Anyone interested in coming to Hastings, MN in late July 2014? There's an antique power show then that has a replica of the spiral bridge that carried highway 61 traffic across the Mississippi. There are other really cool original signs and train depots that were moved from their original locations to there.
I'm not sure when this is next year (usually the last weekend in July) or weather or not I'll be free then, but it is a possibility.
Afterward, we could go into town and drive the brand new bridge across the Mississippi. It'll probably have to be multiple trips, but we could also go under the new bridge by a pontoon boat (the most we've ever fit on this boat is 8 people). This will also involve going through the lock.
Power show website: http://www.littleloghouseshow.com/ (http://www.littleloghouseshow.com/)
I'd be normally interested, and I intend to get back to MSP at least twice next year, but I don't think late July is one of those times. My main focus will be Railvolution 2014, which'll be in Minneapolis sometime Fall (most likely October) 2014.
Quote from: froggie on August 20, 2013, 02:27:14 AM
I'd be normally interested, and I intend to get back to MSP at least twice next year, but I don't think late July is one of those times. My main focus will be Railvolution 2014, which'll be in Minneapolis sometime Fall (most likely October) 2014.
Huh. Didn't know about Railvolution; that sounds cool!
It'd be nice if you put the state name in the thread title. Here I was wondering if the new Michigan Street bridge was really enough to justify a Hastings, MI meet, even if Brian Reynolds lives there. :pan: There's not an obvious large city anywhere that we all think of when you say "Hastings." The one in Minnesota isn't even the biggest Hastings in the US, Nebraska is.
All that aside, I've always wanted to attend a Minnesota meet, so I'll definitely keep my ears open!
Quote from: getemngo on August 20, 2013, 05:25:13 PM
It'd be nice if you put the state name in the thread title. Here I was wondering if the new Michigan Street bridge was really enough to justify a Hastings, MI meet, even if Brian Reynolds lives there. :pan: There's not an obvious large city anywhere that we all think of when you say "Hastings." The one in Minnesota isn't even the biggest Hastings in the US, Nebraska is.
All that aside, I've always wanted to attend a Minnesota meet, so I'll definitely keep my ears open!
Fixed the title for you :D
I'm very interested. I've never been to Minnesota before, so this would be a good reason for me to go. There's been talk of a possible Minnesota meet for the last few years, and that talk kinda faded away - so I'm glad to hear the possibility has been resurrected. :)
Minnesota is a state I'm pretty committed to attending roadmeets in since it's basically the closest state that will have roadmeets, so sure!
I have in-laws in Hastings, and many more in the MSP area in general. I suppose it's a possiblity.....but I'm not sure how likely.
I will keep this on the back burner. My wife and I switchbacked southwest MN on our big trip in July but would like to see more of it and at this point I am not planning on going out to NM in 2014 like I did in July. Will see :-)
Has there ever been an official roads meet in MN? I've met with Froggie three times, including an all day road trip, and once met with someone in a Starbucks to look at old maps, but that's been the extend of it. The St Croix Crossing should be in high gear by then too. There seem to be a lot more roadgeeks in Iowa and Wisconsin for some reason so that's generally where the meets in the area are.
There have been attempts and past discussions, but there has not been an official meet in Minnesota.
I hope this meet is able to happen next year. The best thing is to announce it a few months in advance to give people plenty of time to arrange their schedules for it and be able to attend. :D
A potential MN/ Twin Cities road meet sounds interesting... I'm definitely a strong maybe. (Would be the first road meet I've ever attended.) A visit to the Stillwater Bridge project and the new US 169/ I-494 interchange could be good ideas.
Molandfreak - if you're thinking of hosting this, I'd LOVE to go. You might want to start by announcing specific dates that you're looking at and ask everyone to vote on them. I think May 17 (Starved Rock IL) and June 29-30 (NYC) are already taken. Which time period next year are you looking at doing this? For me, I'm already tentatively looking for a way to attend those meets, but I'm really hoping to somehow attend a Minnesota meet too.
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on October 02, 2013, 06:20:51 AM
Molandfreak - if you're thinking of hosting this, I'd LOVE to go. You might want to start by announcing specific dates that you're looking at and ask everyone to vote on them. I think May 17 (Starved Rock IL) and June 29-30 (NYC) are already taken. Which time period next year are you looking at doing this? For me, I'm already tentatively looking for a way to attend those meets, but I'm really hoping to somehow attend a Minnesota meet too.
If it is happening, it'll be either Saturday, July 26, or Sunday, July 27 (the days when the power show mentioned in the OP is running). There's still a chance it won't happen, but I am 75% sure it is happening at this point. Keep in mind, I have never even attended a meet, so it will be
extremely unorthodox if it is actually happening.
