AARoads Forum

The 2021 Quad Cities Road Meet.  Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

We will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Please make your vote(s), and like in Chicago, vote early, and vote often.  ;-)

I'm excited about this one!  I voted for June 19 and 26.

I voted for the first two, but I really have no preference and will likely attend on any date. Just a heads up though, Laura was also strongly considering 6/26 for her possible western MD meet.

I voted for the 12th, 19th and 26th. I'm partial to late June because daylight is at its maximum, however, any weekend would likely work for me. I plan to incorporate the meet into a larger route/county clinching trip, so maximum daylight is important to me. Although to be fair, that aspect isn't a huge impact - a few minutes isn't going to make much of a difference. Although Memorial Day weekend would be my last choice due to increased traffic and likely more expensive lodging.

Due to various circumstances beyond my control I haven't been able to make it out to the Great Lakes region for a meet the last few summers. That being said, I'd like to make this one a priority.

It's not on the list, but I would prefer early August.

Hi! I don't think I've so much as visited any online roadgeek spaces since Morris County last year, but I'm still alive and I'll do what I can to make it to this regardless of weekend. :nod: Just need about 3 weeks' notice since I'm currently working Saturdays.

I ended up changing my vote because I realized I might have a conflict on June 26.  I removed my vote for June 26 and replaced it with June 5.  So right now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for either June 5 or June 19.

I submitted my vote, very interested in this one

Looks like I'm attending a wedding on 6/25 if restrictions on gatherings allow for it, so I voted for every date but that one.

I already have the 19th off because I had to book the LHA convention week (before the convention was canceled), so that is by far the best option for me.

We have three dates in a tie, but I'm going with June 19th based on what I'm reading.  I'll have the meet announcement here and on Facebook soon.

Dammit, I hate ties, they never are straight, I always have to start over.













;)

My time off from work has been approved, and I booked a hotel room in Davenport for the Friday and Saturday nights of the weekend for this meet.  I'm excited!

Be careful of COVID Hotspots.



























Oh who am I kidding? we're all gonna be vaccinated by that time! 🤣😂

Crud, I just clinched all the interstates in the Quad Cities last weekend. You're lucky I like you guys enough not to care.  :-D

(as in, I will be attending)

Can I change my vote to June 5th?

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on April 09, 2021, 11:36:54 PM
Can I change my vote to June 5th?

I reopened it, go ahead.

PLEASE do not change it to June 5. I will not be able to attend if that happens.

Quote from: Highway63 on April 21, 2021, 11:26:04 PM
PLEASE do not change it to June 5. I will not be able to attend if that happens.

I'm not changing it to June 5.  The original poll ended with a tie and the 19th won by comments.  The poll should never have been reopened.

Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2021, 04:49:53 AM

Quote from: Highway63 on April 21, 2021, 11:26:04 PM
PLEASE do not change it to June 5. I will not be able to attend if that happens.

I'm not changing it to June 5.  The original poll ended with a tie and the 19th won by comments.  The poll should never have been reopened.

Poll Relocked.

Anything but Memorial Day Weekend is fine with me.

Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2021, 04:49:53 AM

Quote from: Highway63 on April 21, 2021, 11:26:04 PM
PLEASE do not change it to June 5. I will not be able to attend if that happens.

I'm not changing it to June 5.  The original poll ended with a tie and the 19th won by comments.  The poll should never have been reopened.

I assumed Steve opened it in jest; especially considering that he reopened it after Brandon announced his decision for June 19.

Quote from: signalman on April 22, 2021, 03:30:37 PM

Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2021, 04:49:53 AM

Quote from: Highway63 on April 21, 2021, 11:26:04 PM
PLEASE do not change it to June 5. I will not be able to attend if that happens.

I'm not changing it to June 5.  The original poll ended with a tie and the 19th won by comments.  The poll should never have been reopened.

I assumed Steve opened it in jest; especially considering that he reopened it after Brandon announced his decision for June 19.

No, I didn't realize a final date was already picked.

Quote from: Alps on April 22, 2021, 06:27:12 PM

Quote from: signalman on April 22, 2021, 03:30:37 PM
I assumed Steve opened it in jest; especially considering that he reopened it after Brandon announced his decision for June 19.

No, I didn't realize a final date was already picked.

Oh. Well, in that case I'm grateful that Brandon had no intention of changing the date. I had already submitted my vacation request and was approved for time off. I'm currently working out my itineary for the drive home from said meet.

Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2021, 04:49:53 AM

Quote from: Highway63 on April 21, 2021, 11:26:04 PM
PLEASE do not change it to June 5. I will not be able to attend if that happens.

I'm not changing it to June 5.  The original poll ended with a tie and the 19th won by comments.  The poll should never have been reopened.

COVID required it being reopened.

