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National Boards => Road Enthusiasts Meetings => Topic started by: hbelkins on December 29, 2011, 04:19:46 PM

Title: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on December 29, 2011, 04:19:46 PM
The calendar's running out for 2011. There were a lot of good meets this year, but unfortunately I was not able to attend most of the ones that I wanted to.

Maybe 2012 will be different. So what's on tap for the coming year? What are meet hosts considering?

First one I know of is Adam Moss' Delaware Valley meet for March 24.

As for me, I still have the KY-WV-OH tri-state meet in my back pocket. And I'm trying to come up with a day-long meet that would involve Kentucky's two new parkway extensions as well as new I-69.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Ian on December 29, 2011, 04:57:45 PM
In the summer, I was pushing for having a meet down in Wilmington, DE. I think there should also be another south Jersey meet to see the opening of the new NJ 52 bridge into Ocean City.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on December 29, 2011, 05:48:19 PM
I don't have intention to host any in Wisconsin this year.  There are two possible meets - one in Joliet, IL and one in the Michigan UP.  When - I don't know.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on December 29, 2011, 06:25:53 PM
I'm interested in attending one in the general Mid-Atlantic area. Anywhere between south PA and SC is game for me.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on December 29, 2011, 06:35:48 PM
Ottawa, sometime over the general summer (May-September), date TBD, is the only one I am looking at (A-5, A-50 construction being the cornerstones). I would expect a Triangle Pkwy meet in NC when the new section of 540 opens.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on December 29, 2011, 06:40:45 PM
now THAT sounds very tempting, Steve.

INS offcer: What's your purpose for entering Canada?
me: a road meet.
INS officer: ...

:-D ;)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Hot Rod Hootenanny on December 29, 2011, 09:10:51 PM
Part of the agreement for me holding the Columbus meet this year is that Richard Ruffner gets to hold the "Ohio meet" in Dayton for 2012.
The Roadmap Collectors Association is meeting in Columbus again in 2012 (I'm assuming in conjunction with the Check the Oil petroliana swap meet, though no date has been given for the festivities)
And the folks at the Ohio Historic Bridge Association http://oldohiobridges.com/ohba/ (http://oldohiobridges.com/ohba/) conducts two tours (one in May, the other in September) of "old bridges" around Ohio.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Janko Dialnice on December 29, 2011, 10:42:31 PM
With purchasing a new car and possible international travel coming up, I doubt that I will be attending many meets this year.

Doug Kerr and I were making plans for a Southern NH meet, focusing on the Wieczorek Drive/Manchester Airport Connector and the "Circumferential Highway" stub in Nashua. Nothing has been set in stone, yet, but such a meet still sounds likely.

I had also wanted to do something in the Boston area, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Big Dig, as was mentioned on a previous post, the rare button-copy signage which was to be one of the highlights, might not be around long enough.

Portsmouth might have been a good idea, but I think that should wait until the Fall of 2013, when the replacement for the Memorial Bridge is supposed to be complete.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Roadgeek Adam on December 29, 2011, 10:47:38 PM
Dan Garnell is considering Port Huron MI as a possible summer meet, one that Duke87 and I may go to. He won't decide for a while though on whether or not to host it. I have a friend in the Detroit suburb of New Baltimore that I'd like to visit while up there.

I'm not announcing mine till January 15 or so, but HB did give the official date.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: bulldog1979 on December 29, 2011, 10:50:06 PM
I'm looking at Labor Day weekend for the two-day Marquette-Houghton meet in the UP of Michigan.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Janko Dialnice on December 29, 2011, 10:57:58 PM
Thanks for the heads-up concerning yours, Adam. I will not be able to attend your meet, though, due to it being on the eve of a rather important religious holiday for me. But maybe we can meet up informally if I am in the NY/NJ area.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on December 29, 2011, 11:18:49 PM
Hmmm.  Port Huron, Ottawa, UP?  - if they all lined up I could hit all three - but then everyone else would have to as well.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: signalman on December 30, 2011, 03:41:17 AM
I'd like to get my feet wet in road meets.  I had intended on going to one in the fall.  It just so happened that whenever the was a meet within reasonable distance from me, I couldn't make it that weekend.  Hopefully 2012 will be luckier in that regard.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dougtone on December 30, 2011, 05:54:15 AM
I'm looking at having the meet in New Hampshire in the spring, as was referenced earlier in this thread.  I haven't decided what I'll be doing for New York in 2012 as meets go.

As for attending any other meets in 2012, I haven't decided when or where I'll be attending.  Depending on what my schedule looks like, I may be interested in attending a meet somewhere pretty far from Upstate New York, such as a meet in Kentucky or Michigan.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dougtone on December 30, 2011, 05:58:05 AM
Quote from: Master son on December 29, 2011, 06:40:45 PM
now THAT sounds very tempting, Steve.

INS offcer: What's your purpose for entering Canada?
me: a road meet.
INS officer: ...

:-D ;)

I've had to be "creative" when traveling to Canada to attend a road meet (I've been to a couple: Montréal and Hamilton).  I think I told the customs officers that I was visiting friends.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: codyg1985 on December 30, 2011, 07:15:49 AM
I am thinking of hosting a Birmingham, AL meet sometime in the fall, with the focus being the I-22/I-65 interchange construction. Construction should be progressing along really well by next fall.  Here is a recent view of the construction: http://g.co/maps/83ff7

We may also check out some of the recently-improved sections of I-65 north and south of Birmingham, one of the oldest cloverleaf interchanges in the US (US 31 at Lakeshore Drive), and some of the old US route signs in and around Birmingham.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Janko Dialnice on December 30, 2011, 08:26:36 AM
Quote from: Dougtone on December 30, 2011, 05:58:05 AM
Quote from: Master son on December 29, 2011, 06:40:45 PM
now THAT sounds very tempting, Steve.

INS offcer: What's your purpose for entering Canada?
me: a road meet.
INS officer: ...

:-D ;)

I've had to be "creative" when traveling to Canada to attend a road meet (I've been to a couple: Montréal and Hamilton).  I think I told the customs officers that I was visiting friends.

Alternatively, take an additional day off (arrive there Friday morning or leave for home Monday morning), you can tell the officiers that it is a "mini-vacation" or a "weekend away" (the terms I used when I used to go to Sherbooke). Also, if you are interested in exporting anything (Maple Leafs/Canadiens clothing, French-language books, etc), the two overnight stays allow you to bring back goods more duty-free. :)

(Disclaimer: This trick worked in 2008, but it may not work now. This is not legal advice, so please don't quote me if your attempt fails.)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: codyg1985 on December 30, 2011, 08:30:17 AM
As for attending meets, I would be up for a Michigan meet of some sort since I've never been there. There is also a Memphis meet coming up in the spring that Jason Ilyes is hosting that I will be attending.

I could also go to any of HB's meets. We'll see how the year goes.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: rawmustard on December 30, 2011, 10:08:21 AM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on December 29, 2011, 10:47:38 PM
Dan Garnell is considering Port Huron MI as a possible summer meet, one that Duke87 and I may go to. He won't decide for a while though on whether or not to host it. I have a friend in the Detroit suburb of New Baltimore that I'd like to visit while up there.

