Midwest Caravan

[IntrepidXJ]

I'm gonna be leaving early Wednesday, and I saw a few others from the area were planning the same as well. Someone had mentioned a possible caravan, so I thought I'd start this thread to see if that's gonna happen or not? If so, then we can plan it here.

[LBEXJ]

I'd be interested in traveling at least part of the way with the Caravan if it happens. It seems most will be coming across the northern part of Ohio on 80/90. I will be coming across Ohio on 70 to Columbus, then north on 71 to hit 80 at Youngstown.

If the Caravan has some idea about what day and time they'd be going through Youngstown Ohio, I could try and meet up with it. If not ... I'm used to traveling alone.

Les

[lesslimited]

I think it sounds cool. Where should we meet up? Somewhere after the other expressways (65 & 94) split off of I-80? I'd like to leave the south burbs about 5:30- 6:00...

[Beezil]

knute rockne rest stop oasis.......25 minutes west of notre dame/south bend exit.....

just a suggestion for possible on-the-interstae meeting point.

[lesslimited]

That sounds good to me, Beez. That way we can get out of the Chicago area ahead of the morning insanity. We need to agree on a meeting time there, which will need to be perhaps a one hour range, since we'll have guys coming from all around and even early, travel times will be hard to predict.

Les, probably your best bet would be to be in touch via cell phone, since our travel time from the South Bend area will also be hard to predict...

[Beezil]

what is a target day/time at this point?

I like waking up crazy-early, and would like to make it same-day......

caravans are cool, but they move slow.

I don't like waiting for people to show up to the meeting place, and I don't like the whole caravan pulling over everytime someone has to pee......

I'm just speaking for myself here, I'd love to get a caravan going, but I'm not stopping....but I'm not bombing down the interstate at 80 mph either.....

how does that bizzness sound?

[lesslimited]

I believe most in this area planned to leave early Wednesday. I'm fine with very early as well, since I'll be like a kid at X-mas and too excited to sleep :D . I know what you're saying about waiting, but we'd really need to allow some range for the initial meet-up. On the road, I've got almost a 400 mile range in the Winnebago, which is way longer than I can go without a piss stop. Rest areas are nice for that, since it's usually easy off and back on. As far as speed, with the bulk of traffic is fine for me, up to a point. I can do 90+, but I'd rather do no more than 10-15 over. Last time I went that direction, I was lucky to be doing the limit with the heavy traffic an construction...

[4ward]

I was planning on leaving around noon on Wed. I may push it up. Taking 80 may be the way I go since the PA Turnpike absolutely sucked monkey nuts a couple weeks ago.

[Urban Redneck]

I'm leaving my house on Wednesday around 6-6:30. Don't mind the 75 limit and if you don't have to gas up when I do, then I will catch up. Made my reservations at the Hampton for W, TH, F and possibly Sa.

[Mike in NJ]

Taking 80 may be the way I go since the PA Turnpike absolutely sucked monkey nuts a couple weeks ago.

I know we generally try to ignore OneTon, but this is good advice. The PA Tpke seems like it's been under construction for 30 or 40 years, with no end in sight! And, there'll be some construction delays on I-81 in Harrisburg. I don't believe there is any major construction (other than a couple of bridges) on 80 from the Ohio/PA line.

Even if you're coming along I70 west of Columbus, you might want to consider running up I71 to I76, but, there might be construction around Akron.

We'll keep the light on.

Mike in NJ :patriot:

[JasonXJ]

I am probably a bit later than the rest of you, and I can meet anyone in Toledo at 1pm or later on wednesday and MAYBE a bit earlier.

[Scott Mac.]

I am probably a bit later than the rest of you, and I can meet anyone in Toledo at 1pm or later on Wednesday and MAYBE a bit earlier.

I thought you weren't leaving till Thursday?


I was planning on being on the road by 8 on Wed which would put me at Toledo around 9:30/10. If you Illini boy's are getting up that early I'll catch you there.

[LBEXJ]

Beezil & Lesslimited ... if you all are leaving Wednesday morning, about what time would that put you at the 80/90 and 69 interchange? I could meet up with everyone there.

