AARoads Forum

I will do my very best to host a road meet here in my home state on St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 17 & 18, 2018.  This will be my first meet to ever host, so please bear with me. I will come out with more specific details as time gets closer, but I do know for sure that Saturday the 17th will be in the Shreveport area. The 18th will be in south Louisiana. I am leaning toward going to Lake Charles so we can drive the big I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River.

I still need to do some exploration of the southern area to find more things to see. But I will try my best to find something that will be of interest to those who come visit.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I don't do Facebook. All information about this event will only be found on this thread.

I'm definitely interested.  I want to make it to at least one meet that's far from me in 2018.  Louisiana would be a good choice.  I'd be able to clinch a lot of roads and counties down and back.  I've also never explored any of Louisiana besides New Orleans, and I didn't drive when I visited in 2013.

Lake Chaz doesn't have a whole lot besides that one bridge though! But if you sneak west into Texas there's quite a bit more...

I will keep this in mind, Just need to get the Monday after off and I am in, will let Steph know too.

Now that sounds like a good time to laissez les bon temps roller.  I'll put it on my calendar and do my damnest to make it.

Thanks for setting an early date for this. Way too soon to commit to attending, but at least it helps me know when not to schedule a Portsmouth, Ohio meet.

I'll mark it down too. :)

I'm tentatively interested in at least one day of the meet. - probably the Shreveport day. I may even drive down for it  :-o

I am definitely interested... at least in the Shreveport portion of the meet. It's too early for me to commit yes or no to a meet this far away from me, but I would like to at least try to attend!

I'm likely in, at least for the first part. Might not be able to swing the second part, but we'll see.

Quote from: cjk374 on October 19, 2017, 09:05:09 PM
I will do my very best to host a road meet here in my home state on St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 17 & 18, 2018.  This will be my first meet to ever host, so please bear with me. I will come out with more specific details as time gets closer, but I do know for sure that Saturday the 17th will be in the Shreveport area. The 18th will be in south Louisiana. I am leaning toward going to Lake Charles so we can drive the big I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River.

I still need to do some exploration of the southern area to find more things to see. But I will try my best to find something that will be of interest to those who come visit.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I don't do Facebook. All information about this event will only be found on this thread.

Should someone add a Facebook page for the event on your behalf?

Quote from: Brandon on October 21, 2017, 08:18:36 AM

Quote from: cjk374 on October 19, 2017, 09:05:09 PM
Edit: I forgot to mention that I don't do Facebook. All information about this event will only be found on this thread.

Should someone add a Facebook page for the event on your behalf?

Could be useful if it only points people to the thread on this forum and/or a contact e-mail address, plus providing updates or other important info copied from this forum, with no user discussion or RSVPs on the Facebook page. No point in facilitating discussion of the meet or taking RSVPs in a place inaccessible to the organizer.

That's now I'd handle it, as another Facebook refusnik, if I were to organize a meet.

Quote from: oscar on October 21, 2017, 07:26:19 PM

Quote from: Brandon on October 21, 2017, 08:18:36 AM

Quote from: cjk374 on October 19, 2017, 09:05:09 PM
Edit: I forgot to mention that I don't do Facebook. All information about this event will only be found on this thread.

Should someone add a Facebook page for the event on your behalf?

Could be useful if it only points people to the thread on this forum and/or a contact e-mail address, plus providing updates or other important info copied from this forum, with no user discussion or RSVPs on the Facebook page. No point in facilitating discussion of the meet or taking RSVPs in a place inaccessible to the organizer.

That's now I'd handle it, as another Facebook refusnik, if I were to organize a meet.

I agree, but a Facebook page would allow more people to find out about it. There are quite a few regular meet attendees who aren't active on the forum (that number is probably higher than regular meet people who aren't on Facebook). If anything, just create an event with a link and throw it on a few of the roadgeek groups.

^^^

Or don't even create an event. Just post details to the various roadgeek groups that are on Facebook. Post links to this thread (which should be visible even to non-members of the forum).

Yes, I created an event for my upcoming meet, but I'm not crazy about Facebook events in general.

Quote from: hbelkins on October 22, 2017, 12:13:18 AM
Yes, I created an event for my upcoming meet, but I'm not crazy about Facebook events in general.

I'm not crazy about public Facebook events, since FB has decided to use attendance of or "interest" in them as an excuse to advertise the event to your friends, even friends who have no interest in the subject matter. That, and any comments on the event page (as well as the fact that you're attending) can be seen by absolutely anyone in the world, because it's public.

To the point where if I were to host another meet, I would make the event page private. This cuts off most of the creepiness and also prevents anyone needing to worry about it looking bad to prospective employers if someone says something weird, vulgar, or controversial.


As for this particular meet, highly unlikely I will be there.

Quote from: Duke87 on October 22, 2017, 08:57:37 AM
To the point where if I were to host another meet, I would make the event page private. This cuts off most of the creepiness and also prevents anyone needing to worry about it looking bad to prospective employers if someone says something weird, vulgar, or controversial.

Wait, have people really said things on road meet pages that would cause problems with employers?  It doesn't seem like the kind of place where that sort of thing would come up...

Quote from: dgolub on October 22, 2017, 10:03:33 AM
Wait, have people really said things on road meet pages that would cause problems with employers?  It doesn't seem like the kind of place where that sort of thing would come up...

I don't recall anyone having done so. However, the page is public and you have no control over what anyone else says. So hypothetically someone could and there'd be nothing you could really do about it.

Hence why I refuse to do public events, period.

Also is it not true that even the "public" events are not visible to Facebook "refusniks" like oscar and cjk374?

Quote from: SSOWorld on October 22, 2017, 07:44:58 PM
Hence why I refuse to do public events, period.

Also is it not true that even the "public" events are not visible to Facebook "refusniks" like oscar and cjk374?

If the host posts a link to the event on this forum, I can view a little bit of info, but none of the discussion. It used to be I could look at the discussion on a read-only basis, but FB has tightened the screws on that. This also affects meet photos -- it rather frosts me when those photos (even at meets I attended) are posted on FB but not here.

I don't know how easy is for someone on FB but not this forum to find a "public" event.

Quote from: Duke87 on October 22, 2017, 10:50:42 AM

Quote from: dgolub on October 22, 2017, 10:03:33 AM
Wait, have people really said things on road meet pages that would cause problems with employers?  It doesn't seem like the kind of place where that sort of thing would come up...

I don't recall anyone having done so. However, the page is public and you have no control over what anyone else says. So hypothetically someone could and there'd be nothing you could really do about it.

If you're the person who created the event, you have access to delete other people's posts.

Quote from: Duke87 on October 22, 2017, 08:57:37 AM

Quote from: hbelkins on October 22, 2017, 12:13:18 AM
Yes, I created an event for my upcoming meet, but I'm not crazy about Facebook events in general.

I'm not crazy about public Facebook events, since FB has decided to use attendance of or "interest" in them as an excuse to advertise the event to your friends, even friends who have no interest in the subject matter. That, and any comments on the event page (as well as the fact that you're attending) can be seen by absolutely anyone in the world, because it's public.

To the point where if I were to host another meet, I would make the event page private. This cuts off most of the creepiness and also prevents anyone needing to worry about it looking bad to prospective employers if someone says something weird, vulgar, or controversial.

Last I checked, all posts on the AARoads forum are public. And there has been much more damming things written on here than on FB event pages.

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on October 24, 2017, 06:31:45 PM
Last I checked, all posts on the AARoads forum are public. And there has been much more damming things written on here than on FB event pages.

Indeed they are. However, my real name is not directly associated with my account here, so anyone casually looking me up is probably not going to find this site.

Quote from: cjk374 on October 19, 2017, 09:05:09 PM
I will do my very best to host a road meet here in my home state on St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 17 & 18, 2018.  This will be my first meet to ever host, so please bear with me. I will come out with more specific details as time gets closer, but I do know for sure that Saturday the 17th will be in the Shreveport area. The 18th will be in south Louisiana. I am leaning toward going to Lake Charles so we can drive the big I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River.

I still need to do some exploration of the southern area to find more things to see. But I will try my best to find something that will be of interest to those who come visit.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I don't do Facebook. All information about this event will only be found on this thread.

Interested depending on my schedule.

Quote from: hbelkins on October 22, 2017, 12:13:18 AM
^^^

Or don't even create an event. Just post details to the various roadgeek groups that are on Facebook. Post links to this thread (which should be visible even to non-members of the forum).

I had a similar thought.

Good morning & happy New Year to all of y'all!

It is now time for me to get down to the nitty-gritty for nailing down details for this meet. My time off has been approved, so this meet is on! (unlike what happened last time I tried to plan a meet)

One change though...there will be no scheduled trip to south Louisiana on Sunday. I'm just not gonna be able to get down there and do any worthwhile exploration. That will have to be another meet for another time. However, if anyone is still around & interested, we can find some stuff to go see & explore on Sunday (the Bonnie & Clyde ambush site & the old LA 154 bridge built on top of the Lake Bistineau spillway come to mind).  So Sunday will be a "play it by ear" kind of day.

Just as a reminder...all details about this meet will only be found here. As time approaches I may need a head count. That will need to be done here as well. I look forward to seeing y'all on St. Patrick's Day weekend!

Thanks for the update! Just to confirm... the meet will be based around the Shreveport area... right?

Now that we're into 2018 I guess I'd better think about putting in my time-off request for work and start thinking about making hotel reservations.

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 01, 2018, 08:53:50 PM
Thanks for the update! Just to confirm... the meet will be based around the Shreveport area...right?

The meet will be Shreveport & Caddo Parish based...with a delicate touch of TX & AR. But it will start & end in Shreveport.

I cannot guarantee commitment at this time.  Too many variables in the employment department will result in possible lack of time off at that time due to personal circumstances

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 01, 2018, 08:53:50 PM
Thanks for the update! Just to confirm... the meet will be based around the Shreveport area... right?

Now that we're into 2018 I guess I'd better think about putting in my time-off request for work and start thinking about making hotel reservations.

Steph and I already have both taken care of  ;-)This will be our first time in this part of Louisiana  :nod:

So this is just a one-day meet with an optional second day of "whatever" for anyone who's still around?

Quote from: hbelkins on January 02, 2018, 02:04:28 PM
So this is just a one-day meet with an optional second day of "whatever" for anyone who's still around?

