As I mentioned in the ICC thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=1708.msg90421#msg90421), the first segment of the ICC is slated to open on February 22, with toll-free operations until March 7.
This presents an admittedly short-fused opportunity to take advantage of the toll-free operations for a tour and mini-meet. With the toll-free timeframe in mind (and assuming MDTA can accomplish opening by the 22nd), we basically have only two weekends where we could do a meet and drive on the new segment without paying a toll: February 26-27 or March 5-6.
My preference is for the latter for two reasons. First, it provides a "cushion factor" in case further weather delays prevent MDTA from opening it on the 22nd. Second, I'm on duty the weekend of the 26th/27th, and already dropping someone off at the airport on the 26th which means I'll be late for duty as it is that day.
But I wanted to see what others thoughts were before I worked further on planning a meet.
Quote from: froggie on February 07, 2011, 01:13:31 PM
As I mentioned in the ICC thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=1708.msg90421#msg90421), the first segment of the ICC is slated to open on February 22, with toll-free operations until March 7.
This presents an admittedly short-fused opportunity to take advantage of the toll-free operations for a tour and mini-meet. With the toll-free timeframe in mind (and assuming MDTA can accomplish opening by the 22nd), we basically have only two weekends where we could do a meet and drive on the new segment without paying a toll: February 26-27 or March 5-6.
My preference is for the latter for two reasons. First, it provides a "cushion factor" in case further weather delays prevent MDTA from opening it on the 22nd. Second, I'm on duty the weekend of the 26th/27th, and already dropping someone off at the airport on the 26th which means I'll be late for duty as it is that day.
Both weekends will probably work for me, but the later weekend (Mar. 5-6) will probably work better.
I'd prefer March 5-6, but either one is fine for me.
In the same general area of the country, the New Jersey meet is the weekend after the March option. Neither are do-able for me, as it looks like I have a work function on Feb. 25, and I've already pretty much committed to going to NJ on March 12.
The later the better for me. I need 3 weeks advance notice for anything these days because of work. If I can get it, then it's a go. So March 5th would work for me but I need exact notice ASAP. At this point, I really can't attend anything in February except MAYBE MAYBE the 26th if I know by, say, tomorrow at 3:00 eastern time the latest, because I have work at 4:00 and I'll be able to request the day off for that Saturday.
I'm definitely out for March 5. I could make the 6th, but since when is a meet on Sunday? (It's been done before, so I'll never say never.) Feb 26th or 27th is a possibility.
Sorry, Steve. With my duty (plus airport dropoff) situation, and the general consensus thus far, I pretty much have to shoot for the 5th. Unless someone else gives me a compelling reason today to make it the 6th.
My compelling reason is that I can only make it on the 6th, not the 5th (:
Hence why I mentioned "someone else". If more people pipe up for the 6th, I'll consider it. Right now, looks like the consensus is the 5th. Definitely won't be the 26th/27th.
Quote from: froggie on February 09, 2011, 10:40:21 AM
Hence why I mentioned "someone else". If more people pipe up for the 6th, I'll consider it. Right now, looks like the consensus is the 5th. Definitely won't be the 26th/27th.
The 6th works as well for me as the 5th.
6th works for me too. In fact, it may even be better, but it really doesn't matter to me.
Either the 5th or 6th work for me!
I would rather it be Saturday. It being Sunday pushes me into needing to get home at a reasonable hour so I can get up and go to work the following morning, which is a fun dampener.
Interestingly enough, I will be driving through the area on March 4th on my way home from Massachusetts. Not really any chance of me staying another night so I can come home on the 5th though. If anyone's there on the 4th, however, I might be able to meet up with you.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on February 12, 2011, 02:10:21 AM
Interestingly enough, I will be driving through the area on March 4th on my way home from Massachusetts. Not really any chance of me staying another night so I can come home on the 5th though. If anyone's there on the 4th, however, I might be able to meet up with you.
When will you be coming through New Jersey?
Anyone else piping up in the 5th vs. 6th debate? If not, I'll be deciding this weekend.
Quote from: froggie on February 19, 2011, 08:30:38 AM
Anyone else piping up in the 5th vs. 6th debate? If not, I'll be deciding this weekend.
By "this weekend" did you mean the weekend you posted the above? Or this coming weekend?
IOW, any decision yet?
Both 5th or 6th are fine here.
Normally, traffic's lighter on Sundays, so I've decided on the 6th. What I also plan on doing is something different...do the tour FIRST, and then do a late lunch after with whomever is interested. Gives a little more flexibility on lunch locations, plus those who want to follow me back south can check out Beltway HO/T lane construction status.
After all that, I'm tentatively planning to drive the ICC this weekend - but it would be at night. I'll probably get whatever sign photos seem appropriate, and if I can make the meet on the 6th (shouldn't be an issue), I'll video the drive instead.
Since you're doing this on Sunday, there is an outside chance that I could come. Where do you propose to meet up and what time?
Preliminary plan (subject to revision) is to meet at the Shady Grove Metro station before 10am, do the tour, then go from there. Parking is free on weekends, so it should be a good jumping off point plus being near the west end of the project.
Well, in that case, I definitely won't be making it. I'd have to leave before 5 in the morning to make it to Shady Grove by 10 AM.
I'll probably pass on going to this meet, but if you can convince me to go to the meet, I'll certainly listen.
Yeah I don't think I can make this one either. May be next time.
Maggie and I are leaning yes. If we do go, we're going to drive up Saturday morning and tour some of the DC monuments, etc.