Port Huron has the benefit of projects happening on both sides of the border, although I wouldn't know where the Ontarians have planned yet. I would like to get back to Port Huron and Sarnia to see these projects in daylight since I came through both about midnight when coming back from Albany.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: oscar on December 30, 2011, 12:20:26 PM
Quote from: Dougtone on December 30, 2011, 05:58:05 AM
Quote from: Master son on December 29, 2011, 06:40:45 PM
now THAT sounds very tempting, Steve.

INS offcer: What's your purpose for entering Canada?
me: a road meet.
INS officer: ...

:-D ;)

I've had to be "creative" when traveling to Canada to attend a road meet (I've been to a couple: Montréal and Hamilton).  I think I told the customs officers that I was visiting friends.

That worked for me, though I had to develop a backup excuse why I was overnighting in Pembroke ON (several hours northwest of Ottawa) on my way to "visiting friends" in Montreal, in case Customs Canada pressed for specifics on my lodging reservations.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Janko Dialnice on December 30, 2011, 01:01:40 PM
That is where Couchsurfing.org comes in handy. :) Your lodging is with your "friends" (couchsurfing hosts), and you could have told Customs Canada that they lived in Pembroke.
(I can kick myself in the arse for closing my own account on there. I know that creating a new account there is against their TOS, but I wonder if I can get away with it.)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on December 30, 2011, 01:06:42 PM
If it's that hard to cross the border just to go to a road meet why not just say tourist?

In any case I will have to consider these challenges IF I go to Ottawa.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Janko Dialnice on December 30, 2011, 01:22:48 PM
As long as you are in Canada for an appropriate amount to time to claim to be a tourist, that should work. My first trip to Sherbrooke, Quebec was for a meeting of the members of an old IRC channel that I belonged to. The meeting was on a Saturday; I arrived on Friday morning and drove home late Sunday afternoon. I also came back with some $300 worth of goods. The customs/border guards on both sides were OK with my explanation of a "weekend vacation".

On the other hand, I was asked which cities I was going to visit. Since Ottawa has some of its own tourist attractions (Parliament building, a large university, several museums), an excuse of tourism would work. If the focus of the road meet is not near a tourist center, however, such an excuse might not be plausible.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: vdeane on December 30, 2011, 02:08:33 PM
I'll have to attend Ottawa as long as I'm available during the weekend it ends up on.  Shouldn't matter too much whether I'm in Rochester or Potsdam as long as I don't have a conflict, actually (it's good to have relatives in the 1000 Islands).
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on December 30, 2011, 02:09:12 PM
All these tales about crossing the border (plus the inevitable anal exam i'd likely undergo because of all the electronics I carry on trips) just serve as another reminder of why I'll probably never get to visit Canada. Can't "sightseeing" suffice as a reason to cross the border?

Quote from: codyg1985 on December 30, 2011, 08:30:17 AM
As for attending meets, I would be up for a Michigan meet of some sort since I've never been there. There is also a Memphis meet coming up in the spring that Jason Ilyes is hosting that I will be attending.

I'd forgotten about the Memphis meet, for which no date has yet been set, as far as I know. I'd like to attend that. I'd also like to attend the New Hampshire meet, as that would give me a chance to clinch the counties in that state.

My annual "preach about the evils of cellphone use" conference is April 25-27 in Loserville, so meets on the weekends on either side of that timeframe are out for me.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: pbrisebois on December 30, 2011, 02:23:08 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on December 30, 2011, 02:09:12 PM
All these tales about crossing the border (plus the inevitable anal exam i'd likely undergo because of all the electronics I carry on trips) just serve as another reminder of why I'll probably never get to visit Canada. Can't "sightseeing" suffice as a reason to cross the border?

It is a shame isn't it? Last year I went down to drive US-219, and also to visit some family in Pennsylvania. It was a pain to get the officer to believe me I was going to visit family. He actually said "why would you want to visit your aunt?" This was all while I was using my NEXUS card to cross the borded. So much for being a "Trusted Traveller".
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: yanksfan6129 on December 30, 2011, 02:37:53 PM
I'd be interested in going up to Ottawa basically any time between mid-May and mid-August. I would just need--ideally--a good 2 months heads-up so I can clear my schedule for several days.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on December 30, 2011, 02:44:16 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on December 30, 2011, 02:09:12 PM
All these tales about crossing the border (plus the inevitable anal exam i'd likely undergo because of all the electronics I carry on trips) just serve as another reminder of why I'll probably never get to visit Canada. Can't "sightseeing" suffice as a reason to cross the border?

Yes.  Just be prepared to answer a few questions.

Listening to American's gripe about crossing the border is actually a little bit annoying.  The American media was so quick to point fingers at how supposedly lax the Canadian border is in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, and yet I hear so much complaining about how much of a pain it is to cross.  Which is it?
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: corco on December 30, 2011, 04:27:45 PM
Couldn't you just say "I'm meeting up with a few friends in (not from) [city] to go sightseeing and explore the area" ?  That seems like it is entirely truthful, plays up the non-sketchy aspects, and exposes you as a tourist who will spend money, and since you're meeting other people the lone traveler aspect is diminished.

If pressed as to why you're not carpooling, you can say "We're coming from all over- it was easiest for us to meet here"- which is once again entirely honest, and logical, especially if you're in the Ontario/Quebec part of Canada- no sense in a roadgeek from Kentucky to drive to Maine first for a Toronto meet!

It is an annoying barrier though- I've been having trouble convincing myself to clinch highways in southern Arizona just because I don't like hassling with the checkpoints- I've never had any issues with them, but I always worry that next time will be the time. I don't really know how to truthfully explain to CBP why I'm on SR 286 right by the border in a really rural area along a major drug smuggling route- "Well, officer, I'm only here because I'm driving every mile of state highway in Arizona, and this is a state highway in Arizona." In fact, I'm not even really sure how I'd lie about it- there's just no good reason for a middle class white kid in Tucson to be in Sasabe at this point.

As far as meets go- I can try to make any that might occur in Texas or Oklahoma, but anything else is probably too far out. Come 2013, I'll be in the road meet game. In fact, 2012 looks pretty bad for me on the driving front- I'll probably concentrate all my resources on finishing the AZ state highway system and getting the hell out of this place as soon as I graduate next December.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Duke87 on December 30, 2011, 04:49:23 PM
Despite all my running about, I still actually have 40 hours of vacation time leftover that I haven't used. 40 more are instantly mine on January 1st, with another 80 gradually earned over the course of the year... so, 2012 looks good for more travel. :biggrin:

On the menu:
- inevitable trip to Montreal again, probably Memorial Day weekend (-8 hours)
- not inevitable but likely trip to Georgia again (-40 hours)
- trip to Chicago and possibly also Milwaukee (-40 hours)
- Ottawa road meet (-16 hours)
- Port Huron road meet (-16 hours)

Beyond that, attendance is probable for any meet that I can make a day trip or Saturday-Sunday trip out of (Delaware Valley, Manchester, others?).

Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: oscar on December 30, 2011, 05:29:40 PM
Quote from: corco on December 30, 2011, 04:27:45 PM
Couldn't you just say "I'm meeting up with a few friends in (not from) [city] to go sightseeing and explore the area" ?  That seems like it is entirely truthful, plays up the non-sketchy aspects, and exposes you as a tourist who will spend money, and since you're meeting other people the lone traveler aspect is diminished.

