote from: Steve on February 27, 2013, 10:42:17 PM
I propose it as the after-meet stop before we head down toward Grayson.
Works for me. I'll check their hours to see if they'll be open.
This may be our version of the ever-popular after-meet ice cream stop.
Absolutely. Also, I'm working out a way to stick around for the after-tour. I don't need to be home before midnight on Sunday, right? Sure.
I'm seriously considering this meet. Which means I'm a yes-maybe.
I'm going to try to make this one. It's 7 hours away, but that's doable in a day.
You'd think I would have committed to this meet by now, being that Ashland is where I went to seven years of grade school and I still have family and friends there. But I'm a new daddy again, and these days I'm usually out of town during the week for work, meaning that weekends are usually my only time to decompress at home.
I'm gonna have to talk it over with the family, that's for sure. But I desperately want to go to this meet!
The meet will be one month from today.
Parking will be in the Paramount Arts Center lot in the block bordered by 13th Street, Winchester Avenue, 14th Street and Carter Avenue. A map is available at http://goo.gl/maps/M9Mtv. I will be there prior to 11 a.m. the day of the meet and at 11, when Fat Patty's opens, I'll go down and tell them how many we're expecting for lunch, then will return to the lot. I ask that everyone be there at the parking lot by 11:15 or 11:20 so we can head down as a group.
I'll probably be driving my Toyota pickup that day, so I will only be able to take one other person on the tour. We will need drivers, so if there's a chance you'll be driving on the tour, please have enough gas in your tank prior to departure to do the route, which is approximately 120 miles. I expect we'll be done prior to 5 p.m.
The meet page with RSVP information is at http://www.millenniumhwy.net/2013_meet.html. The Facebook event page is at https://www.facebook.com/events/397265313697833/. The Facebook event is a public event, meaning everyone on your friends list will see your RSVP if you post it there, not just fellow attendees. If you're not comfortable telling the world you are coming, use the email RSVP address listed on the Millennium Highway page (rsvp#millenniumhwy.net, replace # with @).
Please let me know if you are coming by Thursday, April 4. That way I'll know how many Kentucky maps and how much Ale-8 to bring. :D
It should be noted that after our meet tour concludes, Shawn DeCesari has volunteered to take anyone who's interested to an abandoned railroad bridge on his family's property in Carter County. That's pretty much on my way home so I'm up for that, but won't be returning to Ashland when we get done there.
Do yo know where the bridge is at? It seems like it would be an EK Railroad span. That old railroad is worth a drive in itself - seven tunnels - only one of which is visible today, and numerous bridges.
I may be arriving a little after 11:30, it's a function of how far I can make it through the mountains on the Friday before. (I know firsthand there's a lot of potential variance.) Don't wait up, just in case.
Quote from: Steve on March 06, 2013, 09:12:17 PM
I may be arriving a little after 11:30, it's a function of how far I can make it through the mountains on the Friday before. (I know firsthand there's a lot of potential variance.) Don't wait up, just in case.
No problem. You'll be able to find us. Plus you have my number to text. But that number will be changing...
I will let all attendees know my cell number so you can let me know if you have travel issues, difficulty finding us, etc.
Confirming it's a yes for me and Mike.
I'm tweaking the meet tour slightly to include a definite crossing of the existing Ironton-Russell Bridge. This will give us a chance to see a couple of old signs (including an old yellow yield sign that has been slightly repurposed) as well as the Russell Viaduct, which is a bridge on KY 244 crossing the railroad tracks that is to be replaced in a few years. I'll add those changes to the meet tour page itinerary and the downloadable PDF file, for those who will be keeping track of the tour prior to the meet, but I'll be bringing printed copies of the itinerary so drivers will have no trouble finding their way from stop to stop should we get separated.
As of today, we have 14 confirmed attendees on Facebook (one attendee is bringing his wife and young son), plus two who've confirmed here on AA Roads (Laura and Mike). That makes for a total of 18 now. Had one who's listed as "maybe" on the FB page tell me Saturday he plans to attend. So that makes 19.
Because of the restaurant seating options (no reservations on Saturday, thus requiring some advance notice to them that morning of how many will be there) I ask anyone who's planning to come to let me know by Thursday, the 4th.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 26, 2013, 11:19:21 AM
I'm tweaking the meet tour slightly to include a definite crossing of the existing Ironton-Russell Bridge. This will give us a chance to see a couple of old signs (including an old yellow yield sign that has been slightly repurposed) as well as the Russell Viaduct, which is a bridge on KY 244 crossing the railroad tracks that is to be replaced in a few years.
:clap: :happy:
Quote from: Steve on March 26, 2013, 06:02:55 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on March 26, 2013, 11:19:21 AM
I'm tweaking the meet tour slightly to include a definite crossing of the existing Ironton-Russell Bridge. This will give us a chance to see a couple of old signs (including an old yellow yield sign that has been slightly repurposed) as well as the Russell Viaduct, which is a bridge on KY 244 crossing the railroad tracks that is to be replaced in a few years.
:clap: :happy:
definitely want to see pictures of these!
So far, I have 20 attendees who have RSVP'd.
Facebook attendees are:
Me
Cody G.
Tim B.
AJ B.
Shawn D.
Brian R.
Steve A.
Sam S.
Sandor G.
Ed S. (plus his wife and son)
Jeffrey C.
Doug K.
Harmanjot S.
Ronald R.
Keith T.
Michael T-S.
Laura B.
RSVP'd here:
Michael P.