Has a meeting place been decided yet? The Machine Shed is a good place I have been there many times. Other than that though I have no idea what else is in the Quad Cities.

Quote from: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:20:34 PM
Has a meeting place been decided yet? The Machine Shed is a good place I have been there many times. Other than that though I have no idea what else is in the Quad Cities.

Yes, unless Brandon changed his mind.

QuoteWe will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Ok so what is the place?

Quote from: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Ok so what is the place?

I shall redirect you to the topic header...

Quote from: Brandon on March 07, 2021, 03:06:47 PM
The 2021 Quad Cities Road Meet.  Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

We will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Please make your vote(s), and like in Chicago, vote early, and vote often.  ;)

Quote from: SSOWorld on May 07, 2021, 10:04:42 PM

Quote from: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Ok so what is the place?

I shall redirect you to the topic header...

Quote from: Brandon on March 07, 2021, 03:06:47 PM
The 2021 Quad Cities Road Meet.  Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

We will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Please make your vote(s), and like in Chicago, vote early, and vote often.  ;)

but what is the place

Quote from: Alps on May 08, 2021, 12:55:37 AM

Quote from: SSOWorld on May 07, 2021, 10:04:42 PM

Quote from: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Ok so what is the place?

I shall redirect you to the topic header...

Quote from: Brandon on March 07, 2021, 03:06:47 PM
The 2021 Quad Cities Road Meet.  Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

We will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Please make your vote(s), and like in Chicago, vote early, and vote often.  ;)

but what is the place

I said the name of the place is I Like It Like That

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on May 08, 2021, 01:42:18 AM

Quote from: Alps on May 08, 2021, 12:55:37 AM

Quote from: SSOWorld on May 07, 2021, 10:04:42 PM

Quote from: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Ok so what is the place?

I shall redirect you to the topic header...

Quote from: Brandon on March 07, 2021, 03:06:47 PM
The 2021 Quad Cities Road Meet.  Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

We will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Please make your vote(s), and like in Chicago, vote early, and vote often.  ;)

but what is the place

I said the name of the place is I Like It Like That

Good reply. I don't think I'd have thought to reply with that. Very fitting.

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on May 08, 2021, 01:42:18 AM

Quote from: Alps on May 08, 2021, 12:55:37 AM

Quote from: SSOWorld on May 07, 2021, 10:04:42 PM

Quote from: dvferyance on May 07, 2021, 08:39:56 PM
Ok so what is the place?

I shall redirect you to the topic header...

Quote from: Brandon on March 07, 2021, 03:06:47 PM
The 2021 Quad Cities Road Meet.  Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; and Rock Island and Moline, Illinois.

We will start and meet for lunch at Credit Island Park in Davenport (BYOL).  Then, we will see the Centennial Bridge, Government Bridge, New and Old I-74 Bridges, the I-80 Bridge, and the Big X Interchange.  Along the way will be the end of I-88, an older US-67 bridge across the Rock River, the Centennial Expressway, and the I-280 Bridge with a stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop.

Please make your vote(s), and like in Chicago, vote early, and vote often.  ;)

but what is the place

I said the name of the place is I Like It Like That

So basically it's like last year's Sauk Valley road meet. We have to get lunch from someplace and bring it to the meeting spot. The Machine Shed does have take out so that works for me. What time are we meeting?

I will be present. I don't respond to public Facebook events as I choose not to be a Zucktistic.

Quote from: SSOWorld on May 20, 2021, 01:03:24 PM
I will be present.

I will be angry due to your presence.

Quote from: signalman on May 20, 2021, 04:22:24 PM

Quote from: SSOWorld on May 20, 2021, 01:03:24 PM
I will be present.

I will be angry due to your presence.

😡😠

As much as I hate to say this I may be skipping this meet, I do have a monthly St Louis toy show that Sunday but I will be busy the weekend before with a multi day toy convention here near Nashville and this ay make for a long week for me. Besides I was up in the area exactly a year prior, hope you all have fun and I will be there in spirit

I definitely won't be there, too late for planning now. I have to be with family for a private gathering due to a death in the family (some of you may have seen my post on FB).

I plan to attend the meet. I'll probably stay for two nights in Muscatine (one county over from Davenport) since I try to boost my "counties where I spent the night" count by booking overnight stays in counties where I haven't stayed before, which means not Davenport's and Moline's counties.

This meet fits into a longer road trip I'm planning.

I'm a Facebook refusnik, so if there's a Facebook event for the meet, I'll be unable to access it. Brandon, please post significant updates, such as the meet start time (not yet posted here), in this thread or by PM and not (just) on Facebook.

As of now, I'm in. Probably head out Thursday and do some sightseeing on the way. Got a room at the Tom Bodett Inn, but that may change.