If pressed as to why you're not carpooling, you can say "We're coming from all over- it was easiest for us to meet here"- which is once again entirely honest, and logical, especially if you're in the Ontario/Quebec part of Canada- no sense in a roadgeek from Kentucky to drive to Maine first for a Toronto meet!
"Meeting with friends" works fine.  Just don't volunteer details, and be prepared to answer any questions about lodging reservations.  I got the lodging question at least twice in about a dozen border crossings.  The last time I got away with "somewhere between Montreal and Mont-Tremblant, depending on how much progress I make," though in high season that might not work so well if Customs Canada thinks you're heading into a place where lodging is tight.

I've never been asked crossing into Canada "why not carpooling?", and wouldn't expect it if you say or imply that your friends live near your planned destination.  I did get offensive questions about why I was driving by myself from Sault Ste. Narie back into Michigan, and how come I wasn't married, though I don't know whether the U.S. customs agent was trying to rattle me or was just being a jerk for the heck of it.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on December 30, 2011, 05:49:04 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on December 29, 2011, 10:47:38 PM
Dan Garnell is considering Port Huron MI as a possible summer meet, one that Duke87 and I may go to. He won't decide for a while though on whether or not to host it. I have a friend in the Detroit suburb of New Baltimore that I'd like to visit while up there.

I'm not announcing mine till January 15 or so, but HB did give the official date.
Port Huron? There's a bridge. What else?

Post Merge: January 07, 2012, 11:00:57 PM

Quote
(Disclaimer: This trick worked in 2008, but it may not work now. This is not legal advice, so please don't quote me if your attempt fails.)
Answer: They discontinued the program a couple of years ago, I found out.

QuoteSince Ottawa has some of its own tourist attractions (Parliament building, a large university, several museums), an excuse of tourism would work. If the focus of the road meet is not near a tourist center, however, such an excuse might not be plausible.
I would plan to see some of the major attractions along the route. It would be a good opportunity for a long weekend for newcomers to the city who can use the Friday or Sunday to sightsee.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: corco on December 30, 2011, 06:03:07 PM
Quote"Meeting with friends" works fine.  Just don't volunteer details, and be prepared to answer any questions about lodging reservations.  I got the lodging question at least twice in about a dozen border crossings.  The last time I got away with "somewhere between Montreal and Mont-Tremblant, depending on how much progress I make," though in high season that might not work so well if Customs Canada thinks you're heading into a place where lodging is tight.

"Don't volunteer information" can't be emphasized enough- the one time I volunteered lodging information crossing into Canada my car was searched and I had to go into a back room and empty my pockets and pull down my socks
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: US71 on December 30, 2011, 06:40:41 PM
I'm still debating trying to do a Texarkana Regional Meet, but everytime I start to make plans, other crap gets in the way.  :banghead: :banghead:
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: froggie on December 31, 2011, 06:58:59 AM
Intending on doing a DC area meet before I transfer (which itself will likely be September).  Expecting to see good progress on the Beltway projects in Virginia, plus the 11th Street bridge in DC.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Janko Dialnice on December 31, 2011, 11:17:49 AM
Quote from: froggie on December 31, 2011, 06:58:59 AM
Intending on doing a DC area meet before I transfer (which itself will likely be September).  Expecting to see good progress on the Beltway projects in Virginia, plus the 11th Street bridge in DC.

That would be a great opportunity for us, who missed the meets of November and December, to check out the Inter-County Connector. :)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: vdeane on December 31, 2011, 11:33:06 AM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on December 30, 2011, 02:44:16 PM
Listening to American's gripe about crossing the border is actually a little bit annoying.  The American media was so quick to point fingers at how supposedly lax the Canadian border is in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, and yet I hear so much complaining about how much of a pain it is to cross.  Which is it?
The latter; the mainstream media takes its orders straight from the national security state, which used 9/11 as an excuse to become more totalitarian.  The truth is, the only security issue we had in 9/11 is that our officials are idiots.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Brandon on December 31, 2011, 01:01:16 PM
Quote from: Master son on December 29, 2011, 05:48:19 PM
I don't have intention to host any in Wisconsin this year.  There are two possible meets - one in Joliet, IL and one in the Michigan UP.  When - I don't know.

I was thinking that the Joliet, IL meet (aka "Bridgegeeking") would be in mid to late April.  The snow would be gone, but the foliage for some of the sights would be easier to see around/through.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on December 31, 2011, 03:36:34 PM
Regarding the Ottawa meet, "meeting up with friends" and/or "sightseeing" will usually work as an excuse. I've also simply talked about roadgeeking once or twice, mostly when I already knew it was going to take more time (car being searched...).

Give yourself, say, half an hour on your schedule in case the border business takes more time, but it's not that likely. Tourists are clueless by definition (and you are one after all) and many don't have plans and stay with friends, especially if alone. If your records are clear, then you are clear. Of course, just make sure you don't have anything illegal in your car, then you're fine. (A friend of mine can't travel without pot. I NEVER travel in the same car as him, and I expect everyone here to be smarter than that.)

And if you're coming back home with stuff, make sure you have the receipts and that you are allowed to import it. And expect to pay tax on it if you have too much.

I have never ever been close to getting denied (despite all the hassle), and I honestly don't expect it to happen anytime soon. And I cross the border 15-20 times a year.

That said, I'm looking forward for the Capital Region (Ottawa/Gatineau) meet. :)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on January 01, 2012, 08:40:22 AM
Quote from: Brandon on December 31, 2011, 01:01:16 PM
Quote from: Master son on December 29, 2011, 05:48:19 PM
I don't have intention to host any in Wisconsin this year.  There are two possible meets - one in Joliet, IL and one in the Michigan UP.  When - I don't know.

I was thinking that the Joliet, IL meet (aka "Bridgegeeking") would be in mid to late April.  The snow would be gone, but the foliage for some of the sights would be easier to see around/through.
What snow? ;)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: PAHighways on January 03, 2012, 03:58:05 PM
I've been thinking of holding one in Pittsburgh, for the first time since the National Meet, on the PA 28/East Ohio Street conversion.  Logistically it would be a pain because unlike at meets in the past, there are no cross-roads from which to view the work.

Another one was possibly going back to the abandoned Turnpike, which was the focus of the Breezewood Meet back in 2004, and doing a bike tour of the old ROW.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on January 03, 2012, 06:06:50 PM
I've wanted to check out the abandoned Turnpike for awhile now, so I may come up to that one if it happens. The most likely one for me to attend that's been discussed so far is the DC meet.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: 1995hoo on January 04, 2012, 09:38:47 AM
Quote from: Master son on December 29, 2011, 06:40:45 PM
now THAT sounds very tempting, Steve.

INS offcer: What's your purpose for entering Canada?
me: a road meet.
INS officer: ...

:-D ;)

I did something almost like that in 2003 entering the UK:

Customs lady: "How long will you be in the United Kingdom?" [It was Saturday morning]

Me: "Until tomorrow afternoon."

Her: "And what is the purpose of your journey?"

Me [with big grin]: "To fly home on Concorde."

Her [eyes go wide]: "LUCKY YOU!" [stamps passport and sends me on my way]

I've done the "visiting friends" thing twice on weekend trips to the UK in the years since then. Both were SST forum meetups, one in Edinburgh and one in Bristol. Passport control never batted an eye either time in either the UK or on return to the US through Dulles Airport.


froggie's suggestion of something to explore the progress of the Beltway construction in Virginia seems like a good one. The HOT project won't be finished by late summer, but the progress ought to be advanced enough to give visitors a pretty good sense of how it will look when it opens. They've really been progressing pretty quickly these last few months. The other Beltway project in Virginia (completion of the quad-carriageway setup on the Virginia side of the Wilson Bridge) looks like it ought to be done by then, based on how it looked last Friday anyway. Might be something interested parties could view en route from the 11th Street Bridge to the HOT project, or vice versa.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:09:18 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on December 30, 2011, 02:09:12 PM
My annual "preach about the evils of cellphone use" conference is April 25-27 in Loserville, so meets on the weekends on either side of that timeframe are out for me.

