Cincinnati/NKY Meet

[JMoses24]

I'm setting a hard RSVP date of October 11 at NOON Eastern Daylight Time (adjust as needed for your time zone). Please let me know by then that you're for sure coming, either here on the forum, on the Facebook event, or via email to jmos21@insightbb.com.

Other info:

Well, so much for no restrictions on I-471. KYTC announced that they're going to be doing final surfacing the weekend of October 11-13, which is...you guessed it, the weekend of the meet. I'm open to other ideas on the venue, but for now, keeping it at Buckhead and just advising folks to leave early and give yourself an extra 20-30 minutes to get to Newport if staying on the Ohio side.

Also, I checked out a potential viewing spot for the Sixth Street Viaduct, known as Olden View Park on the west side of downtown Cincinnati. I personally couldn't see very well, but keeping in mind that I am in the wheelchair, everyone else should have at least a decent view. It does, however, provide a smashing view of the rest of the city's west side including the 8th Street Viaduct which is just to the north of the aforementioned 6th Street.

[amroad17]

Here is my official RSVP.  My wife will also be attending, though she may not be into our meet as much as I will.

[jpi]

And here is mine, my wife Stephanie and I will be there, she will probably do her own thing when the time comes for our tour but she will be there for lunch along with myself. :-)

[hbelkins]

I've decided to drive up that morning, since it's only about three hours away. I may or may not cash in a free reward night and spend the night in the area afterwards.

[jpi]

I've decided to drive up that morning, since it's only about three hours away. I may or may not cash in a free reward night and spend the night in the area afterwards.

HB, is your wife coming? Steph was wondering. :-)

[hbelkins]

Probably not, but I'll ask her.

[JMoses24]

As of right now, I have 18 definite "yes" counting those of you here. My math may be off by 1 or 2, so I'll say 20. That's a big turnout for me as a rookie host, and I hope I do not disappoint.

Here's the current tour itinerary, taking into account my observations from scouting the sites this week. I will note that I took a drive through the I-74 construction (just haven't figured out how to factor that into the itinerary yet) and progress is being made on I-75 at Hopple as well. http://goo.gl/maps/l2Hbp

Other notes:

-- Olden View Park is still the site I am planning to use for Sixth Street Viaduct viewing.

-- Kessler Place was suggested as a viewing location for I-75/Mitchell. However, when I went down there this past week, I found...a wall. Literally, a wall blocked any view of anything. So, the cemetery will be used, taking great care not to disturb any ongoing ceremonies.

-- I-71 Little Miami Bridge is on the itinerary but may be removed if time will not permit doing this. My goal is to have everybody back to Buckhead by 6 PM so that those wary of traveling in unfamiliar areas after sunset can get a head start. It could be a after-meet activity if anyone is still interested in viewing this.

-- The itinerary also takes into account bandit957's notes on signage close to Buckhead and two roundabouts installed near Northern Kentucky University. Again, these can be incorporated into a postmeet activity if that's thought to be a better option.

Questions/Comments?

[Alps]

As of right now, I have 18 definite "yes" counting those of you here. My math may be off by 1 or 2, so I'll say 20. That's a big turnout for me as a rookie host, and I hope I do not disappoint.

Here's the current tour itinerary, taking into account my observations from scouting the sites this week. I will note that I took a drive through the I-74 construction (just haven't figured out how to factor that into the itinerary yet) and progress is being made on I-75 at Hopple as well. http://goo.gl/maps/l2Hbp

Other notes:

-- Olden View Park is still the site I am planning to use for Sixth Street Viaduct viewing.

-- Kessler Place was suggested as a viewing location for I-75/Mitchell. However, when I went down there this past week, I found...a wall. Literally, a wall blocked any view of anything. So, the cemetery will be used, taking great care not to disturb any ongoing ceremonies.

-- I-71 Little Miami Bridge is on the itinerary but may be removed if time will not permit doing this. My goal is to have everybody back to Buckhead by 6 PM so that those wary of traveling in unfamiliar areas after sunset can get a head start. It could be a after-meet activity if anyone is still interested in viewing this.

-- The itinerary also takes into account bandit957's notes on signage close to Buckhead and two roundabouts installed near Northern Kentucky University. Again, these can be incorporated into a postmeet activity if that's thought to be a better option.

Questions/Comments?

Tips from someone who had an even larger rookie meet:
* Use Google Maps to time between stopping points, and multiply their times by 3/2, and round up to the nearest 5 minutes.
* Assume lunch will take 2 hours.
* Something you think is a quick stop will be 10-15 minutes. If people have to walk any distance, figure 20+ minutes. Longer the walk, longer the time. Add 5 minutes for a meet photo.
* Plan an after-meet. It takes about 20-30 minutes for everyone to circle their wagons. If you get back at 4:30 and sunset is 5:30, you have a half hour to see something else, maybe a scenic view of the city at sunset.

[JMoses24]

As of right now, I have 18 definite "yes" counting those of you here. My math may be off by 1 or 2, so I'll say 20. That's a big turnout for me as a rookie host, and I hope I do not disappoint.

Here's the current tour itinerary, taking into account my observations from scouting the sites this week. I will note that I took a drive through the I-74 construction (just haven't figured out how to factor that into the itinerary yet) and progress is being made on I-75 at Hopple as well. http://goo.gl/maps/l2Hbp

Other notes:

-- Olden View Park is still the site I am planning to use for Sixth Street Viaduct viewing.

