I'm officially announcing the Brattleboro Roadmeet on August 9, 2025 at 11:30 AM. We'll meet for lunch at the 99 Restaurant on US 5 off exit 3 and then consolidate cars for the tour at a nearby park and ride.
Planned tour stops:
-VT 9/NH 9 Bridge
-Creamery Covered Bridge
-VT 119/NH 119 Bridge
-I-91 West River Bridge
-Dummerston Covered Bridge
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1677189752917442
Tour notes: https://nysroads.com/files/brat25.pdf
Penciling this in on my calendar for now. I should be able to make a day trip out of this.
And I just let Steph know, this road meet will "anchor" what will be our return trip to New England to clinch the last of the counties in Maine, Mass and Rhode Island. Looking forward to it! :nod:
I expect to be a yes for this one. Vermont and New Hampshire are always fun!
Going to depend on whether or not my son and I take a big vacation this summer, like I did with my daughter last fall (USGP).
I'm in!!!! :)
I sure hope to go
I'll know my availability closer to the day of the meet, but I'm going at least try for lunch.
Also, August 9 is the last day of the first annual Vermont Covered Bridges Week, so there's that.
I am out on this meet as I have something that I plan to go to in Nashville, TN, on this weekend. Vermonting will have to wait for another time.
Interested in this one. My wife likes Turners Falls, MA, and her sister-in-law and I have been looking for an excuse to get her up to see Brattleboro.
I have created the Facebook event and tour notes!
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1677189752917442
Tour notes: https://nysroads.com/files/brat25.pdf
I put us down as "interested" for now but that should change to "going" for both Steph and I by later this summer :nod:
This is starting to tempt me. I had to cancel my July travel plans due to work, right now my only meets all year are Mobile and Madison, and I haven't been to Vermont since 2013... :hmmm:
And I'm officially in. :cool:
My wife and I are in.
As I mentioned on Facebook, we're less than a month away from this meet! I'm hoping to set up the restaurant reservation once we get into August, so if people who haven't RSVPed yet could do so by the end of the month, that would be great.
Steph and I are in, per Facebook post :cool:
I've requested the day off so I'll be there at least for the lunch.
Val, your tour notes note a potential stop on the Vermont side of the old 119 bridge with "an up-close look at the old bridge, if it's still around."
The old bridge isn't going anywhere. The plan is to convert the old crossing into bike/ped, much like what happened with the old Route 9 bridge upstream.
Quote from: froggie on July 11, 2025, 12:09:43 AMVal, your tour notes note a potential stop on the Vermont side of the old 119 bridge with "an up-close look at the old bridge, if it's still around."
The old bridge isn't going anywhere. The plan is to convert the old crossing into bike/ped, much like what happened with the old Route 9 bridge upstream.
Updated.
I'm currently planning to make the reservation on Saturday, so if anyone is still on the fence, it would be good to RSVP by then. Right now we're looking at close to 20.
We're now into the forecasting window for the meet. Currently looking dry and hot. Temps near or around 90F. Hard to say if we'll still have the wildfire smoke that's currently in the state.
I was checking the weather too, so far so good for both the day of the meet and most of my trip in general in New England and yes hopefully the wild fire smoke will be at bay too.
I'm a little surprised at hotel prices in the area. I know it's high tourist season, but...Brattleboro? Anywhere else to the west or north is understandable for the prices I'm seeing.
...
Of course, we'll probably just stay with my parents the night before, but I wonder if something's going on in the area to drive hotel prices up a bit.
Quote from: Rothman on August 03, 2025, 11:31:15 AMI'm a little surprised at hotel prices in the area. I know it's high tourist season, but...Brattleboro? Anywhere else to the west or north is understandable for the prices I'm seeing.
...
Of course, we'll probably just stay with my parents the night before, but I wonder if something's going on in the area to drive hotel prices up a bit.
Interesting, Steph and I will be spending Friday night in Westborough MA after spending the evening in Boston, our lodging is around 150.00 for a Marriott hotel so no complaints here, I kinda figured hotel rates would be high around this time of the year in New England in general.
Quote from: vdeane on July 29, 2025, 09:57:55 PMI'm currently planning to make the reservation on Saturday, so if anyone is still on the fence, it would be good to RSVP by then. Right now we're looking at close to 20.
I will not be able to be there. I have the Brownfields 2025 Conference in Chicago I'm attending that week.
Quote from: Brandon on August 03, 2025, 03:18:10 PMQuote from: vdeane on July 29, 2025, 09:57:55 PMI'm currently planning to make the reservation on Saturday, so if anyone is still on the fence, it would be good to RSVP by then. Right now we're looking at close to 20.
I will not be able to be there. I have the Brownfields 2025 Conference in Chicago I'm attending that week.
Roadgeek Meet > Boring talks and overpromising vendors...
Looks like we should have good weather as of right now at least. Temperatures in the low/mid 80s, comfortable humidity, and ABC said the smoke should move out around Wednesday.
Quote from: Rothman on August 03, 2025, 11:31:15 AMI'm a little surprised at hotel prices in the area. I know it's high tourist season, but...Brattleboro? Anywhere else to the west or north is understandable for the prices I'm seeing.
...
Of course, we'll probably just stay with my parents the night before, but I wonder if something's going on in the area to drive hotel prices up a bit.
I know we're on the tail end of Covered Bridge Week (https://www.reformer.com/news/state/vermont-to-celebrate-covered-bridge-week-2025/article_9aa13f19-32df-4a3b-a99b-e4e8d2fdf5da.html) (and apparently there will be a safari in Brattleboro). Could that have anything to do with it?
Quote from: vdeane on August 04, 2025, 09:20:26 PMLooks like we should have good weather as of right now at least. Temperatures in the low/mid 80s, comfortable humidity, and ABC said the smoke should move out around Wednesday.
Quote from: Rothman on August 03, 2025, 11:31:15 AMI'm a little surprised at hotel prices in the area. I know it's high tourist season, but...Brattleboro? Anywhere else to the west or north is understandable for the prices I'm seeing.
...
Of course, we'll probably just stay with my parents the night before, but I wonder if something's going on in the area to drive hotel prices up a bit.
I know we're on the tail end of Covered Bridge Week (https://www.reformer.com/news/state/vermont-to-celebrate-covered-bridge-week-2025/article_9aa13f19-32df-4a3b-a99b-e4e8d2fdf5da.html) (and apparently there will be a safari in Brattleboro. Could that have anything to do with it?
A safari? "There's another squirrel. And -- oh! -- a chipmunk!" Wonder what that's about.
One of the little hotel/convention centers is sold out, but that can't be something big enough to drive up prices.
My parents say it's just due to stupid tourists being duped by Brattleboro's good marketing. :D
There are a couple music festivals on Saturday...one in Brattleboro and another in nearby Putney. Might be a contributing factor.