H.B. - you'll have to tell me about this conference. Sounds interesting. LOL

Post Merge: December 31, 1969, 07:59:59 PM

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on December 30, 2011, 02:44:16 PM
Listening to American's gripe about crossing the border is actually a little bit annoying.  The American media was so quick to point fingers at how supposedly lax the Canadian border is in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, and yet I hear so much complaining about how much of a pain it is to cross.  Which is it?

As an American, it's very easy crossing from the U.S. into Canada. It's a lot harder getting back into the U.S.

Post Merge: January 07, 2012, 11:03:35 PM

I'm not really one for hosting meets, but I'd love to attend these meets if they all happen:

-Port Huron, MI
-Marquette/Houghton, MI
-Dayton, OH
-The tri-state (WV, OH, KY) meet
-Joliet, IL
-Pittsburgh, PA

This was actually the first time I'd heard anything about a Port Huron meet. That's awesome! I do recall talk of a possible meet in Flint, MI that I'd be up for attending as well.

Is anyone still interested in hosting a meet in the Twin Cities?
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: bugo on January 04, 2012, 07:01:21 PM
Would anybody attend a western Arkansas/eastern Oklahoma meet?  We could meet at Fort Smith, drive north on I-540 in Fayetteville to see the Hopper tunnel, drive back on US 71, then drive southwest into LeFlore County, OK to see some old stretches of US 59 and US 271, then check out I-49 construction.  There's also a great stretch of old US 71 south of Greenwood.  I'm sure US 71 could come up with some other things to see in the area. 
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on January 04, 2012, 09:33:07 PM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:09:18 PM

H.B. - you'll have to tell me about this conference. Sounds interesting. LOL

It's the annual Kentucky Lifesavers Conference. The last several years, much of the discussion has been about prohibiting cellphone use by drivers. The agenda will be posted at http://lifesavers.ky.gov. The conference is held every year in the armpit of Kentucky: downtown Louisville. Every year I ask that it be moved, if not to some other city, then at least to a suburban hotel. Every year my pleas fall on deaf ears. Every year I threaten not to go, but I usually end up going because it's a few days out of the office.

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:20:12 PM
I'm not really one for hosting meets, but I'd love to attend these meets if they all happen:

(list omitted)

Hosting a meet really isn't that difficult; at least not as hard as some people seem to think. Find something interesting and roads-related that can be seen in two to three hours, find a decent restaurant nearby, and put out the word. If you host it, they will come.

Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:20:12 PM
Is anyone still interested in hosting a meet in the Twin Cities?

Wasn't Dan Garnell talking about hosting a multi-day meet there a year or two ago?

Quote from: bugo on January 04, 2012, 07:01:21 PM
Would anybody attend a western Arkansas/eastern Oklahoma meet?

Yes.  :clap:

I've been through the area on I-40 and south into the next county below I-40 on I-540, but this would be an opportunity for more county-collecting.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: corco on January 04, 2012, 09:37:59 PM
Depending on when it is, I'd definitely do my best to make it
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: US71 on January 04, 2012, 09:49:14 PM
Quote from: bugo on January 04, 2012, 07:01:21 PM
Would anybody attend a western Arkansas/eastern Oklahoma meet?  We could meet at Fort Smith, drive north on I-540 in Fayetteville to see the Hopper tunnel, drive back on US 71, then drive southwest into LeFlore County, OK to see some old stretches of US 59 and US 271, then check out I-49 construction.  There's also a great stretch of old US 71 south of Greenwood.  I'm sure US 71 could come up with some other things to see in the area. 

You already mentioned I-49, but there's an abandoned railroad grade around Mansfield with a few abandoned bridges. We can also watch 71 crumble north of Mountainburg  :-/
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: brianreynolds on January 04, 2012, 10:24:13 PM
I am interested in the tri-state (OH-KY-WV), KY I-69, Joliet, would likely attend, pending scheduling specifics.   Also, anything in Michigan.  Maybe DC and/or Wilmington.  I look forward to hearing more about the Delaware Valley meet.  Birmingham and Memphis are both possible, but it would have to be one or the other, probably not both.

I'm less likely to attend (but would if I could) Texarkana, western Arkansas/eastern Oklahoma or New Hampshire.

For those considering travel to Canada (road meet or otherwise), don't let the prospect of grumpy customs/immigration officers scare you.  Crossing the border is not an ordeal.  Unless you have firearms or drugs or a checkered criminal past, you have nothing to fear.  I agree with A.J., it's usually less pleasant returning to the US than crossing into Canada.

Froggie, where does your transfer take you?
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: bugo on January 05, 2012, 01:19:58 AM
We could also throw in the Talimena Scenic Drive.  I don't want to have it in the middle of the summer, so I would want to get started early so we would be sure to have plenty of daylight.  We would be doing a lot of driving, and not a lot of stopping.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: mgk920 on January 05, 2012, 10:58:13 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:20:12 PM
I'm not really one for hosting meets, but I'd love to attend these meets if they all happen:

-Port Huron, MI
-Marquette/Houghton, MI
-Dayton, OH
-The tri-state (WV, OH, KY) meet
-Joliet, IL
-Pittsburgh, PA

This was actually the first time I'd heard anything about a Port Huron meet. That's awesome! I do recall talk of a possible meet in Flint, MI that I'd be up for attending as well.

Is anyone still interested in hosting a meet in the Twin Cities?

Perhaps the best of all in the upper midwest geographic area for 2012 is not even on your list - the US 41 'construction geek' zones in the Green Bay and Neenah-Oshkosh, WI areas.  WisDOT is busy upgrading the highway to six lanes in both areas, final year in the Neenah-Oshkosh area and the 'real big shovel work starts this year' year in the Green Bay area.  There is some AWESOME work going on here right now.  Maybe I should start thinking of how to host one....

:nod:

Mike
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on January 05, 2012, 02:30:06 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 05, 2012, 10:58:13 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:20:12 PM
I'm not really one for hosting meets, but I'd love to attend these meets if they all happen:

-Port Huron, MI
-Marquette/Houghton, MI
-Dayton, OH
-The tri-state (WV, OH, KY) meet
-Joliet, IL
-Pittsburgh, PA

This was actually the first time I'd heard anything about a Port Huron meet. That's awesome! I do recall talk of a possible meet in Flint, MI that I'd be up for attending as well.

Is anyone still interested in hosting a meet in the Twin Cities?

Perhaps the best of all in the upper midwest geographic area for 2012 is not even on your list - the US 41 'construction geek' zones in the Green Bay and Neenah-Oshkosh, WI areas.  WisDOT is busy upgrading the highway to six lanes in both areas, final year in the Neenah-Oshkosh area and the 'real big shovel work starts this year' year in the Green Bay area.  There is some AWESOME work going on here right now.  Maybe I should start thinking of how to host one....