Well, rawmustard hosted two very successful Indiana meets in 2009 after having attended just one meet ever. Make sure to read the guide to hosting (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=9498.0) and don't be afraid to ask any questions! (That's more before the meet. During the meet, the host needs to be flexible but decisive to keep things on track.)
Quote from: getemngo on October 03, 2013, 12:17:59 AM
Well, rawmustard hosted two very successful Indiana meets in 2009 after having attended just one meet ever.
Actually, the two-day Indy meet was Dan Garnell's baby.
Quote from: getemngo on October 03, 2013, 12:17:59 AM
Well, rawmustard hosted two very successful Indiana meets in 2009 after having attended just one meet ever. Make sure to read the guide to hosting (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=9498.0) and don't be afraid to ask any questions! (That's more before the meet. During the meet, the host needs to be flexible but decisive to keep things on track.)
I hosted Richmond last year without ever having attended a meet, and it was mostly a success. The guide to hosting wasn't there yet, but I picked a local restaurant, some sites of interest, and a route that tied them all together (although due to time constraints we had to adjust it on the fly). It really isn't that hard. You just have to plan it and research.
Quote from: hbelkins on October 03, 2013, 10:27:42 AM
Quote from: getemngo on October 03, 2013, 12:17:59 AM
Well, rawmustard hosted two very successful Indiana meets in 2009 after having attended just one meet ever.
Actually, the two-day Indy meet was Dan Garnell's baby.
Oh, my mistake. But he did host Fort-to-Port that year, which I'm pretty sure was his third meet, since Lansing in 2008 was his and my first.
Quote from: Molandfreak on August 20, 2013, 01:59:21 AM
Anyone interested in coming to Hastings, MN in late July 2014? There's an antique power show then that has a replica of the spiral bridge that carried highway 61 traffic across the Mississippi. There are other really cool original signs and train depots that were moved from their original locations to there.
I'm not sure when this is next year (usually the last weekend in July) or weather or not I'll be free then, but it is a possibility.
Afterward, we could go into town and drive the brand new bridge across the Mississippi. It'll probably have to be multiple trips, but we could also go under the new bridge by a pontoon boat (the most we've ever fit on this boat is 8 people). This will also involve going through the lock.
Power show website: http://www.littleloghouseshow.com/ (http://www.littleloghouseshow.com/)
That might be an interesting meet. Another one to consider is when the MN 36 Stillwater crossing is finished
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on September 08, 2013, 06:36:56 PM
I hope this meet is able to happen next year. The best thing is to announce it a few months in advance to give people plenty of time to arrange their schedules for it and be able to attend. :D
I may try setting up something for early in the Spring. It would have to be before mid May, after that the two baseball teams I play on take up my time in the summer months!
Quote from: Takumi on October 03, 2013, 11:33:49 PM
Quote from: getemngo on October 03, 2013, 12:17:59 AM
Well, rawmustard hosted two very successful Indiana meets in 2009 after having attended just one meet ever. Make sure to read the guide to hosting (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=9498.0) and don't be afraid to ask any questions! (That's more before the meet. During the meet, the host needs to be flexible but decisive to keep things on track.)
I hosted Richmond last year without ever having attended a meet, and it was mostly a success. The guide to hosting wasn't there yet, but I picked a local restaurant, some sites of interest, and a route that tied them all together (although due to time constraints we had to adjust it on the fly). It really isn't that hard. You just have to plan it and research.
The Richmond meet was a good time and I'm glad I went. I thought the meet was well organized.
Agreed, Richmond was a fun meet! :-)
Quote from: I94RoadRunner on November 18, 2013, 06:49:33 PM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on September 08, 2013, 06:36:56 PM
I hope this meet is able to happen next year. The best thing is to announce it a few months in advance to give people plenty of time to arrange their schedules for it and be able to attend. :D
I may try setting up something for early in the Spring. It would have to be before mid May, after that the two baseball teams I play on take up my time in the summer months!
I guess we are talking about two separate Minnesota road meets? Molandfreak was talking about hosting one in July. Which part of Minnesota are you thinking about hosting yours in?
I am probably coming up there for a wedding in June, but would give it strong consideration at other times.
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on November 20, 2013, 03:00:23 PM
I am probably coming up there for a wedding in June, but would give it strong consideration at other times.
June would be a great time. Then you have in order, as far as I have seen,
March - St Louis (MO/IL)
April - Nashville (TN)
May - Starved Rock (IL)
June - Minnesota
if these were to go in that order. The first three are set as far as I know.