Exactly!

Depends on what Steph and I have going on, we may have time to do some sight seeing Sunday morning but by lunch time we would have to get on the road (unless we can get Monday off) so we shall see

Just let us know what time the meet is, and where to meet, and I think we're all good. :-)

Quote from: Brandon on January 02, 2018, 05:45:08 PM
Just let us know what time the meet is, and where to meet, and I think we're all good. :-)

I just made the reservations, so now I can give the most important details of all. My apologies for taking so long, but there is this thing called "work" that gets in my way all the time.  :D

DATE: March 17, 2018

TIME: 11 a.m.

PLACE: Strawn's Eat Shop.  https://www.google.com/search?q=strawn%27s+eat+shop&oq=stawns+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.4331j0j7&client=tablet-android-att-us&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Parking for Strawn's is in the back of the building, which can be accessed by either turning on Alexander Ave., or an alley between Kriger Battery & Strawn's. Their parking lot is small (the place was built in 1958). I need to find a place to park our cars after we eat. Or, if some of y'all end up at the same motel, maybe you could carpool from the motel.

We will leave Strawn's between 12:30 & 1 to start the tour. Not sure how long the tour will last yet. I will be getting the timing down soon. Then we'll do a post meet supper at an as-yet determined location.

Quote from: jpi on January 02, 2018, 05:43:44 PM
Depends on what Steph and I have going on, we may have time to do some sight seeing Sunday morning but by lunch time we would have to get on the road (unless we can get Monday off) so we shall see

I'm flexible at this time. At some point, I want to check I-49 south of LA 1. I need new stuff for I-49 on Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/Build-I-49-288089113623/)

I have booked my hotel in Bossier City.

I'll book my hotels for the night before/after in a couple weeks once I have points from an upcoming conference. Looking forward to this.

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 02, 2018, 09:35:46 PM
I have booked my hotel in Bossier City.

I'm near the airport, but that may change as time gets closer.

Friday night we are staying in Texarkana, Saturday night it is near the airport off exit 13 of I-20

Quote from: jpi on January 05, 2018, 10:41:17 PM
Friday night we are staying in Texarkana, Saturday night it is near the airport off exit 13 of I-20

There are some newer hotels along the north Frontage Road in Texarkana.

Already booked a Comfort Suites in the Texarkana area

I'm tentatively writing this one in. A lot depends on how much vacation time I have; I'm down to zero leave time again after my latest gout bout.

The attraction of this meet is the opportunity to drive a significant chunk of US 79 on the way there. Very early plans are for me to spend Wednesday night in Clarksville, Tenn., Thursday night somewhere along the route in Arkansas, and Friday night an hour or two away from the meet site.

Not sure what route I'd take on my trip back, but I'd have the chance to clinch I-20 in Louisiana and Mississippi, and US 11 in Alabama and Tennessee.

I've actually been to Shreveport before, in January 2010. Gene VanDussendorp attempted a meet in the DFW area. I stayed in Texarkana Friday and Saturday nights. After the meet broke up, I ended up taking I-20 to Shereveport, got a clinch of I-220, then took US 71 north back to Texarkana. Pretty safe to say my trip to Shreveport won't involve Texarkana this time (I don't want to endure I-30 west of Little Rock anytime again soon.)

I did a "dry run" on the potential route today. I believe this will be a 3-4 hour tour. I must perfect the route, as I had some wrong turns, changes of mind as to where to go & how to get there. But it should entertaining & no long & drawn out.

I also found a good place to park all of the cars about one mile east of Strawn's Eat Shop (lunch place) at Super 1 Foods on Shreveport/Barksdale Hwy. So far this is turning out well. I will make another run next month to perfect the route & timing.

I will need a head count for Strawns, but not until March 10th.

Any clue about whether the extension of I-49 south from MLK Blvd. to I-220 will be opened to traffic before the meet? Last I heard the scheduled opening was "spring 2018", which at that latitude could include mid-March. Either way, there'll be something for us to see, but it might affect the itinerary.

Quote from: oscar on January 06, 2018, 07:46:33 PM
Any clue about whether the extension of I-49 south from MLK Blvd. to I-220 will be opened to traffic before the meet? Last I heard the scheduled opening was "spring 2018", which at that latitude could include mid-March. Either way, there'll be something for us to see, but it might affect the itinerary.

http://m.ksla.com/ksla/db_350562/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=E2V4y6CD

It is a vague story, but it is all I have right now.

Quote from: cjk374 on January 06, 2018, 08:03:03 PM

Quote from: oscar on January 06, 2018, 07:46:33 PM
Any clue about whether the extension of I-49 south from MLK Blvd. to I-220 will be opened to traffic before the meet? Last I heard the scheduled opening was "spring 2018", which at that latitude could include mid-March. Either way, there'll be something for us to see, but it might affect the itinerary.

http://m.ksla.com/ksla/db_350562/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=E2V4y6CD

It is a vague story, but it is all I have right now.

I have a Google Alert set, so once I hear any updates, I'll pass them along

I'm starting a new job and my attendance depends on how many days I'm able to take off. If I go, it will be only for the Saturday (and I'll likely carpool with someone from the Great Lakes area).

As I mentioned above, this would give me a great opportunity to drive a great deal of US 79 on the route down. See this thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=21969.0) for questions about that route.

I'd hoped to stay somewhere an hour or two from the meet site Friday night, but I'll probably end up in Shreveport Friday night, unless I drive deep into Texas on US 79 on Friday.

After the meet, I'll probably head east on I-20 and see how far I can get; hopefully somewhere between Monroe and Vicksburg to spend Saturday night. Then I'll shoot across to Meridian, hop on US 11 and clinch it in Alabama, jump back on the interstate to get through Chattanooga, then back to US 11 at Cleveland and drive it to the US 11E/11W split in Knoxville to clinch it in Tennessee.

I've booked my motel stays for this meet and accompanying road trip.  I'm looking forward to this!

I posted in the thread I started about US 79, but it looks like this is now off the table for me. My recent gout battle has cost me all my leave time, and I won't have enough built back up to make the trip. I don't think I can get home by Monday afternoon, because I want to clinch US 11 in Alabama and Tennessee on the way home.

My attendance here is "questionable" at this time due to a series of events, but I'm still hoping I can make it. Depends entirely on my ability to get the following Monday off.

Quote from: hbelkins on January 17, 2018, 10:55:15 AM
I posted in the thread I started about US 79, but it looks like this is now off the table for me. My recent gout battle has cost me all my leave time, and I won't have enough built back up to make the trip. I don't think I can get home by Monday afternoon, because I want to clinch US 11 in Alabama and Tennessee on the way home.

Sick day?

My time-off request from work has been approved, and I've already got one of my hotel reservations made. I'll be leaving Grand Rapids MI on Thursday morning and driving to Sikeston MO for the night. Friday I'll drive from Sikeston to Shreveport. Spending Friday night and Saturday night in Shreveport... then doing part of the drive home Sunday and the rest of the drive home on Monday. Sunday night on my way home I'll probably be staying around St. Louis.

I'm really looking forward to this trip. I'll finally get to drive through more of Arkansas than just the I-55 corridor in the NE part of that state. I'm obviously taking one route down and a different route back to maximize my new counties and highway mileage. :)

Quote from: US71 on January 17, 2018, 12:50:12 PM

Quote from: hbelkins on January 17, 2018, 10:55:15 AM
I posted in the thread I started about US 79, but it looks like this is now off the table for me. My recent gout battle has cost me all my leave time, and I won't have enough built back up to make the trip. I don't think I can get home by Monday afternoon, because I want to clinch US 11 in Alabama and Tennessee on the way home.

Sick day?

No, I actually use those for when I'm really sick or have a doctor's appointment.

Steph and I are still set, we are primarly taking interstates to and from Shreveport. Running I-40 west to I-30 west and spending Friday night in Texarkana and maybe check out I-369 Saturday morning before heading to Shreveport on the new I-49. Staying in Shreveport Saturday night then running I-20 east back into Mississippi then maybe take US 45 north all the way to southern middle TN, either way I am still looking at new Parrishes and maybe a new county or two in Texas

Quote from: jpi on January 17, 2018, 06:35:05 PM
.... either way I am still looking at new Parrishes and maybe a new county or two in Texas

Funny you mention a county or 2. The way I have my meet planned and routed so far, we will enter Cass & Marion counties in TX, plus Miller county in AR.

Cool! The Texas counties I need, as for AR I already have the entire state clinched.

I'll be there as well.  I know I'm going down I-55, US-67, I-30 to I-49, but the way back up is undecided as of yet.

I'll decide which way I'm going when I get to Texarkana, but 99 percent likely I'll take 71 to Texarkana ;)

Anyone coming down 71, get your gas, snacks, rest stops at Texarkana. Nearly all the gas stations along 71 between Fouke, AR and Shreveport have closed in the last couple years.

If I end up going, I'll be taking a weird route involving US 301, I-85, I-20, I-65, US 72, I-40, AR 309, US 71, Talimena Scenic Drive, US 271, US 82, and I-49 down to Shreveport. Will be a 4-day road/hiking trip down. Back will be I-49 > I-10 > I-12 > I-10 > I-95 > US 13 > DE 1 > I-95 > NJ 17 > I-87 or similar (fast, but new mileage, the CBBT, and the FL high point). Why the weird routes? Allows me to hit 6 state high points, drive Talimena Scenic Drive, and visit OK and TX for the first time (yes, I know TX is on the meet, but I want to get a little further into the state).

Quote from: cl94 on January 19, 2018, 11:39:54 AM
If I end up going, I'll be taking a weird route involving US 301, I-85, I-20, I-65, US 72, I-40, AR 309, US 71, Talimena Scenic Drive, US 271, US 82, and I-49 down to Shreveport. Will be a 4-day road/hiking trip down. Back will be I-49 > I-10 > I-12 > I-10 > I-95 > US 13 > DE 1 > I-95 > NJ 17 > I-87 or similar (fast, but new mileage, the CBBT, and the FL high point). Why the weird routes? Allows me to hit 6 state high points, drive Talimena Scenic Drive, and visit OK and TX for the first time (yes, I know TX is on the meet, but I want to get a little further into the state).