:nod:

Mike
Perfect for those coming from Chicago since it would give them a preview in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha areas with I-94 being torn up and rebuilt.  Mitchell Interchange anyone? ;)

As far as the Twin Cities are concerned - that was contingent on "thehighwayman394" as he lived there most of his life.  He's up in Superior area now going to college.  I can't speak for him, but I'm sure money is tight for him until he finds a job... IF he is able to.  :paranoid:  Many of the projects they did previously (Crosstown commons - unweave the weave, I-35W bridge are already completed.  It is likely but not definite that MnDOT "gets rid of the evidence of old roadbed like WisDOT does.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: okroads on January 05, 2012, 03:39:57 PM
Quote from: bugo on January 04, 2012, 07:01:21 PM
Would anybody attend a western Arkansas/eastern Oklahoma meet?  We could meet at Fort Smith, drive north on I-540 in Fayetteville to see the Hopper tunnel, drive back on US 71, then drive southwest into LeFlore County, OK to see some old stretches of US 59 and US 271, then check out I-49 construction.  There's also a great stretch of old US 71 south of Greenwood.  I'm sure US 71 could come up with some other things to see in the area. 

I'd be interested in attending this if it were to happen.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: froggie on January 05, 2012, 04:34:38 PM
QuoteAs far as the Twin Cities are concerned - that was contingent on "thehighwayman394" as he lived there most of his life.  He's up in Superior area now going to college.  I can't speak for him, but I'm sure money is tight for him until he finds a job... IF he is able to.    Many of the projects they did previously (Crosstown commons - unweave the weave, I-35W bridge are already completed.  It is likely but not definite that MnDOT "gets rid of the evidence of old roadbed like WisDOT does.

I'm a Minneapolis native as well, but I'm lucky to make it back once a year, if that.  And I usually have others in tow.  And yes, within the Twin Cities, the old roadbed tends to go bye-bye...usually because the right-of-way is needed for other purposes.

Brian:  not sure yet.  Norfolk is the most likely prospect, but not a given.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on January 05, 2012, 09:01:04 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 05, 2012, 10:58:13 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on January 04, 2012, 01:20:12 PM
I'm not really one for hosting meets, but I'd love to attend these meets if they all happen:

-Port Huron, MI
-Marquette/Houghton, MI
-Dayton, OH
-The tri-state (WV, OH, KY) meet
-Joliet, IL
-Pittsburgh, PA

This was actually the first time I'd heard anything about a Port Huron meet. That's awesome! I do recall talk of a possible meet in Flint, MI that I'd be up for attending as well.

Is anyone still interested in hosting a meet in the Twin Cities?

Perhaps the best of all in the upper midwest geographic area for 2012 is not even on your list - the US 41 'construction geek' zones in the Green Bay and Neenah-Oshkosh, WI areas.  WisDOT is busy upgrading the highway to six lanes in both areas, final year in the Neenah-Oshkosh area and the 'real big shovel work starts this year' year in the Green Bay area.  There is some AWESOME work going on here right now.  Maybe I should start thinking of how to host one....

:nod:

Mike
I'd consider a meet in Green Bay/Oshkosh. I would ask for May 2012 or else postpone to 2013, where you see Green Bay construction in full swing and drive the new road in Oshkosh.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: bugo on January 05, 2012, 11:46:25 PM
Could we make it from Fayetteville to Texarkana and back in a day?  Hopefully the new I-49 will be open by then.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: brianreynolds on January 05, 2012, 11:50:55 PM
At the multi-day National Meet in Pittsburg a few years back, one of the non-road-related diversions was an evening Pirates baseball game.  IIRC there have been some hockey games as supplimentary entertainment.  Allow me a suggestion, or at least a fantasy.

A Green Bay meet would be fun on its own terms, but would be ever more memorable if it included a visit the that fabled footballl field.  Is there a chance in hell of getting tix to see the Packers at Lambeau?  Maybe even a pre-season exhibition game?  Just a wistful thought.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: mgk920 on January 06, 2012, 01:42:51 PM
Quote from: brianreynolds on January 05, 2012, 11:50:55 PM
At the multi-day National Meet in Pittsburg a few years back, one of the non-road-related diversions was an evening Pirates baseball game.  IIRC there have been some hockey games as supplimentary entertainment.  Allow me a suggestion, or at least a fantasy.

A Green Bay meet would be fun on its own terms, but would be ever more memorable if it included a visit the that fabled footballl field.  Is there a chance in hell of getting tix to see the Packers at Lambeau?  Maybe even a pre-season exhibition game?  Just a wistful thought.

Not a Packer game, especially for a group, those are sold out on a season basis for many years to come (A few days ago, the Packers reported that just since September, their season ticket waiting list grew by 15% to well over 90K names) and the first pre-season game is not until sometime in August, BUT, Lambeau Field has a popular public tour (takes about an hour), the team hall of fame, pro shop and a nice, reasonably priced restaurant (Curly's Pub) that are all open year-round.  Since the stadium is located only a few short blocks from the US 41 construction-geek zone on Lombardi Ave (a former US 41 routing), perhaps something could be set up where we could take that in after the roadgeeking part of the day.  Time-stamped tour tix will have to be purchased early (they normally sell out) and then maybe do the roadgeeking before the tour time.

Training camp opens about the first of August and the team's public outdoor practices are held on a field that is located across the street.  Keep in mind that in late July and very early August, EAA's annual 'Airventure' fly-in convention is held in Oshkosh (see the latest Google aerial image of the airport at Oshkosh to get a sense of its scale) and that eats up pretty much every hotel and motel room within a 1 to 1.5 hour driving radius.

Mike
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on January 06, 2012, 04:10:12 PM
Quote from: bugo on January 05, 2012, 11:46:25 PM
Could we make it from Fayetteville to Texarkana and back in a day?  Hopefully the new I-49 will be open by then.

Google Maps, which typically overstates travel time, says it's 236 miles and 4 hours 20 minutes one-way via the shortest and fastest route.

Quote from: mgk920 on January 06, 2012, 01:42:51 PM
Not a Packer game, especially for a group, those are sold out on a season basis for many years to come (A few days ago, the Packers reported that just since September, their season ticket waiting list grew by 15% to well over 90K names) and the first pre-season game is not until sometime in August, BUT, Lambeau Field has a popular public tour (takes about an hour), the team hall of fame, pro shop and a nice, reasonably priced restaurant (Curly's Pub) that are all open year-round.  Since the stadium is located only a few short blocks from the US 41 construction-geek zone on Lombardi Ave (a former US 41 routing), perhaps something could be set up where we could take that in after the roadgeeking part of the day.  Time-stamped tour tix will have to be purchased early (they normally sell out) and then maybe do the roadgeeking before the tour time.

Do the meal at Curly's and kill two birds with one stone.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: US71 on January 06, 2012, 07:05:32 PM
Quote from: bugo on January 05, 2012, 11:46:25 PM
Could we make it from Fayetteville to Texarkana and back in a day?  Hopefully the new I-49 will be open by then.