For those who are looking for overnight accommodations in the area, I have stayed at the Quality Inn and the Red Roof Inn in Huntington, and they are decent and affordable motels. I also stayed at the Knights Inn in Ashland several years ago and it was not bad, but its recent reviews on TripAdvisor have not been all that great. Ashland does have a full-service downtown hotel that's right across the street from our lunch site, but most of the hotels/motels in Ashland are along the US 60 corridor. Huntington accommodations are scattered about, most are either at the WV 10 or US 60 exits. Not much to choose from in Ohio, although there is a Comfort Suites in South Point, not too far from the Ohio River bridge on US 52.
Please be giving some thought to who can drive on the tour. I will be driving my truck, which means I can only take one person with me.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 01, 2013, 11:53:16 AM
So far, I have 20 attendees who have RSVP'd.
Facebook attendees are:
Ronald R.
MISTER President!
Quote from: Steve on April 01, 2013, 08:28:03 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 01, 2013, 11:53:16 AM
So far, I have 20 attendees who have RSVP'd.
Facebook attendees are:
Ronald R.
MISTER President!
This is a fellow named Ronald Rose who apparently lives in the area in Ohio. I do not know him. I also do not know Harmanjot Singh. I already know everyone else, either personally or through this forum and other venues.
Quote from: Steve on April 01, 2013, 08:28:03 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 01, 2013, 11:53:16 AM
So far, I have 20 attendees who have RSVP'd.
Facebook attendees are:
Ronald R.
MISTER President!
Will he have Jelly Belly jelly beans for us?
This is the last call for RSVP's for Saturday's meet. If you plan to attend, please let me know by noon EDT tomorrow (Thursday, April 4.). I will be acquiring some Kentucky souvenirs for those who will be attending and I need to know how many to get since I'll be doing that after work tomorrow.
You can RSVP via the Facebook page or via the contact information posted upthread.
I won't be able to attend, family had to reschedule the birthday party originally scheduled for Palm Sunday (where a foot of snow fell at my sisters house) for the 6th. In addition the spring softball tournament season is about to start which means my free time will be zilch.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 03, 2013, 09:13:05 PM
This is the last call for RSVP's for Saturday's meet. If you plan to attend, please let me know by noon EDT tomorrow (Thursday, April 4.). I will be acquiring some Kentucky souvenirs for those who will be attending and I need to know how many to get since I'll be doing that after work tomorrow.
SWAG!
Quote from: Steve on April 03, 2013, 10:36:23 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on April 03, 2013, 09:13:05 PM
This is the last call for RSVP's for Saturday's meet. If you plan to attend, please let me know by noon EDT tomorrow (Thursday, April 4.). I will be acquiring some Kentucky souvenirs for those who will be attending and I need to know how many to get since I'll be doing that after work tomorrow.
SWAG!
You will also be taking something back to Lou, since you will probably see him before any of the other attendees do.
Anyone know if there's some interesting road features within walking distance of downtown Ashland that aren't on the itinerary? I'll probably have some extra time before the meet to explore.
Looks like we're at 21 attendees total. Not quite a record, but a good crowd nonetheless. The weather is supposed to be great -- really, the first taste of spring we've had in Kentucky this year -- and I can easily see us having a six- or seven-vehicle motorcade on the tour. That's why I will be bringing printed instructions with me for those who don't download and print them in advance. Hope everyone has a safe trip!
Quote from: bandit957 on April 04, 2013, 03:01:35 PM
Anyone know if there's some interesting road features within walking distance of downtown Ashland that aren't on the itinerary? I'll probably have some extra time before the meet to explore.
The two bridges across the Ohio River, plus some interesting signage. I haven't paid a lot of attention to downtown Ashland when I've been there, but seems like I remember there some architecture that might be photo-worthy.
I might will make a last-minute surprise appearance, still not 100% though. H.B., I totally understand if you don't have any extra swag due to my late RSVP.
I really wanted to attend this particular meet, for nostalgic purposes (WV is my home state). But paid time off is at a premium and, as Alex once told me, "International Travel trumps a road meet."
I am humbled and honored at the turnout today. We had a total of 21 people representing KY, MI, OH, PA, NJ, NY, NC, MD, DC, WV and AL. Got to meet some new folks today as well. I appreciate all of you coming more than I can express. Hope everyone who attended has safe travels home.
Steve took the official meet photo, and I only took pictures at the old Ohio SR 75 tunnel (an added stop to the trip, thanks to Brian Powell) and of the after-meet excursion down to Shawn DeCesari's family's place to see the old abandoned truss bridge. Looking forward to seeing everyone else's photos.
Hb, I think it's time for you to update your forum signature.
^^^
You reckon? :-D
I actually thought about that on the way home.
I wish I knew about abandoned US 23 on the northwest edge of Ashland beforehand. I didn't know the details of this until I researched it after I got home.
At one point, the northbound lanes went in a more or less straight direction while the southbound lanes curved around the mountain. I actually have a few old Kentucky maps with the Ashland inset showing that. Sometime in the 80s, I think, the southbound lanes were widened to the point where they could carry all four lanes of traffic.
Any pics from the meet?
I know that Sandor and A.J. and Cody have put some pics up on Facebook.
Tim has started posting photos - he'll probably add a post to Photos, Videos, and More when he finishes.
Thanks guys, been a crazy past week for Steph and I, her grandmother passed away last week plus my convention over the wekend and now she is sick with flu. :-(
Also, there was an old bridge on 5th Avenue in Huntington that was just recently torn down. We were right by where this was, and I didn't know it until last night. It was right by the East Huntington Bridge.