Pennsylvania Oil Country/French Creek Road Meet - Late Spring 2024
It's been several years since I've gotten to host a road meet and I'm known for hyperlocal meets. This is one I've wanted to do for several years and I finally have a list of stuff to put together a full meet. Another thing I'm known for is meets involving lots of bridges. This will definitely have some bridges.
For the people who don't know, Titusville, Pennsylvania is where the first oil derrick was built by Colonel Edwin Drake of the Seneca Oil Company. On August 27, 1859 they opened the first well. This led to immediate growth of the area and construction of railroads. This led to the growth of nearby Oil City, Pennsylvania, which would be formed soon after.
However, this meet will begin in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Meadville is the older municipality in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Meadville was less oil driven and a more standard canal/railroad built city. Right now I have at least one restaurant picked out, but obviously we have plenty of time.
Right now, these are just some highlights
- Bridges, lots of bridges
- The DOT sign farm in Kerrtown
- Oil Creek State Park (to talk about Titusville) and the ghost town of Petroleum Center.
- Abandoned Rail Tunnel on PA 8
The date isn't secure yet. I'd prefer mid-April to mid-June 2024 to avoid snow concerns or blazing heat concerns, though the latter is tougher to guarantee that time of year. It's so far out I don't want to pick a date yet.
Will keep this in mind, been years since I was in this part of my home state
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on May 30, 2023, 10:41:11 PM
Pennsylvania Oil Country/French Creek Road Meet - Late Spring 2024
It's been several years since I've gotten to host a road meet and I'm known for hyperlocal meets. This is one I've wanted to do for several years and I finally have a list of stuff to put together a full meet. Another thing I'm known for is meets involving lots of bridges. This will definitely have some bridges.
.
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The date isn't secure yet. I'd prefer mid-April to mid-June 2024 to avoid snow concerns or blazing heat concerns, though the latter is tougher to guarantee that time of year. It's so far out I don't want to pick a date yet.
Definitely interested in this. The only block of time that I'm not available, as of now, is the first week in April since we have tentative plans to travel to Virginia. But still a lot of time between now and then.
I think Meadville is in the path of totality, so the eclipse is something to keep in mind too - whether to make it an "eclipse meet" or to avoid that time entirely.
Quote from: vdeane on June 01, 2023, 12:58:08 PM
I think Meadville is in the path of totality, so the eclipse is something to keep in mind too - whether to make it an "eclipse meet" or to avoid that time entirely.
Meadville definitely is within the path of totality, so is Titusville.
https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/pennsylvania-2024-eclipse
I would think people would want to have their own eclipse plans and wouldn't want to overrun those.
Quote from: Dougtone on June 01, 2023, 08:02:49 PM
Quote from: vdeane on June 01, 2023, 12:58:08 PM
I think Meadville is in the path of totality, so the eclipse is something to keep in mind too - whether to make it an "eclipse meet" or to avoid that time entirely.
Meadville definitely is within the path of totality, so is Titusville.
https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/pennsylvania-2024-eclipse
But the eclipse will be on Monday, April 8, 2024. Harder to combine that with a weekend meet.
I guess we all forgot about this planned meet. (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32064.0)
Quote from: 74/171FAN on June 01, 2023, 08:17:56 PM
I guess we all forgot about this planned meet. (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32064.0)
Relax. I never picked a date. I have a range of mid-April (which would eliminate April 8 anyway) to mid-June.
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on June 01, 2023, 08:43:54 PM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on June 01, 2023, 08:17:56 PM
I guess we all forgot about this planned meet. (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32064.0)
Relax. I never picked a date. I have a range of mid-April (which would eliminate April 8 anyway) to mid-June.
It would be useful to listen to Aaron Rodgers in that regard more often. :nod:
I just thought it was odd that we went in "eclipse meet" mode when that was already discussed elsewhere. Honestly glad you already squashed that.
I'll keep this meet in mind. I've never been to that part of Pennsylvania.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on June 02, 2023, 06:15:29 AM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on June 01, 2023, 08:43:54 PM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on June 01, 2023, 08:17:56 PM
I guess we all forgot about this planned meet. (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32064.0)
Relax. I never picked a date. I have a range of mid-April (which would eliminate April 8 anyway) to mid-June.
It would be useful to listen to Aaron Rodgers in that regard more often. :nod:
I just thought it was odd that we went in "eclipse meet" mode when that was already discussed elsewhere. Honestly glad you already squashed that.