You'd be pushing it. It's approx 4 hours one way, depending on traffic.  Be better for a Fayetteville/NW Arkansas-Ft Smith meet or a Texarkana meet.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Grzrd on January 06, 2012, 07:54:11 PM
Quote from: US71 on January 06, 2012, 07:05:32 PM
Quote from: bugo on January 05, 2012, 11:46:25 PM
Could we make it from Fayetteville to Texarkana and back in a day?  Hopefully the new I-49 will be open by then.
You'd be pushing it. It's approx 4 hours one way, depending on traffic.  Be better for a Fayetteville/NW Arkansas-Ft Smith meet or a Texarkana meet.
Regarding a possible Texarkana meet, I'm currently exploring with LaDOTD if they would be willing to provide authorization for several cars to drive on the I-49 North segments that are completely paved for several hours on a given day (currently Segments A-C, and probably Segment D by the time of a meet).  I'm in Georgia and could not handle the specific logistics, but I wanted to see if that could be a possibility for the organizers of a Texarkana meet.  Might be fun; have the empty interstate provide a science fiction, post-apocalyptic feel.  :cool:
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on January 06, 2012, 09:33:59 PM
Looks like I won't be able to do the March 24 Delaware Valley meet after all. My mother-in-law is having knee replacement surgery earlier that week and she will require my wife to be with her pretty much 24-7 for several days afterwards. :-(
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Roadgeek Adam on January 07, 2012, 12:12:30 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 06, 2012, 09:33:59 PM
Looks like I won't be able to do the March 24 Delaware Valley meet after all. My mother-in-law is having knee replacement surgery earlier that week and she will require my wife to be with her pretty much 24-7 for several days afterwards. :-(

Man you cannot catch a break it seems.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Grzrd on January 10, 2012, 06:20:00 PM
Quote from: Grzrd on January 06, 2012, 07:54:11 PM
Regarding a possible Texarkana meet, I'm currently exploring with LaDOTD if they would be willing to provide authorization for several cars to drive on the I-49 North segments that are completely paved for several hours on a given day (currently Segments A-C, and probably Segment D by the time of a meet).
It looks like driving on the paved segments of I-49 North is an option if a Texarkana meet comes together.  Today, I spoke with Susan Stafford, a LaDOTD Public Information Officer.  She gave a tentative OK to the notion of meet attendees driving on the paved I-49 North, but there would be some bureaucratic prerequisites: (1) names of all attendees, (2) all attendees sign a liability waiver, (3) license plate numbers of all cars that will be driven on I-49 North, and (4) sufficient lead time to get (1)-(3) accomplished.  I told her a possible meet would occur sometime in the Spring to early Fall time frame, and provided a rough estimate of 10-12 attendees.

She was amused by the term "roadgeek", said that she has driven it herself 3 to 4 times, and that it is "really cool" to drive on the deserted interstate.  If a meet comes together, I would be happy to assist with the bureaucratic stuff associated with this beforehand.  If the general feeling is that the bureaucratic stuff would kill the fun, I would completely understand.

Even if I cannot make the meet, I might do a "stealth" drive myself before it opens to the general public.  :sombrero:
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: corco on January 10, 2012, 06:38:01 PM
The chance to do that would significantly increase the odds of me playing hooky to whatever commitments I may have to turn up- that's awesome!
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Duke87 on January 10, 2012, 07:04:41 PM
And now all of a sudden I'm thinking "Hmm, driving to Texarkana would take only two days... and I could combine it with another trip I was planning to make to Georgia!"

The possibility of getting six new states out of such a trip is none too shabby, either.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Grzrd on January 10, 2012, 07:18:13 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on January 10, 2012, 07:04:41 PM
And now all of a sudden I'm thinking "Hmm, driving to Texarkana would take only two days... and I could combine it with another trip I was planning to make to Georgia!"
Rent "Smokey and the Bandit" for driving tips for an "efficient"  Georgia-Texarkana round trip.  :-D
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on January 16, 2012, 09:17:49 PM
I'm gonna add a meet for the US 202 Parkway once it opens. There will be a couple of area bridges and... I'll figure it out, depends if it's a meet or a mini-meet.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dougtone on January 18, 2012, 06:29:55 AM
It looks like there will be a meet in Binghamton, NY sometime later this year, along with a meet in the Manchester, NH area.  Work on the Kamikaze Curve in Binghamton is slated to get started this year, so it's been suggested that it may be a good time for a meet in the Southern Tier.

I am also thinking of setting up an event, probably a mini-meet, for the Re-Opening Ceremony of the Lake Champlain Bridge in May.  I've heard rumblings that a few of us in the roads community may be interested in attending the celebration.  What, the bridge opened in November, you say?  That's correct, the new bridge opened in November, but the Lake Champlain Bridge Community has opted to wait until May for their celebration.
http://champlainbridgecommunity.org/ (http://champlainbridgecommunity.org/)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: oscar on January 18, 2012, 08:26:02 AM
Quote from: Dougtone on January 18, 2012, 06:29:55 AM
I am also thinking of setting up an event, probably a mini-meet, for the Re-Opening Ceremony of the Lake Champlain Bridge in May.  I've heard rumblings that a few of us in the roads community may be interested in attending the celebration.  What, the bridge opened in November, you say?  That's correct, the new bridge opened in November, but the Lake Champlain Bridge Community has opted to wait until May for their celebration.
http://champlainbridgecommunity.org/ (http://champlainbridgecommunity.org/)

Some of us who went to last November's Bennington VT meet also made a point of traveling the new bridge while we were up there.  Others may be interested in a return (or first) visit, but at least for me it's "been there, done that".  "Mini-meet" seems the way to go with this one. 
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: vdeane on January 18, 2012, 10:31:47 AM
I might be able to do the Lake Champlain thing... depends on whether it's the 19th or 20th and what my plans are for that weekend.  It's right when I'll be coming back to Clarkson for summer research after a week break.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Roadgeek Adam on January 18, 2012, 12:39:15 PM
I'm up for the Champlain Bridge one, weekend dependent and ride dependent. Same applies for Binghamton.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on January 18, 2012, 09:43:52 PM
I'd be very interested in Binghamton. I didn't cross the Lake Champlain bridge even though I was in the vicinity during both the Watertown and Bennington meet trips. I'd be interested in attending but it all depends on other things. A meet in new territory sometime around that timeframe would take priority.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on January 18, 2012, 11:39:37 PM
Binghamton: A maybe. Might be a good excuse to step into Pennsylvania and clinch I-88.
Lake Champlain Bridge: Yes.
Manchester: Maybe. Could be an excuse to clinch I-93 in NH (already done in VT) and perhaps go back to Boston.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jpi on January 21, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
I now have some dates for my Memphis meet later this spring, I am looking at one of 4 dates in March or April. 3/17, 3/31, 4/14 or 4/21.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on January 22, 2012, 11:28:04 AM
Quote from: jpi on January 21, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
I now have some dates for my Memphis meet later this spring, I am looking at one of 4 dates in March or April. 3/17, 3/31, 4/14 or 4/21.
Not that I can make it to Memphis, but keep in mind that Joliet is also scheduled for April - and I'm looking forward to it!
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: US71 on January 22, 2012, 11:43:26 AM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 22, 2012, 11:28:04 AM

Not that I can make it to Memphis, but keep in mind that Joliet is also scheduled for April - and I'm looking forward to it!

I'd love to go to Joliet (went to High School in nearby New Lenox), but it's not economically feasible for me at this time.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jpi on January 22, 2012, 09:01:25 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 22, 2012, 11:28:04 AM
Quote from: jpi on January 21, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
I now have some dates for my Memphis meet later this spring, I am looking at one of 4 dates in March or April. 3/17, 3/31, 4/14 or 4/21.
Not that I can make it to Memphis, but keep in mind that Joliet is also scheduled for April - and I'm looking forward to it!
Thats right. Mya have to narrow this down to 3/31 or 4/14, I think Joliet is 4/21?
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on January 23, 2012, 07:38:19 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 16, 2012, 09:17:49 PM
I'm gonna add a meet for the US 202 Parkway once it opens. There will be a couple of area bridges and... I'll figure it out, depends if it's a meet or a mini-meet.