It may help if we could exchange cellular numbers to keep caught up with where we are at. :dunno:

Les

[lesslimited]

I'm leaving my house on Wednesday around 6-6:30. Don't mind the 75 limit and if you don't have to gas up when I do, then I will catch up. Made my reservations at the Hampton for W, TH, F and possibly Sa.
Tom, are you sure you want to leave that late? I80-94 is terrible every morning rush, plus they're doing construction along there as well, so leaving at that time will guarantee some "parking lot" time.

As for the whole convoy thing, perhaps it would be better if we did a couple or few "mini-convoys" for those with similar driving habits/starting times. Keep in touch with the cell phones, so if anyone has problems, others can possibly help, and if groups are close enough, they can adjust to join up. Also, those meeting up farther east would have more options.
Thoughts???

[Urban Redneck]

I'll leave whatever time you guys are planning on. I would suggest that anyone with a CB have it tuned to a set station to pick up members as we move on. What time were you thinking of leaving?

[LBEXJ]

As for the whole convoy thing, perhaps it would be better if we did a couple or few "mini-convoys" for those with similar driving habits/starting times. Keep in touch with the cell phones, so if anyone has problems, others can possibly help, and if groups are close enough, they can adjust to join up. Also, those meeting up farther east would have more options.

I think this will work great. Hopefully, everyone will get there in one piece so we won't have any "emergencies", but that assurance is nice to have.

Les

[IntrepidXJ]

Tom, are you sure you want to leave that late? I80-94 is terrible every morning rush, plus they're doing construction along there as well, so leaving at that time will guarantee some "parking lot" time.

what time would you suggest leaving?

[lesslimited]

what time would you suggest leaving?
IMHO, you'd want to be past I-65 before 6:30 at the latest, 6:00 would probably be better. Going out to Brad's (Kid4lyf) shop today around 9:00, the traffic was stop and go. I'm sure some of that was weekenders heading to Michigan, but truck traffic was heavy, too. That stretch is just always nuts.

Being in the south burbs, I'm only about 15 minutes from where 80 and 294 join, so it's easy for me to get past the mess early, and as I stated previously, when I'm leaving for a great vacation I'm awake real early.

Beez, you know we all want to follow you, so what does the lemming king say :D :worship: :D

[Urban Redneck]

IMHO, you'd want to be past I-65 before 6:30 at the latest, 6:00 would probably be better. Going out to Brad's (Kid4lyf) shop today around 9:00, the traffic was stop and go. I'm sure some of that was weekenders heading to Michigan, but truck traffic was heavy, too. That stretch is just always nuts.

Being in the south burbs, I'm only about 15 minutes from where 80 and 294 join, so it's easy for me to get past the mess early, and as I stated previously, when I'm leaving for a great vacation I'm awake real early.

Beez, you know we all want to follow you, so what does the lemming king say :D :worship: :D

I'm about 45 mins from Crestwood and about 20 from Bensenville. What time do you guys want to hit the road?

[Beezil]

I'd like to be on da road no later than 5:30am.....

puts me at the knute rest area around 6:30-6:45 central time

[lesslimited]

...puts me at the knute rest area around 6:30-6:45 central time

Works for me

[Urban Redneck]

Sounds like a plan.

[IntrepidXJ]

yeah, i can probably do that, too

[Fore Wheeler]

who's leaving Thurs morn????????????????????/

[LBEXJ]

Hey 'Wheeler ... initially I was going to leave Thursday AM but I think I'm going to try and hook up with the Illini crew up at the 80/90 and 69 interchange ... or somewhere in that area ... Wednesday AM.

You and Scott Mac still plannin' on going down together (no pun intended)? If some of us cannot make the earlier group, it would be nice to know how, when, and where you guys are making the trip. Made any definate plans?

Les

[Scott Mac.]

.

You and Scott Mac still plannin' on going down together (no pun intended)? If some of us cannot make the earlier group, it would be nice to know how, when, and where you guys are making the trip. Made any definate plans?

Les

Dan hacked the plans up again. Now I'll have to wait for another time to play twister with his wife. My wife and I are leaving Wed morning.

See ya there Les.

[JasonXJ]

I will be at the 275 and I80 junction at around noon on wednesday if anyone wants to meet there.... Since I am thinking that taking a 5 month pregnant wife with me is a bad idea, I will be alone :(

[Fore Wheeler]

les, right now I'm planning on leaving around 5 or 6 am Thurs morn, that shoud put me down on the 80/90 around 9 am or so, that's the plans. Let me know what you're thinking, and keep in mind that the bus only goes 65 mph on the level, 35 up hill and 85 down the mountains.

And yes, I screwed up the plans to haul the Macs down, but I was thinking of bringing the twister board to have some 'invite only' campfire sessions. I still have the baby oil, and Steph, your on the 'A' list. :D

[LBEXJ]

Damn 'Wheeler ... now I am going to have to set up an additional shakedown run ... been so long since I've done Baby Oil and Twister, I'd better make sure nothing breaks before the "big show"! :wow:

Les

[MuddinXJ]

this sounds fun to me. if anyone is from south of indianapolis i would really like to meet them on my way up north.

[IntrepidXJ]

less than 2 weeks. what's the final plan? knute rest area around 6:30-6:45 central time?

i'm probably gonna be leaving at 5am or so

[LBEXJ]

I'm still plannin' on meeting all the Chicago and N. Illinois group up in the NE corner of Indiana early Wednesday AM (I69 & I80/90 interchange). I figuring you all will be passing through there ~8:30 - 9:00AM. We're leaving the house here at 4:30 - 5:00AM. I'll be in touch with Lesslimited via cellular to make the rendezvous.

That's our plan ...

Les

[LBEXJ]

Oh ... and PS ...

Sorry 'Wheeler about not getting back to you on my definate plans ... but 35 mph up those hills ( and there are a lot of them ) is a drag. If I still had those 3.55's in, I'd probably been doing the same all the way out there.

Still plannin' on the Twister and Baby Oil though ... all "Shaked Down" and ready!!!! :clap:

Les

[Fore Wheeler]

Oh ... and PS ...

Sorry 'Wheeler about not getting back to you on my definate plans ... but 35 mph up those hills ( and there are a lot of them ) is a drag. If I still had those 3.55's in, I'd probably been doing the same all the way out there.

Still plannin' on the Twister and Baby Oil though ... all "Shaked Down" and ready!!!! :clap:


Les


hey, not a problem, I understand better than you know. I'll be hauling two jeeps out there with the entire family aboard and we're now planning on leaving around midnight or one am Thurs morn.

see ya all out there.

dan

[lesslimited]

less than 2 weeks. what's the final plan? knute rest area around 6:30-6:45 central time?

i'm probably gonna be leaving at 5am or so

That's still the plan. So there's no confusion, Knute Rockne rest area is at mile 56 from IL border almost 20 miles east of South Bend. Never been there, but I imagine there's a truck parking area which is where we'll need to be. This drive is about the maximum distance I care to drive in one day, and Beezil agrees that we need to keep stops at a minimum ( fuel, p, fast food to eat while driving ) so we can get there at a reasonable hour. After driving the Winnebago that long, I know I'll need at least a couple beers to unwind, and I definitely don't want to try to find the campground in the dark.

[Urban Redneck]

That's still the plan. So there's no confusion, Knute Rockne rest area is at mile 56 from IL border almost 20 miles east of South Bend. Never been there, but I imagine there's a truck parking area which is where we'll need to be. This drive is about the maximum distance I care to drive in one day...

If we only go 56 miles a day, we will be at NAC on the 26th! :roll: :wave:

[IntrepidXJ]

This drive is about the maximum distance I care to drive in one day, and Beezil agrees that we need to keep stops at a minimum ( fuel, p, fast food to eat while driving ) so we can get there at a reasonable hour. After driving the Winnebago that long, I know I'll need at least a couple beers to unwind, and I definitely don't want to try to find the campground in the dark.

How about we state up front, that if someone is stopping too often or falling behind, the group will not wait. Simple as that.

[IntrepidXJ]

If we only go 56 miles a day, we will be at NAC on the 26th! :roll: :wave:

LOL

[lesslimited]

If we only go 56 miles a day, we will be at NAC on the 26th! :roll: :wave:
:doh: Guess I didn't engage brain before posting :D

[MuddinXJ]

yea also less and lbexj pm me your numbers so i can make sure im keeping up. and lbexj im not sure where parke county is but either i can call you or you can call me and tell me. if your south of indy thats even better cause youll be going through my neck of the woods on the way up. man i still got so much shit to do. got to get bumpers.