Quote from: oscar on May 30, 2021, 07:27:38 PM
I plan to attend the meet. I'll probably stay for two nights in Muscatine (one county over from Davenport) since I try to boost my "counties where I spent the night" count by booking overnight stays in counties where I haven't stayed before, which means not Davenport's and Moline's counties.

This meet fits into a longer road trip I'm planning.

I'm a Facebook refusnik, so if there's a Facebook event for the meet, I'll be unable to access it. Brandon, please post significant updates, such as the meet start time (not yet posted here), in this thread or by PM and not (just) on Facebook.

That, I shall do.  I just did a recon trip today for a few things and will have a route ready soon.

I am planning to attend this meet. 

I am also planning to attend. Watching for more details.

Finally got the tour route complete today.  If we finish early, there's a few other things we can do.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19ZEEtxY5jAtzHX-0Ork0YFCQhVK8bR8a/view?ths=true

Quote from: Brandon on June 07, 2021, 09:14:47 PM
Finally got the tour route complete today.  If we finish early, there's a few other things we can do.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19ZEEtxY5jAtzHX-0Ork0YFCQhVK8bR8a/view?ths=true

Access denied.

Quote from: US71 on June 07, 2021, 09:33:42 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 07, 2021, 09:14:47 PM
Finally got the tour route complete today.  If we finish early, there's a few other things we can do.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19ZEEtxY5jAtzHX-0Ork0YFCQhVK8bR8a/view?ths=true

Access denied.

Let's try this again.  Wish there were some other way than Googlesucks to do this.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y1feHmd3YFLQbScKSpnHNqI47ev6pAVn/view?usp=sharing

Quote from: Brandon on June 07, 2021, 10:16:47 PM

Quote from: US71 on June 07, 2021, 09:33:42 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 07, 2021, 09:14:47 PM
Finally got the tour route complete today.  If we finish early, there's a few other things we can do.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19ZEEtxY5jAtzHX-0Ork0YFCQhVK8bR8a/view?ths=true

Access denied.

Let's try this again.  Wish there were some other way than Googlesucks to do this.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y1feHmd3YFLQbScKSpnHNqI47ev6pAVn/view?usp=sharing

There is another way, but I'm nt sure what it is, offhand.

Quote from: US71 on June 08, 2021, 02:17:37 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 07, 2021, 10:16:47 PM

Quote from: US71 on June 07, 2021, 09:33:42 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 07, 2021, 09:14:47 PM
Finally got the tour route complete today.  If we finish early, there's a few other things we can do.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19ZEEtxY5jAtzHX-0Ork0YFCQhVK8bR8a/view?ths=true

Access denied.

Let's try this again.  Wish there were some other way than Googlesucks to do this.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y1feHmd3YFLQbScKSpnHNqI47ev6pAVn/view?usp=sharing

There is another way, but I'm nt sure what it is, offhand.

Dropbox?

Second attempt worked

Quote from: SSOWorld on June 08, 2021, 08:26:28 PM
Second attempt worked

Worked for me, too.

A few more details:

We will meet at Pavilion 5 in Credit Island Park at 11 am CDT.  Upon entering the park, take the right fork.  Pavilion 5 is the second picnic shelter on the left, the large one.

Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 03:08:32 PM
Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Do you have any recommendations of any good local establishments/chains?

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on June 11, 2021, 10:29:56 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 03:08:32 PM
Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Do you have any recommendations of any good local establishments/chains?

...and NOT McDonald's ;)

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on June 11, 2021, 10:29:56 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 03:08:32 PM
Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Do you have any recommendations of any good local establishments/chains?

Not as many as I would like, but there is a branch of Arthur's Garden Deli in Rock Island.

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 10:36:31 PM

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on June 11, 2021, 10:29:56 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 03:08:32 PM
Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Do you have any recommendations of any good local establishments/chains?

Not as many as I would like, but there is a branch of Arthur's Garden Deli in Rock Island.

Can't go wrong with Arthur's. That was some damn good eatin when I had it last year in Dixon.👍👍🥗🥙

The interchange of I-280 and IA 22 is half closed and a bridge out.  You can still get through on 280 but it's 2-way traffic.  If coming westbound, you'll have to take US BUS 61 off the freeway.

Quote from: SSOWorld on June 12, 2021, 07:50:15 PM
The interchange of I-280 and IA 22 is half closed and a bridge out.  You can still get through on 280 but it's 2-way traffic.  If coming westbound, you'll have to take US BUS 61 off the freeway.

I think my motel is on Bus 61

Quote from: SSOWorld on June 12, 2021, 07:50:15 PM
The interchange of I-280 and IA 22 is half closed and a bridge out.  You can still get through on 280 but it's 2-way traffic.  If coming westbound, you'll have to take US BUS 61 off the freeway.

That's why none of the tour routes are using that interchange.  I found that out the hard way while doing a recon a couple of weeks ago.

Business 61 is more of a straight shot to the park though.