EDIT: Figured it out. September is when it opens. The meet will include Newtown Bypass, three Delaware River bridges, and a former fourth one, as well as both the newly opened Parkway and the last stages of related construction on intersecting roads. Meet will take about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Scott5114 on January 23, 2012, 09:14:53 PM
Will try to attend a possible East OK/West AR meet. If there's a Texarkana meet where we could actually drive I-49 before it opens, holy shit, yes I'll burn vacation time on that.

Ugh, I wish I didn't work graveyard shift/had weekends off...
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: US71 on January 23, 2012, 09:19:27 PM
I've got someone not on AA Roads interested in the Memphis meet: power_of_7, sometimes known as Alternate 71 on MTR. I was talking to him today and gave him the info. He's interested, but will have to check his schedule
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: SSOWorld on January 24, 2012, 09:35:12 AM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 23, 2012, 07:38:19 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 16, 2012, 09:17:49 PM
I'm gonna add a meet for the US 202 Parkway once it opens. There will be a couple of area bridges and... I'll figure it out, depends if it's a meet or a mini-meet.

EDIT: Figured it out. September is when it opens. The meet will include Newtown Bypass, three Delaware River bridges, and a former fourth one, as well as both the newly opened Parkway and the last stages of related construction on intersecting roads. Meet will take about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Too early to commit for sure, but if I could do this as a part of a week-long trip to NYC, I might be able to attend this - finances will definitely play a role in it as well.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: akotchi on January 24, 2012, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 23, 2012, 07:38:19 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 16, 2012, 09:17:49 PM
I'm gonna add a meet for the US 202 Parkway once it opens. There will be a couple of area bridges and... I'll figure it out, depends if it's a meet or a mini-meet.

EDIT: Figured it out. September is when it opens. The meet will include Newtown Bypass, three Delaware River bridges, and a former fourth one, as well as both the newly opened Parkway and the last stages of related construction on intersecting roads. Meet will take about 3.5 to 4 hours.

If you want some help organizing it, I'd be glad to.  I live about 20 minutes south of the Newtown Bypass.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on January 24, 2012, 07:48:38 PM
Quote from: akotchi on January 24, 2012, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 23, 2012, 07:38:19 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 16, 2012, 09:17:49 PM
I'm gonna add a meet for the US 202 Parkway once it opens. There will be a couple of area bridges and... I'll figure it out, depends if it's a meet or a mini-meet.

EDIT: Figured it out. September is when it opens. The meet will include Newtown Bypass, three Delaware River bridges, and a former fourth one, as well as both the newly opened Parkway and the last stages of related construction on intersecting roads. Meet will take about 3.5 to 4 hours.

If you want some help organizing it, I'd be glad to.  I live about 20 minutes south of the Newtown Bypass.
Thanks, but I think I'll have it down. I'm familiar with every part except the new Parkway, and that's going to be tough to coordinate when I'm driving it the first weekend it's open.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: froggie on January 25, 2012, 12:20:48 PM
Met with Janet Fraser and Mike Tantillo for dinner earlier this week, where I mentioned the possibility (likelihood) of holding another DC meet before I transfer in September.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Brandon on February 01, 2012, 07:43:55 PM
Quote from: jpi on January 22, 2012, 09:01:25 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 22, 2012, 11:28:04 AM
Quote from: jpi on January 21, 2012, 10:01:21 PM
I now have some dates for my Memphis meet later this spring, I am looking at one of 4 dates in March or April. 3/17, 3/31, 4/14 or 4/21.
Not that I can make it to Memphis, but keep in mind that Joliet is also scheduled for April - and I'm looking forward to it!
Thats right. Mya have to narrow this down to 3/31 or 4/14, I think Joliet is 4/21?

Yes, 4/21.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jpi on February 08, 2012, 10:40:45 PM
The Memphis meet is now set for Saturday April 28.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 10:20:35 AM
Quote from: Takumi on December 29, 2011, 06:25:53 PM
I'm interested in attending one in the general Mid-Atlantic area. Anywhere between south PA and SC is game for me.

Maybe not as far north as PA, but any in the Mid to South Atlantic, count me in!
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on February 15, 2012, 01:32:38 PM
Quote from: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 10:20:35 AM
Maybe not as far north as PA, but any in the Mid to South Atlantic, count me in!

Froggie's mentioned the possibility of a DC-area meet later this year. Would that work for you?
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 02:38:12 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 15, 2012, 01:32:38 PM

Froggie's mentioned the possibility of a DC-area meet later this year. Would that work for you?

Anywhere from Richmond VA to DC is a decents day trip for me, keep me posted.

But for those interested in the I-74 connector near Asheboro NC, its scheduled to be completed by October time. Greensboro NC would be a good place to meet up if it's feasible for anyone
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jpi on February 15, 2012, 03:28:07 PM
I hate to spring this on everyone, I know I had 4/14 set in stone
however, something has come up, I do not want to cancel this meet but would
moveing it to Saturday 4/28 be better for everyone? I have not said
anything on facebook yet (I would not be until later this evening anyway)
I'm sorry guys but if April 28 would be a better option, I will make the
change in the next 48 hours.
Just let me know.
Thanks for your understanding. :-)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on February 15, 2012, 11:43:59 PM
Quote from: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 02:38:12 PM
But for those interested in the I-74 connector near Asheboro NC, its scheduled to be completed by October time. Greensboro NC would be a good place to meet up if it's feasible for anyone

North Carolina used to be the meet capital of the world, but it's been a few years since there was a meet there. I'm guessing the last one was the one for the US 70 bypass of Clayton back in 2008.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on February 15, 2012, 11:50:38 PM
Quote from: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 02:38:12 PM
But for those interested in the I-74 connector near Asheboro NC, its scheduled to be completed by October time. Greensboro NC would be a good place to meet up if it's feasible for anyone

That would work for me. I normally take a vacation in October, and aside from the connector I've wanted to go back to the Triad for years. The last time I was there, I-85 (the bypass) was not quite open.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on February 16, 2012, 06:40:22 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 15, 2012, 11:43:59 PM
Quote from: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 02:38:12 PM
But for those interested in the I-74 connector near Asheboro NC, its scheduled to be completed by October time. Greensboro NC would be a good place to meet up if it's feasible for anyone

North Carolina used to be the meet capital of the world, but it's been a few years since there was a meet there. I'm guessing the last one was the one for the US 70 bypass of Clayton back in 2008.
There will definitely be a Triangle Expwy. meet later this year. It's a question of who organizes it and when. Adam P. was looking to put it together.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jcarte29 on February 16, 2012, 08:46:59 PM
Quote from: Takumi on February 15, 2012, 11:50:38 PM
That would work for me. I normally take a vacation in October, and aside from the connector I've wanted to go back to the Triad for years. The last time I was there, I-85 (the bypass) was not quite open.

I-85 By-Pass (Painter Blvd, I-85/I-73/US 421, your choice of what to call it) is great, I use it traveling East/West on I-40 even though it is no longer part of it because it's just one speed zone (65mph).