On 271, check out the Kiamichi River Bridge north of Antlers. It won't be there much longer :(

Quote from: Brandon on January 19, 2018, 10:23:31 AM
I'll be there as well.  I know I'm going down I-55, US-67, I-30 to I-49, but the way back up is undecided as of yet.

When do you think you will be coming through I-30 to I-49? Steph and I plan on doing 40-840-40-440-30 on Friday then 49 south to Shreveport Saturday morning.

Quote from: jpi on January 19, 2018, 05:44:38 PM

Quote from: Brandon on January 19, 2018, 10:23:31 AM
I'll be there as well.  I know I'm going down I-55, US-67, I-30 to I-49, but the way back up is undecided as of yet.

When do you think you will be coming through I-30 to I-49? Steph and I plan on doing 40-840-40-440-30 on Friday then 49 south to Shreveport Saturday morning.

I should be in Little Rock around 2-2:30 pm, and Texarkana around 5 pm on Friday afternoon.

Quote from: US71 on January 19, 2018, 12:07:39 PM

Quote from: cl94 on January 19, 2018, 11:39:54 AM
If I end up going, I'll be taking a weird route involving US 301, I-85, I-20, I-65, US 72, I-40, AR 309, US 71, Talimena Scenic Drive, US 271, US 82, and I-49 down to Shreveport. Will be a 4-day road/hiking trip down. Back will be I-49 > I-10 > I-12 > I-10 > I-95 > US 13 > DE 1 > I-95 > NJ 17 > I-87 or similar (fast, but new mileage, the CBBT, and the FL high point). Why the weird routes? Allows me to hit 6 state high points, drive Talimena Scenic Drive, and visit OK and TX for the first time (yes, I know TX is on the meet, but I want to get a little further into the state).

On 271, check out the Kiamichi River Bridge north of Antlers. It won't be there much longer :(

Boo. That looks like one of the classic Oklahoma bridges, too.

Quote from: Brandon on January 19, 2018, 05:46:08 PM

Quote from: jpi on January 19, 2018, 05:44:38 PM

Quote from: Brandon on January 19, 2018, 10:23:31 AM
I'll be there as well.  I know I'm going down I-55, US-67, I-30 to I-49, but the way back up is undecided as of yet.

When do you think you will be coming through I-30 to I-49? Steph and I plan on doing 40-840-40-440-30 on Friday then 49 south to Shreveport Saturday morning.

I should be in Little Rock around 2-2:30 pm, and Texarkana around 5 pm on Friday afternoon.

Cool! We may end up crossing paths, will keep this in mind.

I sent a private message to My Land of Misery/Gene VanDusseldorp to see if he was interested, but he hasn't responded yet.

Quote from: jpi on January 19, 2018, 07:05:54 PM

Quote from: Brandon on January 19, 2018, 05:46:08 PM

Quote from: jpi on January 19, 2018, 05:44:38 PM

Quote from: Brandon on January 19, 2018, 10:23:31 AM
I'll be there as well.  I know I'm going down I-55, US-67, I-30 to I-49, but the way back up is undecided as of yet.

When do you think you will be coming through I-30 to I-49? Steph and I plan on doing 40-840-40-440-30 on Friday then 49 south to Shreveport Saturday morning.

I should be in Little Rock around 2-2:30 pm, and Texarkana around 5 pm on Friday afternoon.

Cool! We may end up crossing paths, will keep this in mind.

I wonder what time I'll be passing through Texarkana. Friday morning I'll be starting my drive in Sikeston MO. Taking I-55 south to I-40 west to I-30 west and then I-49 south. If you guys meet up, maybe I can join you if the timing is right for me. :)

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 20, 2018, 12:12:23 PM

I wonder what time I'll be passing through Texarkana. Friday morning I'll be starting my drive in Sikeston MO. Taking I-55 south to I-40 west to I-30 west and then I-49 south. If you guys meet up, maybe I can join you if the timing is right for me. :)

Lots of construction along I-40 west of I-55 (widening bridges) so allow extra time.

Quote from: US71 on January 20, 2018, 12:17:45 PM
Lots of construction along I-40 west of I-55 (widening bridges) so allow extra time.

Thanks for the tip!

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 21, 2018, 02:45:52 PM

Quote from: US71 on January 20, 2018, 12:17:45 PM
Lots of construction along I-40 west of I-55 (widening bridges) so allow extra time.

Thanks for the tip!

Second that. Guess I won't schedule a tour of Little Rock Central High School then.

My work schedule for March will be out sometime in Feb. I have requested to have that Saturday off - fingers crossed.

Quote from: cl94 on January 21, 2018, 02:51:20 PM

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 21, 2018, 02:45:52 PM

Quote from: US71 on January 20, 2018, 12:17:45 PM
Lots of construction along I-40 west of I-55 (widening bridges) so allow extra time.

Thanks for the tip!

Second that. Guess I won't schedule a tour of Little Rock Central High School then.

If you're scheduling in advance, it might be tricky. If you're just stopping along the way, you might still have time if traffic isn't too bad.

I'm making this happen. Longest distance I will have traveled for a meet and by far longest road trip I will have taken to that date. Of course, I'll be taking a longer trip 5 months later.  :-D

Anyway, bring on the Cajun food, BBQ, and Waffle House!

Quote from: cl94 on January 26, 2018, 12:22:57 PM
I'm making this happen. Longest distance I will have traveled for a meet and by far longest road trip I will have taken to that date. Of course, I'll be taking a longer trip 5 months later.  :-D

Anyway, bring on the Cajun food, BBQ, and Waffle House!

Woot!  It'll be nice to see you there.  :sombrero:

It'll be nice to see all of y'all here!  :nod:  :)

Quote from: cl94 on January 26, 2018, 12:22:57 PM
I'm making this happen. Longest distance I will have traveled for a meet and by far longest road trip I will have taken to that date. Of course, I'll be taking a longer trip 5 months later.  :-D

Anyway, bring on the Cajun food, BBQ, and Waffle House!

And Huddle House  ;)

We may be interested in attending. I just saw the thread and was hopeful for Lake Charles, but Shreveport isn't that much further. I'll have to see how the work schedule is running as we get closer to that date. How much advance notice would you need, or can we just show up?

Quote from: jasonh300 on February 04, 2018, 02:12:28 PM
We may be interested in attending. I just saw the thread and was hopeful for Lake Charles, but Shreveport isn't that much further. I'll have to see how the work schedule is running as we get closer to that date. How much advance notice would you need, or can we just show up?

I was gonna ask for "an official head count" around the beginning of March. The main reason would be to make sure I had enough itineraries printed for everyone.  Otherwise just come on up & have a good time.

I'm figuring on the following to go back north:

I-20 west to US-80, go around Marshall to TX-154.  From there, go to US-271 and go north to the Indian Nation Turnpike.  Exit at US-69, and go to I-44, stopping by CraIG COuNtY along the way.  Get off at Miami and take Alt US-69 and US-166 through Kansas back to I-44 in Missouri.  I-44 to I-270 to I-64 back to I-55 due to a ramp closure.

Just out of curiosity: how long do you figure the tour will last? That will affect whether I stay in Lafayette or Baton Rouge after the meet.

Any outside chance I had of attending this meet is now gone. I had to use an annual day today because my knee was hurting so badly when I got up this morning.

I'm looking forward to seeing the tour itinerary. Perhaps I can replicate this trip someday, because I do want to make the journey down US 79.

Quote from: Brandon on February 06, 2018, 07:13:54 PM
I'm figuring on the following to go back north:

I-20 west to US-80, go around Marshall to TX-154.  From there, go to US-271 and go north to the Indian Nation Turnpike.  Exit at US-69, and go to I-44, stopping by CraIG COuNtY along the way.  Get off at Miami and take Alt US-69 and US-166 through Kansas back to I-44 in Missouri.  I-44 to I-270 to I-64 back to I-55 due to a ramp closure.

Lots of construction around McAlestar

Quote from: cl94 on February 09, 2018, 01:39:37 PM
Just out of curiosity: how long do you figure the tour will last? That will affect whether I stay in Lafayette or Baton Rouge after the meet.

I am going make another run today to see if I can get the timing nailed down a little bit better. I will let you know something this evening.

Quote from: hbelkins on February 09, 2018, 05:16:34 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing the tour itinerary. Perhaps I can replicate this trip someday, because I do want to make the journey down US 79.

When I get the itinerary nailed down, I'll try to send it to you. That could be a couple of weeks away.

After today's driving of the meet's route, it seems like the tour will be about 5 hours...if all 5 stops take 20 minutes each. One of these stops will be a potty break at a restroom that will allow you to flush paper products in the toilet instead of putting all used paper in a trash can.

Yes, there is a story behind that last sentence. It will be shared at the meet.

Unfortunately, this bathroom break is at a Cash Magic casino/c-store whose bathroom only has 1 toilet. There are no better bathrooms... I've looked at the ones that seemed "inviting".

That answers my question. Lafayette it is (and where I'd prefer to stay even if it means the next two days are longer, as it is cheaper). Definitely don't have a problem with that, as I think these long meets can be quite cool (especially if it's an area I'm unfamiliar with).

I'm about 100% in for the meet, with hotel reservations set on the west side of Shreveport. But a summons for jury duty the week before complicates my itinerary, and off chance I'll get picked to serve on a jury (unlikely, in my area lawyers usually get passed over, though as a retired lawyer I'm not automatically exempt from jury selection) for a prolonged trial.

My itinerary will likely include clinching US 79, in Texas US 87 and US 287 (snagging the remaining untraveled segments of 87 in Wyoming, and 287 in Montana, on a later trip), and the various new Interstate segments popping up near Memphis and in North Carolina. Just that the sequencing will have to be worked out, navigating between jury duty and Easter.

I am another big step closer to going, 4 new tires on the Kia Spectra which we plan on driving to the meet, Texarkana on Friday night and west side of Shreveport Saturday night and Steph did get the Sunday off so we are in.

Quote from: oscar on February 10, 2018, 06:12:41 PM
I'm about 100% in for the meet, with hotel reservations set on the west side of Shreveport. But a summons for jury duty the week before complicates my itinerary, and off chance I'll get picked to serve on a jury (unlikely, in my area lawyers usually get passed over, though as a retired lawyer I'm not automatically exempt from jury selection) for a prolonged trial.