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on November 20, 2013, 12:56:16 PM
Quote from: I94RoadRunner on November 18, 2013, 06:49:33 PM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on September 08, 2013, 06:36:56 PM
I hope this meet is able to happen next year. The best thing is to announce it a few months in advance to give people plenty of time to arrange their schedules for it and be able to attend. :D
I may try setting up something for early in the Spring. It would have to be before mid May, after that the two baseball teams I play on take up my time in the summer months!
I guess we are talking about two separate Minnesota road meets? Molandfreak was talking about hosting one in July. Which part of Minnesota are you thinking about hosting yours in?
I am thinking maybe a Stillwater Bridge meet should there be significant progress on the project. This is definitely a project of significance for sure .....
Not to usurp your thread but since we're on the topic of MN...would anyone be interested in a MN road meet, probably in May or June 2014?
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on November 21, 2013, 12:14:22 AM
Not to usurp your thread but since we're on the topic of MN...would anyone be interested in a MN road meet, probably in May or June 2014?
Now we're talking about a third Minnesota road meet in 2014? Wow! I want to go to one of them!!!
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on November 21, 2013, 12:23:58 AM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on November 21, 2013, 12:14:22 AM
Not to usurp your thread but since we're on the topic of MN...would anyone be interested in a MN road meet, probably in May or June 2014?
Now we're talking about a third Minnesota road meet in 2014? Wow! I want to go to one of them!!!
Shoot, I specifically meant Duluth. My bad. :D
Anyway in regards to Hastings, I would totally love to come and would probably be able to. Forgot to add that too.
Don't think we're looking at three. Stillwater and Hastings could easily be done in a single meet.
I would be interested in going since I've never been to Minnesota.
I've only been to Minnesota once, and would love to go to a meet there as well, but as I've stated before, finances are going to preclude a lot of meets and travel for me next year.
Quote from: Brandon on November 20, 2013, 05:19:17 PM
Quote from: The High Plains Traveler on November 20, 2013, 03:00:23 PM
I am probably coming up there for a wedding in June, but would give it strong consideration at other times.
June would be a great time. Then you have in order, as far as I have seen,
March - St Louis (MO/IL)
April - Nashville (TN)
May - Starved Rock (IL)
June - Minnesota
if these were to go in that order. The first three are set as far as I know.
I would like to host Corning/Elmira in April/May, but my unemployed status is making that iffy at best right now.
Quote from: froggie on November 21, 2013, 05:35:56 AM
Stillwater and Hastings could easily be done in a single meet.
This. I would also add that any meet specifically focused on the Stillwater project should probably wait until spring 2015 when construction on the bridge superstructure will be in full swing.
Quote from: on_wisconsin on December 08, 2013, 01:32:53 AM
Quote from: froggie on November 21, 2013, 05:35:56 AM
Stillwater and Hastings could easily be done in a single meet.
This. I would also add that any meet specifically focused on the Stillwater project should probably wait until spring 2015 when construction on the bridge superstructure will be in full swing.
Well, that was sort of the point of my idea for a meet ..... Maybe the earlier road meet is the best for everyone .....?
Has a hard date been set yet for this meet, or for planning purposes are we still talking late July 2014?
Quote from: I94RoadRunner on December 08, 2013, 03:40:24 AM
Quote from: on_wisconsin on December 08, 2013, 01:32:53 AM
Quote from: froggie on November 21, 2013, 05:35:56 AM
Stillwater and Hastings could easily be done in a single meet.
This. I would also add that any meet specifically focused on the Stillwater project should probably wait until spring 2015 when construction on the bridge superstructure will be in full swing.
Well, that was sort of the point of my idea for a meet ..... Maybe the earlier road meet is the best for everyone .....?
I'm in for whenever it is. :)
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on January 02, 2014, 05:54:29 PM
I'm in for whenever it is. :)
Me too. I'm especially hoping it doesn't conflict with the NYC meet Steve Alpert is planning on doing sometime in the summer.
Any updates on this idea?
I would love to see this happen, but with all the other meets I've committed to attending, I don't see myself being able to attend this unless it's at least a few months from now. I've been wondering if a Minnesota road meet is just never going to come to fruition. :(
Sorry guys, I've had a lot on my mind lately. Maybe next year.
Quote from: Molandfreak on June 02, 2014, 02:38:18 PM
Sorry guys, I've had a lot on my mind lately. Maybe next year.
It's cool. Things happen. Just keep in mind that, if you do decide to host it next year, you'll want to pick a date and announce it a few months in advance so people can plan accordingly. I would definitely go!