Greensboro, NC, Mini Meet - November 14, 2020

[Alps]

Time for an update.

I made my last trip down to Greensboro on Saturday to check things out. This will be more of a "see-as-you-go" meet than a "stop-and-see" meet since a large portion of the itinerary is driving new roads and experiencing Greensboro's many funky boulevards. The few active construction projects or old alignments aren't very stop-friendly (i.e. minimal parking or access), so the two stops will be more historical sights than road-related sights.

I didn't make it down to Asheboro, but I don't think the bypass is open yet - the NCDOT site claims it will be done in September, but they are running out of time to make that a reality. It looks like the finish date has been pushed back before, so that may or may not end up being included in the meet.

I'll try to get the itinerary polished and posted in the next week or two. I will be pretty busy in the weeks leading up to the meet, so I may be slow to respond to any questions.

I'd like to help with a draft version of the itinerary. As a veteran meet host, I can perhaps find a couple of places to stop, even if just for an overview of the construction site as opposed to walking into it, and make sure the time works out properly.

[US 89]

I maaay be able to do this as a day trip from Atlanta.

Consider me interested. Will probably be a week-of decision.

[csw]

One month away from the meet date! Here is the draft itinerary. Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions.

Written itinerary
Map of tour

As of now, the Asheboro bypass is not open. If it is open by November 14, I will add an optional Asheboro leg onto the tour. If not, we will either just stay in Greensboro or head down to Asheboro to try and get a peek at the construction anyways. I think that will be a game-time decision but I'm open to comments on what to do with that.

I'm thinking the tour will take about 3-3.5 hours, so we'll probably try to get started by 1:00pm at the latest. I'll decide an official start time later.

Looks like we have about 4 confirmed and 4 more undecided so far. There's no pre-meet restaurant meeting so I'm not too concerned with final numbers, but if you're on the fence, please let me know one way or another a couple days before the meet.

[Alps]

One month away from the meet date! Here is the draft itinerary. Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions.

Written itinerary
Map of tour

As of now, the Asheboro bypass is not open. If it is open by November 14, I will add an optional Asheboro leg onto the tour. If not, we will either just stay in Greensboro or head down to Asheboro to try and get a peek at the construction anyways. I think that will be a game-time decision but I'm open to comments on what to do with that.

I'm thinking the tour will take about 3-3.5 hours, so we'll probably try to get started by 1:00pm at the latest. I'll decide an official start time later.

Looks like we have about 4 confirmed and 4 more undecided so far. There's no pre-meet restaurant meeting so I'm not too concerned with final numbers, but if you're on the fence, please let me know one way or another a couple days before the meet.

I plan to stay the night on the south side of Charlotte to clinch NC 16 on my way home, so Asheboro works fine for me.

[Takumi]

Will know in a couple weeks whether I can make it. So far, I haven't had a Saturday off since starting my current job (Saturdays are typically busy for those auto shops that are open) but i might get my first one off then.

[codyg1985]

I plan on being there.

[Alps]

A miscalculation in my original plan has me ending up at greensboro at 2 unless I do some night driving. Not sure which leg of the trip I'll sacrifice the scenery yet.

[Tom958]

Just saw this, and I'm interested. We'll see.

[Takumi]

I'm out.

[Nikolai]

Unfortunately I'll no longer be able to attend.

[oscar]

The US 64 Asheboro Bypass completion date is now sometime in December 2020.

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/us-64-asheboro/Pages/default.aspx

Meet attendees might be able to view the unopened bypass in conjunction with the meet, even if it's not on the meet itinerary. However, I'll need to go there in December (or whenever the bypass is fully opened to traffic), to re-clinch US 64 after having clinched the route from end to end as one of my projects this summer. I'm disinclined to make an extra North Carolina visit for the meet.

[Alps]

What time will the meet be? 12?

[csw]

Yep I think we'll try to get started at 12 so we have enough daylight. The weather on Saturday looks good for now but there's a possibility we get some rain - hopefully not too much.

I think we will make a game-time decision on Asheboro - if we get to the last stop in Greensboro and folks want to continue on to Asheboro (and there's enough light), we can do that. If not, we can wrap up in Greensboro.

I'll update the OP with the meet time and location.

[74/171FAN]

I should be in for this as of today.

[mattpedersen]

I'm out. My governor (Larry Hogan) has banned non essential travel to most states outside the NE corridor and the west coast. North Carolina is on the ban list, so if I went, I would have to quarantine 14 days and get tested. I started a new job, so I can't afford to do that, because I did something not allowed by lawful order, I would probably get terminated. I'm not happy, obviously.