My itinerary will likely include clinching US 79, in Texas US 87 and US 287 (snagging the remaining untraveled segments of 87 in Wyoming, and 287 in Montana, on a later trip), and the various new Interstate segments popping up near Memphis and in North Carolina. Just that the sequencing will have to be worked out, navigating between jury duty and Easter.

I got called for jury duty a few years ago, and I had several trips planned for the period that service was to cover. I asked for, and received, a deferment of a few months. Of course it helped that the circuit judge was one of my best childhood friends.

Quote from: SSOWorld on January 01, 2018, 10:46:00 PM
I cannot guarantee commitment at this time.  Too many variables in the employment department will result in possible lack of time off at that time due to personal circumstances

Though the above still stands, I am more optimistic about my chances - yet still not putting my commitment in yet.  We're still a month-and-a-half out :)

Quote from: hbelkins on February 10, 2018, 08:15:51 PM
I got called for jury duty a few years ago, and I had several trips planned for the period that service was to cover. I asked for, and received, a deferment of a few months. Of course it helped that the circuit judge was one of my best childhood friends.

Problem with asking for a deferment is if I remove this possible schedule conflict, unless I can defer until next winter (EDIT: which I can't, in my county deferrals can last no longer than three months) I might create a worse one. I only get called for jury duty once every few years (people in D.C. aren't so lucky), so I'll probably just get this one out of the way quickly.

I expect this one will just be a one-day thing, where if I'm even scheduled for a trial I'll have to get up early, go to the courthouse, have one side or the other exercise a peremptory challenge (this is one situation where the unpopularity of lawyers works to my advantage), and get released from jury duty.

Quote from: cjk374 on February 10, 2018, 05:59:44 PM
After today's driving of the meet's route, it seems like the tour will be about 5 hours...if all 5 stops take 20 minutes each. One of these stops will be a potty break at a restroom that will allow you to flush paper products in the toilet instead of putting all used paper in a trash can.

Yes, there is a story behind that last sentence. It will be shared at the meet.

Unfortunately, this bathroom break is at a Cash Magic casino/c-store whose bathroom only has 1 toilet. There are no better bathrooms... I've looked at the ones that seemed "inviting".

I've been to Louisiana: little surprises me. 

Quote from: cjk374 on February 10, 2018, 05:59:44 PM
One of these stops will be a potty break at a restroom that will allow you to flush paper products in the toilet instead of putting all used paper in a trash can.

Yes, there is a story behind that last sentence. It will be shared at the meet.

This sounds good - can you share the story here after the meet for those of us who aren't attending?  :D

Quote from: SSOWorld on January 01, 2018, 10:46:00 PM
I cannot guarantee commitment at this time.  Too many variables in the employment department will result in possible lack of time off at that time due to personal circumstances

Still stands (with an impacting event beginning this Friday) but I do not expect it to impact the trip and have been granted time off for 1.5 weeks and have booked hotels so I am going.  The plan puts me in the Shreveport area on Friday and leaving Sunday morning. 

The planned trip will complete I-30 as I will be driving over to DFW for a night on Sunday. It will also complete AR to this point Interstate-wise (Until remaining I-49 is built and I-57 gets its tags).  An updated trip plan may also complete the Missouri interstates (until remaining I-49 is built). 

We are just a month shy of the meet now. It will be here quick, fast, & in a hurry! I believe it is now time to try to get a head count so I can try to rustle up a big table or two at Strawn's for lunch. This isn't going to keep you away from the meet or anything like that. Everyone will be welcome. So far I have the following members saying they are definitely coming based on responses in this thread:

cl94, SSOWorld, US 71, signalman, jpi & Mrs. jpi, highwayman 394, A.J. Bertin, Brandon, & Oscar.

Those listed as "possible": jasonh300, US 81, Sam, & Gene VanDusseldorp (mentioned by US 71)

Let me know if y'all are coming by March 10. I may try to get some maps if I get a chance.

Quote from: cjk374 on February 19, 2018, 08:49:56 PM
We are just a month shy of the meet now. It will be here quick, fast, & in a hurry! I believe it is now time to try to get a head count so I can try to rustle up a big table or two at Strawn's for lunch. This isn't going to keep you away from the meet or anything like that. Everyone will be welcome. So far I have the following members saying they are definitely coming based on responses in this thread:

cl94, SSOWorld, US 71, signalman, jpi & Mrs. jpi, highwayman 394, A.J. Bertin, Brandon, & Oscar.

Those listed as "possible": jasonh300, US 81, Sam, & Gene VanDusseldorp (mentioned by US 71)

Let me know if y'all are coming by March 10. I may try to get some maps if I get a chance.

I've not heard back from Gene, so I'm not sure.  Small chance Power of 7 (aka Alternate 71) may come down from Branson. He won't know for sure until about a week out. I'll remind him, though.

I actually found some NY maps today at a rest area (not easy to come across), so I grabbed 4 to bring down for people. I'll try and grab some more before the meet. I really don't like the new map style, but whatever, not like I need a NY map.  :-D

2018 TN maps still have not come out yet, hopefully before this meet and Mrs JPI and myself are still a go

Quote from: jpi on February 19, 2018, 09:44:08 PM
2018 TN maps still have not come out yet, hopefully before this meet and Mrs JPI and myself are still a go

I never said mine are new. NY hasn't printed a new map since 2015 (and the Watertown inset still shows I-781 as "future" even though it opened in 2012). And 2018 TN maps are out, as I got one in the mail last week. Probably will be hitting rest areas soon.

The variables affecting me are now gone.  If there is any change in employment - it will not happen before or during the trip.

My plans you may ask?

7 days on the road/at the meet/at side trip locations:

Day 1-2 drive to Shreveport with stopover in Cape Girardeau.  Intentions on using US-61 from where it splits from US-67 to where it ultimately rejoins I-55 at I-555.  This would get me US-61 completed into MS as I already have it from I-555 to Tunica Resorts (MS-304)  After which I'll veer on to the construction heavy I-40 toward LR.  I'll be veering off on I-530 to Pine Bluff for the lulz. but outside that, heading to Texarkana and taking I-49 down to Shreveport.

Day 3 - you know what happens on day 3.

Day 4-7.  West on I-20 to DFW where I intend to finish the area Interstates (primarily in FW).  If I can get my hands on a K-Tag, I might do some toll roads. (K-Tag works on any Texas toll road and does come in a hard-case format unlike the Tex-ass tags)  If not - I'll be skipping them.  After which I-30, the Little Rock 3dI's and I-40 (with the occasional turn off to get the segments of I-49 that have been built) and I-70 to either StL or Effingham depending on energy) will be focused.  That would complete AR and MO interstates (at least until more I-49 is constructed)

Quote from: SSOWorld on February 24, 2018, 11:41:39 AM
The variables affecting me are now gone.  If there is any change in employment - it will not happen before or during the trip.

My plans you may ask?

7 days on the road/at the meet/at side trip locations:

Day 1-2 drive to Shreveport with stopover in Cape Girardeau.  Intentions on using US-61 from where it splits from US-67 to where it ultimately rejoins I-55 at I-555.  This would get me I-61 completed into MS as I already have it from I-555 to Tunica Resorts (MS-304)  After which I'll veer on to the construction heavy I-40 toward LR.  I'll be veering off on I-530 to Pine Bluff for the lulz. but outside that, heading to Texarkana and taking I-49 down to Shreveport.

Day 3 - you know what happens on day 3.

Day 4-7.  West on I-20 to DFW where I intend to finish the area Interstates (primarily in FW).  If I can get my hands on a K-Tag, I might do some toll roads. (K-Tag works on any Texas toll road and does come in a hard-case format unlike the Tex-ass tags)  If not - I'll be skipping them.  After which I-30, the Little Rock 3dI's and I-40 (with the occasional turn off to get the segments of I-49 that have been built) and I-70 to either StL or Effingham depending on energy) will be focused.  That would complete AR and MO interstates (at least until more I-49 is constructed)

Which way are are you going from PB: AR 530?

Quote from: US71 on February 24, 2018, 12:14:16 PM

Which way are are you going from PB: AR 530?

Unsure; either US270 back to 30 or probably county-hunt toward Texarkana

About an 80% chance I can be there. IF my sister will come as a relief driver, I am definitely in; if not, well, I'll still probably come by myself as it will be my first road meet. At last, I'll get to meet some of "my people."

I think I have my route pretty much figured out at this point:

Day 1: Albany-Pennsville, NJ.
- Get to NJ 18 in New Brunswick. Exact route depends on traffic conditions
- NJ 18 south to I-195 west, with a short detour to clinch NJ 138. Clinch I-195.
- From here depends 100% how early I leave and if I have work I need to do. If no work, I'll grab NJ 68, NJ 3, NJ 77, and part of NJ 45 and 49 as I zig-zag down to the hotel. Else, I'll get to the Turnpike and take that down.
- Will probably get the rest of 45, 48, part of US 322, and secret NJ 324 after I check in

Day 2: Pennsvile - Helen, GA
Pretty straightforward here: straight route that maximizes new mileage
- I-295 -> I-95 -> DE 896 (using the business route) -> US 301
- Stay on US 301 until I-295 north of Richmond
- I-295 west to I-95 south. Take I-95 to the first exit south of I-295 (clinching 95 inside 295), backtrack up to I-85 south.
- I-85 south to GA 17. Detouring in Durham to see the 11'8" bridge.
- GA 17 to Helen

Day 3: Helen - Muscle Shoals, AL
This is where the fun starts.
- GA 17 -> GA 180 -> GA 180 Spur to Brasstown Bald. Hike to the top.
- Backtrack to GA 180; US 19, I-285, I-280 to US 431 in Alabama. May do a quick detour on 285 to grab an extra county.
- US 431 -> AL 281 to Cheaha Mountain. Drive to the observation tower.
- This is the only undecided portion of the trip: Either taking US 431 and US 72 ALT or I-20, I-65, and AL 157 to Muscle Shoals. Leaning towards the former, as it's less freeway and more new counties.

Day 4: Muscle Shoals - Clarksville, AR
- US 72 to the Memphis area. Detour to drive up Woodall Mountain. Stopping in Memphis to walk across the Harahan Bridge, see the Lorraine Motel, and get some BBQ
- I-55 and I-40 to Clarksville. Likely stopping in Little Rock to see Little Rock Central High.

Day 5: Clarksville - El Dorado, AR
- AR 109, 197, 22, 309 to Magazine Mountain. Hike to the summit.
- AR 309, 10, 27, 88 to Mena
- Talimena Scenic Drive over to US 271
- US 271 to Paris, TX, may detour to see the "Eiffel Tower"
- US 82 and I-30 to El Dorado. May detour a bit in Texarkana as time permits

Day 6: MEET DAY!!!
- US 167, I-20, LA 507 to Driskill Mountain. Hike to the summit.
- Hightail it to Shreveport via LA 507, LA 154, US 71
- The meet (duh)
- I-49 down to Lafayette for the night

Days 7-8: Lafayette, LA - Albany, NY
- I-10, I-12, I-10 to Jacksonville. Detour to Britton Hill in Florida.
- I-95 to US 13 in Fayetteville, NC
- US 13 to DE 1 in Dover
- DE 1, I-95, I-295, NJ Turnpike to North Jersey
- Least-congested route back to I-87 and Albany

Quote from: cl94 on February 25, 2018, 03:42:30 PM
- GA 17 to Helen

I never got the fascination with that town. It thinks it's special because everything has to look like it came out of an Alps village. Tourist trap in the middle of nowhere. I drove through there a few years ago, not knowing about it, and got hung up in a huge traffic jam that slowed my progress in getting through.

Quote from: hbelkins on February 25, 2018, 09:11:57 PM

Quote from: cl94 on February 25, 2018, 03:42:30 PM
- GA 17 to Helen

I never got the fascination with that town. It thinks it's special because everything has to look like it came out of an Alps village. Tourist trap in the middle of nowhere. I drove through there a few years ago, not knowing about it, and got hung up in a huge traffic jam that slowed my progress in getting through.

It's solely a place to sleep for me. It's the closest I can get to Brasstown Bald and it's cheap this time of year.

Quote from: hbelkins on February 25, 2018, 09:11:57 PM
everything has to look like it came out of an Alps village.

A what now? :)

Quote from: Alps on February 25, 2018, 11:26:27 PM

Quote from: hbelkins on February 25, 2018, 09:11:57 PM
everything has to look like it came out of an Alps village.

A what now? :)

Nah, that town doesn't have enough full-service gas stations to be an Alps village.  :-D

I'm actually going to be moving back to West Monroe this very week, however, my work schedule means there's a slim-to-none chance of me attending.  :no:

I may be able to swing over to Vermont at some point in the next week to pick up a stack of VT maps to pass out. Depends on if I end up hiking in Williamstown, MA this weekend, as the welcome center near Bennington isn't too far out of the way. VT maps are some of the easiest state maps to find, as every state facility has a ton of them (I actually got the stack I passed out at my meet from a state park), but since I'm the only attendee with easy access to those things...

I haven't seen any more of the elusive NY maps (the local rest areas have none) and I strongly doubt I'll come across maps for many other states up here, as CT, MA, and NJ maps are damn near impossible to find.

Quote from: cl94 on February 26, 2018, 11:05:24 AM
I may be able to swing over to Vermont at some point in the next week to pick up a stack of VT maps to pass out. Depends on if I end up hiking in Williamstown, MA this weekend, as the welcome center near Bennington isn't too far out of the way. VT maps are some of the easiest state maps to find, as every state facility has a ton of them (I actually got the stack I passed out at my meet from a state park), but since I'm the only attendee with easy access to those things...

I haven't seen any more of the elusive NY maps (the local rest areas have none) and I strongly doubt I'll come across maps for many other states up here, as CT, MA, and NJ maps are damn near impossible to find.

I found a bunch of new Massachusetts maps at the welcome center on southbound I-95 last year.

Quote from: Brandon on February 26, 2018, 01:16:38 PM

Quote from: cl94 on February 26, 2018, 11:05:24 AM
I may be able to swing over to Vermont at some point in the next week to pick up a stack of VT maps to pass out. Depends on if I end up hiking in Williamstown, MA this weekend, as the welcome center near Bennington isn't too far out of the way. VT maps are some of the easiest state maps to find, as every state facility has a ton of them (I actually got the stack I passed out at my meet from a state park), but since I'm the only attendee with easy access to those things...

I haven't seen any more of the elusive NY maps (the local rest areas have none) and I strongly doubt I'll come across maps for many other states up here, as CT, MA, and NJ maps are damn near impossible to find.

I found a bunch of new Massachusetts maps at the welcome center on southbound I-95 last year.

Which is the one place in the state that reliably has them. Of course, that's also the only welcome center in the state.

I stopped by the welcome center in Fredericksburg VA this morning. It still had the 2016-18 Virginia maps with the former governor's face on them. Unless the maps are updated with the new guy's face or (in keeping with somewhat of a recent trend) no face at all, by next week when I might be back that way (depending on my yet-undecided itinerary), I'm not going to pick up copies in addition to the one I'm using right now.

Quote from: cl94 on February 25, 2018, 03:42:30 PM
.

Day 5: Clarksville - El Dorado, AR
- AR 109, 197, 22, 309 to Magazine Mountain. Hike to the summit.
- AR 309, 10, 27, 88 to Mena
- Talimena Scenic Drive over to US 271
- US 271 to Paris, TX, may detour to see the "Eiffel Tower"
- US 82 and I-30 to El Dorado. May detour a bit in Texarkana as time permits

Visit the Texarkana Post Office which runs down the middle of State Line Rd :)

Tennessee 2018 road maps are out, picked up over a dozen at a rest area on I-40 on my way to Memphis yesterday so they will be coming to the meet.

Quote from: oscar on February 10, 2018, 06:12:41 PM
I'm about 100% in for the meet, with hotel reservations set on the west side of Shreveport. But a summons for jury duty the week before complicates my itinerary, and off chance I'll get picked to serve on a jury (unlikely, in my area lawyers usually get passed over, though as a retired lawyer I'm not automatically exempt from jury selection) for a prolonged trial.

I have been officially let off the hook for jury duty, so barring emergencies I'll be at the meet. Still need to work out my itinerary, though I'm leaning to a southern/Texas route to Shreveport, and snagging US 79 from Shreveport east on the way back.

I assume you used this tactic oscar? ;)


(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azquotes.com%2Fpicture-quotes%2Fquote-some-people-try-to-get-out-of-jury-duty-by-lying-you-don-t-have-to-lie-tell-the-judge-george-carlin-56-43-89.jpg&hash=89a324419b7d5116ad06f76db7715887229c4c1a) 

JUST LIKE THAT!

^ It was a little easier than that. Court management decided, sight unseen (with a county population over 200,000, unlikely anyone there knows me), they won't need my services at all tomorrow, which is the only day for which I was summoned.

Quote from: oscar on March 06, 2018, 08:46:10 PM

Quote from: oscar on February 10, 2018, 06:12:41 PM
I'm about 100% in for the meet, with hotel reservations set on the west side of Shreveport. But a summons for jury duty the week before complicates my itinerary, and off chance I'll get picked to serve on a jury (unlikely, in my area lawyers usually get passed over, though as a retired lawyer I'm not automatically exempt from jury selection) for a prolonged trial.

I have been officially let off the hook for jury duty, so barring emergencies I'll be at the meet. Still need to work out my itinerary, though I'm leaning to a southern/Texas route to Shreveport, and snagging US 79 from Shreveport east on the way back.

How much of US 79 are you snagging east then north of Shreveport?

Quote from: cjk374 on March 06, 2018, 09:50:35 PM
How much of US 79 are you snagging east then north of Shreveport?

Hopefully, everything I haven't already covered, including a little in Shreveport, Clarksville TN, and Russellville KY, and a lot in central and eastern Arkansas and in the Memphis region:

http://tm.teresco.org/user/mapview.php?units=miles&u=oscar&rte=US79

Quote from: oscar on March 06, 2018, 11:09:26 PM

Quote from: cjk374 on March 06, 2018, 09:50:35 PM
How much of US 79 are you snagging east then north of Shreveport?

Hopefully, everything I haven't already covered, including a little in Shreveport, Clarksville TN, and Russellville KY, and a lot in central and eastern Arkansas and in the Memphis region:

http://tm.teresco.org/user/mapview.php?units=miles&u=oscar&rte=US79

If time permits, the Business Routes on 79 are far more interesting than the mainlines, especially the Ouachita River at Camden :)

Quote from: US71 on March 07, 2018, 11:33:16 AM
If time permits, the Business Routes on 79 are far more interesting than the mainlines, especially the Ouachita River at Camden :)

It appears that Arkansas has a ton of weird bridges like that. Makes me excited to drive around on some of the back roads next week.

Quote from: US71 on March 07, 2018, 11:33:16 AM
If time permits, the Business Routes on 79 are far more interesting than the mainlines, especially the Ouachita River at Camden :)

I already covered the US 79 mainline WB from Fordyce to I-20 via Camden. Was planning on taking US 167 from I-20 to Fordyce, to pick up the rest of US 79 there.

I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

Quote from: cl94 on February 26, 2018, 11:05:24 AM
I haven't seen any more of the elusive NY maps (the local rest areas have none) and I strongly doubt I'll come across maps for many other states up here, as CT, MA, and NJ maps are damn near impossible to find.

I found a bunch of NY maps a few weeks ago at the northbound High Peaks rest area on the Northway. They have published a new one (I-781 is shown as complete), but its still crappy. Hell, it doesn't even show the Utica-Rome Expressway running all the way to the Thruway!

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

Nice! No new counties for me going to Texarkana but during the meet and the drive back will be new counties, parishes and new interstate mileage on I-20 and I-49, will probably clinch I -369 too.

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

I didn't realize the Mississippi still had car ferries. Guess you learn something new every day.

Quote from: cl94 on March 08, 2018, 06:45:46 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

I didn't realize the Mississippi still had car ferries. Guess you learn something new every day.

My son & I used the Algiers ferry a few years ago while driving my Ranger. We ended up going to Venice, LA that day.

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

Be sure to check and see if the Dorena-Hickman Ferry is operational on the day you want to cross it. High water and/or mechanical issues can cause it to close. They have a website, or you can check the KYTC District 1 Facebook page, as they regularly post the updates.

Quote from: hbelkins on March 08, 2018, 08:41:18 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

Be sure to check and see if the Dorena-Hickman Ferry is operational on the day you want to cross it. High water and/or mechanical issues can cause it to close. They have a website, or you can check the KYTC District 1 Facebook page, as they regularly post the updates.

Thank you H. B.  Excellent advice.  Actually, this will be my second attempt at the Dorena-Hickman.  Very early (January 2nd or 3rd) in 2016, I was en route from Baton Rouge toward home in Hastings Michigan, much of the trip within sight of the profound flood waters.  I made my only trip into the exclave of Kentucky opposite New Madrid (not very far; the waters consumed most of it), then on to Hickman.  I was not surprised to find the ferry not operating.  I was surprised to find the road closed at Wickliffe.  The nearest functioning Ohio River crossing was at I-24 near Paducah.

Quote from: cl94 on March 08, 2018, 06:45:46 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

I didn't realize the Mississippi still had car ferries. Guess you learn something new every day.

Know your Louisiana Ferry crossings:
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/operations/ferrystatus/fmbs_status.aspx?PID=F_STATUS

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on March 08, 2018, 10:32:38 PM

Quote from: cl94 on March 08, 2018, 06:45:46 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

I didn't realize the Mississippi still had car ferries. Guess you learn something new every day.

Know your Louisiana Ferry crossings:
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/operations/ferrystatus/fmbs_status.aspx?PID=F_STATUS

I'm disappointed the Melville Ferry closed.

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 09:42:28 PM

Quote from: hbelkins on March 08, 2018, 08:41:18 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

Be sure to check and see if the Dorena-Hickman Ferry is operational on the day you want to cross it. High water and/or mechanical issues can cause it to close. They have a website, or you can check the KYTC District 1 Facebook page, as they regularly post the updates.

Thank you H. B.  Excellent advice.  Actually, this will be my second attempt at the Dorena-Hickman.  Very early (January 2nd or 3rd) in 2016, I was en route from Baton Rouge toward home in Hastings Michigan, much of the trip within sight of the profound flood waters.  I made my only trip into the exclave of Kentucky opposite New Madrid (not very far; the waters consumed most of it), then on to Hickman.  I was not surprised to find the ferry not operating.  I was surprised to find the road closed at Wickliffe.  The nearest functioning Ohio River crossing was at I-24 near Paducah.

US 51/60/62 at Wickliffe just reopened last night after having been closed for six days due to floodwaters.

An addendum, high winds can also result in the ferry's closure from time to time. Just double-check the day you want to ride it and make alternate routing plans should it be closed.

Quote from: cl94 on March 08, 2018, 06:45:46 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

I didn't realize the Mississippi still had car ferries. Guess you learn something new every day.

There's a whole bunch still left.  There's even a fair number that cross the Ohio River.  For example, Illinois has:
Four to Missouri (Canton, MO; Winfield, MO; Golden Eagle, IL; & Sainte Genevieve, MO)
One to Kentucky (Cave-In-Rock, IL)
Two across the Illinois River (Kampsville & Brussels)

Quote from: Brandon on March 09, 2018, 12:59:31 PM

Quote from: cl94 on March 08, 2018, 06:45:46 PM

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 08, 2018, 06:22:09 PM
I've been keeping this meet in my back pocket to see if the stars would line up favorably.  Today, the alignment looks good, so I can say with 80% certainty that I will attend.  I have no counties to conquer between here and there, but there are two notable Mississippi River crossings I have not yet made.  I will be aiming for the Missouri to (Hickman) Kentucky ferry, and then the Canal Street to Algiers ferry in New Orleans.  If I get both, I will have clinched all of the current Big Muddy crossings from the gulf all the way upstream to Quad Cities.

I didn't realize the Mississippi still had car ferries. Guess you learn something new every day.

There's a whole bunch still left.  There's even a fair number that cross the Ohio River.  For example, Illinois has:
Four to Missouri (Canton, MO; Winfield, MO; Golden Eagle, IL; & Sainte Genevieve, MO)
One to Kentucky (Cave-In-Rock, IL)
Two across the Illinois River (Kampsville & Brussels)

Well Brandon, you got me scrambling to look at Big Muddy ferries I didn't know about.  The one at Canton MO was one I had not used, but it is too late.  It was discontinued in 2014.  I know that I used either the the Winfield ferry or the Golden Eagle crossing during the St. Louis meet a few years ago, but not both.  Anybody remember which?  It looks like I have one more crossing yet that I didn't know about.

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 09, 2018, 07:46:06 PM
I know that I used either the the Winfield ferry or the Golden Eagle crossing during the St. Louis meet a few years ago, but not both.  Anybody remember which?

It was the Golden Eagle.

Here it is...one week from today the Louisiana road meet will be happenin! Here are a few things to know about next week (some items subject to change without notice):

1. Right now the weatherman is calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday & 20% chance of storms on Sunday. Hopefully we will get the 40% chance that was called for for today....sun/cloud mix & very pleasant. High next Saturday is 78, Sunday is 79.

2. The pollen is out & turning everything yellow. It is also messing with people's sinuses. If you suffer from allergies, bring your meds. You will need them!

3. As of today, gas in Ruston is running $2.129 at Shell stations, $2.109 at Wal-Mart. Shreveport shouldn't be too far off from that.

Also, if you are coming & haven't said so, let me know you are coming so I can make enough copies of the itinerary for everyone.

I am anxious about this meet! Can't wait to see y'all get here!

I've got maps to bring as well: Illinois, Tollway, & Wisconsin.

Quote from: Brandon on March 10, 2018, 06:32:56 PM
I've got maps to bring as well: Illinois, Tollway, & Wisconsin.

I'm going to attempt to pick up some Iowa and maybe misery.

I'll have the 2017-19 ARDOT maps.  :)

And I will have 2018 TN maps, also thanks for the weather update, gives Steph and I a good idea what to pack.

78?!? That's like the peak of summer weather here. I'll be showing up in shorts with allergy meds at the ready. Big change from the 2-3 feet of snow I saw today in Massachusetts.

I may wear shorts too, depends on how humid it is.  I'm most definitely packing them though.  As for maps, I'll try to stock up on MD, WV and VA on my way down, but of course, I can't make any promises.

I have my itinerary fairly well set.  Tuesday, I depart about 5 AM, end the day in Clarksdale MS (epicenter of the Delta Blues.  Yes!!), via Cairo IL (I have this weird fascination), Hickman KY (if the ferry is operating.  It wasn't yesterday, water still to high), and Memphis.  Wednesday, overnight in the western 'burbs of Lafayette LA, via New Orleans and future I-49.  Thursday, lunch with an old friend from college days, afternoon and evening with family in northern 'burbs of Houston.  Friday morning, to Dallas to visit a nephew who has just relocated there from Chicago, then on to Shreveport for Friday and Saturday nights.  The route home is not yet finalized, but might include a trip across the Big Muddy at Winfield MO.

Quote from: signalman on March 11, 2018, 08:50:45 AM
I may wear shorts too, depends on how humid it is.  I'm most definitely packing them though.

Humidity & heat aren't bad here until the upper 80s. But then again, I'm used to it.  :bigass:

I finally secured all the time off from work a few days ago and will be riding down with A.J. (who RSVP'd back in January).

It's going to be a two-day journey both ways. Heading down will be an all-freeway route involving I-57 (with a stop in Cairo), I-55, I-40, I-30, and I-49. I'm not sure of the exact route back but it involves US 67 and US 167 and then joining I-70 eastbound near St. Louis.

I guess I'll claim the Minnesota representation for Mapapalooza.

It looks like my plans for the Dorena-Hickman ferry are on hold.  NWS forecasts flood stage at New Madrid until Saturday 3/17. Maybe I can hit this ferry on the way back from Shreveport.  I have a backup southbound plan that routes me through Owensboro KY (Old Hickory Barbeque for lunch!) and Paris TN, then on to Clarksdale.  At this time, that looks the the operative plan.

Quote from: brianreynolds on March 11, 2018, 11:36:22 PM
It looks like my plans for the Dorena-Hickman ferry are on hold.  NWS forecasts flood stage at New Madrid until Saturday 3/17. Maybe I can hit this ferry on the way back from Shreveport.  I have a backup southbound plan that routes me through Owensboro KY (Old Hickory Barbeque for lunch!) and Paris TN, then on to Clarksdale.  At this time, that looks the the operative plan.

Enjoy some mutton!

Quote from: cjk3741. Right now the weatherman is calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday & 20% chance of storms on Sunday. Hopefully we will get the 40% chance that was called for for today....sun/cloud mix & very pleasant. High next Saturday is 78, Sunday is 79.

Still too early to call this.  Especially given how storms are handling this winter, I'd wait until Wednesday or even Thursday before reliably looking at the weekend forecast.

Quote from: cl9478?!? That's like the peak of summer weather here.

Where are you, buried up in the 'Dacks?  Even my house gets into the 80s routinely.

Quote from: getemngo on March 11, 2018, 08:47:41 PM
I finally secured all the time off from work a few days ago and will be riding down with A.J. (who RSVP'd back in January).

It's going to be a two-day journey both ways. Heading down will be an all-freeway route involving I-57 (with a stop in Cairo), I-55, I-40, I-30, and I-49. I'm not sure of the exact route back but it involves US 67 and US 167 and then joining I-70 eastbound near St. Louis.

Good to hear! depending on the timing, we may catch up with each other somewhere on I-40 to I-30 near Little Rock Friday late afternoon since Steph and I are leaving early Friday morning from our house and plan to run all interstate to Texarkana where we are spending the night, Brandon might be in the same boat too.

Quote from: getemngo on March 11, 2018, 08:47:41 PM
I finally secured all the time off from work a few days ago and will be riding down with A.J. (who RSVP'd back in January).

It's going to be a two-day journey both ways. Heading down will be an all-freeway route involving I-57 (with a stop in Cairo), I-55, I-40, I-30, and I-49. I'm not sure of the exact route back but it involves US 67 and US 167 and then joining I-70 eastbound near St. Louis.

I'm excited that Sam is joining me for this trip! Sam's exactly right as far as the route goes. Thursday morning he and I will be leaving the Grand Rapids area around 7:30-ish. I'm not sure what time we'll make it to Cairo but we'll definitely check out that place before heading over to Sikeston MO for the night. Friday morning we will take the route like Sam described (I-55 to I-40 to I-30 to I-49) to Shreveport for the night, and we'll crash with Brandon Gorte at the Sleep Inn on (I believe) the west side of Shreveport.