Post Merge: February 16, 2012, 10:23:22 PM

Quote from: Steve on February 16, 2012, 06:40:22 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on February 15, 2012, 11:43:59 PM
Quote from: jcarte29 on February 15, 2012, 02:38:12 PM
But for those interested in the I-74 connector near Asheboro NC, its scheduled to be completed by October time. Greensboro NC would be a good place to meet up if it's feasible for anyone

North Carolina used to be the meet capital of the world, but it's been a few years since there was a meet there. I'm guessing the last one was the one for the US 70 bypass of Clayton back in 2008.
There will definitely be a Triangle Expwy. meet later this year. It's a question of who organizes it and when. Adam P. was looking to put it together.

Let me know, I have heard of Adam P, and have seen his websites, he does great work!
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: oscar on April 06, 2012, 06:50:10 PM
Quote from: Steve on December 29, 2011, 06:35:48 PM
Ottawa, sometime over the general summer (May-September), date TBD, is the only one I am looking at (A-5, A-50 construction being the cornerstones). I would expect a Triangle Pkwy meet in NC when the new section of 540 opens.
Any update on the likely timing of an Ottawa meet?  I'm starting to work on my summer travel schedule (probably including one or two trips to Canada), and am hoping an Ottawa meet can be worked into my Canada travels.

If there's any hope the A-30 projects will be done in time, the later the better, though they may be done late enough in "autumn" that I'd have to cover those in a separate trip. 
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on April 07, 2012, 01:08:20 AM
Quote from: oscar on April 06, 2012, 06:50:10 PM
Quote from: Steve on December 29, 2011, 06:35:48 PM
Ottawa, sometime over the general summer (May-September), date TBD, is the only one I am looking at (A-5, A-50 construction being the cornerstones). I would expect a Triangle Pkwy meet in NC when the new section of 540 opens.
Any update on the likely timing of an Ottawa meet?  I'm starting to work on my summer travel schedule (probably including one or two trips to Canada), and am hoping an Ottawa meet can be worked into my Canada travels.

If there's any hope the A-30 projects will be done in time, the later the better, though they may be done late enough in "autumn" that I'd have to cover those in a separate trip. 
First have to get through my next update (or next 12 updates, if only), and next vacation, before I can start to plan.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on May 14, 2012, 01:09:28 PM
Last I've heard, A-30 construction is due to be finished in October, and the opening should be, as scheduled, "late fall 2012" (my guess is between mid-November and mid-December).

Regarding Ottawa, I didn't even have enough spare time to do the scouting for the meet tour, and I'll be in NYC next weekend, so it's kind of unlikely to happen over the Memorial Day Weekend... unless we improvise.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on May 14, 2012, 02:07:43 PM
There are some interesting things to see and do in Ottawa, but having just driven through the City last weekend ... I don't really care if an Ottawa meet happens anytime soon.

I'll definitely be checking out Autoroute 30 once its complete later this year, but it likely won't take another Montreal meet for me to get there.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: PHLBOS on June 06, 2012, 01:29:21 PM
Quote from: Steve on January 24, 2012, 07:48:38 PM
Quote from: akotchi on January 24, 2012, 07:36:14 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 23, 2012, 07:38:19 PM
Quote from: Upside down frog in a triangle on January 16, 2012, 09:17:49 PM
I'm gonna add a meet for the US 202 Parkway once it opens. There will be a couple of area bridges and... I'll figure it out, depends if it's a meet or a mini-meet.

EDIT: Figured it out. September is when it opens. The meet will include Newtown Bypass, three Delaware River bridges, and a former fourth one, as well as both the newly opened Parkway and the last stages of related construction on intersecting roads. Meet will take about 3.5 to 4 hours.

If you want some help organizing it, I'd be glad to.  I live about 20 minutes south of the Newtown Bypass.
Thanks, but I think I'll have it down. I'm familiar with every part except the new Parkway, and that's going to be tough to coordinate when I'm driving it the first weekend it's open.
Keep me posted regarding this particular meet.  Depending on when in September it takes place; I might be able to attend.  Note: Labor Day weekend and Sept. 13-19 are currently off-limits with respect to my schedule.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on June 06, 2012, 03:25:13 PM
Regarding Autoroute 30, there will likely be a meet in 2013.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on June 12, 2012, 11:45:31 PM
I'm working on a Richmond meet. I'm expecting it to be a small-scale affair but I have a few people interested in it. This (http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526868_4085960188596_23289401_n.jpg) will be part of it, of course, as well as other old signs. There are also some bridges being redone/replaced, among other things. More details to follow later.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Alps on June 12, 2012, 11:50:56 PM
Don't forget the old shield on top (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=richmond+va&hl=en&ll=37.531272,-77.528844&spn=0.018956,0.042014&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.690438,86.044922&hnear=Richmond,+Virginia&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=37.531367,-77.528847&panoid=EGrcbHKYTtcseyNQY-OiKQ&cbp=12,202.46,,0,-2.36).
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: agentsteel53 on June 13, 2012, 09:56:23 AM
Quote from: Steve on June 12, 2012, 11:50:56 PM
Don't forget the old shield on top (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=richmond+va&hl=en&ll=37.531272,-77.528844&spn=0.018956,0.042014&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.690438,86.044922&hnear=Richmond,+Virginia&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=37.531367,-77.528847&panoid=EGrcbHKYTtcseyNQY-OiKQ&cbp=12,202.46,,0,-2.36).

your link is badly broken.  a quick attempt to fix it does not reveal where the old sign is.

Link fixed (as I see Steve fixed his :P  :-( )--ms
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on June 13, 2012, 12:07:09 PM
Try it now. (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=richmond+va&hl=en&ll=37.531272,-77.528844&spn=0.018956,0.042014&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.690438,86.044922&hnear=Richmond,+Virginia&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=37.531367,-77.528847&panoid=EGrcbHKYTtcseyNQY-OiKQ&cbp=12,202.46,,0,-2.36)
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: agentsteel53 on June 13, 2012, 12:30:29 PM
that is an RMA shield, correct?
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on June 13, 2012, 03:08:50 PM
It is. I know of one or two more. One is not a cutout.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: hbelkins on June 13, 2012, 09:48:41 PM
Quote from: Takumi on June 12, 2012, 11:45:31 PM
I'm working on a Richmond meet. I'm expecting it to be a small-scale affair but I have a few people interested in it. This (http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526868_4085960188596_23289401_n.jpg) will be part of it, of course, as well as other old signs. There are also some bridges being redone/replaced, among other things. More details to follow later.

I went to Scott Kozel's Richmond meet (we went up on the I-64 to I-295 flyover while it was under construction) a few years ago and would be interested in going back. I could use that as an excuse to clinch US 60 in Virginia. Basically I need most everything east of VA 288.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: jpi on June 13, 2012, 10:23:10 PM
Depending on what time of the year it is, I may be able to go, tie it in with a trip to PA to visit family, my next planned trip to PA is around Sept. 22-24.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: Takumi on June 15, 2012, 08:40:14 PM
Just verified that the RMA shield in question is still there.
Title: Re: 2012 meets?
Post by: WillWeaverRVA on June 18, 2012, 10:44:04 PM
Quote from: Takumi on June 15, 2012, 08:40:14 PM
Just verified that the RMA shield in question is still there.

Non-cutout RMA shields are fairly common, but IIRC that is the only cutout left.