Latest weather update for next weekend.:

Thursday NightA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

FridayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 64.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 84.

Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 61.

SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on June 11, 2021, 10:29:56 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 03:08:32 PM
Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Do you have any recommendations of any good local establishments/chains?

Machine Shed I-80 Exit 292 Northwest Blvd. I got one by me their good.

Quote from: dvferyance on June 14, 2021, 02:27:32 PM

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on June 11, 2021, 10:29:56 PM

Quote from: Brandon on June 11, 2021, 03:08:32 PM
Bring your own lunch; there are a lot of options around.

Do you have any recommendations of any good local establishments/chains?

Machine Shed I-80 Exit 292 Northwest Blvd. I got one by me their good.

Oh heavens: now I'm hungry

Regrettably it looks like I will be a late scratch for multiple reasons. I hope I'll see you guys sometime later this year.

I got back without incident. (There: US 30, IA 38, IA 130, Y14, F44, Y26, I-80, I-280, Locust; Back: I-80, I-380) The only thing of note for me is that connections on the US 30 Mount Vernon-Lisbon bypass are complete, and that happened last year. Combine that with new 30 opening east of Tama a few weeks ago and the only segment of 30 that isn't four lanes between Ogden and the Linn/Cedar County line is 15 miles in western Benton County plus right at IA 21.

Here's what I wrote (http://iowahighwayends.net/ends/statelines/i280.html) about the I-280 bridge color:

QuoteAccording to the Quad-City Times, the new paint job removed all the yellow because, quote, "Officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation, or IDOT, could not find any evidence that Quad-Citians ever chose the color combination." The Times was able to call up not only articles, but a graphic, about the color combinations area residents picked from in 1972, and the blue-and-yellow option won with about two-fifths of the vote.

Thanks for the trip, the maps, and the freeze pack!

On the way home, I followed a fire truck around Rockford running code that couldn't make the speed limit. Like, what's the point of running lights and siren if normal traffic is passing you like you're standing still?

Otherwise, an uneventful drive home. Thanks again for a nice road meet!

Uneventful drives down and back - took a "grand detour (pun intended) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Detour,_Illinois) along IL 2 on the way down. back on the direct route.

(https://www.ssoworld.org/pics/QC/meetphoto.jpg)
L2R in back by forum username: oscar, Brandon, Highway63, brianreynolds, Big John, signalman, A.J. Bertin, Nikolai, dvferyance, US71, 74/171Fan, SSOWorld.

L2R in front - oscar's tripod, Brandon's tripod.

It was quite funny watching Brandon try to shoo away the drone.  (Yes it sounds like a swarm of bees, but that's just what the props sound like :bigass:)

Took the picture using my drone.  but after some asshat decided to deliberately splash the pods and drone (on the ground at time of incident) with water from a puddle using his truck.

below are shots after dry-up (in aft) - the pics were vertical, but squashed by the rendering agent in SMF.

(https://www.ssoworld.org/pics/QC/IMG_1217.JPEG)
(https://www.ssoworld.org/pics/QC/IMG_1218.JPEG)
(https://www.ssoworld.org/pics/QC/IMG_1219.JPEG)
(https://www.ssoworld.org/pics/QC/IMG_1221.JPEG)

Thanks again, Brandon, for hosting a fun meet!  The tour went very well and covered a lot of good stuff in the Quad Cities area.

After the meet yesterday evening, I had a nice time hanging out in downtown Davenport for the rest of the night.  My drive home today went okay.  After doing a bit more exploring around the Quad Cities this morning, I left the area at around 10 a.m. CT and made it home around 5:30 p.m. ET.  The drive was slower than I'd hoped it would be.  Of course, I had to deal with the the typical Sunday-afternoon congestion along eastbound I-80/294 and I-80/94.  And then the construction along I-196/U.S. 31 around Saugatuck MI really slowed things down for a little while.  Despite those two issues, my drive home today was fine overall.

I finally got back to Harrisburg around 10:30 PM ET Monday Night.  Sunday was mostly a smooth drive clinching I-74, I-474 (IL), and some routes in the Cincinnati area (with the exception of crossing the Brent Spence Bridge multiple times despite the left two lanes still being closed for construction).

Yesterday was a bit crazy.   I attempted to fully clinch US 22 (not done thanks to a bridge closure northeast of I-275 over the Little Miami River....) before getting to deal with the severe thunderstorms yesterday afternoon in Monroeville.  Thankfully I was able to get inside of a Sheetz and stay dry (and get some work done).

My route plan also changed due to PA 136 being closed at PA 51 for some reason.  So I ended up clinching PA 48, PA 286, PA 969, and PA 453 instead of PA 31 and PA 866.

I rolled in around 5 this evening. Spent a lot of time following old US 6 which has a lot more to see than modern 6