Sunday morning, from Shreveport, I'm planning on taking I-20 east to U.S. 165 near Monroe... then 165 north to U.S. 425 into Arkansas to I-530 (around Pine Bluff and Little Rock) to U.S. 67/167 eventually getting to I-55 in Missouri, and then to the St. Louis area and I-70 east (staying in Effingham IL on Sunday night). My goal for Sunday is to clinch as many counties and highways as possible.

We will head back home to Michigan on Monday.

My plans go as follows so far. The second half of the trip was only decided today.

Days 1-2: MSP-Shreveport with stopover in Kansas City. Standard route of I-35 and US 71/I-49.

Days 3-4: meet activities

Days 4-6: Drive to Nashville, TN

Days 7-8: Drive home.

This is clearly going to be THE meet of the year (at least so far, out of everything that's been announced) and I really hate I can't make it. I had thought about trying to abbreviate the trip a little, but I had to burn yet another vacation day a couple of weeks ago due to a death in my wife's family, making even a shortened trip impossible. And I still don't think my knee is up to such a long journey.

I'm pretty much going to just straight shot to Shreveport. I may take 49 at Texarkana since I've not driven south since the pre-drive a few years ago. If I hit town early enough, I may do some exploring on my own.

Weather permitting on Sunday, I may try to trace the old Jefferson Highway to Baton Rouge. If the weather is bad, then it'll be 80 to Ruston, then 167/63 to Pine Bluff, then home.

So just to confirm, we are meeting at the Strawn's at 125 Kings HWY Shreveport, LA 71104? Steph noticed there is more then 1 location so just want to make sure

Quote from: jpi on March 14, 2018, 02:05:32 PM
So just to confirm, we are meeting at the Strawn's at 125 Kings HWY Shreveport, LA 71104? Steph noticed there is more then 1 location so just want to make sure

I believe that is correct. A link was posted upthread.

Second spot was the post-meet spot.

Strawn's is the meet's lunch place:

Strawn's Eat Shop
125 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71104
(318) 868-0634

https://goo.gl/maps/Eeo6GbmoBYL2


Walk-ons is the post-meet supper place:

Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar

7031 Youree Dr, Shreveport, LA 71105
(318) 220-4256

https://goo.gl/maps/vHyi1MGUN5x


_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An update on the weather:  it ain't pretty. We'll see what happens.

https://www.ktbs.com/weather/?mode=week&weather_zip=71104

I have my fingers crossed for decent weather.  I've been watching the weather for Shreveport as well.  I'm looking for rain gear just in case, but hopefully it won't be needed. I'm really looking forward to this.  I'm also excited because I don't think I've met anyone who's attending before.  My work schedule doesn't really allow me to attend road meets, as I normally work weekends, so I haven't met too many roadgeeks in person.  See y'all Saturday morning!

Meh, only 30% chance of storms and 81, not too worried and looking forward to the temp  :nod:

Quote from: jpi on March 14, 2018, 09:48:31 PM
Meh, only 30% chance of storms and 81, not too worried and looking forward to the temp  :nod:

Sauna ;)

I'm looking forward to the warmth as well.  Definitely ready to get out of this frozen hell hole. 

Safe travels to all of y'all coming down today & tomorrow. See y'all Saturday!

SUCCESS!! TX & LA  maps are in my possession, all courtesy the TX Welcome Center in Waskom.

That's right...I got Louisiana maps at the TX welcome center. Is this weird or do other welcome centers give maps for neighboring states?

Quote from: cjk374 on March 15, 2018, 03:12:11 PM
SUCCESS!! TX & LA  maps are in my possession, all courtesy the TX Welcome Center in Waskom.

That's right...I got Louisiana maps at the TX welcome center. Is this weird or do other welcome centers give maps for neighboring states?

Not Arkansas. though they will sometimes post a map in the window of the adjoining state.

Quote from: US71 on March 15, 2018, 04:15:35 PM

Quote from: cjk374 on March 15, 2018, 03:12:11 PM
SUCCESS!! TX & LA  maps are in my possession, all courtesy the TX Welcome Center in Waskom.

That's right...I got Louisiana maps at the TX welcome center. Is this weird or do other welcome centers give maps for neighboring states?

Not Arkansas. though they will sometimes post a map in the window of the adjoining state.

Likewise, ISTHA has a posted map of Wisconsin in the Lake Forest Oasis and a map of Indiana at the Lincoln Oasis, next to their tollway system maps, but no Wisconsin or Indiana maps out there or at the Lincoln Oasis.  As for IDOT, surely you must be joking.

I made sure to put the 2018 TN maps in the Spectra this morning and should have plenty for everyone.

I was able to get some extra WV maps this morning.  I didn't want to be a dick and take all of the maps on the rack, but I took most of them.  I have 5 available...first come, first serve.

Ironically, the Dubuque Welcome Center (a partner with IA) had IL, IA and WI Maps but were of low count.  So did the Platteville welcome center (a partner with WI) - same three states.  The Pit of Missouri welcome Center didn't have any for IL that I could see and they handed out their maps at the counter (and tried to collect my zip code :( )

that said, IA and MO maps are not going to be enough for everyone so lets plan for those who have limited access to these states to get one first.

I got 10 MN maps; I considered grabbing 15 but while I know that doesn't cover everyone I anticipated not everyone will need or want one.

The TX welcome center gave me 25 maps each of TX & LA. I done good!  :sombrero:

Quote from: cjk374 on March 15, 2018, 08:18:22 PM
The TX welcome center gave me 25 maps each of TX & LA. I done good!  :sombrero:

You can paper your walls.  :)

I have around 20 ARDOT maps. Started with 25, but left a couple in the motel bible drawers on my travels   😇

I picked up a bunch of additional MO maps (the Eagleville welcome center at the IA/MO line on I-35 is self serve); couldn't get any extra IA maps at Lamoni unfortunately because those were kept behind the counter.

I have zero new maps beyond the few NY ones I brought. If you got a NY map anytime since 2015, don't bother taking one, as they're still using the 2015 map. MD and GA welcome centers were closed when I passed and NC, SC, AL were guarding the maps.

Quote from: cl94 on March 15, 2018, 09:22:44 PM
I have zero new maps beyond the few NY ones I brought. If you got a NY map anytime since 2015, don't bother taking one, as they're still using the 2015 map. MD and GA welcome centers were closed when I passed and NC, SC, AL were guarding the maps.

I got several AL maps (don't remember whether I got them at a place with self-serve map distro, or rather the lady behind the counter didn't guard her stack very well). Ditto for TX. The host got plenty of TX at a different location, but you might grab an extra from my pile, since the maps tear easily (the one I'm using now is already pretty well torn up, and destined for the recycle bin when I get home).

I got just two GA maps at the Augusta visitor center, one old-style 2015 and a newer style breaking the state into regions.

I might still have one gently-used NC map. I didn't bother with MS, since my drive through that state was short and all-Interstate, so I didn't need a map for my own use. Nor with SC, since there was no visitor center where I entered the state on US 76.

The MD welcome center was closed when I stopped at Chesapeake House.  I didn't bother stopping in DE.  VA was guarding their maps, so no luck there.  The lady at  the TN welcome center was guarding her maps too.  Unfortunately yesterday wasn't my day, I guess.  I'll be hitting AL, MS and LA tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll be luckier.  Scott, I would like IA and MO 😀.  Does being a NJ resident help my case of having poor access to those states?  I can't recall the last time I was in either state.

Quote from: signalman on March 16, 2018, 03:01:32 AM
The MD welcome center was closed when I stopped at Chesapeake House.  I didn't bother stopping in DE.  VA was guarding their maps, so no luck there.  The lady at  the TN welcome center was guarding her maps too.  Unfortunately yesterday wasn't my day, I guess.  I'll be hitting AL, MS and LA tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll be luckier.  Scott, I would like IA and MO 😀.  Does being a NJ resident help my case of having poor access to those states?  I can't recall the last time I was in either state.

For you, it does  :sombrero:

Hopefully we'll have enough MO maps for everybody now. I don't know how many SSO initially got, but I took 13 (plus an additional one for myself).

Unfortunately Kansas only has two welcome centers, and neither of them are anywhere near Kansas City (where I overnighted), so we won't be getting any of those.

Quote from: SSOWorld on March 16, 2018, 04:53:37 AM

Quote from: signalman on March 16, 2018, 03:01:32 AM
The MD welcome center was closed when I stopped at Chesapeake House.  I didn't bother stopping in DE.  VA was guarding their maps, so no luck there.  The lady at  the TN welcome center was guarding her maps too.  Unfortunately yesterday wasn't my day, I guess.  I'll be hitting AL, MS and LA tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll be luckier.  Scott, I would like IA and MO 😀.  Does being a NJ resident help my case of having poor access to those states?  I can't recall the last time I was in either state.

For you, it does  :sombrero:

Sweet!  I'll give you first crack at a WV map, assuming you're interested

I have plenty of LA & MS maps for everyone  (25 each).

Watch the weather driving down today. It is going to be nasty.

Reading the past couple days worth of posts, one would wonder if this is a roadmeet or an RMCA (https://roadmaps.org/) meet instead...

Quote from: froggie on March 16, 2018, 08:40:33 AM
Reading the past couple days worth of posts, one would wonder if this is a roadmeet or an RMCA (https://roadmaps.org/) meet instead...

You should have seen the Delaware meet, then. I probably walked out of there with 20 maps.

Quote from: froggie on March 16, 2018, 08:40:33 AM
Reading the past couple days worth of posts, one would wonder if this is a roadmeet or an RMCA (https://roadmaps.org/) meet instead...

I brought 5 boxes of maps home from the RMCA meet last year.  I'll sell you a random box for $2 plus shipping ;)


Last second update: I have some random AHTD maps from previous years I'm bringing along if anyone is interested.

Copies of itinerary made....check.

Maps...check.

Car washed & vacuumed....check.

Chores at home caught up....check.

I hope I haven't forgotten anything.

I'm in Bossier City.  Just checked in to my motel room.  Jess, I waved hi to you when I passed by the Simsboro exit on I-20.  Am I the only one who didn't use I-49 from Texarkana?

Quote from: signalman on March 16, 2018, 06:52:24 PM
I'm in Bossier City.  Just checked in to my motel room.  Jess, I waved hi to you when I passed by the Simsboro exit on I-20.  Am I the only one who didn't use I-49 from Texarkana?

I haven't yet, that will be in the morning :sombrero: Steph and I are in for the night in Texarkana, see you all around 11 :nod:

I've also arrived in Bossier for tonight. Gonna try to relax a bit; US 71 through Arkansas can take a lot out of you.

Quote from: signalman on March 16, 2018, 06:52:24 PM
I'm in Bossier City.  Just checked in to my motel room.  Jess, I waved hi to you when I passed by the Simsboro exit on I-20.  Am I the only one who didn't use I-49 from Texarkana?

I, too, just checked in to my hotel, this one in west Shreveport. I came in on I-20 from the west, with a side trip to clinch the short and obscure US 175, after spending several days in Texas.

Also in Bossier City. Had hotel problems but in for the night

I got to my hotel in El Dorado about an hour ago. Plan to hike Driskill tomorrow morning before the meet, hence why I'm out here.

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 16, 2018, 09:52:36 PM
I've also arrived in Bossier for tonight. Gonna try to relax a bit; US 71 through Arkansas can take a lot out of you.

Yes, it can. Especially when you get trapped behind a slow truck.


SM-G930V

Quote from: signalman on March 16, 2018, 06:52:24 PM
I'm in Bossier City.  Just checked in to my motel room.  Jess, I waved hi to you when I passed by the Simsboro exit on I-20.  Am I the only one who didn't use I-49 from Texarkana?

Maybe.  I also took I-49 from Texarkana.

Quote from: US71 on March 16, 2018, 10:35:15 PM

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 16, 2018, 09:52:36 PM
I've also arrived in Bossier for tonight. Gonna try to relax a bit; US 71 through Arkansas can take a lot out of you.

Yes, it can. Especially when you get trapped behind a slow truck.

Tell me about it. I did US 71 from AR 23 down to Mena. It was miserable.

I will be coming in on I-20 tomorrow.

Sleep well. See y'all tomorrow.

I-49 from Texarkana to Shreveport was cool because none of the development has moved in yet. There is not a single establishment of any kind for the entire 60 miles. Hell, the only real sign of inhabited life adjacent to the freeway is a single farm.

I-40 (Parking Lot) to I-530 to US-79 to US-82 to I-49 (Even circled back to get the northbound only portion) to Bossier City for the night.

The day has arrived!!! There is no rain anywhere near here & it is warm out. I'll see y'all in a few hours!

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 16, 2018, 11:50:00 PM
I-49 from Texarkana to Shreveport was cool because none of the development has moved in yet. There is not a single establishment of any kind for the entire 60 miles. Hell, the only real sign of inhabited life adjacent to the freeway is a single farm.

There's one c-store at Mira. It's been open less than 5 years.

SM-G930V

Departing the 'boro, heading to da 'port via old 80.

Big table set up at Strawn's as you read this. Right next to one of the kitchens. Can't miss the big ugly bald guy sitting at big table with beautiful wife!

A big THANK YOU to all who attended this meet yesterday!! I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. We had our interesting moments...a horse at I-220/I-49, Vivian, LA's Redbud Festival traffic jam from hell just to name a couple. Pictures will be posted in this thread soon.

Just to give an early heads up...I am already thinking about doing another LA road meet. This time it will be in central LA (affectionately known in these parts as "cenla"), say maybe in March 2020?

I had a good time and it was great meeting everyone.  Thanks for hosting, Jess.  I'm getting ready to depart Bossier City after a good night's sleep and big breakfast.  I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures since I forgot to pack my camera like a dumbass.  :banghead:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmewK1rT

Photos from the meet. Enjoy.

Here are my two group photos.

The first one is at the TX-AR-LA tripoint marker. We grouped together on the left the people wearing their favorite route markers.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FShreveport-meet-group-at-TX-AR-LA-tripoint-DSC_5415.jpg&hash=b04b7508af65c3f82df9a8fdf1cf56b362815b9d)

From left to right: Oscar (wearing the AK 11 route marker), A.J. (M-22), David (US 71), Jess (meet host), Sam, Jason, Brian, Josh, Patrick, Bill, Scott, Brandon.

The other is at the nearby border marker on the TX-LA boundary.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FShreveport-meet-group-Texas-border-DSC_5416.jpg&hash=5e32f16c9b2581de9a2a599d2f8f11a34fd49dea)

I think Josh came from the most distant place. I hope he and the others from the Northeast don't have much trouble with the snow headed our way (in my area, up to 3").

Bill is my name.  For editing and future reference

Yes, absolutely thank you, Jess.  I'm looking forward to the Alexandria meet.

Same here, Steph and I had a nice time and got home last night fine, thanks for hosting! :D

Sam and I made it home safely to West Michigan this afternoon. Thank you so much, Jess, for hosting this meet! I had a great time and will absolutely consider Alexandria in 2020 if you end up hosting that. :)

As of half an hour ago, I finally completed the 2,000+ mile drive home to Albany. EXCELLENT meet and I'm looking forward to a future Alexandria meet as well (though I won't be so ambitious with my route).

I'm still out on the road for another couple days. In Nashville tonight but will make significant progress toward home tomorrow. I do have plans in southern Wisconsin Thursday into Friday.

I was going to spend a couple days around Alexandria and Baton Rouge, but the weather looked dicey so I opted for Ruston to Pine Bluff.  I clinched US 63 in Arkansas (and Louisiana), but north of El Dorado it seemed rather bland. I hit PB just before sunset and ran into some storms so opted to stop for the night.

I liked the signs on  US 167 north of Ruston: Keep Right Except To Pass Or Turn. I wondered for a moment if that meant I had to make all my turns from the Left Lane.  ;)

And that's a wrap.

Made it home today after an overnight sightseeing and driving around DFW before finishing off the Interstates of Arkansas and Missouri (nothing like being in KC and STL on the same day - no not at the same time), not to mention the tri-point by OK20/AR43/MO43 which I saw much missing signage for (likely not looking in the other locations) but did see the pair by the monument.  I aborted the last day's scenic route due to the car's oil life running out and drove the fast route home. 

Thanks Jess for hosting a good meet. 

I'm not quite home -- couldn't make it back before the snowstorm, so I'm spending a second night in Morgantown WV, which got less snow but the hills in town are ridiculous.

More to follow once I'm back home, hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

I'm still on the road. I had booked a room in Richmond, which I just checked in to. Northern NJ is getting clobbered with snow.. I'm contemplating riding the storm out for a second night here. It's currently snowing in Richmond, but it's not sticking to the roads.

Quote from: signalman on March 21, 2018, 05:37:49 PM
I'm still on the road. I had booked a room in Richmond, which I just checked in to. Northern NJ is getting clobbered with snow.. I'm contemplating riding the storm out for a second night here. It's currently snowing in Richmond, but it's not sticking to the roads.

It's not that bad up here. Plows are keeping pace.

Quote from: Alps on March 21, 2018, 06:01:53 PM

Quote from: signalman on March 21, 2018, 05:37:49 PM
I'm still on the road. I had booked a room in Richmond, which I just checked in to. Northern NJ is getting clobbered with snow.. I'm contemplating riding the storm out for a second night here. It's currently snowing in Richmond, but it's not sticking to the roads.

It's not that bad up here. Plows are keeping pace.

North Jersey isn't the problem. South Jersey, "Central Jersey" (if you believe such a thing exists), eastern PA are getting slammed.

Quote from: cl94 on March 21, 2018, 06:15:57 PM

Quote from: Alps on March 21, 2018, 06:01:53 PM

Quote from: signalman on March 21, 2018, 05:37:49 PM
I'm still on the road. I had booked a room in Richmond, which I just checked in to. Northern NJ is getting clobbered with snow.. I'm contemplating riding the storm out for a second night here. It's currently snowing in Richmond, but it's not sticking to the roads.

It's not that bad up here. Plows are keeping pace.

North Jersey isn't the problem. South Jersey, "Central Jersey" (if you believe such a thing exists), eastern PA are getting slammed.

I'm not worried about NJ, it's VA, MD and PA that I'm concerned about and I need to pass through those states in order to get home.  Sorry, I poorly worded my previous post.

I got back home this afternoon, as the snow was melting in the D.C. area after temps rose into the 40s.

It was a good meet, both reasonable length and also something for everybody (I-49 construction, historic bridges, and the LA-AR-TX tripoint).

Part of what took me to Shreveport was combining that with lots of route-clinching along the way. On the way out, I clinched the North Carolina Interstates I hadn't previously driven (but one more, a new segment of I-840 in Greensboro, is coming soon). I also spent a lot of time in Texas before the meet, including a clinch of the short and obscure US 175, the short I-169 near Harlingen (looks like construction is in progress that might extend it a few more miles), and the Texas parts of US 87, US 287, and US 385. With this trip, I've clinched those three routes south of I-80, and I might snag the remainder on a northern road trip this summer. On the way back, I finished off US 79, the newest I-269 segment south of Memphis, and the newly-completed bypass in North Vernon IN onto which US 50 will likely be rerouted.

I have a second "round 2" account on mob-rule.com, which will ultimately show all the counties I've re-visited since I completed the U.S. counties in 2010 and Canada's in 2016. The U.S. map so far only includes my travels to and from the Shreveport meet, which illustrates how I got there and back including my travels all over Texas in the week preceding the meet:

http://www.mob-rule.com/user-gifs/USA/oscar-rd2.gif

That map, which like Canada's is organized differently than my "round 1" map, highlights the county seat cities I drove through (often driving past the courthouse). I didn't give much priority to county seats in round 1, but am paying more attention in round 2. The U.S. route network reaches more county seats than the Interstates, and often is less boring (in west Texas, both are mind-numbingly boring, but at least both have generous speed limits), though I did some Interstate travel on this trip to keep the overall length to about two weeks.

US 79 has been re-extended back to US 68 on the east side of Russellville, correct?

Quote from: hbelkins on March 23, 2018, 11:56:47 AM
US 79 has been re-extended back to US 68 on the east side of Russellville, correct?

Yes, over the new southern Russellville bypass (part of which is also US 431).