Duke: the reason for the earlier start is that it actually provides more flexibility for those coming from more than a couple hours away. Folks can do the tour part, and then decide whether or not to leave or do a later lunch. I'm doing the tour part first both for this and because in my experience, the "lunch" part always runs later than expected. Traffic (aside from church traffic) will also be at its lightest mid-morning.
True, it would require you to get up way early to make it, but you could also make it back home at a reasonable hour.
Doug: if you can't make it, that's fine. But Sunday will be the last day you can drive the ICC without paying the toll.
Hmmm.... y'know, I'm getting that "do something crazy" urge all of a sudden (and it occurs to me that I may be able to do some of the drive down on Saturday... must inquire). When do I have to decide by?
QuoteWhen do I have to decide by?
9:59am Sunday morning.
I would ask that everyone who does plan on attending shoot me a PM or an E-mail so I can give you my cell phone number, in the event that you'll be late getting to Shady Grove. My intent is to start the tour no later than 10am, though I'm willing to delay that 10-15 minutes or so if I know someone is on their way but can't make it before 10.
Okay, I've confirmed it: I have a place in SE PA to crash Saturday night.
So, I will be there after all!
I won't be making this one, so you guys have fun. Too much to do this weekend. Plus, I'll be on the road next weekend.
I was able to do a field check of the tour route yesterday. Some of the stops along the tour are going to be "possible stops" that will depend on both conditions during the tour and the number of vehicles. For about half the tour stops, parking is limited or is on residential side streets so the fewer vehicles we have, the better the chances of stopping at those locations...I'm going to try to be in the lead car and make the determination as we arrive at each stop.
I will have cue sheets available for those driving. The plan is still to meet at the Shady Grove Metro station before 10am, so we can depart by 10am. We'll be gathering at the main entrance (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.120589,-77.163677&spn=0,0.01369&z=17&layer=c&cbll=39.120243,-77.16381&panoid=egmlwXsKbT_dqmwxpfP40A&cbp=12,298.05,,0,1.26) near the larger of the two parking garages. Parking is free at Metro stations on the weekends, so this shouldn't be a problem.
So far, I have 5 confirmed. Anticipating the tour to take 2-2.5 hours, so we should be done by 12:30ish. After which, everyone is free to go their own way, or we can all go to a nearby restaurant for a late post-tour lunch.
Wish I could make it, but I got put on a last-minute report that's due Monday, and there's a decent chance I'll need to work on it Sunday. Believe me, not how I want to be spending my weekend... Given the uncertainty, I can't end up in Maryland. I'll try to do my usual meet-time call.
Wish I'd have known that 2 weeks ago. I moved it to Sunday in part because of your comments earlier. Nevermind that the weather's going to be worse on Sunday.
Hey, wish I knew about the report more than 3 days ago :/
We have 10 confirmed, so hope to see everyone there later. It's "a monsoon" out, so bring yer rain gear.
Here's my photo of the ICC meet group, near one of the overpasses on the part of the highway still under construction:
(//hwww.alaskaroads.com/ICC-meet-group-102_0866.jpg)
Front row: Adam Prince with ____
Back row: Oscar Voss, Anthony Costanzo, Doug Kerr, Adam Froehlig, Laura Bianca, Mike Pruett, Brian Polidoro.
Also, here's a photo of some of us post-meet at the local Red Hot and Blue restaurant:
(//www.alaskaroads.com/ICC-meet-group-at-RHB-102_0868.jpg)
Left to right: Mike Pruett, Anthony Costanzo, Brian Polidoro, Adam Froehlig, Laura Bianca.
Please PM me with any corrections, additions, etc.
Not exactly my best face in the second photo. Was a lot happier than that...at least until I got to Crystal City...
Me neither on the first. Lots better though after some Memphis BBQ.
Maybe Maggie (also at most of the meet, but not in the photos) took a better shot of the group near the overpass. I also took a second shot at Red Hot and Blue, which was a bit underexposed, but I can probably compensate for that if it's otherwise better than the one I posted.
Oscar,
I haven't looked through our photos from Sunday yet. I hope to get to them this weekend. I have to go through the photos on teh tour of DC t hat froggie gave Maggie, Doug and I the day before first.
Quote from: AlpsROADS on February 13, 2011, 01:16:00 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on February 12, 2011, 02:10:21 AM
Interestingly enough, I will be driving through the area on March 4th on my way home from Massachusetts. Not really any chance of me staying another night so I can come home on the 5th though. If anyone's there on the 4th, however, I might be able to meet up with you.
When will you be coming through New Jersey?
Erm, as you probably guessed by my lack of a reply (I never noticed your post), that trip was postponed. I'll be driving up to Massachusetts on April 14 and home on April 16 now. And I will probably be coming through NJ around 10 AM, since I'm leaving here probably at 3 AM.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on March 12, 2011, 12:41:53 PM
Quote from: AlpsROADS on February 13, 2011, 01:16:00 AM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on February 12, 2011, 02:10:21 AM
Interestingly enough, I will be driving through the area on March 4th on my way home from Massachusetts. Not really any chance of me staying another night so I can come home on the 5th though. If anyone's there on the 4th, however, I might be able to meet up with you.
When will you be coming through New Jersey?
Erm, as you probably guessed by my lack of a reply (I never noticed your post), that trip was postponed. I'll be driving up to Massachusetts on April 14 and home on April 16 now. And I will probably be coming through NJ around 10 AM, since I'm leaving here probably at 3 AM.
I'll be at the Texarkana meet that weekend as part of my San Diego trip.