Honestly, given that that meat was proposed
last year and hasn't been discussed (here) since, I kinda did (and because every variation of my actual eclipse plans keep me in NY). Is that still alive? I'm not a member of St. Louis Roads.
I like meat.
Interested.
I'm interested in this. I'm curious how many other people would be interested in this as an eclipse weekend meet, because I would definitely be down for that. Right now I have a hotel booked right outside totality in Youngstown, OH, with the intent of driving into totality that morning. Otherwise, my vote would be for late June to be as far as possible from the eclipse.
Quote from: Laura on July 04, 2023, 11:35:59 PM
I'm interested in this. I'm curious how many other people would be interested in this as an eclipse weekend meet, because I would definitely be down for that. Right now I have a hotel booked right outside totality in Youngstown, OH, with the intent of driving into totality that morning. Otherwise, my vote would be for late June to be as far as possible from the eclipse.
While that seems unlikely at this point, I do need to keep this meet in mind if I decide to move forward with a meet on the north side of Pittsburgh in Cranberry focused on PA 228/Freedom Rd.
Look. I don't really want to interrupt people's plans for eclipse showing. Not to mention, I won't have to actually go anywhere because I can just step outside and look at it, living in the eastern suburbs of Buffalo
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on July 10, 2023, 01:02:53 PM
Look. I don't really want to interrupt people's plans for eclipse showing. Not to mention, I won't have to actually go anywhere because I can just step outside and look at it, living in the eastern suburbs of Buffalo
This past April, 2 out of every 3 days were cloudy in central/western NY. Nasty odds to see the eclipse, especially since it's earlier in the month.
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on July 10, 2023, 01:02:53 PM
Look. I don't really want to interrupt people's plans for eclipse showing. Not to mention, I won't have to actually go anywhere because I can just step outside and look at it, living in the eastern suburbs of Buffalo
Fair. My vote then is for early June (1 or 8).
I'm interested and will very likely be there
So I'm likely thinking the 15th or 22nd of June 2024. The other debate is whether or not to move the starting point to Cambridge Springs. We'll see though.
June 15, 2024 is gonna be the date of the meet.
The restaurant and the Facebook post are set (https://www.facebook.com/events/903342451258363/?active_tab=discussion). There is also a first version of the tour route (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ik7jQQL_I9EVaWrS7j1ZPPckXi3nkcZN/view?usp=sharing) available in PDF form. 11 pages at the moment.
June 15, 2024, 11 am.
Triple Deuce Saloon
15755 Route 6 (and 19), Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335
Unfortunately, we can't attend this meet because of Father's Day being the next day on Sunday the 16th.
Quote from: Laura on March 07, 2024, 11:35:11 AM
Unfortunately, we can't attend this meet because of Father's Day being the next day on Sunday the 16th.
Celebrate it in Oil City!
Quote from: Rothman on March 07, 2024, 01:09:38 PM
Quote from: Laura on March 07, 2024, 11:35:11 AM
Unfortunately, we can't attend this meet because of Father's Day being the next day on Sunday the 16th.
Celebrate it in Oil City!
If it was just Mike then yes we would do that, but we need to celebrate our dads, too. That includes time with Mike's dad in Maryland. This year is also one where the anniversary of my dad's death coincides with Father's Day, so we'll be doing something special with my family, too.
Quote from: Laura on March 07, 2024, 01:18:30 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 07, 2024, 01:09:38 PM
Quote from: Laura on March 07, 2024, 11:35:11 AM
Unfortunately, we can't attend this meet because of Father's Day being the next day on Sunday the 16th.
Celebrate it in Oil City!
If it was just Mike then yes we would do that, but we need to celebrate our dads, too. That includes time with Mike's dad in Maryland. This year is also one where the anniversary of my dad's death coincides with Father's Day, so we'll be doing something special with my family, too.
I guess I'll allow it, then.
Quote from: Laura on March 07, 2024, 11:35:11 AM
Unfortunately, we can't attend this meet because of Father's Day being the next day on Sunday the 16th.
It's quite alright. :)
This actually might be within reach for me - I'll consider it
Asking this based on the response.
Would people prefer if I moved this to June 22?
I would be fine with it, but June 29th is the Extra Miler's Club meeting in Lansing, MI. It may be a nonissue, but there were concerns with Indy having been scheduled that weekend (though I am pretty sure that meet is being postponed).