[Duke87]

I'm out. My governor (Larry Hogan) has banned non essential travel to most states outside the NE corridor and the west coast. North Carolina is on the ban list, so if I went, I would have to quarantine 14 days and get tested. I started a new job, so I can't afford to do that, because I did something not allowed by lawful order, I would probably get terminated. I'm not happy, obviously.

Source? Every report I am seeing is saying that Maryland only has an unenforceable advisory, so it's entirely up to your own judgment.

[74/171FAN]

I'm out. My governor (Larry Hogan) has banned non essential travel to most states outside the NE corridor and the west coast. North Carolina is on the ban list, so if I went, I would have to quarantine 14 days and get tested. I started a new job, so I can't afford to do that, because I did something not allowed by lawful order, I would probably get terminated. I'm not happy, obviously.

Source? Every report I am seeing is saying that Maryland only has an unenforceable advisory, so it's entirely up to your own judgment.

Right.  My understanding of the order is that it is "strongly advised" to do quarantine and be tested.  PA is pretty much the same way.

[A.J. Bertin]

I'm out. My governor (Larry Hogan) has banned non essential travel to most states outside the NE corridor and the west coast. North Carolina is on the ban list, so if I went, I would have to quarantine 14 days and get tested. I started a new job, so I can't afford to do that, because I did something not allowed by lawful order, I would probably get terminated. I'm not happy, obviously.

Ugh... that's a bummer, Matt. 

[A.J. Bertin]

I'm very much looking forward to this meet, as well as my trip down and back.  I'll be taking a leisurely (and safe) drive down and back... leaving home tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.  I'll stay in Fort Wayne IN Wednesday evening and Charleston WV Thursday evening before arriving in Greensboro sometime on Friday afternoon.  I'll stay in Greensboro from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.  My overnight stop Sunday on my way home to Michigan will be in Huntington WV, and I'll be home sometime Monday late afternoon or early evening.

I'm looking forward to exploring an area of North Carolina that I've never been to before... plus I'll have time to explore Charleston and Huntington.  I haven't fully decided on my routes to and from Greensboro, but I am leaning toward the most direct routes possible, with the exception of possibly veering off the Interstates but not too far.  This will not be a trip where I will maximize the number of counties I collect or new highway mileage, although I will of course accomplish a bit of those things.  My main focus will be on exploring these three cities in some depth.

[brianreynolds]

Well, as of this moment, I think I am in.  My plan is to work a half-day tomorrow (Thursday), drive some of the way (perhaps to Muncie IN), overnight, then amble and ramble via unexplainable zig-zag to a Friday overnight at (maybe) Beckley WV, direct route to the meet Saturday AM, and directly back to (Beckley?) afterward, then a long-haul one day trip home. 

Mr, Murphy might have other plans for me.

[hbelkins]

I'm out. My governor (Larry Hogan) has banned non essential travel to most states outside the NE corridor and the west coast. North Carolina is on the ban list, so if I went, I would have to quarantine 14 days and get tested. I started a new job, so I can't afford to do that, because I did something not allowed by lawful order, I would probably get terminated. I'm not happy, obviously.

Source? Every report I am seeing is saying that Maryland only has an unenforceable advisory, so it's entirely up to your own judgment.

Right.  My understanding of the order is that it is "strongly advised" to do quarantine and be tested.  PA is pretty much the same way.

No one would have to know that you went. We had a meet several years ago where one of the attendees called in sick to work so he could attend. He stayed out of the meet photo and AFAIK, his employer never found out.

Not everything has to be announced to the world. If you want to go, go, and don't tell anyone.

[A.J. Bertin]

Well, as of this moment, I think I am in.

I'm glad to hear this!!  It will be good to see you there, Brian.

[csw]

Thanks to everyone that came out. We had a beautiful day to explore Greensboro and all its freeways and boulevards. Hope everyone makes/made it home safely!

[A.J. Bertin]

Thanks to everyone that came out. We had a beautiful day to explore Greensboro and all its freeways and boulevards. Hope everyone makes/made it home safely!

Thank you again for hosting this meet!  Yes... it was a beautiful day and you did a nice job hosting/organizing the meet.  It was very enjoyable.

[brianreynolds]

Thanks to everyone that came out. We had a beautiful day to explore Greensboro and all its freeways and boulevards. Hope everyone makes/made it home safely!

Well, our thanks right back at ya!  The location/route/documentation were all first rate.  A success by all standards. 

If you are inspired to host again, your fine efforts this time will inspire bigger attendance next time.  Well done.