-- Kessler Place was suggested as a viewing location for I-75/Mitchell. However, when I went down there this past week, I found...a wall. Literally, a wall blocked any view of anything. So, the cemetery will be used, taking great care not to disturb any ongoing ceremonies.

-- I-71 Little Miami Bridge is on the itinerary but may be removed if time will not permit doing this. My goal is to have everybody back to Buckhead by 6 PM so that those wary of traveling in unfamiliar areas after sunset can get a head start. It could be a after-meet activity if anyone is still interested in viewing this.

-- The itinerary also takes into account bandit957's notes on signage close to Buckhead and two roundabouts installed near Northern Kentucky University. Again, these can be incorporated into a postmeet activity if that's thought to be a better option.

Questions/Comments?

Tips from someone who had an even larger rookie meet:
* Use Google Maps to time between stopping points, and multiply their times by 3/2, and round up to the nearest 5 minutes.
* Assume lunch will take 2 hours.
* Something you think is a quick stop will be 10-15 minutes. If people have to walk any distance, figure 20+ minutes. Longer the walk, longer the time. Add 5 minutes for a meet photo.
* Plan an after-meet. It takes about 20-30 minutes for everyone to circle their wagons. If you get back at 4:30 and sunset is 5:30, you have a half hour to see something else, maybe a scenic view of the city at sunset.

Yeah, I'm figuring on the departure from Buckhead being at 1 PM. I'm not sure if the stop lengths are part of that 3/2. If they aren't, then I have us back to Buckhead about 6:30. If they are, then it looks like 5:15.

[hbelkins]

That's a long haul out I-71 just to see one thing and then all the way back across the river.

[vtk]

That's a long haul out I-71 just to see one thing and then all the way back across the river.

Exit ramp widening at Fields-Ertel/Mason-Montgomery to see on the way.  And at the Little Miami, you can go one way across the bridge to see the construction, and the other way through the valley for the fun drive. 

[NE2]

Exit ramp widening

Holy shit! Exit ramp widening!

[Brandon]

Exit ramp widening

Holy shit! Exit ramp widening!

Yeah!  Holy shit!  It might have capacity issues!

[NE2]

Exit ramp widening

Holy shit! Exit ramp widening!

Yeah!  Holy shit!  It might have capacity issues!

Holy shit! Missing the point!

[hbelkins]

Exit ramp widening at Fields-Ertel/Mason-Montgomery to see on the way.

Even when I was a kid, that was where all the hotels were for people going to Kings Island.

[bandit957]

There were some real old signs at Belmont & McKinney in Dayton KY that were still around as of a few months ago. I don't know if anyone is interested in those.

[agentsteel53]

some

on street view, I see only a STEEP HILL.  what am I not noticing?

[bandit957]

some

on street view, I see only a STEEP HILL.  what am I not noticing?

Last I checked, there was also an old, old wooden sign that says McKINNEY. It's hard to see.

[A.J. Bertin]

-- I-71 Little Miami Bridge is on the itinerary but may be removed if time will not permit doing this. My goal is to have everybody back to Buckhead by 6 PM so that those wary of traveling in unfamiliar areas after sunset can get a head start. It could be a after-meet activity if anyone is still interested in viewing this.

I made a comment along these lines on the Facebook event page, but my preference would be to get back to Buckhead earlier rather than later. I'd prefer to skip the I-71 Little Miami Bridge because it's so far out compared to everything else we're seeing. My suggestion would definitely be to make that an after-meet activity for those who are specifically interested.

[JMoses24]

-- I-71 Little Miami Bridge is on the itinerary but may be removed if time will not permit doing this. My goal is to have everybody back to Buckhead by 6 PM so that those wary of traveling in unfamiliar areas after sunset can get a head start. It could be a after-meet activity if anyone is still interested in viewing this.

I made a comment along these lines on the Facebook event page, but my preference would be to get back to Buckhead earlier rather than later. I'd prefer to skip the I-71 Little Miami Bridge because it's so far out compared to everything else we're seeing. My suggestion would definitely be to make that an after-meet activity for those who are specifically interested.

I'm up to seeing it, but realizing that some folks want/need to be back sooner, this is the best course of action. I like your suggestion on the Facebook event page, which is how we'll play it. This will require re-working the itinerary, but I can do that quickly enough.

[jpi]

Like I mentioned on FB, Steph and I are pretty flexible, we are staying in Middletown, OH that night which is not too far north of metro Cincinnati. I am game for anything :-)

[JMoses24]

A reminder: If you did not RSVP on the Facebook event or via email PLEASE do so by Friday at NOON EDT (11 AM CDT/10 MDT/9 PDT). I have 16 right now, but I will need a definitive number by then. My primary email address is changing because Insight was purchased by TWC, and I've had so much trouble trying to set up my email to there, I just threw my hands up. If you've sent an RSVP to the insightbb.com address, I WILL STILL HAVE IT but any new ones, please send to jmos222007@hotmail.com. Sorry to cause trouble with that, but I am transitioning everything on the insight email, to there.

[hbelkins]

I located my wayward "Send Help" sign so unless I forget it, we will have one for the group photo.

[JMoses24]

I located my wayward "Send Help" sign so unless I forget it, we will have one for the group photo.

Excellent. I would've tried to make up one if it came to that. Also, I think you said elsewhere you had a tripod that had gone missing -- I have one of those.

[hbelkins]

Apparently there are a few people -- including some who I actually thought were my friends -- that are awaiting some sort of meltdown from me on Saturday. Not sure why, since I didn't melt down at Ashland (and I didn't pass gas at Ashland either; not sure whose dope-induced delusion that is).