Quote from: 74/171FAN on May 02, 2024, 09:02:10 PMI would be fine with it, but June 29th is the Extra Miler's Club meeting in Lansing, MI. It may be a nonissue, but there were concerns with Indy having been scheduled that weekend (though I am pretty sure that meet is being postponed).
I thought
@Hot Rod Hootenanny canceled it altogether.
I have officially changed the date of this meet to the 22nd to allow more attendance and get it off Fathers Day Weekend.
We are in now for the meet on 6/22!
Can anyone suggest a reasonably-priced hotel in that area? (Good thing I checked this thread! I was looking for a hotel for the night of the 14th still!)
Quote from: tckma on May 22, 2024, 09:04:29 AMCan anyone suggest a reasonably-priced hotel in that area? (Good thing I checked this thread! I was looking for a hotel for the night of the 14th still!)
The change of date should help.
Erie has other options if the like 4 Meadville hotels are no good
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on May 23, 2024, 09:50:11 PMQuote from: tckma on May 22, 2024, 09:04:29 AMCan anyone suggest a reasonably-priced hotel in that area? (Good thing I checked this thread! I was looking for a hotel for the night of the 14th still!)
The change of date should help.
Erie has other options if the like 4 Meadville hotels are no good
I'm coming from Philly, and I'm currently eyeing the Motel 6 in Clarion. Still 50 miles away but it's not like the meet's starting at 8 am or anything like that. I just need a place to sleep for one night, and maybe take a shower in the morning (I saw one VRBO that was a cabin site that specifically said no heat or running water). I also saw a cheaper hotel than the Clarion Motel 6, but the reviews were universally awful.
I will also want to rent a car, since my car needs about $3,200 of repairs before I trust it on a trip longer than an hour -- and to be honest, that's a GOOD down payment on another car. Notably, the A/C doesn't work, and this meet being during summer, I don't want to do that to myself. Luckily, my employer gives VERY steep discounts through Avis, even for personal rentals, so I usually do that when I need to rent.
Basically, I'm so broke I can barely even pay ATTENTION. I need to seriously think about whether doing this roadmeet can be in my budget.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on May 02, 2024, 09:02:10 PMI would be fine with it, but June 29th is the Extra Miler's Club meeting in Lansing, MI. It may be a nonissue, but there were concerns with Indy having been scheduled that weekend (though I am pretty sure that meet is being postponed).
Since that's always co-located with the ALPCA national convention, I guess that's that week, huh? Wow, I haven't paid attention to the bi-monthly magazine. I've been debating going up to Lansing for that... but I don't know that I have enough time off work, enough money to buy plates, yada yada. I really wish they had the ALPCA convention over a weekend instead of in the middle of the week, but it's in the club's by-laws to
cater to the greatest number of retired people hold it in mid-June.
Quote from: tckma on May 22, 2024, 09:04:29 AMCan anyone suggest a reasonably-priced hotel in that area? (Good thing I checked this thread! I was looking for a hotel for the night of the 14th still!)
I would've suggested the Days Inn within walking distance of the Sign Garden but it appears it has been torn down since my wife and I stayed there.
If you are open to staying closer to Erie, I would suggest the Quality Inn off I-90 (Exit 18). I stayed there the weekend of the Northeast Ohio meet in 2018 and, while I forget what I paid for the two nights (It wasn't terribly expensive), I didn't have any major issues.
I am posting just to get some final checks on numbers. I'm calling the Triple Deuce on Monday evening to see if I need a reservation, but I'm looking at probably 12 people. Hopefully more.
I booked the restaurant this evening.
Here is the updated tour book (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ik7jQQL_I9EVaWrS7j1ZPPckXi3nkcZN/view?usp=drive_link).
Only 7 people today, but everything went swimmingly, with 2 new people at meets (one being my girlfriend, who took the group photo).
(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/448725559_7548385615260287_2198491709415561929_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=AtFviXcp7YMQ7kNvgFWeH3W&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC2q95U1TaXCKnBKHs9P84mpk4o62O6yMNTwEaQYPLn3g&oe=667D4443)
I made a photo album specifically of photos from the meet tour. Note that I covered PA 8 between Oil City and Titusville earlier in the day so those photos are not included. Also I left the tour in Titusville after the Jersey Bridge so PA 27 WB between Titusville and Meadville is not included either.
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjByQQa